So, with the ordering of a TIE Interceptor and the purchase of a TIE Bomber, I finally have purchased one of all of the X-Wing ships currently available. I'll probably eventually get Aces as well, when it's released soon, but for now I'm up to date.

The bomber is an ugly ship, but I tend to like ugly ships, planes, etc. It reminds me of the A6 Intruder, below, a beautifully ugly machine. And deadly effective, too.

But now that I have the TIE Bomber, I'm puzzled about how best to use it. So, I have some questions:

How have you used the bomber much? has it been successful for you?

Is it better to have more than one in a squad?

What's the best ordnance to use with it?

Can a squad with bombers and interceptors work, or are their dials just too different?

Any tips on flying this hog?

Thanks in advance!

Stick Captain Jonus behind a couple Lambda Shuttles carrying Heavy Laser Cannons. Let the rerolls flow.

Add a Scimitar Squadron Pilot to a TIE Fighter swarm and give him various ordnance ... maybe an Assault Missile and a Proton Bomb to add an alpha strike and some midfield disruption to your swarm's game.

Put an Advanced Proton Torpedo on Major Rhymer so you can unleash 5 attack dice at range 2.

I am trying the current squad:

Darth Vader (29)

Squad Leader (2)

Assault Missiles (5)

Captain Jonus (22)

Seismic Charge (2)

Scimitar Squad (16)

Concussion Missiles (4)

Scimitar Squad (16)

Concussion Missiles (4)

If you have secondary weapons throughout the rest of your fleet, Jonus is great, even if naked. He actually makes Cluster Missiles good. Remember that he gains no benefit from his own ability.

Otherwise, I'd go with a Scimitar or Gamma, and I always equip Proximity Mines or Proton Bombs rather than any missile or torpedo. This may soon change with Wave 4.

It's tempting to pick up Major Rhymer and give him 2 missiles and 2 torpedoes. Don't. 2 and a bomb is the most you can get away with, as if you load him down with the full 16-22 points worth of Missiles and Torps, he's going to die before shooting all of them.

Honestly I see the Bomber getting more play when the next wave comes out. I mean we have two ships that are tough and hard to hit (the E-Wing and TIE Defender) and two ships that are relatively fragile but can pack a punch (the Z-95 and TIE Phantom) so both Proton Bombs and missile/torpedo ordnance is going to be fielded much more commonly I imagine. Honestly, compared to the Z-95 the Bomber really does make those extra four points of deployment cost count for an alpha strike launcher. Even if the Dupe has no shields it's still got two more hull points and they really can make a difference on the field.

Bomber is going to be good against Rebel Transports and CR90s too.

Equip a bomber with Assault Missiles, target a B-wing, Y-wing or YT-1300 and smile as you get a free hit on any nearby rebels. Any missiles are deadly against rebels really, as you only need 2 hits for half of their ships.

OK, so there are a lot of options. I'm gonna try some of them out after I get a little better with the Scarlet Cowgirl squad I'm planning to run on Thursday.

Danthrax, I'm very interested in using five attack dice on Maj. Rhymer. I've got to give that a try.

And Redxavier, I've been on the receiving end of two of those Assault Missiles - both hits. In one turn I lost my B-Wing and the shields on my three X-Wings. OUCH! That's one reason I'm taking the Empire for a spin for a while.

I love the bomber. Their dial isn't bad (though weird) and they have so much hull. Cheap too. I've run the following squad with much success:

5x Gamma Squadron Pilot + Seismic Charges

It is oh so satisfying to drop bombs on ships that stray too close. Especially seeing the look on your opponents face.

Danthrax, I'm very interested in using five attack dice on Maj. Rhymer. I've got to give that a try.

Well, anyone who can take a torpedo can have five attack dice with Adv. Proton Torp. The reason to put APT on Major Rhymer is because he can increase its range from only 1 to 1-2, which makes it a lot easier to launch it. (I'm not sure if you knew that, I'm just making sure. If you did, I apologize!)

Danthrax, I'm very interested in using five attack dice on Maj. Rhymer. I've got to give that a try.

Well, anyone who can take a torpedo can have five attack dice with Adv. Proton Torp. The reason to put APT on Major Rhymer is because he can increase its range from only 1 to 1-2, which makes it a lot easier to launch it. (I'm not sure if you knew that, I'm just making sure. If you did, I apologize!)

Nope, I didn't know that. That's good to know. Thanks!

Like many of the recently released ships, the TIE Bomber is designed to be taken with upgrades. However, unlike the Shuttle and the HWK-290 it actually is a pretty great ship upgraded. It isn't as maneuverable or as agile as a TIE, but it has 6 HULL making it out live most TIEs. I am not saying that TIE Bombers need to be taken naked, and I never really do, but they could be taken naked if you wanted.

I know a lot of people love bombs, but I haven't used them much. I like the missile load out you can give them. They are cheap enough that they are still pretty low priced even with some extra missiles.

I love both named pilots. Jonus with more loaded out TIE Bombers is my current favorite build. But if you only have one TIE Bomber, Major Rhymer is awesome. I like to give him both Advanced Torpedoes and Cluster Missiles.

Proton Bombs.........Proton Bombs.......EVERYWHERE

My favorite bomber list to take against Rebels is:

Captain Jonus w/ Concussion missiles, Squad leader (28)

Scimitar Squadron w/ Concussion missiles, Cluster missiles (24)

Scimitar Squadron w/ Concussion missiles, Cluster missiles (24)

Scimitar Squadron w/ Concussion missiles, Cluster missiles (28)

TOTAL: 100 points

Lots of damage potential, decent defense and dial options, good health (for Empire). One of each missile type allows you to shoot at any range. Jonus gives rerolls and uses squad leader to let a Scimitar both target lock and focus for max damage. Against Rebel lists, you can kill two ships in the first volley. The rest is hunting down and mopping up what's left.

Like many of the recently released ships, the TIE Bomber is designed to be taken with upgrades. However, unlike the Shuttle and the HWK-290 it actually is a pretty great ship upgraded. It isn't as maneuverable or as agile as a TIE, but it has 6 HULL making it out live most TIEs. I am not saying that TIE Bombers need to be taken naked, and I never really do, but they could be taken naked if you wanted.

o_ô come again?

i see that u got one firespray and one bomber so far well best usage of Jonus is to let him fly longside ure firespray with heavy laser canon for rerolls make it that krassis is the firespray pilot so u can reroll 3 out of 4 attack dices if needed

jonus should have stealth device and swarm tactics if u dont have any other pilot higher as 6 if yes then give the higher pilot skilled one the swarm tactics.

major rhymer is the iam the tie bomber fighter number one guy that can lower and increase weapon range of ure secondary weapons. u can give him adrinalin push or that flying target lock evade thing where u have to do a barrel roll sorry i dont know the english names of these cards ( german ), and kit him out with 2 sets of cluster missiles and 2 sets of advanced torpedos and watch the enemy burn. that makes him veery pricey but worth in a tie fighter swarm making him the leader of them or key fighter

I've found K-Turn + Adrenaline Rush + Proximity Mines to be a Fun tactic. although PTL for TL + Focus is better for firing other ordinance.

Double Cluster on Rhymer's fun too. AdvPT works nice aswell.

as mentioned Jonus is great for supporting other ships with secondaries like Firespray, TIE Advance, Shuttles, other Bombers.

You can't go wrong with concussion missiles. Literally. They at least get one hit on the attack dice no matter what, assuming you've focused or used Marksmanship.