Battle for Endor: Listbuilding pt. 8 - POD lists Carolingian Empire (Western Europe)

Lists have been locked in and revealed. 

I hereby present my POD:

I must admit I don't know all of these players. I've been out of online Armada circulation for some time, and I was never that active on TTS to begin with. 

Faction breakdown:

• Empire: 4 (Vader, Sloane, Jerry, Screed)
• Rebel: 7 (Ackbar x2, Draven, Sato, Leia, Dodonna, Madine)
• CIS: 1 (Kraken)
• GAR: 0

That's right, no Republic fleets. So I guess the GARquitens and the Imperator don't really help the GAR make up for their perceived weaknesses. Can't say I blame people. While I love playing GAR in a campaign framework, I dislike how their ships lack maneuverability and have limited variety in the ship department, so it's not for me.

Good spread of commanders tho - only a single duplicate!

Anyway. Let's review the lists, discussing them briefly and considering how I think a potential matchup would work out for me.

James McCartney 

Ackbar AF with XI7 instead of Slaved with a single CR90 in support. Semi-rogue ball looks solid, with Slicers QS and  Adar BH, Toryn for extra AS. Extra annoyance points for a single VCX/Strategic. Ten-point bid, so betting heavily on playing own objectives, with the occasional first player, maybe?

While I don't feel you get enough from Ackbar here, that AF can deal significant damage to single targets. Still only 5 dice without a CF, which isn't that good. The list looks like it can give my list a run for its money, but how does it tackle Thermal Shields (this is a joke, btw, he's an add and there are NO Thermal in this POD) and Empire/CIS 134?

Name: Frustrated Gungan v2

Faction: Rebel

Commander: Admiral Ackbar

Assault Frigate Mk2 B (72)

• Admiral Ackbar (38)

• Intel Officer (7)

• Caitken and Shollan (6)

• Electronic Countermeasures (7)

• XI7 Turbolasers (6)

= 136 Points

CR90 Corvette A (44)

• Ahsoka Tano (2)

• Turbolaser Reroute Circuits (7)

• Jaina's Light (5)

= 58 Points

GR-75 Medium Transports (18)

• Toryn Farr (7)

• Slicer Tools (7)

• Quantum Storm (1)

= 33 Points

GR-75 Medium Transports (18)

• Adar Tallon (10)

• Parts Resupply (3)

• Boosted Comms (4)

• Bright Hope (2)

= 37 Points

Squadrons:

• Lando Calrissian (24)

• Ketsu Onyo (22)

• Luke Skywalker (20)

• YT-2400 (16)

• Gold Squadron (12)

• Shara Bey (17)

• VCX-100 Freighter (15)

= 126 Points

Total Points: 390

Tora Samurai

Another Ackbar potato, but this one is built differently: the usual Slaved but with Gallant Haven. That's pretty interesting! With DCaps this one can output seven dice with CF on that key shot, which is much more impressive. With two TRC90 it has more sources of ship damage as well.

Semi-rogue ball with a slightly different composition. Pretty solid, but no supporting tech like Adar, Toryn, etc. The CR90s really don't like my Cymoon, and the potato likes neither the Onager nor the Cymoon (its nav chart makes it kind of predictable). Still, 3 Ackbar ships AND rogues --> potential trouble for me!

Name: Potat 100

Faction: Rebels

Commander: Admiral Ackbar

Version: ARC01

Assault Frigate Mk2 B (72)

• Admiral Ackbar (38)

• Intel Officer (7)

• Caitken and Shollan (6)

• Disposable Capacitors (3)

• Electronic Countermeasures (7)

• Slaved Turrets (6)

• Gallant Haven (8)

= 147 Points

CR90 Corvette A (44)

• Hondo Ohnaka (2)

• Turbolaser Reroute Circuits (7)

• Jaina's Light (5)

= 58 Points

CR90 Corvette A (44)

• Ezra Bridger (3)

• Turbolaser Reroute Circuits (7)

= 54 Points

GR-75 Medium Transports (18)

• Ahsoka Tano (2)

• Parts Resupply (3)

• Bright Hope (2)

= 25 Points

Squadrons:

• Lando Calrissian (24)

• Wedge Antilles (19)

• Jan Ors (19)

• Ketsu Onyo (22)

• 2 x YT-2400 (32)

= 116 Points

Total Points: 400

Daniel (Smizzy) 

Dodonna on a potato, with a single CR90B and a HH in support. That looks deceptively harmless! But when you look at that ball of bombers, you realize it's the squadrons, not the ships, that are the danger. Ouchy!

My only defense here is to kill all the ships... but to get there, I would have to brave the squadrons, and the 3rd ship makes tabling much harder. So, not that easy after all 😆

Name: Endor Fleet

Faction: Rebel

Commander: General Dodonna (20)

Assault Frigate Mark II B (72)

• General Dodonna (20)

• Raymus Antilles (7)

• Flight Controllers (6)

• Expanded Hangar Bay (5)

• Electronic Countermeasures (7)

• XX-9 Turbolasers (2)

= 119 Points

CR90 Corvette B (39)

• SW-7 Ion Batteries (5)

• Dodonna's Pride (4)

= 48 Points

Hammerhead Torpedo Corvette (36)

• External Racks (4)

• Garel's Honor (4)

= 44 Points

GR-75 Medium Transports (18)

• Ahsoka Tano (2)

• Comms Net (2)

= 22 Points

GR-75 Medium Transports (18)

• Bomber Command Center (8)

• Bright Hope (2)

= 28 Points

Squadrons:

• Gold Squadron - Y-Wing Squadron (12)

• Green Squadron - A-wing Squadron (12)

• Lando Calrissian - Millennium Falcon (24)

• Luke Skywalker - X-wing Squadron (20)

• Shara Bey - A-wing Squadron (17)

• Tycho Celchu - A-wing Squadron (16)

• 2 x Scurrg H-6 Bomber (32)

= 133 Points

Total Points: 394

Nicolas Durand (Elred) 

This is a novel list, spamming Hardcells with Kraken and a Quarren Gunship to soften up the enemy. It has 7 activations, which is a plus. It can do a lot of damage to a single large target if the flying is good, but how does it deal with MSU or rogue balls? Not sure what to make of it.

Against my list, I would have to try to delete some of the small ones quickly to avoid getting swamped. Easier said than done.

RELEASE THE QUARREN

Hardcell Battle Refit (50 + 37: 87)

· Kraken (30)

· Turbolaser Reroute Circuits (7)

Quarren Prototype Gunship (63 + 19: 82)

· Skilled First Officer (1)

· Disposable Capacitors (3)

· Advanced Projectors (6)

· Heavy Ion Emplacements (9)

Hardcell Battle Refit (50 + 7: 57)

· Turbolaser Reroute Circuits (7)

Hardcell Battle Refit (50 + 7: 57)

· Turbolaser Reroute Circuits (7)

Hardcell Battle Refit (50 + 7: 57)

· Turbolaser Reroute Circuits (7)

Gozanti Cruisers (24 + 6: 30)

· High-Capacity Ion Turbines (6)

Gozanti Cruisers (24 + 6: 30)

· High-Capacity Ion Turbines (6) 

DaSWA 

Leia double potato (and flotillas) with the ubiquitous Boarding Troopers. Those guys are EVERYWHERE. The potatoes are solid enough, but not amazingly powerful. The squadron ball is decent, too; it has some good rogues and supporting tech. I think the key to this list is the interplay between ships and quads, because neither component is strong enough on its own.

This list could give me a run for my money unless I'm able to delete some ships early to cripple said ship-squad interplay.

Faction: Rebels

Commander: Leia Organa

Version: ARC01

Assault Frigate Mk2 B (72)

• Leia Organa (28)

• Defense Liason (3)

• Boarding Troopers (3)

• Electronic Countermeasures (7)

• Dual Turbolaser Turrets (4)

= 117 Points

Assault Frigate Mk2 B (72)

• Defense Liason (3)

• Boarding Troopers (3)

• Electronic Countermeasures (7)

• Dual Turbolaser Turrets (4)

• Gallant Haven (8)

= 97 Points

GR-75 Medium Transports (18)

• Toryn Farr (7)

• Munitions Resupply (3)

• Quantum Storm (1)

= 29 Points

GR-75 Medium Transports (18)

• Adar Tallon (10)

• Parts Resupply (3)

• Boosted Comms (4)

• Bright Hope (2)

= 37 Points

Squadrons:

• Corran Horn (22)

• Han Solo (24)

• Mart Mattin (22)

• YT-2400 (16)

• Ketsu Onyo (22)

• Gold Squadron (12)

= 118 Points

Total Points: 398

Mr Frisky 

Slippery Pigs... what an apt name. Catching twin CR90s and MC30s under Madine is HARD! Ships are decently hard-hitting, but they will need to maneuver very well, not only to stay alive but to deal concentrated fire upon enemy ships to bring them down. Squads are mostly for screening, but the A-wings do have speed 5 and black dice, so they cannot be discounted in the AS role.

This is a challenging list to catch for anyone, including my own fleet. If, and that's a big if, I can catch a ship, I can kill it, but yeah, that's the trick, isn't it?

Name: The Slippery Pigs

Faction: Rebel

Commander: General Madine (30)

CR90 Corvette A (44)

• General Madine (30)

• General Draven (3)

• Heavy Fire Zone (2)

• Jaina's Light (5)

= 84 Points

CR90 Corvette A (44)

• Ezra Bridger (3)

• Turbolaser Reroute Circuits (7)

= 54 Points

MC30c Torpedo Frigate (63)

• Walex Blissex (5)

• Ordnance Experts (4)

• Rapid Reload (4)

• Heavy Turbolaser Turrets (4)

• Admonition (10)

= 90 Points

MC30c Torpedo Frigate (63)

• Expert Shield Tech (5)

• Ordnance Experts (4)

• Rapid Reload (4)

• Heavy Turbolaser Turrets (4)

• Foresight (10)

= 90 Points

GR-75 Medium Transports (18)

• Ahsoka Tano (2)

• Parts Resupply (3)

• Quantum Storm (1)

= 24 Points

Squadrons:

• Rogue Squadron - X-wing Squadron (14)

• Shara Bey - A-wing Squadron (17)

• Tycho Celchu - A-wing Squadron (16)

• A-wing Squadron (11)

= 58 Points

Total Points: 400

SkyRraahh Guitariste Figuriniste 

Pew pew. Possibly the best fleet name in the POD. Truly creative and evocative 😅

The list starts out pretty conventional, with an Onager under JJ (fairly rare in my experience, but JJ is never wrong) and ECM Demo. Then it gets more creative, with a Flechette Raider and a DCaps Raider-I (never saw that before). A Gozanti rounds out the list. 

The list has some potential if flown well. The Onager and Demo both hit hard, but that Flechette boat would have liked some squads to help pin down the opposition. In my experience, Instogator truly shines with squads; alone, it is only OK.

The list can surely put the hurt on me if I give it the opportunity. But at least I don't have to worry abotu squadrons or his anti-squad tech 💪

Name: Pew pew

Faction: Empire

Commander: Moff Jerjerrod

Version: ARC01

Onager Star Destroyer (120)

• Governor Pryce (6)

• Veteran Gunners (5)

• Weapons Battery Techs (4)

• XI7 Turbolasers (6)

• Orbital Bombardment Particle Cannons (5)

= 146 Points

Gladiator I (56)

• Minister Tua (2)

• Ordnance Experts (4)

• Expanded Launchers (8)

• Demolisher (10)

• Electronic Countermeasures (7)

= 87 Points

Raider I (44)

• Iden Versio (6)

• Ordnance Experts (4)

• Flechette Torpedoes (3)

• Instigator (4)

= 61 Points

Raider I (44)

• Moff Jerjerrod (23)

• Hondo Ohnaka (2)

• Disposable Capacitors (3)

• External Racks (4)

• Corvus (2)

= 78 Points

Gozanti Cruisers (23)

• Comms Net (2)

= 25 Points

Squadrons:

= 0 Points

Total Points: 397

Chris Spencer (Dr Chaitin)  

NuSato arrives with 2 MC30, flotillas, and squadrons. I'm not sure if I approve of only two combat ships that need to close to be truly effective (but they can certainly perform Sato tricks on the way in). ECM on MC30s is rarely seen, but can be effective. 
 
While I can see this struggling against some builds, it is strong vs. my fleet, I think. I can't do anything about the squadrons, so max Sato. And a pair of well-flown MC30s can certainly hurt my ships very badly indeed!

Akuma Ma'Sato (102/399/400)

MC30c Scout Frigate (69 + 60: 129)

· Commander Sato [ARC] (25)

· Sabine Wren (4)

· Ordnance Experts (4)

· Electronic Countermeasures (7)

· Assault Proton Torpedoes (4)

· XI7 Turbolasers (6)

· Foresight (10)

MC30c Scout Frigate (69 + 34: 103)

· Ezra Bridger (3)

· Ordnance Experts (4)

· Electronic Countermeasures (7)

· Assault Proton Torpedoes (4)

· XI7 Turbolasers (6)

· Admonition (10)

GR-75 Medium Transports (18 + 16: 34)

· Adar Tallon (10)

· Comms Net (2)

· Boosted Comms (4)

GR-75 Medium Transports (18 + 13: 31)

· Toryn Farr (7)

· Comms Net (2)

· Boosted Comms (4)

Lando Calrissian (24)

Luke Skywalker [ARC] (20)

Shara Bey (17)

Tycho Celchu (16)

X-wing Squadron (13)

Gold Squadron (12)

Lewis (Lark)  

ANOTHER list called Pew Pew. This is AMAZING 😆

Jokes aside, I like this list. Pryce + Varnillian is pretty good (but I love Vet Gunners with Varnillian), it's got Cata and Annoying Engine Techs (TM). Twin Dcaps raiders to soften things up (including Corvus for annoying setup). And a Gozanti to push a squadron screen. The only downside here is the Onager being such a centerpiece. It'll draw a lot of attention. Which makes the Annoying Engine Techs (TM) make even more sense.

If I meet this, I'll point my ships at his ships, roll really well (this is my core concept for all games), and go home victorious!

Name: Its Screed Indeed pew pew

Faction: Empire

Commander: Admiral Screed [ARC] (26)

Onager-class Testbed (116)

• Admiral Screed [ARC] (26)

• Governor Pryce (6)

• Gunnery Chief Varnillian (6)

• Ordnance Experts (4)

• Engine Techs (8)

• Orbital Bombardment Particle Cannons (5)

• Cataclysm (5)

= 176 Points

Raider II-class Corvette (48)

• Disposable Capacitors (3)

• Heavy Ion Emplacements (9)

• Corvus (2)

= 62 Points

Raider II-class Corvette (48)

• Disposable Capacitors (3)

• Heavy Ion Emplacements (9)

= 60 Points

Gozanti-class Cruisers (23)

• Hondo Ohnaka (2)

• Comms Net (2)

• Expanded Hangar Bay (5)

= 32 Points

Squadrons:

• Darth Vader - TIE Advanced Squadron [ARC] (20)

• Mauler Mithel - TIE Fighter Squadron (15)

• Valen Rudor - TIE Fighter Squadron (13)

• Vult Skerris - TIE Interceptor Squadron (18)

= 66 Points

Total Points: 396

Spike

Spike, who is my R1 opponent, is running ARC Draven, aka. Draven 3.0 with TONS of Headhunters with Flight Controllers. He also has Luke and Kanan, combined with Adar, so either can go twice. He also has Toryn, for altogether too many rerolls. 

I wonder if my 2 TIEs are up to the task of screening... 

The Z-95s only get the Blount reroll vs squadrons, so only the Draven reroll applies vs ships, which is something. I hope Sike's red dice SUCK, including rerolls. Only ACC, CRIT, and BLANKS as far as the eye can see...

Kanan + Luke are going to be super annoying, too. So let's hope for more blanks!

My only real advantage here is that Spike needs to be close with his Potato to run those squads, and a Potato running squadron commands is predictable and even with ECM it is not tough enough to deal with either of my two capital ships. The MC30 is also his flagship, so he has to balance threat vs survivability. I suggest we pray for him to make a maneuvering mistake!

Anyway. This could end up being a "who tables whom first" type of game. Unless SPike lifeboats with the MC30, but then I'll eat the potato and try to run away. Would be very boring.

Edit: Spike does not, in fact, have Toryn. But he still gets up to 3 rerolls on those Z-95s, so fine.

Name: Draven Endor

Faction: Rebels

Commander: General Draven

Version: ARC01

Assault Frigate Mk2 B (72)

• Hondo Ohnaka (2)

• Flight Controllers (6)

• Expanded Hangar Bay (5)

• Electronic Countermeasures (7)

• Dual Turbolaser Turrets (4)

= 96 Points

MC30c Torpedo Frigate (63)

• General Draven (22)

• Expert Shield Tech (5)

• Ordnance Experts (4)

• Electronic Countermeasures (7)

• External Racks (4)

• H9 Turbolasers (8)

• Foresight (10)

= 123 Points

GR-75 Medium Transports (18)

• Adar Tallon (10)

• Boosted Comms (4)

• Bright Hope (2)

= 34 Points

GR-75 Medium Transports (18)

• Slicer Tools (7)

• Quantum Storm (1)

= 26 Points

Squadrons:

• Luke Skywalker (20)

• Kanan Jarrus (19)

• Jan Ors (19)

• Lieutenant Blount (14)

• 6 x Z-95 Headhunter Squadron (42)

= 114 Points

Total Points: 393

Bjørn Blom Sørgjerd (Green Knight, UTC+2) 

This is me. I've already gone through my list in a previous post so I won't repeat it here.

Name: Somehow, Vader Returned with an Onager

Faction: Empire

Commander: Darth Vader

Version: ARC01

Onager Star Destroyer (120)

• Darth Vader (28)

• Intel Officer (7)

• Gunnery Chief Varnillian (6)

• Veteran Gunners (5)

• XI7 Turbolasers (6)

• Orbital Bombardment Particle Cannons (5)

= 177 Points

ISD Cymoon 1 Refit (112)

• Intel Officer (7)

• Gunnery Team (7)

• Intensify Firepower! (6)

• Spinal Armament (9)

• XI7 Turbolasers (6)

• Devastator (10)

= 157 Points

Gozanti Cruisers (23)

• Hondo Ohnaka (2)

= 25 Points

Gozanti Cruisers (23)

• Comms Net (2)

= 25 Points

Squadrons:

• 2 x TIE Fighter Squadron (16)

= 16 Points

Total Points: 400

Goerrit (UTC+2)  

Goerrit brings a good-looking ISD+Quasar Sloane build. I played entirely too much Sloane back in the day, with all the aces and the unlimited relay... why did you ruin my playstyle FFG!???

Anyway. This will certainly strip away my tokens and go to town on my ships. I guess I would have to go straight for the threat and kill him first. Can't see any other way to win this one. Gods, I'm going to get tabled in every matchup...

Endor - Slow Anne (134/399/400)

Imperial II Star Destroyer (120 + 20: 140)

· Captain Needa (2)

· Reserve Hangar Deck (4)

· Electronic Countermeasures (7)

· SW-7 Ion Batteries (5)

· Heavy Fire Zone (2)

Quasar I Cruiser-Carrier (54 + 42: 96)

· Admiral Sloane (24)

· Skilled First Officer (1)

· Flight Controllers (6)

· Boosted Comms (4)

· Expanded Hangar Bay (5)

· Pursuant (2)

Gozanti Cruisers (23 + 6: 29)

· Comms Net (2)

· Reserve Hangar Deck (4)

Colonel Jendon (23)

Maarek Stele (21)

Howlrunner (16)

Valen Rudor (13)

Saber Squadron (12)

3 x Tie Interceptor Squadron (3 x 11)

2 x Tie Fighter Squadron (2 x 8)