https://nichurz.wixsite.com/mysite/post/where-are-you-msu

Always in motion, the future is

Nice write up! All I 'd like to add, is at my local gaming store double accuracy generating builds also common, which not really favors MSU as well.

I hope we will see some kind of fix to MSU.

Why were people arguing about MSU not being dead in other threads. And problems with mass squads still not addressed.

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yep this states it plainly for all the deniers.

23 minutes ago, Blail Blerg said:

Why were people arguing about MSU not being dead in other threads. And problems with mass squads still not addressed.

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yep this states it plainly for all the deniers.

This article actually states that MSU isn't dead (if you read to the end) and the counters to MSU he gives as examples (7 activation LMSU) don't have many squads.

3 minutes ago, Bertie Wooster said:

This article actually states that MSU isn't dead (if you read to the end) and the counters to MSU he gives as examples (7 activation LMSU) don't have many squads.

Reading is for NERDS though and gets in the way of my feelings

9 hours ago, Blail Blerg said:

Why were people arguing about MSU not being dead in other threads. And problems with mass squads still not addressed.

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yep this states it plainly for all the deniers.

Please let others have there own threads

9 hours ago, Blail Blerg said:

And problems with mass squads still not addressed.

In my opinion the mass aces is the problem, since they are exceptionally hard to shoot down.

In my opinion Strategic Adviser and Governor Pryce have hit MSU the hardest, even harder than squads (although one often goes with the other).

After using large ship builds ever since Wave 8, this weekend, my roommate and I decided to shake things up so we played a MSU vs MSU match inspired by the OP's link.

I modified the Imperial MSU build based on my preferences and what has worked for me in the past:

Romodi OTB-OBPC-Cat 3x Arq-LC GozA-ST-Sup Goz-CN

Assault: Opening Salvo
Defense: Asteroid Tactics
Navigation: Infested Fields

Onager Testbed (96)
• General Romodi (20)
• Strategic Adviser (4)
• Gunnery Chief Varnillian (6)
• Ordnance Experts (4)
• Orbital Bombardment Particle Cannons (5)
• Cataclysm (5)
= 140 Points

Arquitens Light Cruiser (54)
• Captain Needa (2)
• Turbolaser Reroute Circuits (7)
• Hand of Justice (4)
= 67 Points

Arquitens Light Cruiser (54)
• Turbolaser Reroute Circuits (7)
= 61 Points

Arquitens Light Cruiser (54)
• Reinforced Blast Doors (5)
• Dual Turbolaser Turrets (5)
= 64 Points

Gozanti Assault Carriers (28)
• Reeva Demesne (4)
• Slicer Tools (7)
• Suppressor (4)
= 43 Points

Gozanti Cruisers (23)
• Comms Net (2)
= 25 Points

Total Points: 400

My roommate chose to use 394-point Rebel MSU build.

I won an 8:2 victory and both of us enjoyed using the MSU builds. Although the scoring seems lop-sided, it was actually an intense, nail-biting match.

I suffered a couple of early losses that warranted a "Don't get cocky" quote. My roommate had spread out his ships during Deployment to counter my Onager's OBPC, and that left nowhere for Suppressor to go, and it got one-shotted by a Hammerhead's Opening Salvo (although the Goz-A had Scattered another HH's OS attack earlier that round, so at least Reeva Demesne did something). My roommate heavily damaged Hand of Justice with his Liberty's Opening Salvo and then finished it off at the start of Round 3 by unexpectedly activating Liberty first. But I immediately got him back with a devastating close-range Ignition shot from Cataclysm; with Romodi and Concentrate Fire's extra dice, and Ordnance Experts, Varnillion, and a CF token's rerolls, I rolled 14 damage! It was Braced to 7, but it was enough to deplete the Liberty's front shields and inflict 4 damage. I activated an Arq next and finished off the Liberty.

After Round 3, Onager wasn't able to use its Special Arc anymore because my roommate had maneuvered his Pelta and one-remaining Hammerhead to the OTB's rear, and spent the remainder of the match chasing it across the mat and grinding down its hull points. Fortunately, I landed on the Space Station and had a Repair command queued, which allowed me to discard Damaged Munitions and Disengaged Fire Control, which was spoiling Romodi's ability. I also used Nav tokens passed from the Gozanti to increase to Speed 3 and outrun the Pelta.

It was a tense and thrilling chase that ended just as my 2 Arqs had maneuvered into range of the Pelta and Hammerhead. Lando spoiled an obstructed shot that would've inflicted a damage card to the Pelta and scored me more points; but I used Reinforced Blast Doors the last round to discard a single damage card, so I guess it evened out.

The MSU builds were well crafted and a lot of fun to play. It's great that the Onager can work in a MSU build because the OTB is less than 100 points. However, based on my battle experience, I don't think the Onager will be able to use its Special Arc after Round 3 because small ships will reach its flanks. It might actually be worthwhile to switch to the Onager Star Destroyer so its other arcs are more effective.

I think the obvious flaw of the Rebel MSU build was that it put most of its eggs into the Liberty, which made it very intimidating, but it was easy prey for the Onager. A Liberty isn't tanky enough, even with Agate, to take an Onager head-on. My roommate admitted that the obstacles limited his movement options and his mistake was not taking the long way around the obstacles and avoiding the Onager's Special Arc.

Against the Onager MSU build, it would probably be smarter to use 2 MC30s instead of the Liberty. Perhaps one of the MC30s would get destroyed by the OTB, but the other MC30 would outflank and destroy it.