I'm trying to build a Store Championship list for funsies and want to use Norra. Can I get some feedback on this Norra build? I've used the PTL+R2 before and really liked it, but I'm keen on Expertise and the idea that Norra will survive forever with this combination:

Norra Wexley
- Expertise (4)
- Shield Upgrade (4)
- R2-D2 (4)
- C-3PO (3)
- Alliance Overhaul (0)
--- 44 points ---

I'm thinking of pairing with Biggs (obviously), leaving 30 points for a Jess Pava (w/ M9-G8) or something else that can fly in formation and put out real damage.

I would go with PTL over Expertise in all honesty. Since you're using R2D2 you're going to be doing green maneuvers anyways, and it provides you the flexibility of using her ability on defense, at which point you're guaranteed one evade from C3PO, one from ability, and one (regen) from R2D2... so a standard 3 attack ship can't damage you while you chisel away at their health. SU seems like a waste in all honesty - she isn't really fast enough to disengage to regen numerous shields.

Those changes would drop her down to 39 points, and a standard 26 point Biggs leaves you now 35 points for someone else... You could do a budget Poe8 w/ Adapt, B1, R5P9, IA.. Giving you a second regen ship, potentially one at PS7 via Adaptability if you're not fighting anything higher, or PS9 if you are. But let's be honest, if you have 35 points, you should take Miranda w/ TLT (and LRS). Now if they go for Norra second (because Biggs is obviously first), in either case, you have someone else end game that can hold their own... Or they go for Miranda and Norra is basically invincible end game. A smart player will realize this and will be forced to go for Norra, so Miranda will be free to slam around regening when the other ship doesn't have a shot, and chipping away like only a TLT can.

Agreed. With Alliance Overhaul, you're already getting one focus-to-crit modification in your rear arc; a 4-point EPT sunk into the possibility of getting multiple focus results seems like overkill. Plus, as noted, using Norra's ability defensively is awesome.

51 minutes ago, Rinzler in a Tie said:

I'm trying to build a Store Championship list for funsies and want to use Norra. Can I get some feedback on this Norra build? I've used the PTL+R2 before and really liked it, but I'm keen on Expertise and the idea that Norra will survive forever with this combination:

Norra Wexley
- Expertise (4)
- Shield Upgrade (4)
- R2-D2 (4)
- C-3PO (3)
- Alliance Overhaul (0)
--- 44 points ---

I'm thinking of pairing with Biggs (obviously), leaving 30 points for a Jess Pava (w/ M9-G8) or something else that can fly in formation and put out real damage.

I've tried to make Expertise work on Norra, and it never really feels like an improvement over PtL.

Now, if you want something with Norra where the list will seemingly live forever? I've made this monstrosity and...hell...Biggs never dies, while Norra still packs a hell of a punch. This is my "I want to lose as little MOV as possible" list. I've debated Rey over Jan as crew on Shara to give her more offense if someone grabs her TL, but I've not tried it yet.

Norra Wexley (29)
Wired (1)
Ezra Bridger (3)
R3-A2 (2)
Alliance Overhaul (0)

Biggs Darklighter (25)
Proton Torpedoes (4)
R4-D6 (1)
Guidance Chips (0)

Shara Bey (28)
Draw Their Fire (1)
Jan Ors (2)
R2-D2 (4)
Alliance Overhaul (0)

Total: 100

View in Yet Another Squad Builder

1 hour ago, gennataos said:

Norra Wexley (29)
Wired (1)
Ezra Bridger (3)
R3-A2 (2)
Alliance Overhaul (0)

Oooh, nice idea there! So you stress your opponent, roll your three dice, spend your TL to add a F, Ezra now converts said F to a crit, and perhaps you can reroll a F for a hit. Or you spend Shara's TL to reroll more dice.

Without Shara's TL, your expected hits increase from 2.5 to 2.875 with Wired, with still only a 24% chance of all 4 hits (up from 12.5%). Have you found wired to be that good? I realize that it's only 1 point itself, but the standard R2D2 + PTL build still has you doing green maneuvers and costs 1 point more than your version, exchanging regen and 3.25 average damage for a point and handing out a single stress. Obviously you have R2D2 crew on Shara so that wouldn't really work for this build, but I'm just curious about the interaction there - my biggest problem with Norra is the lack of rerolls normally, and this is a way around that. Obviously you can steal Shara's TL and then you're up to 3.25 hits anyways, but the PTL version would have it up to 3.81 with Shara's TL.

2 hours ago, Khyros said:

Oooh, nice idea there! So you stress your opponent, roll your three dice, spend your TL to add a F, Ezra now converts said F to a crit, and perhaps you can reroll a F for a hit. Or you spend Shara's TL to reroll more dice.

Without Shara's TL, your expected hits increase from 2.5 to 2.875 with Wired, with still only a 24% chance of all 4 hits (up from 12.5%). Have you found wired to be that good? I realize that it's only 1 point itself, but the standard R2D2 + PTL build still has you doing green maneuvers and costs 1 point more than your version, exchanging regen and 3.25 average damage for a point and handing out a single stress. Obviously you have R2D2 crew on Shara so that wouldn't really work for this build, but I'm just curious about the interaction there - my biggest problem with Norra is the lack of rerolls normally, and this is a way around that. Obviously you can steal Shara's TL and then you're up to 3.25 hits anyways, but the PTL version would have it up to 3.81 with Shara's TL.

When you say the standard PtL/R2-D2 build is only 1 point more than mine, what do you mean? You mean a full Norra/Shara/Biggs list, or Norra herself? This version of Norra is only 35 points compared to a more typical 40 point PtL/R2-D2.

I haven't played this list enough to really say if its great, but in the games I have played it's at least good. I've only lost to Paratanni, and that was in my first game with it and I didn't know how to fly it yet. In a vacuum, this "stress" Norra build isn't as good as a typical PtL/R2-D2 build, but this is why I went this route and how it's worked out for me thus far:

1. I see a lot of stress-dealing locally. This is the main reason I made this list, because I hated having to make the choice with Norra to PtL and end up double-stressed or not use PtL at all. This build makes Norra a far less viable target for stress. Even if she ends up stressed to the gills and never gets an action again, she's not terribly crippled. That also makes her maneuvers less predictable. I end up doing a lot of 2-turns with her, stressed or not.
2. The Wired re-rolls works for defense, too, which has probably come into play just as much as on offense.
3. Like you pointed out, R2-D2 is on Shara to siphon off damage. This works not only for Biggs, but also if/when Biggs goes down...Shara either becomes the primary target or she siphons damage off Norra, kinda win-win.
4. I've not faced an alpha strike list yet, but I'd imagine this would make Biggs fairly durable against one.

Things I don't like about the list:

1. I like Tail Gunner on my ARCs, without which I find myself putting through far less damage after the initial encounter. Really, though, this probably means I should change how I fly ARCs a little and make use of the K-turn, which I seldom use with a PtL/R2-D2 Norra list.
2. The combo of decreased offense and increased defense means a lot of games could go to time.
3. If Shara is the last ship, my only hope is run and go to time. By that point, both her EPT and pilot ability are completely useless.
4. I love the idea of the Torp on Biggs, but hate the idea that I'd have to fire it with sub-optimal mods or that he could get nuked before he gets it off. IA is the default for Biggs, but I've grown weary of "default" builds.