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.

So I think most everyone has given up on flying the Interceptor until Scum drops and with it, autothrusters.

I think even more people have given up on the TIE defender with the availability of the Decimator and the Phantom which outclass it in durability and maneuverability/firepower respectively.

I say boo to those people. I am going to try taking a defender, an interceptor and a less seen TIE fighter pilot all in the same list. Whatever, call me a masochist

Next week (we play every Tuesday) I'm going to bring this list (I'm putting it here to remember it as much as get feedback on it)

for 100 points:

Colonel Vessery with Heavy Laser Cannon, Outmanuever and Engine Upgrade

Carnor Jax with Intimidation and Targeting Computer

Mauler Mithel with Opportunist

Carnor Jax is going to run straight into the teeth of their guns, target locking my prime target on the way in, then slam right into them. Colonel Vessery is going to K turn and Boost and/or Barrel Roll to trigger outmaneuver and then use the free target locks from Carnor's singling out to lay on the HLC hurt, hopefully keeping that one ship in his sights as long as possible. Mauler is going to take potshots at the main target until someone else ends up in the crosshairs, at range 1, with no focus/evade from being at range 1 of Carnor and possibly no agility from hitting him, then they're going to eat 5 dice, probably with a focus since Mauler will be focusing most every turn. (unless I really messed up and I need to evade or barrel roll).

It's my hope that with Vessery and Jax sticking to the ship I've marked for death, it will die very quickly. I've had trouble getting things to die, and quite frankly I'm sick of it. It's time to blow things up.

I'll be back in a week to report my results. If I still can't blow anything up, I'll give in and buy a Phantom.

I really like the defender, honestly. While the k-turn is predictable, I find the fact that when I'm k-turning, typically so are my opponents and while I am focused with a heavy laser cannon, they are stressed.

I also really like Soontir Fel and Carnor Jax with PTL. I had a blast with them the other day.

When autothrusters drop, it'll just get even better.

Have people given up on the Interceptor? It's still good. I know Autothrusters improve them a lot, but they aren't bad now.

It seems that everyone in my meta flies rebels except for me

but most tournament Imperial lists I see/are recommended usually include a Phantom, a Decimator or both, flavored with generic TIEs and Lamdas to taste with the very occasional Firespray list.

 Riquende wrote:
Have people given up on the Interceptor? It's still good. I know Autothrusters improve them a lot, but they aren't bad now.

I think a lot of people think that the Phantom is better (More firepower, more agility, more shields, more options, etc.).

It is, but it's also a different price bracket (in terms of being fully tricked out, a Phantom gets to 40-45, I find an Interceptor reaches about 35 max).

 Riquende wrote:
It is, but it's also a different price bracket (in terms of being fully tricked out, a Phantom gets to 40-45, I find an Interceptor reaches about 35 max).

Looking at the two most used builds

Soontir Fel with PTL (with or without targeting computer) is 30 points

Whisper with VI and ACD (with or without FCS) is 37 points.

For 7 more points you have
the same PS
1 extra primary weapon
equivalent of 1 extra agility
2 shields and overall one more hit point than Fel
An improved barrel roll/boost type movement before you maneuver as well as being able to focus evade or barrel roll again without becoming stressed

But you lose out on the bank maneuvers of a normal boost action. As well as the equivalent of three actions a turn but you do, after attacking, receive a focus that can be used defensively.which I count as probably half an action considering you can't use it on offense.

Maybe. I do think the Phantom has some inherent disadvantages as well (whilst it gets the improved barrel roll, it's also a compulsory one; you can sometime be left with a lower agility due to mistakes, even if they're forced ones).

I'd definitely agree that, flown well, the Phantom is a much deadlier ship than the Interceptor though. But then I see them occupying different roles anyway.

I must be one of the few, the proud, the ones that dislike phantoms.

I use it, and it's neat, but my phantom is notoriously unlucky. Never hitting, never evading, pulling that direct hit critical as soon as its shields fail every damn time.....

While we're on the subject of Phantoms and using them/not using them/abusing them, has anyone tried taking 3 phantoms in a list? Like

Whisper + VI + ACD
Echo + VI + ACD
Sigma Squadron + Stygium Accelerator

I think that's 99 points.

***So I think most everyone has given up on flying the Interceptor until Scum drops and with it, autothrusters.***

My 10 yo girl flies Soontir (Shield+PTL), Jax (Shield+PTL), and Jendon (Vader+Jade). Last night she smoked Fat Han and 2 B-Wings.

dkellyj wrote:


My 10 yo girl flies Soontir (Shield+PTL), Jax (Shield+PTL), and Jendon (Vader+Jade). Last night she smoked Fat Han and 2 B-Wings.

I guess I'm a worse pilot than a 10 year old girl then I've been trying to fly interceptors for the last 2-3 weeks and I've gotten wiped off the table every time. I usually get comments on flying them well and maneuvering "correctly" for the most part (arc dodging and what-not) but every time, I lose all my ships or almost all my ships and haven't even destroyed one of theirs. And my opponents/spectators blame the luck of the dice or the glass cannon (that isn't very cannon-y for me) nature of the interceptor. Perhaps they're just trying not to lay blame on the new Imperial pilot, but my track record isn't very hot so far.

I dunno.

I like interceptors and will always have a soft spot for them.

The TIE phantom definitely takes some flying to get right. Echo, particularly, is devastating once mastered but hell to fly right.

I think Whisper and Echo should be good, but I'm hesitant to consider the sigma squadron. I've played against two sigmas and a tooled-up echo with a couple of lists, and each time the sigmas eat laser by about turn 3. The phantom lives and dies by arc-dodging, and getting an extra evade token doesn't even slightly substitute for not getting shot at in the first place.

I'm not sure what I'd use for the rest of the points. Maybe a fleet officer shuttle?

The Interceptor is very unforgiving. I've been trying to master a very basic list - just four Royal Guard Pilots with Push The Limit.

They do okay. When I'm on form, they're brilliant. I had one game against a shuttle and two defenders that was essentially an execution - I only got shot at twice in the game - but I've also had a game against an outrider and Han solo that was more like a shoot-a-duck gallery. With me playing the part of the ducks.

locarno24 wrote:
I dunno.

I like interceptors and will always have a soft spot for them.

The TIE phantom definitely takes some flying to get right. Echo, particularly, is devastating once mastered but hell to fly right.

I think Whisper and Echo should be good, but I'm hesitant to consider the sigma squadron. I've played against two sigmas and a tooled-up echo with a couple of lists, and each time the sigmas eat laser by about turn 3. The phantom lives and dies by arc-dodging, and getting an extra evade token doesn't even slightly substitute for not getting shot at in the first place.

I'm not sure what I'd use for the rest of the points. Maybe a fleet officer shuttle?

The Interceptor is very unforgiving. I've been trying to master a very basic list - just four Royal Guard Pilots with Push The Limit.

They do okay. When I'm on form, they're brilliant. I had one game against a shuttle and two defenders that was essentially an execution - I only got shot at twice in the game - but I've also had a game against an outrider and Han solo that was more like a shoot-a-duck gallery. With me playing the part of the ducks.

I love interceptors but turrets eat them alive.

With the way the meta in my area is(lots of han and dash) running with them is usually suicide. I am excited for scum to get my cepters back.

So I made some minor changes to my list right before gameplay began. I traded outmanuever and intimidation for push the limit on Jax and a targeting computer on Mauler.

I played against my usual opponent (whom I do not tailor to but he has been playing the same list for a little while now) 3 B-wings with FCS and Roark Garnet with Jan Ors, the title and a turret.

Let me start first by saying Carnor Jax is a pain in the ass and heavy laser cannons are awesome.

Game begins with a joust. Mauler On my flank, his ships in formation. Jax target locks, shoots does diddily. Vessery focuses, shoots, acquires target lock an. Spends it for either 3 or four hits. That B wing loses 3 shields. they shoot back, no damage taken.

Maneuver again and its one big cluster with Jax in the middle. So none of his ships get to focus and his Hawk can't spend the focus it has. All his ships attack Jax but since Jax has balls of steel and doesn't run away from a fight, he sits right where he is and pushes the limit for a focus and an evade. when the smoke clears, he's taken two damage but the Hawk is down to one hull left.

maneuver again, Jax doesn't get to shoot because the PS 12 B wing (Roark) shoots him first and kills him. But Vessery finishes off the Hawk and mauler who's in the fray now, shoots with 5 dice and does... One damage.

From there it's still stressful flying but mostly predictable k-turns, heavy laser cannon doing the heavy lifting. Mauler not doing a whole lot.

the last turn of the game, my Defender against two B-wings. One is turned away from me, the other has me in his sights and i have arc on the runner. They both have two hull left and my Defender has one hull left. I focus. Shoot the B-wing. Roll one hit, one crit, one eye. He rolls an evade. So I can focus and be sure to kill him or bet on drawing a direct hit card. I spend my focus token. The B wing shoots. Spends his target lock, 3 hits. I roll green dice......

Two evades and an eye.......

I could have survived if I had saved my focus but I had to be sure that b wing died or it very well could have been 2v1 next turn.

The game ends, one blue squadron pilot limping off the battlefield with two hull points left.

 bocatt wrote:
Roll one hit, one crit, one eye. He rolls an evade. So I can focus and be sure to kill him or bet on drawing a direct hit card.

This isn't how it works. The attacker rolls and modifies their dice (including focus, TL, etc) before the defender rolls any dice. Once your opponent rolls their defense dice it's too late to spend focus and add an extra hit.

 Peregrine wrote:

 bocatt wrote:
Roll one hit, one crit, one eye. He rolls an evade. So I can focus and be sure to kill him or bet on drawing a direct hit card.

This isn't how it works. The attacker rolls and modifies their dice (including focus, TL, etc) before the defender rolls any dice. Once your opponent rolls their defense dice it's too late to spend focus and add an extra hit.

I suppose I decided to spend my token before he rolled his one die, but after spending it, he did indeed roll an evade and I was glad I did finish him off. Even though he in turn finished me off. Was a very close game.