So, looking through some of the newer cards with Rebel Aces and Wave 5 about to drop, I came up with the following:

Airen Cracken (19)

- Cluster Missiles (4)

- Veteran Instincts (1)

Kyle Katarn (21)

- Ion Cannon Turret (5)

- Recon Specialist (3)

- Moldy Crow (3)

- Veteran Instincts (1)

Jake Farrell (24)

- A-Wing Test Pilot (0)

- Chardaan Refit (-2)

- Hull Upgrade (3)

- Push The Limit (3)

- Predator (3)

Bandit Squadron Pilot (12)

Total Points - 100

http://xwing-builder.co.uk/view/116553/hocus-focus

The idea is that Cracken goes first. If he attacks with the missile, he hands off 2 actions. One would be a focus to Jake, who then Boosts or Barrel Rolls. On the 2nd attack, he does it again, and now has 2 focii.

Kyle has some control with the Ion, and hands a focus to Jake, who again chooses to barrel roll or Boost - 3 focii total at this point

Jake Target locks and focuses for yet another free boost or barrel roll.. 4 focii total.

The Bandit is there to mop up or block..

Every round after the missile if off the chain, would only net 3 focii for Jake, but this is easily enough to help him attack, and use for multiple evade attempts.

Anything you would suggest to change things up??

Well you can't do the same action twice, so giving Jake more than 2 activations of his ability a turn is less efficient.

To make it clear, Kyle can pass Jake a focus giving him a boost or barrel roll. Jake can get a free action from Arien to focus and get the other action (boost or roll whichever he did not already do) and I suppose Jake's native action would have been Target lock?

Well you can't do the same action twice, so giving Jake more than 2 activations of his ability a turn is less efficient.

But he himself is only using one of HIS actions to Focus. The barrel rolls/boosts from Cracken and Kyle are free actions. The Focus action from Cracken is a free action, and he would have a focus passed to him from Kyle, granting him another boost/barrel roll. By the time he rolls around, he could potentially have boosted or rolled 4 times in one round..

So, looking through some of the newer cards with Rebel Aces and Wave 5 about to drop, I came up with the following:

Airen Cracken (19)

- Cluster Missiles (4)

- Veteran Instincts (1)

Kyle Katarn (21)

- Ion Cannon Turret (5)

- Recon Specialist (3)

- Moldy Crow (3)

- Veteran Instincts (1)

Jake Farrell (24)

- A-Wing Test Pilot (0)

- Chardaan Refit (-2)

- Hull Upgrade (3)

- Push The Limit (3)

- Predator (3)

Bandit Squadron Pilot (12)

Total Points - 100

http://xwing-builder.co.uk/view/116553/hocus-focus

The idea is that Cracken goes first. If he attacks with the missile, he hands off 2 actions. One would be a focus to Jake, who then Boosts or Barrel Rolls. On the 2nd attack, he does it again, and now has 2 focii.

Kyle has some control with the Ion, and hands a focus to Jake, who again chooses to barrel roll or Boost - 3 focii total at this point

Jake Target locks and focuses for yet another free boost or barrel roll.. 4 focii total.

The Bandit is there to mop up or block..

Every round after the missile if off the chain, would only net 3 focii for Jake, but this is easily enough to help him attack, and use for multiple evade attempts.

Anything you would suggest to change things up??

Well you can't do the same action twice, so giving Jake more than 2 activations of his ability a turn is less efficient.

Yup, you can only boost or barrel roll once per turn, so with the third focus token, he cannot activate his ability again. Also, you will have a difficult time keeping Jake within range of Cracken, unless you are not using Jake to his full potential. A third point, you are sorely lacking firepower. Drop Cracken and the Bandit and trade them out for an ace.

Well you can't do the same action twice, so giving Jake more than 2 activations of his ability a turn is less efficient.

But he himself is only using one of HIS actions to Focus. The barrel rolls/boosts from Cracken and Kyle are free actions. The Focus action from Cracken is a free action, and he would have a focus passed to him from Kyle, granting him another boost/barrel roll. By the time he rolls around, he could potentially have boosted or rolled 4 times in one round..

Wrong. Even if it is a free action, you cannot perform the same action multiple times. Different than receiving multiple tokens.

Well you can't do the same action twice, so giving Jake more than 2 activations of his ability a turn is less efficient.

But he himself is only using one of HIS actions to Focus. The barrel rolls/boosts from Cracken and Kyle are free actions. The Focus action from Cracken is a free action, and he would have a focus passed to him from Kyle, granting him another boost/barrel roll. By the time he rolls around, he could potentially have boosted or rolled 4 times in one round..

Even free actions are under this limitation. There is currently no way for a ship to perform the same action, no matter how they do it, more than once a turn. They can receive tokens (focus/evade/TL) multiple times but can't perform the actions more than once per turn.

So, Jake could then TL, and evade for his actions, receive a focus from Kyle, use it to boost, then receive a focus from Cracken, use it to Barrel roll, and then Cracken passes off a free action to Kyle, who then focuses and has one in the tank so to speak..

Sound better?

So, Jake could then TL, and evade for his actions, receive a focus from Kyle, use it to boost, then receive a focus from Cracken, use it to Barrel roll, and then Cracken passes off a free action to Kyle, who then focuses and has one in the tank so to speak..

Sound better?

New problem, you also can't perform free actions while stressed. The Jake's ability is much more limited than it may seem. The most efficient way to do it is he alone focuses, then barrel rolls, then Pushes the Limit to boost, exclusively in that order. He does not have barrel roll in his action bar, therefore cannot use that as his second action from PtL. If you want to shake it up, you can focus to boost, receive a focus to barrel roll, and then Push to Target Lock or evade.

So, Jake could then TL, and evade for his actions, receive a focus from Kyle, use it to boost, then receive a focus from Cracken, use it to Barrel roll, and then Cracken passes off a free action to Kyle, who then focuses and has one in the tank so to speak..

Sound better?

Legal, although he's not "receiving" a focus from Cracken; he's getting a free action, which he's using to focus. Also, Kyle would have had to have focus tokens before the round, since, like Jake, he is prohibited from using the same action twice in one round. ie. he cannot focus after his maneuver, then focus again when Cracken passes another action.

edit: Woops, NOT legal. Engine25 is correct, once Jake PTLs he can't perform any more actions. If you can cram Wingman in there on somebody it could negate that problem.

I played a version of this list with Garven instead of Cracken, because he actually does *pass* the focus, much like Kyle does, instead of just allowing a free action.

Also, Jake is so slippery that the range 1 limitation of Cracken and/or Wingman can become a problem. Garven is range 1-2 and Kyle is 1-3, so they're easier to stick to Jake.

So, Jake could then TL, and evade for his actions, receive a focus from Kyle, use it to boost, then receive a focus from Cracken, use it to Barrel roll, and then Cracken passes off a free action to Kyle, who then focuses and has one in the tank so to speak..

Sound better?

New problem, you also can't perform free actions while stressed. The Jake's ability is much more limited than it may seem. The most efficient way to do it is he alone focuses, then barrel rolls, then Pushes the Limit to boost, exclusively in that order. He does not have barrel roll in his action bar, therefore cannot use that as his second action from PtL. If you want to shake it up, you can focus to boost, receive a focus to barrel roll, and then Push to Target Lock or evade.

You're killing me here!

Ok, so ONCE per round as per PTL, I can perform a second action.

So, Jake moves and has his action first. He Target Locks.

Kyle move next, and passes a focus, Jake Barrel rolls.

Cracken attacks, passes a free action (focus), and Jake Boosts.

Now, Jake triggers his PTL ability and Evades..

So, Jake could then TL, and evade for his actions, receive a focus from Kyle, use it to boost, then receive a focus from Cracken, use it to Barrel roll, and then Cracken passes off a free action to Kyle, who then focuses and has one in the tank so to speak..

Sound better?

New problem, you also can't perform free actions while stressed. The Jake's ability is much more limited than it may seem. The most efficient way to do it is he alone focuses, then barrel rolls, then Pushes the Limit to boost, exclusively in that order. He does not have barrel roll in his action bar, therefore cannot use that as his second action from PtL. If you want to shake it up, you can focus to boost, receive a focus to barrel roll, and then Push to Target Lock or evade.

You're killing me here!

Ok, so ONCE per round as per PTL, I can perform a second action.

So, Jake moves and has his action first. He Target Locks.

Kyle move next, and passes a focus, Jake Barrel rolls.

Cracken attacks, passes a free action (focus), and Jake Boosts.

Now, Jake triggers his PTL ability and Evades..

This way totally works.

So, Jake could then TL, and evade for his actions, receive a focus from Kyle, use it to boost, then receive a focus from Cracken, use it to Barrel roll, and then Cracken passes off a free action to Kyle, who then focuses and has one in the tank so to speak..

Sound better?

New problem, you also can't perform free actions while stressed. The Jake's ability is much more limited than it may seem. The most efficient way to do it is he alone focuses, then barrel rolls, then Pushes the Limit to boost, exclusively in that order. He does not have barrel roll in his action bar, therefore cannot use that as his second action from PtL. If you want to shake it up, you can focus to boost, receive a focus to barrel roll, and then Push to Target Lock or evade.

You're killing me here!

Ok, so ONCE per round as per PTL, I can perform a second action.

So, Jake moves and has his action first. He Target Locks.

Kyle move next, and passes a focus, Jake Barrel rolls.

Cracken attacks, passes a free action (focus), and Jake Boosts.

Now, Jake triggers his PTL ability and Evades..

This way totally works.

But it sucks!! I want to barrel roll from one side of the map to the other!! j/k

Though, could you imagine being able to potentially barrel roll 3 times?? Especially if you barrel rolled backwards each time? Crazy.

I think the wording for free actions seems somewhat ambiguous. I had always been under the assumption (obviously wrong), that a free action fell outside of your regular actions.. I recall something about the stress as mentioned above, but, as long as the action wasn't one of your primary actions, you were ok..

Again, obviously wrong. Oh well, it would still be a fun list to play. If I had enough to throw Garven in the mix, it would be fun as well. I'll have to sit back and tweak it a bit more..

I recommend more firepower. You have three two attack ships and a Hawk. The three other ships will be wiped before they can do much damage, and Jake will have to fend for himself with arc dodging shenanigans.

I think this is getting covered but there are lots of problems:

1. A ship can only take a given action ONCE per turn. Cracken may give "free" actions but they are still actions.

2. Firepower is severely lacking. No one ever gets to roll more than 3 dice on an attack but you only have four guys who can attack.

3. Keeping Jake in range may be challenging.

4. Stressed ships can't take ANY actions.

Now maybe something like this will be close to what you are going for:

Jake + Refit + Predator + Outmaneuver + Hull

Kyle + Blaster + Recon + Crow

Garven

Bandit

You get a bit more firepower and still would have two ways to pass Focus token to Jake. Giving the A-Wing Outmaneuver could help its damage potential out as the extra boost/roll could help it stay out of arcs yet still attack.

I think this is getting covered but there are lots of problems:

1. A ship can only take a given action ONCE per turn. Cracken may give "free" actions but they are still actions.

2. Firepower is severely lacking. No one ever gets to roll more than 3 dice on an attack but you only have four guys who can attack.

3. Keeping Jake in range may be challenging.

4. Stressed ships can't take ANY actions.

Now maybe something like this will be close to what you are going for:

Jake + Refit + Predator + Outmaneuver + Hull

Kyle + Blaster + Recon + Crow

Garven

Bandit

You get a bit more firepower and still would have two ways to pass Focus token to Jake. Giving the A-Wing Outmaneuver could help its damage potential out as the extra boost/roll could help it stay out of arcs yet still attack.

I see what you're going for but the blaster uses a focus, and negates Kyles battery potential. I was thinking about changing the list for Jake as well to add Predator and Outmaneuver. . I'll do some switching when I get home. . Hopefully I can get something to work. .

I'll tell you that while the Blaster Turret does take a Focus to use Kyle still has a lot of battery potential. Let's remember that Recon will let him get twice as many and the Crow will store them and if you can get Garven to pass Kyle any that Jake or the Bandit don't need that would be more in the bank. Also remember that having too many Focus token "in the bank" just increases the risk that Kyle will get shot down first and if you are using him to soup up Jake there is a better possibility of that to begin with.

This is why I put Predator and Outmaneuver on Jake, and skip PTL.