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I'm going to try out some super maneuverable options with BB-8 instead of the usual R2D2 or R5P9. I'm trying to decide on whether to take

Corran Horn (45)
E-Wing (35), BB-8 (2), Fire-Control System (2), Push the Limit (3), Stealth Device (3)

or

Poe Dameron (45)
T-70 X-Wing (31), BB-8 (2), Ion Torpedoes (5), Weapons Guidance (2), Push the Limit (3), Autothrusters (2)

they will be paired with a 55pt Dash

I feel Poe would be better, just because he already has boost. However, I'm not sold on the Ion Torps.

Honestly, neither. Poe and Corran are both defense-oriented ships that beg for you to stack up defensive upgrades and create an unkillable monster. That's how you justify spending that many points on a single small-base ship, and compete on a level playing field with the other aces (Fel/Vader/etc). A free barrel roll isn't bad but it's nowhere near as effective as a HP regen droid.

Where BB-8 is most effective is on ships that don't especially care about tanking (Wedge, for example) and can use the free barrel roll to keep their guns on a target, or on cheap ships to bring them up into mid-tier status for very little cost. The humble rookie pilot with BB-8 is not a bad deal.

Its not just a free barrel roll though. Combined with push the limit, it seems like a very good choice.
Being able to barrel roll and then ptl before you move means losing the stress you picked up AND still getting another action after the move.
Also, being able to boost before your move (ie str8 3) means you have the option to basically turn it into a kind of bank 4 in either direction.
Sounds like it's worth a try. Meta be damned lol. I need to play something new or I'll get bore

Also, ignore the torps. They are for playing against a particular list

Of course it's not just a free action, the unique timing of it is definitely a benefit. But it's still worth less than +1 shield HP every turn, especially on a ship that can stack it with other defensive abilities. The shield regen is what makes Poe and Corran so nasty, it's hard to get them in arc, it's hard to damage them when you do, and even when you mange to take some of their HP they'll probably get it back. Corran with R2-D2 can take a range-1 exchange with an enemy ship because Corran will inflict permanent damage or even score a kill while the enemy ship's damage will just be repaired over the next few turns. Giving them BB-8 makes them more maneuverable and therefore more likely to avoid damage when things are going well, but it means that any damage you can do to them will be permanent and each exchange of fire brings them closer to death. The extra maneuverability is offset by the need to use that maneuverability more often and stay out of arc at all times. You almost completely remove the ability to take the calculated risk of jousting to score a kill.

I've played both pilots with both shield regen mechs quite a few times. The truth is, outside of a tournament, it is overkill. My local playerbase is quite large but only a handful insist on playing net lists all the time.
I need to mix it up or I'll lose interest.

I dont mean to sound rude, but to answer a two choice question with "neither" isn't very helpful

Also - Corran already has Barrel Roll - BB-8 strikes me as most valuable on ships which don't normally have that option (Y-wing or X-wing).

 jokerkd wrote:
I dont mean to sound rude, but to answer a two choice question with "neither" isn't very helpful

Then flip a coin, or pick whichever ship model you like best. If you're going to insist on using a bad strategy then why bother trying to choose between the two bad options on their in-game merits? Just pick one and don't worry about it.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

locarno24 wrote:
Also - Corran already has Barrel Roll - BB-8 strikes me as most valuable on ships which don't normally have that option (Y-wing or X-wing).

Well, kind of. The e-wing has barrel roll already, but moving that barrel roll to the beginning of your maneuver template instead of the end (while still keeping the ability to just do a normal barrel roll in your action step instead) is definitely an improvement in maneuverability. The e-wing can take advanced sensors to duplicate the timing difference, but BB-8 lets you take FCS instead and gives you +1 action per turn instead of just changing the timing of your existing actions. If BB-8 was a title card that didn't compete with the shield regen droids it would be a very powerful option on Corran.

Also, IMO the y-wing is a poor choice for BB-8. Your greens are just too limited on a y-wing without a generic R2 (or unhinged) to bother with green-triggered abilities, and if you take a droid to improve your greens you can't take BB-8. The x-wing is a good choice though, when your droid slot isn't already committed, since you have enough greens that being locked into doing them frequently (or wasting your upgrade) isn't as bad. You can still turn your arc and use BB-8 at the same time, instead of being locked into a straight maneuver. And of course the T-70's ability to boost makes the restricted dial much less of a problem.

Also, IMO the y-wing is a poor choice for BB-8. Your greens are just too limited on a y-wing without a generic R2 (or unhinged) to bother with green-triggered abilities, and if you take a droid to improve your greens you can't take BB-8.

Broadly agreed. I should perhaps have been more specific; Horton is pretty good with BB-8 and an Engine Upgrade - his ability pairs well with a twin laser turret, and the two movement options combined with his high pilot skill can be quite useful in keeping his range 1 'bubble' clear. of potential blockers.

Poe with PtL and BB-8 is great fun, especially if you know that Poe will be the highest PS pilot on the board. However, Poe with Veteran Instincts and R5-P9 is awesome and is the more sound choice in a competitive environment.

I like Poe with R5-F9 better than with BB-8. I really like Wedge with PTL and BB-8... a 3 action/no stress Wedge is a thing of beauty and a heck of a lot of fun to fly.
It is also really hard to beat Corran Horne with R2-D2.

The saddest part is you can't field all three of them at the same time in a 100 pts match.