Has anyone "mathwing'd" the buzzsaw set up vs. straight focus? Just seems like something that needs doing.

Not really a need to. The Target Lock of the Gunner'd shot is identical, statistically, to a Focused shot.

However, the glory of the Buzzsaw set-up is that you don't need to have performed an action to be effective in combat.

If you're stressed (or boosted), you're still fairly well off against any foe.

Considering that the Shuttle needs to boost fairly often to be effective at maneuvering, you'll not get to focus very often.

Just worth trying. Backstabber adds such a spike in damage and another decision for your opponeent to make. Nightbeast is just awesome if you don't fly him like a typical academy pilot.

I am going to try this build next

Colonel Jendon-(35)

Weapons Engineer

FCS

Engine Upgrade

Bounty Hunter (41)

Recon Specialist

Gunner

Academy Pilot x 2 (24)

Thanks for the reminder Dracon

Drop the Recon and add ST-321 on the shuttle

We could speculate on the future of our beloved White Moo Cow, with wave 4, and the release of Ion pulse missles. Surely that will be something of a bother, as resistance to ion was a useable and good bonus the shuttles have currently.

Not to derail but it will be something to think of once the days of future past arrive, will the Wild White Walrus of the great dark survive, or will we become tragic followers of an old religion ?

So, for those of you that have flown this list:

X2 BH with RecSpec and Seismic
OGP with Vader

What did you think of the list? Was Vader very effective for you? Who did your opponent's target early? How easy was it to get your seismics off?

I'm looking at a similar list with one variation that will make it fly very differently, and I'm curious to see what others have done with this in the past.

Hothie,

I can't talk to your actual list, but I can talk to using the Recon Spec and Seismic charges on the BH. Recon Spec I have found to be a blessing only when I am under heavy fire and concentrate both Focus tokens into defense. I am beginning to lean more to either Gunner for consistent damage output or using Rebel Captive on one BH as it is just down right annoying, especially if you use an Ion Cannon with it. I will say though, that Recon Spec will pay for itself in nearly every game you play as if used to create 2 evades that would otherwise not have happened is worth way more than the 3 points paid.

Seismic Charges on BH's are very hit and miss for getting them off as pretty much everyone will move after you do and will be away from your charge after you drop it.

I have been using Proximity Mines, moving into position and then dropping them using your action can allow you to either block a route or place the mine right in the face of the craft that is yet to move. It isn't guaranteed damage, but it will make your opponent think and you are very likely to put up at least one point of damage.

I have limited experience with Vader and am generally unimpressed. Having to strip shields first makes him very situational and I prefer my shuttle to be a great deal less subtle in its damage output.

I wouldn't worry about hothie and seismic charge...

I wouldn't worry about hothie and seismic charge...

You will be...you will be...;P

The list I'm going to try out this Sunday is:

X2 Bh with rec spec and seismic

Yorr

I'll see what I think of it.

Tried 2x BH and shuttle, and did not enjoy it very much. Too many turns where I couldn't get the angle for my shot, and took too much return damage having low evade.

Enjoying:
Fettigator + engine + VI
OGP + AdvS + engine + Int Agent
2x AP

I wouldn't worry about hothie and seismic charge...

You will be...you will be...;P

The list I'm going to try out this Sunday is:

X2 Bh with rec spec and seismic

Yorr

I'll see what I think of it.

Naked shuttle... You're mad Kinney! Mad I say!

I wouldn't worry about hothie and seismic charge...

You will be...you will be...;P

The list I'm going to try out this Sunday is:

X2 Bh with rec spec and seismic

Yorr

I'll see what I think of it.

Naked shuttle... You're mad Kinney! Mad I say!

Maybe just overconfident. Its a weakness of mine...

I loved the BH + recon + sesimic x 2 build with Vader in his shuttle. We discussed it at length in my developing list thread: Vader's Bounties.

You definately have to have the vader shuttle feeling down. 2 bounties have to be flown well as well. I found about 50/50 about who your opponent targets first

I would always make my oppoenent expend time and resources kill my vader shuttle; unless it really would be a special kill shot, never kill your own shuttle. So many times, especially with how the BHs can evade, the shuttle could get turned around for a final shot.

regarding seismics: I love em. I almost always get 1-2 damage each. This auto damage is big as there are very few ships that can weather a seismic drop and a full round of fire vs. 2 BHs.

Thanks, kelvan. You've given me the name for this squad: Yorr Naked!

Hothie, you have enough points to run 2x BH + Omicron Buzzsaw, leaves 2 pts not much wiggle room i know but at least ur shuttle is going to be an effective heavy hitter - id consider merc copilot on omicron or perhaps put intel agent on 2 of ur ships.

ur Hunters are naked but at least u have an even points spread between all ships.

So I finally ran another buzzsaw shuttle. I ran

jendon w/fcs, gunner, WE,engine

5x academy

I lost on time but really had fun with the list. Jendon was largely ignored as enemy decided to shoot my academy pilots. Jendon did good damage and the TL tricks he can pull with engineer, fcs.and gunner are awesome.

The next buzzsaw I want to try is scarlet cow girl.

So, for those of you that have flown this list:

X2 BH with RecSpec and Seismic

OGP with Vader

What did you think of the list? Was Vader very effective for you? Who did your opponent's target early? How easy was it to get your seismics off?

I'm looking at a similar list with one variation that will make it fly very differently, and I'm curious to see what others have done with this in the past.

I play this squad just last night, and I got absolutely rolled by Biggs w/ R2-D2, 2 naked Daggers and a naked Red Squadron. He immediately dived at the shuttle to negate Vader's damage output, and except for taking two shields off the Red and critting him with Vader, the shuttle did nothing. Both seismic charges went off for 1 damage against both B-wings (total of 4 damage for 4 points... not bad) but by the time the second charge went off, both X-wings and my other BH were dead. I managed to last to take the final B-wing down to 2 hull left, but the list just didn't go off. I want to try it again, as I blame placement for the early, unanswered death of the shuttle, but I figured I'd relate my experience with it. 3 large bases is hard enough to fly around an asteroid field, it's even worse when on of them can't maneuver for crap (granted, the shuttle stopped turn 1, 1-greened turns 2 and 3, and was dead before turn 4)

I like the idea but as a whole the lack of the engine upgrade on the shuttle makes it tough to maneuver. I like the Buzzsaw shuttle much more in this approach it does force you to run both of those Firsprays pretty much naked, but the ships themselves are capable of doing the damage to anything that decided to ignore it and target the shuttle instead.

I am going to be trying out

Buzzsaw x2

BH + Recon Spec

100pts

I am going to be trying out

Buzzsaw x2

BH + Recon Spec

100pts

post ur results. that looks interesting. lots of hp. it should be competitive versus a swarm imo but it would be a hard fight.

So I finally ran another buzzsaw shuttle. I ranjendon w/fcs, gunner, WE,engine5x academyI lost on time but really had fun with the list. Jendon was largely ignored as enemy decided to shoot my academy pilots. Jendon did good damage and the TL tricks he can pull with engineer, fcs.and gunner are awesome.The next buzzsaw I want to try is scarlet cow girl.

I think I'll give that variation a try! I hadn't thought of Jendon yet, I went with Howlrunner and an omicron instead.

So I finally ran another buzzsaw shuttle. I ranjendon w/fcs, gunner, WE,engine5x academyI lost on time but really had fun with the list. Jendon was largely ignored as enemy decided to shoot my academy pilots. Jendon did good damage and the TL tricks he can pull with engineer, fcs.and gunner are awesome.The next buzzsaw I want to try is scarlet cow girl.

I think I'll give that variation a try! I hadn't thought of Jendon yet, I went with Howlrunner and an omicron instead.

FCS, Gunner, and Weapon Engineer play very well with Jendon. It's amazing how well PS 1 academies draw fire from other ships.

I am going to be trying out

Buzzsaw x2

BH + Recon Spec

100pts

post ur results. that looks interesting. lots of hp. it should be competitive versus a swarm imo but it would be a hard fight.

Fail. I went up against BBXX and the b's both had HLC I wasn't able to focus the B's like I wanted to. I flew as best I could and in the end it came down to a dog fight between a Buzzsaw with just 2 hull against a 3 shield 3 hull B, I couldn't flank him oh well it was fun.

I am going to be trying out

Buzzsaw x2

BH + Recon Spec

100pts

post ur results. that looks interesting. lots of hp. it should be competitive versus a swarm imo but it would be a hard fight.

Fail. I went up against BBXX and the b's both had HLC I wasn't able to focus the B's like I wanted to. I flew as best I could and in the end it came down to a dog fight between a Buzzsaw with just 2 hull against a 3 shield 3 hull B, I couldn't flank him oh well it was fun.

hmm, im seeing 2, 3 or even 4 B-Wings in lots of competitive rebel lists now. their high durability can be a real problem - especially if the group together and focus fire on you at med-close range. if ur left with the shuttle as ur last ship - even if its got engine upgrade im afraid its likely game over

I ran this with some success the other night:

I'm starting to think of shuttles as a good, better, best (but it will cost you) in the various builds.

The Doomshuttle (omicron + vader) is good, it does very good damage but it is sacrificial. On the flip side it costs 24 points.

The Buzzsaw (omicron +fcs, gunner, engine) is better, it does good damage and wont hurt itself and has moderate maneuverability. It comes in at 32 points (a great comparison to the Bounty Hunter)

The Dogfighter (omicron + sensors, HLC, engine) is best. It has the highest damage potential and maneuverability, but you have to pay for it. It costs 35 points to start.

They each are strong in similar areas, but depending on how many points you have available you might need to go cheaper to fit it into your squad.