So, based on GlobeTrotting's info, R4-D6 is a 1 point astromech with the following text "When you are hit by an attack and there are at least 3 uncanceled [hit] results, you may choose and cancel those results until there are 2 remaining. For each result canceled in this way, receive 1 stress.

Which sounds great! or does it? While it is possible to get a 7 dice attack (APT + Jan + Opp) lets just focus on 2-4 dice attacks for the moment since they're the most common.

First off, 2 attack dice will never cause this to trigger unless it's at range 1. So we really just need to look at 3 dice and 4 dice attacks.

Lets assume the attacker has a focus. This is the best case scenario for this upgrade since it gives the dice 5/8 hits, 1/8 crit, 2/8 blank, compared to a TL that gives 2/8 blank, 3/16 crit, 9/16 hit (with 3 dice).

So, with 3 dice, the attacker has a 42% chance of rolling 3 hit+crits... But if we ignore the crits and just look at hits, there's a 24% that he will roll 3 hits. Then you can remove 1 result for a stress.

With 4 dice, there's a 37% chance of rolling 3 hits, and a 15% chance of rolling 4 hits.

But then there's the fact that you'd have to roll 0 (or 1 in case of 4 hits) evades... As an X wing, there's a 39% of rolling 0 evades... the Y wing has a 63% chance. So if we multiple this all together, we come up with the following...

Each 3 dice attack, R4-D6 protects .09 damage on an X wing, and .15 damage on a Y wing. On a 4 dice attack, R4-D6 protects .27 damage on an X wing, and .38 damage on a Y wing.

So, from my initial thought process, 1 hit saved = 1 hull... 1 hull = 3 points. So, in order for R4-D6 to be at least as useful pointwise as the Hull upgrade, it needs to save .33 damage. That would require 4 3 dice attacks on an X wing (.09 x 4 = .36) or 1 4 dice attack + 1 3+ dice attack on an X wing (.27 + .09 = .36)... or 3 3 dice attacks on a Y (.15 * 3 = .45) or 1 4 dice attack (.38).

As for whether or not said ships can survive those attacks... the average damage (without R4-D6 interference) for those attacks are 3F on X wing = 1.53 ... times 4 attacks = 6.12... which is a dead X wing. 4F on X wing = 2.26 + 1.53 (3F) = 3.79... X wing lives! 3F on Y wing = 1.88 x 3 = 5.64... Y wing Lives! 4F on Y wing = 2.63... Y wing lives!

So, as you can see, the X wing is basically dead before you see a point return from the R4-D6. Even the 4F attack pretty much wipes him out before he point equalizes with the hull upgrade. However, the Y wing seems to fair much better, with a chance to actually require an additional attack to kill it. But now you have to deal with stress... but at least you're still alive! If we apply this logic to the E wing, we'll see that it's not worth putting on an E wing at all.

TL:DR - R4-D6 isn't a good use of points on an X wing, but is great on the Y wing.

Seems like a great Astromech for Luke. Think so? I agree on the Y-wings, but both ships need more greens to clear out a bunch of stress, especially if they're being flanked.

While the math does point in the direction that the Astromech unit may not be a good use of points on an X-wing. I think many people, myself included, will be very happy to have this when roll devastating blanks on defense.

So I guess what I'm saying is, there is value in not just how many damage points it will block, but also in the fact that it should help even out the luck factor. (All be it situationally)

Seems like a great Astromech for Luke. Think so? I agree on the Y-wings, but both ships need more greens to clear out a bunch of stress, especially if they're being flanked.

Luke is probably the worst currently available pilot to put it on since he already cancels hits with much more ease than his fellows.

y-wings will love this though. And certain x-wing builds might like it. It is, if nothing else, a cheap way to ensure biggs soaks at least three attacks before exploding.

Seems like a great Astromech for Luke. Think so? I agree on the Y-wings, but both ships need more greens to clear out a bunch of stress, especially if they're being flanked.

I think Luke really wants the droid that lets him restore shields with a focus token.

Yeah the R5-P9 seems like a great fit for Luke. 1 less point and IMO at least more utility then R2, because you aren't restricted to green moves.

As far as Y-Wings... Perhaps I fly them a lot differently, but how often does a Y get stressed? It only has 3 red maneuvers on the dial and PtL has never IMO been popular for it. But OTOH, it doesn't remove stress well which does make R4-D6 a poor choice for the Y-Wing.

hasn't been popular because....it hasn't been possible to put PTL on a Y-Wing. only known way is through R2-D6.

My first thought was cheap insurance/filler on Biggs if you happen to have a point left over anyway. He will be seeing concentrated fire, and D6 might be just enough to require an extra attack to kill him, especially against Heavy Laser Cannons and ordnance.

hasn't been popular because....it hasn't been possible to put PTL on a Y-Wing.

D'oh... Yeah that would make it unpopular wouldn't it.

Excellent counter to what frequently would be a 5 dice Advanced Proton Torpedo kill shot.

Oh and since we don't know how the B-Wings will add an Astromech slot it's only theoretical but I would assume that could be another extremely popular use.

Seems like it would work best on the ewings. Best ship to clear stress of the 3 with astromechs most likely. Also with 3 agility could make it pretty hard to do damage to the ship with that R4-D6 equipped.

So, as you can see, the X wing is basically dead before you see a point return from the R4-D6. Even the 4F attack pretty much wipes him out before he point equalizes with the hull upgrade. However, the Y wing seems to fair much better, with a chance to actually require an additional attack to kill it. But now you have to deal with stress... but at least you're still alive! If we apply this logic to the E wing, we'll see that it's not worth putting on an E wing at all.

TL:DR - R4-D6 isn't a good use of points on an X wing, but is great on the Y wing.

Without doing the math, this was the logic I came up with as well. The Y-wing will benefit from this the most. I find myself doing mostly green maneuvers with the Y-wing anyways and an Ion cannon doesn't need focus to work. This is a great 1 point option for the Y-wing. Maybe not a "go to", but gives the Y-wing a cheap way to help make up for its lack of agility.

Seems like it would work best on the ewings. Best ship to clear stress of the 3 with astromechs most likely. Also with 3 agility could make it pretty hard to do damage to the ship with that R4-D6 equipped.

The problem is that it's going to be very unlikely that you ever see 3+ uncancelled hits with an E wing. As I stated, there's only a 24% chance of that happening to begin with... and then you have to miff on all three of your agility dice, which is another 24%... which means one in sixteen attacks will this kick in on an E wing.

Seems like a great Astromech for Luke. Think so? I agree on the Y-wings, but both ships need more greens to clear out a bunch of stress, especially if they're being flanked.

I think Luke really wants the droid that lets him restore shields with a focus token.

Since Luke almost never use a focus token in defense, it does indeed sounds like a perfect match.

Luke with R5P9 and Garven with R2D2 sounds like a good team. only 39 pts left though... maybe add good ol' Dutch to the pack with R7T1 and a Ion turret. It leaves 8 pts for EPT, Mod or torpedoes.

Plus R4-D6 will be in direct competition with the generic R2 on E-wings. We wil not know the full worth of that until the dial is revealed, but we already know it will make the E-wing's 1-banks green.

Seems like a great Astromech for Luke. Think so? I agree on the Y-wings, but both ships need more greens to clear out a bunch of stress, especially if they're being flanked.

I think Luke really wants the droid that lets him restore shields with a focus token.

Agreed. Let's him take a Focus. not spend it, and get something out of it. Though I TL with Luke more than anything else.

One thing to note about the stress: the droid comes in the box with a ship that can clear all stress tokens from a nearby ship. It's not such a big deal to accumulate multiple stress tokens stopping damage if you're able to clear it all next turn and replace it with a focus token.

dont forget about outmaneuver's existance now

I think R4-D6 is meant for epic play. It will be good against the primary guns of the huge ships. 5 attack dice. And we don't know what the imperial huge ship will have....might even be 6 attack dice.