No, you don't. He helps ARC's out, but he is by no means necessary. Not even against torpedo boats - it takes a minimum of three torpedoes (barring damage-increasing crits) to kill an ARC, and that's assuming the maximum four hits every time, which in light of the change to R4, is less likely than it used to be (and Overclocked R4, the new droid of choice, reduces their flexibility in subsequent turns, making it harder to chain into the second salvo) That's not accounting for any regeneration or successful evades that occur.

It also doesn't account for killing a Jumpmaster before it has fired any/all of its torpedoes, getting into the blind spot at R1 and denying their use, dealing sufficient stress to lock down their ability to fire them (easy enough for R3-A2 ARC's), or for the fact that every single ARC except Braylen shoots before the Scouts do (and he ties with them).

Realistically, the only way you are losing an ARC in a single turn is if all three of the Jumpmasters have arc, range and a Focus, and if that's happened, you've flown poorly.

Personally, I fly Wedge instead of Biggs, alongside Thane and Braylen. Whichever target my opponent chooses, the other two make them pay for it.

The reason to take Biggs is to force your opponent to target suboptimally: Norra is high threat, high points, a glass cannon due to cost and more often than not a regenerator and therefore an obvious target for early removal.

Not taking Biggs is fine but if you don't find a way to disrupt your opponent's targeting priority they'll simply eliminate Norra first.

Agreed, just have fun!

Play whatever you want. I like playing the Firespray, granted I don't plan on winning when I bring one but I still enjoy it..

Guys if OP wanted a circle jerk of "fly casual!" he'd have asked for that. I hate how these forums take a thread asking for honest competitive advice and crap all over it with this care bear nonsense.

As to the actual thread; Biggs isn't required, but you'll want to load Norra with C3P0 and R2D2 to help her survive the early game. However, this will cut down on her offense. I prefer to take Biggs and pump up Norra's offense.

I totally agree. It's become so common that "Fly Casual" warnings should be given for the Brigade'ing it causes. Give the guy, feed back, encouragement, ancedotes...but "Fly Casual" is totally knee jerk stupidity.

You seem salty. You should just fly casual dude.

The reason to take Biggs is to force your opponent to target suboptimally: Norra is high threat, high points, a glass cannon due to cost and more often than not a regenerator and therefore an obvious target for early removal.

Not taking Biggs is fine but if you don't find a way to disrupt your opponent's targeting priority they'll simply eliminate Norra first.

What if I saved the Target Lock for defense the first turn, and along side of C3P0 I have a guaranteed 2 evade, possible 3? Then, use my K-Wing for the alpha strike?

If I do that though then there's the possibility that the ship with the TL on it would ignore Norra... which still isn't a bad thing though.

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

Jan Ors (31) HWK-290 (25), Adaptability (0), Twin Laser Turret (6)

Warden Squadron Pilot (30) K-Wing (23), Extra Munitions (2), Homing Missiles (5), Long Range Scanners (0), "Chopper" (0)

An alternative to taking Biggs is to take a bigger threat. Norra comes in at 36-41 points, leaving you open to take a 58 point super Dash, or a 46pt Corran, or a 50pt Lothal w/ ABT, or... you get the point. In these scenarios, Norra may not be optimally protected, but if they go for her, then you're still left with your main portion of your fleet going after them.

Personally, I've kinda become attached to Kanan, though I don't think the points line up to match the two of them together right now. But still, perhaps something like:

Norra w/ PTL, R2D2, C3PO/Kyle (your choice), VT, AO, Seismic Torps

Kanan w/ ABT, PT, EM, Recon, Tactician, EU

Kanan's ability drastically reduces the effectiveness of alpha strikes, and pairs well with rebel regen, the ABT and STs can work well as anti-ace fire support, and the PTs open up Kanan's aux arc to match with Norra's. Norra basically gets 2 evades + regen every turn, and when coupled with Kanan's -1 attack die, it takes 2 3 dice attacks (reduced to 2 via Kanan) to roll perfect hits in order to make a single point of damage stick - assuming she doesn't naturally roll an evade for it. And that's assuming they go for Norra...

I've been flying Norra+Dash and it's been perfectly fine without Biggs. Dash goes in first and draws opponents towards him, which eases the opening pressure off of Norra, which is the whole reason Biggs is used with her. Few people are going to focus on Norra after she does a 2 straight off the starting block, when Dash is doing a 4 straight and a boost+focus, shooting their stuff with an HLC in the first round. They turn towards Dash, and Dash proceeds to fly circles around them.

Why not Miranda, you ask?

Because Norra provides very similar consistent damage output as a TLT, thanks to her pilot ability, while allowing for better burst damage in either arc, which is needed to punch through Palp+tokens.

depends on the list. if you can include 3 high value targets and they have no idea what to go after, and all three are pilots that can survive solo, no, no you don't. and yes, I'm flying a rebels list.

I don't think Biggs is an auto include. But he is a fun thing to have around.

Great ideas, everyone. Khyros, I'm really liking the Kannan flying the Ghost instead of in the ARC. I know I give up some regen possibilities, but eliminating red dice is just great.

I'm leaning this way now:

Kanan Jarrus (57) VCX-100 (38), Accuracy Corrector (3), Autoblaster Turret (2), Extra Munitions (2), Plasma Torpedoes (3), Recon Specialist (3), Tactician (2), Engine Upgrade (4)

Norra Wexley (43) ARC-170 (29), R2-D2 (4), Seismic Torpedo (2), Push the Limit (3), C-3PO (3), Alliance Overhaul (0)

I really like being able to boost into range one for AC/ABT.

Realistically, the only way you are losing an ARC in a single turn is if all three of the Jumpmasters have arc, range and a Focus, and if that's happened, you've flown poorly.

As likely your most valuable piece and a regenerator it's not a case of survivng a few turns, it's a case of surviving all of them: Norra is a closer and her strongest defensive tool is the DPR regeneration defence given by R2-D2.

The game has three kinds of defence, DPA, DPR and DPG, which are Damage Per Attack, Round and Game respectively. Agility is DPA defence, hull and shields are DPG, evade tokens and regeneration are DPR.

DPA defence is strong against damage split across many attacks, DPR is strong against damage split across many rounds. DPG is strong against nothing. Conversely DPA is weak to spike damage, DPR is weak to focus fire and DPG is weak to nothing.

This means DPR is weakest early on when there are more attacks on the board: it powers up as the number of enemy ships goes down. Therefore your opponent wants Norra to die early and you want Norra to die late on or not at all. You want Norra to be a late target and the opponent wants to make her an early target.

Biggs provides a powerful means of doing this outside of keeping Norra out of the fight entirely. If you have another way by all means try it out.

Yes, Biggs is mandatory for all Rebel lists.

//

No, of course not.

I've had good luck with Norra (PTL, R2D2, Vector Thrusters, Tail Gunner), and ordnance Tala, and a 42-point Lothal Rebel.

Imp Ace players chase the Tala like he's Biggs, and the Lothal can soak a lot of damage.

Bring something that will punish your opponent for picking on Norra.

Yesterday, I flew a list with 49-point Corran, Norra, and a Prototype Pilot. It worked pretty well. I got my opponent to go after the A-Wing first, which meant I had a few rounds of Corran and Norra murderizing together. The list has enough offensive output that it can make the endgame come real quick, and Corran is one of the best endgame ships out there. If the other guy goes after Norra first, that means Corran survives til late. If he goes after Corran first, that means Norra goes unchecked.

Of course, it's not like there aren't problems with that list -- namely that U-boats will nuke both aces immediately . But the theory still stands: bring an endgame ship and make your opponent pick who to shoot at.

Hey Kdubb, I flew that exact Biggs/Nora/Miranda list at my last store tourny, came second with it behind the UK champ. It's a great list, competitive, and - contrary to the OP - a lot of fun to fly

Agreed, just have fun!

Play whatever you want. I like playing the Firespray, granted I don't plan on winning when I bring one but I still enjoy it..

Guys if OP wanted a circle jerk of "fly casual!" he'd have asked for that. I hate how these forums take a thread asking for honest competitive advice and crap all over it with this care bear nonsense.

The salt in this post is so strong I can taste it through the internet.

To the op, its so hard to find something that's a bigger threat than the arc, you could run wes or wedge, but they're essentially mini biggs. You either take something your opponent really wants to shoot, or has to shoot.

not really

best you can try is nien nub and engine upgrade

the reason ARCs need Biggs is because they're 1 agi and slow as hell, which makes them just stupidly easily to focus fire down at the beginning of the game when both squads are at their strongest

Biggs taking the flak keeps the ARCs around until the enemy is whittled down to more manageable levels for Norra's guaranteed defenses to take

ARCs don't need Biggs. Stop expressing opinion as fact.

I took on Brobots with Norra and two Green Squad A-Wings and cleaned house.

@OP: You don't need to take Biggs anymore than you need to take anything else. Fly what you like and have fun. Anything else is guff.

not really

best you can try is nien nub and engine upgrade

the reason ARCs need Biggs is because they're 1 agi and slow as hell, which makes them just stupidly easily to focus fire down at the beginning of the game when both squads are at their strongest

Biggs taking the flak keeps the ARCs around until the enemy is whittled down to more manageable levels for Norra's guaranteed defenses to take

So by this calculations, Biggs should also be able to protect Keyan/Tien long enough for shenanigans in the late game...

not really

best you can try is nien nub and engine upgrade

the reason ARCs need Biggs is because they're 1 agi and slow as hell, which makes them just stupidly easily to focus fire down at the beginning of the game when both squads are at their strongest

Biggs taking the flak keeps the ARCs around until the enemy is whittled down to more manageable levels for Norra's guaranteed defenses to take

So by this calculations, Biggs should also be able to protect Keyan/Tien long enough for shenanigans in the late game...

if keyan/tien had guaranteed defenses

(or weren't disgustingly overpriced)