I am somewhat determined to avoid a list built around an ISD, no matter how viable that may be in competitive play. That being said I would like any thoughts as to whether this list has what it takes to beat ISD centered lists.

Tarquitens and Company

Faction: Galactic Empire
Points: 396/400

Commander: Grand Moff Tarkin

Assault Objective: Most Wanted
Defense Objective: Fighter Ambush
Navigation Objective: Superior Positions

[ flagship ] Arquitens-class Command Cruiser (59 points)
- Grand Moff Tarkin ( 38 points)
- Captain Brunson ( 5 points)
- Engine Techs ( 8 points)
- Quad Battery Turrets ( 5 points)
= 115 total ship cost

Arquitens-class Command Cruiser (59 points)
- Captain Needa ( 2 points)
- Engine Techs ( 8 points)
- Quad Battery Turrets ( 5 points)
= 74 total ship cost

Arquitens-class Command Cruiser (59 points)
- Skilled First Officer ( 1 points)
- Engine Techs ( 8 points)
- Quad Battery Turrets ( 5 points)
= 73 total ship cost

Gozanti-class Cruisers (23 points)
- Slicer Tools ( 7 points)
= 30 total ship cost

3 Firespray-31s ( 54 points)
1 Bossk ( 23 points)
1 Morna Kee ( 27 points)
= 104 total squadron cost

To get the benefit of QBTs you must be going slow. You have engine techs so you can always go speed 1 + 1 instead of speed 2 but I think you should usually be going faster to get out of ISD front arcs. DTTs may be better for your kittens. If you Nav token for ETs with Tarkin and CF dial you roll 4 red and have a high chance of rolling a blank so the reroll is almost as good as an extra die.

On the Needa ship take TRCs for some extra double hit punch.

Consider Vector on the flotilla. Bank a squadron token with it on turn one then you can get the 3 Firesprays or one Firespray and the two characters to go speed 4 on turn 2. Could be a nasty and surprising first strike. Fighters look good. You could change one Firespray for 2 TIE-Bs as the flotilla can easily command them. Having an even number of squadrons gets you an extra activation in deployment too.

Objectives are ok but watch out for Fighter ambush. A dedicated 134 bomber list with combat air patrol will lock down your fighters for at least 2 turns and pile on the victory tokens. Planetary Ion Cannon or VIP may be safer alternatives.

Now lets think about Tarkin. He is flexible and can keep your ETs going whenever you wish. He can flip to repair or CF tokens at any point but you must do this for all your ships at the same time (no Sovereign ISD). Alas he is expensive and your Arquitens are the more expensive type and they have expensive ETs on them. So here is an alternative...

Arquitens CL, DTT, Brunson, JerJerrod 87
Arquitens CL, DTT 59
Arquitens CL, Needa, TRCs 63
Gozanti, Slicer Tools, Vector 32
3 Firespray, Bossk, Morna 104

Total 345 points so you have 55 to play with for one of the following possibly:

• 30 points of fighters and a Gozanti
• Swap a Firespray for Gama squadron and add another Arquitens CL with DTTs.
• Add a Raider-I with E-rax or Flechette and then buy some other upgrades for the Kittens like SFOs and RBDs.

Using Jerjerrod rather than ET Tarkin saves a good chunk of points and hopefully the absurd yaw of a JJ speed 3 Arquitens even if it doesn't Nav command will make up for the extra speed of ETs. The large point savings should give you more activations and extra firepower.

I second vector on the gozzy, speed 4 bossk and firespray!

I second Jer Jerrod, great for kiting with the arquittens. Trcs too can lay down pain.

I would recommend a good bid for first, especially if you can squeeze a racked raider in there. They can unload some serious hurt going first. So do the trcs!

Vector is fantastic, so I can third that. Jendon is so good with Morna and Bossk, so definitely consider that with your spare points that Mad Cat has left over. Another Gozanti would then be very nice for the activations.

Good advice guys, thanks. I didn't get any notifications for some reason so I didn't think anyone replied.