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I'm aiming to go to a store championships at the end of Februrary, and have been playing with lists ready for it. This is what I'm planning on running so far:

Chewbacca
Predator
Gunner
Recon Specialist
Title
Engine Upgrade

Red Ace
R2-D2
Shield Upgrade
Comms Relay


My basic plan is going to be to try and use Red Ace to try and get behind the enemy, and live till the end, whilst using Chewbacca to try and distract the opponent, and do enough damage before he dies to take out a fair amount of my opponents firepower. Obviously Red Ace will struggle against other more manoeuvrable aces, but I'm hoping he will be tanky enough it won't matter too much.

I've been toying with PTL on Chewbacca, and was wondering what you all thought would be a better choice, Predator or PTL?
Any thoughts any of you have about this list let me know

I would still go with Autothrusters on Red Ace, and then just use it selectively if you want to generate an evade token. For example, if you only took 1 damage from an attack - you might decide to not trigger autothrusters, generate the evade token, and then just regen the shield next turn with R2D2.

With the points saved, I would replace Gunner with Luke Skywalker, who synergises nicely with Predator. I would also suggest C-3P0 instead of Recon Specialist, especially if you're not using PTL.

Another option would be to just do "slim chewie" and just use Gunner+Predator, which would give you enough points for a Z-95.

I'm struggling with Autothrusters, mainly as, after rolling two evades around 30 times or so just now, there only seems to be approximately a 60% chance of Autothrusters activating on the pit of arc shots. Admittedly that increases at Range three. Basically I'm trying to say, is Autothrusters really worth it, on a ship with 2 Agility, and little other defensive dice modification, outside of spending a focus?

I will probably swap Recon Specialist for C-3PO however. Doing so, would you recommend taking an Evade more often than a focus, when a boost isn't needed? Thinking that way points aren't wasted, as they would be with evading with a Recon Specialist, and you should still be able to cancel two hits a turn

 statu wrote:
I'm struggling with Autothrusters, mainly as, after rolling two evades around 30 times or so just now, there only seems to be approximately a 60% chance of Autothrusters activating on the pit of arc shots. Admittedly that increases at Range three. Basically I'm trying to say, is Autothrusters really worth it, on a ship with 2 Agility, and little other defensive dice modification, outside of spending a focus?

It's certainly less useful than on, say, a TIE Interceptor. But think of it this way: if you trigger it even twice in a game, it's already more valuable than a shield upgrade (though R2D2 muddles that logic a bit). It's also an important upgrade to have if you expect to face TLT or fat turret ships.

I will probably swap Recon Specialist for C-3PO however. Doing so, would you recommend taking an Evade more often than a focus, when a boost isn't needed? Thinking that way points aren't wasted, as they would be with evading with a Recon Specialist, and you should still be able to cancel two hits a turn

Yes, you should evade or boost. That way you can shrug off 2 damage a turn with the C3P0+evade token combo. You have plenty of attack dice modifiers with Predator and Luke.

As it's only a 2 ship list you might want to look at 'Lone Wolf' on Chewie as that lets you re-roll attack and defence dice, it might have some rules trick with 3-PO but im a bit fuzzy on the the order of actions and re-rolls etc

Try something like this instead:

Poe Dameron (31)
Veteran Instincts (1)
R2-D2 (4)
Integrated Astromech (0)

Chewbacca (42)
Predator (3)
Luke Skywalker (7)
C-3PO (3)
Engine Upgrade (4)
Millennium Falcon (1)

Total: 96
View in Yet Another Squad Builder

It's basically your Chewie build but with a better T-70 pilot ability and much better pilot skill to deal with enemy aces.

Might as well put Weapon Guidance on Poe. You'll still have 2pts left over for the initiative bid.

Poe Dameron (31)
Veteran Instincts (1)
R2-D2 (4)
Integrated Astromech (0)

Chewbacca (42)
Predator (3)
Luke Skywalker (7)
C-3PO (3)
Engine Upgrade (4)
Millennium Falcon (1)

Looks nice - My one comment is that R5-P9 works better with Poe - and saves a point into the bargain!

Chewbacca
Predator
Gunner
Recon Specialist
Title
Engine Upgrade

Red Ace
R2-D2
Shield Upgrade
Comms Relay

Definitely take out the Recon Specialist or the Title. You'll only ever have use for one or the other, and evade will do you more good in the long run than focus when you've got luke on hand.

I get the shield upgrade idea, but it is expensive - you'll need to play a few games to figure out if it's worth it compared to Integrated Astromech. I suspect not.

That'd free up seven points right there.

R2-D2 is worth the point on Poe if you have it to spend. If not, then R5-P9 is a good choice. R2 gives you more resilience if you get stressed or bump, and thus are denied an action.

So before play testing to find out if Autothrusters or Shield Upgrade work better on the T-70, it's looking like I'll be using:

Red Ace
R2-D2
Comms Relay
Shield upgrade/Autothrusters

Chewbacca
Lone Wolf
C-3PO
Luke Skywalker
Title
Engine Upgrade

This comes in at 97/99 points

I'm not playing with Poe, as any time I do I feel like I'm almost forced to take a focus every turn, which to me, makes Poe a bit too predictable for me to consider it worth playing with him. I've considered Integrated Astromech, and the downsides i can see with it is the slightly lower cap on the shield regen, which probably makes little difference, and that dropping down to that, I end up with 4 points just floating about doing very little.

 Anpu-adom wrote:
R2-D2 is worth the point on Poe if you have it to spend. If not, then R5-P9 is a good choice. R2 gives you more resilience if you get stressed or bump, and thus are denied an action.

But the T70 has limited greens and is incredibly predictable should it be apparent it needs to perform one.

Honestly, it's a wash on this particular ship I think.

 statu wrote:
I'm not playing with Poe, as any time I do I feel like I'm almost forced to take a focus every turn, which to me, makes Poe a bit too predictable for me to consider it worth playing with him. I've considered Integrated Astromech, and the downsides i can see with it is the slightly lower cap on the shield regen, which probably makes little difference, and that dropping down to that, I end up with 4 points just floating about doing very little.

Taking a focus every turn is pretty much the default action for almost ship in the game. What you have now is a 40 point X-wing at pilot skill 6 with no offensive pilot ability; even with shield regeneration and his pilot ability, that ship isn't going to last long and aces will absolutely wreck it.

On the other hand, you can fly a 35 point pilot skill 10 ace with an offensive and defensive pilot ability in Poe and actually be able to stand a chance against Fel/Vader/Corran/etc.

Do you have anything useful to say other than use Poe instead? How about I switch to Han instead of Chewbacca? Or how about I just copy one of the lists from Worlds? I mean people obviously only take what the Internet tells them, even if they only intended to get advice on how to get more out of the pilots they are going to use. I get bored only using the same pilots as everyone else, that's one of the reasons I chose Red Ace, since the T-70 arrived, I've only seen people use Poe, so people are less likely to know exactly what to do against Red Ace. Given the prevalence of TLT's out there, someone who can essentially regen two shields a turn will probably turn out to be fairly strong. But no, it's not what's used is it, so it shouldn't be taken at all

 statu wrote:
Do you have anything useful to say other than use Poe instead?

You asked for opinions and I gave you one. I also gave you some facts, one being that a 40 point pilot skill 6 X-wing isn't that good when there are better options available. Being rude is necessary either, by the way.

How about I switch to Han instead of Chewbacca? Or how about I just copy one of the lists from Worlds?

I don't think you could fit Han in your list. Also, the lists from Worlds are pretty good, so it wouldn't hurt to try one or make your own variation of one.

I mean people obviously only take what the Internet tells them, even if they only intended to get advice on how to get more out of the pilots they are going to use.

Then why did you turn to the internet with questions about your list? If you are just expecting everyone to tell you how awesome and unique your list is, that isn't going to happen.

]I get bored only using the same pilots as everyone else, that's one of the reasons I chose Red Ace, since the T-70 arrived, I've only seen people use Poe,

Look, I get it... you're trying to be different with your list and I respect that. However, you need to understand that a list being different doesn't mean it's also good. You're spending way too many points on an okay ship with no offensive ability and middling pilot skill.

so people are less likely to know exactly what to do against Red Ace.

I think you are grossly underestimating your opponents. Shooting down an X-wing that is easily arc-dodged and limited to only greens to trigger R2-D2 isn't that difficult a concept to wrap your head around. You plan on taking this list to a Store Championship where there will be good players playing with better lists. Red Ace won't scare them.

Given the prevalence of TLT's out there, someone who can essentially regen two shields a turn will probably turn out to be fairly strong. But no, it's not what's used is it, so it shouldn't be taken at all

Red Ace can't regenerate two shields a turn no matter what you do. Also, it's still just an X-wing rolling only two agility dice; one decent shot can strip all of your shields and two decent shots can easily destroy it in one turn (you may be able to survive using Integrated Astromech, but now you aren't regenerating shields and your pilot skill is useless). Since it's such a low pilot skill, aces are going to dance around it all game laughing as you struggle to shoot them.

There is nothing wrong with thinking outside the box but don't expect it to be successful every time, especially if you want to do well in a Store Championship.

Well in fairness, Red Ace has only been out about 3 weeks and was spoiled not long before that. Poe is what's comfortable for a lot of people and he was by far the best T-70 pilot from the FA core set.

Red Ace has a pretty lame pilot skill and no Elite slot to bring it to a decent level. I'd strongly consider him as a wingman to Poe, but Poe is just better. Not only is he more competitive, but he's a character players know. Who is "Red Ace"? Is it supposed to be Snap Wexley? Is it one of the random other pilots from the movie? He's a redshirt.

Ello Asty is pretty fun, honestly. And about as durable as Poe. With VI, he can be tricksy in his movement, too.

There may be some mileage in equipping R2D6.

Something along the lines of
Red Ace
Lone Wolf/Juke
R2D6
Integrated Astromech

Could add Comms Relay if points allow, but at least this set up keeps the cost down to 32pts.

Or something boring like this?

"Red Ace" (29)
R2-D6 (1)
Comm Relay (3)
Veteran Instincts (1)
Integrated Astromech (0)

Ello Asty (30)
Veteran Instincts (1)
R5-P9 (3)
Integrated Astromech (0)

Jake Farrell (24)
Veteran Instincts (1)
Proton Rockets (3)
Push the Limit (3)
A-Wing Test Pilot (0)

Total: 99

View in Yet Another Squad Builder

Although if you really want to use Chewie, I don't care what they say, Lando is a good crew!

"Red Ace" (29)
R5-P9 (3)
Comm Relay (3)
Shield Upgrade (4)

Chewbacca (42)
Push the Limit (3)
Luke Skywalker (7)
Lando Calrissian (3)
Engine Upgrade (4)

Total: 98

View in Yet Another Squad Builder

Yeah, I was avoiding VI in the spirit of not doing the obvious, but boosting his PS to 8 obviously has benefits.

I don't know. His shield-for-evade is sufficiently powerful that I can't see passing up R2-D2 easily; and PS8 isn't that great.


If you like Ello Atsy, another combination for deranged maneuver shenanigans is Blue Ace with either BB-8 or R2-D6 (Adrenaline Rush). R7-T1 might work, too, but you're paying points for boost when you already have the action - it becomes an action economy card rather than a discount engine upgrade.

I don't know if you are still looking for input. I just tried a Chewbacca and Keyan Farlander list tonight, and it was brutal.

Chewie (57)
PTL
Lando
Gunner
EU

Keyan Farlander (43)
HLC
VI
Advanced Sensors
B-wing/E-2
Dash Rendar

The last crew was more for giggles, but I cut down his force to 50% by turn 3.