Well, let's get this started then.

For those familiar with my usual antics this will come as no shock. I pick a ship I really like, try and spam it, watch as it fails miserably, refine, try again, drink alcohol, repeat from step one in no particular order until I figure out exactly where it stands. I consider my work on the N-1 in this regard to have been quite successful really. Much of that box is now where, or close to where I said it should be points wise. And now I am looking at my newest bae, the LAAT.

Before we go on, I fully admit that I don't think there's a way for this to work. This so doesn't seem like it was designed to do anything but be a one off. That's the point. We're here to find that limit and then describe it. The cutting edge, even though I'm the one it's killing. Cuz YOLO.

My methods are pretty consistent. First try a list with a lot of thematic flavor and basic direction, and first order optimal strategy. So we created this....

First LAATs (197/200)
====================
LAAT/i Gunship: "Warthog" (54 + 14)
+ Cluster Missiles (4)
+ Plo Koon (10)
LAAT/i Gunship: 212th Battalion Pilot (51 + 12)
+ Barrage Rockets (8)
+ Wolfpack (4)
LAAT/i Gunship: 212th Battalion Pilot (51 + 15)
+ Multi-Missile Pods (8)
+ Clone Commander Cody (4)
+ "Fives" (3)

Objective: test various missiles, test out some clones, a Jedi, get the ship under my belt maneuver wise. Basic stuff. Field trials. Lose spectacularly in the most tragic wayyyy...itaminit. Why do I do this again? Oh right, so we can better the game with feedback.

For a trial run it has a remarkable and cool opponents list, and player of some accomplishment whose last exploits included MVP of the Outryder Cup for the Ravens. They had...

The Enemy (200/200)
==================
TIE/sf Fighter: Zeta Squadron Survivor (32 + 😎
+ Fire-Control System (2)
+ Concussion Missiles (6)
TIE/sf Fighter: Zeta Squadron Survivor (32 + 😎
+ Fire-Control System (2)
+ Concussion Missiles (6)
TIE/sf Fighter: Zeta Squadron Survivor (32 + 😎
+ Fire-Control System (2)
+ Concussion Missiles (6)
TIE/vn Silencer: Kylo Ren (76 + 4)
+ Advanced Optics (4)

(Smiles are "8 )", stupid shmexy list builder copy function )

And before we even go further, can we just take a moment to appreciate how much more efficient this list is at doing the exact same thing as the LAAT list? Better missiles similar coverage, better actions economy, more ships, better dice pools overall, less restrictions on mechanics, better mod potential, and more. It's super solid all around. And it understandably destroyed me.

So where did I lose exactly? The most obvious was with Warthog/Koon. Warthog does you no good when they are the same I. So, well, yeah, that sucked. Koon needs three actions to work, and at best you get... One. You need to be reinforced to trigger, but that costs your Force AND action. You also need a Lock, but that costs your action AND trigger, though you keep the Force, and somewhere in all of this you really need some Focus somewhere to actually get the rerolls your amassing to matter. Every time I wanted to do something, I was up against two bad internal trades to do it. The convergent fire ability helped, but I still need a hand somewhere throughout the process and it didn't exist. No linked actions for poor me. Lesson learned on Warthog/Koon? Don't do it.

Cody/Fives was also pretty obvious. The missiles pods on that platform worked better, but ironically failed ultimately. I was able to get two bullseye arcs back to back by sheer dumb luck. But because I did I couldn't actually use the multi-missile pods to a greater effect since they only have five tokens, so three got spent the first time and there was only two left for the second. The first salvo with some help from the other two LAATs did the job to kill one Zeta. But that was basically the whole load across my whole list to just accomplish that one small kill. Then because the missiles were working, Cody/Fives was wasted for the first half of the game. Triggered only twice in the end, and between the two triggers and all the abilities, netted one measly damage. Not worth it. Lesson there? Same thing, don't do it.

Wolfpack died first and didn't have much time to do anything, so I'll hold off on it's judgement just yet.

So here at the post action of one game, not too much to do. Try and get more actions, try and capitalize on not having focus. That's The best I got right now. Next week going to try this list for the experiment.

Synch Barrage (200/200)
======================
LAAT/i Gunship: 212th Battalion Pilot (51 + 16)
+ Multi-Missile Pods (8)
+ Suppressive Gunner (7)
+ Synchronized Console (1)
LAAT/i Gunship: 212th Battalion Pilot (51 + 16)
+ Multi-Missile Pods (8)
+ Suppressive Gunner (7)
+ Synchronized Console (1)
LAAT/i Gunship: 212th Battalion Pilot (51 + 15)
+ Multi-Missile Pods (8)
+ Suppressive Gunner (7)

Why MMP over barrage rockets?

You only need a focus, which is a lot easier on Low Initiative ships to get than a lock.

Locks don't synergize with fire convergence, but focus does.

While you can't get 4-dice attacks, you have wayyy more charges to make consistent 3-dice attacks. And the extra coverage of the MMPs dosen't really matter when you put your bowtie to the side.

Also, suppressive gunner dosen't seem very good on low I. Your opponent need only do a blue move to clear one, and even if you get multiple depletes, you are now spending 2 + potential damage to cancel 1 potential damage against you, thus losing the damage race.

Here's my take:

Stupid LAAT list

(55) "Hawk" [Laat/i Gunship]

(8) Barrage Rockets

Points: 63

(51) 212th Battalion Pilot [Laat/i Gunship]

(16) Aayla Secura

(8) Barrage Rockets

Points: 75

(54) "Warthog" [Laat/i Gunship]

(8) Barrage Rockets

Points: 62

Total points: 200

So, here you have 3 double modded three dice attacks, that can't be initiative killed, with stress-free reposition.

Aayla let's you stay focused for the barrage rockets, but also let's you coordinate a clutch reinforce on a ship in trouble, or give an action to the higher-initiative Laats who are doing a red move.

I've done a bit of theory crafting and play testing, and Hawk with Plo and Cody has been a consistently decent piece.

(55) "Hawk" [Laat/i Gunship]

(10) Plo Koon

(4) Clone Commander Cody

Points: 69

(51) 212th Battalion Pilot [Laat/i Gunship]

(8) Multi Missile Pods

(4) Wolfpack

(1) Synched Console

(3) Fives

Points: 69

(54) "Warthog" [Laat/i Gunship]

(8) Multi Missile Pods

(1) Synched Console

Points: 63

Total points: 199

@Roller of blanks the only reason for the MMP at the moment is to get some more time with them to see just how well in general they could work, and also with the first trials errors and successes in mind I just want to see more real time with them to learn them. Ironically, The list still had 'barrage' in it's name since when I first made it all three had barrages instead because my initial feeling is that they will be more user friendly and impactful. Suppressive Gunner is kinda the same thing, just want to get a real good feel for it.

For MMP I'm hoping against hope that there may be some level of compounding factors of having a 180(or even 270 if I go that way) arc, dishing out mass deplete*, which will limit enemy movement and still help damage a bit, that will create a situation slightly better than it's parts. So for next run going to do a bit more deep dive into seeing MMP. At some point I'll convert that list back to its Barrage state and try that. I also want to try prockets at some point to be funny.

@Asaverino1019 I'll give that a try at some point. I did think that having Cody/Fives on the same boat that I figured would miss consistently would be a good idea. But after that ship hit more often than not I was thinking splitting them would be a better choice like you have it so you get a more general miss insurance across the list instead of in one spot. It was like the time I had heroic on four of five A-wings, and the only A-wing that whiffed all tourney was the one without heroic lol

So, I really don’t think triple LAAT is good but if I had to try it I think it would be this...

Warthog - Cluster Missiles, C-3PO, Cody, Synch Console

212th - Barrage Rockets, Wolfpack, Synch Console

212th - Cluster Missiles, Kit Fisto, Synch Console

14 hours ago, Stay OT Leader said:

So, I really don’t think triple LAAT is good but if I had to try it I think it would be this...

Warthog - Cluster Missiles, C-3PO, Cody, Synch Console

212th - Barrage Rockets, Wolfpack, Synch Console

212th - Cluster Missiles, Kit Fisto, Synch Console

Seems on the money. Load up on shots and mods for the shots, stay on the table to take the shots.

There's no tricks that will help 3x LAAT do anything other than be there shooting things till they're dead.

But there sure is some nonsense you can play around with, so you have plenty of options to have fun with while dying

Best of luck. I can only approve of the sentiment.

My favorite combo so far is running one with MMP and C-3PO. I like that I can keep my turret pointed to the side and still get rerolls on my MMP attacks using Fire Convergence. C-3PO also provides a pretty good defense for the ship with the ability reroll defense dice.

It's pricey, but makes for a fun ship that doubles for support and offense.

Sometimes too much of a good thing is just... too much. Like a bowl full of chocolate frosting, an entire bottle of Scotch, or three LAAT/i’s.

Moderation.

39 minutes ago, Cpt ObVus said:

...an entire bottle of Scotch...

Is a perfectly fine life decision that keeps me from offing myself for one more day on my weekends 😜

1 hour ago, ForceSensitive said:

Is a perfectly fine life decision that keeps me from offing myself for one more day on my weekends 😜

Oh, you’re also American, then?

I think the LAAT is super interesting because it is such a fence sitter in this regard.

It isn't like say... a Sheathipede... where you would never ever want to run more than one under any circumstances anyway.

But unlike some other 'you probably don't want to spam it' ships there isn't a super clear payoff for trying to make it work with brockets or something.

It is in this perfect uncomfortable conceptual space where you would probably never think to naturally run a group of them, but if asked if you could you would have to stop and ponder and be unnerved by it falling into this weird uncanny valley. Because I am sure there is some list that would be a solid tier 4 list for kitchen table play that could do some stuff with this, you know, not viable but still interesting and able to put up a fight vs other 'scrappies.' But its hard to pin down what that would be... It almost certainly involves Brockets though.

7 hours ago, Cpt ObVus said:

...an entire bottle of Scotch...

I took yesterday afternoon off from work and made quite a dent in a fresh bottle of Laphroaig. Haven't done that in a while. Was fun. 😎 🥃

5 hours ago, Cpt ObVus said:

Oh, you’re also American, then?

Heh. In my case it's been a semi-stressful couple of weeks at work and I just needed to blow off some steam. Can't get out to music or gaming events, so....

On 11/6/2020 at 2:00 AM, Stay OT Leader said:

So, I really don’t think triple LAAT is good but if I had to try it I think it would be this...

Warthog - Cluster Missiles, C-3PO, Cody, Synch Console

212th - Barrage Rockets, Wolfpack, Synch Console

212th - Cluster Missiles, Kit Fisto, Synch Console

Would you mind walking us through why you like this? (I can see sync console and Warthog with only 212s)

Do you fear about Cluster's range vs Barrage rockets?

3 hours ago, Blail Blerg said:

Would you mind walking us through why you like this? (I can see sync console and Warthog with only 212s)

Do you fear about Cluster's range vs Barrage rockets?

In case SOTL does mind....

They should live enough to close that range. Warthog will keep em on the table when they do.

After that, it's just eye mods and rerolls on 5x 3 die attacks. Wolfpack, Sync and FC gives them the rerolls everywhere. Kit, 3PO and focus give them the eyes, Cody helps land the follow up shots if the 1st 2 shots don't land. They come with HP to spare, so just chug up and shoot stuff.

Presumably, you then shoot the turret out the back/side, come about and hope for the best.

I fear Barrage Rockets range on a medium base that moves early and will close range and can’t k-turn. You’ll fire em once and never again.

So, Epic wise, played this last night, and the LAAT/Is were amazing as support for the N1 Bravos. . .

Ric Olié (45)
Deadeye Shot (1)
Collision Detector (6)
Adv. Proton Torpedoes (5)

"Hawk" (55)
Homing Missiles (5)
Cluster Missiles (4)
Wolfpack (4)

"Warthog" (54)
Barrage Rockets (8)
"Fives" (3)

“Sinker” (54)
Plasma Torpedoes (8)
Informant (5)

Bravo Flight Officer (33) x5
R5 Astromech (4)
Plasma Torpedoes (8)
Total: 497

View in Yet Another Squad Builder 2.0

I am not sure what to put on the latts but I already have a name for the list - Lat -at -tat

I like to spam too

On 11/7/2020 at 9:54 PM, Darth Meanie said:

So, Epic wise, played this last night, and the LAAT/Is were amazing as support for the N1 Bravos. . .

... Needs more LAATS, and less of everything else lol 😜

2 hours ago, ForceSensitive said:

... Needs more LAATS, and less of everything else lol 😜

Why you stuck up, scruffy looking, Nabruiser!! 😘 Although, I'm really gonna be in a fix when the v-wing comes to town. It's gonna be hard not to cheat on my cute little N-1s. 😎