I may be in the minority here, but I LOVE prequel ships - both Republic and CIS stuff. The ARC-170 has always been a favorite of mine, so needless to say I was almost giddy when i saw that it was coming to X-Wing! Already I'm planning lists around it - and here's one to start things off:

Norra Wexley (38)
ARC-170 (29), R7-T1 (3), Push the Limit (3), Recon Specialist (3), Alliance Overhaul (0)

Dagger Squadron Pilot (31) x 2
B-Wing (24), Heavy Laser Cannon (7)

Now, we don't know how much the Vectored Thrusters modification is going to cost - hopefully it'll be cheap enough that dropping Recon Specialist or downgrading the B-Wings to Blue Squadron pilots would cost. But the list should be pretty obvious - it's a high-health, high-firepower list. The ARC-170's plan is simple - find a target and get in it's face, taking advantage of it's raw durability, R7-T1's ability, and the pilot's ability to try and dish out as much damage as possible. So on a good setup, it'd go R7-T1 for Boost & Target Lock > PTL for a Focus, get two tokens > blaze away! The B-Wings are PS4, so they'd be firing before Scouts should I run into them. I'm not entirely sold on the recon specialist - though I suppose they could help improve the ARC's survivability by making sure I have an extra Focus for defense, given that the ARC-170 has only 1 Agility.

Any thoughts from you guys?

EDIT:

I threw together another list that may be an interesting one to try. May not be super-competitive, but it looks like a fun one to fly!

Hmm, I feel like Astromech + crew is ripe for Panic Attack. Maybe Ezra + R3-A2? Paired with Alliance overhaul you have a pretty solid forward attack on that still stresses targets out, and if you stay at low speeds you'll remove the stress each time. If I'm not mistaken it looks like you could do that out the back arc as well, which would probably take a few people by surprise.

I particularly like that since it looks like the other named character card (Norra Wexley) looks like it reads "When attacking or defending you may spend a Target Lock you have on the enemy ship to add one (focus) result." Both Ezra and Alliance Overhaul can take advantage of that.

A C-3P0 + R2-D2 astrochmech and crew might be good for an all around dogfighter.

Hmm, I feel like Astromech + crew is ripe for Panic Attack. Maybe Ezra + R3-A2? Paired with Alliance overhaul you have a pretty solid forward attack on that still stresses targets out, and if you stay at low speeds you'll remove the stress each time. If I'm not mistaken it looks like you could do that out the back arc as well, which would probably take a few people by surprise.

I particularly like that since it looks like the other named character card (Norra Wexley) looks like it reads "When attacking or defending you may spend a Target Lock you have on the enemy ship to add one (focus) result." Both Ezra and Alliance Overhaul can take advantage of that.

Assuming the ARC-170 has a K-turn, how about:

ARC-170 w/ Wired, R3A2, Hera, Overhaul.

The upgrades are only 4pts, and pair very well, and hopefully the PS4 pilot will have an EPT so you can keep it cheap. If not the PS7 pilot is pretty decent with that kit (especially wired) at only 33pts for a really annoying control/jouster.

Or nien numb could help with jousting by making all straight manuevers green

If I'm not mistaken it looks like you could do that out the back arc as well, which would probably take a few people by surprise.

Here's another one that I think is set up well to take advantage of the slower speeds adn the rear arc:

Norra Wexley (39)
ARC-170 (29), R2-D2 (4), Outmaneuver (3), Weapons Engineer (3), Alliance Overhaul (0)

Weapons Engineer is great because Norra's ability work on attack and defense. Get target locks early on, then in the next turn(s) use focus as you buzz them, trying to soften them in the front arc before snapping at them with the tail gun to take advantage of Predator. Alternatively, I'm liking the look of PTL+Exra+R7-T1/R2-D2, especially with the tail gun ability. R7-T1 is good for getting right in the enemy's face for a 4-dice primary on the joust, then slow it down on the next turn and try to catch them with the tail gun. With the large number of low-speed greens it's supposed to have, one should be able to clear stress to use PTL again, allowing action economy and the ability to use Ezra's ability and - if you take him - R2-D2's shield regen. There's also the Targeting Astromech, which helps make sure you've always got a Target Lock - or R2-F2, who - combined with Stealth Device - could really help imrpvoe the ARC's survivability:

Norra Wexley (37)
ARC-170 (29), Targeting Astromech (2), Push the Limit (3), Ezra Bridger (3), Alliance Overhaul (0)

Norra Wexley (41)
ARC-170 (29), R2-F2 (3), Push the Limit (3), Ezra Bridger (3), Alliance Overhaul (0), Stealth Device (3)

Norra Wexley (38)
ARC-170 (29), R7-T1 (3), Push the Limit (3), Ezra Bridger (3), Alliance Overhaul (0)

Norra Wexley (39)
ARC-170 (29), R2-D2 (4), Push the Limit (3), Ezra Bridger (3), Alliance Overhaul (0)

Thoughts? Also, who would you fly with an ARC?

I think I may have figured out a cool wingman for the ARC:

Norra Wexley (38)
ARC-170 (29), R7-T1 (3), Push the Limit (3), Ezra Bridger (3), Alliance Overhaul (0)

Rey (57)
YT-1300 (45), Push the Limit (3), Lando Calrissian (3), Gunner (5), Millennium Falcon (Evade Version) (1)

Depending on the cost of the Vectored Thrusters, one could probably stick Stealth Device on the Falcon to boost it's agility even higher - or, if one wanted to, downgrade the Falcon's pilot to Lando, and swap out the Lando crew card for Nien Nunb.

How do R7-T1 and Weapon Engineer work together?

How do R7-T1 and Weapon Engineer work together?

Oooh, that's a good idea. Here's R7-T1's card:

For a Jousting setup like we're theorizing for the ARC-170, the value of being able to boost to get closer and re-position one's arc (hah) is apparent enough. With an auxiliary arc, it becomes even better in situations where an enemy has arc on you, but they're out of your's. Boost out of their's, and try to catch them at Range 1 in your rear arc. Now, take into account that R7-T1 lets you boost AND acquire a target lock, then look at Norra's ability and Weapons Engineer:

Now, Norra's ability works on offense AND defense. So you could chain a second TL off of R7-T1's ability, then PTL for a Focus or a barrel roll with Vectored Thrusters, and use the second TL for either surviving longer or to set up for a future salvo.

imo, you're almost never going to surpass c3po as a crew on a 1 agi ship unless the Shadow Caster becomes THE meta. Given the horrendous squishiness of the punisher profile, you're gonna want c3po unless you're going for something crazy or something cheap

something crazy, imo, is basically only hera or sabine as none of the other crews do anything apart from be less efficient than c3po. Maybe leebo, but ionization on small bases is horrible

sabine's loadout is pretty obvious, using the bomb slot for bombs and the torp slot for extras and then abusing the hell out of bb-8. BB-8 and seismics/thermals both work on dial reveal, so you'll really screw over lower ps pilots. Less useful with mines, but he can still re-position you for them.

for Hera, we have the combination of r3-a2 or Targeting Astromech. r3-a2 leaves you modless, so you'll want to take care of that somehow. Targeting gets you Target-locks (duh), so you could do dumb things like

Poe's Mom (28)

*hera (1)

*Targeting (2)

*Stay on Target (2)

[33]

probably not great, but when you rebel arc-dodge (re: intentionally run yourself into a block to avoid fire) you'll be able to use her ability

Norra, if she's going to get any work done reliably, is basically gonna get stuck with PTL and bb-8. I highly doubt the ARC's 2-turns are green (estimating the 6 greens it has are forwards and banks at speed 1 and 2), so bb-8 is REALLY useful for off-setting how predictable she'll be. BB-8 also opens up rebel arc-dodging (the best defense is not getting shot).

crew is probably c3po because he's c3po. If you want your expensive low agi ship to survive any longer, you pick c3po

no word on what the rear gunner does; hopefully target-lock related though

other droids to look out for would be R5-x3 (Dashbot) and r7 (on the pilots that don't depend on their TL to have a pilot ability)

So I sat down and took another look at the ARC-170's crew slot, and then a crew option I hadn't thought of came to mind: Kyle Katarn.

Norra Wexley (41)
ARC-170 (29), BB-8 (2), Push the Limit (3), Kyle Katarn (3), Alliance Overhaul (0), Engine Upgrade (4)

It's a similar concept as my BB8/Corran build I love, but with an added bonus:

1: Reveal green maneuver

2: Perform BB-8's free barrel roll immediately.

3: PTL off of the maneuver to Target Lock/Boost/Focus

4: Receive stress

5: Execute the green maneuver, clearing stress

6: Receive a free focus token from Kyle

7: Perform normal action

A point could be saved by giving Nora a Hull Upgrade instead of Engine Upgrade, but it limits the ARC-170's maneuverability. Being able to barrel roll before moving and then boosting - or barrel rolling and then boosting before moving - makes a tough ship even harder to pin down, and even harder to stay out of the firing arc(s) of. With a target lock acquired earlier on, it gives you the potential to go into an attack with two focus tokens - which works well with Nora's ability, and helps boost the ARC-170's defense. I think I may have figured out a winner here - but I'd like to hear everyone else's thoughts. Here's a couple of lists I threw together that use this configuration; I particularly like the ones that pair it with the Outrider or the Falcon:

Norra Wexley (47)
ARC-170 (29), BB-8 (2), Advanced Proton Torpedoes (6), Push the Limit (3), Kyle Katarn (3), Alliance Overhaul (0), Engine Upgrade (4)

Kanan Jarrus (51)
VCX-100 (38), Sensor Jammer (4), Dorsal Turret (3), Recon Specialist (3), Recon Specialist (3)

Norra Wexley (41)
ARC-170 (29), BB-8 (2), Push the Limit (3), Kyle Katarn (3), Alliance Overhaul (0), Engine Upgrade (4)

Dash Rendar (58)
YT-2400 Freighter (36), Push the Limit (3), Heavy Laser Cannon (7), Weapons Engineer (3), Outrider (5), Engine Upgrade (4)

Norra Wexley (41)
ARC-170 (29), BB-8 (2), Push the Limit (3), Kyle Katarn (3), Alliance Overhaul (0), Engine Upgrade (4)

Keyan Farlander (45)
B-Wing (29), Fire-Control System (2), Heavy Laser Cannon (7), Push the Limit (3), Engine Upgrade (4)

Tala Squadron Pilot (13)

Norra Wexley (41)
ARC-170 (29), BB-8 (2), Push the Limit (3), Kyle Katarn (3), Alliance Overhaul (0), Engine Upgrade (4)

Jake Farrell (30)
A-Wing (24), A-Wing Test Pilot (0), Chardaan Refit (-2), Push the Limit (3), Autothrusters (2), Outmaneuver (3)

Gray Squadron Pilot (29)
Y-Wing (20), BTL-A4 Y-Wing (0), R7-T1 (3), Dorsal Turret (3), Hull Upgrade (3)

Norra Wexley (41)
ARC-170 (29), BB-8 (2), Push the Limit (3), Kyle Katarn (3), Alliance Overhaul (0), Engine Upgrade (4)

Rey (59)
YT-1300 (45), Push the Limit (3), Gunner (5), Nien Nunb (1), Millennium Falcon (Evade Version) (1), Engine Upgrade (4)

Norra Wexley (41)
ARC-170 (29), BB-8 (2), Push the Limit (3), Kyle Katarn (3), Alliance Overhaul (0), Engine Upgrade (4)

Lando Calrissian (58)
YT-1300 (44), Push the Limit (3), Nien Nunb (1), Gunner (5), Millennium Falcon (Evade Version) (1), Engine Upgrade (4)

Norra Wexley (47)
ARC-170 (29), BB-8 (2), Advanced Proton Torpedoes (6), Push the Limit (3), Kyle Katarn (3), Alliance Overhaul (0), Engine Upgrade (4)

Corran Horn (51)
E-Wing (35), R2-D2 (4), Plasma Torpedoes (3), Fire-Control System (2), Push the Limit (3), Engine Upgrade (4)

Oooh, I forgot about Katarn too.

What about:

Norra 29, R3A2 2, Predator 3, Kyle Katarn 3 = 37

You build up a stress with a red maneuver before entering combat, then you dump it, get your Focus, and take a TL for your action. While shooting, you can spend your Target Lock to add the eyeball, Predator to re-roll, with the Focus to turn eyeballs to hits. R3A2 stresses the target and gives you a stress to dump with Kyle next turn. That's a fully modded HLC plus stress control at PS7. 9 hit points may well not be enough, although you can use Norra's ability defensively.

katarn isn't super great

problem with focus on the defense is we're talking focus on 1 agility. Technically, it's the same 5/8ths as c3po, except c3po will not fail whereas green dice constantly will

difference being, of course, is that if you screw up with stress then Katarn will get you offensive modifiers sans actions while c3po gets you defensive

r3-a2 katarn might be a thing (think gunner's got that market cornered, though) as the only way to get her consistent full modifiers outside ptl. Frees her up for more interesting epts

Could make her PS 9 w/vector thrusters, for example

Used defensively, Norra's ability is just +1 eyeball, so if you have to tank, you're blocking 13/8ths hits if you've got a Focus. It's not 3P0, but it's flexible. Norra is not tough enough to really drag 3P0 out, a la Miranda or Falcon, so I think her primary concern is piling on the damage with 4-hit attacks (or 3 hits with guaranteed crit from the rear arc).

Used defensively, Norra's ability is just +1 eyeball, so if you have to tank, you're blocking 13/8ths hits if you've got a Focus. It's not 3P0, but it's flexible. Norra is not tough enough to really drag 3P0 out, a la Miranda or Falcon, so I think her primary concern is piling on the damage with 4-hit attacks (or 3 hits with guaranteed crit from the rear arc).

if you're just focused on the offense, you could do the same for cheaper with just PTL and save the crucial 3 points for something more useful

now, the combination of KK and r3-a2 has merit because it frees Norra's ept slot

and, of course, allows her to become the vessel for the God of Stress (a very powerful little god)

even better, it frees up her astromech slot from bb-8 so you can run

Norra

*VI (1)

*r3-a2 (2)

*KK (3)

*TITLE (0)

[35] +/- whatever vector thrusters cost (no more than 2, unless ffg's gone mad)

Shara

*VI (1)

*sabine (2)

*seismics (2)

*Extras (2)

*TITLE (0)

[37]

Biggs

*r4-d6 (1)

*integrated

[26]

98; 2 points open for vector thrusters

That's exactly what I did. I used the EPT to grab Predator so she could get re-rolls on the attack on top of the extra eyeball result her ability gives. Adding an eyeball with a TL from PTL, but getting no re-roll is going to be a roughly similar offense to just getting a re-roll from Predator. It's better if you have the Focus, but not by much, and it costs you a stress. Getting normal dice with Focus and re-roll and added eyeball result (and stress) really kicks her offense into a different level.

my first thought were.....

now, the combination of KK and r3-a2 has merit because it frees Norra's ept slot

...How? All you're doing there is giving yourself stress in the process and cutting down action economy, as well as cutting down maneuverability on what we suspect will be a somewhat sluggish ship. The possibility of Sabine & Dets, though, does sound rather appealing...

Norra Wexley (45)

ARC-170 (29), BB-8 (2), Extra Munitions (2), Push the Limit (3), Sabine Wren (2), Alliance Overhaul (0), Engine Upgrade (4), Thermal Detonators (3)

Shara Bey (40)

ARC-170 (28), R7-T1 (3), Push the Limit (3), Weapons Engineer (3), Alliance Overhaul (0), Hull Upgrade (3)

Tala Squadron Pilot (15)

Z-95 Headhunter (13), XX-23 S-thread Tracers (1), Munitions Failsafe (1)

This one could be nasty with good piloting, I think. It turns both ARCs into super-jousty ships that should synergize well, and the Tala squadron pilot can toss in extra shots here and there, and has the XX-23 to help stack up Target Locks on any turn that Nora and Shara are stressed/bumped. It also tosses in Sabine and BB-8 to mix things up, letting you drop a bomb right in an ace's face or near a cluster of low-PS pilots, and if no forward target present themselves then you can hit them with the tail guns.

now, the combination of KK and r3-a2 has merit because it frees Norra's ept slot

...How? All you're doing there is giving yourself stress in the process and cutting down action economy, as well as cutting down maneuverability on what we suspect will be a somewhat sluggish ship. The possibility of Sabine & Dets, though, does sound rather appealing...

KK gives focus assigned, TL normally or just use VTs to allign r3-a2

no need for PTL at that point, since it's doing the exact same thing

now, the combination of KK and r3-a2 has merit because it frees Norra's ept slot

...How? All you're doing there is giving yourself stress in the process and cutting down action economy, as well as cutting down maneuverability on what we suspect will be a somewhat sluggish ship. The possibility of Sabine & Dets, though, does sound rather appealing...

KK gives focus assigned, TL normally or just use VTs to allign r3-a2

no need for PTL at that point, since it's doing the exact same thing

And you're having to wait a turn for that action economy from KK with R3-A2 stressing you. It just seems like unnecessary stressing when you could do it with PTL + BB-8 and get your stress cleared in the same turn.

now, the combination of KK and r3-a2 has merit because it frees Norra's ept slot

...How? All you're doing there is giving yourself stress in the process and cutting down action economy, as well as cutting down maneuverability on what we suspect will be a somewhat sluggish ship. The possibility of Sabine & Dets, though, does sound rather appealing...

KK gives focus assigned, TL normally or just use VTs to allign r3-a2

no need for PTL at that point, since it's doing the exact same thing

And you're having to wait a turn for that action economy from KK with R3-A2 stressing you. It just seems like unnecessary stressing when you could do it with PTL + BB-8 and get your stress cleared in the same turn.

except you're ps 7/not benefiting from predator and you're not stressing the opponent. If you're shooting at palp ace thrusters on the first round of shooting, odds are you're doing the same damage with full mods or no mods but r3-a2 WILL stress

and you might want bb-8 on someone else

the builds are too different to be in direct competition with one another, as they accomplish vastly different things

I kind of like the idea of Hera Syndulla and the Targeting Astromech on the ARC. That way you've got the whole dial open and you can always lock something up for a torpedo shot or even auxiliary arc. For me it's a better version of what I've been doing with Farlander's B-Wing and Hera.

What about

Shara Bey 28 + Weapons Engineer 3 + Alliance Overhaul 0 = 31

Norra Wexley 29 + R7-T1 3 + Alliance Overhaul 0 = 32

Esege Tuketu 28 + Recon Specialist 3 + Twin Laser Turrent 6 = 37

Shara provides 2 target locks

Esege provides 2 focus tokens

And Norra uses the above to spam 4 to 6 dice attacks with focus tokens. The R7-T1 is there to get into Range 1 for that extra dice.

Should be interesting to play.

Posted this in another thread:

100 points

PILOTS

Norra Wexley (37)
ARC-170 (29), R2 Astromech (1), Opportunist (4), Kyle Katarn (3), Alliance Overhaul (0)

Wes Janson (30)
X-Wing (29), R4-D6 (1), Adaptability (0), Integrated Astromech (0)

Shara Bey (33)
ARC-170 (28), Targeting Astromech (2), Adaptability (0), Weapons Engineer (3), Alliance Overhaul (0)

Norra moves and removes stress, gets focus from Katarn. TL for action. Wes attacks strips tokens, kicking in Norra's Opportunist (+1), Title (+1), Range1 (+1), Ability (+1 focus). Uses Shara Bey TL to reroll any blanks. Changes eyeballs to hits with focus token. 6 damage, not bad And next turn, she can do it all again since she has stress from Opportunist and 8+ green maneuvers from R2 astro for Katarn to kick in.

If you are worried about quick death, swap Shara for Biggs + R4-D6, and load Wes up with R2-D2 + Draw Their Fire.

100 points

PILOTS

Norra Wexley (40)
ARC-170 (29), R2 Astromech (1), Opportunist (4), Kyle Katarn (3), Alliance Overhaul (0), Hull Upgrade (3)

Wes Janson (34)
X-Wing (29), R2-D2 (4), Draw Their Fire (1), Integrated Astromech (0)

Biggs Darklighter (26)
X-Wing (25), R4-D6 (1), Integrated Astromech (0)

Basically the Farlander,Wes,Biggs list, but Norra is capable of 5/6 reds per round than Farlanders 4/5 reds, plus she has 10HP (with Hull Upgrade) rather than his 8HP