(51) Cassian Andor [UT-60D U-wing]
Points: 51

(55) Norra Wexley [ARC-170 Starfighter]
(4) R5 Astromech
(10) R2-D2
(2) Tactical Scrambler
Points: 71

(36) Airen Cracken [Z-95-AF4 Headhunter]
Points: 36

(41) Jan Ors [HWK-290 Light Freighter]
Points: 41

Total points: 199

So the idea is to have Norra as a bodyguard for the rest of the squad. Run her in front, make the enemy have to choose to shoot at her, or have extra green dice do other targets. Airen can give her a barrel roll to get into range 1, after everybody has moved, or make her 4/5 dice attack double modded.

Norra can regen a lot with this build too because Airen or Cassian are able to provide enough actions for it.

I like it. Norra is a great bruiser who likes to get up in range 1 and blow stuff up (especially with Jan). I'm not sure how much value you'll get out of 14 points of regen, but R2D2 as an astromech for 6 points is a great value. Airen's ability looks good on paper, but it can be hard to actually trigger, and then you need Cassian to open up dials. Since Norra will usually be in range 1, Blount is a great alternative. Without Airen, Cassian's ability isn't as necessary. You can switch him for a generic with Leia, or K-2SO, who can coordinate while keeping tokens for himself. Dropping those points gives you room for Moldy Crow on Jan to make her a legitimate threat as well. With what's left, you can put Hera on K2 to just sit in place or give each ship crackshot.

Norra Wexley (55)
R2-D2 (6)

Ship total: 61 Half Points: 31 Threshold: 5

K-2SO (46)
Pivot Wing (0)

Ship total: 46 Half Points: 23 Threshold: 4

Lieutenant Blount (30)
Ship total: 30 Half Points: 15 Threshold: 2

Jan Ors (41)
Moldy Crow (18)

Ship total: 59 Half Points: 30 Threshold: 3


Total: 196

View in Yet Another Squad Builder 2.0: https://raithos.github.io/?f=Rebel Alliance&d=v8ZsZ200Z77XWWWW3WY390XWWWWW140Y55XWWY46XWWWWW156&sn=Unnamed Squadron&obs=

I just don't think defensive Norra works. She's not fast enough to close to Range 1 too easily, won't be too hard to burn down from range 2-3. Tactical Scrambler also almost never works: the geometry is really hard for a large base, let alone a medium. Meanwhile, if Norra does get ignored, she's not that scary. She's just a 3-dice gun with no tricks.

Bodyguard ships just haven't really worked in 2e, except for Biggs, Serissu (who's mostly good because Init 5 Scyks are good), and maybe--maybe--Selfless B-Wings.

On top of that, the list has two 2-dice ships, and while there's a lot of hand-shaking to get extra mods, getting extra dice on the attacks probably matters more.

//

What I think it more likely to be strong is Norra with an offensive boost. For that, I like K-2SO. It's a nifty upgrade on Norra, able to get her double-mods if she's being ignored, or to add mods to someone else in the list, allow them to take Locks instead of Focus. With that really wide Range 3, it won't be too hard to give someone the bonus calc. Kaytoo is just wicked flexible.

Let's keep Jan Ors, since you're into her. If she isn't getting Moldy Crow (I can't really find a squad I like which can afford it), why not go defensive, and give her Jyn Erso. Taking an evade every turn would help keep Jan alive, and if she's only 2 dice anyhow, I don't care about the lack of offensive mods.

Let's also keep a U-Wing. Cassian or Saw should both be solid. Another option would be someone cheaper (Heff Tober?) with Leia Crew. Leia's really nice.

There's a few options for other points... Best talent is usually going to be Crack Shot on anyone other than Jan (she doesn't care unless she's in the Moldy Crow). Dull, but good.

4th ship is an X-Wing. Best you can afford with whatever points remain. Tougher and punchier than a Z-95. With both Kaytoo and Jan Ors being pretty flexible, able to help pretty much any ship in the list at long range, having a 3 dice ship as a strong target is nice. Airen Craken means you have to fly closer and more predictably, and he's not a good target for buffs himself. Just cut out the middle-man and get a better attacker.

Here'd be my A and B. I think I lean more towards Cassian, since between Kaytoo and Jan, that's two stress flying around, and treating red moves as white when you need to pull blues isn't super effective.

• Jan Ors (Jyn Erso) 43
• Norra Wexley (Crack Shot, K-2SO) 64
• Cassian Andor (-) 51
• Red Squadron Veteran (Crack Shot) 42

or

• Jan Ors (Jyn Erso) 43
• Norra Wexley (K-2SO) 63
• Heff Tober (Intimidation, Leia Organa) 54
• Blue Squadron Escort (-) 40
  • Going Heff without Leia and Intimidation (say, only Zeb) would allow you to afford maybe Thane Kyrell, who's mostly only good because he's Init 5, but he's still Init 5.

I have logged quite a few games using Norra with R2-D2 and R5-D8, and she is incredibly resilient. She excels as a defensive piece to protect high value or fragile ships. With Norra as your centerpiece, Blount is a better wingman than Cracken. You lose the ability for Norra to get mods after the first engagement, but you free up points to put advanced torpedoes on Norra giving you many more red dice and less stress. Less stress means you could also consider swapping Cassian for Saw (which will synergize well with a Norra that likes to be shot at) or a B-wing.