I'm mulling over a boring-but-effective Palpatine/Fel/Vader, and I can't squeeze in Advanced Targeting Computer and an initiative bid without changing Vader's loadout. (I really like running him with Juke, and I don't want to run VI or Adaptability--I want flexible activation order.)

A lot of players are no longer bidding as strongly for PS9+ right now, so I'm wondering: should I go ahead and build to 100, even though I'm running two arc-dodgers? Or is it still so important that I should run Crack Shot + Adv Targeting instead of Juke + Adv Targeting in order to get it?

Well the emperor ace builds are very popular, so there maybe a good chance you'll come across one if your going to a big tournament

Thing you have to ask yourself if where do you want to be when you come across whisper, fel, or Dengar.

All three seem pretty prevalent.

You know your meta best, v what's your gut tell you?

One thing I learned, go by gut feeling, I usually regret when I don't listen to it

Are you talking about for local games or big tournaments?

For local games, often you have a good idea of what you're going to face. In my area you can ignore the triple Jumpmaster matchup since no one is running it. If everyone is flying PS 8 Acewings I imagine you should be safe taking a risk like that.

But at a big tournament you need the ability to not get screwed by bad matchups, and having someone fly a nearly identical list to yours only for them to have an initiative bid is a bad matchup. All that matters in Acewing games is who boosts last. I'd go for as strong of an initiative bid as your list can bear.

I think if you look at the regional results there are PS9 pilots everywhere in the top 8s. It seems to me that a 1 point bid you'll be dicing for initiative vs those PS9s. A 2 pt bid will almost certainly give it to you every time. It's tough because Vader likely needs the bid to take less shots, Fel not as much. Though Vader without ATC may be underpowered with or without initiative.

Not what you are asking, but you could consider dropping Fel for Inquisitor. Then you have your needed points.

Might want to look at this.

I think if you look at the regional results there are PS9 pilots everywhere in the top 8s. It seems to me that a 1 point bid you'll be dicing for initiative vs those PS9s. A 2 pt bid will almost certainly give it to you every time. It's tough because Vader likely needs the bid to take less shots, Fel not as much. Though Vader without ATC may be underpowered with or without initiative.

Sort of my thoughts.

99 pts is not an 'initiative bid'. Anyone who cares about initiative is at 98 points these days, tops, so even dropping everything but Adaptability on Vader you are still going to be dicing off with them. Of course, on anyone NOT bidding like crazy for initiative...you are PS9, so...what are you worried about?

IMHO, I'd just bet on Vader being the last man standing - ESPECIALLY if going with ATC - and roll 'Lone Wolf' with him, instead of even Juke.

My philosophy is that if initiative really matters, suck it up and bid 3. Otherwise, learn to play with initiative and win. A Juke Vader is probably one of the better ones to play when you have initiative anyway. You get to fire with Juke, then use the Evade for defense when other PS9s fire.