I have had this thought for a while so here goes.

A while back I played a bit of Warmachine/Hordes and in that there was this idea of themed lists. These lists had fairly strict requirements for what models and upgrades could be included. If you met the themed requirements then there was a certain "benefit" applied to your list.

Is this something that would add to the game?

As an example - One I would love to try - Vader's Bounty Hunters

List must include - Boba, Bossk, 4LOM, Zuckuss, Dengar and IG88 as either pilots or crew.

I like the idea of thematic lists.

So there are the obvious ones

Millenium Falcon: Chewbacca pilot, Han Solo Gunner, C-3PO and R2-D2 Crew.

Ghost: Kanan Jarrus Pilot, Hera and Sabine Crew, Ezra Gunner paired up with Sheathipede shuttle with Zeb pilot and Chopper astromech.

Ironically I don't know the lore nearly well enough to come up with others.

The Idea is nice and as a Scum player i know the intention of bringing as much bounty hunters as possible.

But theres a huge problem with this. their Abilities wont fit together.

You can bring all 6 on only 2 Ships:

Bossk (64)
IG-88D (3)
Boba Fett (4)
Dengar (6)

Ship total: 77 Half Points: 39 Threshold: 6

4-LOM (49)
Zuckuss (2)

Ship total: 51 Half Points: 26 Threshold: 5


Total: 128

View in Yet Another Squad Builder 2.0: https://raithos.github.io/?f=Scum and Villainy&d=v8ZsZ200Z153XWWW36W16W80WWWY109XWW66WWW&sn=New Squadron&obs=

4-Lom with Zuckuss can actually work but you dont want IG-88 and Boba on Bossk. Dengar could be a thing, but most of the players want greedo or BT-1 gunner on bossk, which is not very themed.

I do´ not know how your "benefits" would look like, but they have to be huge because it costs you the synergies of your list.

Maybe it would be helpful if you only need to bring 3 of the 6 bounty hunters (maybe all as pilots as a requirement) to receive a small benefit. But bring all 6 is insane hard.

A themed benefit could be a kind of "predator" with requirements. - If you declare an attack and no other Bounty Hunter has the targeted Ship in its Bullseye-Arc, you can reroll an attack die.

What actually is worth are the"Brobots", a List full of robots - you can choose of different IG-88 versions and some other like 4-lom, Guri or L3. - Reward could be that all dmg cards relating the pilot won´t trigger -Robots are not that weak. Maybe some stronger is that Robots couldnt be stressed as easy as humans (except C3-PO - It is allways stressed ). So the first stress on them wont effect them. That would be Huuuuuge for Guri.

I´ have already read a thread about a List full of "Black Sun Members". This is not really hard to get cause many generics are Black Sun members. I have no idea how a benefit for them would look like.

I am interested how themed lists for the other fractions would look like.

From the Imperial perspective

Black Squadron

• Darth Vader
• "Mauler" Mithel
• ( Possibly Valen Rudor)
• Wampa
• Black Squadron Ace

Obsidian Squadron

• "Howlrunner"
• "Night Beast"
• Obsidian Squadron Pilot

Inferno Squadron

• Iden Versio
• Del Meeko
• Gideon Hask
• Seyn Marana

(Inferno Squadron is already designed to be used as a set, to be fair, since their abilities play off one another)

Saber Squadron

• Soontir Fel
• Turr Phennir
• Saber Squadron Ace

I'm hoping the 'wing leader' cards that are supposedly coming in the Epic supplement might well include stuff like this.

I mean, the classic themed list is probably Trench Run.

Luke Skywalker (62)
Instinctive Aim (1)
Proton Torpedoes (13)
R2-D2 (5)
Servomotor S-Foils (0)

Ship total: 81 Half Points: 41 Threshold: 3

Wedge Antilles (55)
Predator (2)
R2 Astromech (4)
Servomotor S-Foils (0)

Ship total: 61 Half Points: 31 Threshold: 3

Biggs Darklighter (48)
R2 Astromech (4)
Servomotor S-Foils (0)

Ship total: 52 Half Points: 26 Threshold: 3


Total: 194

View in Yet Another Squad Builder 2.0: https://raithos.github.io/?f=Rebel Alliance&d=v8ZsZ200Z4X73W136W3WW142Y5X127WW2WW142Y7XW2WW142&sn=Unnamed Squadron&obs=

That's probably the 'themeiest' version of the list I can think of, if not the most competitive.

But you can definitely make a very capable list with those three pilots if you swap some upgrades around (drop some dead weight like Insinctive Aim and Wedge can also take torps, for example).

Death Star II tunnel run is also an option:

Lando Calrissian (80)
Agile Gunner (8)
Nien Nunb (5)

Ship total: 93 Half Points: 47 Threshold: 7

Wedge Antilles (55)
Predator (2)
Servomotor S-Foils (0)

Ship total: 57 Half Points: 29 Threshold: 3

Jake Farrell (36)
Outmaneuver (6)
Lone Wolf (5)

Ship total: 47 Half Points: 24 Threshold: 2


Total: 197

View in Yet Another Squad Builder 2.0: https://raithos.github.io/?f=Rebel Alliance&d=v8ZsZ200Z43XWW76WW52WWWY5X127WWWW142Y50X126W124W&sn=New Squadron&obs=

4 hours ago, Whisco said:

you dont want IG-88 and Boba on Bossk. Dengar could be a thing, but most of the players want greedo or BT-1 gunner on bossk, which is not very themed.

I think it can sort of work, but obviously it's not exactly an optimised list.

There is one thing the Hound's Tooth shares with the Aggressor, and that's a cannon slot. You can run this:

Bossk (64)
Marksmanship (1)
Tractor Beam (2)
IG-88D (3)
Boba Fett (4)
Dengar (6)

Ship total: 80 Half Points: 40 Threshold: 6

IG-88B (64)
Jamming Beam (0)

Ship total: 64 Half Points: 32 Threshold: 4

4-LOM (49)
Zuckuss (2)
Mist Hunter (2)

Ship total: 53 Half Points: 27 Threshold: 5


Total: 197

View in Yet Another Squad Builder 2.0: https://raithos.github.io/?f=Scum and Villainy&d=v8ZsZ200Z153X125W13WW36W16W80WWWY82XWW12WWWWWY109XWW66WWW155W&sn=Unnamed Squadron&obs=

And pull some silly shenanigans.

IG-88B and Bossk now both get to double tap. Unfortunately, the cannon attacks come after the primaries, when you probably want them to come before, but it's still a max of five shots from three ships, plus some retaliation damage from Dengar.

IG-88 shoots first, and between the primary and the free jamming beam shot (about the only time it's any good) you're hopefully leaving your target without mods. Bossk then follows up, and with a ship that should definitely be tokenless after two 3 dice primaries and a jamming beam shot, you should be able to land the tractor shot and either shift it onto a rock for more damage, or at least reduce its agility for 4-LOM to finish it off.

It's three ships with 3 attack, and a total of 29 HP. That's up there with some of the beef lists.

All of those ships are missing upgrades they really want, no Adv Sensors on IG-88 or 4-LOM especially hurts.

But I don't think it's terrible .

For a bit of context, there's some folks at the game night at my FLGS who play mostly Warhammer 40k, did a little Warmachine for a while, and seem to be getting a bit into Infinity now. They're all super down on Privateer and the theme lists in Warmachine/Hordes as a business practice. It's their opinion that Privateer essentially designs their themes these days to boost up unpopular (cynically, the under-sold and over-stocked) models to broken levels, and that whatever armies had the most-recently updated themes tended to win all the tournaments. They compared it to how Games Workshop did WH40k like 10 years ago, and felt it was bad for the game.

Now, I don't necessarily hate the concept of thematic squads getting a minor benefit, but I think whatever benefits there are should be relatively small. X-Wing had a lot of power-creep towards the end of 1e, and whatever ship got an aces/veterans pack was usually on top.

2 hours ago, GuacCousteau said:

I mean, the classic themed list is probably Trench Run.

Luke Skywalker (62)
Instinctive Aim (1)
Proton Torpedoes (13)
R2-D2 (5)
Servomotor S-Foils (0)

Ship total: 81 Half Points: 41 Threshold: 3

Wedge Antilles (55)
Predator (2)
R2 Astromech (4)
Servomotor S-Foils (0)

Ship total: 61 Half Points: 31 Threshold: 3

Biggs Darklighter (48)
R2 Astromech (4)
Servomotor S-Foils (0)

Ship total: 52 Half Points: 26 Threshold: 3


Total: 194

View in Yet Another Squad Builder 2.0: https://raithos.github.io/?f=Rebel Alliance&d=v8ZsZ200Z4X73W136W3WW142Y5X127WW2WW142Y7XW2WW142&sn=Unnamed Squadron&obs=

That's probably the 'themeiest' version of the list I can think of, if not the most competitive.

But you can definitely make a very capable list with those three pilots if you swap some upgrades around (drop some dead weight like Insinctive Aim and Wedge can also take torps, for example).

Oh Wow! You´ are right. This List is not just strong, it is like a super strong themed list! I Dont know if the empire can match this.

2 hours ago, GuacCousteau said:

I mean, the classic themed list is probably Trench Run.

I think it can sort of  work, but obviously it's not exactly an  optimised list.

There is one thing the Hound's Tooth shares with the Aggressor, and that's a cannon slot. You can run this:

Bossk (64)
Marksmanship (1)
Tractor Beam (2)
IG-88D (3)
Boba Fett (4)
Dengar (6)

Ship total: 80 Half Points: 40 Threshold: 6

IG-88B (64)
Jamming Beam (0)

Ship total: 64 Half Points: 32 Threshold: 4

4-LOM (49)
Zuckuss (2)
Mist Hunter (2)

Ship total: 53 Half Points: 27 Threshold: 5


Total: 197

View in Yet Another Squad Builder 2.0: https://raithos.github.io/?f=Scum and Villainy&d=v8ZsZ200Z153X125W13WW36W16W80WWWY82XWW12WWWWWY109XWW66WWW155W&sn=Unnamed Squadron&obs=

And pull some silly shenanigans.

IG-88B and Bossk now both get to double tap. Unfortunately, the cannon attacks come after the primaries, when you probably want them to come before, but it's still a max of five shots from three ships, plus some retaliation damage from Dengar.

IG-88 shoots first, and between the primary and the free jamming beam shot (about the only time it's any good) you're hopefully leaving your target without mods. Bossk then follows up, and with a ship that should definitely be tokenless after two 3 dice primaries and a jamming beam shot, you should be able to land the tractor shot and either shift it onto a rock for more damage, or at least reduce its agility for 4-LOM to finish it off.

It's three ships with 3 attack, and a total of 29 HP. That's up there with some of the beef list  s.

 All of those ships are missing upgrades they really want, no Adv Sensors on IG-88 or 4-LOM especially hurts.

But I don't think it's terrible .  

It is as you said. not optimal at all.

I made the expirience that you dont need that much on 4-Lom, just use her as a stress dealing blocking ship.

Running a second IG88 besides the one on bossk is a nice idea, so you can bring up the best out of both in this case.

But I Think this has no chance against this Rebel List.

Scarif Rebel Squadron: 2 blue escort X-wings, 2 gray squadron y-wings with turrets and a blue explorer U-Wing with FCS and extra hull: 200pts.

I started a Black Sun themed list thread, lots of good options there:

What about this one for republic?

Heroes of Naboo: 200 points

I wanted to put proton torpedoes on alm of them but it just didn't fit, so I went for plasma on the Bravo and Dinee, with passive sensors to make the list a bit consistent. Ric has no torps because of his ability although thematically he should. Anakin has crackshot to represent how lucky he is with a single shot 😃

Slap-dash, but:

Scarif Response Flight

"Vizier" (45)
Director Krennic (4)
ISB Slicer (3)
Shield Upgrade (4)

Ship total: 56 Half Points: 28 Threshold: 5

"Duchess" (42)
Swarm Tactics (4)
Skilled Bombardier (2)
Proton Bombs (5)
Afterburners (6)

Ship total: 59 Half Points: 30 Threshold: 2

Planetary Sentinel (34)
Skilled Bombardier (2)
Proton Bombs (5)

Ship total: 41 Half Points: 21 Threshold: 2

Planetary Sentinel (34)
Skilled Bombardier (2)
Proton Bombs (5)

Ship total: 41 Half Points: 21 Threshold: 2


Total: 197

View in Yet Another Squad Builder 2.0: https://raithos.github.io/?f=Galactic Empire&d=v8ZsZ200Z185X28W38W165Y211X132W88W69W105Y213X88W69WY213X88W69W&sn=Unnamed Squadron&obs=

Just found out that Plo Koon discovered Ashoka. And since Ashoka was Ani’s Padawan, I think this fits a theme:

(62) Anakin Skywalker [Delta-7 Aethersprite]
(20) Delta-7B
(6) R2 Astromech
Points: 88

(44) Plo Koon [Delta-7 Aethersprite]
(4) Calibrated Laser Targeting
(6) R2 Astromech
Points: 54

(47) Ahsoka Tano [Delta-7 Aethersprite]
(2) Calibrated Laser Targeting
(5) Sense
Points: 54

Total points: 196

On 8/13/2019 at 12:27 AM, Whisco said:

The Idea is nice and as a Scum player i know the intention of bringing as much bounty hunters as possible.

But theres a huge problem with this. their Abilities wont fit together.

You can bring all 6 on only 2 Ships:

Bossk (64)
IG-88D (3)
Boba Fett (4)
Dengar (6)

Ship total: 77 Half Points: 39 Threshold: 6

4-LOM (49)
Zuckuss (2)

Ship total: 51 Half Points: 26 Threshold: 5


Total: 128

View in Yet Another Squad Builder 2.0: https://raithos.github.io/?f=Scum and Villainy&d=v8ZsZ200Z153XWWW36W16W80WWWY109XWW66WWW&sn=New Squadron&obs=

4-Lom with Zuckuss can actually work but you dont want IG-88 and Boba on Bossk. Dengar could be a thing, but most of the players want greedo or BT-1 gunner on bossk, which is not very themed.

I do´ not know how your "benefits" would look like, but they have to be huge because it costs you the synergies of your list.

Maybe it would be helpful if you only need to bring 3 of the 6 bounty hunters (maybe all as pilots as a requirement) to receive a small benefit. But bring all 6 is insane hard.

A themed benefit could be a kind of "predator" with requirements. - If you declare an attack and no other Bounty Hunter has the targeted Ship in its Bullseye-Arc, you can reroll an attack die.

What actually is worth are the"Brobots", a List full of robots - you can choose of different IG-88 versions and some other like 4-lom, Guri or L3. - Reward could be that all dmg cards relating the pilot won´t trigger -Robots are not that weak. Maybe some stronger is that Robots couldnt be stressed as easy as humans (except C3-PO - It is allways stressed ). So the first stress on them wont effect them. That would be Huuuuuge for Guri.

I´ have already read a thread about a List full of "Black Sun Members". This is not really hard to get cause many generics are Black Sun members. I have no idea how a benefit for them would look like.

I am interested how themed lists for the other fractions would look like.

Alternatively:

Boba Fett (85)
Fearless (3)
IG-88D (3)
Seismic Charges (3)
Contraband Cybernetics (3)
Slave I (2)
Adv. Proton Torpedoes (6)

Bossk (64)
Trick Shot (4)
Cluster Missiles (5)
Zuckuss (2)
4-LOM (2)
Dengar (6)
Rigged Cargo Chute (4)
Static Discharge Vanes (8)
Total: 200

View in Yet Another Squad Builder 2.0