So we have an upcoming 150 point tournament. Here are my two selections below.

#1

Howlrunner

11 Academy TIE

#2

(x5) Lamda - Omicron pilots (anti-pursuit lasers/advanced targeting/gunner)

Thoughts?

Swarms? Really? (Although, shouldn't a shuttle swarm be called a herd?)

You need engine upgrade to make the lambda a threatening beast. If you want to swarm shuttles try:

6x Omicron Group Pilot + Engine Upgrade

Now, if you want to run five of these beasties in a herd, my recommendations would be:

5x Omicron Group Pilot + Gunner + Engine Upgrade

They won't be as potent as my standard doom shuttle. You can fix that with this:

3x Omicron Group Pilot + FCS + Gunner + Engine Upgrade

Omicron Group Pilot + Gunner + Engine Upgrade

Omicron Group Pilot + Vader

They won't be as potent as my standard doom shuttle. You can fix that with this:

3x Omicron Group Pilot + FCS + Gunner + Engine Upgrade

Omicron Group Pilot + Gunner + Engine Upgrade

Omicron Group Pilot + Vader

id go with this version. 5 shuttles that pack a punch

I would be tempted to run a couple of these in with the mix, depending on your flying preferences:

Omicron + FCS + Engine Upgrade + Weapons Engineer + Ion Cannon (33pts)

Gives you a nice way to control traffic while you graze on your enemy, and I'm just a sucker for the FCS + Weapons Engineer combo

You own 5 shuttles?!?!

You own 5 shuttles?!?!

My thoughts exactly!

You own 5 shuttles?!?!

My thoughts exactly!

*quietly hides the fifth shuttle* Of course not. That would be silly.

So I just played at TShift (Emerald City Slaughter) this weekend here in the Seattle area and took 3rd place on Sunday with this 150 point build. I made some missle changes based on the play but it is same otherwise. I hope this helps.

Major Rhymer w/Swarm Tactics, 2 x Homing Missiles

Captain Jonus w/Swarm Tactics, 1 x Homing Missiles

Bounty Hunter w/Heavy Laser Cannon, Recon Specialist

Bounty Hunter w/Heavy Laser Cannon, Recon Specialist

I had a particular way I setup and piloted which worked to my advantage. My only loss was in first round and it was a piloting error on my part. My opponent came up to me after the tournament and told me if I wouldn't have made the mistake, I probably would have won. This was my actual first tournament for any miniatures games as I am a CCG player but it was a lot of fun. Plan to do some more.

Well yes, I do have 5 shuttles. But one is a Hallmark. I do need to pick up 2 shuttles however as one had a glue mishap and I will need the 5th official model. Besides, I may need them for a convoy scenario!

We got in a few practice rounds of 150 points:

Game 1 my friend wanted to run his Imperial list against opposing Rebels so I just threw together a quick list. He ran Vader, Howlrunner and some other random TIEs (total of 5), along with a bounty hunter. I ran decked out Han, Ten, and Ibatism. Han shot first and Howlrunner never had a chance to fire or bestow 1 re-roll to her comrades.

Death of a bounty hunter while Vader watched on helpless. I did not lose a single ship this round!

Round 2 was swarm vs swarm. My friend ran his same list as above against my modified 8 swarm list: All the name TIE pilots with stealth (squad leader on Howlrunner and expose on Mithel), plus a few extra red shirts.

Another bad day for that bounty hunter!

Imperial Cluster dance:

I won this one again with Vader going down last. He took one TIE out with him leaving me 4 TIE left.

I still need to try out the 12 TIW swarm

They won't be as potent as my standard doom shuttle. You can fix that with this:

3x Omicron Group Pilot + FCS + Gunner + Engine Upgrade

Omicron Group Pilot + Gunner + Engine Upgrade

Omicron Group Pilot + Vader

That looks insanely fun to play!

Oh well, tournament has been reset to 100 points and also has a runner up 100 point tournament. Dang, was looking forward to either 12 TIE or 5 Lambda! Though I'm still tempted to run the 4 Omicrons in the pre-tourney.

...and that's why anyone wanting to meta swarm lists, which are bound to show up in tournaments, should always take assault missiles..any way they can.

I ran a 12 TIE swarm (Howlrunner + 11 Academy) yesterday, that lasted 3 turns. I'm surprised how many do not attempt the assault missile alpha strike. I carried off a alpha vs a squadron of 4 TIE bombers the other day, it was beautiful. I had 6 Proto Awings all with assault missiles.

2x2x2 Rebel scum vs 12 TIE swarm

This game lasted 3 turns. Rebs killed nothing the first round and 2 TIE on the second round. That was it.