My friends are starting to play Star Wars X Wing with some frequency. While the following article on my Vader list may not be news to vets of the game, it is all news to me and my group, as we learn about squadron building in X Wing.
Since I am brave with transparency, consider this my online dream journal, where my opponents can easily read about my limited understanding of the game, what I am slowly learning and how they can exploit that with extreme prejudice. Cough.
Here is a basic Imperial list that I've run the last few raw dogfights with and some of my wandering thoughts about it all.
Vader's Ship-to-Ship List 100 Points (list print out supplied by the excellent and free X Wing builder by my man, Void State http://x-wing.voidstate.com)
Sith Happens
Darth Vader uses Swarm Tactics each turn to have a Range 1 TIE fighter fire at PS 9 along with him. Since Swarm Tactics is not an Action, it doesn't take away from his Unique Ability and goes off as long as the range criteria is met. Since he runs in this list with 3 Academy pilots, Vader and pal should be blasting out anywhere from 4 to 6 shots before anybody else likely has a chance to shoot first. It seems like Turr probably needs Swarm Tactics too. Turr Phennir is there as an outlier, to exploit weakened prey, flanks and anything else opportunistic that presents itself since he is so damned maneuverable. Anyway, two aces running Swarm Tactics together allows for more opportunity for TIES to take advantage of more shots early in the game (PS 9 and PS 7) and that may equal more open space as Rebels suddenly explode on the board or provide some depth for the Imps with Swarm Tactics when one eats it. I think 2 Swarm Tactics can potentially have 3 pilots shooting at PS 9 if you line up Vader, Turr and then an Academy Pilot (anybody know if that's right?)
Vader also has Cluster Missiles and a Shield Upgrade to pump up both offense and defense. I have found Cluster Missiles are good for when Vader is mid-pack in TIE's and perhaps can't get a solid primary shot off at Range 1 but he has to make a kill-shot. Cluster Missiles are also a useful shotgun against YT's and other high shield/hull ships.
Range Game
In play, a Darth Vader who only sits at Range 2 might be wasted, even while the board space he yields lets his TIE's surge forward. He needs to be leading the fight point-blank and using his double Action ability each turn to best effect and then, capitalizing on whatever TIE manages to stay on his wing using their Action for Focus or Barrel Roll on attacks. Vader should probably spam Evade and Focus, if he already has a Target Lock running. That means keeping other TIES out of his "airspace" so he can actually do Actions (by not being bumped), and 2 actions at that. This can be really hard to do with 3 or more TIE's in the mix. Opponents may tend to hunt Vader at all costs to kill him as fast as possible since they know pressuring him is a smart tactic that yields variance in Vader's choice of Actions, perhaps by him drowning in his own choices and picking wrong. Additionally, an opponent may gut Vader's buffs with some lucky Critical hits.
It is easy to see that all upgrades reside with Vader and he still isn't indestructible. But the stickiness that comes with Vader is really what bumping or being bumped and loosing actions does to him. It neuters him like a lava flow to the groin, which is a real thing. Ask Anakin.
The TIE Fighters or, War Squares
So, sending TIE's in to sweep the road before Vader is viable but that's why he can end up sitting out at Range 2 or 3 as the wedge of TIE's goes ahead of him. If he is not using 2 Actions to direct effect each turn and he isn't close-in, then this list isn't for you (or maybe Vader is not for you).
The above said, TIE's are really fragile, super disposable and even with Vader shepherding, don't expect TIE's to last long, so you should aim to get kills with them before they explode. X Wing is a game where the shelf life of all pilots starts running out at the drop of the puck, some faster than others. That means set them up and fly in formations Vader can hug up against and support. If you let TIE's die without them stripping shields or blasting hulls then this list may not be for you.
Back at Base, We'll Have Scones
In conclusion, this is the "tankiest" Imperial list I've played so far out of a half dozen games total and I think it is a winner but I am not sure if it is the all-comers list I am looking for. So far, this specific list is 1 Win one Loss with iterations of this list doing better in the Win bracket.
If anybody else has some tips or experience, please feel free to share. In the meantime, I will report back soon to let you all know how Old Inhaler Face is doing (that's my 9 year old son's name for Vader).
P.S. Everyone should check out Void State's Unofficial Star Wars X Wing Miniatures Game Squadron Builder, it kicks ass. Validation, printing options with detail, point costs and card text... it even has an All Squadrons section where players share their favorite lists. It's all here, all free and just slathered in awesomesauce: http://x-wing.voidstate.com
Since I am brave with transparency, consider this my online dream journal, where my opponents can easily read about my limited understanding of the game, what I am slowly learning and how they can exploit that with extreme prejudice. Cough.
 |
| The Force is strong with my online X Wing dream journal! Wheeee!! |
Vader's Ship-to-Ship List 100 Points (list print out supplied by the excellent and free X Wing builder by my man, Void State http://x-wing.voidstate.com)
39 points
Darth Vader PS 9
 2 3
3 
3 
Unique
During your "Perform Action" step, you may perform 2 actions.
Darth Vader/TIE Advanced (29)
Cluster Missiles (4)
– Attack [Target Lock]: Spend your Target Lock and discard this card to perform this attack twice. Attack value: 3. Range: 1-2.
Swarm Tactics (2)
– At the start of the combat phase, choose 1 friendly ship at Range 1.
Until the end of this phase, treat the chosen ship as if its pilot skill
were equal to your pilot skill.
Shield Upgrade (4)
– Increase your shield value by 1.
|
25 points
Turr Phennir PS7
3
3
3
0
Unique
After you perform an attack, you may perform a free boost or barrel roll action.
|
12 points
Academy Pilot #1 PS 1
2
3
3
0
|
12 points
Academy Pilot #2 PS1
2
3
3
0
|
12 points
Academy Pilot #3 PS 1
2
3
3
0
|
Sith Happens
Darth Vader uses Swarm Tactics each turn to have a Range 1 TIE fighter fire at PS 9 along with him. Since Swarm Tactics is not an Action, it doesn't take away from his Unique Ability and goes off as long as the range criteria is met. Since he runs in this list with 3 Academy pilots, Vader and pal should be blasting out anywhere from 4 to 6 shots before anybody else likely has a chance to shoot first. It seems like Turr probably needs Swarm Tactics too. Turr Phennir is there as an outlier, to exploit weakened prey, flanks and anything else opportunistic that presents itself since he is so damned maneuverable. Anyway, two aces running Swarm Tactics together allows for more opportunity for TIES to take advantage of more shots early in the game (PS 9 and PS 7) and that may equal more open space as Rebels suddenly explode on the board or provide some depth for the Imps with Swarm Tactics when one eats it. I think 2 Swarm Tactics can potentially have 3 pilots shooting at PS 9 if you line up Vader, Turr and then an Academy Pilot (anybody know if that's right?)
Vader also has Cluster Missiles and a Shield Upgrade to pump up both offense and defense. I have found Cluster Missiles are good for when Vader is mid-pack in TIE's and perhaps can't get a solid primary shot off at Range 1 but he has to make a kill-shot. Cluster Missiles are also a useful shotgun against YT's and other high shield/hull ships.
 |
| As I learn the game, it has helped to fly TIE's in formations and letting pilots like Vader and Turr do their own thing. This keeps Action-robbing bumps to a minimum, makes planning moves less baffling and lets you learn where the turns actually get your ships before you tackle more complex flight patterns later. |
Range Game
In play, a Darth Vader who only sits at Range 2 might be wasted, even while the board space he yields lets his TIE's surge forward. He needs to be leading the fight point-blank and using his double Action ability each turn to best effect and then, capitalizing on whatever TIE manages to stay on his wing using their Action for Focus or Barrel Roll on attacks. Vader should probably spam Evade and Focus, if he already has a Target Lock running. That means keeping other TIES out of his "airspace" so he can actually do Actions (by not being bumped), and 2 actions at that. This can be really hard to do with 3 or more TIE's in the mix. Opponents may tend to hunt Vader at all costs to kill him as fast as possible since they know pressuring him is a smart tactic that yields variance in Vader's choice of Actions, perhaps by him drowning in his own choices and picking wrong. Additionally, an opponent may gut Vader's buffs with some lucky Critical hits.
It is easy to see that all upgrades reside with Vader and he still isn't indestructible. But the stickiness that comes with Vader is really what bumping or being bumped and loosing actions does to him. It neuters him like a lava flow to the groin, which is a real thing. Ask Anakin.
 |
| OH MY GOD KILL HIM!!! DO IT!!!! |
The TIE Fighters or, War Squares
So, sending TIE's in to sweep the road before Vader is viable but that's why he can end up sitting out at Range 2 or 3 as the wedge of TIE's goes ahead of him. If he is not using 2 Actions to direct effect each turn and he isn't close-in, then this list isn't for you (or maybe Vader is not for you).
The above said, TIE's are really fragile, super disposable and even with Vader shepherding, don't expect TIE's to last long, so you should aim to get kills with them before they explode. X Wing is a game where the shelf life of all pilots starts running out at the drop of the puck, some faster than others. That means set them up and fly in formations Vader can hug up against and support. If you let TIE's die without them stripping shields or blasting hulls then this list may not be for you.
Back at Base, We'll Have Scones
In conclusion, this is the "tankiest" Imperial list I've played so far out of a half dozen games total and I think it is a winner but I am not sure if it is the all-comers list I am looking for. So far, this specific list is 1 Win one Loss with iterations of this list doing better in the Win bracket.
If anybody else has some tips or experience, please feel free to share. In the meantime, I will report back soon to let you all know how Old Inhaler Face is doing (that's my 9 year old son's name for Vader).
P.S. Everyone should check out Void State's Unofficial Star Wars X Wing Miniatures Game Squadron Builder, it kicks ass. Validation, printing options with detail, point costs and card text... it even has an All Squadrons section where players share their favorite lists. It's all here, all free and just slathered in awesomesauce: http://x-wing.voidstate.com
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