i've actually never understood why DTF was supposed to be good. i dont like the idea of hurting ships that werent even involved in the attack. does it combo well with R2-D2?

Short answer: Yes.

DTF is cheap. You can put it on a ship the eats crits (regenerating shields or Chewbacca).

With Biggs you can willfully spread the damage you take to buffer it.

The common one is Luke with DTF and R2D2 with Biggs. Biggs takes most of the hits, but Luke can choose to eat some crits with DTF because he has regenerating shields and prevents Biggs from taking too much damage while negating a face up. Luke is still HIGHLY survivable even after Biggs dies between his ability and R2D2 regens.

alright, how about

etahn, predator

biggs, r2-f2

luke, marksmanship r2-d2

98 points, but i'm not sold on luke. if i had a b-wing it would for sure get used. i just dont

As mentioned Marksmanship is not all that good especially here. DtF is the recommendation and that opens up two more points to use.

i've actually never understood why DTF was supposed to be good. i dont like the idea of hurting ships that werent even involved in the attack. does it combo well with R2-D2?

You've seen the answers. DtF is best when it can draw a [crit] result, especially if it would actually hit and deal a face-up card, to a ship and have it harmlessly remove a Shield token instead. When you have a way to restore that shield token nothing is lost in the exchange.

Looking at Biggs and the astromechs to consider

NONE. No need to put too many points into Biggs when he is destined to die.

R4D6 looks like it could be useful and is just a point. Only issue here is how often would you take 3+ uncancelled [hit] results. Note those are [hit] results which means [crit] results don't count. This may help ensure Biggs gets hit at least twice and probably three times before going down but it's still a point.

R5: Not really a great choice as so many ship cards already can flip and they're still damage.

R7: Interesting choice if you choose to TL but better on Tarn.

R5D8: Discarding damage cards is good but this is uncertain and takes an action along with costing 3.

R2F2: The classic as an Action gets to boost Bigg's defense for the entire turn. The statisticians will show just having Focus is often about as good so you want something to help Biggs get Focus tokens and/or other actions.

R5P9: Spend Focus at EoT to get back shield. I'd almost say this is the 3 point astromech to have. Biggs takes Focus and when attacked can either spend Focus to save damage then or spend it at EoT to get shield back.

I'm thinking no astromech is best although if you're going to spend 3 points you have options. I'd definitely say that R5P9 is preferable to R2D2 as it costs less but can also be used when you're taking something other that green maneuvers. I guess I didn't mention it but the Astromech that would let Biggs take a Pilot skill could be as useful as any of the others depending on which EPT you take.

[deleted double posted while editing]

The other astros that might be worth while on Biggs to increase his survival rating would be R2F2+EI (6), R5D8+EI (6) , R2F2 (3) , R5D8 (3), R5P9 (3), R2D6+StayOnTarget , R2D6+Determination (2), R5 (1).

Although as mentioned before Biggs' survival rating is around 0% so the points spent on him are usually better spent elsewhere.

The best way to keep him alive is for Biggs wingmen to have DTF+R2D2 and/or DTF+R5P9.

Anything added to Biggs is usually a waste. However I love sensor jammer on Etahn.

Biggs naked 25

Etahn R2D2 sensor jammer and predator 43

Wedge Predator 32

100 Points

Just another alternate version of tree amigos but very fun. Biggs is really there to keep Etahn alive, and once he's gone Etahn is a solid attacking piece because of his ability. Keeping him alive with sensor jammer and R2D2 is crazy easy and powerful. Wedge is old faithful and quite powerful when other guys keep people from going right after him. Propper flying makes it a fun list that can do damage.

Just because he is going to die first doesn't mean he has to die fast. Making him a pain to remove from the board gets the best out of his ability. I would argue that letting him die as quick as possible actually defeats the purpose of his inclusion.

At the same time, we know that he is going to die at some stage, thus we also know that any points spent on him are going to be lost sooner or later. Any upgrade needs to really increase his durability to be worth the cost, and most (if not all) of them don't.