What would you recommend for a XXBA squad against a new Empire player?

Or maybe XHBA?

I'm looking for something fun, not something insanely dominant..just a fun squad

Against a new player, I would recommend using three ships, then they can blow up characters they remember from the films and you will be less formidable, especially if you don't match their abilities. Wedge, Tycho, Horton, if you have a Y wing.. or swap Horton for Luke.

What would you recommend for a XXBA squad against a new Empire player?

Or maybe XHBA?

I'm looking for something fun, not something insanely dominant..just a fun squad

So here is EXACTLY what you asked for:

http://xwing-builder.co.uk/view/46230/xxba

Here's the idea, Biggs and your Awing lead the pack and look to set up an assault missile strike on turn one. Biggs will keep the fire off of the late turn A-wing and the A-wing only needs to focus (thanks to Deadeye) to fire his missile that will effect an entire squadron! Then your tactics shift to using the B-wing's Ion cannon to set up easy shots. Try to keep your A-wing in a position that it is expanding your field of fire AND is impossible to target because of Biggs.

Here is my THREE ship idea for you:

http://xwing-builder.co.uk/view/44354/a-team

This gives you THREE higher SP pilots and beefs them up. Biggs gets a shield upgrade (so now he can regenerate up to THREE SHIELDS with his R2-D2), your A-wing gets a stealth device to make it VERY hard to hit, and your SP8 B-wing has an ion cannon and a MUCH higher chance of rolling crits. This is huge, as Ten Numb's crits CANNOT be cancelled by defense die.

Have fun!

XXBA...

Herm, for fun, lets start with a GSP w/ PTL and a missile = 26-27 points

2 rookies puts us at 42 (68 total - 32 left for a B)

32 points for a B... Dagger w/ AdvS = 27. So lets upgrade the rookies to Reds

Green w/ PTL + Assault

Red

Red

Dagger w/ AdvS

Total 100 pts

You could switch out the Assaults for homing, or concussion and put a R5 on one of the reds. I would think you would want to stay at 100 so your green would move after BH (if you lose init) and you could TL+F in one turn.

Stone - I really don't suggest the use of deadeye with assault missiles. Assaults are GREAT if they hit, but if they don't, you wasted 6 points (5 for the missile, 1 for deadeye). PTL w/ a missile is a much better combo imo, and being on an A wing, you should be able to fly fast enough to get in R3 before the guy moves anyways, then PTL to TL + F. And then through out the rest of the fight, PTL serves as a F+E to keep the little guy alive. But just my 2 cents. I find it extremely frustrating with my ordnance doesn't hit, especially assaults.

Stone - I really don't suggest the use of deadeye with assault missiles. Assaults are GREAT if they hit, but if they don't, you wasted 6 points (5 for the missile, 1 for deadeye). PTL w/ a missile is a much better combo imo, and being on an A wing, you should be able to fly fast enough to get in R3 before the guy moves anyways, then PTL to TL + F. And then through out the rest of the fight, PTL serves as a F+E to keep the little guy alive. But just my 2 cents. I find it extremely frustrating with my ordnance doesn't hit, especially assaults.

This is a high risk, high reward maneuver for sure. The OP asked for a fun build. I gave him one. I can't tell you how FUN it is when this build works the way it is designed to on the first round. (and it does more than 50% of the time for me) Even if the missile does not hit, the A-wing is still a pain in the but thanks to Biggs keeping the fire off.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained. I believe I succeed in providing a "fun" build.

If you want to run a fun list try

Red Squadron Pilot, R2 Unit (24)

Red Squadron Pilot, R2 Unit (24)

Dagger Squadron Pilot, Advanced Sensors (27)

Green Squadron Pilot, Push the Limit, Stealth Device (25)

That's 100 pts on the nose. It's a good solid starter list that will be fun to play and fun to play against.

Thanks guys, great ideas! I really want a named pilot though and thought of this list:

Garven Dreis (26)

Red Squadron Pilot (23)

Blue Squadron Pilot + Advanced Sensors (25)

Green Squadron Pilot + Cluster Missiles + Push the Limit (26)

Or on a 3 ship squad maybe i'll go with Chewbacca+X+Y...

Chewbacca + Gunner + Millennium Falcon (48)

Biggs Darklighter + R2-D2 (29)

Gold Squadron Pilot + Ion Cannon Turret (23)

OR

Chewbacca + Gunner + Millennium Falcon (48)

Biggs Darklighter + R2-D2 (29)

Roark Garnet + Blaster Turret (23)

Completely out of the XXBA but I just thought about this squad:

Ten Numb + Advanced Sensors + Marksmanship (37)

Jan Ors + Ion Cannon Turret + Moldy Crow (33)

Garven Dreis + R2-D2 (30)

Seems cool and fun.

Thanks guys, great ideas! I really want a named pilot though and thought of this list:

Here is my favorite Rebel squad I play with, and they are all named pilots:

http://xwing-builder.co.uk/view/44686/ptl-bwing

Jan using her 360 deg. Ion cannon to set up easy kills for Ibbi and Biggs. She is also handing out an extra attack dice. Biggs keeps the heat off of Jen, can regenerate his shields to stay in the fight, and throws 3 attack die. TIbbi is an ultra mobile, 3 attack die, can't cancel out his crit hits, tie killing machine!

Looking great! I think i'm gonna go that route: XBH...with named pilots.

Less ships but more tools!

Thanks guys, great ideas! I really want a named pilot though and thought of this list:

Here is my favorite Rebel squad I play with, and they are all named pilots:

http://xwing-builder.co.uk/view/44686/ptl-bwing

Jan using her 360 deg. Ion cannon to set up easy kills for Ten and Biggs. She is also handing out an extra attack dice. Biggs keeps the heat off of Jen, can regenerate his shields to stay in the fight, and throws 3 attack die. Ten is an ultra mobile, 3 attack die, can't cancel out his crit hits, tie killing machine!

Except that squad you posted has Ibby instead of Ten

Thanks guys, great ideas! I really want a named pilot though and thought of this list:

Here is my favorite Rebel squad I play with, and they are all named pilots:

http://xwing-builder.co.uk/view/44686/ptl-bwing

Jan using her 360 deg. Ion cannon to set up easy kills for Ten and Biggs. She is also handing out an extra attack dice. Biggs keeps the heat off of Jen, can regenerate his shields to stay in the fight, and throws 3 attack die. Ten is an ultra mobile, 3 attack die, can't cancel out his crit hits, tie killing machine!

Except that squad you posted has Ibby instead of Ten

It is Ibbi! I was just talking about Ten and that caused the error. Ibbi is my favorite B-wing pilot, as I love the ability to re-roll dice when I can get it! Now, I just need a female X-wing pilot to make this a killer diva squad!

What about that?

Rookie Pilot + R2 Astromech (22)

Blue Squadron Pilot + Fire-Control System + Heavy Laser Cannon (31)

Green Squadron Pilot + Assault Missiles + Veteran Instincts (25)

Rookie Pilot + R2 Astromech (22)

And maybe that one:

Blue Squadron Pilot + Fire-Control System + Heavy Laser Cannon (31)

Roark Garnet + Blaster Turret (23)

Red Squadron Pilot + R2 Astromech (24)

Rookie Pilot + R2 Astromech (22)

I really want to try Blue + FCS + HLC. IT's been a combo I wanted to try for some time now after seeing one rolling it with interesting success.

And coupled with Roark it could shoot before any other ships and hope to land some important hits.

One the first, I would drop the R2's and VI and get the GSP PTL. You shouldn't have to worry about the A wing getting blown out of the sky before it can get its missiles off since that shouldn't be their primary target. As for the second, I think I like it more than the first, but I drop both R2's, and upgrade the blaster to an ion turret. Keep that 1 point so you can have init.