I'm only able to play about 1-3 games a week so I don't have a ton of time to play test so I would like to take some ask the forums opinion on a squad I'm working on.

X-Wing (Biggs)

+R2-F2

B-Wing (Ibtisam)

+Heavy Laser Cannon

+Fire-Control System

+Elusiveness

X-Wing (Wedge)

(either)

+Expose

(or)

+R5-K6

+Swarm Tactics

I've played many games with Biggs and Ibtisam and I love the combo. I just got my Wedge card so I haven't had a chance to play with him, but he kicked my butt enough to know that I want to use him.

My case for Expose:

In most cases I think expose is not a very good upgrade, but since Wedge has a pilot skill of 9, by the time you have the chance to use expose you already know if other ships will have a shot on you or not. The con to this is that it takes the action you could be using on target lock.

My Case for R5-K6 and Swarm Tactics:

R5-K6's ability to give you a free target lock, allowing you to use the next action on a focus seems very powerful to me. Swarm tactics can allow for Wedge and Ibtisam to drop a lower skill target before they even have a chance to shoot.

If you have insight into either of these set ups or a new mix of your own, please chim in. Thank you.

Remember that Biggs needs to stay at Range 3 and/or behind asteroids as much as possible. It's a decent fleet, with significant potential, but you need to fly it well.


One thing: I'm not too hot on your Ibtisam build. She'll never get to use her offensive re-roll from stress with Elusiveness, and won't get to use Elusiveness if Biggs is operating correctly. I see to potential build combos for her.

A) Push the Limit: This lets you get the most out of Ibtisam's ability, and it comes with the double-whammy of a double-action! Focus + Target Lock is fairly high-damage, but you could also use it to barrel roll out of a firing arc!

B) Advanced Sensors + Engine Upgrades: A brutal combo on a B-Wing, as not only can you maintain your actions before doing a red maneuver, it gives you an ANGLED KOIOGRAN if you do a boost before one! This combo effectively gives you 10ish starting positions before every maneuver, and is one of my favorites in the game. The combo, together, costs the same as an HLC.

If you trade all of Ibti's current upgrades for these two, that will give you 1 point left over, allowing for Expose + R2 Astromech, or possibly R5-K6 + Push the Limit.

I will also point out that both R5-K6 and Fire-Control Systems allow you to Target Lock while stressed. Neither includes the phrase "free ... action" after all, so you can still use them with the Push the Limit stress on.

how about something like...

100pts

Ibitsam + advanced sensors + PTL + engine upgrade

Wedge + PTL + engine upgrade + r2 atromech

Biggs

boosting and then moving with wedge as well as Ibitsam should make them pretty hard to pin down, id say only a tie swarm could cover the possible attack angles you would have available.

Don't put expose on wedge. I know you think, well if he can't be shot at then expose is great. Let's just ignore the fact that Expose makes you easier to hit. (something you don't want on wedge) It costs 4 points and costs your action.

If you take the expose action you increase you expected number of hits by 1/2. If you target lock (an action you get for free) you increase you expected number of hits at range by 3/4 and your expected number of hits at range 4 by 1. If you focus you increase your expected number of hits by 3/8 at range 2-3 and 1/2 at range 1. So you pay 4 points to get an offensive action that isn't significantly better than the offensive actions already available to you. (This also why I don't like Marksmanship)

If you really want that extra dice on attack buy a Proton Torpedo. It doesn't (always) use your action to use it. It has a very good chance of critting a TIE. And there is no chance that Wedge (the highest priority target in the whole game) will have to defend against attacks with only one attack die.

One thing: I'm not too hot on your Ibtisam build. She'll never get to use her offensive re-roll from stress with Elusiveness, and won't get to use Elusiveness if Biggs is operating correctly. I see to potential build combos for her.

The Elusiveness on Ibtisam was for when Biggs inevitably dies. It's not ideal, but rolling 1 evasion dice is rough.

I'm going to have to try the Advanced Sensors and Engine Upgrade combo. It seems fun.

Don't put expose on wedge. I know you think, well if he can't be shot at then expose is great. Let's just ignore the fact that Expose makes you easier to hit. (something you don't want on wedge) It costs 4 points and costs your action.

If you take the expose action you increase you expected number of hits by 1/2. If you target lock (an action you get for free) you increase you expected number of hits at range by 3/4 and your expected number of hits at range 4 by 1. If you focus you increase your expected number of hits by 3/8 at range 2-3 and 1/2 at range 1. So you pay 4 points to get an offensive action that isn't significantly better than the offensive actions already available to you. (This also why I don't like Marksmanship)

If you really want that extra dice on attack buy a Proton Torpedo. It doesn't (always) use your action to use it. It has a very good chance of critting a TIE. And there is no chance that Wedge (the highest priority target in the whole game) will have to defend against attacks with only one attack die.

This is some really helpful insight . Thanks.

You would be surprised how long a b wing can survive. Especially when you have the maneuverability options of advanced sensors + PTL + engine upgrade. Sure, if you park yourself in everyone's firing arc, you're going to take a beating, and possibly even 8 hits in one turn. The reality is that it doesn't happen often, unless you've made a mistake in your maneuvering. By using biggs, you shouldn't need elusiveness on the b wing, the survivability should be pretty high at this point.