The Tin Squadron Tombola, top 64: Nébal (Galactic Empire) vs Tampermagnitude (Scum and Villainy)

The Tin Squadron Tombola, top 64! Yeah, no Swiss rounds there, I’ll explain why in a moment. Anyway, a new battle report in English. Of course, I’m French, so I’m genetically designed to speak and write an awful English… Please be kind!

This is a knock-out tournament with kind of a Jank Tank format, run by the Tin Squadron (which had organized the Balance of the Force some time ago, which I really, really enjoyed).

The idea was to play (mostly) random lists: each player had to chose a faction, and two random lists would be drawn for each player (there was a live draw on the Tin Squadron Twitch channel, during which all lists were drawn for all players, using YASB randomize tool). One would be of the chosen faction, and the other would be drawn in a random different faction.

Then it would be possible to decide of small changes in each list, based on the following chart:

First, it was possible to remove an upgrade.

Then, in addition, the player could chose one of the following three adjustments:

• Place an upgrade in an empty slot.
• Replace an upgrade in a slot.
• Change a pilot to another one of the same chassis.

In any case, each player had to decide which list he would play for the whole tournament. But, as mentioned previously, it is a knock-out tournament, so one loss means you’re out of the game…

One last thing: bids were not a concern. It has been ruled that, for each game, players would have to decide who would go first by rolling a red dice: if the result was hit or crit, then the host would be first player; otherwise, it would be the guest. No choice there.

As for my specific faction, I had chosen First Order, obviously. I certainly wasn’t alone : a vast number of players did the same, thinking maybe that less options meant less bad options, but that could backfire spectacularly, especially when shuttles were involved…

And I know that, because here is the First Order list that I’ve been given:

Upsilon-class Command Shuttle – •Lieutenant Dormitz – 91

•Lieutenant Dormitz – Hypercomms Specialist (66)

•Supreme Leader Snoke (13)

Ion Cannon (6)

Munitions Failsafe (1)

Advanced Optics (5)

Xi-class Light Shuttle – •Agent Terex – 57

•Agent Terex – Devious Provocateur (42)

•Petty Officer Thanisson (4)

Targeting Computer (3)

Feedback Array (3)

Rigged Cargo Chute (4)

Automated Target Priority (1)

Xi-class Light Shuttle – First Order Courier – 47

First Order Courier (38)

•Captain Phasma (5)

Seasoned Navigator (4)

Total: 195/200

Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight. Three Shuttles, the worst ones, including the costly Lieutenant Dormitz with the costly Supreme Leader Snoke, tons of useless upgrades… That was unplayable.

My second drawn random list would be of the Galactic Empire, and here it is:

Lambda-class T-4A Shuttle – •Colonel Jendon – 66

•Colonel Jendon – Darth Vader’s Shuttle Pilot (49)

•Emperor Palpatine (11)

Tractor Beam (4)

Fire-Control System (2)

TIE/in Interceptor – •Nash Windrider – 48

•Nash Windrider – Alderaanian Zealot (40)

Shield Upgrade (8)

TIE/rb Heavy – •“Rampage” – 44

•“Rampage” – Implacable Pursuer (39)

Heavy Laser Cannon (5)

Jamming Beam (0)

Alpha-class Star Wing – Nu Squadron Pilot – 38

Nu Squadron Pilot (32)

Os-1 Arsenal Loadout (0)

Static Discharge Vanes (6)

Total: 196/200

Ok, that was better. Not great, but better, and playable. Jendon with Palpatine was good, even with an unusable Fire-Control System (since the Lambda Shuttle doesn’t have the lock action). A Shield Upgrade was expensive on Nash Windrider, but since bids were not a thing, that could actually be somewhat cool. I certainly regretted that Nash’s ability would only work for himself and one of my three others ships (because it triggers only for small ships), but, hey… “Rampage” was not ideally built, with that Heavy Laser Cannon which doesn’t work with Rotating Cannons, and having no configuration is always an issue with the TIE/rb Heavy, but I guessed he could do some tricks, with a bit of luck… Finally, the Nu Squadron Pilot was problematic: no weapons upgrade (which meant Os-1 Arsenal Loadout would be useless), and very expensive and useless Static Discharge Vanes. I would have to change that.

Of course I chose this list, and in the end, I decided to focus on the Alpha­­-class Star Wing, by dropping the Static Discharge Vanes and placing Plasma Torpedoes in the torpedo slot. So that would be my list:

Lambda-class T-4A Shuttle – •Colonel Jendon – 66

•Colonel Jendon – Darth Vader’s Shuttle Pilot (49)

•Emperor Palpatine (11)

Tractor Beam (4)

Fire-Control System (2)

TIE/in Interceptor – •Nash Windrider – 48

•Nash Windrider – Alderaanian Zealot (40)

Shield Upgrade (8)

TIE/rb Heavy – •“Rampage” – 44

•“Rampage” – Implacable Pursuer (39)

Heavy Laser Cannon (5)

Jamming Beam (0)

Alpha-class Star Wing – Nu Squadron Pilot – 39

Nu Squadron Pilot (32)

Os-1 Arsenal Loadout (0)

Plasma Torpedoes (7)

Total: 197/200

For this first game of the tournament, I was paired with Paul aka Tampermagnitude, a very nice player from the UK (I guess?). His chosen faction was the Scum and Villainy, and here is the list he got:

Fang Fighter – •Kad Solus – 69

•Kad Solus – Skilled Commando (54)

Proton Torpedoes (12)

Crack Shot (3)

M12-L Kimogila Fighter – •Dalan Oberos – 64

•Dalan Oberos – Returned From the Grave (45)

•“Genius” (2)

••XX-23 S-Thread Tracers (2)

Plasma Torpedoes (7)

Targeting Computer (3)

•Cloaking Device (4)

Marksmanship (1)

Escape Craft – •L3-37 – 34

•L3-37 – Droid Revolutionary (26)

•Boba Fett (4)

Debris Gambit (4)

Z-95-AF4 Headhunter – •Bossk – 30

•Bossk – Fearsome Hunter (28)

Ion Missiles (2)

Total: 197/200

Pretty good, actually. Kad Solus wasn’t the best choice for a Fang Fighter, but he could actually be replaced by Fenn Rau (by removing the expensive Proton Torpedoes), who would really like that sweet, sweet Crack Shot. Dalan Oberos could be an issue, though, especially loaded as he was, with at least two totally useless upgrades (“Genius” and Targeting Computer) and another one which might not be ideal (Cloaking Device). His weapons upgrades were great, though: pesky Tracers and violent Plasma Torpedoes, that could certainly do some damage. L3-37’s upgrades were not great on her, but that wasn’t the point : a coordinating platform for such a low price is always cool (and actually Debris Gambit would prove useful in our game; yes, that’s technically a spoiler, sorry). Finally, Bossk is pretty good in a Z-95, and Ion Missiles were a sensible upgrade on him.

But another list was drawn for Paul, from a random faction, which would prove to be the Galactic Republic; could it be better?

ARC-170 Starfighter – Squad Seven Veteran – 68

Squad Seven Veteran (44)

•R7-A7 (3)

Hull Upgrade (3)

Seasoned Navigator (5)

Agile Gunner (5)

Snap Shot (8)

BTL-B Y-Wing – •“Odd Ball” – 60

•“Odd Ball” – CC-2237 (40)

•R4-P44 (3)

Dorsal Turret (2)

Ion Torpedoes (4)

•Electro-Proton Bomb (10)

Marksmanship (1)

Naboo Royal N-1 Starfighter – •Padmé Amidala – 44

•Padmé Amidala – Aggressive Negotiator (44)

V-19 Torrent Starfighter – Blue Squadron Protector – 26

Blue Squadron Protector (26)

Total: 198/200

Not great. That was a very expensive ARC-170, and a very expensive “Odd Ball” of the BTL-B Y-Wing variety, especially with that insane Electro-Proton Bomb. Plus “Odd Ball” is not a very good pilot anyway, and maybe especially on this chassis. Padmé can be pretty good, but she could have used an upgrade or two. And the naked V-19 was the proper definition of an uninspired filler.

So Paul went for the Scum and Villainy, obviously, and he dropped the Proton Torpedoes on the Fang Fighter, in order to have the points allowing him to change its pilot from Kad Solus to the dreadful Fenn Rau. Here is what it looked like after that:

Fang Fighter – •Fenn Rau – 71

•Fenn Rau – Skull Leader (68)

Crack Shot (3)

M12-L Kimogila Fighter – •Dalan Oberos – 64

•Dalan Oberos – Returned From the Grave (45)

•“Genius” (2)

••XX-23 S-Thread Tracers (2)

Plasma Torpedoes (7)

Targeting Computer (3)

•Cloaking Device (4)

Marksmanship (1)

Escape Craft – •L3-37 – 34

•L3-37 – Droid Revolutionary (26)

•Boba Fett (4)

Debris Gambit (4)

Z-95-AF4 Headhunter – •Bossk – 30

•Bossk – Fearsome Hunter (28)

Ion Missiles (2)

Total: 199/200

Now to the game.

BEWARE: RIGHT AFTER THIS OMINOUS DARTH VADER PICTURE, I WILL REVEAL HOW THE GAME TURNED OUT. IF YOU DON’T WANT SPOILERS, WATCH THE VIDEO BEFORE READING FURTHER!

Defeat for the Galactic Empire, 200-83… That was painful. I had horrible dices most of the time, and those red tokens on “Rampage” were a big issue, but that’s not an excuse, I can’t blame luck, for I made many terrible decisions (especially regarding Nash) while Paul played very well and absolutely deserved that crushing victory.

Good game, Paul, and thank you for the game! I wish you the best of luck for the remainder of the tournament!

But as for me, it’s already the end, after only one game. Sad…

But I’ll catch you soon enough with another battle report. Until then, take care!

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Cela signifie que, si vous créez un compte chez Maxi Rêves, vous pouvez contacter le gérant pour l’informer de ce que vous venez de ma part. Cela vous permettra d’obtenir une remise globale de 10 % sur toute la boutique !

Merci à Maxi Rêves pour son soutien !

Et à bientôt...