I think the iconic Red Squad x-wing has gotten pretty short shrift in this game. The 2 PS gain over a rookie X-Wing costs you two points. You don't have any reposition ability, so I don't think that's worth the expenditure. Despite being one of the more storied squadrons in the Rebel Alliance, Red Squadron lacks an EPT*.

Does anyone use Red Squadron Pilots? Am I missing something, or are they truly lackluster?

*I know the transports will allow one ship to pay a point AND the astromech slot to gain an EPT slot, but I'm really struggling to think of a good use for the EPT on a PS4 ship that can only TL and focus.

Red squad pilots are half the Bloody Dagger squad, which has done very well in tournaments. The extra 2 PS can be quite useful when you want to move last and shoot first, because you beat or at least tie pretty much every Imperial generic you'll see when it comes to PS.

well you can take 4 Reds with a little room to add to it. putting all your ships at PS4, which is not a bad thing at all. I have flown this in a tournament, and it worked out pretty good.

Not having a reposition ability does make PS less valuable, but shooting first can be very powerful, and higher PS still counters enemy repositioning

I hope they make a Rogue Squadron pilot someday. Maybe the equivalent of Royal Guard, a PS6 with an EPT.

My current tournament list uses a Red. PS 4 seems to be a magical number. If you're going against a swarm or 5+ ship build, a PS score of 4 might be the highest on the board.

I'm betting it will be a PS 5 with an EPT and a special modification (optional) for 24 points.

Advantages of Red over Rookie:

-When going against PS2 pilots (Rookies, Blues, Golds, Scimitars, "Tempest," Rebel Op, Shuttle) you get to kill them before they get to shoot instead of both shooting at the same time.

-When going against PS3 pilots (Green, Tarn, Obsidian, Avenger, Bounty Hunter) you get to shoot before they shoot INSTEAD of after they shoot.

-When going against PS4 pilots (Red, Dagger, Gray, Gamma, "Storm," Roark, Yorr) you get to shoot regardless of whether they kill you.

-When going against PS2/3 (and 4 with init) alpha strike squadrons, you deny their alpha strike.

-Flight instructor can only reroll eyes when you attack him instead of eyes+blanks

Disadvantages of Red over Rookie:

-When going against PS1 pilots (Academy, Alpha, ORS, Prototype) you wasted 2 points

-When going against PS5+ Pilots (Royal Guard + all named except Tarn, Yorr, and Roark) you wasted 2 points

-With swarm tactics/Roark, you can shoot at a higher PS as long as that pilot is alive, meaning you wasted 2 points (until ST is dead)

With that in mind, lets take a look at common archtype builds.

Advantage:

Disadvantage:

Neutral:

BH + swarmlet

Buzzsaw + swarmlet

HSF

It would seem to me that you're typically either neutral, at an advantage, or playing against a swarm. Which I'm of the opinion that the swarm is either well played, and thus predictable... which gives you an advantage because you can play against his archtype any day of the week... or it's not well played, and which case, who cares because you're the better player and can outfly him.

TL:DR, Red > Rookie.

I hope they make a Rogue Squadron pilot someday. Maybe the equivalent of Royal Guard, a PS6 with an EPT.

The only problem with that is most if not all rogue's had names

All pilots had names.

The only argument against Reds I'll buy is that 2 points is probably too steep for a basic PS upgrade only when compared to the rookie. That being said, it's a PS4 X-wing, so it's still very a solid ship for 23 points.

All pilots had names.

Rookie One, reporting for duty.

All pilots had names.

Rookie One, reporting for duty.

Speaking of, I rewatched the cut-scenes from Rebel Assault recently and WOW did they rip cannon apart. lol. All in good fun though, nothing like having your old commander from Tatooine fly into the trench in an A-wing and save your butt.

Are we really so entitled that we see a ship that only costs 2 more points and think "hey, I got shortchanged a viable pilot ability!"?

Are we really so entitled that we see a ship that only costs 2 more points and think "hey, I got shortchanged a viable pilot ability!"?

Well, not entitled, more of uncertain of whether it's a good buy. At this point a fair number of ships cost 1 point to gain 2ps.

Advantages of Red over Rookie:

-When going against PS2 pilots (Rookies, Blues, Golds, Scimitars, "Tempest," Rebel Op, Shuttle) you get to kill them before they get to shoot instead of both shooting at the same time.

-When going against PS3 pilots (Green, Tarn, Obsidian, Avenger, Bounty Hunter) you get to shoot before they shoot INSTEAD of after they shoot.

-When going against PS4 pilots (Red, Dagger, Gray, Gamma, "Storm," Roark, Yorr) you get to shoot regardless of whether they kill you.

-When going against PS2/3 (and 4 with init) alpha strike squadrons, you deny their alpha strike.

-Flight instructor can only reroll eyes when you attack him instead of eyes+blanks

Disadvantages of Red over Rookie:

-When going against PS1 pilots (Academy, Alpha, ORS, Prototype) you wasted 2 points

-When going against PS5+ Pilots (Royal Guard + all named except Tarn, Yorr, and Roark) you wasted 2 points

-With swarm tactics/Roark, you can shoot at a higher PS as long as that pilot is alive, meaning you wasted 2 points (until ST is dead)

Appreciate the considered write-up. I think your point about getting to shoot for sure against PS4 and lower and about Flight Instructor (and the upcoming Predator card) are both ones I don't give enough weight to. And I'll add that when lower cost flechette torpedoes are out, the higher PS makes getting a TL and firing them much easier.

OTOH, a lot of builds that have a Red Squadron Pilot, I just think would do as well or better with a rookie. Take Bloody Daggers. You're hoping they kill Red Squad first so that your Adv. Sensor B-Wing can close out. Biggs and a Rookie are the same as two Red Squadrons; I think that's a much better buy.

Reds get used a little less than half as much as Rookies in winning Store Championship squads. If you want to complain about a PS4 pilot, I would look at the Grey Squadron Pilot. There is very little reason to bid 2 more points on a ship that usually carries an Ion Turret.

Reds get used a little less than half as much as Rookies in winning Store Championship squads. If you want to complain about a PS4 pilot, I would look at the Grey Squadron Pilot. There is very little reason to bid 2 more points on a ship that usually carries an Ion Turret.

I love complaining! I do think that Grey Squad with Ion Turret and and Engine isn't a bad ship, even for 29 points, though I'd be very surprised if it ended up in any championship squads.

All pilots had names.

His name was Robert Paulson.

Red Squadron is just another option. I don't think any particular squadron is going to be the best in every situation. In a tournament you might be fighting a larger spread of PS and having a little higher might be worth it.

Not sure why people are concerned over the generic Red Squadron pilot when all the relevant unique red squadron pilots are represented well.

All pilots had names.

His name was Robert Paulson.

You win. Take all my internet points!

I hope they make a Rogue Squadron pilot someday. Maybe the equivalent of Royal Guard, a PS6 with an EPT.

The only problem with that is most if not all rogue's had names

Agreed. I know people may say the same thing about other squadrons, but more than anyone else, as far as I'm concerned there is no such thing as a 'generic rogue squadron pilot'.

I'd rather see it as a title that can be attached to unique pilots.

The extra pilot skill does help with target locking, as well - X-wings are nicely balanced fighters, but the Target Lock ability doesn't half help their firepower.

Title

Rogue Squadron Veteran

X-Wing only. Unique pilot only.

Increase your pilot skill value by 2

Giving out an extra EPT might shift pilots into broken territory, There are so many pilots to choose from, as opposed to the A-Wing.

PS +2 shifts even Tarn into PS5 and the rest into PS7+, and Wedge turned up to 11, 13 with VI beating out even Roark's ability. Which isn't bad for a double death star killer.

All pilots had names.

Rookie One, reporting for duty.

That's still a name.

I hope they make a Rogue Squadron pilot someday. Maybe the equivalent of Royal Guard, a PS6 with an EPT.

The only problem with that is most if not all rogue's had names

Agreed. I know people may say the same thing about other squadrons, but more than anyone else, as far as I'm concerned there is no such thing as a 'generic rogue squadron pilot'.

I'd rather see it as a title that can be attached to unique pilots.

The extra pilot skill does help with target locking, as well - X-wings are nicely balanced fighters, but the Target Lock ability doesn't half help their firepower.

No such thing as a generic Red Squadron pilot either.

well you can take 4 Reds with a little room to add to it. putting all your ships at PS4, which is not a bad thing at all. I have flown this in a tournament, and it worked out pretty good.

This is the list that I use most often. 4xReds with 2xSU