Hello x wing community,

With the upcoming release of the new expansion, I was thinking of new ways to pair various upgrades. How would some of the new cards interact and combo with existing cards? I was inspired looking at the new nien numb t70 xwing paired with snap shot and r3a2 astromech. Any ship that ends it's maneuver within range 1 and in arc of nien numb would be instantly stressed and most likely unable to perform any actions. While nien numb would be unaffected my any stress thanks to hus ability. Nien numb sounded like a great counter to many high skill aces and arc dodgers like vader, soontir, inquisitor, etc. Unfortunately his high pilot skill would make this combo less potent against lower skill pilots. Pilots with lower skill would move first and potentially stay out of his range 1 arc of influence. Nien's snapshot and stressbot would almost never catch an enemy ship if all his opponents moved first.

So I thought about ways to make snapshot and stressbot trigger more frequently and against a larger spectrum of targets. If we used the same upgrades on a skill 4 red Squadron veteran, we could catch more targets in this stress net.

Red squadron veteran

R3-a2

Snap shot

Integrated astromech

30 points

With this new setup, it could now get manaroo (depending on initiative), most of the arc pilots, and most defenders, plus many more skill 5 to 6 pilots. The red squad vet can also be equipped with primed thrusters to give it a wider reach on more slippery targets.

With any new ship combo idea, you do have to look at other ships that fulfil the same role. This ship cannot remove the self inflicted stress easily. Pilots like nien numb and braylen pair so well with r3a2 because they can quickly remove the stress or never take it in the first place; not to mention the arc has an entire rear arc to double it's effective coverage zone The good old y wing can double stress any target at range 2 to 3 with title and TLT, whereas the red squad vet can only double stress someone at range 1.

I want to try this build out once I get my hands on the hotr expansion. What does the x wing community think of this build idea? Will the red squad vet be able to cast it's stress net and catch unsuspecting ships in its maw? Thanks.

I don't think Nien Numb's pilot skill is a problem for snap shot. Yes, against a lower skill pilot he's going to be where he ended the last round, rather than where he finishes this, but that's not a problem. It means, for example, anyone trying to block him is going to get a snapshot to the face. You just have to place him where you think Manaroo's going to be heading through the turn after this one - and since you can still R3-A2 'normally' and burn off the stress 'normally', it's not all that hard to line up a shot.

Being able to stress-shot manaroo is a nice point, though.

I'm looking to test this list, and I'm curious if PTL or Snap Shot will be better on Nien Numb.

Poe Dameron (PS9) w/PTL, BB-8, Primed thrusters, Autothrusters, Black One title

Nien Numb w/(PTL or Snap Shot), R3-A2, Pattern Analyzer, Integrated Astromech

Green Squadron Pilot w/Crack Shot, Snap Shot, Chardaan refit, Autothrusters, A-wing test pilot title.

I think you hit the nail with most of your thoughts on how it works against other stress builds, but you have to consider something.
Your PS4 pilot can indeed stress lower PS ships, but generally (with the exception of Manaroo) PS4 ships and lower does not really care about stress as much as aces.
Stress mechanics are anti-ace tools.
I think your nien-numb setup is much stronger because you pay 3 points more for 3 more PS, no stress at range 1.
It also plays better against generics with semi arc dodging, PS killing etc.
Works against dash as well, since he will always give you initiative. The only downside is you lose stress against bro-bots.

Your point about the defenders are valid, but they are not hurt as much as other ships due to x7.

My T-70 StressX has been fun (Red Squad Vet, R3-A2, Wired, Integrated Astromech). The new tech options will open up a lot.

My T-70 StressX has been fun (Red Squad Vet, R3-A2, Wired, Integrated Astromech). The new tech options will open up a lot.

I have been running that ship a lot too. Pairs nicely with Eaden Vrill because this attacks just before him. it is a capable build that can still attack and defend well enough, especially with Wired helping out. Unlike the classic Stresshog, it does not have to be permanently stressed, as there are enough green maneuvers to re-gain your actions sometimes. But if you let those tokens pile up you might have issues not being able to do Tallon Roll or K-Turn (e.g. if someone is on your tail or you need to get back into the fight).

I'm looking to test this list, and I'm curious if PTL or Snap Shot will be better on Nien Numb.

Poe Dameron (PS9) w/PTL, BB-8, Primed thrusters, Autothrusters, Black One title

Nien Numb w/(PTL or Snap Shot), R3-A2, Pattern Analyzer, Integrated Astromech

Green Squadron Pilot w/Crack Shot, Snap Shot, Chardaan refit, Autothrusters, A-wing test pilot title.

I've been playing Numb for a while on vassal, and I've found that PTL + Stressbot doesn't synergize that well. Yes, you occasionally get that glorious turn where you K-turn, PTL, and fire the stress bot all for 0 stress, but more often you are forced to choose between PTL and stressbot because there is no target at R1 and you can't afford to be double stressed.

snapshot r3-a2 nien is so horribly underwhelming when snap shot doesn't trigger that he's really not worth it

take a stressmule ARC instead

it's more flexible at every range AND is far sexier to boot

snapshot r3-a2 nien is so horribly underwhelming when snap shot doesn't trigger that he's really not worth it

take a stressmule ARC instead

it's more flexible at every range AND is far sexier to boot

I tried the stress mule at a small local tournament last week. I did manage to put stress on fen rau, but it got horribly out-flown by a dash rendar. No matter how I positioned the stress mule, dash would boost or barrel roll out of arc. I never was able to land any stress on dash the whole game. However, a red squad vet could potentially position itself to have dash land into snapshot range. The stress would prevent any further boosting or barrel rolling. Then dash would be stuck tokenless at range 1 of a ship, his worst case scenario.

Ps. I love your double arc plus biggs list FGD. Once I save up enough for another arc, I'm definitely trying it out.

My T-70 StressX has been fun (Red Squad Vet, R3-A2, Wired, Integrated Astromech). The new tech options will open up a lot.

I've been running the same thing with Red Ace tooled up, and the two of them are fun to play...with random support ship for a 3rdfighter, usually an Awing or 2 or a Ywing.