Imperials vs Rebels, 17.01.2017

Points limit:  100 points

Lists:

Imperials (100 points):

• Darth Vader, crack shot, stealth device, advanced homing missiles
• Howlrunner, crack shot
• 3x Black Squadron Pilot, crack shot

The plan was to have a straight jousting match, with enough firepower (with rerolls and discarding the enemy's dodges) to destroy a couple of ships on the first turn, then roll with whatever I can get.

Rebels (100 points):

• VCX-100: · "Chopper" (37) Enhanced Scopes (1) Anti Pursuit Laser (2) · "Zeb" Orrelios (1) 
• Y-Wing: Gold Squadron Pilot (18) Twin Laser Turret (6) · R3-A2 (2) BTL-A4 Y-Wing (0) 
• YT-2400: · Eaden Vrill (32) Smuggling Compartment (0) Black Market Slicer Tools (1)

A few large ships - exactly what I was unprepared for. The list, dubbed "the Stressinator" due to the signature Y-Wing build called "the Stressbot", was based on provoking as much stress in the enemy craft as possible, then getting bonuses because of it.

Deployment

I deployed tight, for the upcoming straight-up shooting. The enemy ships, slow but maneuverable, deployed sideways and started off with slight turns, so as to move the least possible distance in the first turn.

Turn 1

I moved up 2, while the enemy ships maneuvered into starting position.

Turn 2

We got into maximum weapons range and a few shots were fired, to no effect.

Turn 3

And then it got ugly. Real fast. I was blocked in by the huge ships, couldn't do any actions - the lifeblood of the small, agile Tie craft. The missiles on Darth Vader were useless, with no target lock to fire them.

Concentrated fire blew Howlrunner out of the sky. I concentrated all my firepower on the huge ship blocking me, and it took a lot of hits - but it had enough shields and hull points to soak it up.

Turn 4

I tried to escape, but only one ship made it out of firing arc. In the mean time, you can see the stress in actin, with already 4 tokens on Darth Vader.

Then all ships concentrated on Vader, with double turret shots from the Y-wing getting plenty bonuses from the stress, and he was gone.

And that's game

I managed to break through, losing one more ship.

And then I had a single Tie Fighter remaining, chasing down the brick. The enemy ships couldn't maneuver fast enough, and I ran it down, destroying it. Then conceded.

Eh, it was still fun.

Imperials vs Rebels, 19.07.2016

Points limit:  100 points

Lists:

Imperials (97 points):

• Night Beast
• Winged Gundark
• Backstabber
• Dark Curse
• Mauler Mithel
• Howlrunner

My list building was limited by the number of ships I had at my disposal - 6 Tie Fighters. So I took the most expensive pilots I had cards for.

Rebels (100 points):

• YT-2400: · "Leebo" (34) 
• Determination (1) 
• "Mangler" Cannon (4) 
• Chewbacca (4)  
• Outrider (5) 
• HWK-290: · Roark Garnet (19) 
• Twin Laser Turret (6) 
• Attack Shuttle: · Sabine Wren (21) 
• Adaptability (Decrease) (0) 
• Twin Laser Turret (6) 

All 3 ships fire turret weapons (ignoring firing arcs).

Leebo has increased pilot skill (12) due to the other pilot.

The other two ships move at pilot skill 4. This allows for more shenanigans (like choose move order).

The battle

The first turn was spent speeding towards each other (although my Tie Fighters were laid back, not in a hurry). On turn 2, we both surged forwards at top speed and unloaded point-blank salvos. Most of my shooting went into the YT, to no great effect. Only 1 Tie Fighter was unable to fire. I successfully dodged the incoming fire.

Then we went past each other. The Tie Fighters were in for some tight turns, while the Rebel ships glided on, no worries, shooting off their turret weapons.

Luckily, Tie Fighters are maneuverable enough to pull off those tight turns. I managed to concentrate my firepower no the HWK, taking it down.

The return fire took down Howlrunner. No more buffs to the other ships.

The rebels concentrated their fire on Backstabber next. He did most of the work when taking down the HWK.

That YT is very, very maneuverable. It is also extremely tough. I decided to go after the shuttle...

... while also desperately trying to get my swarm together.

Lots of bumps while maneuvering in tight spaces. Lack of focus meant I've finally lost Backstabber.

Out of arc!

I've finally surrounded the YT, unleashing point blank salvos. It took some damage, but ejecting Chewbacca saw its shield restored.

More tight maneuvering, bumps and close range salvos.

In the mean time, Mauler Mithel had hunted down the attack shuttle, and is now speeding towards the fight.

Some tight maneuvering saw the YT stop on the debris field for two turns in a row. I managed to get some shots off.

Forgetting the "no red maneuvers while stressed" costed me another ship, as it had to fly off the table.

All that tight maneuvering finally paid off! The YT had to take a sharp turn - but it wasn't sharp enough, and it was off the table.

Imperial victory!

Final Imperial casualties.

Did we learn anything?

• My force is barely playable in 100 points.
• Judging distances by eye is tough without experience.
• Tie Fighters are very maneuverable.
• Terrain helps (or hinders) a lot.
• The YT is extremely maneuverable (for its size) and tough to boot.
• Turret weapons are awesome.