Here's my question to the thread...

Given the "right" build for Poe (PS9) is obviously BB-8, Primed Thrusters, Black One, and Autothrusters - leaving just the EPT as something you need to decide on...

...I mean, I get that Intensity is very good for Poe.

But isn't Push the Limit still better ? Plotting a green, BB-8 rolling off to the side away from an enemy, then PtL that into a boost away (can't do that with Intensity!) gives you a stress...but now you do your 3-straight (or whatever) and clear that stress and have BLASTED away from the enemy, then just take focus as your regular action.

I mean, tanking shots is great and all, but...isn't it better to take advantage of your basically-Whisper-pre-nerf levels of reactive movement to not be shot at all? I mean, a BR to one side or the other, followed by a boost to one side or the other, followed by a 3-straight and regular action (or do the focus off the BR and the boost after the straight maneuver that clears stress, or do...etc, et al) That's some hella reaction ability.

Intensity gets Poe an evade token, which he couldn't get before, plus he can now stack tokens (evade/focus or focus/focus). That's the difference.

I'm going to try both regen and bb-8 variants and see which I like most.

2 hours ago, xanderf said:

But isn't Push the Limit still better ?

Would be but isn't for some reasons:

1. Poe can use a focus token without spending it, which makes intensity much better

2. Intensity means your movement is not predictable as opposed to PTL

3. Most importantly: intensity gives access to an evade token!

this last point is the crucial one, as gennataos already mentioned. The T70 becomes a 3/3/3/3 ship with an evade. A setup with BB-8 means he's now a 3/3/3/3 with focus+evade as long as there's space to roll. Sounds familiar, right? Intensity is almost an x7 for the T70s.

The comparison falls a bit flat because the astromechs allow more specialisation and versatility at a higher cost. But x7 defender is still top notch, so intensity might enable the T70 to reach a similar level

as for your second part (sorry I forgot that!): it's very hard to dodge everything by now. So many turrets and clever players. Yes dodging everything is better, but preventing 3 damage every turn is amazing and basically guaranteed.

2 hours ago, gennataos said:

Intensity gets Poe an evade token, which he couldn't get before, plus he can now stack tokens (evade/focus or focus/focus). That's the difference.

I'm going to try both regen and bb-8 variants and see which I like most.

At a store championship I went 2 for 2 today with BB8 primed thrusters Intensity Poe. If I had regen, I'd probably have gone 3 for 4.

Also I needed to plain play better. Made too many stupid mistakes like forgetting Lone Wolf on Dash, and forgetting to take focus from Rey.

I also made a couple of bad judgements with movement, been playing Vassal too much and not enough of the real thing. 1 banks are a little further than I realize!

I need to try R2-D2 comms link Intensity Poe, but Primed Thrusters Poe is just plain fun to fly.

2 hours ago, BlodVargarna said:

At a store championship I went 2 for 2 today with BB8 primed thrusters Intensity Poe. If I had regen, I'd probably have gone 3 for 4.

Also I needed to plain play better. Made too many stupid mistakes like forgetting Lone Wolf on Dash, and forgetting to take focus from Rey.

I also made a couple of bad judgements with movement, been playing Vassal too much and not enough of the real thing. 1 banks are a little further than I realize!

I need to try R2-D2 comms link Intensity Poe, but Primed Thrusters Poe is just plain fun to fly.

I do that stuff ALL. THE. TIME. I have to play a list a good half dozen times (or more) before I remember all of the triggers, even the obvious ones. I have to get in the habit of using those triggers so it's as natural as remember performing a standard action.

How did things go? I was really looking forward to hearing how your day went.

@xanderf what others failed to mention is that Intensity Poe can have his focus even if he is blocked, or stressed (as long as hes under 3). PTL Poe is hard countered by Assaj and anything else that gives out stress. That focus is life ir death for Poe most times!

34 minutes ago, gennataos said:

I do that stuff ALL. THE. TIME. I have to play a list a good half dozen times (or more) before I remember all of the triggers, even the obvious ones. I have to get in the habit of using those triggers so it's as natural as remember performing a standard action.

How did things go? I was really looking forward to hearing how your day went.

I'll start a thread in the batrep section.

19 hours ago, SaltMaster 5000 said:

However annoying BB-8 Poe ends up being, it's still not regen Poe. Ultimately, BB-8 Poe will take damage and die.

Comm Relay, Intensity, R2-D2, Autothrusters, Black One. All day.

Plot Armor Poe also has more strategies to deal with though, such as blocking, bombing, or arc dodging (now that PS war is coming back). BB-8 Poe has the ability to manage those, for the most part. And, while he may eventually die, I'd argue that his ability to stay out of optimal focus fire range means that he may very well last as long as Regen Poe, against a player gunning strictly for Poe.

I've not had enough competitive setting reps against either, but BB-8 Poe was definitely more of a challenge than R2-D2 Poe for the couple of games I've seen each in. Merits more testing, and I'm not sure the best partner has been found yet -- I'm constantly seeing Dash, but I'm not seeing the pair do particularly well locally.

14 hours ago, BlodVargarna said:

I'd argue that this Intensity Poe is probably better with PS8 Poe. It's not going to dodge arcs without BR and doesn't care if it gets shot first as much. The two point saved can be used to offset this build's astronomical cost.

PS8 Poe is in a bad place, regardless of build. Black One, as mentioned by SOTL, isn't useful on PS8 Poe. He NEEDS to shed locks from OL (who is still running around), but he also needs to have a chance against Dengar, Backdraft, and PS9 Quickdraws (he's still in a bad place vs. PS 10 Quickdraw). Or anything, really, that can hit PS 9 and take Cruise Missiles.

9 hours ago, Stay On The Leader said:

The PS is to move after K4 Dengar and remove his target lock with Black One.

Then there's also the enhanced ability to dodge clutch arcs with the BB-8 shenanigans. Anytime Poe can move without giving the opponent a chance to respond is going to make the point investment seem trivial.

I've started running BB-8/Intensity Poe with a fat Miranda and a 4-point initiative bid. That list is no joke.