Hello,

I am teaching the game to some new players.

One of them really wants to play a thematic Rebel list. She love Luke Skywalker and R2 and wants to at least play them together.

She wants to be an aggressive player and does not want to do arc-dodging.

Since Luke cannot reposition I think this is okay, but what should go with Luke in a list that will be able to joust and not die immediately.

It does not have to be competitive against the popular meta lists. I want it to be fun and be able to survive against some lists, except maybe ones that are only focused on a massive alpha strike.

So we have

Luke + R2-D2 + Shield Upgrade

what else goes with it to fly at the opponent and hopefully take some ships out.

Is a Slightly overweight Han going to be good?

She likes Wedge. She is not interested in flying Force Awakens pilots at this time.

They don't like having one of their three ships getting removed from the board on the first engagement, but they are not interested in arc-dodging or going for something like a 2 ghost list that would survive longer.
My suggestions are to change their play style, but they seem to want to fly straight and shoot, so I am hoping someone could give suggestions about a list that, while not winning tournaments, compliments that play-style.

Thanks!

You want to joust you take defenders.

Proxy integrated astromech on all xwings.

Use Biggs

Fly bwings, they have the health and fire control systems to have dice mods when they 2K turn.

I've enjoyed introducing the game to new players and playing very casually. Yes, Defenders are the best jousters but your new player probably doesn't care.

I'd suggest Luke, Wedge, Biggs. Teach her to fly them close together. She will like that Biggs will die first (very thematic) and that Luke will likely last longer than his wingmates.

You might want to throw on Integrated Astromech for the added survivability -- and again, very thematic when R2 bites it to save Luke.

For new players, the ability to consistently shoot with the Falcon is rewarding. So a fat or chubby Han is good too. But having Han probably means no room for Biggs.

Go for a cinematic game.

Chewie in the Falcon, with Han and Luke as crew. Fly a handful of Tie Fighters against it and let your new players enjoy killing them.

If you have more than one player, then have them fly X-Wings alongside and add eg Darth Vader to your squadron.

No need to use 100pt lists, you know. Just recreate scenes from the movies first.

As others have said, Biggs is a really good option.

If she's willing to drop Luke after playing around with him for a while and wants to try a serious competitive list, you could try any of the following:

* BBBBZ

* BBYZZ (the Y can be a stresshog, the B's get Fire Control System

* Biggs + Norra + 3rd ship (Thane, Braylen, Wes Janson, etc.)

* TIE Swarm

Yes, we do like to play cinematic games, so that is something good to do.

Right now they know the rules are are looking forward to going to their first tournament. They know that they will not do too well at the tournament since they will be up against some well practiced opponents, but they want to make sure they can take out a couple ships and not die immediately in each game.

I think a B-wing is a good option, especially since I am not worried about u-boats showing up. And Ten Numb with a mangler can get at least some damage on hard to hit ships.

Then the third ship can be a cheap B-wing or cheap X-wing, or maybe even Biggs.

Thanks!

Fun!!!!! Yes, iconic ship flying: IS fun.

Rule 1: DO NOT FLY BORING.

Rule 2: don't fly Biggs, because, well, he puts the bor in boring.

This list is way iconic and super-duper fun, jousting masters! (Iconically)

Jek Porkins (30 points): Predator (3), R2 Astromech (1).

Luke Skywalker (34 points): Expert Handling (2), R2-D2 (4).

Wedge Antilles (36 points): R2 Astromech (2), Crack Shot (1), Proton Torpedoes (4), Guidance Chips (0).

Additionally, and in total contrast to my previous post, a fun list that is good at jousting and also does ok at tournaments and is easy for a beginner to fly is:

Norra, Braylen, and Biggs. Fickle's classic list. I took it to my first (and only so far) tournament and went 3:3, would have been 4:2 if I hadn't messed up one game.

The list eats Imperial Aces and does ok against many lists. It struggles against Mindlinked Old Fenngaroo and Corran Horn.

You simply fly in formation at the enemy and should shoot them. Not much else to it.

Heres the Joustiest rebel list with R2 and Luke I would try.

Luke -R2,integrated astro and trick shot.

two rookie x wings - integrated R2 astromech

and a TLT Y-wing to make it interesting.(I know right?)

https://geordanr.github.io/xwing/?f=Rebel%20Alliance&d=v4!s!5:214,-1,3:-1:20:;3:-1,2:-1:20:;3:-1,2:-1:20:;9:135,-1,-1,-1:-1:-1:&sn=100-luke%2CXXY

Biggs is terrible don't introduce them to the rebel crutch right out of the barn you'll cripple their development.

My wife plays Wedge Antilles with PTL, R2 Astro and Vectored Thrusters. I'd go for list like this:

Luke

-R2-D2

-Shield Upgrade

-EPT she like

Wedge

-PTL

-R2 Astro

-Vectored Thrusters

Tycho

-PTL

-Prockets

You should get somewhere around 100 points with Rebels and OT ships. Maybe you could take Garven Dreis and charge the Death Star. Or Biggs but that's too cheap :-)

Biggs is terrible don't introduce them to the rebel crutch right out of the barn you'll cripple their development.

Biggs is merely the training wheels. Not everyone needs them. I've stopped, but I wouldn’t have tried tournament play for a while longer without him.