I recently had my first tournament and ran this, did OK.

Dash Rendar, Outrider title, PTL, HLC, EU, Kanan Jarrus, 58pts

Lothal Rebel, FCS, ABT, Hera, Nien. 41pts

Just wondering on whether to drop EU on Dash and just rely on Kanan giving him he full dial plus barrel roll, and using the points to upgrade the Lothal to Chopper for stressing when I block and maybe dropping Nien for a different crew member?

Or drop Dash and try Chewy instead? I lose the damage output of HLC from afar and kiting all over the obstacles, but then no doughnut hole to protect and 3 extra hit points plus taking no crits:

Chewbacca, Falcon title, PTL, EU, Kanan Jarrus, Kyle Katarn. 56pts

Chopper, FCS, ABT, Hera Syndulla, Nien Nunb. 43pts

Tournament #2 tomorrow, decisions decisions! And advice appreciated.

(edited for typos)

Personally, I think Dash is the way to go. If you're looking to slim something down, you could always bring Mangler Dash -- he's not quite as scary as HLC Dash, sometimes, but there is no longer ANY restriction as to where you can go on the board (no donut hole, no stress, no obstacles...).

Also, if you really want Chopper, deep six Nien Nunb. You're going to get stressed. You're going to want to do K turns and red hard turns WAY more often than you'll want to go straight in a VCX, and what do you care about shedding stress? Hera doesn't care, and FCS is at least netting you target locks. Give in to your stress! And that one points means you've not got the two points needed for a Chopper upgrade, but...

As great as Chopper is, I personally find that the stress from bumping him isn't actually that big a deal. Say you bump Soontir or the Inquisitor -- the BUMP is what sucks, as it denies them from PTLing. Soontir is still going to get a Focus because you stressed him out (making Chopper a terrible choice) and both ships can just do green moves next turn to sort the stress out, as they normally would after using PTL.

You're better off staying with Lothal Rebel, still use it for blocking, and adding a better crew. Han Solo is FANTASTIC if you have him, because your action economy is surprisingly good, even when stressed the entire game. That being said, I DON'T have Han Solo crew, so I've been trying Mangler Dash & Ezra crew (another crew that enjoys stress). It's decent, but I prefer HLC Dash, so Ezra is one point too many.

Instead of Han on a Lothal, you could bring Chopper CREW (for when you REALLY want to Focus, despite all your stress) and add a Flechette Torpedo. You may never use it, but the threat of your torpedo-throwing rear arc will give enemy ships more to think about when they blast pass you.

Here is a list I have yet to try but I think could be fun:

Chopper (Fire-Control System, Autoblaster Turret, Zeb, Han Solo, Anti-Pursuit Lasers)

Chewbacca (Predator, Gunner, C-3PO, Millenium Falcon)

100 points

Chop-Chewie... :-)

Here is a list I have yet to try but I think could be fun:

Chopper (Fire-Control System, Autoblaster Turret, Zeb, Han Solo, Anti-Pursuit Lasers)

Chewbacca (Predator, Gunner, C-3PO, Millenium Falcon)

100 points

Chop-Chewie... :-)

Not to be "that guy", but Hera is an auto-include on any Ghost. Also, Zeb (crew) is going to get you killed or be a waste of a point, there's no two ways about it.

Not to be "that guy"

I agree that Hera is just too good to not bring on the Ghost the ability to hard 1 turn or K turn even when stressed really helps you in the lumbering giant. A lot better than Zeb at least. Han is good, though personally I prefer Ezra. Somewhat just for the thematic element of it, but also because I'm planning on being stressed and not caring, it helps me utilize those eyeballs that show up on 4 dice attacks but also use my TL as a TL.

One other thing to consider is an Ion Projector. Chopper is going to be stressing those guys who bump, but given the chance to stress AND Ion in the same turn means you'll have a sitting duck next turn. K turn and unleash some hate. Great for things like... Soontir. One damage from APL is always nice, but Ion Projector with Chopper has the possibility of being game changing.

I struggle with Ion Projector, only because bumping Chopper SHOULD be pretty rare for opponents expecting it, and Chopper is pretty well advertised as a bumper.

That being said, pulling it off even once could make your whole day, IMO, I may need to take another look at it (though you're now looking at a budget Dash, which makes me antsy.

I've been flying

(35) Lothal Rebel

(2) Fire Control System

(1) Hera

(3) Ezra

(6) Twin Laser Turret

=47

(42) Chewbacca

(3) C3PO

(7) Luke Skywalker

(1) Crackshot

=53

Its pretty solid. The Lothal Rebel is absolutely brutal with FCS and a TLT.

If you drop Nien Numb you have the points to upgrade the Lothal Rebel to Chopper. Initiative bid is largely irrelevant for this list.