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I love the defender, building as good a list as I can get with it to see what can be done (non-tournament games). I'm going to try out this list to see what it does for me:

Tie Defender: Colonel Vessery + Autoblasters
Tie Defender: Delta Squadron + XX-23 S-thread Tracers + Guidance Chips
Tie Advanced: Commander Alozen + TIE/x1 + Engine Upgrade + Accuracy Corrector

Should have boundless Target Locks, but not sure how well that will do me overall if I can't fly worth a fig (I'm bad about nicking asteroids in-game). Any thoughts? I didn't consider the upcoming Tie Defender cards are they aren't available to me yet.

Your general list structure of Vessery + Generic Defender + TIE Advanced seems solid to me. I would specifically suggest:

Delta Squadron Pilot (30)
XX-23 S-Thread Tracers (1)
Guidance Chips (0)

Colonel Vessery (35)
Proton Rockets (3)
Guidance Chips (0)

Darth Vader (29)
Veteran Instincts (1)
Advanced Targeting Computer (1)
TIE/x1 (0)

Total: 100

View in Yet Another Squad Builder

Mainly, I think autoblasters are a bad choice on Defenders. It's an anti-ace tool on a ship who's range 1 band is easily avoided by aces. You would do much better with prockets, which incidentally also combo nicely with Vessery's ability and guidance chips, almost guarenteeing 5 hits. I also think an ADC TIE Advanced is a better fit with Vessery, since you will benefit from the persistent target lock, rather than it being a wasted action with Accuracy Corrector.

 Stormonu wrote:
(non-tournament games)
...
I didn't consider the upcoming Tie Defender cards are they aren't available to me yet.

Since you're not playing in tournaments, then there's no reason not to ask your opponent if you can use the titles. A lot of people will say yes. If you are using the new titles, then I would suggest:

Delta Squadron Pilot (30)
TIE/x7 (-2)

Colonel Vessery (35)
Ruthlessness (3)
Ion Cannon (3)
TIE/D (0)

Darth Vader (29)
Veteran Instincts (1)
Advanced Targeting Computer (1)
TIE/x1 (0)

Total: 100

View in Yet Another Squad Builder

This dumps the prockets and thread tracers in favor of an Ion Cannon and Ruthlessness on Vessery. The damage output potential is ruinous, and the Ion Effect adds an additional level of control.

I like DB's first list, although I'd be tempted to stick the Chips and Procket on Vader instead, his higher PS and double action antics make it much easier to slide safely into R1,with both a Lock and Focus I'd suspect the damage output will be more or less the same, as the loss of a possible crit isn't that big a deal, plus he'll have a Lock most of the time to help Vessery out, also I'd stick the Adaptability EPT on Vessery, you could also give Vader the same EPT and give Vessery the Mk2 Engine mod but PS11 Vader is sweet

 Turnip Jedi wrote:
I also I'd stick the Adaptability EPT on Vesseryt

Yep, definitely do that. It's kind of weird now having these 0pt cards floating around.

Playing around some more with DB's list, what about this?

Delta Squadron Pilot — TIE Defender (30)
Tractor Beam (1)
XX-23 S-Thread Tracers (1)
Guidance Chips (0)
TIE/D (0)
Ship Total: 32

Colonel Vessery — TIE Defender (35)
Adaptability (0)
Tractor Beam (1)
Ion Pulse Missiles (3)
Guidance Chips (0)
TIE/D (0)
Ship Total: 39

Commander Alozen — TIE Advanced 25
Veteran Instincts (1)
Proton Rockets (3)
Accuracy Corrector (0)
Guidance Chips (0)
TIE/x1 (0)
Ship Total: 29

Possibly swapping around who has Adapability & Veteran Instincts.

Still not convinced Alozen is that good, the middling PS means his pilot ability isn't that great, and whilst I'm all for testing out little played pilots it's just that Vader is just so much better than all the other Tie Advanced pilots there isn't really a choice, even Juno who would appear godly good if Vader didn't exist can't touch the Dark Lord

 DanielBeaver wrote:

Delta Squadron Pilot (30)
TIE/x7 (-2)

Colonel Vessery (35)
Ruthlessness (3)
Ion Cannon (3)
TIE/D (0)

Darth Vader (29)
Veteran Instincts (1)
Advanced Targeting Computer (1)
TIE/x1 (0)

Total: 100

View in Yet Another Squad Builder

Building from this, I would drop the Ruthlessness on Vessery to VI AND cut the ion to a tractor beam which frees up enough points for an engine upgrade on Vader... something like this:

------

Delta Squadron Pilot (28)
TIE Defender (30), TIE/x7 (-2)

Colonel Vessery (37)
TIE Defender (35), Tractor beam (1), Veteran Instincts (1), TIE/D (0)

Darth Vader (34)
TIE Advanced (29), TIE/x1 (0), Adaptability (0), Engine Upgrade (4), Advanced Targeting Computer (5)
----------
Adaptability on Vader lets you drop his PS to 8 to shoot after Vessery if you're not going against enemy aces or bump up to 10 if you are.

The last point you can save for an initiative bid or give Vessery the x-23 S-thread Tracers and g-chips (so he can give Vader & the other Defender the TLs) or a Mk II engine so you can change direction while shedding stress.

Personally, though, I'm going to wait to see all the options that come with the Imperial Veterans kit (generic pilot with an EPT, I'd guess) before thinking about a multiple Defender list.

You might find that Omega Leader (TIE FO) would be another good addition to the Defender list as s/he likes maintaining target lock on other ships.

Basically all of this is my synthesis of advice given to me when trying to build a Vessery based list of my own. (I'm also holding off on multiple Defender builds until I get the second model with Imperial Veterans)

 Stormonu wrote:
I love the defender, building as good a list as I can get with it to see what can be done (non-tournament games). I'm going to try out this list to see what it does for me:

Tie Defender: Colonel Vessery + Autoblasters
Tie Defender: Delta Squadron + XX-23 S-thread Tracers + Guidance Chips
Tie Advanced: Commander Alozen + TIE/x1 + Engine Upgrade + Accuracy Corrector

Should have boundless Target Locks, but not sure how well that will do me overall if I can't fly worth a fig (I'm bad about nicking asteroids in-game). Any thoughts? I didn't consider the upcoming Tie Defender cards are they aren't available to me yet.

Dude, don't worry about making a list for the current stuff unless it's for a game soon. The Defender is going to get a yuge buff with the next Aces pack that comes out.

Rexler Brath — TIE Defender 37
Push the Limit 3
Ion Cannon 3
Twin Ion Engine Mk. II 1
TIE/D 0
Ship Total: 44

Colonel Vessery — TIE Defender 35
Veteran Instincts 1
Tractor Beam 1
TIE/D 0
Ship Total: 37

Scimitar Squadron Pilot — TIE Bomber 16
Fleet Officer 3
TIE Shuttle 0
Ship Total: 19

I've used this in casual games it hits hard.

Would a weapons engineer not help out more? Give more targets for Vessery to get free TLs on.

You've got two shots from each defender you want those extra focus tokens.

Is that better given that Vessory will getfree TLs with each attack? Also soes the tress not tie thebomber down somewhat?

 EmpNortonII wrote:

 Stormonu wrote:
I love the defender, building as good a list as I can get with it to see what can be done (non-tournament games). I'm going to try out this list to see what it does for me:

Tie Defender: Colonel Vessery + Autoblasters
Tie Defender: Delta Squadron + XX-23 S-thread Tracers + Guidance Chips
Tie Advanced: Commander Alozen + TIE/x1 + Engine Upgrade + Accuracy Corrector

Should have boundless Target Locks, but not sure how well that will do me overall if I can't fly worth a fig (I'm bad about nicking asteroids in-game). Any thoughts? I didn't consider the upcoming Tie Defender cards are they aren't available to me yet.

Dude, don't worry about making a list for the current stuff unless it's for a game soon. The Defender is going to get a yuge buff with the next Aces pack that comes out.

I actually played my list today with my son. His list had 2 E-Wings; Corran Horn and the other pilot with a 5 PS (forget the name at the moment). We played twice, I won both times - first game I ioned/tractored Horn off the board, the other I eliminated the 5 PS pilot first then hunted Horn down. Never did use the XX-23 tracers, but was never lacking having target locks on my foe. It was a really interesting fight considering my son had put both R2 & Sensor Jammer on Horn; made him tough to catch, but at least one ship a turn was getting a shot, so I was able to plink away and eventually wear him down. I'd be curious to see how the list does against more numerous foes, large ships or ships with turrets. I really think the latter would be the bane of this list.

 Flinty wrote:
Is that better given that Vessory will getfree TLs with each attack? Also soes the tress not tie thebomber down somewhat?

The bombers a trap it's not there to do damage it's there to buff and draw fire when people think your list will fold without it.

Any damage it does do is icing on the cake.

Vesserys TL are great but that can still turn up as eyeballs having a focus ready to use is never a bad thing.

The bomber is good and will only get better now with guidance chips.

 Anpu-adom wrote:
The bomber is good and will only get better now with guidance chips.

I disagree about bombers being good; they got a nice little boost in ordnance usage with guidance chips, but that doesn't change the fact that a bomber has no shields and maneuvers like a brick. And once you start tossing upgrades and missiles/torps on there, the cost adds up.
I am interested in Tomax Bren, but beyond that I'll keep my bombers in fun games and out of tournaments.

 House Griffith wrote:

 Anpu-adom wrote:
The bomber is good and will only get better now with guidance chips.

I disagree about bombers being good; they got a nice little boost in ordnance usage with guidance chips, but that doesn't change the fact that a bomber has no shields and maneuvers like a brick. And once you start tossing upgrades and missiles/torps on there, the cost adds up.
I am interested in Tomax Bren, but beyond that I'll keep my bombers in fun games and out of tournaments.

It is not a platform that I would add too many points to, but yes... bombers are good. They maneuver like a TIE (not like a brick) and have almost twice the hitpoints for less than twice the cost. I'll be interested in the Gamma Squad Vet generic with ept that we'll see in the veterans.