Looking forward to getting my bombers soon and I've been trying to figure out good lists. Just for a basic idea I've been thinking about having Rhymer with advanced torps and Jonus with a concussion missile, escorted by either Backstabber or Dark Curse and two Obsidian squadron pilots.

What other options might we have to keep the bombers from being blown away before doing their dark business? Unlike the B-wings I'm not sure that the bombers are going to very useful once their heavy weapons are spent or if they don't get the chance to shoot them.

I am planning on using Jonus as a support ship to my HLC Firespray with Krassis for 3 attack rerolls off of the cannon. Protect that with Mauler/Expose for close range and an academy pilot.

We will see how this goes but I think it should be pretty good in action if I somehow manage to fly it right.

I used the shuttle to pass target locks to my 3 scimitar squadron pilots that each had an advanced proton torpedo. It worked out rather well.

I think they are durable enough to get the initial salvo off. I've heard three plus missiles plus torps is good.

They seem to have a high fear factor, and are often targeted first.

hmmmm,

fear factor................

that there is a tool worth exploiting,

that is a common tactic of mine, if i know my enemy is afraid of a certain model i try to positiion it in such a way that he cannot resist attacking it with as many things as he can, but i have to do this in a manner that is benificial to me. if i wait till the right moment i can draw his units into the right position and yes i may lose that model he is afraid of, but do i do enough damage with drawing him out to be worth losing it? most of the time. even better is when luck might have it, the fear inducing model survives almost undamaged and i have broken my enemies back because he over committed to 1 model/unit.

it is most fullfilling

I will play

Jendon with Squad leader

3x Scimitar squadron

Then you are at 72 points if i remember right.

So you choose 2 missiles/torps for every Scimitar, that way you have 6 secondaries to be fired. That should soften up even the most resilient of enemy squadrons. After that it should be cleanup duty. i think 2 is the number of ordnance you should take on one ship, but not more because otherwise it's just too risky, and this way even after firing the first missile/torp your Bomber can't be ignored.

I played Rhymer with two advanced torps and Marksmanship with Jendon to pass locks onto him and Jonus with Draw Their Fire to reroll dice for Rhymer and Jendon (with HLC) and take a crit or two from Rhymer if needed.

Second turn I was in range 2 of Wedge hiding behind an asteroid with a Stealth Device. Its practically a guaranteed hit with the above combination. Between Jonus rerolling bad dice and the torp's text turning blanks into eyeballs and Marksmanship acting like super focus I nailed 5 hits. Even if Wedge rolled all evades it still was going past his Stealth Device. Jendon cleaned him up with the HLC.

Third turn Rhymer launched the rest of his payload at Jan Orrs and smoked her off the table in one shot, another 5 hits!

The rebels never recovered after that. Rhymer didn't do much after his torps were gone and he eventually bit the dust but after cutting down half the opposing force he earned his rest. Jonus barely had a scratch and the shuttle only lost 1 or 2 shields.

Honestly, I probably didn't need the Marksmanship, a plain Focus action would have done just as well. I could have loaded a bomb or something instead.

Well indeed Rhymer with advanced torps and an additional action is really nasty. But if you play anything that can absorb the 2 torps and strike back, all you have is the shuttle and its HLC to follow up. And that one is really easy to outmanoeuver.

So great list if you can eliminate 1-2 elite enemy ships right away. But against a swarm, or a lucky frog squadron where someone can keep Biggs alive for more than one turn you will be really hard-pressed. Even HSF will survive your torps if he is a little lucky and then it might get really difficult to ever even shoot him again with that list of trucks...

I don't think I have rolled less than 5 hits with adv torps!

Oh i don't doubt that at all but thats 2 dead Tie Fighters in a swarm of 8 if you are lucky. And they don't evade like hell...

Earlier today I played Kallis with a Heavy Laser Cannon and Gunner. Jonus had Proton Torpedoes and Advanced Proton Torpedoes. I also had Howlrunner because I had 20 or so points at that point left over. It wasn't enough to last against most lists. I was always able to get Jonus off. I think double Tie Bomber with the Shuttle sounds awesome or maybe even Kallis with HLC, Rhymer with HLC, and Jonus with Torpedoes might work. I'll try it out once I can get my hands on a shuttle.