Another round of X-Wing testing and vehicle maintenance...

So, got in a few practice rounds today against Tony’s “Just Die Already” list…  H’s flying Ketsu on the Shadow Caster (Lancer) loaded out with K-4, Title, EU, and Fearlessness backed by Bossk on the YV-666 loaded out with Cluster Missiles, Salvage Crane, Dengar, Zucuss and Inertial Dampeners IIRC.  BRUTAL jousting list.  The Lancer has a decent chance to get in, potentially put 2 Tractor tokens on a ship to potentially throw it around (if small base) or just drop its Agility by 2 for the finishing shot by Bossk.  Learned again, no matter how good you think your own Joust is, it is NOT going to survive this.  I ran:

FennCobraNDru (100)

Fenn Rau — Protectorate Starfighter	28
Attanni Mindlink	1
Proton Torpedoes	4
Autothrusters	2
Concord Dawn Protector	1
Ship Total: 36
N'Dru Suhlak — Z-95 Headhunter	17
Attanni Mindlink	1
Cluster Missiles	4
Scavenger Crane	2
Guidance Chips	0
Ship Total: 24
Talonbane Cobra — Kihraxz Fighter	28
Attanni Mindlink	1
Homing Missiles	5
Cloaking Device	2
Engine Upgrade	4
Ship Total: 40

Combining my Ace list with 3 Ordinance carriers for a pretty darn good First Strike capability.  NOT the dedicated primary mission by any means but I can put some serious hurt and potentially erase a few ships at Range 3 before we get into the fight.  Even the Ghost should be into Hull at Range 3.  Then it is a simple enough matter to rush in and finish the main ship.  Biggs is still just in a T-65 X-Wing and a lower PS than I have, so should be easy enough to deal with on his own.

Game one I jousted and learned that they CAN just take the initial pass and shrug it off to wipe me out quickly.  Second game I did a wide flank and engaged at range once he separated a bit.  I lost Fenn Rau, but he fired his Torpedo and got at least one round of Range 1 shooting to throw out a bunch of Damage.  By this point I think he was down to only a few Hull on both of his ships, so the Z-95 and Cobrabane chased them down.  N’Dru got the kill on the 666 and got back his missiles while we just danced around.  Got the TL with Cobrabane, focus from N’Dru and the 1 Hull remaining on the Lancer vs the Homing Missile with Focus was simply not going to survive. 

So, the Kihraxz might be held back slightly on the first engagement as the designated Focus generator.  The hull is simply not as good as the Protectorate.  Lacking the native Boost and therefore the ability to put the Autothrusters…  Never did use the Cloak, but I do like having the option.

Next iteration?  Not sure what if anything actually fits into the 40 point slot that the Kihraxz sits in.  An Aggressor is an obvious choice, but starting at 36 points, it is pretty stripped down version that I could fit in there.  1 point for the Mindlink and 2 for the Autothrusters that are essentially stapled to the Aggressor card leaving me…  One point.  Not horrible I guess, but lacking the standard HLC and FCS it will…  Be found lacking in the offensive capacity I suspect.   The G1A is another possibility, but since it is a B-Wing in an era that B-Wings simply are shot to pieces.  The Star Viper?  Maybe…  The dial is actually almost identical to the Kihraxz swapping the K-Turns for S-Loops.  But that really does not get me too much.  Autothrusters I guess.  I could kit Guri out with the AT and Sensor Jammers for a fairly defensive setup.  More survivable than the Kihraxz but without the major threat factor of the Homing Missile and the 5 Dice Primary at Range 1.  A thought I guess… 

Got the old pickup back to working condition, so the 98 Ranger is what I’ll be driving this summer.  I want my daughters to be in the Escape since that has a LOT more safety features than the extremely simple old pickup.  Got the motorcycle tire in today as well, so needing to pull the wheel off the ancient bike to get that swapped out ASAP.  REALLY missing the bike these days, and it works out so well on Campus…  So, hoping to get to that this week….  I’ll see how many sick days I take this week….  42 weeks of sick time built up and since I found out that I cannot use it for anything other than “buying” another year of time in for retirement…  Well, other than sick time of course J…  But since my own retirement is the “self-managed” and not based in any way on my time in, this is completely useless to me.  So, guessing I take extra sick days every week until I really DO retire.  Well, when I CAN take time off that is.

More X-Wing testing for the League... Aces away this time...

So, testing of the next iteration continues here…  Tried the Aggressor/Lancer build and it failed massively against Tony’s excellent “Damage Overload” build.  No good way for me to avoid a Joust and the Cluster Missiles fired from the YV-666 are REALLY quite deadly.  Oh, and they can get them back via the Salvage Crane.  So, what was a single shot can potentially be “more” (Taleni Pahulu’s joke about numbers in his tribe).  It would seem that the mid-range PS numbers on decent Large Base hulls build is OK, but not really all that good I think.  I keep being drawn to actual Aces.  I am a fairly decent player and so I think I can do a decent job with the actual flying part.  Fragile and risky, but aggressive…  At least the S&V versions, so it fits my style a lot more.

FennCobraNDru (100)

Fenn Rau — Protectorate Starfighter	28
Attanni Mindlink	1
Proton Torpedoes	4
Autothrusters	2
Concord Dawn Protector	1
Ship Total: 36
N'Dru Suhlak — Z-95 Headhunter	17
Attanni Mindlink	1
Cluster Missiles	4
Scavenger Crane	2
Guidance Chips	0
Ship Total: 24
Talonbane Cobra — Kihraxz Fighter	28
Attanni Mindlink	1
Homing Missiles	5
Cloaking Device	2
Engine Upgrade	4
Ship Total: 40

PS 9 for Fenn and Cobra while N’Dru has a “mere” 7.  Mindlink for efficiency on the Focus, and an Ordinance based initial strike is possible.  Depends on what I face really, but the potential for my ships to stand off at Range 3 (2 for the Z-95) and throw 4 x 4 Dice attacks with good modification?  And then rush in to finish things with potentially fully modified 5 Dice Attacks from the Aces while N’Dru hopefully lives to provide Focus.  Oh, and he CAN get his Missiles back.  “Meh” option I think, but if it goes off, the one shot wonder becomes a persistent threat.  At the end of the day, it is a cheap ship, so no big loss.  All three ships are legitimate threats, so nothing really to be ignored I think.  Just need to practice flying it.  The Kihraxz NEEDS something to boost it via the upcoming (hopefully) S&V Aces pack, but it is still a surprising little ship.  Might swap for another Protectorate in Old Teroch since that Fighter is simply so much better, and the -2 PS is offset I think…  But I REALLY like the Kihraxz, so…

Titan X-Wing League Month 1 AAR

AAR

So, went 2/1 and did fairly well overall…  First game was a win, albeit a narrow one against a really well done almost mirror match.  Joseph was flying his Scouts as Torpedo Boats.  He gave me Initiative and so he’s be able to get the last move and either dodge or get Firing Arc.  My dice were Craptastic for the first half of the game, but was finally able to claw my way back and get the very narrow win.  MOV was bad though.  Running theme for this list I think.  Second game was against Jon’s Ghost build.  Massive fail for me.  Rushed in with Fenn, got to Range one…  Of Biggs, but JUST outside of Range one of the Ghost.  Then proceeded to blank out on my Attack of 5 Dice (I might have pushed through a Damage) then completely blank out on the counter shot from the Ghost…  Good Bye Fenn.  The game technically lasted a bit longer, but I have no real answer to the TLTs with the Scouts who were left at that point.  Game 3 was against Chad’s Imperial build.  Emperor Palpatine on the Shuttle, Pure Sabbac in the TIE Striker and Whisper in the standard “Buzzsaw” configuration (Gunner, Fire Control, Advanced Cloak).  This one I knew exactly what to do.  Bunched up, with the Torpedo Scout in front, flanked by Fenn and the other Scout bringing up the rear.  Straight joust against the Shuttle.  He moved Whisper to flank, probably the best possible move for him and kept the Striker in close to the Shuttle.  Unfortunately when I pounced, Fenn got into Range one with TL/Focus of both the Shuttle and the Striker…  Took the shot against the Striker and erased it.  5 Damage, and even rolling the 3 Agility dice…  Well, only one came up Evade.  His Whisper shot was also Range one, but with Fenn’s ability for +1 Dice and the Debris between us, he wound up only getting one damage through.  The Shuttle then ate a Plasma Torpedo to strip shields and the other Scout pushed through a few more.  His shot missed, being Range one in Arc of the Concord Dawn ships kind of sucks.  Next turn I think the Shuttle wend down and he maneuvered into position to chase Fenn.  By then he was more or less trapped, but I still had to sacrifice Fenn to get the Shuttles to position to deal with the TIE Phantom.  He wound up having to K-Turn to get to firing position, leaving him Stressed and uncloaked.  The Black Market Slicer tools actually DID something for me J…  Without the Cloak up and the Emperor to ensure Evades, Whisper is not nearly so scary.  Ended with the 2 and 1 record and Craptastic MOV as I said, so…

This brings me to the present…  What to do next?  My first thought was Rebel Regen:

MirandaNora (100)

Miranda Doni — K-Wing	29
Twin Laser Turret	6
Extra Munitions	2
Homing Missiles	5
Sabine Wren	2
Cluster Mines	4
Proximity Mines	3
Conner Net	4
Advanced SLAM	2
Ship Total: 57
Norra Wexley — ARC-170	29
Push the Limit	3
Seismic Torpedo	2
Nien Nunb	1
R2-D2	4
Engine Upgrade	4
Alliance Overhaul	0
Ship Total: 43

While this could solve my “Bleeding MOV” problem where either I’ll win big or lose completely since the Small Based ships do not surrender half of their MOV if they go below 50% health, it does nothing to deal with TLT ships I think.  Well, I’d have Homing Missiles and Nora’s potential 5 Dice Attack…  So, Bum Rush for the win or die trying I guess.  Not great odds frankly.  Not horrible though, so this is a potential one I think. 

Otherwise, what to do about the TLTs?  Need Autothrusters and 2-3 Agility ideally.  So, somewhat limiting for the Rebels certainly.  Imperials might do well with TIE Defenders, my original build with COL Vessery replacing Steele, Ryad and Deathfire looks like it would do VERY well in the Meta that was shown here this weekend…  Who knows what will change by next Month though. 

VesseryRyadDeathfire (100)

Colonel Vessery — TIE Defender	35
Juke	2
TIE/x7	-2
Ship Total: 35
Countess Ryad — TIE Defender	34
Push the Limit	3
Twin Ion Engine Mk. II	1
TIE/x7	-2
Ship Total: 36
"Deathfire" — TIE Bomber	17
Extra Munitions	2
Seismic Torpedo	2
Concussion Missiles	4
Cluster Mines	4
Long-Range Scanners	0
Ship Total: 29

This DOES provide burst Damage, Mines, Seismic Torpedoes and 2 VERY efficient Jousters in the TIE Defenders.  Would take skill and patience to do it, but I suspect that this would be able to take down the TLT based builds.  The TIE Bomber is unfortunately almost a write off.  Just NEED to get in and do 29+ points of Damage before it does die.  I especially like the Seismic option here as I can clear large chunks of the field to allow the TIE Defenders to have the clear field they really like for the various K-Turns they might be using.  So, one I could I think win with, but seems a bit boring to me…

Aggressor/Lancer is one I might try with S&V… 

Aggressor/Lancer (100)

Asajj Ventress — Lancer-class Pursuit Craft	37
Push the Limit	3
K4 Security Droid	3
Black Market Slicer Tools	1
Engine Upgrade	4
Shadow Caster	3
Ship Total: 51
IG-88B — Aggressor	36
Lone Wolf	2
Fire-Control System	2
Heavy Laser Cannon	7
Autothrusters	2
Ship Total: 49

I really like that build, just concerned that the Lancer will simply melt under the TLT fire.  With the Ghost reliably pumping out 4+ Damage/turn I’m not really confident I’ll kill it before the Lancer melts.  The Aggressor…  Well, that might live a lot longer against just the Ghost frankly.  HLC, try to keep at longer range, make a pass and then circle around. 

I suspect repeating with the same list, more or less…  I think I would just need more Torpedoes on the Scouts and it would perform fairly well.  Cut down on the fancy silliness like the BMST and Rigged Cargo to just get in and do Damage.  Run them together, don’t split off Fenn and focus fire into the target of choice.

Now, that deals with the TLTs…  Mines on the other hand are going to be an issue.  Looking very much like I have to choose one direction or the other and go with it.  Hope I do not draw the bad match…  Else you get to hear Adama say “Sometimes you have to roll the hard six”… 

Have not seen the Triple K-Wing list in a few sessions, but I know at least one of the Bloomington lads has played it.  It is a tough one to beat due to the sheer number of hits required to take it down.  The K-Wing really should be on a Large Base I think, but that’s just me…

New League starts Sunday, final test runs...

Gearing up for Sunday and it looks like I’ll be flying my S&V Squadron with Fenn Rau backed by a pair of Contracted Scouts.

FennScoutx2 ver2 (100)

Contracted Scout — JumpMaster 5000	25
Attanni Mindlink	1
Intelligence Agent	1
R5-P8	3
Black Market Slicer Tools	1
Anti-Pursuit Lasers	2
Ship Total: 33
Fenn Rau — Protectorate Starfighter	28
Attanni Mindlink	1
Autothrusters	2
Concord Dawn Protector	1
Ship Total: 32
Contracted Scout — JumpMaster 5000	25
Attanni Mindlink	1
Plasma Torpedoes	3
Seismic Torpedo	2
Intelligence Agent	1
Rigged Cargo Chute	1
Anti-Pursuit Lasers	2
Ship Total: 35

Simple enough, one Scout has Torpedoes to mess with things at range or to clear the field a bit.  The second is just a straight Bumpmaster.  Nothing subtle, BMST and R5-P8 to mess with people even more.  With the 2 Intel Agents I should have a decent chance to know exactly where the important things are going and put a Scout with APL there to wait for them.  Biggest weakness might well be against TLT overload.  Guessing that I just have to be very aggressive against the 4 x Y-Wing with TLT build or something else like that.  With Mindlink, Focus should be everywhere.  Found it difficult to deal with the Ghost and the 4 TLT shots that gets, but he has to be patient while I have to get in close.  I am confident that I can deal with TIE Defenders or Aces in general.  Other than minor changes like dropping the Rigged Chute for an Astromech or an upgrade to the Torpedoes…  Well, only other thing I was considering was the version with Cobrabane in place of the second Scout.  Might be fun and I DO like the ship…  It just needs one more option on the Action Bar…  Ideally Boost so that it can equip the Autothrusters and be a “real” Ace like Fenn Rau.  As it stands, the Pilot ability is neat, but at the end of the day relies on being able to roll Agility Dice average or better.  When that happens, it is an amazing ship.  Usually for me of course it flies in, gets hit and disintegrates…  But still, 2 5 Dice Attacks are pretty darn scary, and both are PS 9…  Dunno, guessing that will be my game time call on Sunday.

Other than that, work was interesting this week…  No money from the State of course means that things are getting pushed down to our level.  NOT as bad as we first feared, but it does illustrate the major differences between the University system and a business in the real world.  In the real world, something that was “Site Licensed” would be paid for at the top level, no questions asked.  Here…  Well, it is advertised as “Free” on the Campus’ official Webstore, but now we’re being forced to bill down to the individual Units based on their head count.  So, some bitterness about that at the Department level.  Not directed at me, so that’s good.  And of course, like I said, it ended up being a LOT less money than initially feared… 

Did get an excellent complement…  Helped one of the Staff recover a folder with a WHOLE bunch of Grant information on it.  She said that they were really going to miss me when I leave, and that she’d be happy to write a letter of recommendation for me.  Was not aware that she knew I was looking, but I suppose the few times I’ve “Clark Kented” it in my office to go to interviews were…  Odd enough to be noted.

Next League testing (X-Wing) and random thoughts...

Looking at what to bring to the next League event…  Most likely this:

FennScoutx2 (100)

Contracted Scout — JumpMaster 5000	25
Attanni Mindlink	1
Intelligence Agent	1
R5-P8	3
Black Market Slicer Tools	1
Anti-Pursuit Lasers	2
Ship Total: 33
Fenn Rau — Protectorate Starfighter	28
Attanni Mindlink	1
Autothrusters	2
Concord Dawn Protector	1
Ship Total: 32
Contracted Scout — JumpMaster 5000	25
Attanni Mindlink	1
Plasma Torpedoes	3
Extra Munitions	2
Intelligence Agent	1
Rigged Cargo Chute	1
Anti-Pursuit Lasers	2
Ship Total: 35

Ne bid for Imitative because I’m going with the aggressive “Dare them to let me go first”.  Not a LOT of repositioning, but enough I think.  Focus should be there with the Mindlink.  The first Scout is just there to muck things up.  Shoot at it if you dare, the BMST is there to punish pushing and the APL has won me several games on its own.  The second Scout is there to throw in another Bumpmaster and a few Torpedoes…  Will likely drop the EM for a Seismic Torpedo.   2 solid ships to get in there and just mess things up and cause disruption and damage.  Fenn is a solid Ace on his own.  With the Mindlink he should almost always have a Focus to allow him to reposition or whatever he needs…  Fun, very Mandalorian with the extremely high aggression level there. 

New Ed Sheeran album out, had to pick it up…  Lots of really good stuff there.  “Eraser”, “Castle on the Hill”, ”Shape of You” etc…  “Galloway Girl” I think is my favorite though…

Castle is a good one, but a bit more nostalgic than I get.  High School was so long ago and frankly another lifetime altogether for me.  Nothing there to be nostalgic about anymore.  Did that once and it went horribly so “Nie Wieder” as they say.  Nothing really to be nostalgic about from the Army either.  Different reason.  I do not talk about it much really.  The funny stories and jokes are about all I ever tell anyone about from that period in my life.  Kind of a family tradition I suppose.  No one ever talks about our time in the military in the family.  Well, that and the minor fact that I am the last one from my first Squad left.  So, the whole idea of a reunion is pretty much right out.  And of course I DO remember a lot more about that time than I actually talk about.  Frankly, my first Deployment was a cakewalk by comparison I think.  4 days of actual combat with a few months of low intensity conflict on either end.  Not that it was not stupidly dangerous…  It was.  Exposure to Chemical Weapons, booby traps, mines and oh…  Then there was the whole Desert thing.  In any case, it was what I considered a cakewalk.  We looked and lived like Gypsies and overall had it good…

Supply and Support other than Ammo/Fuel was problematic at times.  MRE was the standard meal for about a 4 Month period, so I can safely say I will never (voluntarily) eat another one of those…  Same issue I have with Potatoes.  We had them for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day that we ate in a “mess” situation (in Garrison, which frankly was NOT as often as one might think), so I tend to avoid all things potato these days…  Second combat deployment was a lot more nightmarish by comparison.  Should note that I do not ever really talk about that, but does go a long way toward explaining my aversion to a lot of things and how generally “aware” of the situations I am by default.  Still, was short and a LONG time ago, so I got off quite easy overall.  Loads of interesting awards that go on my old Greens should I eve wear them.  Heck, the Army went back to the more formal dress Blues since I got out, so I have all obsolete uniforms, per usual.  Body armor fits again.  Have NOT started wearing it to work out…  Yet.  Probably will though soon.  It puts me closer to the weight I was when I started working out seriously again, and is good to be used to moving with the armor on should one ever really need to do so.  Moving without it is comparatively faster and I remember scaring a lot of folks who never understood how fast I really was when I decided to move.  Especially when I first got out, hanging out at the local game store that was by an odd coincidence less than a block from my apartment and right next to the bar I ended up hanging out and working at later. An interesting period in my life that was back at Joe's...