I've been messing about with the HotR Chewbacca and some low cost squad mates to maybe help trigger his ability. I think the key is going to be trying to give opponents enough of reason to go after ships other than Chewy and to be well placed to take advantage if they do. Here's my current list:

Rey might seem like an odd choice but the thinking is to try and maximize defense by getting a couple of focus on her early on and then having them to spend on defense or store away again if they're not used. I would then take the 'evade' action as often as possible.

Airen handing out actions after attacks makes him an attractive target.

Rex is hard to ignore due to suppressive fire.

The Bandit is a short term threat with the cruise missiles and most importantly cheap!

Any ideas on how to improve this? Would you build Chewy differently? Who would be tempting bait to persuade opponents to go after instead of Chewy and help him get those extra attacks?

The basic concept looks like a fun version of a Falcon list.

I don't really like Rey plus Expertise. It feels a bit redundant. I get where you're going, but on one die, a defensive focus really doesn't go that far. Keeping Expertise and swapping Rey for Magva Yarro could work, since that'd give Chewie free TLs if he's attacked. That might dissuade folks from targeting him first.

Alternately, keeping Rey and switching to Predator would allow another point somewhere in the build. VI for Airen Cracken (he should get Adaptability if he doesn't get VI), upgrading a Cruise to a Harpoon Missile, or perhaps a 1-point Illicit like Burnout SLAM, to get Chewie out of a bad situation. Could be risky, however, since it'd shut off his pilot ability for that round. I kinda like the Cruise Missile to Harpoon upgrade. Cruise can hit hard, but require very specific maneuvers at specific times to be effective. If you wanted to upgrade both missiles to Cruise, going Predator, Saw, title on Chewie would get that other point, but that does make Chewie a lot more squishy.

Thanks, these are really useful thoughts!

1 hour ago, theBitterFig said:

on one die, a defensive focus really doesn't go that far

I'm estimating having Rey will probably give me an average of around two evades per game (get shot at maybe six times, a couple at range three) and assuming a couple of rounds of no combat will work without actions. For two points that doesn't feel too shabby

1 hour ago, theBitterFig said:

Magva Yarro could work

This is a cool idea! Everything to encourage opponents to go after the other ships is good (or punish them for going after Chewy). I don't have Saw's Renegades at the moment but I could try proxying it.

I also thought about Leebo for the occasional boost.

1 hour ago, theBitterFig said:

Cruise can hit hard, but require very specific maneuvers

Agree. I've play tested something similar to the OP a couple of times. You've got to be willing to use the Cruise Missiles off three speed maneuvers and potentially target lock one round, 3 k-turn and shoot the next. Harpoons would be more scary. In some ways the goal is to bait people into shooting the Z95s so the threat of the missile is part of that. Using them is also good though

1 hour ago, theBitterFig said:

Airen Cracken (he should get Adaptability if he doesn't get VI)

Good call. Another one I'll have to proxy for the moment.

Any thoughts on alternative "chum" to use as bait?