I need some help deciding what to run on Redline. His wing mates will be Vader with Auto Thrusters + Passive Sensors and Grand Inquisitor.

Why run Passive sensors on Redline? Is two locks and a calculate better than a Focus and a single Lock? Why else would Passive Sensors be so desirable on I5 Redline?

The only other upgrade I'm running is Proton Torpedoes for Redline.

12 minutes ago, RedSquadBW said:

Why run Passive sensors on Redline? Is two locks and a calculate better than a Focus and a single Lock? Why else would Passive Sensors be so desirable on I5 Redline?

That's quite a nice little trick.

Focus + single lock is clearly going to more effective against a single target, his I5 is decent for ensuring you get that. But it is less flexible and doesn't threaten I5/6 with a bigger bid half so well.

The single biggest factor for me is Advanced Sensors. He gains stupidly from it. It could be a neat way to run him cheaper, if there is any real nuance to what he can do without Sensors....

The good of Redline with Passive Sensors:

1) As above: major threat to fragile I6/I5 that need to jump range bands going from 3 to 1 to arc dodge or gain benefits (Fel, Fenn, Nantex, etc)

2) Focus Fire: With Vader and GI, you may be able to nuke a target without needing the torp due to previous damage or just a low hull ship. If you spaced a torrent or droid with the other two you can shove a torp up the exhaust of another target. Instead of losing the shot. BUT if you have a particular pesky little beast Red can still finish it off.

3) Poor Man’s AS: The signature move of old Redline with AS was taking a focus TL before ripping off that 0 or 4K, or bumping. Redline is so sadly easy to block or gain range 1 on. AS was the major unlock of Red’s full potential. Now it’s expensive. PS can kinda work as a budget AS. Roll up, take PS action, gain lock on subject least able to block you next turn, start of your engagement take Calc, gain lock on priority target. Or gain 2 on same target for your 0 or K.

3 hours ago, RedSquadBW said:

I need some help deciding what to run on Redline. His wing mates will be Vader with Auto Thrusters + Passive Sensors and Grand Inquisitor.

Why run Passive sensors on Redline? Is two locks and a calculate better than a Focus and a single Lock? Why else would Passive Sensors be so desirable on I5 Redline?

The only other upgrade I'm running is Proton Torpedoes for Redline.

One good reason for running Passive Sensors on Redline is that you can kind of skip the bid. In the old days, Redline really needed a huge bid, since if you moved before another Init 5, you were rather rekt. With Passive, you can roll in, spend the charge, and then Calc/Lock in the Engagement phase.

//

For build ideas, I wonder if cutting Proton Torpedoes might make sense. Grab Diamond Boron Missiles for both anti-swarm tech, and for cheapness. They're kinda sorta almost a 4-dice missile. This would also allow Advanced Proton Torpedoes for a super-nasty 5 dice at Range 1, and you'd be able to toss on Sense on either Vader or the Grand Inquisitor (right now, you're 1 point short on Sense). Sense can really help if facing another ace build. Once Redline knows where to go, the size of medium-base boosts and barrel rolls can really choke out space and get good blocks.

Can't say that's better than Proton Torpedoes--those can be quite nice. But just an idea to consider.

Hrm... Could Ion Torpedoes + Cluster Missiles be good? Ion Torps can really nail some aces, and Clusters can cleave some ships in the right circumstances, and Passive Sensors Redline can get the mods to actually support good Cluster Missiles attacks... Again, not necessarily better, but different and maybe worth considering.

I like the Dimond Boron + Adv. Proton with Sense option. It puts the list at 200, I'll see how it goes this week.

1 minute ago, RedSquadBW said:

I like the Dimond Boron + Adv. Proton with Sense option. It puts the list at 200, I'll see how it goes this week.

Oddly, I keep going back and forth on it.

But even if Proton Torpedoes are better, I still think it's nice to understand the alternatives, and know why you're making a decision not to use them.

Yeah, if I had the points for a bid and AS, I'd choose that over PS any day. But all together, you save a LOT with PS

So if I'm understanding this, Passive sensors is your action...then you get a lock, but then at initiative you get your lock or calc, so you take calc and the second lock?

Yup. It’s good PS - free lock - calc - free lock.