http://dockingbay416.com/imperial-doctrine-list-building-dilemma/

So I just read this article about the issues facing Imperial list building. I'm by no means an expert, but a lot of what was said makes a lot of sense to me. The Defender is an especially egriegious case of "designed for the wrong faction".

What do you guys think? Does the article make some good points, or do you think its nonsense coming from a disgruntled Imperial player?

It seems a reasonable view, but I think Rebels and Scum face similar problems. For example, my constant problem with rebel lists is creating something that actually rolls lots of red dice and has lots of shields and hull; good synergy lists tend to lack the raw strength that wins the day. Probably, the factions' greatest strengths are also their weaknesses.

It seems that most of what he has to say is pretty sound. However, a similar article could easily be written for Scum.

first: I din't think he's disgruntled.

second, and I mean this WITH NO ILL INTENTIONS towards you: I think you're getting the wrong message;

I like the article, and though I only read it once now, what I read there is "imperial lists are not as diverse as rebels or scum".

and that's largely true. but: it's lists.

lists and table/game are two completely different things.

take 10 xwing players and hand them the same list, say: decked out soonts, vader plus shuttle (that doomsday list everybody was crying about just before worlds, that yet didn't let the sky fall upon us.. strange as that may be).

10 players, 1 list - and they all play it differently. and that's basically the thing here.

"more restricted" things to choose from -may- mean "less broad ways to build lists", but it DOES NOT mean that it matters once you throw your minis onto the table. it doesn't kill variety, it just shifts it from listbuilding to flying.

and quite frankly, some pilots would be outright broken IF they where in another faction. the carnage rexler could do if his synergistic scum² buddies toss him tokens like candy or strip them off their opponents.. would have a corran-level of destruction, without the "reload pause" and we all would agree that it's broken.

serrissu (Suzie Q) in an interceptor-swarm..? yeah.. no. NO! the designers thought of something when they gave specific things to one faction, but not the other(s). most things are fine the way they are - and for those few that are not, help is surely on the way

I don't even think this guy's premise makes much sense. He honestly thinks Imperial list building is less varied than other factions because uh there are some sucky pilots? Welcome to every faction!

There is one list type he left out: the Swarm

It could actually be described as a realistic translation of the in-universe development of the Imperials: faced with the durable ships of the Alliance, the Empire was forced to emulate them. Going from cheap mass produced stuff to expensive heavy hitters such as the Defender.

The current doctrine for the Imperials is a heavy hitter and some ships to soften up the target for him. Team based objectives and flying, individualized abilities.

Scum is more individual, even cannibalizing themselves

Rebels are interdependent, some are self-contained, but usually they work in tandem.

The Empire, I feel, should therefore build around that. And it does, whether it is Whisper and a mini swarm, Vessery and two Advanceds as spotters or two very independent aces with a support ship.

The article argues that Rexler should be able to use his ability every turn, I feel it is better used as a kill-more mechanism.

One of the biggest reasons the empire feels lacking is that they already have probably the 2 best single pilot abilities in the game with Soontir and Vader (Poe getting honorable mention for 3rd). You have to have a really good reason not to take them. They both made their ship viable before the "fixes" came in

As mentioned in the PS war thread, there are a lot of stellar PS7-8 abilities but none as powerful as those 2. Juno, Turr, Jax (to some extent), Mauler... All really good but not as good as the ace in the same ship for a mere point or two more.

I hope that swarm gets exciting again. New pilots and a few new cards and two ships that could fit in well with it mean we'll have something new to look forward to very soon.

One of the biggest reasons the empire feels lacking is that they already have probably the 2 best single pilot abilities in the game with Soontir and Vader (Poe getting honorable mention for 3rd). You have to have a really good reason not to take them. They both made their ship viable before the "fixes" came in

As mentioned in the PS war thread, there are a lot of stellar PS7-8 abilities but none as powerful as those 2. Juno, Turr, Jax (to some extent), Mauler... All really good but not as good as the ace in the same ship for a mere point or two more.

I hope that swarm gets exciting again. New pilots and a few new cards and two ships that could fit in well with it mean we'll have something new to look forward to very soon.

There were a lot of crack swarms about, I think you're fine.

I think people also tended to psych themselves out of turrets that really would've helped against the ace-heavy meta.

Part of me disagrees with regard to the gis of the article, the other part says "all factions have the same issu to a degree." In other words, it's not that big of a deal, and what part of it is existent can be said about all factions.

I used to complain Rebels never had the ace that I could put on par with Soontir. Now, Poe.

37% turnout at Worlds was Imp. I understand the bloggers preference is Imp, but a greater issue is that Scum has a noticeably lower representation.

Man's got a point.

I can throw together a viable Rebel list in 1/10 the time it takes me to put together a competitive Imperial one that isn't Swarm or Palpmobile.

I dont know. Recently we have seen a more varied local meta. I think much of it has to do with a marked shift in the pilot skill bids not being as important as you could see anything from Thug Y tlt swarm to palpmobile to an ace with some mooks. One of the positives of this is the local meta has cracked open for the Empire and allowed more mid PS aces to shine. I hope this happend at the national level as well.