Today’s rules update lets some air out of the Finn Pod’s tires. Question is, is he still worth his space-salt under the New Rules Order?

I ask in part because I’ve been looking at some Transport + Pod lists. It’s cool that Cova/R4 is now decidedly a thing, but I’m honestly starting to eye BB-8 instead of Finn in the Pod.

He is still a cheap little ship that has more punching power then a ship of his cost and size usually has.

BB-8 might have some more maneuverability and a cheaper crew carrier, but Finn is the cheapest psuedo 3 die primary Resistance has I think.

I know I will keep using him.

43 points for just about guaranteed 3 hits (the only way you don't get 3 hits with the standard Perceptive + Optics combo is exactly double-blank into Heroic'd double blank -- and even then you still get 2 hits) still seems good to me. Especially when he can still pretty reliably stop 2 damage even when strained.

I haven’t gotten around to the 40+ build yet, but I have been having fun with just Finn and Heroic for 30 as filler. The change does make him less survivable, but that also makes him a juicier target. So, either they are shooting him, and his bigger buddies take less heat, or he’s ignored and adds a focus result to his attack. Win-win to me.

For 30 points with heroic he's still just hilariously powerful

I mean, THIRTY POINTS!!!

I'm going to go against the grain and say no not at all. He's just as terrible as the other Pod pilots now.

Why I would take Finn over a generic RZ-2 or full sized transport now for only a few points more? I can't answer that.

12 minutes ago, BVRCH said:

Why I would take Finn over a generic RZ-2 or full sized transport now for only a few points more? I can't answer that.

3 dice gun >>>>>>>>>>>>>> 2 dice gun. EDIT: Also, he plays nicer with Jess and co.

Unless that full-sized transport is Cova, but I think FFG just broke her in half and set her up for a nerf come January so she might not be the best example to use...

1 minute ago, DR4CO said:

3 dice gun >>>>>>>>>>>>>> 2 dice gun

Unless that full-sized transport is Cova, but I think FFG just broke her in half and set her up for a nerf come January so she might not be the best example to use...

That's not incentive enough for me. He would be so fragile now, in my eyes its not worth the trouble.

Finn has to watch his Strain, but that just means he gets more use out of Heroic.

The environment has changed with potentially more tractors in play so watch out.

3 minutes ago, BVRCH said:

He would be so fragile now, in my eyes its not worth the trouble.

Is he that much more fragile, though?

Even when strained, he's still only looking at 0.7 expected damage from a focused 3-dice attack, and the first Focused 3-dice shot that goes into him is still only expecting to do 0.25. So you still need to put two good shots into him just to maybe deal 1 damage and set him up for your third attack.

That still sounds pretty tanky to me.

4 minutes ago, DR4CO said:

Is he that much more fragile, though?

Even when strained, he's still only looking at 0.7 expected damage from a focused 3-dice attack, and the first Focused 3-dice shot that goes into him is still only expecting to do 0.25. So you still need to put two good shots into him just to maybe deal 1 damage and set him up for your third attack.

That still sounds pretty tanky to me.

I appreciate the sentiment but you've not convinced me. I don't see enough value in him anymore. It's an atrocity of a ship without his guaranteed strength, and I'd rather put my points elsewhere now, rather than betting on Heroic to save myself.

I'd rather an A-wing that can dodge an attack altogether or block more effectively, or play mouse, etc. etc. it's a much more versatile ship for more 4 more points than face-tank Finn. I just don't see it.

My incoherent ramblings as to why Finn would be good (tolerated mostly only by @RStan and @Brunas [both who probably solved the equation before I did]) included an assumption (then incorrect) that straining on defense had consequences. The point still stands: at worse, Heroic Perceptive Finn defends like a 3 agi ship rolling average and very rarely like a 3 agi ship rolling garbage. Rolling 1 die to add focus or to add blank for heroic is very good, even with 1 die.

I don't envy Resistance: not unless Poe steals a Silencer and a force charge (and then I immediately defect to Resistance). But great centerpieces tend to be balanced out in the game by "meh" filler. Case in point: Rivas, AKA Kylo and Quickdraw's 28 pt shield upgrade/blocker that does damage on occasion if ignored, is an I1 TIE FO with an ability that occasionally procs.

He is 2 pt cheaper than Finn.

Finn is a big deal. But as he said, he's a big deal in the Resistance.

56 minutes ago, ficklegreendice said:

For 30 points with heroic he's still just hilariously powerful

I mean, THIRTY POINTS!!!

Username checks out in gawking at Finn. But I agree.

46 minutes ago, BVRCH said:

I'm going to go against the grain and say no not at all. He's just as terrible as the other Pod pilots now.

Why I would take Finn over a generic RZ-2 or full sized transport now for only a few points more? I can't answer that.

For me, it’s definitely the price that makes him worthwhile. A generic RZ-2 is 4 more points than Finn. That’s not a ton, but enough to help pay for something nice on one of my bigger pieces, afford more ships, or go for a bid. Similar feelings for the full transport, which is beefier, but is still just a two dice gun for 3 more points.

He seems squishy, but has some hidden tricks.

Now, it also helps that the list I use actually plans for the eventuality of Finn’s death. The list centers on Chewie with two RZ-2s and Finn. Finn dies? Okay, Chewie gets mad and the other ships didn’t take that damage. Finn is ignored? Okay, he’s going to trundle along and hit you with three dice.

3 minutes ago, SabineKey said:

For me, it’s definitely the price that makes him worthwhile. A generic RZ-2 is 4 more points than Finn. That’s not a ton, but enough to help pay for something nice on one of my bigger pieces, afford more ships, or go for a bid. Similar feelings for the full transport, which is beefier, but is still just a two dice gun for 3 more points.

He seems squishy, but has some hidden tricks.

Now, it also helps that the list I use actually plans for the eventuality of Finn’s death. The list centers on Chewie with two RZ-2s and Finn. Finn dies? Okay, Chewie gets mad and the other ships didn’t take that damage. Finn is ignored? Okay, he’s going to trundle along and hit you with three dice.

I guess that's where we disagree. I'd rather find those few more points for an A-wing or transport. That being said in the majority of my lists, the difference between Finn's cost and the cost of an A-wing hasn't effected my list building. BB-8's (pilot) cost sure, but not Heroic Finn.

I definitely appreciate the responses here!

So as a first-time Pod user, I guess what I’m hearing is that Heroic Finn might still have his place, but I might be better off running him light at 30 points rather than loading him up to 41+, because it’s less certain that he’s going to recoup those.

I think I can live with that.

1 minute ago, BVRCH said:

I guess that's where we disagree. I'd rather find those few more points for an A-wing or transport. That being said in the majority of my lists, the difference between Finn's cost and the cost of an A-wing hasn't effected my list building. BB-8's (pilot) cost sure, but not Heroic Finn.

Fair enough. I’ve found differently, but that’s about what pieces we lean towards.

I think there is value in Finn, even with the nerf. I still think I’d take him over a Transport because I legit think he adds more value and because I think he is funner to fly. A Blue Recruit, I’ll grant you, but then again, I’m a bit of an RZ-2 nut. And, when those four points could be used to give L’ulo Advanced Optics, help pay for Rey on Chewie, or that I have a bid for my i5s, Finn is a serious contender even for an RZ-2.

We're discussing if an escape pod is still valuable in a starfighter combat game??

Ew.

I will NEVER disassemble my Resistance Transport just on principle. 🤨

3 minutes ago, SabineKey said:

Fair enough. I’ve found differently, but that’s about what pieces we lean towards.

I think there is value in Finn, even with the nerf. I still think I’d take him over a Transport because I legit think he adds more value and because I think he is funner to fly. A Blue Recruit, I’ll grant you, but then again, I’m a bit of an RZ-2 nut. And, when those four points could be used to give L’ulo Advanced Optics, help pay for Rey on Chewie, or that I have a bid for my i5s, Finn is a serious contender even for an RZ-2.

Yeah I tend not to run many upgrades in resistance, and I may well be a little biased when it comes to RZ-2s as I share your affinity for them.

I have had good success with a Log Div Pilot with R4 and Ion Cannon. That is 39pts and is a bit of a sleeper in my eyes. I'd be reaching for those extra 9pts where feasible.

9 minutes ago, Darth Meanie said:

We're discussing if an escape pod is still valuable in a starfighter combat game??

Ew.

I will NEVER disassemble my Resistance Transport just on principle. 🤨

But it isn’t an escape pod. It’s a shuttle. Check it yourself: https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Resistance_transport_pod

1 minute ago, BVRCH said:

Yeah I tend not to run many upgrades in resistance, and I may well be a little biased when it comes to RZ-2s as I share your affinity for them.

I have had good success with a Log Div Pilot with R4 and Ion Cannon. That is 39pts and is a bit of a sleeper in my eyes. I'd be reaching for those extra 9pts where feasible.

Going for a control build and adding in R4 does have an appeal. 39 isn’t bad for that. Not really my style, but I can believe it can be worth the points.

1 minute ago, SabineKey said:

Going for a control build and adding in R4 does have an appeal. 39 isn’t bad for that. Not really my style, but I can believe it can be worth the points.

And maybe this is it, maybe I don't suit Finn play. He was so far ahead of the curve before it was a no brainer. Now I could take it or leave it.

Its interesting to note now that R4 and Cova work. Cova with R4 and Heroic is only 41pts.

5 minutes ago, BVRCH said:

And maybe this is it, maybe I don't suit Finn play. He was so far ahead of the curve before it was a no brainer. Now I could take it or leave it.

Its interesting to note now that R4 and Cova work. Cova with R4 and Heroic is only 41pts.

Oh, yes. I remember that coming up, but hadn’t looked into it yet. That’s a little more my style. I may have to take that for a test run.

17 minutes ago, BVRCH said:

Its interesting to note now that R4 and Cova work. Cova with R4 and Heroic is only 41pts.

I'm curious to see how long this lasts, because that is an insane amount of value. I would not be surprised to see Cova nerfed or the ruling reversed in the next update.

32 minutes ago, DR4CO said:

I'm curious to see how long this lasts, because that is an insane amount of value. I would not be surprised to see Cova nerfed or the ruling reversed in the next update.

I feel like now they've said it, they'll be hesistant to go back on it, but if Cova is popular she might cop the Lulo price hike come January.