So, how would you make Biggs more balanced from overly-defensive (as he will die anyway) to at least some offense so he can take someone with him?

I wouldn't.

For XXX I'd look at what Osoroshii says about Wes, Wedge & Luke. I'm the thread about Wes he goes into it pretty well.

If you really want Wes, Wedge & Biggs I'd still take Osoroshii's logic. Maybe something like:

Wes + VI

Wedge + R2 & Opportunist

Biggs + R2-D6 & Opportunist

This leaves 6 points for upgrades. Perhaps a proton torpedo to make Opportunist hit that much harder on the alpha. If the goal is keeping Wes / Wedge alive longer maybe add a hull to each. This spreads out protection ... protection that doesn't even come into play until after Biggs dies.

In Paul Heaver's write-up about his championship squad, he talked about using range and asteroids to keep Biggs alive long enough to shoot twice. Since you are talking about only using three ships, you need to deal as much damage as possible before losing one. Trying to make Biggs into a fortress doesn't do that in my opinion.

Or

Wes + VI

Wedge + R2 & Opportunist & Proton Torpedo

Biggs + R2-D6 & Deadeye & Proton Torpedo

Leaves 1 point.

That gives Biggs a good alpha punch that's flexible based on what damage Wes & Wedge have done.

Or

Wes + VI

Wedge + R2 & Opportunist & Proton Torpedo

Biggs + R2-D6 & Deadeye & Proton Torpedo

Leaves 1 point.

That gives Biggs a good alpha punch that's flexible based on what damage Wes & Wedge have done.

I'm not sure this would work well. Biggs is very likely to need his focus token on defense. If your going the opportunist approach, play aggressively and go all in. Biggs doesn't mesh well with that approach imo.

Wedge, Luke & Wes work because of their high PS allows an early kill...ideally before target fires. Porkins could be subbed in for Luke, but then you lose your best closer (not that Porkins is a bad choice though)

...

As a core, I have modified the list to the following options:

Luke + R2D2 + Draw their fire

Wedge + R2+PtL+EU

Biggs + Stealth Device

OR

Luke+ R2D2

Wedge + R2+PtL+EU

Biggs + R2F2 + Stealth Device

That leaves me 2 points with the first variant. Where would you suggest using those 2 points? alternatively, removing Luke completely gives me 35 points. How would you replace Luke and spend those points? I like the idea behind Wes Janson as mentioned which would give me:

Wes + R2 + Expert Handling

Wedge + R2+PtL+EU

Biggs + R2F2 + Stealth Device

Again, thanks for all the thoughts and advice.

In that first variant I'd lose the Stealth Device and put a Shield or Engine Upgrade on Luke. In those last ones I think you're putting way too many points into Biggs for very little gain with R2F2 and SD.

When Wave 4 hits I rather like the idea of running a couple Z-95s with a couple X-Wings. I'd see the X-Wings as the firepower while the Zs can provide some interesting support. Both named Zs can take Elite Skills; if Cracken is handing out actions like candy he may be as much of a target as Biggs would be. Blount, even without a missile, is murder to Stealth Devices and can take an Elite Pilot skill while staying under 20 points.

Or

Wes + VI

Wedge + R2 & Opportunist & Proton Torpedo

Biggs + R2-D6 & Deadeye & Proton Torpedo

Leaves 1 point.

That gives Biggs a good alpha punch that's flexible based on what damage Wes & Wedge have done.

I'm not sure this would work well. Biggs is very likely to need his focus token on defense. If your going the opportunist approach, play aggressively and go all in. Biggs doesn't mesh well with that approach imo.

Wedge, Luke & Wes work because of their high PS allows an early kill...ideally before target fires. Porkins could be subbed in for Luke, but then you lose your best closer (not that Porkins is a bad choice though)

I agree. I'm just trying to find to use Biggs if someone really wanted to.

alternatively, removing Luke completely gives me 35 points. How would you replace Luke and spend those points?

Here's what I would do with those 35 points. Take Jek Porkins (26) w/PTL (3), R5-D8 (3) and Hull Upgrade (3). Get a stress? Remove it with his special ability. If you don't take a hit then TL and Focus. If you do take a hit, use D8 to try to remove the damage and another action with PTL if desired.

I will be running this load out with:

Wes with Vet Instincts & R2 (31)

Wedge with Opportunist & R2 (34)

Porkins (35)

Total 100

I am about to use this 3X build as a base to playtest against...

Biggs Darklighter 25/25

- R5-P9 3/28

- Shield Upgrade 4/32

Luke Skywalker 28/60

-R2-D2 4/64

- Shield Upgrade 4/68

Wedge Antilles 29/97

- R5-D8 3/100

Are 3X builds a viable option in a tournament setting like Regionals?

Good point... Here is some simple math, run on average expected damage per attack...

Again assuming 3 attack dice + focus

4Dice no focus expected damage 0.95 per = 6 Attacks til Death

3Dice + Focus expected damage 0.64 per = 8 Attacks til Death

3Dice no foucs expected damage 1.22 per = 5 Attacks til Death

So if first attack is defended with focus, then still on average 5 Attacks til Death

So it looks like on average against 3 attack dice, stealth + R2F2 ~= one additional attack in survive-ability.

Worth 3 points... up to whom ever.... Also if you are good you could be forcing range 3 obstructed shots etc.

What about 2 defense with and without focus?

Similarly, with the resurgence of the swarm, what about the same numbers versus 2 attack dice?

Please don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to insist that the droid is the answer. I just want to see and understand all of the numbers for it beyond 1 shot per round. Similarly, 6 points of defensive upgrades for Biggs is something I'd have a hard time swallowing. To me, a 31 point x-wing needs be more offensive. A 3 x-wing squad needs to destroy ships quickly. It generally doesn't have toughness to win a war of attrition. That is why I think offensive upgrade are better for the OP.

My key point is that when comparing the droid to focus it's an incomplete picture to only talk about 1 shot per round, especially on Biggs.

Again assuming 3 attack dice + focus against the following defense setup...

2Dice + Focus expected damage 1.07 per = 5 Attacks til death

2Dice no Focus expected damage 1.53 per = 4 Attacks til death

I am not a math wizard, someone else has done this... to do your own simple math... http://www.xwingdice.com/

Had a whale of a time with 3 X-Wings last night against a PtL Interceptor list (you know who you are). Three games, was battered in the first game, handed out a battering in the second game, third was much closer but eventually a loss. Movement matters.

The list for the first two games was:

Wes, R5-P9, Veteran Instincts

Wedge, R2-F2, PtL

Luke R2-D2

None of the droids did anything in for me either game, really, as I really should have expected. Veteran Instincts was great on Wes, stripped tokens for Wedge to finish. PtL was redundant on Wedge - I'd took it for R2-F2, but the extra dice didn't help at all in the first game and didn't come into play in the second. For the third game I dropped all the droids and PtL, and replaced them with Opportunist and R2 units on both Luke and Wedge (I found K-turns being used a lot, so wanted a way to shed the stress). Unfortunately, Wes bit the fish biscuit early in that game, so Opportunist wasn't all that effective.

The upgrades are six of one, half a dozen of the other really. Movement is key, and movement options are as valuable as gold. I'm determined to find a Triple X list that works for me though, so I'm considering the following for my next outing:

Wes, Veteran Instincts

Wedge, PtL, R2, Engine Upgrade

Luke, Adrenaline Rush, Engine Upgrade

It's actually quite tempting to drop PtL on Wedge and give him Adrenaline Rush as well. A K-turn followed by Boost could be all kinds of fun...

I am about to use this 3X build as a base to playtest against...

Biggs Darklighter 25/25

- R5-P9 3/28

- Shield Upgrade 4/32

Not a good idea. R5-P9 on Biggs is a waste of points. He will always use his focus token on defense and never get the opportunity to regen a shield.

I am about to use this 3X build as a base to playtest against...

Biggs Darklighter 25/25

- R5-P9 3/28

- Shield Upgrade 4/32

Not a good idea. R5-P9 on Biggs is a waste of points. He will always use his focus token on defense and never get the opportunity to regen a shield.

I am about to use this 3X build as a base to playtest against...

Biggs Darklighter 25/25

- R5-P9 3/28

- Shield Upgrade 4/32

Not a good idea. R5-P9 on Biggs is a waste of points. He will always use his focus token on defense and never get the opportunity to regen a shield.

Would you suggest a different astromech or would it be more beneficial to switch up for something more offensive such as the flechette torpedoes? And what are the most effective EPTs to use with Biggs?

Ept on Biggs would require an astromech. R2D6. Found in the transport pack.

I am about to use this 3X build as a base to playtest against...

Biggs Darklighter 25/25

- R5-P9 3/28

- Shield Upgrade 4/32

Not a good idea. R5-P9 on Biggs is a waste of points. He will always use his focus token on defense and never get the opportunity to regen a shield.

Would you suggest a different astromech or would it be more beneficial to switch up for something more offensive such as the flechette torpedoes? And what are the most effective EPTs to use with Biggs?

Ept on Biggs would require an astromech. R2D6. Found in the transport pack.

So, if you give Biggs R2D6, what EPT would you recommend for him?

Maybe elusiveness. But if I had access to the transport x wing pilots, i'd leave Biggs out of it and run Wes with vi, wedge and luke both sporting opportunist.

If I'd run a wedge luke Biggs build then luke needs r2d2 shield and dtf. Now he's very expensive. Biggs is better in a 4 ship list. When he dies and he will somewhat quickly you've lost a third of your attack dice.

Elusiveness just doesn't cut it....not enough return on the investment so to speak...

I'm not sure there is a good EPT for Biggs, but I'm not thinking too hard at the moment.