I've been playing with getting the Decimator to work well again now that large ships are cheaper. My first attempt was Oicunn. It was a disaster. Chiraneau's ability is markedly easier to leverage and less gimmicky for being only 2 points more, so I've switched focus to him.

The core I'm looking at now is

(87) Rear Admiral Chiraneau, Minister Tua
(65) Lt. Sai, Darth Vader, ST-321 title
(48) ????

My first try had Vizier in the third slot, for Stupid Coordinate Tricks. Ailerons on a medium base forced him out of position too often.

Next was Duchess with Proton Bombs. The bombs were useful but would have been better on Chiraneau.

Overall weaknesses:

• Sai is a huge target with low maneuverability
• Duchess can die hella fast if she makes one mistake
• Just plain not enough damage output

Other options I'm contemplating for the remaining points:

Deathfire or Gamma Squadron Ace (for Coordinate reasons) with Barrage Rockets and Proton Bombs

2x Academy TIEs

Echo+Juke or Whisper, plus downgrade Vader to Krennic to free enough points

Thoughts?

Depends from how many bid do you want.....

I advise you tu have almost a little to be shure that ciraneau will be effective.

I would go for duchess but if you are afraid about her fragility go for ihe i2 bomber with barrage.

Anyway i think vader is better on chiraneau(he chan totate the arc)

An alternative can be take out vader crew and put inside tomax brenn with proton torpedoes and other things (and a little bid to move last to target lock better)

8 hours ago, Manolox said:

Anyway i think vader is better on chiraneau(he chan totate the arc)

That's many eggs in one basket. My opponent will definitely try to kill him first, then I lose.

Maarek Steele with FCS is a nice fit but no bid

I've been toying around with this and have had some success.

Rear Admiral Chiraneau (80)
Darth Vader (14)
Minister Tua (7)
Ship total: 101 Half Points: 51 Threshold: 8

Sigma Squadron Ace (46)
Juke (5)
Ship total: 51 Half Points: 26 Threshold: 3

Lieutenant Sai (47)
Ship total: 47 Half Points: 24 Threshold: 5

Total: 199

The Empire needs a drop in crew points. See: Leia vs Cienna.

Without boost and affordable crew, I just cannot figure out the modern Deci. Aside from an expensive Sloane carrier, the only thing I've thought of is to lean into the control pieces at our disposal.

Imperial AWACS

(78) Captain Oicunn [VT-49 Decimator]
(6) Death Troopers
(4) Dauntless
Points: 88

(47) Lieutenant Sai [Lambda-class T-4a Shuttle]
(4) ST-321
(3) Freelance Slicer
(3) ISB Slicer
(0) Jamming Beam
Points: 57

(47) Captain Feroph [TIE Reaper]
(3) ISB Slicer
(5) Director Krennic
Points: 55

Total points: 200

Large and medium bases tie up real estate, freelance says "sure, hit the shuttle." and slicers and death troopers keep mods from your opponent... And then you pray that is enough to let your beef prevail, but probably not.

BUT, you get to go home thinking about those few turns each match where you utterly dominated the activation phase, and take solace in small victories because you brought a dull blade to a laser fight.

There was a Chirpy, Sai and Redline build on stream today at the Chicago Systems Open. I can't remember the specific upgrades, but I do remember Redline having only protorps.

That leaves 9 points to add upgrades to taste.

Sai with the title and RAC with Tua are two VERY efficient pieces, both ending up with Reinforce/TL and RAC having his ability. For the rest, you're gonna want something that is, at least seemingly, less threatening than Sai, because you do NOT want Sai in the end game. Kestal with ICT, 5th Bro, and either LW or Predator fits the bill imo - she's more dangerous than she looks, but less pressing than Sai

I love the Decimator and have beeon tinkering with the list below. If they go after RaC first, the both gunboats need to pounce.

I had one game where a full health RaC was my end game ship against 3 resistance awings. I ended up winning because the most an awing could do damage wise was 1.

Rac Gunboats

(80) Rear Admiral Chiraneau [VT-49 Decimator]
(7) Minister Tua
(14) Darth Vader
(2) Hull Upgrade
Points: 103

(32) Nu Squadron Pilot [Alpha-class Star Wing]
(0) Os-1 Arsenal Loadout
(12) Proton Torpedoes
(3) Advanced SLAM
Points: 47

(32) Nu Squadron Pilot [Alpha-class Star Wing]
(0) Os-1 Arsenal Loadout
(12) Proton Torpedoes
(3) Advanced SLAM
Points: 47

Total points: 197

Unless you're limited to hyperspace only ships, I like an Inquisitor+SNR as a 46-point flanker.

I faced a list of 4 of them last week. Super annoying!