So, in an attempt to improve Keyans ability to live, I'm now down to trying to figure out whether a Focus from Kyle or C3p0's evade is better. 4 Points for defense? Crazy, I hear you say, but I'm pretty interested in the math behind the choice. The build I have in mind for keyan comes in at a whopping 45 points. Some argue that the more expensive a ship, the more valuable C3p0 is.

Right now the build is: Stay On Target, HLC, Adv Sensors, B-e2 with Kyle or C3p0.

The rest of the support is pretty lightweight. A naked B and a Jan Ors Blaster Hawk package.

Ideally, I would want to have a spare focus with C-3p0 so that "guess 0" turns into 2 evade results if I roll a focus. That said, I am finding in my test rolls that it only takes an average of two additional 3-attack shots to take down Keyan with 3p0, and the double evade opportunity (testing with focus available at all times) only made a difference during a very minimal number of attacks (oddly, this is as opposed to just having a focus available which increases the chances of an evade result tremendously). Having 3p0 at range 3 is almost like not having 3p0 at all. Even if guessing 0 is still ensuring at least one evade, one evade pops up frequently enough that guessing 1 is perfectly valid to get 2 evade results.

So, Kyle is similarly useful as you can Advanced Sensors TL, Stay on Target, stress, shoot, de-stress, gain defensive focus.

In fact, with Kyle, it almost makes me want Jan Ors as a crew in a nearby ship so that I can focus/evade. But now that's 6 points for an evade and a focus, and those points are split across ships that are now somewhat leashed together and Keyan is still capping out at 2 total evade results if things roll well.

I could always just Lando with Jan Ors near by every turn. That caps out on a rare 3 evades if I roll an evade with two tokens. I could also PTL TL/Lando every turn like a crazy person.

Anyway, what do you think? What are some options for keeping that huge point-sink that is Keyan Farlander alive?

Keyan's in a B-wing so he's going to die quick whatever you do - so keep points to a minimum.

Adv sensors and PTL / SoT is pretty much the max you want on him

I could always just Lando with Jan Ors near by every turn. That caps out on a rare 3 evades if I roll an evade with two tokens. I could also PTL TL/Lando every turn like a crazy person.

Anyway, what do you think? What are some options for keeping that huge point-sink that is Keyan Farlander alive?

I have had a lot of success with Lando riding with Farlander.

36 points I all I would allow myself to put on that one ship.

I could also PTL TL/Lando every turn like a crazy person.

You can Lando, PTL, TL - but you can't TL PTL Lando

PTL only works with actions in your action bar

Advanded Sensors, Stay on target, Bwing/E2 and Intel Agent.

36 points. With the intel agent you can block or even hunt higher ps ships.

Against lower PS ships in closed combat is a BEAST, almost every turn firing with TL + tension, or at least tension.

I'd go with C3p0. He will help you more than the focus will on defense.

I'm with those who say he's too expensive. Clocking in at 34 with just Stay on Target and Advanced Sensors means he needs to knock out three TIEs by himself or Soontir Fel (easy and intense, respectively), just as cost-perspective. With the HLC, he needs to mop up close to half a list without help to buy his points back. Frankly he's too fragile to be worth aiding his green dice; just stick to flanking and arc-dodging, and he'll pay his way. Jan is a nice squad mate for him though, really make his hits punch through. What's on Jan?

Katarn is a poor maximal choice for Keyan. That defensive focus is not going to make a big enough impact to justify the points cost. C3PO is the better defensive option, but with Keyan, he's a hammer, not a shield. Emphasize his attack over his defense.

neither

Intelligence Agent

but if you're boring, C-3po is basically the most efficient defensive upgrade by a mile to an incredibly silly degree, though he is more efficient on the YT-1300 because it takes more shots to down --> triggers more c3pos over the course of the game

I've played with Keyan a lot; the man has to arc dodge to stay alive - which is okay, because you should be capable of it between SoT and barrel roll.

Trying to kit out that single green die he has is a fool's errand (believe you me, I was quite the fool in that arena for quite a while. I think I had the most success with PtL + Lando, but it never bought Keyan more than an extra shield point at best).

Accept he'll no matter what instead make him hit as hard as possible as fast as possible, stick a sensor and an EPT on there and call it job done.

Keyan will actually last ages with an IA provided you're duking it out at close range

the man can get blocked with so little concern that it is actually a good idea to intentionally ram him into dangerous ships just so they can't shoot him

he's most at home in a hairball, and he's least at home at range 3 especially against cannons (essentially the typical B-wing, only exaggerated due to cost and capability)

He's amazing fun with SoT, Sensors, and B/e + IA. The problem is finding squaddies (2 blues w/fcs and 1 refit proto-type fit the bill, and they're right pains in the ass when you know where the opponent is going and how to roll/boost to block )

I've killed b-wings in one turn more usually two but if it's a priority it dies fast.

I vote neither. Throw Jan Ors (crew) into the list, preferably on another ship. And/or Biggs, if you really want to make sure Keyan stays alive. But I have to agree, the fewer points, the better. Eight HP and one agility is really fragile for 30+ points.

I vote neither. Throw Jan Ors (crew) into the list, preferably on another ship. And/or Biggs, if you really want to make sure Keyan stays alive. But I have to agree, the fewer points, the better. Eight HP and one agility is really fragile for 30+ points.

What he said, throw Jan Ors Crew on Keyan, keep Biggs at R1 let Biggs take the evade action till he dies then Keyan can take the evades

An option to consider: more offense as a defense? If your opponent focuses on Keyan your BSPs can block, but more often you'd just count on the BSPs to focus fire and take opponent ships down quickly.

4B

100 points

PILOTS

Keyan Farlander (34)
B-Wing (29), Advanced Sensors (3), Stay on Target (2)

Blue Squadron Pilot (22) x 3

I like Farlando myself. It's hilarious when you roll two evades, because then your opponent typically doesn't even bother to shoot him.

B-wings are great up to the 30 point bracket then performance drops sharply as you head towards 40.

Farlander does not need much to be lethal on the board, bloat him and he`ll be the anchor that drags you down.

Stay on target is great with him....and advanced sensors....that's all I'd give him....unless you want a HEAVYLAZERCANNON. BUT he's better up close and personal. Like Sylvester Stallone In Rambo.