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Trying out a new idea from my Vader/ Vessery build attempts that I'm sure y'all are getting sick of:
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Something Dodgy/ Dodgy Bastards
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97 points

Pilots
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Turr Phennir (30)
TIE Interceptor (25), Royal Guard TIE (0), Adaptability (0), Stealth Device (3), Autothrusters (2)

“Whisper” (40)
TIE Phantom (32), Intelligence Agent (1), Fire-Control System (2), Veteran Instincts (1), Advanced Cloaking Device (4)

Valen Rudor (27)
TIE Advanced Prototype (22), Juke (2), TIE/v1 (1), Autothrusters (2)
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I know this isn't a standard Wisper build but I was fairly impressed by the potential of the intel agent when paired with a ship/pilot that has the ability to react (I'd love to be able to try it with Echo but the lower PS is probably a death sentence for a lone Phantom).

I'm kind of uncertain about the Valen load. Juke & autothrusters seemed like a good way to increase both the survivability and hitting power of the TAP ... but I'm concerned he might not get the Juke from needing to spend the evade defensively.

Because he's my lowest PS i was considering Outmaneuver thus more likely to be taking shots at targets without tokens (but that's a pricey EPT).

Thoughts, comments, criticism all very much appreciated

Give Turr Veteran Instincts instead of Adaptability, you have more than enough points for it. You could even bump him up to Carnor Jax and be at 99 points.

I think I'm going to hold off on Carnor at least until the shine wears off the Ghost accuracy corrector & autoblaster turret combo wears off a little... Adaptability is there as a placeholder unless/until I find something better for Turr Phennir or Valen.

I was sort of thinking about keeping it for the big initiative bid (seen some folks talking about keeping to 98 points with soontir lists)

But barring something else fun coming up, Valen probably gets VI

Flew a modified version of of the list a friendly match against Vader, Soontir and Lt. Colzet (I spent the last 3 points to give Turr Phennir PTL) to a loss by 8 points (modified win for my opponent? )

I flew Phennir too aggressively while playing too conservative with his actions because I was hoping to be able to take a boost/ roll after shooting ... and given that I moved first and shot after his two ps 9 pilots, I probably should have recognized that wasn't going to be happening all that often. So I just didn't get as much use as I could have from those 3 points.

It also didn't help that after pulling a successful surprise maneuver to get a good position on Vader and Soontir in turn 2, I took the bait in following behind Vader and Soontir maneuvered perfectly for a range 1 shot from out of arc. Dead Phennir.

I made 2 major mistakes with Whisper. First was deployment of her in the opposite corner of my zone from Turr and second was an error in taking an action that left her without a shot. It didn't result in any damage but left her unable to take advantage of the intel agent by decloaking to a more favorable position.

A shield less Vader and Soontir were able to box whisper in though I had my choice of r1 shots first. Whisper killed Vader and dodged the prockets fired back but she was out of tokens and was killed by Soontir.

In the meantime Valen Rudor (who got some good use from HIS funky ability in the course of going down to 1 health) was able to finish off Colzet after a k-turn landed him on an asteroid.

Time called with a 1 hull 27 point Valen versus a full health Soontir (35 points).

Lessons learned:

1) TIE Interceptors are FRAGILE and with no shields that first critical is a)scary and b) painful.

2) a lot of Whisper's maneuverability comes from the decloaking action.

3) Even though these 3 pilots are relatively independent, they all have some ability to react to an intel agent showing me an enemy dial. So instead of deployment of Whisper in the left corner Valen in the middle and Turr far right, I should have played 'em closer together.

4) Testing out 2 rather fragile and new-to-me ships (interceptor and Phantom) in the same list is going to be an uphill battle to begin with.

5) from watching a second game of 3 jump masters with bug zappers vs Soontir, Carnor and an omni shuttle, I'm not sure my list will have the firepower for a good showing in the Tournament tomorrow...


Automatically Appended Next Post:

NEW LIST FOR TOURNAMENT TONIGHT

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Something Dodgy
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99 points

Pilots
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Turr Phennir (30)
TIE Interceptor (25), Royal Guard TIE (0), Adaptability (0), Stealth Device (3), Autothrusters (2)

“Whisper” (40)
TIE Phantom (32), Intelligence Agent (1), Fire-Control System (2), Veteran Instincts (1), Advanced Cloaking Device (4)

Valen Rudor (29)
TIE Advanced Prototype (22), Juke (2), Concussion Missiles (4), TIE/v1 (1), Guidance Chips (0)

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Turr has Adaptability so he can go up to 8 in games where it will matter or down to 6 to match Valen in the ones where it won't (so I can decide moving/ shooting order. This build is partially to emphasize to myself that the action after defending or shooting is a bonus and notto be relied on. And the Juke/ missiles load gives Valen a decent offensive punch.

Now UNLIKE prior to today, I am definitely considering different pilots for the TAP and interceptor. Though I WILL be facing the 3 jumpmasters (probably with the zappers).

So, for example, if I drop Valen Rudor to a Baron with crack shot, I can upgrade the interceptor to Soontir (loaded). But that changes a lot of the Baron's abilities to 1 shot cards and I'm right at 100 points.

Or if I go with a Baron with Juke, Turr can have a 3 point upgrade, PTL or Outmaneuver or Predator-- the latter 2 because unlike Soontir he's not going to be as happy with stress... predator might be the most consistent damage potential, but I am NOT sure about it.

(Carnor is out because of the almost cerainty of the bug zappers and Ghost/AC/autoblaster)

I could alternatively go with a Royal Guard pilot (Adaptability) and the Inquisitor in the TAP (PTL, prockets, v1, Mk II) or some other variant.

Advice would be really helpful!

A Baron should always have Push, not juke. Same as the Quiz. He'll always benefit more from a third action than a possible benefit that can be negated with ubiquitous focus and evades. And the TAP has the best greens in the game to take advantage of stress mechanics. Prockets is an okay choice to up your damage output for the initial trade. Autothrusters are mandatory on such a fragile ship.

For other ships have you considered our Lord and Savior: Omega Leader? She really is as nasty as the internet wants you to believe, when played correctly.

Other candidates for your list include TIE bombers, TIE Punishers and named TIE Fighters. I brought Backstabber and Redline to a tourney and they both performed admirably. I've been trying to "beef out" my list so I've been experimenting with these ships in addition to my usual Soontir Fel build.

Adaptability is "eh" on Turr Phennir. I almost always would rather spend one point and go to PS9 where almost all of the other aces are. His pilot ability is "good enough" that you don't need Push. Outmaneuver is expensive for something that might help you sometimes and the opportunity cost of NOT being PS9. PS9 Turr also plays really well with Whisper. Most aces want to give the opponent initiative, meaning shooting last, and more importantly, moving last. But Whisper and Turr both gain significant defensive benefits AFTER shooting, so you negate the benefit of moving last with Intel Agent revealing the dials of aces and then recloak, boost or barrel roll after shooting and you actually come out ahead having the initiative. If Turr is PS8, none of that really matters all that much.

My TIE interceptor that I fly all the time is frequently the tankiest ship in my list/the game. Soontir almost always survives to the end and I usually win games where he is and lose games where he isn't. Word to the wise though, beware those U-boats. They will sink your battleship faster than you can blink. I missed my opponent taking a focus action and suddenly he was throwing four dice at me with a target lock at R3 and changing one die to a hit and I was like woah woah woah, wait, what?

I think your tournament has already passed, but my advice to you would be to try

TIE Phantom: · "Whisper" (32)
Veteran Instincts (1)
Fire Control System (2)
Advanced Cloaking Device (4)
Intelligence Agent (1)
TIE Interceptor: · Turr Phennir (25)
Veteran Instincts (1)
Autothrusters (2)
Royal Guard TIE (0)
Stealth Device (3)
TIE/fo Fighter: · "Omega Leader" (21)
Juke (2)
Comm Relay (3)

That's 97 points. You can leave it there if you really really want Initiative or you can put a Stealth Device on Omega for a perfect 100 and make her a real bitch/son of a bitch.

My local meta, most people bring 100 point lists, no bid, so I usually bring 100 and just roll off for it. The benefit is usually worth it, I still get to shoot first even when I lose the roll which is good in most cases, I have no problem when Soontir out skills the majority of the enemy list, appropriate focus fire means a fairly even endgame. I only run into trouble with PS10 and 11 pilots, which the initiative doesn't help with and the extra upgrades might help even the playing field a bit.

Obviously it's different in your meta and with Whisper and Turr, but that's just how I play. Good luck, fly casual.

For other ships have you considered our Lord and Savior: Omega Leader? She really is as nasty as the internet wants you to believe, when played correctly.

Not to speak for the OP, but I believe he's stated he doesn't want to include OL for fluff/canon/timeline discrepancies. I think we beat the drum on OL pretty hard but it was a non-starter.
Otherwise, yeah, OL kicks major ass and is a staple in my PalpAces lists.

Actually OL could go with this list. I just object to OL with Vader. Inquisitor I see as more of a title than "the" Inquisitor from the Rebels tv show...

I ended up going with Whisper, a royal guard pilot with Predator (sd/at) and Valen, juke, title, Concussion Missiles.

I got completely wrecked by a fat-ish Han and 2 B-wing list but forced modified wins in my other two losses (does that count as a draw? ) one to a Dash, assault shuttle (hera & intel agent)and A-wing list (I got Dash to 50 percent and lost Valen, I think the points difference was 8 points I think) and the second to dengar and a yv-666 (the one that can use TL to reduce evade dice) that I shot down to 2 hull before losing the Royal Guard.

I really seem to be gifted a rolling foceses when shooting Concussion missiles (1 hit & 3 focus results like twice) and at flying whisper onto asteroids after my decloaks.

The one saving grace in that first game was that I was able to fake out Han in deployment and initial moves leaving him a non-factor for most of the game (but flying whisper onto a rock, taking damage and the a direct hit crit from a b-wing is... less than ideal).

Bobcat's point about not minding as much if I have to move first because it means I get to shoot first really played out for me in my final game, it was very handy to be able to shoot and recloak before being shot at by Dengar.

I'm somewhat unsure if I should put Whisper back on the shelf until I've got some more experience with basic flying, though...

Back to the drawing board...

So I'm going to give this list possibly one more go before the weekend (when my Core II and TIE/Fo reinforcements arrive so I can't run Omega Leader until later).

I'll start with Whisper (vi, intel agent, FCS & ACD) and Turr Phennir (vi, title, Autothrusters & stealth) and I'm trying to decide what to do for the final 29 points.

I'm sort of waffling between the Inquisitor (PTL & v1) or Valen Rudor (PTL, s-thread, v1 & autothrusters)...

The question mainly comes down to whether the Inquisitor's 3 dice is enough to outweigh the probably more survivable Valen Rudor (s-threads could be dropped for initiative, but as was mentioned above, Turr and Whisper can survive moving first so I thought that having the ability to give some extra TLs might be worth the point).

Thoughts?

(And look forward to questions next week about the FO TIEs)
Thanks

I'd rather have Valen. But with Juke instead of Push. Tracers is a matter of preference. Me, I'd just leave it off for initiative. Proton Rockets would be best to boost his damage but weighs in at 30 points and doesn't fit in your list.

Good luck!

Bobcat, would you prefer Valen w/o prockets or a Baron with 'em?

And why juke on Valen when you're a big proponent of PTL for the Inquisitor & Baron? Because the stress blocking the post-defense move?