Vader Devastator vs Ackbar

In this game, I switched things up and tried running Imperials under Vader in his flagship, an ISD2 type Devastator with EWS. I also had a Demolisher and a Raider with external racks. The squadron fight consisted of four TIEs vs Shara/Tycho with predictable results. I took first and chose Jamming Barrier. I placed the Devastator in the left corner, anticipating the placement of the enemy fleet across from it due to the asteroids. I then placed Demo a ways to the left, planning to cut off the lateral MC80 movement.

The first image is part way through the first round:

I was moving fast and had to make a choice between the AF and the MC80 with the Devastator. I choose the AF so that it didn’t flank me. Here is the close of the second round:

After a light hit to the Pelta, Demo moved into the front arc of the MC80, keeping it in place for the round. Devastator did not have any discarded tokens quite yet, but it did put some damage on that AF as they closed. Here is the close of round 3:

My Demo was limping after taking hits from both the Pelta and MC80 and I was concerned that it may not last another activation from the 80. I elected to activate it first, putting hurt on the 80 and then moving past the dust cloud and getting a lucky hit on the AF to kill it before it got to shoot back. Devastator did not even get to use its titular ability. The Raider moved in to put some hurt on the 80 and lock it in place again. Here is the close of round 4:

The Raider activated first and put some more damage on the 80, but then got blown up in return. I was unable to maneuver in such a way as to keep out of the side arc, even with a ram. That was a misstep on my part as I could have waited him out instead of activating before the 80. Alternatively, I should have given him a slight turn inward toward the MC80 in the previous turn to try jumping over him if I decided against ramming. Here is the close of round 5:

Round six was uneventful and the game closed in my favor, though not the devastating victory I had hoped for from the Dark Lord.


AAR:

Demolisher was the MVP, hitting the MC80 hard and then finishing off the AF while getting away. It was the right move to set up with the goal of landing in the front arc of the 80. Devastator did not have opportunity to perform. I am not sure it was a terrible move to go after the AF, as I did not anticipate Demo even contributing to that fight, but it would have ended quite a bit differently had I gone after the 80 with my ISD. I pinned the MC80 behind that dust cloud for several turns, preventing it from contributing much with the side arcs. That was a good move.


Lessons Learned:

- Use the Devastator on the biggest threat rather than wasting it on the weaker targets.

- Demolisher double or triple tap is obscenely good.