So I'm going to the System Open next week and I am kind of torn between two builds; Rey and Norra or Dash and Norra? Here's my list;

Norra Wexley: Title, PTL, Vectored Thrusters, Tail Gunner, R2-D2

+

Rey: Title (HotR), Expertise, Kanan, Finn, Smuggling Compartment, Inertial Dampeners (total with Norra is 99 pts)

OR

Dash Rendar: Title, PTL, HLC, Kanan, Engine Upgrade (total with Norra is 98 pts)

Any advice is appreciated. Thanks.

Biggest thing that worries me is swarms though, no matter which list I go with.

The problem I see with both of those builds is they're both weak against Asajj/Latts. PtL dash is a lot of points to spend on effectively a 3 dice turret with donut hole. Similarly, Rey as a jouster is likely to lose expertise AND effectively wash with the Finn die if she gets caught in the arc.

Oddly though, I've had good success with Dash/expertise/Rey crew in that match up. He plays range management way better than Rey does so staying out of that mobile arc or at range 3 is pretty easy. And with Rey focus as a backup, if you lose Expertise once or twice it's no big deal.

Otherwise both are great in most other matchups!

Why not 2 wingmen? I've been running her with M9-G8 Biggs to offset for the lack of re-rolls, and Stressbot / Cool Hand Wes for token stripping.

Mind you, it's neither PWT nor post-movement repositioning easy mode, but the punch it packs will take many an enemy off guard.

I have only been embracing Biggs mechanics couple last months, but if you learn to control the range between your ships to spread the damage, and optimize the use the Biggsshield, it's very potent indeed.

A thing to consider about your expertise build on Rey:
It falls to stress mechanics, which are bound to be more numeruous since the nerf of X7, and Inertial dampeners screws your build up big time. It does NOT work with Kanan Jarrus (except, if you had a stress beforehand, then you can clear 1 stress, then receive the one from ID).

Personally I like VI/engine on rey instead of expertise/ID. It gives you a more flexible layout, with boost as an action and PS10 (helping a ton against fenn rau as well as the odd Whisper).
You DO lose some firepower, but if you are confident enough that you can evade assajj or even a stresshog, then I would chose expertise

If you want to go with the dash build, consider putting lonewolf and rey on him. Gives him a flexible, non-stress build as well as making him more tanky due to rerolls.
Engine upgrade is entirely optional, you could even go for feedback and counter measures!

about your Norra build though: Are you entirely sold on your tail-gunner on her?
In a 3-ship-build I would agree it is auto-include, but in a 2 ship build?

If your enemy just goes straight after your Rey/Dash, then your Norra has to chase after your enemy, effectively making her tail-gunner redundant.
Kyle-Katarn or C3PO gives you a stronger ship overall, but a not so lethal rear arc. Just consider it when you build your list: Do your enemy focus Norra first, or the wingman.

If you are worried about swarms use Dash, he can put lots of things in their way and with large base double repositioning can dance around them infinitely without caring about his facing.

I wouldn't know why you are worried about swarms, though, they aren't really a dominant archetype right now. Although they are coming back to some extend with Snapshot and Blair Bunkes Tracer swarm (well, 5 ships aren't really a swarm, but it is as close as you will get these days).

I like Tailgunner but I normally run Norra with Biggs. If she is paired with a large ship, I agree that I would be tempted to go with C-3PO. 2 damage mitigated per turn means that if the enemy concentrates on her first, she will still last long enough to do some damage while your big ship lays down the hurt. If they go after the big ship first, Norra with both C-3PO and R2-D2 will be almost impossible to delete in the end-game.

if you are only going 1 buddy i'd go with Rey. Reason being is threat diffusion.

Norra is squishy. Its not uncommon for her to pop really, really fast if shes focus fired. Rey can get in their face and distract them, while Dash is usually off in la-la-land pewing lasers from a distance. Dash is commonly ignored if they dont think they can kill him in a single pass because hes so hard to chase, between the two i'd go for norra anyway since she also has regen so hitting her uber hard is even more important than Dash.

Rey may not have the evasiveness in terms of mobility that Dash has but she hits just as hard and if the attacker is in her arc shes a LOT more durable.

Either way, this is the build for Norra in a 2-ship list; without Biggs, you need to build her for the endgame.

ARC-170: · Norra Wexley (29)
Push The Limit (3)
· R2-D2 (4)
Vectored Thrusters (2)
· C-3PO (3)
Alliance Overhaul (0)

Now, here's how I build her wingmates:

YT-2400: · Dash Rendar (36)
Expertise (4)
Heavy Laser Cannon (7)
Smuggling Compartment (0)
· Rey (2)
· Outrider (5)
Counter-Measures (3)
Scavenger Crane (2)

Hits like a truck, and both ships are extremely tanky. Rey crew and Expertise allow Dash to have focus for offense and defense regardless of his action. 100 pts.

YT-1300: · Rey (45)
Expertise (4)
· Finn (5)
· Kanan Jarrus (3)
· Millennium Falcon (Segnor's Loop) (1)

Crazy-good mobility, and you can still fire fully-modified shots when the enemy is in arc. 99 pts.

47 minutes ago, Vineheart01 said:

if you are only going 1 buddy i'd go with Rey. Reason being is threat diffusion.

Norra is squishy. Its not uncommon for her to pop really, really fast if shes focus fired. Rey can get in their face and distract them, while Dash is usually off in la-la-land pewing lasers from a distance. Dash is commonly ignored if they dont think they can kill him in a single pass because hes so hard to chase, between the two i'd go for norra anyway since she also has regen so hitting her uber hard is even more important than Dash.

Rey may not have the evasiveness in terms of mobility that Dash has but she hits just as hard and if the attacker is in her arc shes a LOT more durable.

I agree with this. Rey and Norra work well together because they share some similar traits, both hitting hard out the front and are reasonably durable. Flying them together gives your opponent a choice to make from the off, try to take out Rey leaving Norra for the endgame in which case Norra will use her focus+TL offensively, or try to burn down Norra first when she can use her TL focus defensively + C3PO to tank shots.

If I'm going to take Dash I would prefer to pair him with Miranda.