After recently having fun with a Shuttle/TIE mini swarm build where everyone was either PS 1 or PS 2 I got to thinking about the benefits of having everyone on the same Pilot Skill. The obvious benefit being that everyone moves at the same time. Looking at possible builds (mainly Rebel as they seem to lend themselves more to this than Imperial builds) it would be mid to lower PS ships that would benefit more as you usually have more on the board. I'm not sure if the advantage is as great with fewer, higher PS ships as they will be moving later in the activation phase. The following builds I think would gain the most:-

2 x Red Squadron + 2 x Dagger Squadron with Advanced Sensors

2 x Dagger Squadron with Advanced Sensors, E2 and Tactician + 3 x Tala Squadron

2 x Blue Squadron with HLC + 2 x Rookie Pilots

2 x Blue Squadron with Advanced Sensors and HLC + 3x Bandit Squadron

Anyone else had the same thoughts or am I seriously over thinking this?

I love having multiple pilots at the same PS.

Dutch, Garven, and Ibtisam are a great team at PS6.

Kyle also comes in at a 6 but is harder to fit into the list.

I played an Rookie x 3, Bandit x 3 list recently and had great success. Being able to pick certain ships in different order every time was fundamental to success. Especially when turning your formation around.

The 2 XXBB lists you mentioned are generally known as "Bloody Daggers" and "Blue Thunder" respectively. And we're both pretty strong lists immediately after Wave 3 was released. Now while there are clear advantages that you can create with all 4 ships moving and shooting at the same time the biggest strength they have is their collective firepower.

Blue Thunder made great use of HLC's and could rip things apart but they themselves would get ripped apart by Bloody Daggers who were all going to shoot first and eliminate a ship before it got to shoot.

Recently I have been messing around w/ an XXB list featuring a suped up Keyan w/ VI, Jek w/ VI and Wedge w/ upgrades. It's all PS9 and hits hard.

In short, yes, all the same PS can be manipulated both in the activation phase and in the attack phase to work to your advantage but it's not necessarily the end all be all. Other lists can create synergies that are stronger that do not rely on PS. Case in point when Bloody Daggers was one of the strongest lists out there Paul Heaver showed up to Worlds a year ago w/ Biggs, 2 Daggers w/ AS and a rookie (5,4,4,2) and won the whole thing.

I'm always a little worried about having the same PS accross the board (unless it's 9). Sure, it can synergize and create a strenght, but it also means that the fleet has the same weakness when facing a higher PS pilot. That's just me though (and I'm stlightly addicted to high maneuverability, where PS is really important).

Pilots at the same PS also gives some flexibility when it comes to target selection.

If Ship A has a single target in arc and Ship B has that same target in arc as well as an additional target, Ship B can wait to see the results of A's attack. If Ship B has to fire first it either shoots at the common target (possibly destroying it and leaving A with no shot) or the other ship (which may leave 2 ships alive instead of destroying 1).

Also, when dealing with a target with Rebel Captive you can choose the ship that is in the best position to deal with the stress of attacking to shoot first.

Nightbeast, Winged Gundark, Lt. Lorrir, and Fel's Wrath! MWAHAhahaa

Or:

Dark Curse, Backstabber, and some Royal Guard Pilots :-)

And in the future for a 60 pt game:

2 Black Sun Soldiers and a Black Sun Vigo :-)

Thinking of running 3 x Bandits, 2 x Rookies and a Blue on my next run-out... Rebel swarm!

I play rebels swarms, and is too much fun, try with unique ships, is more fun in games, greettings.

This is what makes the 8 Academy swarm so formidable. Easier to hold formation and optimal target selection.

Thinking of running 3 x Bandits, 2 x Rookies and a Blue on my next run-out... Rebel swarm!

The modified Jim Blakely (normal is 2 x Y,2 x X, 1 B). I played it in this years regional. Placed 12th. Make or break game was against Jeff Dunford, who went on to Nationals to be Canadian champ.

Taught me to never joust a tie swarm. Ever.

Flies really well together.