Weapon upgrades

Superior is generally recommended, but it's pricey.

Custom Grip is pretty good.
Rapid-Recharge Xciter turns any gun into an automatic.
Laser Sight free advantage (Hired Gun)
Check out underbarrel micro-rockets in the Bounty Hunter book
Rifle
Augmented Spin Barrel (D+1)(D+2, Pierce+1, Acc+1) 1750
Forearm Grip for use in melee
Marksman Barrel for long range use
Pistol
Blaster Actuating Module (D+1, Adv+1)(D+2, Pierce+2) 500
Paired Weapons (Smuggler book)
Melee
Balanced Hilt (Acc +1)(Acc+1, Enc-1)
Monomolecular Edge (Crit -1)(Pierce +2)
Heavy Weapons
Gyrostabilizer will eliminate the Cumbersome trait (tech book).
Armor
Superior is recommended again; probably more important on armor than weapons.
Integrated med-systems
Enhanced Optics is a decent option since it can be upgraded to boost the very im
portant Vigilance skill
Droids want Ion Shielding
There are some good long range options in the Hired Gun book
Cortosis Weave is pretty good and flavorful but extremely expensive
Strength enhancing if you use Strength
Optical Camouflage if you use Stealth
Options here are very much a personal choice - there are many

Ship upgrades
Advanced targeting array is basically mandatory (1 HP)
High-output ion turbine boosts speed (1 HP)
ECM suite drops silhouette by one (1 HP)
Reinforced shield generator isn't a bad idea (2 HP)
Armor isn't terrible (2 HP)
Nightshadow coating reduces silhouette by one (1 HP) (smuggler book)
Laser Focusing Array boosts laser weapon by advantage (2 HP) (tech book)
Hardened Circuits/Hull reinforcement boosts strain/hull threshold (2 HP) (Ace bo
ok)
Hyperdrive generator for when you really don't know what else to get (1 HP)
Oversized External Weapon Mount weapon 1 size larger at the cost of -1 handling,
and -4 system strain threshold (2 HP)
Encrypted Computer is "free" and protects against slicing (tech book)
Security Measures is "free" and makes it hard to hijack the ship (tech book)
Gunner Droid Brain is "free" and can handle unoccupied turrets (tech book)
Astrogation Droid Brain is "free" and can handle astrogation checks (smuggler bo
ok)
Autopilot Droid Brain is "free" and can handle pilot checks (smuggler book)
SHIP OPTIONS
For reference a Y-Wing costs 80, an X-Wing costs 120, a TIE fighter costs 50, an
d a Lambda shuttle costs 140. The recommended starting budget in EoE is 120, wh
ich I find really annoying since my two favorites cost 130.
Only ships with a Silhouette of 4 are listed. Larger ships cross the line into
capital territory and are unsuitable for dogfighting. Smaller ships can't fit t
he party.
Prc Sil Spd Hnd Shield Arm HT SS Cgo HP
Wep Name
130 4 3 0 1///1 3 24 18 100 5
4 Smg YKL-37R Nova Courier
My top choice. Well-rounded, reasonably priced, but above all has nearly unpara
lleled modding ability. This is the kind of ship that will grow with the party.
If we don't intend to ever change ships, we should consider this one.
130 4 3 0 1///1 4 25 18 140 5
2 EoE YT-2400
Would be better than the Nova Courier with a smaller group. Trades two weapon h
ardpoints for a point of armor, which is a fair trade.
300 4 3 -1 2///1 3 32 19 80 4
5 HG 4R3 Light Assault Transport
Probably better than the Nova Courier, but significantly more expensive. You ca
n balance this by swapping out the stock weapons for worse weapons. Five guns i
s pretty silly. Not as OP as the price implies.
250 4 4 0 1///1 2 18 14 120 4
3 SoR Davro
Odd, fast ship with interesting stealth options built in. A bit expensive but t
hat's stealth for you.
200 4 3 -1 2///1 4 30 16 95 4
4 EoE Citadel
Expensive, again, but has enough guns for everyone. Can "carry two starfighters
" using a pair of external docking clamps.
100 4 3 -1 1///1 3 22 15 165 6
2 EoE YT-1300
The Falcon herself. Decent option, if extremely generic. Highly customizable.
If the party wants this one I'm fine with it.
120 4 3 0 1///1 3 24 14 170 5
2 Smg YT-2000
The YT-1300 with better handling and one less mod hardpoint. Not really a fan b
ut it's still better than a lot of this list.
100 4 3 0 2///2 4 20 14 80 4
2 HG Surronian Conqueror
Great defenses. Cool name. Rarity 9. Meh.
120 4 5 1 1///1 3 18 15 100 5
0 Smg HWK-1000
A funny option. Starts with no weapons. Speed rating of 5, which is absolutely
bonkers. Will need considerable modification to be well-fitted for us, but onc
e it's properly modded we will actually outrun A-Wings in this. Rarity is 10 bu
t see the entry. Do you want to start the party without any ship guns?
550 4 3 -1 2/1/1/2 4 30 18 200 4
2 LNH Seltiss-2
Most expensive option on this list. Tough as nails. Oddly has four attack zone
s. Many of the features of a Silhouette 5 ship crammed into a Silhouettte 4 pac
kage.
165 4 3 0 1///1 4 20 16 90 4
2 AoR Simiyiar
If it had Armor 3 it would be the most unremarkable ship on this list.
160 4 5 -1 2///1 2 25 15 20 3
3 BH Aggressor
A more combat-oriented ship. Very fast, reasonably nimble. Considered a starfi
ghter but can fit the party.
120 4 5 -2 1///0 2 20 10 60 3
3 BH Lancer
Another combat-oriented choice with the interesting feature of allowing all guns
to be controlled by a single gunner.
75 4 3 -1 1///1 2 20 14 150 5
1 Exp YT-1000
Older YT series. If you want to start us in a deliberately outdated ship with t
he intent of having us upgrade later, this is a decent choice.
90 4 2 -1 1///1 3 19 11 150 5
1 Col YT-1200
Older YT series. If you want to start us in a deliberately outdated ship with t
he intent of having us upgrade later, this is a decent choice.
112 4 3 -2 1///1 5 28 15 200 4
1 Exp GHTROC 720
Flying brick. Very heavily armored, poor handling, weak weapons. Huge cargo sp
ace. Actually looks like a brick, too. Seriously.
120 4 3 0 1///1 3 20 20 80 4
1 Exp YV-560
Generic stats. Interesting exploration fluff.
115 4 3 -1 1///1 3 30 20 100 4
1 AoR Questor
Rustbucket than can take a beating. And probably will.
70 4 3 -1 1///1 3 20 16 85 4
1 Smg Starlight
Well, it's cheap.