Somewhere I read about how Vader with AdvTC (Advanced Targeting Computer) should work nicely with Colonel Vessery. We know that from a jousting perspective the Defender has a hard time. So we somehow has to help it get a little bit further.
The idea is simple. Vader TL plus some other action and then Vessery gets a free target lock (TL) when shooting at that target. Vader probably won’t use the TL (at least at range 2-3) so all is good as long as we can shoot at the same target.
I started out with Vader+Vessery.
Darth Vader — TIE Advanced 29
Predator
Advanced Targeting Computer 1
Engine Upgrade 4
TIE/x1 0
Ship Total: 37
Colonel Vessery — TIE Defender 35
Heavy Laser Cannon 7
Ship Total: 42
Why Heavy Laser Cannon (HLC)?
To me having 4 dice and your opponent not getting bonus defence dice at range 3 is amazing. It helps a lot against high agility but also to some extent against very defensive YT-1300s. It also makes Vessery a huge threat. The only other option I see is dropping HLC and putting in Engine Upgrade (EU).
This leaves 21 points. My first thought was the Omicron Group Pilot (OGP). Even without Vader as crew or even Advance Sensors(AdvS)/Fire Control System(FCS) if left to itself it can bring some serious hurt and still take quite the beating. BUT, without AdvS and/or EU it has a hard time keeping stuff in arc.
Then someone (sorry, I cannot remember who Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
) pointed out that Tempest+Accuracy Corrector is 21 points and since I really wanted to try out the Advance it was an easy choice. Having your action open for either Focus (to use on defence) or a Barrel Roll (BR) is really nice. Sure, your not gonna put a lot of hurt on IG88s, Soontir, Whisper or fat turrets (that’s why we have HLC and Vader).
So, our base build is this:
Darth Vader — TIE Advanced 29
Advanced Targeting Computer 1
Engine Upgrade 4
TIE/x1 0
Ship Total: 34
Colonel Vessery — TIE Defender 35
Heavy Laser Cannon 7
Ship Total: 42
Tempest Squadron Pilot — TIE Advanced 21
Accuracy Corrector 0
TIE/x1 0
Ship Total: 21
We have 3 points left over and I think this is where it gets REALLY hard for me.
The two best options I can find are either Lone Wolf (LW) on Vader and Veteran Instincts on Vessery. The other option is Predator on Vader.
Bumping Vessery to 8 can be valid. You win against non-VI IG88s, Dash and you go even with PtL Corran and Rear Admiral Chiraneau.
What you lose is the ability to re-roll when you get clustered up.
I simply don’t have enough experience with 3 small ship builds that don’t wanna run together. How hard it is to stay outside of range 2 for LW to work? How much position and/or setup do you have to sacrifice? I feel like you need to have a better turn 0 plan to account for LW.
My only idea so far is to run Vessery together with the Tempest. But I don’t know if I like too much since they will probably rush them to get to range 1 as fast as possible.
LW isn’t by itself inferior to Predator. If you can keep it active it not only helps you on offence but also on defence. Since I feel the goal is to keep Vader alive LW is great in late game to making him VERY hard to kill.
Predator on the other hand leaves everything open. I feel as this is the easier choice when you are uncertain. Taking Predator you have one less thing to worry about.
What do YOU think?