Getting ready for several Hyperspace tournaments this month. I've been practicing with an FO list, and I've posted here in various places, that I'm overall happy with. However, I have concerns about being able to compete with it against two types of opponents: Aces and Triple Upsilons. Here's the list:

TIE/vn Silencer - •“Recoil” - 61
•“Recoil” - Quantity Over Quality (59)
Predator (2)

TIE/sf Fighter - •“Quickdraw” - 59
•“Quickdraw” - Defiant Duelist (45)
Fanatical (2)
Fire-Control System (2)
Special Forces Gunner (10)

Upsilon -class Shuttle - •Lieutenant Tavson - 80
•Lieutenant Tavson - Obedient Shuttle Pilot (62)
Collision Detector (6)
Perceptive Copilot (8)
Advanced Optics (4)

Total: 200/200

View in the X-Wing Squad Builder

I don't have a bid and even QD has a lower initiative than Fen, Vader, Wedge, and Poe. So that's a bit of a problem. *Not lower initative exactly, but those ships typically take much larger bids than I have, is what I meant.*

So I can hope for the best with what I know this list can do, or I can practice with some other ideas that give me a better chance against what I'm likely to face in Hyperspace tournaments.Â

Alternative #1: The SF's:

TIE/sf Fighter - Omega Squadron Expert - 60
Omega Squadron Expert - (36)
Fanatical (2)
Fire-Control System (2)
Ion Missiles (4)
Shield Upgrade (6)
Special Forces Gunner (10)

TIE/sf Fighter - •“Quickdraw” - 75
•“Quickdraw” - Defiant Duelist (45)
Fanatical (2)
Fire-Control System (2)
Ion Missiles (4)
Shield Upgrade (6)
Special Forces Gunner (10)
Targeting Synchronizer (6)

TIE/sf Fighter - •“Backdraft” - 65
•“Backdraft” - Fiery Fanatic (41)
Fanatical (2)
Fire-Control System (2)
Ion Missiles (4)
Shield Upgrade (6)
Special Forces Gunner (10)

Total: 200/200

View in the X-Wing Squad Builder

Alternative #2: UYYY

BTL-A4 Y-wing - Gold Squadron Veteran - 45
Gold Squadron Veteran - (33)
Expert Handling (2)
Ion Cannon Turret (4)
Veteran Turret Gunner (6)

BTL-A4 Y-wing - Gold Squadron Veteran - 45
Gold Squadron Veteran - (33)
Expert Handling (2)
Ion Cannon Turret (4)
Veteran Turret Gunner (6)

BTL-A4 Y-wing - •Norra Wexley - 53
•Norra Wexley - Gold Nine (41)
Expert Handling (2)
Ion Cannon Turret (4)
Veteran Turret Gunner (6)

UT-60D U-wing - •Saw Gerrera - 54
•Saw Gerrera - Obsessive Outlaw (52)
•Leia Organa (2)
Pivot Wing (Open) (0)

Total: 197/200

View in the X-Wing Squad Builder

I feel like both alternatives offer more versatility in maneuvering. Ions can also help me with control. Alternative 1 has slightly less health but more agility. Alternative 2 has the best health option so maybe I can take a few more risks to get off perfect shots against an Ace. Alternative 2 also has a tiny bid and a strong Ace in Norra.

I'm used to flying three B's so I feel like my approach with the Y-Wings should be easy to transition to. Also pulling off that Leia move, possibly after an initial engagement, could be devastating. So, lots of thinking going on here. Welcome any feedback.

LOL apparently my computer doesn't like Squadbuilder. Fixed the embedded codes now.

I feel like the Ys + Leia U is probably the best list there. The only thing I'd consider changing is maybe adding Selfless to Saw. Pulling a crit might save a Y-Wing from death sometimes. The bid might be better. Just something worth considering.

I don't like the 3x SFs. They're all so heavily loaded with... what I'd consider some marginal upgrades. Ion Missiles are steaming garbage, and that's being excessively kind to Ion Missiles. Backdraft doesn't really need anything. There aren't tools like Afterburners or Advanced Sensors to help QD take advantage of their Init 6. It's possible to run QD and three Zeta SFs with Gunners if you want a high ship count, or otherwise I'd do something like this. Trim down Backdraft, possibly just FCS, maybe also Fanatical--never gunner on Backdraft! Just isn't worth the points if you can just turn away and get 3 dice. QD gets at least Afterburners and no missile. Fanatical/FCS has some appeal. Going Elusive/FCS/Pattern Analyzer/Afterburners is pretty cool, able to 1-hard or S-Loop, take an action, recharge the reroll which hopefully helps you lose shields slowly. I'm kind of fascinated by a Trick Shot/Advanced Sensors/Afterburners build. You can't use both AdvS and Afterburners on the same turn, but it gives you a lot of tools to leverage being high Init and maybe having a bid. Third ship could be a silencer. Fanatical/Optics or just Fanatical (or just Optics on Kylo) is kind of my favorite direction, but to each their own.

For Silencer/QD/Ups, I think it's mostly there. I'm not sure I'd bring Tavson with AdvO/PerCo, however--I'd go either/or. If it's Tavson, you'll probably have solid mods from taking damage and his ability. If flying a generic Starkiller Base Pilot, Optics and extra Focus is great. But both Tavson's action economy and AdvO/Optics (designed to get power from a singe action) seem a bit overkill to me. I'd pick either the upgrades or the ship ability, then free up points. Afterburners on Quickdraw and a bit of bid is what I'd go for. Recoil/Predator works fine, but its worth keeping in mind Fanatical on a First Order Test Pilot at 60 points. A bit different of a ship, but maybe the last point has a better use.

34 minutes ago, theBitterFig said:

I feel like the Ys + Leia U is probably the best list there. The only thing I'd consider changing is maybe adding Selfless to Saw. Pulling a crit might save a Y-Wing from death sometimes. The bid might be better. Just something worth considering.

I toggled back and forth with that for a while. I guess the bid is kind of irrelevant without an I6. There isn't that many other 5's out there being flown, especially in hyperspace. Luke or Old Teroch are the only ones that come to mind. I think I'll go with Selfless.

Also just realized that the conversion kit only has two Y-Wing dials even though I own 3. So I'll have to borrow/buy the new model prior to the tournaments. edit - My barnes & noble account just came in handy. Have one on the way while everywhere else online was sold out. Edit #2 - if you have the scum kit and the plastic rebel dials, this specific combo of pilots is covered. GSP’s have different backs since Norra was included as part of Wave 1.

As for Tavson, my vision is spending his first action on a coordinate/reinforce, then use his ability to gain the focus for the return fire. I want him to be a little versatile based on individual matchups. Either be a support ship or go into battle alone depending on what I'm up against. But usually a single ship trying to accomplish two different things doesn't go well.

All makes sense with Tavson. Just that if one of the goals is to get a bit of a bid into the list, that might be where I'd cut.

11 hours ago, theBitterFig said:

All makes sense with Tavson. Just that if one of the goals is to get a bit of a bid into the list, that might be where I'd cut.

I think I'm going to practice with the YYYU list. It's close to what I know and has health that will let me be a bit more aggressive.

On 2/11/2019 at 9:18 PM, theBitterFig said:

All makes sense with Tavson. Just that if one of the goals is to get a bit of a bid into the list, that might be where I'd cut.

I got some practice with this list and found PerCo/Optics to be great... when Tavson actually lined up a shot.

I think a better use of points throughout the game will be a shield upgrade on QD and Phasma on Tavson instead of those two upgrades.

Or I could leave off the shield upgrade for a decent bid.

After a bit of practice, I've discovered that the UYYY-Wing list isn't really working for me. I've had too hard of a time pushing enough damage through, and each game I've played has come down to MOV.

So I've decided to flip script a little bit after doing the Tavson/QD/Recoil list a few times. Here's what I've landed on:

Squad Leader gives me access to coordinate, which is a big factor in the Upsilon but I have the benefit of a more maneuverable ship with a multi-arc. QD is the same. The points from downgrading the SF has let me upgrade Recoil to Kylo. And I still have a few points to spare for an ok bid.

TIE/sf Fighter - Omega Squadron Expert - 56
Omega Squadron Expert - (36)
•Squad Leader (8)
Fire-Control System (2)
Special Forces Gunner (10)

TIE/vn Silencer - •Kylo Ren - 80
•Kylo Ren - Tormented Apprentice (76)
Advanced Optics (4)

TIE/sf Fighter - •“Quickdraw” - 59
•“Quickdraw” - Defiant Duelist (45)
Fanatical (2)
Fire-Control System (2)
Special Forces Gunner (10)

Total: 195/200

View in the X-Wing Squad Builder

EDIT: Thanks to the app not showing things like it’s supposed to, I forgot Squad Leader gives coordinate as a red action. I don’t like adding a stress mechanism to an SF, so I’m gonna downgrade to Fanatical and put a shield upgrade on QD and stay at 195.

6 hours ago, kempokid said:

After a bit of practice, I've discovered that the UYYY-Wing list isn't really working for me. I've had too hard of a time pushing enough damage through, and each game I've played has come down to MOV.

So I've decided to flip script a little bit after doing the Tavson/QD/Recoil list a few times. Here's what I've landed on:

Squad Leader gives me access to coordinate, which is a big factor in the Upsilon but I have the benefit of a more maneuverable ship with a multi-arc. QD is the same. The points from downgrading the SF has let me upgrade Recoil to Kylo. And I still have a few points to spare for an ok bid.

TIE/sf Fighter - Omega Squadron Expert - 56
Omega Squadron Expert - (36)
•Squad Leader (8)
Fire-Control System (2)
Special Forces Gunner (10)

TIE/vn Silencer - •Kylo Ren - 80
•Kylo Ren - Tormented Apprentice (76)
Advanced Optics (4)

TIE/sf Fighter - •“Quickdraw” - 59
•“Quickdraw” - Defiant Duelist (45)
Fanatical (2)
Fire-Control System (2)
Special Forces Gunner (10)

Total: 195/200

View in the X-Wing Squad Builder

EDIT: Thanks to the app not showing things like it’s supposed to, I forgot Squad Leader gives coordinate as a red action. I don’t like adding a stress mechanism to an SF, so I’m gonna downgrade to Fanatical and put a shield upgrade on QD and stay at 195.

If you want a cheap coordinator, Muse with Squad Leader is 38 points, and she clears a stress each round (maybe her own, maybe Kylo's, etc). That'd give a few extra points to play with, stuff like Hatred on Kylo, or maybe tweaks to QD's loadout. Muse isn't much of a threat on her own, though, and a stray Omega provides 3 red dice.

29 minutes ago, theBitterFig said:

If you want a cheap coordinator, Muse with Squad Leader is 38 points, and she clears a stress each round (maybe her own, maybe Kylo's, etc). That'd give a few extra points to play with, stuff like Hatred on Kylo, or maybe tweaks to QD's loadout. Muse isn't much of a threat on her own, though, and a stray Omega provides 3 red dice.

In the end game, Omega with Fanatical and FCS is gonna be tough. Essentially evade with it and QD after shields are gone. I figure Fanatical and the shield upgrade are overall a better value than the squad leader, if I get lucky with QD.

I think QD is the top priority here so I just have to position the others to take advantage of the enemy’s approach to QD. And if they try to go for Kylo first, I should be able to dance around the board with that dial and make it tough on them. The good thing about this list is all three ships are pretty self-sufficient.