For the sake of simplicity, I'm defining this list as 4 Blue Squadron Novices with R2 Astromechs and Integrated Astromech. Obviously other 1 point astromechs are an option, and might even be better, but the R2 is a pretty solid baseline. There's not really options other than that.

Temporary squad name: "Squad-280"

What you get:

Damage Output:

4x 3-dice attacks

Damage Mitigation:

28 hit points behind that are very nearly immune to crits. Not a bad start. That's going to take work to put down. You get some AGI to give protection against massed low AGI attacks, but you have plenty of hit points to soak damage from HLCs or to just let one through when IG88B or Gunner equipped ships are firing at you.

Mobility:

You can go as short as a 1-straight or as much as a 6-straight with Boost. You have all the banks, the 2- and 3- turns, and a pretty excellent assortment of greens thanks to R2 astromech. Talon Rolls also give you great movement options, and R2 helps enable these as well, because you're clearing stress easier in subsequent turns. No Barrel Roll, but no one is perfect.

Pilot Skill:

This is clearly the weakest aspect of this list. You can't react with your Boost (not that it isn't useful), and you'll be firing last, but you should be able to make some good blocks with your high mobility, and you're tough enough to take some hits. It could be an issue. Sure would be nice to get to PS4, though.

Matchups: I don't see any obvious weaknesses. Squad-280 has lots of blocking options to try and corral Aces, and it's got solid firepower to chew on beefy targets. It can slow play or speed across the board in ways that few squads can. It's got a good defensive profile against both swarms and high quality shots. If you can't block an Arc Dodging Ace early, you might have too much trouble running it down later in the game after losing a couple ships.

So why haven't we really discussed this squad? Is it too boring? Does it have some great weakness that I'm missing? Is it because it's not legal until Wave 8? Is it because there actually was talk but I just missed it all?

I'm not, because I'm a stubborn and stuck in the past with my four T-65s.

I am very excited.

I'm waiting to see Targeting Astromech before making my assessment.

I'm not, because I'm a stubborn and stuck in the past with my four T-65s.

I can respect that.

I'm waiting to see Targeting Astromech before making my assessment.

So you don't think it's worth it with just R2 Astromechs?

Thanks for the write-up!

Personally, I think 4 x T-65 w/ Integrated Astromech for 88 points is the better deal. You get the same firepower and potentially more durability with Integrated if it sheds a Major Explosion or Direct Hit. Not to mention you have 12 points leftover to pump one of those Rookies to something like Wedge with PTL and BB8 (albeit without an init bid).

There's a slight trade-off in maneuverability as you lose the Talon Roll and boost. But as you mentioned, a low-PS boost is limited in effectiveness in the first place and isn't worth 3 points per ship in my opinion.

To me, the T-70's biggest advantage is access to Autothrusters which unfortunately is too expensive to run four.

I'm not, because I'm a stubborn and stuck in the past with my four T-65s.

You got a problem there?

As for T-70s in list I either see Poe + 2 TLT ships or 2 Regenerating T-70 (Poe & Red Leader) and a TLT ship.

So why haven't we really discussed this squad? Is it too boring? Does it have some great weakness that I'm missing? Is it because it's not legal until Wave 8?

I suspect part of it is that the list won't be legal until we see Wave 8, which could still be Q4 next year but more likely arrives Q1 of next year... and part of it is because the board has yet to accept that Integrated Astromech actually represents an attempt at a fix for the X-wing(s).

I'm waiting to see Targeting Astromech before making my assessment.

Yup. It's already okay. It might be great.

I've been flying this a bunch in proxy play and am solidly a fan. However, ultimately I'm not sure it'll be as good as four T-65s with IA and R2 Astromechs, plus a Bandit. That list has the same total hit points, but gives you an extra 2-dice attacker.

EDIT: in a head-to-head matchup, even four Red Squadron Pilots may be better than four Blue Squadron Rookies. You're losing 4 points of shielding, but could potentially focus a Blue off the board before it can shoot.

I'm already playing Poe into the ground. He lets the hate flow through my opponents.

Calling him Poe Goddameron.

Also people didn't buy 4 new cores.

Also people didn't buy 4 new cores.

I'm not even buying a 2nd one.

not excited

the generic T-70 is incredibly uninspiring (well, Red VET has ept; will be money with crackshot if targeting astro is good) and inefficient. I can't see much reason to taking 4 of them over 3 rookies and a PTL+ bb-8 wedge, for example.

I'm waiting to see Targeting Astromech before making my assessment.

So you don't think it's worth it with just R2 Astromechs?

It might be... but I'm not going to try it until the T70 pack is out. And even then, I think I'm more comfortable flying the Astromech Demo Squad with higher pilot skills, R5-P9, R2-D2, and BB-8

I'm excited about 3 souped up t70. One being poe. As long as there are more decent pilots with the single expansion. Otherwise I'll stuck to the xwings with poe.

I was excited about 3 T70s w/Poe

I mean, just look at how cool they are!

but alas, apart from Poe they are made out of spit and prayer

that's including Thrusters, without which they would have been one-round

repeatedly and reliably, in four different games

green dice are truly the most worthless defensive mechanic a game could ever have invented

apart from other named piltos (rather, one named pilot because we already know Red Ace and...yeah), all hopes and dreams really are riding on Targeting Astromech being amazing. Otherwise, these brittle bastards really don't have much to hope for

the vanilla X with IA you'd think would be just as brittle (and it is) but having a whole other ship makes a world of difference when it comes to killing faster than dying. The expense paid for the "durability" gained on the T-70 is pretty laughable, and I hope FFG balances it out with a very convincing offense.

which is really sad, because again they look amazing and they fly like a dream

Poe at least is a carry-mode boss, but I always have the immaculate bb-8 to thank for that. Honestly, that lil astro may do more for the viability of named Xs in either variant than all the potential X-wing fixes combined. The amount of shenanigans (especially being able to force bumps and rob your enemy of shots) will keep your ship alive for longer than it will take for you to start rolling evades.

The other part that's probably deflating this specific combo is the sticker shock. It requires four T-70 expansion packs, along with four Y-Wing expansions for the R2 Astromechs. If you already have a TFA starter, then that's one T-70 that can only see the table in Epic play. Four Rebel Y-Wings is also something that won't see much usage, even with TLTs.

It looks good on paper, and between it's attack dice, durability, dial and boost, it looks like it could be a lot of fun.

Problem is, you're limited to the generics with the 4 ship list. I'd like to think that a mixt of T70s and T65s might work and open up a few more options, but you just get so much more bang for your buck with the new version.

Noooooopoppppppeeee

Poe-lice and Relay R.Ace are very powerful uses of the Regen droids, but they dont leave you much for a third ship

Poe with Kyle Katarn also feels like it has potential.

Has anyone else tried Adreniline Surge on Poe? Once per game he can T-roll or Kturn and still use his ability.

four T-65s with IA and R2 Astromechs, plus a Bandit.

I'm actually really looking forward to BBXXZ, and I don't normally fly generic pilots too much. As as added bonus, only two T-70 packs required!

Poe-lice and Relay R.Ace are very powerful uses of the Regen droids, but they dont leave you much for a third ship

Poe with Kyle Katarn also feels like it has potential.

Has anyone else tried Adreniline Surge on Poe? Once per game he can T-roll or Kturn and still use his ability.

Third ship? Try sixth!

Poekey and the Bandits (5 of 'em)!

I am very excited.

DITTO!

Also people didn't buy 4 new cores.

I'm not even buying a 2nd one.

yup, 3 total core sets is enough.