I keep being drawn to the Recon Specialist, on my big ships. But unless you have something else to do with it (use deadeye or give the tokens away) all you can really do with two tokens around is use one to attack and one to defend. The YT-1300 and the Shuttle only have 1 agility and the Firespray only has 2. I'm not sure that the recon spec helps that much.

for 2 more points you can get a gunner, which doesn't take an action. I feel like I would like a focus and second shot if the first shot misses rather than an extra focus token to use to defend.

Yes, you can only use your focus token on one of your two attacks, but having a gunner means that if you get a poor roll, that includes a eyeball, you can choose not to spend the token and get another roll all together.

It's a play style thing. I like Recon Spec on a Firespray as I often do not use the focus to attack, but to allow me two good defense opportunities if I am looking at being focus fired on.

Gunner on the other hand will pretty much guarantee you will inflict damage every turn you shoot, but I can often achieve that with a focus on a normal shot and I am finding gunner gets used far less than its 5 point cost justifies.

I never use Recon Spec on a YT or Shuttle. Gunner sometimes on a YT and pretty much always on a shuttle with FCS.

How do FCS and the gunner interact.

Can you shoot, miss, get a target lock then shoot again, spend your target lock, and then get a new one?

Why not both on the Shuttle or YT-1300? (if costs isn't an issue).

As mentioned Gunner doesn't require an action. But the conditions which it proc's requires your opponent to roll well defensively.

Combined with Recon Spec that gives you double focus you now have the option to use your second focus on the Gunner Shot or Defense.

For the Shuttle you could also add FCS for Focus+TargetLock combine that with Gunner Proc's you should be hitting fairly regularly.

Again though that's if Costs isn't an issue..

as for either or... it depends on what you want, more forgiving offensive rolls (gunner) through second attempts. or flexibility through Focus

Can you shoot, miss, get a target lock then shoot again, spend your target lock, and then get a new one?

Yes. It's a big part of the Shuttle Buzzsaw build.

I tend to agree though, Recon is only really useful if you have a way to burn at least 1 focus token every turn. If you find that you're often discarding it, then having a 2nd one is a waste and Recon not worth the points.

So for Kyle or a HWK with a blaster turret it works well. For a Firespray it makes some sense, because with 2 defense dice you might actually find a defensive focus worth it.

But for the Shuttle or YT, with 1 die, odds are not in your favor to use a focus defensively very often, which means you are almost always better off using it to help you shoot.

How do FCS and the gunner interact.

Can you shoot, miss, get a target lock then shoot again, spend your target lock, and then get a new one?

Yes, this is correct. It's really, really mean. And it's one of the ways the doomcow can be a real threat on the battlefield. Throw on an engine upgrade and for 32 points you have vicious little beast.

Recon specialist with deadeye and an advanced proton torpedo would be real effective on the Slave.

On your Falcon you may consider using both Recon Specialist and Gunner. This in alternative to using Marksmanship because you could use your Focus tokens to boost the initial attack and the gunner attack or hold off on one of those and have Focus for defense.

On your Falcon you may consider using both Recon Specialist and Gunner.

That's not bad. Gives the same basic effect as marksmanship, namely a focus effect for both attacks, costs the same, and may leave you with a focus for defense. Which isn't all that useful on the YT normally, but since you're not spending more points it's a still a net benefit.

Even with only one green a focus is still increases your odds of getting an evade from 37.5 to 62.5, which is pretty good if you're being shot at several times a round. As someone that favors turtleing up I tend to favor the recon in one or the other scenarios. The mechanics may favor offense over defense but to me that means someone who can get the most out of their defense has an edge over the ATTACKATTACKATTACK player.

On your Falcon you may consider using both Recon Specialist and Gunner. This in alternative to using Marksmanship because you could use your Focus tokens to boost the initial attack and the gunner attack or hold off on one of those and have Focus for defense.

My problem with a rec spec on the falcon is I pretty much evade every turn. And with Han Solo and/or a gunner I don't need the action on my attack.

On your Falcon you may consider using both Recon Specialist and Gunner. This in alternative to using Marksmanship because you could use your Focus tokens to boost the initial attack and the gunner attack or hold off on one of those and have Focus for defense.

My problem with a rec spec on the falcon is I pretty much evade every turn. And with Han Solo and/or a gunner I don't need the action on my attack.

" I don't need the action on my attack." - Hrathen

Don't Anger the Dice-gods!!!

On your Falcon you may consider using both Recon Specialist and Gunner. This in alternative to using Marksmanship because you could use your Focus tokens to boost the initial attack and the gunner attack or hold off on one of those and have Focus for defense.

My problem with a rec spec on the falcon is I pretty much evade every turn. And with Han Solo and/or a gunner I don't need the action on my attack.

" I don't need the action on my attack." - Hrathen

Don't Anger the Dice-gods!!!

Oh the Dice Gods love my Han Solo+Gunner combo. One game I went three turns in a row one-shot-ing a TIE every turn.

You know what they say "the best defense is blowing the other guy to space dust before he can shoot".

On your Falcon you may consider using both Recon Specialist and Gunner. This in alternative to using Marksmanship because you could use your Focus tokens to boost the initial attack and the gunner attack or hold off on one of those and have Focus for defense.

My problem with a rec spec on the falcon is I pretty much evade every turn. And with Han Solo and/or a gunner I don't need the action on my attack.

More seriously I've got an HSF build: http://xwing-builder.co.uk/view/43004/team-corellia

With PTL + RecSpec + MF:Title I can use them all defensively when being shot at by multiple targets using Han's and Luke's Gunner abilities for strictly offense. unless I know I'm not going to be hit hard when being shot at i'll use focus on attacking. The value is the options are there.

On your Falcon you may consider using both Recon Specialist and Gunner. This in alternative to using Marksmanship because you could use your Focus tokens to boost the initial attack and the gunner attack or hold off on one of those and have Focus for defense.

My problem with a rec spec on the falcon is I pretty much evade every turn. And with Han Solo and/or a gunner I don't need the action on my attack.

If you're using the Falcon Title and taking the Evade action then ANY other action seeker is pretty much wasted unless you're also taking PtL which is going to make things expensive fast. I'll agree that between Primary/Han followed by Gunner/Han you have a pretty good chance of dealing damage. Just make sure you are playing Han correctly which means rerolling EVERYTHING; while possible 'one-shotting' TIE Fighters (even at range 1) should be a rare occurrence.

Recon for me on most Firesprays... FCS + gunner on shuttles.

On your Falcon you may consider using both Recon Specialist and Gunner.

That's not bad. Gives the same basic effect as marksmanship, namely a focus effect for both attacks, costs the same, and may leave you with a focus for defense. Which isn't all that useful on the YT normally, but since you're not spending more points it's a still a net benefit.

It also leaves your EPT open for Push the Limit (with the Millennium Falcon Title...) or Expert Handling (for unpredictable mobility)