So my goal with the following build is to be competitive against the current meta ( fat hans, Deci, phantoms, predator) without jumping on the meta bandwagon. forgive me for the length and indecision that follows but i could definitely use some help:

In each list I want to try to use luke+ either R2D2 or R5P9+ LW+ shield upgrade as my finisher with a HWK as support then two other ships. Luke gets rerolls on attack and defense to try and use the force for an evade. That's the crux of my build but it varies from there

#1=100

Luke+R2D2+LW+shield

Jan+Blaster+Recon+Eu

2Xtala

thsi list gives good firepower and has no low pilot skills to be eaten up by predator. They have to decide to go for luke or jan. luke should be able to mitigate damage and jan should be able to boost away from some arcs and choose luke or a tala to give the ability to.

#2=99

Luke +R5P9+LW+shield

Kyle+VI+Blaster+recon+title+EU

2Xtala

Similar to first list but Kyle's ability frees up some manuvers for Luke to regen shields instead of using greens for R2, but loses some punch without Jan

#3=100

Luke+R5P9+LW+shield

Roark+recon+Blaster

BS+FCS

tala

This list varies from the other two a bit in that there is a variation in ships which leads to more dogfighting and less formation flying. Roark can choose an opportune time to give his ability, hopefully against a named phantom.

#4=100

Luke +R5P9+LW+shield

Roark+Blaster+recon

Lt. Blount + assault+Swarmtactics

bandit

In this list the bandit should never be prone to predator due to swarm tactics. roark can possibly make two pilots a 12. With the Lt., this list should do well against phantom + small swarm.

#5=100

Luke+ R5P9+LW+shield

Roark+blaster+recon+hull

green+chad+swarm

Prototype+chad

Again, the prtotype should never be eaten by predator due to swarm tactics. I gain a green die and manuverability over the z-95's

That's it! thanks for reading this far. Would appreciate alterations or suggestions

Some decent lists there. I will say that I'm not a huge fan of R2D2 on Luke these days, I feel like R5P9 does a better job. Even though he takes your action, it opens up your full dial to run away and regen, where as R2D2 requires you to stay in the fight with only 1 speed banks and 1/2 straight healing Luke.

More specifically, #1 will have a hard time against fat hans and phantoms, as both can easily dodge Luke and to a lesser extent Jan. #2 will have the same problem, but when you do catch them in your sights, it will hurt less. I like #3 better as a Blue w/ FCS is a pretty deadly weapon, even if it's susceptible to predator. They should be targeting Luke first so he can be taken out prior to end game, so the predator venerability isn't that big of a risk.

While I like Roark, I'm not a big fan of list #4. Mainly because it just doesn't have any punch. Blount has no way of getting a TL+F, so the assault missiles are a gamble on the opening turn as there's no real way to ensure that you can get a TL. And then the second turn they can just zoom into R1. Plus, assault missiles aren't useful against the squads you listed as they don't have high ship counts.

I would like the 5th list better if it didn't have ST on the Green. I realize your logic is to Roark -> Green -> Proto and have 2 A wings shoot at 12, and if any one of them dies, it still works because you can Roark -> Proto or Roark -> Green, or Green -> Proto, which is the least useful, but at least it keeps the Proto safe from Predator. However, I find A wings are best used when they operate individually, so tying the two together via R1 ST seems like a bad idea to me. I do like the general list, but without natural high PS or a way to move around, I fear you will struggle against lots of meta out there. Given, I say that, but I did well at Gencon when my highest PS was 4 (plus Roark), so it can be done.

Ya I'm leaning towards 3 as it gives me options in maneuvers. If the blue is targeted by predator I'll pass him Roark

Option 3 looks fun to me.

Option 1 I don't like because if you boost with Jan, you're not going to be able to shoot worth anything.

I think the other thing I like about Option 3 is that you've got the three 3 red dice attacks.

i guess i could also go with

luke+r5p9+LW+shield

bsp+fcs

3Xtala

five rebs is always nice

# 1, Drop Engine upgrade for Moldy Crow title, Kyle crew, or even predator. Jan won't be able to Focus and boost in the same turn. So if she does arc-dodge, she likely won't be shooting. Or find a point by dropping to 1 bandit and grab the ICT. Not a horrible list though. Luke will be hard as sh** to kill, however, Lone Wolf will be hard to maintain if your plan is to buff Luke's attack. If you plan to just buff a Z-95, then you will be fine.

# 2, Could be fun. Kyle should have enough Focus built up to allow a boost every now and again. R2-D2 is a little more guaranteed shield recovery. Lone Wolf suffers here on Luke. He'll need to be at range 3 but not in range 2 to use it. It becomes very hard to maintain.

# 3 Roark is the man. But throw an ICT on him!

# 4, Same as above. I don't think anyone would run a Phantom close to a swarm when an Assault missile is accross the table. If you have a swarm heavy meta in your area, then this won't be bad.

# 5, I'd drop the HU on Roark or SU on Luke to try and give the Green Sqd. PTL. It makes them a little more useful.

Valid points...the reason i didnt go with ICT is because of the meta with large ships. Takes too long to get one frozen

Valid points...the reason i didnt go with ICT is because of the meta with large ships. Takes too long to get one frozen

I find often tagging it with a single ion and then letting it fly around for awhile is a great tactic. It really makes the big ship think about where he's pointed and where a 1 straight will land him. Ion Cannons are also great against PTL and other stressing mechanics as they can't clear them.

hmmm

I could always switch out roark: and build a gold with R3A2 and ICT, luke +LW+R5P9+shield+tala+BSP+FCS

would be losing the 12 pilot skill so somewhat suceptible to phantoms but would gain the ability to dish out a stress

OR would i be better served if went with this instead of luke

corran+PTL+ADVS+R2D2+hull

2Xtala

Roark+BT+recon=100 Or Gold+ICT+R3A2=99

A little les firepower but Corran would be crazy hard to kill