Building a Fat Ghost seems tempting but this usually leaves you short for points to spend on wingmen. Biggs, stresshog or a Green arrow seem to be popular choices and all offer something different. But it seems to me you can get a lot of the punch of the Ghost by keeping it lean which gives you enough points for a proper Ace to see you through the late game if the Ghost has gone down.

43 Lothal Rebel (35), Ghost (0), Dorsal turret (3), FCS (2), Han Solo (2), Hera (1)

18 Zeb (18) Phantom (0)

38 Poe Dameron (31), Lone Wolf (2), R5-P9 (3), Autothrusters (2)

99 Total

This build is intended to make the most of the Ghost's impressive firepower and double shooting. Han is there to make the most of the TLs from the FCS and Hera is there to ensure you can go where you want without worrying too much about Stress. The idea is to bulldoze the Ghost straight at the enemy and keep shooting as much as possible as often as possible. I will take Evade actions where possible but the setup is designed to attract attention so I have no illusions about Ghost lasting the entire game. Zeb is there mainly to power the second shot and rear arc and so will hang on as long as possible until launching to help with the mop-up. Poe is the late game Ace. With Lone Wolf, the idea is to fly him a bit more cautiously up a flank to harass the enemy. By the time the Ghost goes down, it should have done enough damage that the enemy will not be able to bring enough firepower to bear on Poe to burn through his Regen, especially with Lone Wolf allowing rerolls. Not much point with an initiative bid at this PS level so ideas for spending the last point are welcome. VI or Nien Numb on Zeb perhaps?

Alternatively I could swap Poe for Red Ace with R2-D2, Comms Relay and Autothrusters for the same cost. Even tankier than Poe and I do not need to keep her away from the Ghost but doesn't punch so hard.

I like that Ghost build a lot! I see the synergy; every upgrade has been thought about carefully. FCS and Han keep offense up, even if you're doing red move after red move with Hera.

An alternative build would be to take AC, ABT, and intel agent to use with Hera Crew to try to keep people in that R1 bubble.

I've never found an instance where I use Han Solo for the Focus modifier. I get the synergy, but I'd rather just reroll like normal and use Ezra.

I've liked this:

I do normally run VI on Poe but that is as part of a squad where his job is to target other Aces. I normally run Red Ace alongside as my late-game survivor.

This list is slightly different in that I need to use Poe a little less aggressively (that is what the Ghost is for). Instead I need to get maximum mileage out of him and a reroll on both attack and defense blanks stacks very well with his pilot ability and Autothrusters. With AT and a Focus token, Poe is already guaranteed at least one dodge against every attack. If I can reroll a blank too, that significantly increases the odds of him getting 2 against each attack. Same stats apply for his attacks.

As to Ezra vs Han, Ezra is a bit more powerful but he is also more expensive and only kicks in when you are stressed. Ghost lacks EPTs so you need to pull a Red to use Ezra's ability which in turn means giving up your Action for the turn. IMHO, Ezra works better on a Hera build where you are planning to pull crazy maneuvers. Han is cheaper and can be used regardless of stress.

I've played the following recently:

Kanan (Fire-Control System, Recon Specialist)

Red Ace (R2-D2, Comm Relay, Shield Upgrade)

Prototype Pilot (Chardaan Refit, Autothrusters)

100 points

So a very lean Ghost but still effective, as I find Kanan's ability quite useful. Red Ace can be a monster late game and the A-Wing is an amazing blocker. I faced a Scum list (Dengar, Cartel Marauder & Syndicate Thug) and managed to win without losing a single ship. The Ghost was down to 3 hulls though.

Kanan's ability is very useful but needs a force multiplier to make the most of it (Rec Spec is the minimum, Lando looks tempting but needs EI to run at the same time). In a vacuum, 2 less red dice is roughly as effective as an Evade token but can be used to protect nearby ships too.

In practice, so many attacks are modified that you can normally count on a Focus token spent in this way to block more than 0.5 hits.

Red Ace is indeed a late-game monster. I have only lost her in a single game and that was due to "pilot error" (I turned the wrong way and flew off the board ).

How effective is the VCX-100 without Ghost title and docked attack shuttle with Phantom title?

For 18 points you get the extra turret attack and rear firing arc. Is a naked VCX worth the bother?

An alternative build would be to take AC, ABT, and intel agent to use with Hera Crew to try to keep people in that R1 bubble.

Yup, that works well too. So far the Ghost builds I have seen tend to fall into 4 archetypes:

1. Cheap firepower (as above)

2. Tanky Kanan, usually with Rec Spec or Lando/C-3PO and Sensor Jammer

3. Hera ABT/ACC death bubble. Normally with Intel Agent for getting the drop on Aces and EU for extra movement options.

4. Chopper Stress/Ion build. Often with Zeb to support ramming.

How effective is the VCX-100 without Ghost title and docked attack shuttle with Phantom title?

Lean Ghost can work well provided you decide what its role is and what you are running with it. In some ways a lean Ghost can be easier as you can run more support with it. A fat Ghost with Phantom normally clocks in around 75 points leaving you just points for a Green Arrow, Biggs or a Stresshog.

Yesterday i won 8 player small tournament with this

Poe, Predator, AT, R5P9

Chopper, Dorsal, Erza, Hera, FCS

Prototype, Chardaan refit

Don't know if chopper is worth it, 2pts can be spend else were

I agree, that build would work just as well with Lothal Rebel. Auto-thrusters for the Prototype perhaps?

Yeah was thinking AT for Prototype or maybe Flechette torps on Ghost for that stress if needed.

But think AT on A-Wing is best

How effective is the VCX-100 without Ghost title and docked attack shuttle with Phantom title?

For 18 points you get the extra turret attack and rear firing arc. Is a naked VCX worth the bother?

Basically full mods on a giant 5king defender; won't miss the shuttle ever

Only really care about shuttle to delete inqs omega L's soontirs etc (double tap autoblasters)