X-wing - Single Ship Dogfights - What would you do?

Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you:

No adverts like this in the forums anymore.
Times and dates in your local timezone.
Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance.
Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely.
Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net.

If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

**chuloopa**

Hi guys.

So I'll be attending PAX Australia in about 2 weeks time and, asided from regular 100pt x-wing tournaments, they will be running single ship 32 point dog fight tournaments.

I think this is an awesome idea for getting through quick games with larger groups that may not be as heavily invested in the game, or even just curious to try.
They are obviously going to be supplying a lot of stuff, but also have the option to bring your own lists.

I have a few different builds i'm toying with - but i thought it would be interesting to see how you guys would tackle it.
It's a cool concept because you're relying on literally one ship to run the show - not a cohesive force.

If you had just one ship and 32 points to make an impact, what would you take?
The unpredictability of the Phantom?
The manuverability of the interceptor or a-wing?
The toughness of the B-wing or Y-wing?
or perhaps the utility of things like X-wings?
So many choices...

**Brother Lem**

Outer Rim Smuggler — YT-1300 27
Saboteur 2
Anti-Pursuit Lasers 2
Millennium Falcon 1
Ship Total: 32

Interesting concept for quick play

**Gitzbitah**

Lambda
Heavy laser cannon
Vader

Bonus points if you paint come at me bro on your ships wing.

**chuloopa**

See - these two responses are what i find most interesting - The guidelines simply say "32 points" - it doesn't say small ships only - meaning there are a couple of large base ships you could get in that would almost certainly give you an advantage with ability to absorb damage.

Gitzbitah - pretty surprised to see someone go the shuttle - pretty damn bad-ass idea, though - especially the repaint idea haha - if only i had a copy of the ship i'd be tempted to do that.

**Gitzbitah**

Lol, it's a total timed game con list. You will both die- you're betting you'll get a lucky crit before they flank you and take you apart. I was trying to work up a bomber, but even when you know it's just one target ordnance is too expensive.

**Crazy_Carnifex**

Soontir
PTL
Authothrusters

**jokerkd**

Jake Farrell (32)
A-Wing (24), Proton Rockets (3), Push the Limit (3), Autothrusters (2)

or

Jake Farrell (32)
A-Wing (24), A-Wing Test Pilot (0), Push the Limit (3), Autothrusters (2), Outmaneuver (3)

**locarno24**

Surprised to see no-one mention Lone Wolf. In a solo dogfight it's one of the most cost-effective upgrades you can buy.

One thing to note: if you're relying on pilot skill, you need to be absolute top-of-the-range, because you know people will bring vader/soontir/wedge type characters.

There's something to be said for turret types - consider someone like kavil with a twin laser turret - with an unhinged astromech you can throw yourself into crazy hard turns to try and avoid letting someone into your range 1 'blind spot'. Alternatively, take a blaster turret and an R4 agromech (but then you have a range 3 blind spot).

**DanielBeaver**

locarno24 wrote:
Surprised to see no-one mention Lone Wolf.

How about:

Darth Vader (29)
Lone Wolf (2)
Advanced Targeting Computer (1)
TIE/x1 (0)

...though my personal preference for a 1v1 dogfight would be the 31 pt:

Tycho Celchu (26)
Veteran Instincts (1)
Chardaan Refit (-2)
Daredevil (3)
Experimental Interface (3)
A-Wing Test Pilot (0)

**Brother Lem**

Come on how about this ace list!

Lieutenant Blount — Z-95 Headhunter 17
Expose 4
Homing Missiles 5
Shield Upgrade 4
Ship Total: 30

OR

Cutlass Squadron Pilot — TIE Punisher 21
Concussion Missiles 4
Cluster Missiles 4
Seismic Charges 2
Munitions Failsafe 1
Ship Total: 32

**DanielBeaver**

Ordnance might be an interesting choice for this setting

N'Dru Suhlak (17)
Opportunist (4)
Cluster Missiles (4)
Glitterstim (2)
Engine Upgrade (4)

Total: 31

**Crazy_Carnifex**

DanielBeaver wrote:
Ordnance might be an interesting choice for this setting

N'Dru Suhlak (17)
Opportunist (4)
Cluster Missiles (4)
Glitterstim (2)
Engine Upgrade (4)

Total: 31

Honestly, I'd drop Opportunist for Lone Wolf. You can't use opportunist when stressed, so that rules out using it with Stims and Missiles for "One Good Turn". Instead, since you've already sunk a lot of points into the Stim/Missile combo, having the ability to re-roll a blank would be really useful. Outside your main turn, Lone Wolf is also a lot easier to benefit from than opportunist, which just encourages your opponent to camp focus for the defence.

**Mathieu Raymond**

I'd keep the Punisher, but remove the seismic charge and get extra munitions instead.

**Crazy_Carnifex**

Marek Steele- 32 points
PTL
TIE MK2
TIE X1
ATC

Action economy, Plenty of Green maneuvers, ability to choose the best/worst Crit good against any target. Cons: Low-ish PS for an ace.

**Anpu-adom**

I'd tool up Carnor Jax... Opponents not being able to use focus tokens would be a huge benefit.

**streamdragon**

Format is pretty hard on Scum ships, who are either too expensive or simply not very tough compared to other one ship options. :-\

**Mathieu Raymond**

For Scum, I'd say Syndicate Thug Y-Wing, TLT, Unhinged, Adv. Proton Torps, Munitions Failsafe.

I'm not saying it'll work wonders, but with savvy maneuvers, you can hurt them all the way in.

**Riquende**

Anpu-adom wrote:
I'd tool up Carnor Jax... Opponents not being able to use focus tokens would be a huge benefit.

It'd be an option. I used him at PS10 to completely shut down Fel in a normal game, I'm not sure he'd have the maneuvering options (without PtL) to succeed, but you guarantee you'd see a lot of Fel in this format.

I'd think about cobbling something together with Juno.

Edit: Or maybe this? Not sure on the mods, there's a fair few points to make up!

“Omega Leader”
TIE/fo Fighter, Unique
Enemy ships that you have locked cannot modify any dice when attacking you or defending against your attacks.
Comm Relay (3)
Push the Limit (3)
Engine Upgrade (4)

Or just Doom Shuttle it...

Omicron Group Pilot
Lambda-Class Shuttle
Fire-Control System (2)
Tractor beam (1)
Darth Vader (3)
Gunner (5)

Going on the basis that a tractor beam token will help keep your opponent in arc...

**timetowaste85**

I like the idea of the Phantom pilot that has the soft curve 2 de-cloak all tricked out. You won't be able to land a hit on her unless you have a 360 shooter.

**Crazy_Carnifex**

timetowaste85 wrote:
I like the idea of the Phantom pilot that has the soft curve 2 de-cloak all tricked out. You won't be able to land a hit on her unless you have a 360 shooter.

Problem is, you can't trick her out for 32 points. You basically have the choice of Agent Kallus/Fire-control System and PS 6, or Vet instincts and a cheap Crew for PS 8.

**Mathieu Raymond**

Unless you're in a very soft ship, I think the deficit in PS is not as dramatic, since it is 1v1.

**Crazy_Carnifex**

You kidding? 1v1 with a lower-ps ship is the best case scenario for a lot of Arc dodgers. Having low-PS hurts thee Phantoms maneuverability a lot.

**Mathieu Raymond**

I'm coming it at from the standpoint that 1v1, if you're getting your arc dodged, you're a bit to blame.

**Azreal13**

That's not in the least bit true. As the lower PS pilot you have to make all your decisions without knowing anything about the intent of the higher PS arc dodger (with a partial exception for the Phantom.)

The higher PS ship gets to see exactly where you're going and what you're doing, before making any decisions.

Therefore the lower PS ship has to use big manoeuvres and second guesses to try and get a shot, whereas the likes of Fel simply set a conservative manoeuvre and rely on their actions to position themselves as optimally as possible.

Unless you're a turret, lower PS in this scenario is a huge handicap, especially against arc dodgers.

**Mathieu Raymond**

Wait, what? Doesn't everyone lock in their dials at the same time? They get to see what I do, sure, but they don't get to modify their dial. (barring some stuff like Phantom and BB-8, of course)

Did I get the game *that* wrong?

And a TLT is a turret. (To use my example of a PS2 ship)

**Crazy_Carnifex**

Mathieu Raymond wrote:
Wait, what? Doesn't everyone lock in their dials at the same time? They get to see what I do, sure, but they don't get to modify their dial. (barring some stuff like Phantom and BB-8, of course)

Did I get the game *that* wrong?

And a TLT is a turret. (To use my example of a PS2 ship)

Barrel Roll
Boost
SLAM

**ScootyPuffJunior**

Mathieu Raymond wrote:
Wait, what? Doesn't everyone lock in their dials at the same time? They get to see what I do, sure, but they don't get to modify their dial. (barring some stuff like Phantom and BB-8, of course)

Did I get the game *that* wrong?

And a TLT is a turret. (To use my example of a PS2 ship)

Post-maneuvering re-positioning actions are the most powerful actions in the game; a good barrel roll or boost can mean the difference between life or death for a ship. Moving at PS 9+ helps make sure that you are among the last to move and means you're able to take full advantage of knowing every ships' position on the game board.

**Crazy_Carnifex**

And they are especially powerful 1V1, when your opponent can no longer position other ships to cover their blind spots.

**Mathieu Raymond**

I guess I just have a very soft meta. I've rarely had problems anticipating those movements before. I'll grant you, a furball can develop pretty quickly. But yeah, soft meta, I think. We're all very beer and pretzel, some of us are heavier on the beer, and I don't drink any.

So would a Big ship like a stock YT-1300 be good against that?

**Peregrine**

Mathieu Raymond wrote:
I guess I just have a very soft meta. I've rarely had problems anticipating those movements before. I'll grant you, a furball can develop pretty quickly. But yeah, soft meta, I think. We're all very beer and pretzel, some of us are heavier on the beer, and I don't drink any.

Soft meta is probably right. If you look at what good players can do with Fel/Vader/Whisper/Corran/etc they're just going to fly circles around anything with lower PS. You both set your dials at the same time, but boost and barrel roll (with PTL to do both in the same turn) can cover such a huge amount of space that whatever maneuver you put on the dial is maybe half of your ship's final position at most. And because you're doing those actions after your opponent has committed to their ship's final position you can pick the boost and/or barrel roll that will counter their maneuver. A skilled player with the patience to break off and run from any situation that doesn't favor them is virtually impossible to bring down in a 1v1 fight unless you have a 360* turret or a high-PS ace of your own.

And sure, eventually you'll get a shot on them by setting up an arc that they can't boost/BR out of, but those high-PS aces almost always have piles of defensive tokens and green dice to survive a shot here and there. Unless you have a high-PS ace of your own beating the high-PS aces almost always involves having multiple ships to cover all possible positions and throw enough red dice to get through their defense. But obviously in a 1v1 you can't do that.