Now some of you may have thought my other thread was just a bit of fun over the christmas limbo to keep Podracer inhibriated, however there was more to it than that. As we all know it has been a while since new releases in this game, and so there are no outside forces prompting meta changes. That could be something to complain about, or instead an opportunity to embrace. I suggest that we take this moment to experiment and learn more depth about the game.

One of the big comments often seen is that there is no new fleets to test, the competitive lists are found. This is something I believe to be a myth. Fleet building could be considered to be a mountain series, with each peak representing a strong list. Some of these peaks we have found; Rieekan Aces, Thrawn Two Ship, Ackbar Fish Farm, Raddus Bomb etc. Yet its questionable if we have even found the tallest mountain range let alone the highest peak.

If we take a look back at the history of the game there are certain lists which appeared to come from nowhere and challenged our understanding of the game. Clontroopers Clonisher was created to absolutely leverage the activation game with pure burst power all across the list, and it was near unstoppable for a little while as we all took time to understand its mechanics fully. JJ's Ywing list did something unexpected by utilising pure generics to give mass bombing that aces simply cant match. Even the original Worlds winner brought Garm Awings and with it a massive spanner in the existing GGV meta.

Some lists have come and go as well, a heartbeat in the meta, and no more. Hopefully, you can remember Cracken TRC90s with their YT2400 rogue swarm, triple Vics bombers, Ackbar gunlines or Cr90B swarms. These behemoths of days gone by are no less relevant to the meta of today than they ever have been.

I myself found a lot of joy in bringing Phantoms from the depths of obscurity into the light, taking them to the upper reaches of Euros, and thus build the foundation for their Polish Nationals win and greater respect as a squadron unit.

So lets look ahead to 2019 and try something new, experiment with the unknown, and change the meta ourselves.

Some specific suggestions for those who played along:

@PodRacer win a competitive game of Armada with Gunnery Teams.
@ExplosiveTooka take Dodonna for a spin.
@Admiral Calkins give Demolisher a new look.
@Ling27 Try new objective combos every championship.
@Truthiness dust of that Quasar.
@mcworrell put together an Ozzel ACM fleet, or heaven forbid rapid reload!
@moodswing5537 mess about with Cluster Bombs (for help talk to Rasp).
@SkyCake todays that day, pull out your Mothma.
@thepopemobile100 maybe its your destiny to bring the TRC90 swarms back to life.
@Grumbleduke time to put those assault frigate lists on the table.
@Jukey , @Thrindal , @ovinomanc3r , @RyonOlson , @Barney and @Audio Weasel lets get Darth Vader riding his Devestator again. (Vader meta incoming!)
@BiggsIRL show us a new take on Riekan Aces! There are other squads worthy of the triple tap beyond Ten Numb, was always Luke for me.
@cynanbloodbane hammer time!
@ManInTheBox Make Blockade Run Great Again.
@DblVsdGuy use engine techs as a weapon, damage straight to the hull.
@Bertie Wooster lets make Motti Arquittens a thing.
@Green Knight dust of those NK-7 cards.
@somerandomn00b Sloane ordnance crits sounds like the start of a list to me.
@LostFleet give those Neb B supports a new lease of life, theyre a great little flanker.
@MerryVulture see the game from a different angle with the help of inhebriation.
@Church14 try out those Lancers! Rogue is love, Rogue is life.
@Dobbs Mottley , @Altahara and @richarDISNEY maybe give rebels a try to better understand the other side.
@Ardaedhel bring those black dice Arquittens to bear.
@Muelmuel open up that Interdictor, gets those double arcs going.
@Wax Maniacal Isaard is actually useful if you are considering jumping the enemy turn 1 FYI.
@Darth Sanguis swallow your pride and show us how Rieekan should really be leveraged.
@geek19 a tie is admirable, but I am sure we all want to see you step it up a gear.
@Fallenwolf15 find the great many joys of a Pelta.
@GammonLord take Leia for an expensive, but well worth it date.
@MandalorianMoose run away in a tournament without it wasting everyones time.
@OgRib lets see what you can do with combat gr75s.
@Belisarius09 lets see that Screed MSU Decimator list.
@AegisGrimm every ship has a good looking side, try out Home One and find its inner beauty.
@Crewgar its time to use those Gladiators.

7 minutes ago, Ginkapo said:

win a competitive game of Armada with Gunnery Teams.

Baby steps!!

Guess I’m taking Vader to the Aldershot regionals then, thanks for ending my list indecision @Ginkapo

25 minutes ago, PodRacer said:

Baby steps!!

You know, they often go together...Gunnery Teams and winning games...

I played fleet ambush and precision strike yesterday for casual games. They were both fun and different... I might try to use Fleet Ambush more.

58 minutes ago, Ginkapo said:

@Church14 try out those Lancers! Rogue is love, Rogue is life

The funniest part is that before they came out I had joked about how awesome a Squadron with Rogue, Bomber, and Grit could be.

1 hour ago, Ginkapo said:

@RyonOlson , lets get Darth Vader riding his Devestator again. (Vader meta incoming!)

I've already got some ideas...

Name: Vader ISD Arquitens No Squad
Faction: Imperial
Commander: Darth Vader

Assault: Most Wanted
Defense: Contested Outpost
Navigation: Minefields

Imperial II (120)
• Darth Vader (36)
• Wulff Yularen (7)
• Gunnery Team (7)
• Electronic Countermeasures (7)
• SW-7 Ion Batteries (5)
• Devastator (10)
= 192 Points

Arquitens Light Cruiser (54)
• Intel Officer (7)
• Early Warning System (7)
• Slaved Turrets (6)
= 74 Points

Arquitens Light Cruiser (54)
• Intel Officer (7)
• Early Warning System (7)
• Slaved Turrets (6)
= 74 Points

Gozanti Cruisers (23)
• Admiral Titus (2)
• Comms Net (2)
= 27 Points

Gozanti Cruisers (23)
• Comms Net (2)
= 25 Points

Squadrons:
= 0 Points

Total Points: 392

Thoughts?

Great idea @Ginkapo . Time to work on that Ozzel fleet.

@RyonOlson try posting in the fleet building sub forum. But at first glance there are no issues with it.

2 hours ago, Bertie Wooster said:

You know, they often go together...Gunnery Teams and winning games...

If only I knew more opponents who would fly two ships into my front arc at any point ever...

Make a list composed of Nebs and Hammerheads

5 hours ago, Ginkapo said:

@BiggsIRL show us a new take on Riekan Aces! There are other squads worthy of the triple tap beyond Ten Numb, was always Luke for me.

You monster.

Okay, let's dance.

2 hours ago, PodRacer said:

If only I knew more opponents who would fly two ships into my front arc at any point ever...

Doesn't have to be just ships, or even your front arc. Ever have an opponent pound the same hull zone with squadrons and a ship at the same time, and you wish you could shoot at both targets?

I'm going to have to think about Motti Arquitens. Hmm...

You mean like play on a glass table and wake up to the underside of the remnants of Admiral Raddus' desperate bid to liberate Toshi station? Is that a scotch match, or an Imperial stout?

Name: Rieekan's Renegades
Faction: Rebel
Commander: General Rieekan

Assault: Opening Salvo
Defense: Fighter Ambush
Navigation: Superior Positions

Nebulon-B Escort Frigate (57)
• Flight Commander (3)
• Yavaris (5)
= 65 Points

GR-75 Medium Transports (18)
• Leia Organa (3)
• Slicer Tools (7)
= 28 Points

Hammerhead Torpedo Corvette (36)
• External Racks (3)
• Task Force Organa (1)
= 40 Points

Hammerhead Torpedo Corvette (36)
• External Racks (3)
• Task Force Organa (1)
= 40 Points

Hammerhead Scout Corvette (41)
• General Rieekan (30)
• Lando Carissian (4)
• Task Force Organa (1)
= 76 Points

Squadrons:
• Dutch Vander (16)
• Luke Skywalker (20)
• Wedge Antilles (19)
• Han Solo (26)
• Hera Syndulla (28)
• Jan Ors (19)
= 128 Points

Total Points: 377

You know what? You don't need Adar Tallon to triple tap with Yavaris. Hera giving your best pilots Rogue will do the same trick. Han can double tap all by himself. Dutch / Wedge clear fighters better than Ten ever could, after all Ten can't shoot back if he's already activated! Luke is the perfect Double Tapper for ship shooting.

Hammerhead Torps with TF:O are cheaper than SW7-90s ever were. Block, die, unload salvo and smash just like the good old days. Only now you're putting out Rerollable Blacks with your double arc shot.

377 bid gives you first player, unless you're up against something really dumb, then your 2nd player objectives punish them for bringing what few things want first player that badly.

@Ginkapo I have been too busy concocting other creative lists with what I already have opened to have time to open my Dictor! This is a meaningless excuse so I will open it soon!

(Actually my schedule makes it quite hard for me to play frequently so I end up making lists more than I play, which is why I have been languid about actually opening my new armada stuff )

3 hours ago, BiggsIRL said:

Name: Rieekan's Renegades
Faction: Rebel
Commander: General Rieekan

Assault: Opening Salvo
Defense: Fighter Ambush
Navigation: Superior Positions

Nebulon-B Escort Frigate (57)
• Flight Commander (3)
• Yavaris (5)
= 65 Points

GR-75 Medium Transports (18)
• Leia Organa (3)
• Slicer Tools (7)
= 28 Points

Hammerhead Torpedo Corvette (36)
• External Racks (3)
• Task Force Organa (1)
= 40 Points

Hammerhead Torpedo Corvette (36)
• External Racks (3)
• Task Force Organa (1)
= 40 Points

Hammerhead Scout Corvette (41)
• General Rieekan (30)
• Lando Carissian (4)
• Task Force Organa (1)
= 76 Points

Squadrons:
• Dutch Vander (16)
• Luke Skywalker (20)
• Wedge Antilles (19)
• Han Solo (26)
• Hera Syndulla (28)
• Jan Ors (19)
= 128 Points

Total Points: 377

You know what? You don't need Adar Tallon to triple tap with Yavaris. Hera giving your best pilots Rogue will do the same trick. Han can double tap all by himself. Dutch / Wedge clear fighters better than Ten ever could, after all Ten can't shoot back if he's already activated! Luke is the perfect Double Tapper for ship shooting.

Hammerhead Torps with TF:O are cheaper than SW7-90s ever were. Block, die, unload salvo and smash just like the good old days. Only now you're putting out Rerollable Blacks with your double arc shot.

377 bid gives you first player, unless you're up against something really dumb, then your 2nd player objectives punish them for bringing what few things want first player that badly.

You know, I'd play something like this.

@Ginkapo knocked up a Leia list and shall give a run about around London! It actually looks like it could work....

Ginkapo thank you for taking the time and effort into making these two threads. I will be making a Pelta list for sure now.

18 hours ago, RyonOlson said:

I've already got some ideas...

Name: Vader ISD Arquitens No Squad
Faction: Imperial
Commander: Darth Vader

Assault: Most Wanted
Defense: Contested Outpost
Navigation: Minefields

Imperial II (120)
• Darth Vader (36)
• Wulff Yularen (7)
• Gunnery Team (7)
• Electronic Countermeasures (7)
• SW-7 Ion Batteries (5)
• Devastator (10)
= 192 Points

Arquitens Light Cruiser (54)
• Intel Officer (7)
• Early Warning System (7)
• Slaved Turrets (6)
= 74 Points

Arquitens Light Cruiser (54)
• Intel Officer (7)
• Early Warning System (7)
• Slaved Turrets (6)
= 74 Points

Gozanti Cruisers (23)
• Admiral Titus (2)
• Comms Net (2)
= 27 Points

Gozanti Cruisers (23)
• Comms Net (2)
= 25 Points

Squadrons:
= 0 Points

Total Points: 392

Thoughts?

Very interesting list. IMHO Reinforced Blast Doors are often better at Arquitens and cheaper than EWS . And I don't get the idea behind taking Wulff Yularen .

And it could be a drawback to bring "Minefield" with no squads if your opponent has one or two Lambda or VCX-100. With so many ships you could eventually have fun with "Sensor Net"?

21 hours ago, Ginkapo said:

@geek19 a tie is admirable, but I am sure we all want to see you step it up a gear.

in 2019 I'm going to try:

Palpatine for the first time.

Piett for the first time.

maybe even Ozzell for the first time, but probably not.

For Rebels - will try more Garm, and Leia.

21 minutes ago, Crabbok said:

For Rebels - will try more Garm, and Leia.

I am Primary an Imperial Player, but have recently gone on a Reble stint as rebles are not seeing very much play in my meta, and just want to show they still have what it takes, I have also explored with Leia and Garm, Garm was my go to guy in wave one and have come up with list for both Leia and Garm that I have had not only great fun with, but great success with as well.

Here is my Garm List

Assault: Precision Strike
Defense: Fire Lanes
Navigation: Superior Positions

Assault Frigate Mk2 B (72)
• Garm Bel Iblis (25)
• Caitken and Shollan (6)
• Boosted Comms (4)
• Electronic Countermeasures (7)
• Enhanced Armament (10)
= 124 Points

Assault Frigate Mk2 B (72)
• Flight Controllers (6)
• Boosted Comms (4)
• Electronic Countermeasures (7)
• Enhanced Armament (10)
= 99 Points

GR-75 Medium Transports (18)
• Toryn Farr (7)
• Comms Net (2)
= 27 Points

GR-75 Medium Transports (18)
• Ahsoka Tano (2)
• Bomber Command Center (8)
• Bright Hope (2)
= 30 Points

Squadrons:
• Gold Squadron (12)
• Green Squadron (12)
• Norra Wexley (17)
• Jan Ors (19)
• Y-wing Squadron (10)
• Wedge Antilles (19)
• Dutch Vander (16)
• VCX-100 Freighter (15)
= 120 Points

Total Points: 400

Its a fun list you usually out deploy your opponent, with flotilla+squadrons then place the two AF's in such a way that your opponent has to turn into there side archs to get shoots off at them and while they fly right into your side archs your squadrons will be waiting for them. Ahsoka+Garm gives your ships a lot of flexibility, you need a nav to speed up/slow down you got it need to redirect shields to the side that is taking the beating you got it, want to command 4 squadrons and not just 3 you got it, your the non-caitken and shollan, ship here is a con-fire token to make sure your attack does not wiff. its a simple but well balanced list, and Garm really shies in it.

My Leia list

Assault: Opening Salvo
Defense: Planetary Ion Cannon
Navigation: Solar Corona

Pelta Assault Ship (56)
• Leia Organa (38)
• Lando Carissian (4)
• Intensify Firepower! (6)
• External Racks (3)
= 107 Points

Pelta Assault Ship (56)
• Skilled First Officer (1)
• Entrapment Formation! (5)
• External Racks (3)
= 65 Points

CR90 Corvette B (39)
• Heavy Ion Emplacements (9)
= 48 Points

CR90 Corvette B (39)
• Heavy Ion Emplacements (9)
= 48 Points

CR90 Corvette B (39)
• Heavy Ion Emplacements (9)
= 48 Points

CR90 Corvette B (39)
• Heavy Ion Emplacements (9)
= 48 Points

GR-75 Medium Transports (18)
• Toryn Farr (7)
• Bright Hope (2)
= 27 Points

Squadrons:
= 0 Points

Total Points: 391

This list is really fun, you have super high damage output on the corvette B's with a con fire and double arch its possible to inflict 9 damage from these guys. one pelta with Entrapment Formation make it easier to take a con fire, and the Intensify Firepower Pelta helps all your ships do a consistent 3 damage, out each arch, you will con fire in on the side arch 90% of the time both Toryn Farr, and Leia provide re-rolls for Heavy Ion Emplacements to trigger. You could make an argument for taking Rieekan over Leia in this list, but I really do like the re-rolls for damage output and to help trigger HIE. against squadrons it actually performs fairly well, you deploy the 90's like picket ships around the two peltas, and Bright Hope and you get to reroll your one blue flack from each 90 with Toryn Farr, damage adds up fast and you have bright hope and the peltas with ex-racks finish the squads off.

23 minutes ago, Triangular said:

Very interesting list. IMHO Reinforced Blast Doors are often better at Arquitens and cheaper than EWS . And I don't get the idea behind taking Wulff Yularen .

And it could be a drawback to bring "Minefield" with no squads if your opponent has one or two Lambda or VCX-100. With so many ships you could eventually have fun with "Sensor Net"?

Wulff was initially in there as a generator for engineering tokens, while the Gozantis supplied the Arquitens with Nav tokens. I've revised the list, swapping Wulff for Brunson.

The choice of EWS over RBD was mainly because I had the points for it.

I admit, I've only played Sensor Net once, so I'm not familiar with it.

@Ginkapo I accept your challenge! Thanks for the shout out.