So this is really just me thinking out loud. With the choices of Primed Thrusters, Pattern Analyzer, Advanced Optics, and Comm Relay, I'm often trying to figure out which one I should use for Poe (and also for other ships with the Tech slot). Each upgrade has it's Pros and Cons, so I'm writing down how each one behaves in 4 scenarios; executing a green maneuver, a red maneuver, a green while stressed, and a white while stressed. For this I'm using:

Poe with Intensity, BB-8, and Black One (not bothering with Mods since they really don't impact the results).

If you feel you're in a similar position then I hope this will help you out. If not and you don't even use Poe or already know which is the best tech for your build, then this might be a waste of your time.

Anyway, let's get started.

Primed Thrusters:
1) Green Maneuver:
BB-8: Still activates
Intensity: Activates from BB-8 and grants you a Focus or Evade
Black One: Still activates if you have a red target lock
Main Action: Most likely a focus if you chose an evade via Intensity for extra defense, a TL for extra offense, or a boost for better arc dodge or firing position

Total Actions/Mods: 3. Barrel roll BB-8, focus/evade Intensity, and your main action
End results: No stress, shred off enemy TL, spend a token so Intensity is ready for next round, and you have a TL or evade for extra mods during Combat

2) Red Maneuver:
BB-8: Does NOT activate
Main Action: Only option is Boost
Intensity: Activates only if you choose a boost as your action after red maneuver
Black One: Only from your boost

Total Actions: 2. Boost & focus/evade (most likely focus)
End results: You're stressed, but shred off enemy TL if boosted, need to sacrifice focus/evade from Intensity to re-use it for next turn

3) Green Maneuver while stressed:
BB-8: Still activates
Intensity: Activates from BB-8 and grants you a Focus or Evade
Black One: Still activates if you have a red target lock
Main: Most likely a focus if you chose an evade via Intensity for extra defense, a TL for extra offense, or a boost for better arc dodge or firing position

Total Actions: 3, barrel roll, focus/evade, and your main action
End results: No stress, shred off enemy TL, spend a token so Intensity is ready for next round, and you have a TL or evade for extra mods during Combat

4) White Maneuver while stressed:
BB-8: Does NOT activate
Main Action: Only Boost
Intensity: Activates only if you choose a boost as your action after red maneuver
Black One: Only from your boost

Total Actions: 2: boost & focus/evade (most likely focus)
End results: You're stressed, but shred off enemy TL if boosted, need to sacrifice focus from Intensity to re-use it for next turn

Pattern Analyzer:
1) Green Maneuver:
BB-8: Still activates
Intensity: Activates from BB-8 and grants you a Focus or Evade
Black One: Still activates if you have a red target lock
Main Action: Most likely a focus if you chose an evade via Intensity for extra defense, a TL for extra offense, or a boost for better arc dodge or firing position

Total Actions: 3, barrel roll, focus/evade, and your main action
End results: No stress, shred off enemy TL, spend a token so Intensity is ready for next round, and you have a TL or evade for extra mods during Combat

2) Red Maneuver:
BB-8: Does NOT activate
Main Action: Any action is available
Intensity: Activates only if you choose a boost as your action after red maneuver
Black One: Only from your boost

Total Actions: 1 or 2 max possible: boost & focus/evade (most likely focus), or any single standard action (TL or Focus)
End results: You're stressed, shred off enemy TL if boosted, need to sacrifice focus from Intensity to re-use it for next turn

3) Green Maneuver while stressed:
BB-8: Does NOT activate
Main: Any action is available
Intensity: Activates only if you choose a boost as your action
Black One: Activates only if you choose a boost as your action

Total Actions: 1 or 2 max possible: boost & focus/evade (most likely focus), or any single standard action (TL or Focus)
End results: No stress, shred off enemy TL if boosted, Intensity is ready for next round, and you have a TL or evade for extra mods during Combat

4) White Maneuver while stressed:
BB-8: Does NOT activate due to previous stress
Main Action: No action
Intensity: Does NOT activate due to no action due to previous stress
Black One: Does NOT activate due to no action due to previous stress

Total Actions: None
End results: You're still stressed, still target locked, and left with no actions/mods for this round

Advanced Optics:
1) Green Maneuver:
BB-8: Still activates
Intensity: Activates from BB-8 and grants you a Focus or Evade (best to choose Evade for this so you can gain Focus later and have something to sacrifice to flip up Intensity)
Black One: Still activates if you have a red target lock
Main Action: Most likely a focus if you chose an evade via Intensity for extra defense and to flip over Intensity, a TL for extra offense, or a boost for better arc dodge or firing position

Total Actions/Mods: 3 (or 4 max if you already have a Focus stored from a previous round), barrel roll from BB-8, Evade from Intensity, (Focus from previous round) and your main action (being Boost or TL)
End results: No stress, shred off enemy TL, best to spend an Evade so Intensity is ready and flipped up, and you now have a Focus Token to carry into the next round

2) Red Maneuver:
BB-8: Does NOT activate
Main Action: No action
Intensity: Does NOT activate due to no action due to previous stress
Black One: Does NOT activate due to no action due to previous stress

Total Actions/Mods: None, UNLESS you already have a Focus token stored from a previous round
End results: You're stressed, still target locked, and either have one Focus token or nothing

3) Green Maneuver while stressed:
BB-8: Does NOT activate
Main: Any action is available (Focus best option, or TL since it can also carry over to next round. If you already have a Focus from previous round then you can boost and evade, then spend evade to reuse Intensity later)
Intensity: Activates only if you choose a boost as your action (However you will have to spend a token in the end phase if you want to use Intensity next round)
Black One: Activates only if you choose a boost as your action

Total Actions/Mods: 1 up to 3 max possible depending on if you already have a Focus from a previous round
End results: No stress but if you chose to boost you'll shred off enemy TL, and gain a focus/evade HOWEVER you'll have to give it up to keep using Intensity, so you're left with nothing UNLESS you chose to Focus as your main action and now you have something to carry on to the next round.

4) White Maneuver while stressed:
BB-8: Does NOT activate due to previous stress
Main Action: No action
Intensity: Does NOT activate due to no action due to previous stress
Black One: Does NOT activate due to no action due to previous stress

Total Actions/Mods: None,UNLESS you already have a Focus token stored from a previous round
End results: You're stressed, still target locked, and either have one Focus token or nothing

Comm Relay: (pretty much the exact same as Advanced Optics)
1) Green Maneuver:
BB-8: Still activates
Intensity: Activates from BB-8 and grants you a Focus or Evade (best to choose Evade for this so you can keep it for future defense, or if you already have an Evade then choose Focus)
Black One: Still activates if you have a red target lock
Main Action: Most likely a focus if you chose an evade via Intensity, or a TL if you already have an Evade from Comm and Focus from Intensity, or a boost for better arc dodge or firing position

Total Actions/Mods: 3 (or 4 max if you already have an Evade stored from a previous round), barrel roll from BB-8, Focus from Intensity, (Evade from previous round) and your main action (being Boost, TL, or a second Focus)
End results: No stress, shred enemy TL, best to spend your Focus so Intensity is ready and flipped up, and you now have an Evade Token to carry into the next round

2) Red Maneuver:
BB-8: Does NOT activate
Main Action: No action
Intensity: Does NOT activate due to no action due to previous stress
Black One: Does NOT activate due to no action due to previous stress

Total Actions/Mods: None, UNLESS you already have an Evade token stored from a previous round
End results: You're stressed, still target locked, possibly still locked, and either have one Evade token or nothing

3) Green Maneuver while stressed:
BB-8: Does NOT activate
Main: Any action is available (Boost best option for action economy, especially if you already have an Evade from previous round then you can boost and Focus, then spend Focus to reuse Intensity later)
Intensity: Activates only if you choose a boost as your action (However you will have to spend a token in the end phase if you want to use Intensity next round)
Black One: Activates only if you choose a boost as your action

Total Actions/Mods: 1 up to 3 max possible depending on if you already have an Evade from a previous round
End results: No stress but if you chose to boost you'll shred enemy TL and gain a focus/evade, HOWEVER you'll have to give it up to keep using Intensity, so you're left with nothing UNLESS you already have an Evade from previous round

4) White Maneuver while stressed:
BB-8: Does NOT activate due to previous stress
Main Action: No action
Intensity: Does NOT activate due to no action due to previous stress
Black One: Does NOT activate due to no action due to previous stress

Total Actions/Mods: None, UNLESS you already have an Evade token stored from a previous round
End results: You're stressed, still target locked, and either have one Evade token or nothing

Well congrats, you've read through all of it and I hope it's been helpful to you. In reviewing what I've concluded, in my own opinion I'd rank the 4 by the following (#3 and #2 are closely tied, and once again this is for this Poe loadout. Other ships that behave differently will have different results):

#4) Pattern Analyzer. It doesn't add any advantage to a green maneuver with/without stress and doesn't help a white maneuver with stress. It only shines if you're doing to be doing a lot of red moves.
#3) Advanced Optics. I'd only choose this one if I don't have 3 pts for Comm Relay. While it is very useful for Poe since he relies on Focus tokens, if you gain a Focus from Intensity then you immediately have to use it up in the End Phase since you can't get another Focus token from you're main action and Evade isn't an option (not without outside help anyway). Also sometimes I think it is good for Poe to have two Focus tokens in case he rolls 2+ focus dice results for offense or defense.
#2) Comm Relay. I like this one since it allows you to potentially have up to 2 Focus tokens and 1 Evade. I think it's main drawback is the extra point over Advanced Optics. However, both Comm Relay and Advanced Optics can leave you wide open with no actions/mods if you do a red maneuver or still stressed while doing a white maneuver, so unless you already have one stored token, you're wide open for an easy attack.
#1) Primed Thrusters. From all 4 basic scenarios this card can still grant you access to the boost action which will activate Intensity for an additional token and shred any Target Locks off of you or nearby opponent. You can still use BB-8 even while you have a stress and plus it is the cheapest of these four.

Thanks again for reading. I hope this has been helpful to you.

Short short version: Advanced Optics

Yeah now let's consider VI R2-D2 Poe and see if the answer changes

For BB-8 Intensity (fun) Poe - if Stress is a thing in your meta, AO or PT. If you want to enter the first round of combat with focus, evade and target lock then AO or CR. If you find you need to spend your focus a lot, CR.

At the mo I fly AO with my Dash/Poe, but if points weren’t in short supply I’d rather have CR. when I have a sheathipede on my wing for coordinated actions I go PT.

For (boring) VI Poe, AO every time.

Pattern Analyzer is for R5-P8 builds, IMHO. You can stick with AdvO with R5-P9, but there's a logic to PA, since it opens Red moves, and AdvO doesn't work to it's full potential once the midgame has begun.

Comm Relay I don't like with BB-8 (a huge strength of Intensity/BB-8 is that you can spend your Evade every turn, and don't have to save it), but only R2-D2 Intensity. It'll allow more token stacking, and a tankier Poe, but it leads to lower potential offense.

Primed Thrusters is great with Intensity/BB-8, so you can pull reds in there, but doesn't really seem useful except on Intensity/BB-8, at least not compared to Advanced Optics.

Advanced Optics lets you take Target Locks on an R2-D2 Poe. That's huge, and why it's the clear winner. Poe's offense historically has been trash. Advanced Optics allows him to get regen and still actually hit moderately hard. That was the missing piece, and now it's here.

//

While BB-8 Poe is kinda fun, the big issue with it is that you don't regen. I mean, BB-8/Intensity can BR for an Evade every turn, take a Focus action, and you'll be fairly tanky, or you can BR a Focus and use your action to Boost, and be fairly nimble. But you won't be as nimble as a PTL Kylo Ren (or my new fav, PTL Guri). Poe can be flown with someone like Dash or Rey, which is an advantage over Kylo, but as a pure arc dodger, he doesn't do it better than other ships.

So Regen.

So R2-D2.

So Advanced Optics.

Or regen

So R5-P9 (if phantom 2 is present)

So Pattern Analyzer

It's a hybrid that has similar durability to AO Poe, but better maneuverability. He's less efficient after the sheathipede drops, so it's up to you to leverage his efficiency early.

...but I suspect this is why the OP was posting specifically about BB-8 intensity Poe, because the conversation always goes back to regen.

Regen is always better, but sometimes you don't want to fly "better" you want to fly "funner".

so you're not talking about Poe, but specifically intensity bb-8 poe

because otherwise PS 9 (before VI) Poe Dameron with Advanced Optics and r2d2 is basically what "Poe" means right now

Advanced Optics synergizes perfectly with his ability, to the point where it's blindly obvious that it's the best option bar none unless your local group hates you specifically and spams hotshot copilots or palob

Bb8 intensity wants primed.

Every other build wants optics.

Best Poe: Advanced Optics

Worse Poe: Who cares because obviously you don’t care about winning that much

I played 7 games with Poe today and in every single one of them Advanced Optics was a key card. I was free to boost every single round, with absolutely no hesitation on doing red moves, going over obstacles or bumping ships whenever necessary. In addition, it's not dependent on Intensity to get Poe the focus he needs each turn, freeing him to take Lone Wolf, VI or other such amazing upgrades instead.

Primed Thrusters is my distant second, but still amazing in budget builds. Pattern Analyser and Commm Relay aren't options for me at this point.

Well thank you to those who gave constructive comments. I appreciate the feedback.

Yes I chose the BB-8 Intensity build because it was the one I have flown the most. I’m the only Rebel player in my community so I don’t see other variations of Poe and the last time I played Regen Poe with R2-D2 (a little over a year ago) I found him sluggish, predictable, and expensive. So since then I decided to stick to a more maneuverable build (BB-8 with PTL, until Intensity came along) and haven’t given Regen a second thought. But it seems I underestimated that Advanced Optics could make Regen Poe playable again.

So I’ll give him another shot. If I had the points I’d give him PTL, but unfortunately with AO and R2 I’m left with VI for EPT (or maybe Crackshot).

Guess I'm the only one here who likes R2-D2, Intensity, Comm Poe?

Plot Armor Poe is best Poe, imo.

BB8 Poe or GTFO. Look at the latest results from the regionals in Europe.

Right now, VI and AO are the way to go. Intensity and Primed Thrusters a close second. I actually wish FFG would outlaw VI so everyone can just get on with it and pick more interesting and fun pilot talents.

What about BB-8 PTL Poe?

...

ok, I'm leaving...

3 minutes ago, Kieransi said:

What about BB-8 PTL Poe?

...

ok, I'm leaving...

Primed Thrusters and quizzical glance at PTL.

1 hour ago, BlodVargarna said:

BB8 Poe or GTFO. Look at the latest results from the regionals in Europe.

Right now, VI and AO are the way to go. Intensity and Primed Thrusters a close second. I actually wish FFG would outlaw VI so everyone can just get on with it and pick more interesting and fun pilot talents.

VI to single-use only. Discard at the start of the activation phase to set your pilot skill to 8 (or 12 if you are a unique pilot) until the end of the round. Adaptability goes to -1 and +0, so it can't increase pilot skill.

Just make it generic pilots only.

3 minutes ago, thespaceinvader said:

Primed Thrusters and quizzical glance at PTL.

It's only there for the one trick, which is to barrel roll and then boost before moving. It actually does ok paired with Adv. Optics.

As for the VI thing, I'd rather they just capped PS at 9. Seems the most elegant fix.

14 minutes ago, Kieransi said:

It's only there for the one trick, which is to barrel roll and then boost before moving. It actually does ok paired with Adv. Optics.

As for the VI thing, I'd rather they just capped PS at 9. Seems the most elegant fix.

And bring back the days of crazy I initiative bids?

BB8 is the one and only. It is known!

1 minute ago, Estarriol said:

And bring back the days of crazy I initiative bids?

BB8 is the one and only. It is known!

Oddly enough, the initiative bid is one of my favorite parts of this game. I love the added element of guesswork and listbuilding, and it feels just very thematically right for Aces. If I think my Kylo can solo your entire list, I'll take a 55-point initiative bid, dang it!

1 hour ago, Estarriol said:

And bring back the days of crazy I initiative bids?

Initiative bids are a great mechanic and are a buff to generic low-mid ps lists.