The Rebels are dirty, and you should feel ashamed Dieter, now, man your Eyeball and get back into the good fight Pilot !

I need a few more Ties!!!

- Sun Tzu, the Art of War

If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.

- Sun Tzu

Loyal to the Empire. Play rebels for the knowledge.

Ya. I run them in the sims to get to know what they're capable of...not much is usually the answer.

I like to enjoy the entire game, not just half of it

Ditto.

To date I have not flown rebels once. I don't feel like I'm missing anything. There are innumerable outlets for me to play as a Rebel hero, but only this game and TIE Fighter to scratch my Imperial Itch.

I prefer to fly the Empire because they fit more my style but, quite frankly, I don't really understand the fanboyism of some people. Why limit yourself to only play half of the game? Only good reason I can see is if you're on a budget and can only afford one faction. But even then, you probably bought a couple rebel ship for upgrade cards *cough* A-Wing before Imperial Aces*cough* or a core set, so you technically already have a base.

I only play Imperials so I can learn their tactics so when I play Rebels I am familiar with patterns and abilities to gun down Imperial slugs!

I am very curious about the E-wing (aside from the A-wing, it is probably the closest in terms of maneuverability to the Empire's space fighters), and will try out a tricked out version of it (R2 droid + Engine upgrade), which is basically an Interceptor on Caffeine.

But really, Imperial all the way, my squadron will soon be upgraded with the Tie Defenders, blasting rebel scum to kingdom come, or back to the force, or Nirvana, or whatever they believe in.

BTW, Grand Admiral Thrawn is THE only Grand Admiral, no one can defeat him, no one!

I prefer to fly the Empire because they fit more my style but, quite frankly, I don't really understand the fanboyism of some people. Why limit yourself to only play half of the game? Only good reason I can see is if you're on a budget and can only afford one faction. But even then, you probably bought a couple rebel ship for upgrade cards *cough* A-Wing before Imperial Aces*cough* or a core set, so you technically already have a base.

Well, I'd say it's all what you get out of this game. I honestly don't feel like I'm missing out on half of it just because I don't play rebels. That's like playing a video game and saying "man, I want to play as Random AI Guard 34. I want to stand in one spot for 4 minutes and then have my throat slit." I mean technically you're missing out on an experience, but it's not one you'd want. I just view Rebels as my enemies. They have their tactics and I have mine.

The best analogy I can think of for playing rebels would be this: have you ever had some food or beverage item that you only ate or drank half of? And then a bit later, you started forcing yourself to finish the other half while thinking "i paid for this so I should finish it"? But really, what's the point? If the whole idea behind the purchase of that thing was to enjoy it, then why force yourself to indulge in it past the point where you're enjoying doing so? Especially when continuing to hork it down as part of some broken mentality that experiencing the entirety of a thing is enjoying it is actually making you enjoy it less. That's how I feel about playing rebels.

I know I will feel dirty if I play the falcon, but now with all the extra defensive upgrades that are available to the 'new' 'republic' scum, well, I could feel dirtier.

I prefer to fly the Empire because they fit more my style but, quite frankly, I don't really understand the fanboyism of some people. Why limit yourself to only play half of the game? Only good reason I can see is if you're on a budget and can only afford one faction. But even then, you probably bought a couple rebel ship for upgrade cards *cough* A-Wing before Imperial Aces*cough* or a core set, so you technically already have a base.

Well, I'd say it's all what you get out of this game. I honestly don't feel like I'm missing out on half of it just because I don't play rebels. That's like playing a video game and saying "man, I want to play as Random AI Guard 34. I want to stand in one spot for 4 minutes and then have my throat slit." I mean technically you're missing out on an experience, but it's not one you'd want. I just view Rebels as my enemies. They have their tactics and I have mine.

The best analogy I can think of for playing rebels would be this: have you ever had some food or beverage item that you only ate or drank half of? And then a bit later, you started forcing yourself to finish the other half while thinking "i paid for this so I should finish it"? But really, what's the point? If the whole idea behind the purchase of that thing was to enjoy it, then why force yourself to indulge in it past the point where you're enjoying doing so? Especially when continuing to hork it down as part of some broken mentality that experiencing the entirety of a thing is enjoying it is actually making you enjoy it less. That's how I feel about playing rebels.

Except that rebels ship are not just some random AI guard 34.. they are whole ships with their own maneuver dials and stats and possible upgrade combos and different gameplay experiences. They are not just the continuation of a meal, but a whole different meal that you can have another day.

Make all the analogy you want, but you are willingly limiting your experience with what the game offer based on some false affiliation feelings. Your loss, not mine.

Service. Fealty. Fidelity

I live and die by the emperor's command

Except that rebels ship are not just some random AI guard 34.. they are whole ships with their own maneuver dials and stats and possible upgrade combos and different gameplay experiences. They are not just the continuation of a meal, but a whole different meal that you can have another day.

Make all the analogy you want, but you are willingly limiting your experience with what the game offer based on some false affiliation feelings. Your loss, not mine.

While on one level I agree with you, I have to. Say I don't do roller coasters. I have done them, they were ok, but now I don't. My day in the park is every bit as satisfying as it can be. I'm not missing out. True there is an experience I am not having, even one many people enjoy, but to do that thing I would have to not do the things I like better. So different is still a net loss for me. You are arguing subjective experience.

More ontopicish I love my imps, own two shuttles and two firesprays to one falcon. But I love my xwings and Ywings too. So I play whatever and have a great time.

I prefer to fly the Empire because they fit more my style but, quite frankly, I don't really understand the fanboyism of some people. Why limit yourself to only play half of the game? Only good reason I can see is if you're on a budget and can only afford one faction. But even then, you probably bought a couple rebel ship for upgrade cards *cough* A-Wing before Imperial Aces*cough* or a core set, so you technically already have a base.

I actually have over 40 rebel ships. After all you need lots of cannon fodder.

Service. Fealty. Fidelity

I live and die by the emperor's command

May the lords of the sith bless your soul.

I'd say that 90% of the time I play Imperial squadrons.

I probably went the first month or so, maybe two months before I actually tried a Rebel list. Mainly because I first started playing with my wife, and our very first game she chose the Rebels with the Falcon. She proceeded to beat me for the next three or four games with it, as I could not for the life of me figure out how to deal with it. I wanted to stick with the Empire until I got good enough to win against the YT, and eventually I did.

Every time a game is to be played my first instinct is to reach for the Empire. I think a major contributor to that is that my local scene is very Rebel heavy, so I feel I have to represent the Empire when I dominate the competition.

An Ewok that flies for the Empire, has the world turned upside down?

Yeah but I'm explosive, like a suicide bomber.

Go ahead, tell them to sing 'Yub Nub' one more time.

Strictly loyal to the Empire!

Never played rebs but keep a few of their ships for newbies to try out. I have a Firespray and haven't played it because it's not really Imperial. "Bounty hunters! We don't need those scum."

I prefer to fly the Empire because they fit more my style but, quite frankly, I don't really understand the fanboyism of some people. Why limit yourself to only play half of the game? Only good reason I can see is if you're on a budget and can only afford one faction. But even then, you probably bought a couple rebel ship for upgrade cards *cough* A-Wing before Imperial Aces*cough* or a core set, so you technically already have a base.

Well, I'd say it's all what you get out of this game. I honestly don't feel like I'm missing out on half of it just because I don't play rebels. That's like playing a video game and saying "man, I want to play as Random AI Guard 34. I want to stand in one spot for 4 minutes and then have my throat slit." I mean technically you're missing out on an experience, but it's not one you'd want. I just view Rebels as my enemies. They have their tactics and I have mine.

The best analogy I can think of for playing rebels would be this: have you ever had some food or beverage item that you only ate or drank half of? And then a bit later, you started forcing yourself to finish the other half while thinking "i paid for this so I should finish it"? But really, what's the point? If the whole idea behind the purchase of that thing was to enjoy it, then why force yourself to indulge in it past the point where you're enjoying doing so? Especially when continuing to hork it down as part of some broken mentality that experiencing the entirety of a thing is enjoying it is actually making you enjoy it less. That's how I feel about playing rebels.

Except that rebels ship are not just some random AI guard 34.. they are whole ships with their own maneuver dials and stats and possible upgrade combos and different gameplay experiences. They are not just the continuation of a meal, but a whole different meal that you can have another day.

Make all the analogy you want, but you are willingly limiting your experience with what the game offer based on some false affiliation feelings. Your loss, not mine.

Well, that's all well and good but to me they're also boring. And you must be truly foolish to presume to tell me the inside of my own head. "False affiliation feelings" indeed.

I'm not speaking about someone that tried them and saw that they were not to their liking, I'm speaking about people that chose a faction and never gave the other a chance or refused to play them because they are 'loyal' the the faction they chose at the start.

If you tried them both and didn't like what the rebels, or the empire, had to offer in term of gameplay so decided to specialise with the other faction, that's okay. You gave it a try and didn't like it, to each their own. But if you don't want to try the other faction because 'it makes you feel dirty inside', that's where you are willingly limiting your experience based on a loyalty feeling that you decided to extended pass the end of a fictional game. When I play the Empire, I will say 'Die you rebel scum' or 'for the glory of the Emperor!'; when I play rebels I'll feel like fighting for the freedom of the galaxie! That's how good the thematic feeling is in this game, you immerse yourself in and escape from reality for an hour or more. But once the game ends, so does these feelings of affiliation.

So curiosity got the better of me after reading through this entire thread ... for those of you who stake your life on not running anything other than the Imperials, I would like to know if you have actually invested money in purchasing Rebel ships?

If you have purchased Rebel ships, do you at least use them on your own to run simulations so that you can play Imperials at their best ... i.e. practice against Rebels so that you can learn what they can do, and prepare defenses, etc.

Do you buy Rebel stuff just as an investment and leave them in the boxes unopened?

If you don't buy Rebel stuff at all, do you simply rely on forums such as this and others to help you learn what those Rebel ships have available to them, so that you can prepare to play against them?

Curiously, I have purchased everything that has been released, and multiple copies therein. But I have never played the game, other than on my own. I enjoy the game, the miniatures, etc., and all things Star Wars. I would guess I am a rarity in this (not having played the game, but invested in it heavily).

The only Rebel ship I ever owned was the X-Wing that came in the starter. I promptly traded it away for two more starter Ties. I have never really enjoyed playing Rebels in any game that gives me a choice in the matter. It's not just a matter of pure game play, it's also aesthetics.

I have also never played Space Marines in 40K or Lizardmen in Fantasy or the Dutch in Flames of War or Cryx in Warmachine. Just like the Rebels in X-Wing I have no interest and know for a fact that I am not missing out on anything that would interest me.

How is this for loyalty

or this

Strictly loyal to the Empire!

Never played rebs but keep a few of their ships for newbies to try out. I have a Firespray and haven't played it because it's not really Imperial. "Bounty hunters! We don't need those scum."

While agree the firespray isn't strictly imperial its one of the most powerful ship the empire has. Usually a recon spray is in most of my lists.

How is this for loyalty

or this