I've been developing lists that mix Bombers into a 6 tie swarm with mixtures of success. There are quite a few combinations, so I'd like to share the 2 I've had a chance to field.

#1 100pts

Howlrunner + Swarm Tactics

Black Squadron Pilot + Squad Leader

Scimitar Squadron Pilot + Concussion Missile x 2

Academy Pilot x 2

#2 100pts

Howlrunner + Determination

Captain Jonus + PTL + Concussion + Concussion

Academy Pilot x 4

What I'd like is some feedback into the validity of making room in a swarm for bombers. I mean, I am essentially trying to reduce a succesful 7 tie swarm down to 6 units by including bombers in the most efficient fashion.

List 1 dedicates a BSP to giving TL/F and Swarm Tactics helps the bomber shoot an ordinance without losing it in the tube, though both those abilties could just be wasted points put to actually giving Howlrunner defense.

List 2 uses Jonus solely for the Elite Pilot Talent for PTL, which does waste the points his aura provides. However, I do feel one time secondaries really need sometjing to baxk them up to be worth the points. This list also has more freedom to split the bomber off from the swarm and act by himself.

Does either list provide the same fear factor that a 7 tie swarm provides?

Any suggestions are welcome, though I've probably considered it. Opinions would be more welcome.

Captain Jonus' ability is useless in your second list. I would go with Major rhymer with an APT for the added threat to worry about.

Have you thought about:

Gamma Squad with Assault Missiles and Seismic Charges x2

BSP with PTL x 2

BSP with Squad Leader

Or you could do:

Howlrunner with ST

BSP with squad leader

Scimitar

AP x4

I don't think 4 or 5 TIEs counts as a swarm, I just call it using TIEs.

That being said, Jonus's ability is pretty much useless if you use him alone. Remember his ability only works on secondary weapons and then only on other ships.

If you are only going to use one TIE Bomber I recommend Major Rhymer, but he is 4 points more than Jonus

I did state that I know Jonus' ability is a waste. I was using him for EPT slot since lowering him down from Rhymer gives me 4 more pts for secondaries. And Rhymer + PTL + APT = 35 pts, meaning I cant include him with Howl + 4 ties, 1 pt shy. I do use that Rhymer + Mauler + 4 ties to success. I'm trying to keep Howlrunner for obvious reasons.

I could do Rhymer + PTL + Assault/Concussion, though I dont feel right with just one missile on one bomber with that many points. APT at least gives me 5 guaranteed hits. The missiles can still go badly. And I cant use APT with howl and 4 ties, as stated. I coukd try Rhymer with no PTL though, I might as well play a scim/gamma then for the pts.

There IS this list...

100pts

Howl + Squad Leader

Rhymer + APT

Academy Pilot x 4

quote name="Sergovan" post="916465" timestamp="1385414782"]Captain Jonus' ability is useless in your second list. I would go with Major rhymer with an APT for the added threat to worry about. Have you thought about: Gamma Squad with Assault Missiles and Seismic Charges x2BSP with PTL x 2BSP with Squad Leader Or you could do: Howlrunner with STBSP with squad leaderScimitarAP x4

problem here is you can't use BSP to squad leader a gamma

iI've been working on this problem myself, here are the lists I've tried.

howlrunner + squad leader

black + draw fire

gamma + concussion

scimtaar + APT

Scimitar + assault

100pts

took it to an 18 player tourney came 3rd after 5 games Swiss.

wish I had made gamma a Scimitar with seismic. full report in battle reports under Milton keynes tournament 2 if interested.

also tried

howlrunner + squad leader

BSP + draw fire

BSP

gamma + assault + seismic

gamma + APT + seismic

100pts

mixed success but needs more testing it suffers at hands of some squads.

Next two I want to test are

howlrunner + Sql + stealth

BSP + draw fire

BSP

gamma + APT

academy x 2

100pts

howlrunner + squad

mithel + swarm tactics

BSP + draw fire

scimitar + APT

academy x2

if you test any of these please let me know as I don't get to play that often.

hope this helps

I'm extremely fond of the idea of Howlrunner, Mauler Mithel, Backstabber, and 3 Scimitar Squadron pilots, with either Determination on Howl, Vet Instincts on Howl or Mauler, or just leave it at 99 for initiative. It's a swarm, but it has hull points galore...

Swampthing, I like the idea of adding just one bomber with an APT into the mix, I'll likely come try a variation on one of those lists.

Euroletho, that does look like a worthwhile swarm to play. I'd be pretty intimidated if I was matched against it. Of course, the Ties wikl be targeted first, but that leaves you with 3 bombers for dogfighting, which in my experience is a good position to be in.

My next list is a variation on Vader's escort that includes the bomber.

100pts

Omicron group pilot + Darth Vader

Scimitar squad pilot + Concussion x 2

Academy Pilot x3

The concussions have the potential to knock out shields for vader, and you can use the PS2 bombers to give some flexibility in keeping your Shuttle stationary with body blocks.

I've had a fair amount of success with:

Howlrunner, squad leader

Major Rhymer, APT x2, PTL

3x Obsidian Sq.

Rhymer seems to manage to fire both torps most games either using PTL to get TL and Focus or using squad leader from Howlrunner to stack on both for those guaranteed hits

How about:

100 points

The one thing I have found, and and it is an added bonus, is that throwing a bomber with APT into the swarm also draws fire from howlrunner. People seem to become fixated on the bomber.

I like the list above and might have to try it. I like the idea of Rhymer taking a focus and then getting squad leader to perhaps surprisr the enemy by barrel rolling nearer and target locking if nead be.

Again it draws fire from howl. The only thing is how expensive he becomes.

Having said that I am still tempted to tweek it and lose SqL and the obsidians to academy to give him a proton bomb.

All eggs in one basket kind of squad but lethal if given the chance.

When i said list above I meant Rob Jedi, starkiller posted while I was typing

@Realstarkiller

Did you ever settle on and fly a chosen squad from your

"How is this bomber list" thread

****! I should have called myself TheEvilStarkiller!

.

.

.

....

no my bombers are brand new ... I got them today

and I will use them at a local tournament at weekend.

So I still ponder about how to use them to ... BOMB the others off the board. Maybe even off the store.

How about: 26 pointsScimitar Squadron Pilot #1Homing Missiles, Homing Missiles 26 pointsScimitar Squadron Pilot #2Homing Missiles, Homing Missiles 12 pointsAcademy Pilot #1 12 pointsAcademy Pilot #2 12 pointsAcademy Pilot #3 12 pointsAcademy Pilot #4 100 points

This one is interesting. I'm still debating not including high PS ships.

I'd try swapping out one Homing on each bomber for Concussions and 1 seismic. That way id a homing doesn't need to spend its TL for the rerolls, a TL + F concussion will come at the enemy, which is a high chance of 4 hits.

Sure, real bombers have bombs, havn't they?

But I fear the Scimitars suck in throwing bombs in a way which does'nt satisfy your opponent player.

Also I think they are somewhst inable to TL + Focus on a target ... best you can get is a TL and Homers are kind of good even without focus. Sure you can get a 2x4 + 2 loadout for your bombers like

Proton Torpedos + Cluster Missiles + Seismic. At the end the Homers produce statistically about 3 hits w/o focus - just like Proton Torpedos and Concussion Missiles do. The clusters are good (hopefully) when it comes to range 1 ...

So maybe you want to consider this:

100 points

or this:

100 points

When you drop down to 5 ships, many options open up. Here is one for maximizing crits from Proton Torp and Winged Gundark:

Gamma Squad + Proton Torp + Proton Bomb

Gamma Squad + Proton Torp + Proton Bomb

Winged Gundark

Night Beast

Backstabber

All for that Crit fun! IDK who I would target first, the flanking backstabber or a Gamma with a bomb.

Howlrunner and stealth + named tie + 2 academy + 2 bombers is the way to go. 7 pts left over for the missile of your choice on one and a bomb on the other.

100 points

I played against this the other day. A true bomber swarm.

Howlrunner + Swarm Tactics

Scimitar Squad Pilot x 5

100 pts

33 total hull

13 total evade dice

12 total attack dice

It's a beast of a swarm, but not as maneuverable as the classic. I got demolished by it if you're wondering.

I took a very similar squad to worlds and went 4-1. TIE bombers are better dogfighters than they're generally given credit for. They have more green maneuvers than a TIE fighter and a very nice k-turn.

That squad is pretty tempting to try out. Downside is I can imagine it gets a little boring with none of the cool bomber features included. Just to keep it interesting I'd probably drop a bomber to add some concussions or bombs. Tough to say if the 16 points of ordinance will outweight the extra bulk.

Maybe drop down a bomber to an Academy Tie and add 2 seismic charges or one concussions.

Not a bad idea, having that PS1 Crazy Kami-Blocker is always nice.