Captain Kagi?

Yes, he's got a Biggsish ability (all TLs must TL him, after all, save for those from Fire-Control and R5-K6), but he's too expensive for too weak of a ship.

Is there an upgrade system that makes him awesome?

Outside of the normal ways to make a Shuttle stronger things like Sensor Jammer or Flight instructor that improve his survivability are good, but might push his cost up too high. Sabatuer maybe so that he can be in range to be target locked and still contribute something even without a firing arc. Thing is you don't want Kagi to be an offensive powerhouse because then people would target lock him anyway and his ability is pointless, but most people only target lock to fire missiles/torpedoes or if they want to stack modifiers, so it's a really good counter for a niche action.

I realized after starting this post that Rebel Captive is very nice on him.

And actually cheaper than instructor. Why was I thinking it cost 5?

I'm having trouble with him in 100pt games but I think you're bound to see missiles and torpedoes at 150pts+. He could really shine there. What's the best 3 shuttle+ swarm lost you can make at 150-200pts. I bet it's icky.

Yep with Epic play coming I think the HWK and Shuttle support characters will become far better. Along with characters like Jonus who I feel is great but you can't really get enough ships with ordinance to make worthwhile at 100pts.

Yorr- buzz saw

Jendon- buzz saw + sti321+ weapons engineer

Kagi + Vader + sheild

Howlrunner + PTL + stealth

Scimitar + concussion x2

Academy x2

200pts of alabaster void manatee swarmin glory. Not sure that the FCS combo would be needed with howlrunner handing out rerolls and Jendon TL's.

How many Buzzsaw doomcows can you keep within range of howlrunner Sable? It's the new imperial swarm for epic play!

How many Buzzsaw doomcows can you keep within range of howlrunner Sable? It's the new imperial swarm for epic play!

Reliably? 5. Three in a line, with two further behind the shuttles on the flanks, and Howlrunner in the middle. At standard doomshuttle costs, that's 160 points. Plus 18 for Howlrunner gives you 22 points to play with.

Ha... Maybe drop one to a vader shuttle and grab a few academies... Imperial 8 swarm...

Should be named Imperial "herd" or Imperial "stampede" instead of swarm though. Epic Imperial Stampede!

Ha... Maybe drop one to a vader shuttle and grab a few academies... Imperial 8 swarm...

Should be named Imperial "herd" or Imperial "stampede" instead of swarm though. Epic Imperial Stampede!

If you want 8 ships, I can give that to you.

8x OGP + Engine Upgrade

Set them up in a single skirmish line and ease forward. When the jump behind you, start pulling standard Blue Angel maneuvers (I'm famous for passing ghostly stellar reindeer within microns of each other, or passing thorugh each other on turns in opposite directions to catch unwary prey). 24 attack dice is not to be trifled with.

That's just too elegantly simple. That one is called Astral Bovine Ballet.

Only really good use I have for the shuttle is either a vador bomb of crits on ships with the basic ship, or the target lock pass off guy that constantly runs into poeple causing the antipursuit lasers kick off.

Only really good use I have for the shuttle is either a vador bomb of crits on ships with the basic ship, or the target lock pass off guy that constantly runs into poeple causing the antipursuit lasers kick off.

Oh, you just wait. Someone will make you eat those words.

Only really good use I have for the shuttle is either a vador bomb of crits on ships with the basic ship, or the target lock pass off guy that constantly runs into poeple causing the antipursuit lasers kick off.

...said someone who clearly has never played against a properly built shuttle list. When you say things like that, you only drive Sable to make it even more obnoxious The shuttle can be really nasty. OGP W/Engine Upgrade, Gunner, FCS anyone?

Our local meta has a healthy fear of shuttles. Sure, there are ways to beat it, but if you are of the opinion that 'The only way to play it is Vader bomb' you are dead wrong.

...said someone who clearly has never played against a properly built shuttle list. When you say things like that, you only drive Sable to make it even more obnoxious The shuttle can be really nasty. OGP W/Engine Upgrade, Gunner, FCS anyone?

Our local meta has a healthy fear of shuttles. Sure, there are ways to beat it, but if you are of the opinion that 'The only way to play it is Vader bomb' you are dead wrong.

Nonsense. The shuttle is terrible and I want to give him as many easy wins as possible against me. Preferably with money on the game, because I'm generous.

I've been flying with the Captain for about two weeks now. He works well in my list and saves me from the dreaded assault missile. His high pilot skill combined with Vader makes him a great assassin in mirror matches. Getting a crit when your attack dice all whiffed is a good feeling. Ignoring an assassin shuttle will get you taken out.

This of course depends on your local meta.

Kagi is very nice against ordnance-heavy squads packing lots of torpedoes or missiles, especially if the rest of your squad is pretty fragile - not least because unlike Biggs, you don't have to hug in in formation with him; his effect is board-wide.

I've seen Kagi and a squint escort take an A-wing flight to pieces; the A-wings had three sets of homing missiles between them that should have done nasty things to the interceptors, but they couldn't get a lock on them thanks to Kagi.

If I had to pick two upgrades I would consider for Kagi, I would say:

1. Rebel Captive. If you're going to encourage your opponent to shoot at a specific ship, you might as well make it hurt to do so.
2. Sensor Jammer. Most of the time, being target locked means you're not being shot at by someone with a focus token. Whilst there are ways around this, that normally means knocking a hit to a focus result is almost as good as a free, permenant evade token.

Our local meta has a healthy fear of shuttles. Sure, there are ways to beat it, but if you are of the opinion that 'The only way to play it is Vader bomb' you are dead wrong.

In fairness, he said the only way to use them was as vader, or flying antipursuit laser obstacles, or the ultimate target lock generator. Which kind of makes a lie of the word only , to my mind.

And to which I would add or the cheapest heavy laser cannon and/or gunner carrying platform in the game, which is a special kind of scary in and of itself, and one which SableGryphon's Ivory Void Elk squadron has made somewhat infamous.

If I had to pick two upgrades I would consider for Kagi, I would say:

1. Rebel Captive. If you're going to encourage your opponent to shoot at a specific ship, you might as well make it hurt to do so.
2. Sensor Jammer. Most of the time, being target locked means you're not being shot at by someone with a focus token. Whilst there are ways around this, that normally means knocking a hit to a focus result is almost as good as a free, permenant evade token.

Our local meta has a healthy fear of shuttles. Sure, there are ways to beat it, but if you are of the opinion that 'The only way to play it is Vader bomb' you are dead wrong.

In fairness, he said the only way to use them was as vader, or flying antipursuit laser obstacles, or the ultimate target lock generator. Which kind of makes a lie of the word only , to my mind.

And to which I would add or the cheapest heavy laser cannon and/or gunner carrying platform in the game, which is a special kind of scary in and of itself, and one which SableGryphon's Ivory Void Elk squadron has made somewhat infamous.

As for those upgrades for Kagi, you beat me to it. Those are the two I was considering. That way, unless they have some ability to focus their missile attack, they are losing one hit, plus at least one ship is getting a stress. Expensive, but probably worth it against some lists.

I should add another setup that I played with briefly, but excels in Mirror Matches:

Omicron Group Pilot + HLC + Merc Copilot + Merc Copilot + Engine Upgrade (36)

A little more expensive, but able to attack with 4 dice at range 3, deny them the extra evade die, AND change two hits to crits. It's super unfair.

Omicron Lambda w/ 2 mercs, HLC & engine (36)

Omicron Lambda w/ Buzzsaw loadout (32)

Omicron Lambda w/ Buzzsaw loadout (32)

100pts exactly. My spider sense is tingling!!

Omicron Lambda w/ 2 mercs, HLC & engine (36)

Omicron Lambda w/ Buzzsaw loadout (32)

Omicron Lambda w/ Buzzsaw loadout (32)

100pts exactly. My spider sense is tingling!!

Exactly the list I've run a couple times. Glad someone saw the connection.

So, Professor Sable, Faculty Advisor to House Lambda Lambda Lambda, I think the double merc HLC loadout needs it's own official nickname.

Suicide Shuttle = vader (optional gunner)

Dogfighter Shuttle = sensor + engine (optional HLC) I've also heard it called the Fast or Nimble Shuttle

Buzzsaw Shuttle = FCS + gunner + engine

I vote that we dub the double merc HLC "The Nutcracker." Nutcracker Shuttle just has a sweet ring to it. Would you not agree?

I wish you could give Kagi Expert Handling, that would be awesome... TL me then I will Barrel Roll to drop it.

I'm interested in trying a list with Captain Kagi and Carnor Jax. Theoretically it could be an interesting combination to lock out the opponent's action choices, but I have a feeling it will just be a gimmick build that doesn't stand up to the traditional "more HP, more guns" style of list building.

So, Professor Sable, Faculty Advisor to House Lambda Lambda Lambda, I think the double merc HLC loadout needs it's own official nickname.

Suicide Shuttle = vader (optional gunner)

Dogfighter Shuttle = sensor + engine (optional HLC) I've also heard it called the Fast or Nimble Shuttle

Buzzsaw Shuttle = FCS + gunner + engine

I vote that we dub the double merc HLC "The Nutcracker." Nutcracker Shuttle just has a sweet ring to it. Would you not agree?

I'd go for a "Thoramin"

The Thoramin is one of two names for a Musical Tesla Coil, one of those machines that creates music by shooting lightning, a rather apt description of what this beastie does.

It also evokes the "Brahmin", the two headed cows from the Fallout series.

So, Professor Sable, Faculty Advisor to House Lambda Lambda Lambda, I think the double merc HLC loadout needs it's own official nickname.

Suicide Shuttle = vader (optional gunner)

Dogfighter Shuttle = sensor + engine (optional HLC) I've also heard it called the Fast or Nimble Shuttle

Buzzsaw Shuttle = FCS + gunner + engine

I vote that we dub the double merc HLC "The Nutcracker." Nutcracker Shuttle just has a sweet ring to it. Would you not agree?

I'd go for a "Thoramin"

The Thoramin is one of two names for a Musical Tesla Coil, one of those machines that creates music by shooting lightning, a rather apt description of what this beastie does.

It also evokes the "Brahmin", the two headed cows from the Fallout series.

Whoa, mind blown (*poof*). I wouldn't get that reference or evocation.

Now, Nutcracker... sweet. (see what I did there?)