So I have yet to play with Biv or against him, and I've seen several references to his not being able to use surges with close and personal. I see nothing that states this.

Close and personal -> 2 strain: perform a melee attack with red and yellow dice, then perform an attack on the same figure with a ranged weapon.

I assume people are referring to the campaign version of Biv and simply noting that there is no weapon associated with the melee attack, but he would still be using a weapon for the ranged attack and then be able to use surges for that attack.

Skirmish Biv should be able to use his surge abilities with both attacks.

Am I missing something?

He can use them just fine, it's just people not completely reading the rules reference additions in Twin Shadows.

What it says is that if a figure uses an attack pool unrelated to his weapons, then the figure cannot use the surges on the weapons.

The Surges ain't good and he doesn't have enough of them ...

The Surges ain't good and he doesn't have enough of them ...

Which surges are you referring to. The skirmish surges? Because he can use them on both attacks, giving him a possible +2 damage each which is pretty decent on TWO different attacks. He's one of the only characters capable of multiple attacks per turn, and he costs a WHOLE lot less than Vader and Imp. Guard Champ. If both attacks had the possibility to stun/bleed/weaken/pierce/cleave he would be way OP.

Campaign surges are related to the weapon, so it obviously depends on which weapon, but would be no worse than any other hero, no?

From Twin Shadows rulebook:

Some abilities allow a figure to perform an attack with a different attack type and attack pool than their normal attack.

- When a hero performs an attack using an attack pool unrelated to his weapons (such as the melee attack from “Close and Personal” on Biv Bodhrik’s Hero Sheet), he cannot use any abilities from his weapons during that attack.

- When a figure corresponding to a Deployment card performs an attack using an alternate attack pool (such as the melee attack from “Close and Personal” on Biv Bodhrik’s Deployment card), they may still trigger their surge abilities, unless the ability triggering the attack states otherwise.

...but would be no worse than any other hero, no?

He would be better than the rest of the current heroes since he could perform 3 attacks per activation. Jyn is the only other hero that can attack 3 times with her default abilities, and hers is contingent on her having a pistol and being in range of an activating imperial.

does this also apply to diala's dancing weapon ability?

does this also apply to diala's dancing weapon ability?

No, the card says you use the melee weapon.

does this also apply to diala's dancing weapon ability?

No, the card says you use the melee weapon.

and thus the surges present also count. attachments abilities are also viable I presume.

does this also apply to diala's dancing weapon ability?

No, the card says you use the melee weapon.

and thus the surges present also count. attachments abilities are also viable I presume.

All of the above, and any buffs provided by other hero's abilities (Called Shot, for instance), device tokens, rerolls, and soon recon tokens.

You'll hear me complain several times about Biv's lack of surge options several times in this video:

Close & Personal is pretty lackluster at first. You do have a good chance at recovering surge but otherwise mediocre (only 24% chance at 3 dmg). But once you have crushing blow and Vibro-bayonet (should be your first 5 xp spent imo), it is one of the strongest single target attacks in game.

crushing blow and Vibro-bayonet (should be your first 5 xp spent imo),

Agree with this. If you have Biv, these abilities slingshot you into scary monster material.

crushing blow and Vibro-bayonet (should be your first 5 xp spent imo),

Agree with this. If you have Biv, these abilities slingshot you into scary monster material.

It’s unfortunate because although these class cards are great , Biv is very disappointing without them. Which makes him a one-path hero. Blah

I still don't think Vibrobayonet is as great as people hype it up to be. Don't forget it also limits what weapons you can use as you need an attachment slot just to use it. Even worse if you wanted to use another attachment as well.

I'm looking at the EE-3 with Biv, with the Vibrobayonette. The EE-3 has an innate +2 accuracy, and surge for +2 damage or pierce 1. It can support a second attachment, so I'm not sure where to go from there. Was thinking about the Disruption Cell for another +2 accuracy and swapping out a green die for a red (green-green-red when focused), though that doesn't add much in the way of extra surge abilities. Any thoughts?

So along this same line of thinking regarding the twin shadows rules... That would mean Luke Skywalker could not use his surges with a saber strike special action, because his normal.attack is a blaster?

So along this same line of thinking regarding the twin shadows rules... That would mean Luke Skywalker could not use his surges with a saber strike special action, because his normal.attack is a blaster?

No, Biv doesn't have surges on C&P because his surges are based on his weapon; Luke's are not.

I'm looking at the EE-3 with Biv, with the Vibrobayonette. The EE-3 has an innate +2 accuracy, and surge for +2 damage or pierce 1. It can support a second attachment, so I'm not sure where to go from there. Was thinking about the Disruption Cell for another +2 accuracy and swapping out a green die for a red (green-green-red when focused), though that doesn't add much in the way of extra surge abilities. Any thoughts?

You really don't need any extra surge abilities with the EE-3. The most surges you'll roll naturally will be 2 (3 if focused). I think if I was picking a second attachment (along with the vibrobayonet), I think I'd take either the plasma cell or tactical display. The constant pierce 1 on the plasma cell is great against most Imperial figures, almost as good as constant +1 damage. The tactical display helps even out your surges, which is good for when you really want that +2 damage surge but you either rolled none or what you did roll was canceled; the worst-case scenario is you use tactical display to give you a surge for healing strain.