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EDIT: new thoughts and ideas coming in the next post, but the short version is: do I bring out my brand new Tie Advanced Prototype for Monday's tournament? Or should I stick with just 2 different ships until I learn how to use 'em?

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So, watching so games at my FLGS's x-wing night friendly tournament last night (I arrived late and had to leave early) I was rather impressed by a Vessery build with Ion cannon (even without the D title).

The player was running standard Soontir, Vessery (VI and ion) and a FO TIE (generic juke & comms) and was up against a Poe, a TLT Y-wing and a k-wing (miranda I think) also with TLT -- I think, not sure if the points work for the Rebel player.

On one of the first rounds of shooting Vessery tagged Poewith the ion cannons, setting up the next round where all 3 Imperials got shots (most, if not all, at range 1) --> dead Poe. Soontir, however died to TLT fire in exchange. From there the Imperials went on to run the table for no further losses, tagging Miranda with the ion (I remember because it required a rule check on whether you can SLAM while ionized - you can).

So that's sort of inspired me to go back to looking at the Vader-Vessery-Alozen list I was playing with a while back (tweaked):
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Legionaire Squadron V3
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99 points

Pilots
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Darth Vader (34)
TIE Advanced (29), TIE/x1 (0), Engine Upgrade (4), Advanced Targeting Computer (5), Adaptability (0)

Commander Alozen (26)
TIE Advanced (25), TIE/x1 (0), Advanced Targeting Computer (5), Adaptability (0)

Colonel Vessery (39)
TIE Defender (35), Ion Cannon (3), Veteran Instincts (1)

My theory is that as a rather new player (still just 2 games) the ion cannon shots are a much better way to force predictable moves than trying to get blocks from a Tempest squad advanced with accuracy corrector so I can roll in for R1 shots with multiple ships the next turn.

In part this adjustment was inspired by me being slightly underwhelmed by Vessery's hitting power with just the primary weapon (at least until the titles are out/much closer to release), probably because I was expecting more than I should have.

I'm wondering if surrendering the initiative bid advantage to give Vader VI is a better idea or if I could drop Vessery to Adaptability and give Alozen juke.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts and advice (and while I will have Mist Hunter this weekend and probably the Inquisitor pack, I'm not planning on the FO yet ... budgets )

Having picked up the lovely new Inquisitor expansion (and Mist Hunter) from the FLGS today and a Slave 1 arriving by mail tomorrow (it was out of stock at the store) I'm faced with an embarrassment of riches of choices for my first attempt at the friendly tournament.

Do I run the previously recommended Vader (adapt/vi, eng upgrade ATC), Vessery (HLC, vi, Mk II) and Tempest squad (accuracy corrector) list or do I try the above 3 aces list?

Or do I try an even bigger roll of the dice and bring a TIE-ADV proto? And if so, with whom? The Inquisitor subbing for Vader? Valen Rudor swapped in for Alozen in the ion cannons build? Or do I try a Baron or Seinar test pilot instead of the Tempest (or Alozen) ?

Part of me wants to say that since I don't really know the advanceds all that well, why not bring the TAP and get with the learning.

Another part of me rebels (heh) at the notion of bringing Vader so commonly - even though he IS great fun to fly and is undoubtedly effective. So can the Inquisitor with push the limit fill a similar roll? (I envision him hanging back to keep the best firing arcs TL-ing whoever gets in Vessery's cross hairs taking the free evade from the title and possibly rolling out of range (or boost out of arc)...

Thoughts?

Vessery is usable in a competitive setting, and will become better when TIE-D and x7 come out. He also pairs well with the Inquisitor and Vader, as they will be consistently keeping target locks on enemy ships. However, I wouldn't give him an Ion Cannon until the TIE-D title comes out - better to just modify your regular attack dice.

'm wondering if surrendering the initiative bid advantage to give Vader VI is a better idea or if I could drop Vessery to Adaptability and give Alozen juke.

With PS11 on Vader, you can surrender your initiative bid. Your main competitors at that level are Han and other Vaders, but they would beat a PS10 adaptability vader regardless.

I would go ahead and use the Proto. I think it will serve you better than one of the mid-level Advance pilots. Maybe something like this:

The Inquisitor (25)
Juke (2)
Autothrusters (2)
TIE/v1 (1)

Colonel Vessery (35)
Adaptability (0)

Darth Vader (29)
Veteran Instincts (1)
Advanced Targeting Computer (1)
Engine Upgrade (4)
TIE/x1 (0)

Total: 100

View in Yet Another Squad Builder

Hmm, I like what you did there with the Inquisitor... definitely more food for thought.

I came up with this idea before reading that one; continuing with the ion cannon idea for Vessery ... but I'm also thinking about dropping the cannon to give Valen push the limit.
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Squadron XV
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Darth Vader (34)
TIE Advanced (29), TIE/x1 (0), Adaptability (0), Engine Upgrade (4), Advanced Targeting Computer (5)

Valen Rudor (26)
TIE Advanced Prototype (22), Adaptability (0), Proton Rockets (3), TIE/v1 (1), Guidance Chips (0)

Colonel Vessery (40)
TIE Defender (35), Ion Cannon (3), Veteran Instincts (1), Twin Ion Engine Mk. II (1)



Automatically Appended Next Post:
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Squadron XV
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Vader, Vessery & Valen

100 points

Pilots
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Darth Vader (34)
TIE Advanced (29), TIE/x1 (0), Adaptability (0), Engine Upgrade (4), Advanced Targeting Computer (5)

Valen Rudor (30)
TIE Advanced Prototype (22), Push the Limit (3), Cluster Missiles (4), TIE/v1 (1), Guidance Chips (0)

Colonel Vessery (36)
TIE Defender (35), Adaptability (0), Twin Ion Engine Mk. II (1)