Really curious about Ciena Ree crew. Her ability is really cool and janky, but I'm having a really hard time fitting her into a list that can actually use her. Here's the idea I'm toying with now:

Captain Kagi (48)
Advanced Sensors (10)
Jamming Beam (0)
Ciena Ree (10)
Electronic Baffle (2)
ST-321 (4)

Saber Squadron Ace (40)
Predator (2)

Saber Squadron Ace (40)
Predator (2)

Saber Squadron Ace (40)
Predator (2)

Total: 200

Obviously the idea is to do crazy dodge shenanigans with the Sabers, using the coordinate from Ree to stay unpredictable. I4 for all means that the coordinate can be used pre- or post-maneuver so the stress could be cleared for double-reposition and mod, or just some really crazy boost + 90° turn maneuvering. Unfortunately, there's no way it can stand up to I5+ aces without some type of Sense/Informant agent or some excellent blocking. 4x I5 would be a nightmare, and even Soontir/Vader would wreck this list.

Kagi can deny ordnance strikes on the Interceptors, but of course there are easier ways to make the Interceptors go pop, and on top of that, this shuttle is super bloated. I can't come up with another way of getting a reliable coordinate for the Sabers, but of course a 74-point shuttle makes target prioritization too easy. I thought about dropping the elites and title for Sloane, but that just makes the shuttle a juicier target.

Is Ree better used with a 2-ace list (Soontir/Vader or similar) or is she just useless until her points (and generic interceptor points) come down?

I played her once in a Striker/Reaper list. She makes Strikers super squirrelly and you can use her to turn off Adaptive Ailerons at will. The list was a lot of fun to play, but I definitely recognized my lack of experience with Adaptive Ailerons. Using Ciena on Duchess is probably almost as difficult as trying to fly Echo.

The list was something like this. I forgot what I did with the last few points, but I think it was hull or shield upgrades on the I4s.

TIE/sk Striker - •“Duchess” - 44
•“Duchess” - Urbane Ace (42)
Predator (2)

TIE Reaper - •“Vizier” - 55
•“Vizier” - Ruthless Tactician (45)
•Ciena Ree (10)

TIE/sk Striker - •“Countdown” - 45
•“Countdown” - Death Defier (44)
Crack Shot (1)

TIE/sk Striker - •“Pure Sabacc” - 45
•“Pure Sabacc” - Confident Gambler (44)
Crack Shot (1)

Total: 189/200

View in the X-Wing Squad Builder

Ciena definitely needs a points reduction, maybe to 6. She has a really high skill ceiling though, and a good player could really break her quickly if she gets too low.

I expect the better choice is to use her in a two aces list. You don’t need to do it often. You need it to be super effective when you do.

Please don’t get confused.

I want to try this list when I can play again.

TIE Reaper - Scarif Base Pilot - 55
Scarif Base Pilot - (41)
•Ciena Ree (10)
Tactical Officer (2)
Tactical Scrambler (2)

TIE/in Interceptor - •Soontir Fel - 54
•Soontir Fel - Ace of Legend (52)
Predator (2)

TIE/in Interceptor - Saber Squadron Ace - 41
Saber Squadron Ace - (40)
Crack Shot (1)

TIE/in Interceptor - Saber Squadron Ace - 41
Saber Squadron Ace - (40)
Crack Shot (1)

Total: 191/200

Omicron Group Pilot (43)
Jamming Beam (0)
Ciena Ree (10)
Hull Upgrade (3)
ST-321 (4)

Delta Squadron Pilot (70)
Jamming Beam (0)

Delta Squadron Pilot (70)
Jamming Beam (0)
Total: 200

View in Yet Another Squad Builder 2.0

This have worked fine for me. I think the idea of using her reactivly is a trap, the number of situations where a single dialed in move could be modified by her to correctly react to the opponent is so low it's not worth considering. Instead use her to make your own moves more unpredictable.

22 minutes ago, mcgreag said:

I think the idea of using her reactivly is a trap, the number of situations where a single dialed in move could be modified by her to correctly react to the opponent is so low it's not worth considering. Instead use her to make your own moves more unpredictable.

This is a great point. Its similar to flying Echo, Dalan Oberos, even AS Ryad.

The strength lies in how suddenly, and unexpectedly, you can shift your kill box.

Only had 1 game with Ciena, but she turned an I3 x1 into a particularly gnarly knife fighter for a couple turns.

I can't get 10pt of value out of it, I think. It's a hard thing to manage when it relies on a coord connection.

But-

1 hour ago, Phelan Boots said:

She has a really high skill ceiling though, and a good player could really break her quickly if she gets too low          

I agree with this.

Feroph seems an ideal caddy for her. I love Vizier as a Coord ship, but I find if he's too expensive and pivotal, I just lose him too fast. Prefer him really cheap.

She's *way* too expensive, both in terms of points and gameplay cost, and coming in at a maximum init of 5 (and then, only on a freaking decimator) really hurts.

With the stress penalty, she probably needs to be like, 2 or 3 points to be worth taking, especially given that she comes with a points tax of bringing tactical officer to make her not suck on anything other than a Lambda anyway.

7 hours ago, Blail Blerg said:

I expect the better choice is to use her in a two aces list. You don’t need to do it often. You need it to be super effective when you do.

Please don’t get confused.

Im in the process of full scale Ciena Ree trial. Gonna start doing batreps every week. Im using Ciena with Vader and Soontir.

Darth Vader (65)
Sense (6)
Fire-Control System (2)
Afterburners (6)

Soontir Fel (52)
Predator (2)

“Vizier” (45)
Ciena Ree (10)
Tactical Officer (2)
Total: 190

Vizier coordinates every round, either with ailerons, or tact officer. Vader uses sense to help Vizier know who to block, or able to arc dodge, as well and help vader know if he needs to 90 turn or not. I might try Maarek Stele w/ FCS afterburners over Soontir so I have two stressless ships to coordinate.

In my first test game with Ciena Ree, she was excellent with Vader. Allowed him to get range 1 on a Nein numb, and out of his arc on opening engagement.

Was something like this:

Vizier coordinated a b-roll to vader, who rolled into range of nein and grabbed a lock, then rotated right. Nein went 2 straight and vader 3 sharp left.

Also, a b-roll away from a rock, turn left, and 1 bank blue let vader do some unpredictable maneuvers

Later during the same game:

Was setup something like this:

After sensing Poe, and seeing he was doing a 2 sharp left, I knew where to aileron Vizier to arc dodge. Vizier aileron'd left to coordinate Vader a b-roll plus a focus and turn 90 left:

Nein went 2 straight and Poe 2 sharp left:

Poe was behind a gas cloud, so I switched target to Nein.

@wurms do you agree with my statement that one should look to use it where the effect is maximized, not to use the effect as often as possible / on as many ships as possible?

Also, that last engagement there is honestly a little mystifying, haha you look like you're in both ships arcs.

Just now, Blail Blerg said:

@wurms do you agree with my statement that one should look to use it where the effect is maximized, not to use the effect as often as possible / on as many ships as possible?

Also, that last engagement there is honestly a little mystifying, haha you look like you're in both ships arcs.

Yeah, landed in both ships arcs, but wasnt as bad as it looks. Vader behind a gas cloud, and single mod Poe. And Nein was only on I think 2 hull, so with vader attacking him, he either dies, or has to spend the focus to live, unless he rolls double natties. Vader took zero damage that round. After sensing Poe, I saw Vader was gonna be behind the cloud, so I didnt mind turning 90 degrees to try and finish Nein.

And yeah, you dont want to be forced into using her every round. I definately left the option open a couple rounds in the game, but you have to be careful, cause its like a decloak, and as soon as you use her, your opponent kind of knows what you are doing since you are stressed and most likely doing a blue maneuver. Like the b-roll near the rock above. As soon as I do that, its obvious the 1 bank, or maybe a 2 straight is coming from Vader. It's just if your opponent can do anything about it that matters.

This was my first game with her and just trying to get the tricks worked out and seeing what she is capable of. Im sure I could have done better moves than flying vader into two arcs, lol. But I LOVE the options that she gives. Vader can keep on any target with ease, making FCS fantastic. More reason I may switch Soontir to Maarek Stele.

More games coming soon

I have tried Ciena on both reaper and lambda. It is quite a point investment and I manage poorly with low ps transport. I am sure with some more practice It could be deadly. Clearly you will use her to navigate close to obstacle and get trick shots. But any mistake make your intercerptors crash. Also you'll have to read in the mind of your oponent, informant may be interesting if you have spear points (anybody tried?).

I realy want to make her work, she is not event registered into meta-wing so It might be a chalenge.

1 hour ago, wurms said:

Vizier  c  oordinated a b-roll to vader, who rolled into range of nein and gra  bbed a   l  ock       ,  then rotated right  . 

The timing on this works?

I'd assumed it didn't but the wording is a little funky.

Yeah. Can you really take another action there..?

'after you perform a action' means after you've co-ordinated, which in turn means after the target performs its free action. Since both the rotate and vader's extra action ability have the same trigger, I think you can chop and change the order.

9 hours ago, Cuz05 said:

I agree with this.

Feroph seems an ideal caddy for her. I love Vizier as a Coord ship, but I find if he's too expensive and pivotal, I just lose him too fast. Prefer him really cheap.

This. Vizier is good too, though. Being able to co-ordiate on the turn the Reaper pulls a segnor's loop - so a TIE interceptor or Duchess can do a "white K-turn" by rotating 90' then doing a blue turn (or aileron and blue bank) is great.

I think Vizier is probably best with Soontir/Vader, because as you say, if Vizier is the most expensive and awesome ship on the board, he gets shot and dies.

By comparison, if you've got a trio of strikers, I think Feroph might be better because he can afford to be front-and-centre without being shot to bits (or at least, if he is he'll take firepower to kill commensurate with his cost).

11 hours ago, Phelan Boots said:

The list was something like this. I forgot what I did with the last few points, but I think it was hull or shield upgrades on the I4s.

TIE/sk Striker - •“Duchess” - 44
•“Duchess” - Urbane Ace (42)
Predator (2)

TIE Reaper - •“Vizier” - 55
•“Vizier” - Ruthless Tactician (45)
•Ciena Ree (10)

TIE/sk Striker - •“Countdown” - 45
•“Countdown” - Death Defier (44)
Crack Shot (1)

TIE/sk Striker - •“Pure Sabacc” - 45
•“Pure Sabacc” - Confident Gambler (44)
Crack Shot (1)

Total: 189/200

I'd try this list quite happily with Vizier replaced with Feroph with a Tactical Officer. That's 193 points, leaving enough for a 6 point upgrade - I'd recommend either a Shield Upgrade on Pure Sabbac or Afterburners on Duchess.

Ciena Ree/Duchess/Afterburners is truly ridiclous, by the way. Strikers have always done a nice line in "where the bloody heck did you come from?" and this is one of the ultimate expressions of such.

"Weren't you out of range, going the other way?"

"Yes. What's your point? Have a focused range 1 shot."

I find myself wondering how Ciena Ree would work supporting Phantoms.

"We are going to be..... somewhere ."

1 hour ago, Magnus Grendel said:

I find myself wondering how Ciena Ree would work supporting Phantoms.

"We are going to be..... somewhere ."

Dammit. Now you got me wanting to fit her in one of my many Echo lists....

Although stress and Phantoms don't combine terribly well. Losing the evade is one thing, but the blues are a bit too fast.

Would be nutty though, with the appropriate amount of long term head scratching in the planning phase.

2 hours ago, Magnus Grendel said:

I think Vizier is probably best with Soontir/Vader, because as you say, if Vizier is the most expensive and aweso  me ship on the board    , he gets shot and dies.

Enough potent alternative threats here maybe....

(65) Darth Vader [TIE Advanced x1] (2) Fire-Control System. Points: 67

(45) "Vizier" [TIE Reaper] (10) Ciena Ree. Points: 55

(44) "Pure Sabacc" [TIE/sk Striker] (2) Trick Shot. Points: 46

(30) "Wampa" [TIE/ln Fighter] Points: 30.

Total points: 198

I have absolutely no idea how I would fly this btw

cienna ree should be 2 points.... max 3

7 hours ago, Cuz05 said:

The timing on this works?

I'd assumed it didn't but the wording is a little funky.

Yes it works if the b-roll or boost is first. I was trying to find anything regarding if a focus linked to b-roll or boost works, but the only thing I found in rules or otherwise is the precedence set for Sai's ability that says Sai can only do the action from the first coordinated action, not the linked action after coordinating. So Ciena most likely works only if boost or b-roll is first.

18 hours ago, Phelan Boots said:

I played her once in a Striker/Reaper list. She makes Strikers super squirrelly and you can use her to turn off Adaptive Ailerons at will. The list was a lot of fun to play, but I definitely recognized my lack of experience with Adaptive Ailerons. Using Ciena on Duchess is probably almost as difficult as trying to fly Echo.

The list was something like this. I forgot what I did with the last few points, but I think it was hull or shield upgrades on the I4s.

TIE/sk Striker - •“Duchess” - 44
•“Duchess” - Urbane Ace (42)
Predator (2)

TIE Reaper - •“Vizier” - 55
•“Vizier” - Ruthless Tactician (45)
•Ciena Ree (10)

TIE/sk Striker - •“Countdown” - 45
•“Countdown” - Death Defier (44)
Crack Shot (1)

TIE/sk Striker - •“Pure Sabacc” - 45
•“Pure Sabacc” - Confident Gambler (44)
Crack Shot (1)

Total: 189/200

View in the X-Wing Squad Builder

Ciena definitely needs a points reduction, maybe to 6. She has a really high skill ceiling though, and a good player could really break her quickly if she gets too low.

Dang. Who needs AS Guri?

I was always hoping my imperials would pull through for me on this front, and here we are. This is exactly what I was looking for.

10 hours ago, Manolox said:

cienna ree should be 2 points.... max 3

No. I could see an argument for as low as 6. Maybe 5. But beyond that she would be way too good for what she does.

52 minutes ago, ClassicalMoser said:

No. I could see an argument for as low as 6. Maybe 5. But beyond that she would be way too good for what she does.

considering that the best empire's crew carrier avaliable is i4 (except rac that clearly it's not a support ship) CR is a crew that could be difficoult to abuse also at 2/3 points.

an i5 or i6 ship probably wouldn't use CR ability so often because otherwise it would reveal its strategy and lose its initiative advantage.

other BIG thing to consider is that CR stress you.

and leia it's 2 (clearly need to be changed):)

i wouldn't use CR also at 6 points....

I think she would be a lot of fun in an Epic or large game.

Now that she is 6pt, any ideas on how to include her in your squad?

Ok, decided to visit Ciena's flying circus after the Jan20 points update. Hoe does this look?

Ciena's flying circus

(45) "Vizier" [TIE Reaper]
(6) Ciena Ree
Points: 51

(36) Saber Squadron Ace [TIE Interceptor]
(1) Crack Shot
Points: 37

(36) Saber Squadron Ace [TIE Interceptor]
(1) Crack Shot
Points: 37

(36) Saber Squadron Ace [TIE Interceptor]
(1) Crack Shot
Points: 37

(36) Saber Squadron Ace [TIE Interceptor]
(1) Crack Shot
Points: 37

Total points: 199

IDK.

Someone wanna give this a spin and report back to us?

"Vizier" (45)
Ciena Ree (6)
Tactical Officer (6)
Hull Upgrade (3)

Ship total: 60 Half Points: 30 Threshold: 5

Grand Inquisitor (52)
Sense (5)
Fire-Control System (2)

Ship total: 59 Half Points: 30 Threshold: 2

Darth Vader (67)
Sense (5)
Fire-Control System (2)
Afterburners (6)

Ship total: 80 Half Points: 40 Threshold: 3


Total: 199

View in Yet Another Squad Builder 2.0: https://raithos.github.io/?f=Galactic Empire&d=v8ZsZ200Z185X24W61W164Y169X75W113WY173X75W113WW105&sn=Unnamed Squadron&obs=

Alternatively, cut Tac officer and Hull to get 7th sister crew?