Quick X-Wing AAR from the End Zone in Mattoon...

So, flew my

CobraGuriN'Dru (100)

Guri — StarViper	30
Push the Limit	3
Advanced Sensors	3
Inertial Dampeners	1
Autothrusters	2
StarViper Mk. II	-3
Virago	1
Ship Total: 37
Talonbane Cobra — Kihraxz Fighter	28
Veteran Instincts	1
Harpoon Missiles	4
Cloaking Device	2
Engine Upgrade	4
Autothrusters	2
Stealth Device	3
Vaksai	0
Ship Total: 38
N'Dru Suhlak — Z-95 Headhunter	17
Lone Wolf	2
Harpoon Missiles	4
Glitterstim	2
Guidance Chips	0
Ship Total: 25

Did reasonably well…  2-1 after I flew my first game “poorly” again…  Turns out parking Guri in front of 2 TIE Defenders means that she is going to melt.  But she REALLY moves when I get out there…  But of course PS 5 and so not a lot of Arc Dodging really.  But it was a LOT of fun flying that one.  Felt a bit like this:

Cobrabane was quite good all loaded out like that.  Think I might swap the Cloak for the Scavenger Crane though.  N’Dru was still quite solid.  It DID lose some power from the Mindlink version.  VI for PTL might be a thing on Cobrabane, but honestly without the double reposition and with the “less Green” dial than a TIE Interceptor or Jumpmaster not sure how well he’ll actually be able to use it.

Other potential build for next month would be the triple Wookie build.  Not sure how much fun it will be for either me or the other side of the table…

Wookies everywhere (100)

Wookiee Liberator — Auzituck Gunship	26
Lightning Reflexes	1
Tactician	2
Operations Specialist	3
Ship Total: 32
Wookiee Liberator — Auzituck Gunship	26
Lightning Reflexes	1
Tactician	2
Gunner	5
Ship Total: 34
Wookiee Liberator — Auzituck Gunship	26
Lightning Reflexes	1
Tactician	2
Gunner	5
Ship Total: 34

Not subtle, it really flies JUST like Cardassians in STAW…  180 degree Arcs, this build has the ability to actually turnabout quickly.  Once.  But then the game should not be lasting a lot longer one would hope of course…

But in any case, the End Zone in Mattoon was really a very nice location, and only a quick 40 mile drive down I-57 for me, so definitely going back...

X-Wing Theory crafting for this weekend

               Weird(ish) list…  But I do think this will work.  Looking at what to take to Matoon, and thinking it’ll be something weird like this:

CobraGuriN'Dru (100)

Guri — StarViper	30
Push the Limit	3
Advanced Sensors	3
Inertial Dampeners	1
Autothrusters	2
StarViper Mk. II	-3
Virago	1
Ship Total: 37
Talonbane Cobra — Kihraxz Fighter	28
Veteran Instincts	1
Harpoon Missiles	4
Cloaking Device	2
Engine Upgrade	4
Autothrusters	2
Stealth Device	3
Vaksai	0
Ship Total: 38
N'Dru Suhlak — Z-95 Headhunter	17
Lone Wolf	2
Cluster Missiles	4
Glitterstim	2
Guidance Chips	0
Ship Total: 25

Guri with Adv Sensors and PTL to be REALLY squirlly.  The maneuvers I can do with that potentially are just bloody insane.  Cobrabane is PS 11, Agility 3, Cloaking, Harpoon Missile…  EVERYTHING in a single Fighter really.  N’Dru in his “Guided Missile” mode…  Nothing special, just there to go forth and do loads of damage.  Once.  Assuming he makes it TO the target.

No bid, but with PS 11, do I care?  Not really...  Something different than my last "cute" build.  Not subtle, don't care about control.  Control of the board is easier if you simply kill every opposing Fighter...  Some Defense here.  Guri should be slippery as hell, so Arc Dodging, albeit at PS 5...  So it will take some skill I suspect to REALLY avoid much...  Cobrabane is loaded for bear.  Kind of a Swiss Army build, but SO much he can do.  At least it will be a fun build I think...

X-Wing list testing before next League day...

Testing some builds…  Finally flew the Kihraxz build and it went pretty well.  Those Harpoon missiles are REALLY powerful.  But at the end of the day, the Kihraxz is really just a T-70 X-Wing…  Slight differences in the dials, but 2 Agility is going to make for some really tough matchups.  And of course bombs are going to be brutal against them.  Mindlink is pretty good still, but we’ll see if there is a change in the FAQ.   You know, the FAQ we've all been waiting on...

CobraViktorBumpmaster2 (100)

Talonbane Cobra — Kihraxz Fighter	28
Attanni Mindlink	1
Harpoon Missiles	4
Inertial Dampeners	1
Engine Upgrade	4
Autothrusters	2
Guidance Chips	0
Vaksai	0
Ship Total: 35
Viktor Hel — Kihraxz Fighter	25
Attanni Mindlink	1
Harpoon Missiles	4
Scavenger Crane	2
Engine Upgrade	4
Autothrusters	2
Stealth Device	3
Vaksai	0
Ship Total: 35
Contracted Scout — JumpMaster 5000	25
Attanni Mindlink	1
Intelligence Agent	1
Rigged Cargo Chute	1
Ion Projector	2
Ship Total: 30

If the FAQ hits the way it was “spoiled”, then Mindlink becomes useless at 2 ships only.  I guess I go stupid high PS for Cobrabane and take the free VI…  Maybe for Viktor as well, making him a 9…  Scout can drop the point on Mindlink for the Unhinged Astromech…

Other list I am looking hard at is:

Brobots 2 (100)

IG-88B — Aggressor	36
Push the Limit	3
Advanced Sensors	3
Ion Cannon	3
Ion Bombs	2
Rigged Cargo Chute	1
Autothrusters	2
IG-2000	0
Ship Total: 50
IG-88C — Aggressor	36
Push the Limit	3
Advanced Sensors	3
Ion Cannon	3
Ion Bombs	2
Rigged Cargo Chute	1
Autothrusters	2
IG-2000	0
Ship Total: 50

Simple enough…  Now that I actually HAVE a few reps in with it, I have a much better feel for how it flies.  REALLY amazing being able to token up then do a Green to clear the Stress.  Can more or less ignore TLTs if I am able to keep out of Arc…  Even the Missiles are not as much of a thing with an Evade Token and 3 Agility…  Might take damage, but there are a fair number of times I simply dodge.  Might drop one Ion Bomb for Tractor Beams on both…  Might just be amusing enough to throw the wee ships about, Rock them or just drop Agility for the follow up shot…

Looking forward, the Reload action is I think going to be the sleeper “next big thing” in the next wave(s).  I’m not looking forward to someone figuring out that the Imperial gunboat with a Missile that does not spend the Target Lock can roll up, SLAM, acquire TL or just Focus and with the OS-1 Arsenal Loadout…  34 points, maybe 35 for VI but you can do stupid things.  3 Hard, 3 Hard, TL/Focus and still fire the Missile.  If you keep the TL, you can 3, 3, Reload the Missiles and then still fire it that turn.  So, the Missile potentially fire EVERY turn.  Guessing the things that break TL will become REALLY important to avoid just getting shot off the table by these…  Guessing I’ll look more seriously at Expert Handling at that point or the “Black One” title for the T-70’s…

Titan League Month 2 AAR…

Titan League Month 2 AAR…

Well, I can state that I played my worst game EVER in game one.  Paired up against Joseph’s Dengar/Nym list.  Moved in, got into position, dropped an Ion Bomb to Ion both of his ships, had Nym Stressed and…  I flew both of my ships off the damn board.  First one I should have just turned in and eaten the Stress from the Rigged Cargo Chute that was dropped.  Instead, I tried to get fancy and boost then 1 Bank…  JUST off the edge.  Then the 4 K-Turn landed me just off the board instead of Range 2 behind Nym to just keep Ioning him off the field…  Craptastic.  Ah well, teach me to play a list I’ve flown once… 

Game two…  Bye.  So, I got to watch a lot of the games.  Some good lists even if they were not really the “big meta” ones…  There WAS a “fair ship rebel”, but it was flown rather than the castle in the corner waiting on Final Salvo… 

Game 3 against what I consider a hard counter to this and frankly ANY 2 Ship list…  Kylo Ren on the RAC Decimator.  He had Wampa in a TIE and Deathfire in a TIE Bomber.  Was actually quite an enjoyable game…  I lasted a LOT longer than I thought I should have, but the Kylo action does require him to actually HIT.  Mind, NOT actually penetrate the bloody shields, just HIT the ship/shields.  THAT is where I have the biggest problem with that card and why I find it to be just broken and stupid.  Any time you have game effects breaking the basic rules of the game, it is a problem, this is just one of the biggest offenders.  Change it to “Apply the chosen Critical whenever a Critical would be dealt to the Ship” and it is not a problem.  Not “Fuck your shields, I use magic to break the rules of the game”.  But in any case, he did get that off twice, but ONLY when he was able to catch me at Range 1-2 IN Arc.  Devastating because of course he is able to cherry pick the “Blinded Pilot” to keep me from shooting back, but it was something I could work around.  I lost one Aggressor to a VERY well placed Proximity Mine that hit for 2 and a Critical after Wamps hit the ship and the Concussion Missile stripped a shield I think…  Might have been hit once or twice more, but this was like Turn 3…  I had Ion Bombed his whole group, killed the Bomber and then danced for almost an hour with my remaining Aggressor (C, so Free Evades)…  Was a good game, if one that was ultimately futile I think.

What did I learn?  Well, 2 ship lists have an inherent hard counter in the Kylo Ren crew card.  The B-Wings that Parker flew so well are actually good…  He melted the Decimator before it could do all that much against him.  Might be where I go next if the Guns for Hire expansion is not here next Month… 

X-Wing, Titan League month 2

So, gearing up for Sunday...  Looking like I am flying the version of Brobots I am copying from the UK:

Brobots 1 (100)

IG-88B — Aggressor	36
Push the Limit	3
Advanced Sensors	3
Ion Cannon	3
Ion Bombs	2
Rigged Cargo Chute	1
Autothrusters	2
IG-2000	0
Ship Total: 50
IG-88C — Aggressor	36
Push the Limit	3
Advanced Sensors	3
Ion Cannon	3
Ion Bombs	2
Rigged Cargo Chute	1
Autothrusters	2
IG-2000	0
Ship Total: 50

And I've repainted the ships

So, at least my lads will look like one of MY Squadrons on the field.  Betting they'll be the only Aggressors out there as well, but I think this is a decent "counter meta" list.  Hits...  Well, hitting hard is not the point.  Control via Ion is.  It should be able to tag almost any ship in the game as long as I do not get completely out flown and Arc Dodged...  Even then, lower PS should allow me to rush in, drop the Cargo and Stress and potentially Damage them.  Stress is huge though.  Once Stressed, if I can then Ion them?  That ship is pretty much done if it is not rescued in some way.

But we'll see I guess...  It will be VERY fun I think to go in against some of the other Squads...

X-Wing, Testing for Oct League Day

So, tested a “new” build…  Brobots.  Not my normal build for anything.  My version of one out of the UK: https://medium.com/186th-squadron/into-the-garbage-chute-flyboy-70f8cb52b19

Jesper Hills there ran with PTL, Adv Sensors, Ion Bombs and Rigged Cargo Chute.  I do not have two Chutes, so ran with a Burnout Slam on one.  For the League I WILL borrow the RCC though, it is simply way too good.

Brobots 1 (100)

IG-88B — Aggressor	36
Push the Limit	3
Advanced Sensors	3
Ion Cannon	3
Ion Bombs	2
Rigged Cargo Chute	1
Autothrusters	2
IG-2000	0
Ship Total: 50
IG-88C — Aggressor	36
Push the Limit	3
Advanced Sensors	3
Ion Cannon	3
Ion Bombs	2
Rigged Cargo Chute	1
Autothrusters	2
IG-2000	0
Ship Total: 50

Now, when I say, it is a very different list than I normally use, I mean it does not necessarily win by simply blasting the other Squad off the field.  It CAN do some damage, but lacking the HLC and FCS it is not putting out the super accurate 4 Dice Attacks that one expects from the “standard” Brobots.  It is all about Control.  Not “Stresshog” Control where I throw out Stress and laugh while you have no actions and hope to avoid me, but rather Ion Control.  I think this is a death sentence for any Small Base low Agility ship.  I can pretty easily tank one shot from them to hit them in the exchange with an Ion Cannon then hopefully drop a RCC on them.  THAT card is really quite good.  In our test game today I was able to drop it AND the Ion Bomb on a CPT Nym.  Double Stress and Ion.  NOT what Nym wants to see ever.  And with him close to a board edge and pointing in that direction, was just a turn or two to walk him off the board.  Yes, the offending IG-2000 was killed in the exchange, but it was a good exchange for me I think as his remaining ships were all now damaged, out of position and going to be an easy cleanup.  So, bleeding MoV, but the wins are the only important statistic for this.

Survivable…  As long as my Agility (Luck) holds…  Not going to Arc Dodge Aces, but they should be careful trying to joust with me.  I have little interest in a Joust, but will trade shots to get them an Ion Token…  Dengar/Nym?  Well, I have to line up a bit better on Dengar.  Nym does not worry me, and I suspect a good Nym player will hold him back.  TLT spam?  Well, lots of dice rolling and Autothrusters should keep that Damage down...  We'll see.  Odd Imp stuff?  Small bases with the "Gunner" effect should be have Ion Tokens more often than not.  Then they are in a lot of trouble....

We'll see I guess.

X-Wing League Month 1 AAR

Game 1 was against Chewbacca in a YT-1300 and Lowhhrick in an Auzituck Gunship.  Newer player, so felt bad playing my distilled SC list against it, but it was pretty quick.  Got in behind the Wookie gunship and burned it down quickly.  The YT lasted a bit longer, but I was able to just bump him with Nym and just hit him with bombs for a few turns… 

Game 2 was against a Dengar/Fenn.  I lost Initiative and so had to go first as there were 3 PS 9’s and my PS 10.  Not really a problem as I used Dengar as a blocker.  Fenn got clipped by a bomblet and took a Direct Hit.  He lasted another turn as I just rolled up behind him and used the ABT to finish him.  Took a while to hunt down his Dengar with mine as Nym took some serious damage and I had him roll out to get position for a bombing run in a few turns.  My Dengar went to half killing his, but by then it was pretty much over.

Game 3 was my loss…  Flew against Blaise with his COL Vessary (x7, Juke), Quickdraw (FCS and ?) and TIE Aggressor with TLT.  Good build overall.  I have a real problem dealing with TLT…  He bunched his ship up and ran right at Dengar.  Did some damage as Nym skirted the group to drop bombs on the way out to get the TLT off the board.  Dengar crippled Quickdraw in an almost mutual destruction…  Had my dice not been so bloody cold it would have been, but…  In any case Nym killed the TLT carrier and got COL Vessary down to 2 Hull.  Came down to a last play where I missed with an ABT shot, dropped a bomb and missed with ANOTHER ABT shot…  Needed 2 of those 6 dice to come up with Hits.  Got 1.  But great game J