Brother Lem wrote: this is a list for a fun muck around game with a mate of mine.
Black Eight Sq. Pilot (43)
Advanced Proton Torpedoes (6), Extra Munitions (2), Cluster Missiles (4), Proton Bombs (5), Ion Bombs (2), Munitions Failsafe (1)
Black Squadron Pilot (14)
Black Squadron Pilot (14)
Black Squadron Pilot (14)
Black Squadron Pilot (14)
Hmmm..... I have a few issues with this list:
a) The Black Eight Pilot is massively overloaded with weaponry. You've got him carrying his points value again in missiles, and he's not that tough. The odds are he's going to go down with expensive missiles still in the launch tubes.
b) Advanced Proton Torpedos aren't bad weapons per se, but they need a lot of prerequisites to make them work. You must have a target lock (which a relatively low
PS generic pilot struggles to aquire on higher
PS named aces), you really want a focus token (in order to use the torpedo's special ability) and you probably need boost (because it's only a range 1 weapon). That makes them very much the province of named pilots with Push The Limit, Fire Control Systems and the like to enable them to get multiple actions in one turn when they need them. The special abilities of the named TIE Punisher pilots are also very useful.
c) When you've got four missile loads, a munitions failsafe is probably unnecessary - even if one salvo misses, you've got more. More importantly, cluster missiles and advanced torpedos are two of the most powerful one-use weapons going; the odds of not hitting if you actually get to fire them are fairly minimal. Failsafes are better paired with 'special use' ordnance that needs to hit to trigger a special effect (advanced homing, ion pulse, flechette or assault ordnance).
d) Black Squadron Pilots are nice - PS4 means you shoot before most people's generic pilots - but so do Obsidian Squadron Pilots, and they save you a point per ship. Most of the time, the reason to take Black Squadron Pilots is because of that incredibly cheap Elite Pilot Talent slot - they're the best caddies for Intimidation (for super-blockers), Draw Their Fire, Wingman, etc, etc.
Brother Lem wrote:
Or perhaps this for some nostalgia!
Darth Vader (33)
TIE/x1 (0), Engine Upgrade (4), Accuracy Corrector (3)
Black Squadron Pilot (14)
Mauler Mithel (18)
Crack Shot (1)
Backstabber (19)
Hull Upgrade (3)
Dark Curse (16)
Crack Shot is nice but I'd rather take an Advanced Targeting Computer on Vader - with his free action it's just the best system slot going for him normally (possibly Cluster Missiles would make accuracy corrector match it, but you've not given him ordnance).
The classic black squadron roster makes me happy to see. Not sure why Backstabber has the hull upgrade, though; look at it this way - by definition, backstabber is seeking to get out of arcs of fire - that's the whole point of his pilot ability. Therefore, he should be taking the least fire of the lot, therefore need the hull upgrade least. If anyone needed toughening up, I'd have said Mauler Mithel (who wants to get to range 1) is probably the best idea - Dark Curse is hard enough to hit as it is.
I might see if you can squeeze in Draw Their Fire on the Black Squadron Pilot - it's a good way to protect the named guys.
