Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Random thoughts on Punisher and X-Wing

So, random thoughts… 

Punisher review: 

“OK” if you are looking for PC mindless violence.  I liked the Punisher comics back when I was a kid, but even then I knew it was really just a retelling of the Mack Bolan/Executioner series.  See, I read a LOT when I was a kid, so I probably had a FAR broader exposure to a lot of random things.  But in any case, the lead character is the highly trained Sniper/Special Operator (?) I guess…  Mack Bolan’s character was far and away the most believable…  He WAS a sniper, on a team which was the “proto” A-Team from Vietnam.  He had teammates that were things like the medic, demo specialist, heavy weapons, and close in work, etc…  Was NOT all just him.  The Punisher is pretty much the one man A-Team.  Fine I guess given his setting is the “Superhero” world, so not a huge stretch since there are Blind Ninjas, Mystic Martial Arts Experts and immortal enemies (see: Defenders/Netflix J)…  But in my limited experience the guys I know who are sniper types are probably not also the same ones I’d want beside me doing building clearance or doing demo work…  Just saying.  The group of guys I used to shoot with, I was an average shot at the longer range targets out to 600m.  I’d have slightly better than a 50% hit rate with the old off the rack Garand and standard ammo.  They would be in the 100% range.  I shoot a LOT better if I can move and am shooting at moving targets.  I have pretty decent reflexes I’m told…  But I guess that’s just my long winded way of saying that Frank Castle is a superhero type in a world that HAS superheroes…  My bigger objections actually came with the VERY carefully PC environment they set up.  Every bad guy had to be a rich white male.  The ones who were not quite that were the ex-GI terrorist.  SO much I dislike about that character, but I guess I have a lot more skin in that game.  He’s portrayed as a low IQ dupe/tool who was easy to influence and then cast aside by the evil war machine.  Fixated on the 2nd Amendment to the point of committing terrorist acts to “make a point”.  So, the low IQ grunt somehow just “finds” exotic weaponry like sound suppressors for the expensive Military type pistols and things like Claymore AP mines…  Oh, AND the expertise to wire them up in frighteningly effective booby traps.  These are NOT things one finds at say, Walmart.  Suppressors are Class III devices, so TECHNICALLY legal.  If you jump through the hoops, register, pay the fees and taxes and have a VERY good Attorney who specializes in such matters.  NOT common.  I've SEEN a handful of them over the years, and I'd probably say I was a LOT deeper into that world than most...  Claymores are even more so.  NOT something one would simply “come home” from Afghanistan with.  I’ve used a number of them (I WAS a demolitions specialist), and know the likelihood of those making their way back to the States from overseas is effectively zero.  Bringing us to the big question of what is he, an idiot or a genius?  Portrayed as the idiot, but somehow able to on a cab driver’s income pick up a LOT of very expensive and illegal military hardware and the correct training to employ the same that an Infantry grunt simply would NOT have?  :-)  Not even rage inducing things, just really disappointing for me I guess. 

J  So, I have issues with the series, but probably specific to the ex-GI crowd.  The character in “Daredevil” was pretty darn good…  Will I watch season 2?  Probably.  But honestly I liked Iron Fist and the Defenders a lot more.

On to X-wing though…  The big Wave 12/13 drop hit and seems like meta which WAS in flux is hit with another big change.  Harpoons EVERYWHERE.  This seems a problem…  That particular Missile allows you to keep your Target Lock, has the insane extra Damage condition (that splashes to Range 1) making it a “just better” option for a Missile.  Coupled with the fact that the Reload action that allows you to just keep firing them off?  Makes the few things that can break TL pretty good.  Honestly, concerned someone local will bring the Krayt (Chris Allen I think?) Squadron of 3 Nu Squadron Gunboats with just LRS and the Harpoon with the 34 point Quickdraw.  SO many Missiles…  The Wookies are right out against that sort of build.  Just cannot handle that many Harpoons. 

Saying that, this is what I am looking at running at Mattoon:
KuldaFennThweek (97)
Torani Kulda — M12-L Kimogila Fighter
27
Veteran Instincts
1
Harpoon Missiles
4
Unhinged Astromech
1
Long-Range Scanners
0
Ship Total: 33

Fenn Rau — Protectorate Starfighter
28
Push the Limit
3
Autothrusters
2
Concord Dawn Protector
1
Ship Total: 34

Thweek — StarViper
28
Fire-Control System
2
Autothrusters
2
StarViper Mk. II
-3
Virago
1
Ship Total: 30


More of a Missile carrier, Ace and Thweek to Shadow another Ace to give me essentially 2 Aces.  I REALLY like the way the Starviper actually flies.  It is essentially a TIE Fighter with a bit better Health, but it flies really oddly…  Fenn does Fenn things.  The best Mandalorian flying the best ship I think the S&V Faction has I think.  He is a really good PTL Ace.  Kulda, I am looking at either the LRS or Chips, but LRS seems right for the moment.  Not looking at his ability much, just PS 10 and that damn Missile with Reload. 

Now, if I want to play a more “fun” squad I’ll fly:
FennGuriThweek (97)
Guri — StarViper
30
Intensity
2
Advanced Sensors
3
Inertial Dampeners
1
Autothrusters
2
StarViper Mk. II
-3
Virago
1
Ship Total: 36

Thweek — StarViper
28
Autothrusters
2
StarViper Mk. II
-3
Ship Total: 27

Fenn Rau — Protectorate Starfighter
28
Push the Limit
3
Autothrusters
2
Concord Dawn Protector
1
Ship Total: 34

2 Starvipers J…  And the PTL Ace.  So, fun I think…  And another likely one for me to fly.

The Titan event is later in the month and I’m running my dual Firespray list…  Little different, but…  J  And time to test it later I think…




Tuesday, November 28, 2017

X-Wing, 2 events this weekend...

Looking like I have 2 events this weekend…  Mattoon and Champaign, so I have the opportunity to play multiple lists…  Which is good because I have 2-3 lists I really want to fly.  I picked up a third Wookie gunship and have that as my primary list as follows:
Wookies everywhere 2 (100)
Lowhhrick — Auzituck Gunship
28
Predator
3
Tactician
2
C-3PO
3
Ship Total: 36

Wookiee Liberator — Auzituck Gunship
26
Expertise
4
Tactician
2
"Chopper"
0
Ship Total: 32

Wookiee Liberator — Auzituck Gunship
26
Expertise
4
Tactician
2
Ship Total: 32


Nothing subtle here…  Form up, stick together and know that you will Stress the hell out of anything that you catch at Range 2…  Think it was Chris from the Carolina Krayts podcast who said that the Auzituck with Reinforce is about the equivalent of a 4 Agility ship…  Against MOST things…  I have not had much success against Ordinance lists with this, so I suspect that will be the big weakness.  Solid list, the ships have SO much Hull that it can take the one big hit and keep fighting.  2 hits and, well…  Hopefully that expended the Ordinance tubes and your remaining 2 Ships will have a much better time against the other list…  But solid, more “fun” list…

Other lists are based around the Harpoon Missile.  I have 2, depending on what else is out there…
CobraFennN'Dru (100)
Viktor Hel — Kihraxz Fighter
25
Push the Limit
3
Harpoon Missiles
4
Scavenger Crane
2
Engine Upgrade
4
Autothrusters
2
Stealth Device
3
Vaksai
0
Ship Total: 37

N'Dru Suhlak — Z-95 Headhunter
17
Lone Wolf
2
Harpoon Missiles
4
Scavenger Crane
2
Guidance Chips
0
Ship Total: 25

Fenn Rau — Protectorate Starfighter
28
Push the Limit
3
Proton Torpedoes
4
Autothrusters
2
Concord Dawn Protector
1
Ship Total: 38




Viktor or Cobrabane, Viktor having PTL, Cobrabane having a 1 pointer like VI…  Fenn Rau at PS 9 ant PTL for the “in your face”, dangerous but…  2 Harpoon carriers and one of them likely a 5 Dice attack…

Last time before the new ships hit 7 December…  SO much changes then that I think we’re in a weird half-meta…  Am really kind of hoping that a new FAQ hits as well nerfing the Advanced Sensors with the TIE Silencer having the System slot and EPT to do the silly Boost, Barrel Roll then reveal a Green to clear the Stress silliness.  I have done this on my Brobot build and with Guri on the Star Viper.  It is silly where you can go, and seeing the dial for the Silencer with a lot of Green…  Guess we’ll see J…  But PS 11 will be the new way to go for a lot of things…





Sunday, November 12, 2017

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...

Monday, November 6, 2017

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:



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...

Tuesday, October 24, 2017

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…


Monday, October 9, 2017

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… 

Friday, October 6, 2017

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:

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...