Did some searches on this and couldn't find exactly what I was looking for (read: excuuuuuuuuuuse me if this has already been covered).

Saw the Top 8 list from the Aussie Nationals with 4 Academy TIEs and Oicunn with Gunner, Vader....and Expert Handling?

A couple of questions on this: 1) can a barrel roll be executed such that the barrel rolling ship ends up touching another ship, so long as it "fits" without overlapping and then just gets slid along the edge of the template until its base is touching another ship? 2) Are barrel rolls considered maneuvers? 3) The obvious follow up is, of course, can I barrel roll Oicunn into another ship and trigger his ability?

Otherwise, what am I missing? Is it valuable enough to shed a target lock that we're okay trading it for a stress token? Or is Expert Handling sort of functioning as a poor man's Engine Upgrade, giving us some ability to reposition, but for fewer points?

A couple of questions on this: 1) can a barrel roll be executed such that the barrel rolling ship ends up touching another ship, so long as it "fits" without overlapping and then just gets slid along the edge of the template until its base is touching another ship?

2) Are barrel rolls considered maneuvers?

3) The obvious follow up is, of course, can I barrel roll Oicunn into another ship and trigger his ability?

Otherwise, what am I missing? Is it valuable enough to shed a target lock that we're okay trading it for a stress token? Or is Expert Handling sort of functioning as a poor man's Engine Upgrade, giving us some ability to reposition, but for fewer points?

Also dropping a target lock is more significant now with Advanced Targeting Computer on TIE Advanced ships showing up in the meta, especially so for crit prone decimators

One thing you're missing is that Oicunn with Dauntless and Expert Handling can ram a lower PS ship and then use his barrel-roll to stop touching them so that he can shoot them. Against higher PS ships he can ram them and then roll to a spot that is likely to block them.

With the recent changes to when stress for maneuvers is assigned this has been nerfed a bit since he'll now end up with two stress tokens to get rid of.

A follow-up, loosely related question: if Oicunn is blocked in such a way that he doesn't actually move from the position he was in when his dial was revealed, does he still execute a maneuver for purposes of triggering his ability?

Yes

Barrel rolling (BR) in to physical contact with a another ship doesn’t count as touching or over lapping. In the same manner as two ships that bump the previous turn, facing exactly the same direction and execute the same maneuver will end up in physical contact with each other doesn’t count as touching.

So you can BR in to a nother ship and shot on it and Boost throw it if you flying Turr.

Otherwise, what am I missing? Is it valuable enough to shed a target lock that we're okay trading it for a stress token? Or is Expert Handling sort of functioning as a poor man's Engine Upgrade, giving us some ability to reposition, but for fewer points?

If you want the RAWR IMMA CHARGING MAH ENGINZ

Try this guy with an Engine upgrade, and DAREDEVIL. (Dauntess of Squad leader if you want extra fun) You see, it is actually a Maneuver unlike boost.

Combine with heavily-stealthed Wingmen to have fun.

Note: expensive. Non tournament power level.

Note2: FUN.

Otherwise, what am I missing? Is it valuable enough to shed a target lock that we're okay trading it for a stress token? Or is Expert Handling sort of functioning as a poor man's Engine Upgrade, giving us some ability to reposition, but for fewer points?

If you want the RAWR IMMA CHARGING MAH ENGINZ

Try this guy with an Engine upgrade, and DAREDEVIL. (Dauntess of Squad leader if you want extra fun) You see, it is actually a Maneuver unlike boost.

Combine with heavily-stealthed Wingmen to have fun.

Note: expensive. Non tournament power level.

Note2: FUN.

Have a 120pt tournament this weekend that I've been practicing for and so far I haven't lost with the following:

Otherwise, what am I missing? Is it valuable enough to shed a target lock that we're okay trading it for a stress token? Or is Expert Handling sort of functioning as a poor man's Engine Upgrade, giving us some ability to reposition, but for fewer points?

If you want the RAWR IMMA CHARGING MAH ENGINZ

Try this guy with an Engine upgrade, and DAREDEVIL. (Dauntess of Squad leader if you want extra fun) You see, it is actually a Maneuver unlike boost.

Combine with heavily-stealthed Wingmen to have fun.

Note: expensive. Non tournament power level.

Note2: FUN.

Have a 120pt tournament this weekend that I've been practicing for and so far I haven't lost with the following:

Captain Oicunn (42)

Expert Handling (2)

Anti-Pursuit Lasers (2)

Dauntless (2)

Black Squadron Pilot (14)

Wingman (2)

Black Squadron Pilot (14)

Wingman (2)

Obsidian Squadron Pilot (13)

Obsidian Squadron Pilot (13)

Obsidian Squadron Pilot (13)

Total: 119

Might rework it to stealth out my wingmen, as you suggested, and/or to give it a try with Daredevil and EU for double-bumping shenanigans.

You say it's "non tournament power level" - why is that? What are it's glaring weaknesses?

I say it mostly because Oicunn is predictable and far too easily killed by higher-PS ships with boost.

His damage is awesome against flimsy targets, but you met any Turret (like a standard predator+Engine+Captive Chirneau) or PTL-Dash or IGs and you're toasted.

at 120 points the amount of dice in your face will be astonishing . poor dude might just...melt...

Without Stealth the wingmen melt at a glance as well (3 attacks with focus burst through 3 defences)

And without them you get too much stress to cope with.

it's a real fun list. But it is nearly useless against top-tier lists. Boost action is OP

I say it mostly because Oicunn is predictable and far too easily killed by higher-PS ships with boost.

His damage is awesome against flimsy targets, but you met any Turret (like a standard predator+Engine+Captive Chirneau) or PTL-Dash or IGs and you're toasted.

at 120 points the amount of dice in your face will be astonishing . poor dude might just...melt...

Without Stealth the wingmen melt at a glance as well (3 attacks with focus burst through 3 defences)

And without them you get too much stress to cope with.

it's a real fun list. But it is nearly useless against top-tier lists. Boost action is OP

Ahh, that all makes sense. It also makes it sound like this might be the perfect list for my local meta, which is characterized by most guys taking taking too many upgrades and too few ships! Also not many top-tier lists at all...