Since Second Edition started, I've been trying all sorts of things hoping to find something that feels right to me. Last week I tried an experiment with the Resistance and while it was kinda fun, it really just didn't work out at all. I think I learned something from it though, and that's the fact that I'm not quite good enough (in tactics or list-building) to make good use out of 2-dice attacks.
Looking for ships that both have 3-dice attacks and ships that I'm fond of, I realized the Imperials have things I can work with. I've thought of two lists here, but they both have their pros and cons. Before I get into them, I'll mention that I'm playing fairly casually. These won't be super optimal lists, and I don't really want them to be. The other players have fairly solid lists though, so don't let me get away with too much sloppiness.
TIE/in Interceptor - Alpha Squadron Pilot - 34
Alpha Squadron Pilot - (34)
TIE/ph Phantom - Sigma Squadron Ace - 50
Sigma Squadron Ace - (46)
Juke (4)
Lambda
-class T-4a Shuttle - •Captain Kagi - 63
•Captain Kagi -
The Emperor’s Shuttle Pilot
(48)
•Emperor Palpatine (13)
Tactical Scrambler (2)
TIE/ph Phantom - Sigma Squadron Ace - 50
Sigma Squadron Ace - (46)
Juke (4)
Total: 197/200
I've done something like this before and it was successful. I tried to draw a lot of fire with the Lambda and made some well-timed uses of the Stop maneuver while the escorts circled around to pick off targets. The main thing that concerns me about this one is that I'm really nervous about running four ships. It's one of the things I keep doing, but I think one of my problems is that I can't seem to really keep track of more than three. I start forgetting pilot abilities or simply make basic maneuvers on one ship until I'm down one. I'll probably learn to do it some day, but I think I'm trying to do too much too fast and I'm just getting burned out instead.
TIE/ph Phantom - Sigma Squadron Ace - 64
Sigma Squadron Ace - (46)
Juke (4)
Advanced Sensors (8)
Shield Upgrade (6)
Lambda
-class T-4a Shuttle - •Captain Kagi - 71
•Captain Kagi -
The Emperor’s Shuttle Pilot
(48)
Advanced Sensors (8)
•Emperor Palpatine (13)
Tactical Scrambler (2)
TIE/ph Phantom - Sigma Squadron Ace - 64
Sigma Squadron Ace - (46)
Juke (4)
Advanced Sensors (8)
Shield Upgrade (6)
Total: 199/200
This is my attempt to reduce the list to three ships, but this runs into my problem with running three ships. I feel like I just have to start stuffing upgrades in there to fill out the points. I vaguely recall Advanced Sensors being good on the Phantom, but I can't remember the timing for everything off the top of my head (that's something that I would be able to work out once playing though). You might also notice that I didn't use Whisper. I have a hard time with named pilots if I have more than one of that ship, because I start forgetting who is who.
Obviously, you all won't be able to know what will and won't work for me, but I just wanted to give some context for my questions. I guess I'm asking two main things at the moment. Do either of these look decent? Is there any obvious combo I should memorize and not mess up while flying them?