Personally I love them, give them R2 and integrated and they can last a lot longer than you'd think.

But does anyone else use them often?

If so how do you use them?

I'm always trying to fit them in squads where I can, although I prefer at least 2.

I don't want to hear anything about buffs/titles/cost on here, the T-65 is my favourite ship and I'll fly it regardless, lower the PS the better!

@MalusCalibur You might appreciate this!

Generally in a 4-ship squad. Targeting Astromech and Integrated Astromech is a nice combination - I've seen it work well with Flechette Torpedoes; K-turn, acquire lock, and torpedo the other guy - hopefully leaving him double stressed.

Alternatively, a seismic torpedo is a nice upgrade (although more than one is generally a waste), letting you clear space to joust in.

I used to. Often ran 3 naked, leaving 37 points for an ace (Super Horton was great fun!).
These days I prefer finding the extra points for Hobbie with Targeting Astro, or just going all out with about 40 points on Wedge.

Though 2 Rookies leaves you with 56 points left and IMO you can't go wrong with this.

Dash Rendar
Outrider (5)
Lone Wolf (2)
Rey (2)
Heavy Laser Cannon (7)
Engine Upgrade (4)
Ship Total: 56

Rookie Pilot
R2 Astromech (1)
Integrated Astromech (0)
Ship Total: 22

Rookie Pilot
R2 Astromech (1)
Integrated Astromech (0)
Ship Total: 22

Total: 100

1 minute ago, Stevey86 said:

I used to. Often ran 3 naked, leaving 37 points for an ace (Super Horton was great fun!).
These days I prefer finding the extra points for Hobbie with Targeting Astro, or just going all out with about 40 points on Wedge.

Though 2 Rookies leaves you with 56 points left and IMO you can't go wrong with this.

Dash Rendar
Outrider (5)
Lone Wolf (2)
Rey (2)
Heavy Laser Cannon (7)
Engine Upgrade (4)
Ship Total: 56

Rookie Pilot
R2 Astromech (1)
Integrated Astromech (0)
Ship Total: 22

Rookie Pilot
R2 Astromech (1)
Integrated Astromech (0)
Ship Total: 22

Total: 100

I used this list (although it was PtL Dash) for quote a while a year or two ago

1 minute ago, BCooper85 said:

I used this list (although it was PtL Dash) for quote a while a year or two ago

I remember flying against it. ;) You'd dropped Engine to free up the points hadn't you?

I'm about to, i'm trying a few new lists that involve them...
GTR Pava 10
Jess Pava (26) - T-70 X-Wing R4-D6 (1), Integrated Astromech (0) Tarn Mison (26) - X-Wing M9-G8 (3), Integrated Astromech (0) Garven Dreis (27) - X-Wing R2-D6 (1), Integrated Astromech (0), A Score To Settle (0) Rookie Pilot (21) - X-Wing


4X - 12 (100) Rookie Pilot (23) - X-Wing BB-8 (2), Integrated Astromech (0) Rookie Pilot (22) - X-Wing R4-D6 (1), Integrated Astromech (0) Tarn Mison (26) - X-Wing M9-G8 (3), Integrated Astromech (0) Garven Dreis (29) - X-Wing R2-D6 (1), Integrated Astromech (0), Snap Shot (2)

1 hour ago, Stevey86 said:

I remember flying against it. ;) You'd dropped Engine to free up the points hadn't you?

I did yes! I never saw the need for engine on Dash, if you fly him right the barrel roll is plenty.

One of my buddies uses two in a generic Rebel squad.

His secret weapon is the Seismic Torpedoes... and that's not a joke:

I was looking at the Rookie recently and thought "Man, a decent 2 point generic astromech and 2 point torp would do wonders for these guys"

And then I got angry about R3 Astro all over again. At least we got seismic torps.

Edit: Targeting Astro has a good ability, I just find it hard to justify with the T-65's one red maneuver. I suppose I should try it out. R7 requires FCS or some real action economy, otherwise better to just focus.

I was flying three in the height of the triple Jumpmasters. Miranda with TLT and Dash Rendar crew with three Rookies flying lean and clean provided plenty of tools against most lists. Sucked against alpha strikes and had troubles with Black Sqdn crack swarms. The latter of these trouble lists has faded. Not entirely sure what would happen against new mindlink builds... I think those that leave a trailing ship behind (Dengar/Fenn/Inaldra) would suffer for it, but those that fly all ships in your face would be trouble.

4 minutes ago, WAC47 said:

I was looking at the Rookie recently and thought "Man, a decent 2 point generic astromech and 2 point torp would do wonders for these guys"

I've been wanting better generic astros for as long as I can remember. R2 is ok (and would be amazing if there was any ship with 1 turns that could take it), but the rest...

When the X/E fix finally happens I'm really hoping for decent 1, 2 and 3 point generics.

The last 2-3 games I've played, my opponent won with only his rookie surviving, and he says it's fairly common in his years of play (we play in a 6 players meta or smth). He always run some kind of Fat Han in our 2vs2 games on a 80x80cm play area.

Just now, Stevey86 said:

I've been wanting better generic astros for as long as I can remember. R2 is ok (and would be amazing if there was any ship with 1 turns that could take it), but the rest...

When the X/E fix finally happens I'm really hoping for decent 1, 2 and 3 point generics.

I think dropping the Rookie by 2 points is the only thing we need,. Flying 5 would look great, hit like a truck but would not be overpowered in my opinion.

A small (20 player) store championship here was won by a Lothal Rebel/Jess Pava/Cpt. Rex/Rookie Pilot list.

Just now, BCooper85 said:

I think dropping the Rookie by 2 points is the only thing we need,. Flying 5 would look great, hit like a truck but would not be overpowered in my opinion.

Oh yeah this as well. If we can have 5 Kihrazx with loads of free stuff then 5 Rookies should definitely be allowed to happen. I'm all for a -2 point title of some description.

But a 2nd decent option for a 1 point astro would be nice.

And beyond the Rookies it'd be nice to have 2/3 point ones that are a bit more useful than the crap currently about. There's nothing good for generic E-Wings at all.

Just won a store championship with a rookie

Lothal - FCS, chopper

Jess pava - R2 Astromech, integrated

Captain Rex

Rookie - Targeting Astromech, integrated.

The rookie is the workhorse out there. Tough enough that you can't ignore him and Because of high PS ships, I am K turning a lot to set up kill boxes. I find he is the work horse a lot in my lists. He is usually my lead ship and for the last three games against attani, he is the one to bump Fenn to set up range 2 shots. Also another great thing about Targeting astro. A turn where 1 through 4 straight is blocked. Take the K turn and bump. You get the target lock for free. I've used that to effect a lot in the initial engagement.

55 minutes ago, thestggrwng said:

Just won a store championship with a rookie

Lothal - FCS, chopper

Jess pava - R2 Astromech, integrated

Captain Rex

Rookie - Targeting Astromech, integrated.

The rookie is the workhorse out there. Tough enough that you can't ignore him and Because of high PS ships, I am K turning a lot to set up kill boxes. I find he is the work horse a lot in my lists. He is usually my lead ship and for the last three games against attani, he is the one to bump Fenn to set up range 2 shots. Also another great thing about Targeting astro. A turn where 1 through 4 straight is blocked. Take the K turn and bump. You get the target lock for free. I've used that to effect a lot in the initial engagement.

That's a cracking idea! Will definitely need to try targeting astro's again with that in mind.

I doubt it's 'competitive,' but I've won a few games with an Alpha Strike list consisting of four Rookie Pilots with Proton Torpedoes and Guidance Chips. There's not much strategy behind it-- focus-fire on one or two ships in the opening joust and hope your green dice roll hot-- but it can really ruin the day for someone who's based their list around one or two key ace pilots.