I'd rather see Vader in a Defender before Soontir, since Maarek (the player) in TIE Fighter flew Defenders with him in one mission.

I believe you're misremembering. They flew Avengers in that mission.

I'm not misremembering anything because the information was second-hand to begin with, I didn't play through every mission because my bro and I shared the PC back then.

The wookie article mentions both so I'm not sure, I just know Soontir wasn't in the PC game with Defenders, he's later in the timeline.

Now if he was, then I'm misremembering.

The wookie article mentions both so I'm not sure, I just know Soontir wasn't in the PC game with Defenders, he's later in the timeline.

Now if he was, then I'm misremembering.

No, you're right that Soontir wasn't in Star Wars: TIE Fighter, but not because he was later in the timeline, but just that he hadn't been created as a character yet. Timeline-wise, he was very much still a prominent Imperial Ace during the time of Star Wars: TIE Fighter.

And his backstory says the Defender is one of the ships he was a test pilot on.

Dunno guys if everyone's special that means no one is.

Ps9 should be rare.

It seems that the majority, at least so far, would prefer to have no additional Level 9 Pilots.

If that is the case, I would like to put a couple of questions to you. What's wrong with a couple of more unique Level 9 Pilots? Has X-wing Miniatures become an exclusive competitive nature, tournament only environment? Do you not want some fun and variety in your builds as opposed to only having a handful of top notch pilots? Where is the fun in that? When you play X-wings, do you play it solely to be the best and have the most efficient build or to have fun? Is there no room for creativity and growth? As the new trilogy is rolling out, and then all of the spinoffs and extended universe (which could last for years to come), could there not be a new generation of Level 9 Pilots or can they only exist in the original trilogy? What's wrong with having some variety?

Anyways, before answering - maybe put some time & thought into some of the things that I said, and see if it's possible to have this as a consideration before immediately writing it off. I think casual players would appreciate it. Thanks for considering , God bless.

As a casual player, no I would not.

What's wrong with PS8? PS9 is for those very rare pilots who are a hair above the others: Wedge and Han, Vader and Soontir, Dengar and Talonbane.

Diluting PS9 takes its shine off. If anything, I think we need less 8s, not more 9s.

It seems that the majority, at least so far, would prefer to have no additional Level 9 Pilots.

If that is the case, I would like to put a couple of questions to you. What's wrong with a couple of more unique Level 9 Pilots? Has X-wing Miniatures become an exclusive competitive nature, tournament only environment? Do you not want some fun and variety in your builds as opposed to only having a handful of top notch pilots? Where is the fun in that? When you play X-wings, do you play it solely to be the best and have the most efficient build or to have fun? Is there no room for creativity and growth? As the new trilogy is rolling out, and then all of the spinoffs and extended universe (which could last for years to come), could there not be a new generation of Level 9 Pilots or can they only exist in the original trilogy? What's wrong with having some variety?

New PS9 pilots do not necessarily add fun and variety to the game. Interesting pilots and upgrades do, regardless of their PS.

Talonbane has a great ability in a crappy ship. People loved the Defender but didn't take it because it's expensive. people like Talonbane, it's just the khirzxkjhalvliu&^1(Click)kauh isn't very good in the current system. People have said it is like the T 65, but at least the T65 can have things like the integrated astromech etc. With the current lack of illicit options, the Scum High PS of Talonbane will probably sit in a corner until some upgrades make the khirzxkjhalvliu&^1(Click)kauh great again.

It's hard to really see what new pilots could be added that "deserve" to be as awesome as Vader and Han.

That said I'm a bit surprised we never saw any PS10 in the game

Cause PS 10+VI would make Roark useless.

Well Roark (and some other effects like some mission-specific ones) maxing out at 12 is what kind of suggests the max unaltered pilot skill should be 10

Epsilon Ace.

Well...It's only fair to judge fairly - which means you need to consider both sides.

So, having read the other more popular side - I have to concede, that some very valid and excellent points have been made. Thank you for giving me a different perspective.

Well, I guess - bring on the interesting Level 3-5 unique pilots with Level 4-6 generics with Elite Talents slots .

Thanks for helping me to see the full picture my friends, I appreciate it .

I don't want to see many more. I'm sure we'll get another round of them, I just hope they are the ones that are already 9s in other ships.

Another issue is that in an environment where PS matters, 7-8 is already 9-10. Whisper pretty much might as well have PS 9 and no EPT. Poe is a little better off but both him and Corran are pretty much 10 with no EPT. It's the bmatire of the beast.

When peoples biggest complaint on a PS 7 ship with a great ability (Hera for example or Turr who still wants PTL) is can't get PS 9, the problem is pretty evident.

What I feel we need is more mid level ships with strong enough ability to not take an ace or VI instead. A few really low PS ACE punishers with anti acing abilities would be nice too:

Mirror, PS 4, EPT Ewing/Awing (but really sounds like a phantom call sign)

You may skip your action during the activation phase. When another ship declares an action, you may take a free action of the same type, even an action not listed on your action bar.

Twitch, PS 3, EPT tie interceptor

You may attack in the activation phase, if you do so, you may take an action during your PS of the combat phase. During the cleanup step, you may leave 1 token on your ship.

Academy Instructor, PS 6, No EPT Tie Fighter

When you take an action, another friendly ship at range 1 may take a free action of the same kind. When defending you may spend tokens of friendly ships at range 1 as if they were your own.

Not perfect, just spitballing powerful enough abilities to take instead of the obvious ace in each ship.

Frankly i'd rather we didnt get any more. The lv9 guys should be reserved for the main movie guys imo, yes i know we got a few that have it anyway but not many.

Nobody should fly a TIE better than Darth Vader! Of any type!

What's wrong with PS8? PS9 is for those very rare pilots who are a hair above the others: Wedge and Han, Vader and Soontir, Dengar and Talonbane.

Diluting PS9 takes its shine off. If anything, I think we need less 8s, not more 9s.

If the concern is fluff, putting non-entities like Talonbane or Dengar at 9 is a problem. Even Wedge is iffy. Particularly when people like Poe or Hera who are shown to be exceptional, top-tier pilots aren't at 9. Sure, fine, these PS choices are defensible in game design terms, but in fluff terms: really, that guy who appeared in that one comic that one time is a better pilot than the guy who shot down like a million TIEs in ~30 seconds? Seems legit.

really, that guy who appeared in that one comic that one time is a better pilot than the guy who shot down like a million TIEs in ~30 seconds? Seems legit.

Well, when the guy in the comic that one time is specifically described as something like, "the best pilot in the Empire", then yes, it's totally legit.

I will give you though that Cobra definitely feels like "well, Scum NEEDS another PS9 ace, so just pick someone".

Frankly i'd rather we didnt get any more. The lv9 guys should be reserved for the main movie guys imo, yes i know we got a few that have it anyway but not many.

Nobody should fly a TIE better than Darth Vader! Of any type!

Well... Maybe R2-D2. He did teach little Ani to fly after all. But he didn't get a chance in a tie. R2-D2 droid braining a tie would probably be **** scary though.

Also, the top pilots in the game are on not the best star fighters in the game. Vader still singlehandedly makes the Advanced work. The YT-1300 isn't known for being the best outside of the MF so Han is just doing the best he can. Talonbane has a K fighter. He does what he can with what he's given. Seeing what Hera can do with the Ghost and Phantom, imagine how good she would be in an awing or T-70. Soontir is in an interceptor, a ship that otherwise is a coffin for less skilled pilots. The ship each pilot is in matters. In an advanced Starfighter like the defender or phantom, Vader could be PS 11. He's that good. If Vader was flying a lambda for some reason he's probably cap out at 7-8. The ship can't perform at his capabilities.

Frankly i'd rather we didnt get any more. The lv9 guys should be reserved for the main movie guys imo, yes i know we got a few that have it anyway but not many.

Nobody should fly a TIE better than Darth Vader! Of any type!

Well... Maybe R2-D2. He did teach little Ani to fly after all. But he didn't get a chance in a tie. R2-D2 droid braining a tie would probably be **** scary though.

Also, the top pilots in the game are on not the best star fighters in the game. Vader still singlehandedly makes the Advanced work. The YT-1300 isn't known for being the best outside of the MF so Han is just doing the best he can. Talonbane has a K fighter. He does what he can with what he's given. Seeing what Hera can do with the Ghost and Phantom, imagine how good she would be in an awing or T-70. Soontir is in an interceptor, a ship that otherwise is a coffin for less skilled pilots. The ship each pilot is in matters. In an advanced Starfighter like the defender or phantom, Vader could be PS 11. He's that good. If Vader was flying a lambda for some reason he's probably cap out at 7-8. The ship can't perform at his capabilities.

I never thought of it the way that you've described (very well I might add) these Aces and their ships. Well put .

What's wrong with PS8? PS9 is for those very rare pilots who are a hair above the others: Wedge and Han, Vader and Soontir, Dengar and Talonbane.

Diluting PS9 takes its shine off. If anything, I think we need less 8s, not more 9s.

If the concern is fluff, putting non-entities like Talonbane or Dengar at 9 is a problem. Even Wedge is iffy. Particularly when people like Poe or Hera who are shown to be exceptional, top-tier pilots aren't at 9. Sure, fine, these PS choices are defensible in game design terms, but in fluff terms: really, that guy who appeared in that one comic that one time is a better pilot than the guy who shot down like a million TIEs in ~30 seconds? Seems legit.

Poe absolutely should have been at least PS9 based on TFA. Hera's a good pilot, but I wouldn't put her at PS9 level. Even ignoring the fact that her ability in the ghost at PS9 would be bonkers.

For the record, Talonbane is worthy of the PS9 distinction. At least, that's what SWGalaxies tries hard to ensure.

And I'll say it again, wave 8 is being kind to him.

talonbane in a viper pls. thx

Put those 9 skill pilots in other ships

Well, when the guy in the comic that one time is specifically described as something like, "the best pilot in the Empire", then yes, it's totally legit.

I will give you though that Cobra definitely feels like "well, Scum NEEDS another PS9 ace, so just pick someone".

I actually meant Cobra, because in my skim of his entry I thought he was from a comic, not a MMO expansion. That...makes him worse, in my view.

Frankly, at least part of my "fluffy" disdain for Dengar in particular is that...okay, so we see him stand and look ?cool? and that's about it (okay, and then he does a bit more in Clone Wars, but...). But hey, on top of allegedly being a competent bounty hunter he's also one of, like, the top three pilots in the galaxy. Sure, okay. At least he's better than Boba, who stood around and then followed a ship and was then knocked into a monster's mouth by a blind man. Sure, yeah, that guy's as good as Poe and 33% better than top of the line assassin droids, right?

Fel I'm fine with, pragmatically speaking. No TIE pilots do anything meaningful in the films, so do what you have to do to enable interceptors to not be chumps.

If Scum had had the faction identity of "low PS" that, thematically speaking, would have been just dandy.

I actually meant Cobra, because in my skim of his entry I thought he was from a comic, not a MMO expansion. That...makes him worse, in my view.

Frankly, at least part of my "fluffy" disdain for Dengar in particular is that...okay, so we see him stand and look ?cool? and that's about it (okay, and then he does a bit more in Clone Wars, but...). But hey, on top of allegedly being a competent bounty hunter he's also one of, like, the top three pilots in the galaxy. Sure, okay. At least he's better than Boba, who stood around and then followed a ship and was then knocked into a monster's mouth by a blind man. Sure, yeah, that guy's as good as Poe and 33% better than top of the line assassin droids, right?

The pilot skill has nothing to do with the character's screen time in a Star Wars movie.

Considering that after wave 8 all three factions now have two skill 9 pilots each, I think we are good for time being.

I remain a bit disappointed they had to shove him in an !X-wing, though.

Imerials have two arc-dodging Aces, Rebels have one Jouster and one Turret.

Would it have killed anyone to give Rebels its own set of archetypes? You've got three archetypes, I'd have been happy to see a Jouster/Ace or Ace/Turret pair just to mix things up.

Frankly, at least part of my "fluffy" disdain for Dengar in particular is that...okay, so we see him stand and look ?cool? and that's about it (okay, and then he does a bit more in Clone Wars, but...). But hey, on top of allegedly being a competent bounty hunter he's also one of, like, the top three pilots in the galaxy. Sure, okay.

His PS comes from his feats in the EU, not his limited screentime.

I'd rather see Vader in a Defender before Soontir, since Maarek (the player) in TIE Fighter flew Defenders with him in one mission.

I believe you're misremembering. They flew Avengers in that mission.

I am pretty sure Stele and Vader flew TIE Defenders in that mission:

https://youtu.be/OSCV-e0V26U

PS9 quota is 2, and doubtful are we about seeing more of them, because PS9 is hell of a rare thing.

PS race has to stop.

But placing same pilots in other ships is a great idea. Especially in other faction ships.

IG hijacking YT 2400? HELL YEAH!

Fel I'm fine with, pragmatically speaking. No TIE pilots do anything meaningful in the films, so do what you have to do to enable interceptors to not be chumps.

If even Han Solo describes Fel as "the best pilot [he] ever met", PS9 is more than justified