How about this for a 100 point friendly game

I’m going to deviate from the norm (for me) and go for a 3 ship rebel build with the emphasis on sustainability and control/survivability.

So…

Xwing: Wedge with R2D2, shield Upgrade 37 points

Xwing: Garven Dreis with R5 27 points

Y wing: Horton Salm with R2 droid (more options to remove my own stress), hull upgrade, flechette torpedoes and ion cannon turret 36 points

Would Dutch be a better choice for the Y wing?

I think the simple problem you could run into is, like with all 3-ship lists, not enough damage output. The Y-Wing with the ion turret is more of a control ship, and won't be dishing out much punishment. That just leaves the two X-Wings, and while they're both great, neither of them have upgrades that specifically boost their damage dealing capabilities (ie. Predator).

hmm good point.

I wonder if i drop Horton to Dutch, can i afford predator... i'll check.

Well my TIe advanced is still in shipping so i couldnt use predator if i wanted to... just going to have to get close..... :

3 ship Rebel lists are usually high risk/high reward builds - they can have the tools to get the job done, but the second you lose a ship your damage output drops dramatically.

Wedge is a great start - High PS helps a great deal as moving last and shooting first helps protect your ships and potentially thin numbers. Personally I'd go Engine upgrade/Predator to help him get in arc/range one and boost his damage output. Do you know what lists you might be facing, or are you planning it as an all-comers list?

Edit: also, not sure about Garven's utility in this list. He passes a focus token when he uses one - but as both Wedge and Horton are higher PS, they will have already attacked, so could really only use the focus for defence. In which case you might be better off giving Wedge R5-P9 instead of R2-D2 - cheaper, and makes your movement less predictable.

Good point on the focus. Hmm, maybe a red squadron pilot

Garvin and Dutch synchonise well dont they, i might rejig it that way.

I have no idea what Rob is bringing over, only that it is imperial.

swapped horton to dutch so that i can activate Garvin first and then pass the focus to Dutch

Don't know f you've already seen it Gadge, but this site is pretty good for list building.

As an aside, I'm starting to really like the look of this 3-ship build:..

Wes Janson, VI

Wedge Antilles, Predator, Engine Upgrade

Keyan Farlander, VI, Advanced Sensors

I've played so many 3 ship builds that ended in failure that I have almost given up....just not enough firepower. The fourth ship also gives you more opportunity to have angles and more chances to have something in range/in arc.

If you are set on 3 ships, I'd either drop the Y-WING. ..or take Vander for the free target locks to maximize the existing firepower you do have. I'd not bother with an Ion turret. What other options were you thinking of?

I've played so many 3 ship builds that ended in failure that I have almost given up....just not enough firepower. The fourth ship also gives you more opportunity to have angles and more chances to have something in range/in arc.

They're absolutely unforgiving lists to field, but really fun to fly if you find a build which works. The second you lose a ship your back will be to the wall, unless you can do enough damage before that inevitably happens...

I think setting up for defense is a recipe for disaster in X-Wing - you simply can't rely on those green dice for protection. Attack is the best form of defense - especially high PS attacks with arc-dodging or other movement shenanigans, and Imperials currently do that better.

Hey what about this Gadge...

Wedge (equip as you like)

Garvin D. (R7 ASTRO & Shield)

Dutch V. (Blaster turret & something)

Garvin & Dutch benefit each other. Dutch gives Vander a free target lock each turn. It can be used defensively with the R7. Garvin uses his focus when firing first and provides Dutch with the focus he needs for the blaster turret. Wedge is your independent flanker. I gave him PTL, Eu, and the Droid that makes all one and two maneuvers green.

Wedge, Garven and Dutch is classic. That being said, the typical problem with a list like this is that Wedge is the obvious hitter and there is no real protection for him. Any opponent worth playing is going to de-Wedge your squad quick like. So, Biggs is the go to for most players, but I prefer to take the "pick your poison" approach. Give your opponent lots of high priority targets, i.e. Wedge with Keyan and Corran. Not a lot of room for upgrades, but it does present a tough choice. Who to kill and who to soak? Your opponent may not survive whatever he chooses. However, if you still really want the Wedge, Garven, Dutch setup, The best version of it is probably:

Dutch w/Ion Turret and R7-T1 - 31

Garven w/Opportunist and R2 - 31

Wedge w/Predator and R2-D2 - 36

- 98 points

The idea is Wedge can fire, stripping tokens (and with a focus is generally good for 3 hits per shot), opening the enemy up for the Garven shot. Dutch then ions your next victim and the x's melt it on the next turn. Fly Garven and Dutch as wingmen (the anvil) and flank with Wedge (the hammer). Also, the 98 points and Wedge's PS9 can normally handle any phantoms that show up.

I do quite like all of the above suggestions (particularly the Wedge/Corran/Keyan combo).

Cheers for all the suggestions guys.

Not replied as for the last five hours we've been playing and chatting

I went for Dutch with an Ion turret, R2 unit and hull upgrade

wedge with r2 D2 and shield upgrade

Garvin with an R5

Won my first game, lost my second but it was close!

Rob my opponent fielded a PS2 bomber with flechette and proton torps

Soontir fell with PTL

echo with ACD

(i can't remember what else he had but echo had a crewmember so dials could be altered and someone had 'outmanouvre'

I think both games were close. Echo got slotted pretty quickly in one and Rob was a good sport when the corner of his bomber clipped the table edge by 2mm, i said 'keep it on, i'm cool with that' but he removed it all the same. I think if he hadnt of done that the result of game one would have been the same as the bomber was pretty mauled by then though