So after having a laugh with Super Speedy Kylo (Daredevil, EU, Adv Sensors) i decided to try a more "normal" build with the UPS. Ran this the other day:

Major Stridan 32(42)
FCS (2)
General Hux (5)
Inspiring Recruit (1)
Pattern Analyzer (2)

Countess Ryad 34 (34)
Rage (1)
Mk2 Engines (1)
x7 (-2)

Sabaac 22(24)
Adapt (Decrease) (0)
LWF (2)
Title (0)

Total: 100pts

The idea was if i had Rage instead of PTL or Juke i could squeeze Sabaac in there and i had Recruit to destress her at range 1-3 of the UPS thanks to Stridan's ability. Issue was redundancy since i had Hux and Ryad, even naked, was the hardest ship to hurt by a LONG SHOT so she was ignored for the most part, leaving the double focus to be wasted. Probably swap that for Crackshot next time if i cant find a way to put Juke in there.

I actually ended up abusing Inspiring Recruit to destress the shuttle, not Ryad. 1turn into PA Hux doublestressed me but usually gave me a shot on someone AND kept me in range of my super elusive buddies. That was just nuts! Auto damage to disable Stealth Devices right off the bat (barring i rolled an eye, thankfully i did that) and poke at a Phantom despite being cloaked at R3. The focus dump on both my other ships usually saved their bacon too defensively.

Stridan's ability makes Hux such a wide bubble its almost impossible to not be in range. I had 1 turn i didnt get it and that was because i was 98% sure if i tried to follow my ships with the Shuttle i'd go off the board and didnt wanna risk it so i went the other way. The only issue is the pricetag, took me quite a while to find a pair of ships to go with him that WASNT a random tie fighter. Hux is dirty, i was skeptical at first due to the price tag but dang that is dirty.

i need to find more ways to abuse this guy.

I really like the PA, Hux, Inspiring Recruit combo. I just wonder how often you'll be able to pull a red maneuver and Hux in the same round, since you'll need to start the round without stress to do it. Part of me thinks that you'll be better off with Advanced Sensors since you can bump on greens after using Hux.

I prefer baffle on Stridan, it keeps him at 40 points and allows you to use the UPS full dial while still using Hux. Losing FCS is not a big deal as you're unlikely to get consecutive shots at the same target. With baffle, inspiring recruit and pattern analyzer are no longer needed so you can take systems officer crew to jack out Sabacc with TL and focus. The damage from baffle is usually worth the better positioning.

Yeah I've tried using a Stridan Hux shuttle recently and found that you shouldn't really rely on getting a follow up shot with an Upsilon so FCS isn't worth it. Either Baffle and take the damage when necessary for cheaper or Adv Sensors and Pattern Analyzer for more without hurting your ship.

40+ point tax for a support ship with a big gun that gets its shot once, maybe twice in a game is a lot so the complimenting ships need to be hard hitting while Hux is on the board enough to erase stuff early or can work on their own if the opponent decides to take out Stridan first.

Is discarding a token the same as removing a token? If so, PA+Baffles+Hux+Inspiring Recruit might be fun to try.

Perform a red maneuver. Use PA to delay the stress. Use Hux and receive a stress. Get the stress from the red maneuver. Baffle the second stress token, inspiring recruit gets rid of the first one. Not something that you use every round but it allows you to do red maneuvers and use Hux in consecutive rounds at the cost of his hit points.

I think PA and Recruit would work with Baffle, but part of the appeal with Baffle is that it's cheap. I think at that point you would be better off with Advanced Sensors.

Would Weapon Guidance work with the Hux condition focus on Stridan? It's a guaranteed damage on anything you get arc on, well unless you roll all hits/crits.

Advance Sensors wouldnt allow you to Hux on a red move, PA does. The 1turn is usually insanely important on a ship that cant kturn, not only giving it a shot but turning without hitting crap in a majority of positions. If i swapped out FCS i'd probably put Baffles on there but i wouldnt remove PA: why? cause if im in a spot where i think i need a white move i need to remove that stress. That happened a few times where a 1fwd was a bad idea and the 2greens were too fast so i had to just keep my stress.

Considering i plan out my moves in advance, i know if i need that move or not before i even take my stress.

Also, remove and discard are synonymous. Xwing makes no indication theyre different and in the English language they mean the same thing. Its just one of those phonetically correct words given the situation. You can say discard in place of remove in any sentence and people will know what you mean but it may sound weird. So i dont see why baffles wouldnt remove both stress.

Putting Baffles would enable me to put Juke on Ryad too so theres that.

19 minutes ago, Kristjan said:

I think PA and Recruit would work with Baffle, but part of the appeal with Baffle is that it's cheap. I think at that point you would be better off with Advanced Sensors.

The advantage that PA+Recruit+Baffle has over Adv. Sensors is that you can perform a red maneuver and Hux in the same round and end up stress free for the next round. Stop+Hux while at range three, followed by either another stop+Hux or a 1 turn + Hux , can be a powerful way to keep the Upsilon's gun in the fight for more of the critical early rounds.

19 minutes ago, Kristjan said:

Would Weapon Guidance work with the Hux condition focus on Stridan? It's a guaranteed damage on anything you get arc on, well unless you roll all hits/crits.

No, the condition specifies that the first focus result you change when spending a focus is the one can become unblockable. It also specifies that it can only be a hit when it goes through so no using Calculation, Palpatine, Mangler Cannon, etc. to try and get an unblockable crit. Weapons Guidance doesn't modify a focus result so it doesn't trigger Fanatical Devotion.