I wrote up the following to explain to myself why TIE/fos exist, and how they might be serving alongside older fighters on my table. I think it makes sense, but I'm interested in anyone else's opinion.

In the aftermath of the Battle of Endor, most fleets in the Imperial Navy found themselves with far fewer resources than they were accustomed. While TIE Fighters continued to be made at an impressive rate in factories still under the influence of the Moffs and Admirals that retained power over their individual fleets, the overall output was not up to pre-Endor standards. More importantly, as many worlds declared for the Rebellion, the Fleets could not expect the same quantity and quality of recruits to the academies. The remnant Fleets that survived in the years after the battle of Endor found that their tactics for the employment of their TIE Fighter squadrons had to change. Their experienced pilots became far more valuable, and needed to be protected. In part, this was accomplished with tactics. Improved capital ship/starfighter coordination, less aggressive fighter tactics, and judicious use of reserves substantially reduced casualties in front line TIE/ln squadrons.

In addition, field modifications to stock TIE/lns began appearing. In earlier years, a particular promising pilot may have been transferred to a higher prestige unit equipped with more capable TIE variants. With a breakdown in supply, and a breakdown in cooperation between the higher level Imperial commanders and their fleets, the TIE squadrons became more static, personnel became citizens of their particular Fleet as much as citizens of the Empire, and the flow of equipment and personnel drastically slowed. Often, the only TIE variant that fleets could reliably source replacement parts for was the standard TIE/ln. In order to improve their capabilities and protect their increasingly more valuable pilots, many squadrons were allowed to add modifications to these fighters. Additional armor plating or lightweight shield generators were sometimes added. Improved avionics and engines, stripped from advanced fighters that could no longer fly or purchased from local sources, were sometimes fitted as well. Over the years, the modifications that were proven most effective began to be produced as refit kits in allied factories, and eventually TIE Fighters were produced with the modifications factory standard. These were the progenitors of TIE Fighters used by the First Order decades later.

Now I just want to see some hodgpoge Tie fighters.

Sounds good =) Stick some shields on the likes of bombers and interceptors for fluff and you're keeping in theme, if at the cost of effectiveness. I'm hoping we see more First Order TIE variants in Episode 8, having nothing but standard fighters made me very sad

Sounds good =) Stick some shields on the likes of bombers and interceptors for fluff and you're keeping in theme, if at the cost of effectiveness. I'm hoping we see more First Order TIE variants in Episode 8, having nothing but standard fighters made me very sad

Which is weird, because I don't think we actally saw any of the standard TIE f/os in TFA. I think they were almost all the TIE s/f variant that Finn and Poe escaped in. Two seats with a turret and a missile launcher; everyone's convinced they'll be in Wave 9.

Sounds good =) Stick some shields on the likes of bombers and interceptors for fluff and you're keeping in theme, if at the cost of effectiveness. I'm hoping we see more First Order TIE variants in Episode 8, having nothing but standard fighters made me very sad

Which is weird, because I don't think we actally saw any of the standard TIE f/os in TFA. I think they were almost all the TIE s/f variant that Finn and Poe escaped in. Two seats with a turret and a missile launcher; everyone's convinced they'll be in Wave 9.

No, the only TIE/sf we saw in combat was the one Poe and Finn flew in. The ones from the rest of the movie lacked the red paint indicative of the /sf model. All the TIE's from the rest of the battles were TIE/fo's.

***If I am wrong please correct me, I only saw it twice and am impatiently waiting for the DVD release***

I'm pretty sure a few special forces ones were at the lake battle. I think I saw at least one in a still shot.

But yea it's unfortunate they went so nostalgia heavy and brought back xwings and tie fighters even if they are newer versions.

Even if you exclude the EU, ROTJ alone showed they were going with more advanced fighters like the interceptor and A-wing.

Mark is right. You see a TIE/sf flying past the camera, shooting back at a pursuing X-Wing. Unless that TIE is flying backwards, pretty sure it's a TIE/sf!

Now I just want to see some hodgpoge Tie fighters.

Well, I don't think they would look any different. The body isn't getting modified too much.

Sounds good =) Stick some shields on the likes of bombers and interceptors for fluff and you're keeping in theme, if at the cost of effectiveness. I'm hoping we see more First Order TIE variants in Episode 8, having nothing but standard fighters made me very sad

Me too, I would have liked to have seen variety. What I wrote in the OP, at least, makes me feel like there might be a decent reason for only having TIE fighters around. If I'm even partially right, I could see the First Order sticking with standard pattern TIEs, as a symbolic weapon, "this machine built the Empire, and it saw us through the dark times". That would be why even the clearly capable TIE/sf is still basically "TIE Fighter" shaped. Also, considering that the First Order seems to have been fighting for its life, then marshaling its strength for a while, stuff like the TIE/sf makes a lot of sense compared to the Bomber or Interceptor. Both of those are designed to be used when superiority is attained. They don't have hyperdrives and they rely heavily on supporting craft. The TIE/sf, with its (probably much lower capacity) warhead launchers and hyperdrive could probably do a good job doing quick raids, delaying actions, and sabotage that are more useful in a cold war/insurgency that seemed to be the state of the galaxy just before TFA.

I'm pretty sure a few special forces ones were at the lake battle. I think I saw at least one in a still shot.

But yea it's unfortunate they went so nostalgia heavy and brought back xwings and tie fighters even if they are newer versions.

Even if you exclude the EU, ROTJ alone showed they were going with more advanced fighters like the interceptor and A-wing.

No new Imperial ships is maybe forgivable if the Imperials are on the run for a few decades. I don't like it, but I have managed to make up an explanation that I don't hate. No new Alliance/Rebel ships (fighters or capital ships) really grinds me, because they're on top. They can develop new stuff, or at least not throw away the old stuff (A/B/Y). I guess the Republic decided to throw away the keys to a unified military, but even then, there's nothing that promotes arms sales like a power vacuum.

I'm pretty sure a few special forces ones were at the lake battle. I think I saw at least one in a still shot.

But yea it's unfortunate they went so nostalgia heavy and brought back xwings and tie fighters even if they are newer versions.

Even if you exclude the EU, ROTJ alone showed they were going with more advanced fighters like the interceptor and A-wing.

Lets face it. TFA was a reboot disguised as a sequel. That's why we only see what looks like standard Tie Fighters. I'm hoping episode 8 and 9 will not be reboots of ESB and ROTJ. Even if they are very similar, hopefully we will see something besides Tie FOs. I'd pretty much die if I saw a Tie Defender or even something that looked like it on the big screen.

I'm pretty sure a few special forces ones were at the lake battle. I think I saw at least one in a still shot.

But yea it's unfortunate they went so nostalgia heavy and brought back xwings and tie fighters even if they are newer versions.

Even if you exclude the EU, ROTJ alone showed they were going with more advanced fighters like the interceptor and A-wing.

Lets face it. TFA was a reboot disguised as a sequel. That's why we only see what looks like standard Tie Fighters. I'm hoping episode 8 and 9 will not be reboots of ESB and ROTJ. Even if they are very similar, hopefully we will see something besides Tie FOs. I'd pretty much die if I saw a Tie Defender or even something that looked like it on the big screen.

They are canon, so here's hoping.

I wouldn't mind seeing some new Incom and Koensayr designs either. I'm lets be honest, if FFG can make the E-wing and K-wing look outstanding, I'm sure they're adaptable to the big screen. I also hope that T-80s look like XJ wings, as they had a really cool appearance.

http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/starwars/images/8/82/XJ3-EGTW.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20130103163442]http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/starwars/images/8/82/XJ3-EGTW.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20130103163442

EDIT: Lol the site is refusing to let me use an image extension...

Tie Defender is barely canon. Its only appearance so far is in a mobile game.

Still counts.

Just watched it acouple of times on DVD and there are TIE/sf seen flying around, but most of the TIE's in the lake and Starkiller base are regular TIE/fo's. Only a handful of TIE/sf's.