Why do people include the Z? Is it a blocker? not enough upgrade slots on the 4 B's for the points left?

Why do people include the Z? Is it a blocker? not enough upgrade slots on the 4 B's for the points left?

As a blocker, as an extra 2/3 dice of attack and an extra 4 hit points.

Instead of the Z you could put Advanced Sensors or Fire Control System on all the Bs or add Tacticians to the Bs.

It's to game MoV. For example, if the BBBBZ player kills two Academies but loses one B, he's still winning. Or if the BBBBZ player loses two B's but ends up killing a 48 point Corran Horn. But if each B was 25 points you'd kind of be screwed in a lot of matchups. You also get an extra gun out of it.

There are plenty of points left over for good upgrades with 4 B's, and in an untimed game BBBB with upgrades is better IMO.

how do you beat fat turrets?

dice

how do you get the most dice per points spent?

shoving in a stray z-95

You beat fat turrets with a lot of red dice - and block with the Z - and you beat them fairly easy, if you play it well.