billiv15 wrote:
Here is the squad that I placed first with, and MtMagus placed 3rd with at this year's Gencon.
--Speedy Cannon--
46 Han Solo, Scoundrel
45 Luke's Snowspeeder
20 Princess Leia
11 Human Bodyguard
8 Obi-Wan Kenobi, Jedi Spirit
8 R2-D2
12 Ugnaught Demolitionist x4
(150pts. 10 activations)
Now, here is where it gets interesting. The map list as most of you know, was restricted, in particular, my favorite map for this squad (Hoth Outpost) was not on the list. So we had to look for another option to run it. The two maps that come to mind first are Deathstar (general shooter map) and Rancor Pit. However, Rancor tends to have too little space to move a huge around on, and Deathstar has one door rooms, and one and two wide hallways. So while, these work well enough, I really needed something more open. So I started thinking about Starship.
At first, you might think, "Why would anyone play Starship with the new Set up rules that means you will always be on the bad side?" But that is precisely the point. With Han Cannon and Luke's Snowspeeder as the interference piece, setting up second is ever so much more important than any side advantage. In particular, Starship leaves little room on the left that is safe for your opponent if you get to set up second. Finally, with all the MTB, Dodonna, and high activation squads I expected to see, and did see, I wanted the ability to start killing fodder right away. Hence, knowing I was on the right side everytime I won map, actually worked to my advantage.
So you might also notice there is no General Dodonna. This was on purpose. Number 1, he has become as much of a crutch as Boba BH, as I saw several squads running him that didn't need it. There were certainly well designed Dodonna squads as well (Knightswhosaynigh's Loda squad being one of them - top 8 qualifyer). I can tell you, while Dodonna changed my tactics to a certain degree, I just always assumed I would be out activated. So I would shoot when safe, never let myself into Mara, Loda, or Boba BH's range without being properly prepared with the BG. Second, I noticed this trend, and here is why Dodonna is becoming a crutch. At least twice, I set up second on the right side of Starship, and had counted out a major first round shot with either Han SC or the Snowspeeder and Leia, then lost the first init. Only to watch my opponent activate Dodonna as if it was an automatic move, and allow me to pound their big piece anyway.
Now, Dodonna was replaced in the original version of this squad with a Human BG. In a field with 23 Boba BHs, its pretty clear the BG is a must. We joked about giving disintegration lessens after Gencon. In particular, my friend Lou lost a game in 200 when his opponent's Boba disintegrated his Snowspeeder, Han SH, Chewy RH and Princess Leia, that's right 4 of them. But more than Boba, the BG does many things. For example, my last game of the Swiss, I played Lou and we were both 5-1. He had Boba Merc, Aurra JH, San Hill and we played on Starship. He was down to Boba with 40 or so hps, and I had Han SC with the BG and Obi remaining. Either big figure dying would end the game. I won init and tried to kill Boba and missed one of the attacks. He responded with a crit (40 dmg) for his turn on my Han. Now most people might think, take the crit on the BG is the obvious answer, I didn't. I took it on Han leaving my BG at full health, and Han at 40hps. Init comes and I lose it, so Boba pumps 60 into Han, which I bg one shot and take the other on Han. Now I combine fire with the BG and kill Boba. Had I missed, and lost the next init, I would have lost. The BG combining was a nice little boost.
So to say one more time about Dodonna, if your squad is based solely on ranged cunning attacks, you don't need him, its a waste of points that could be better spent. In 150 where the points for power are tight, you have to consider every option. The flexibility of the BG was a better choice than the flexibility of running Dodonna. I never lost to any squad with activation control, or Tempo control. My one loss of the tournament was to MtMagus in the Swiss rounds in our mirror match that took 14 minutes
Congrats Bill, you deserved this.
Nice name for your squad though:
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=3001I posted that squad (the Dodonna variant to yours) back in April. Great to hear it did so well for you. The Human BG is a very valid option as it does help immensely for those pesky Boba BH's. All that I want to say is that I knew the SS would somehow be in the top squads after that Huge Errata.
Again, congrats!