-If shields are down, you should always, always, always* fish for a H/C. The expected outcome of a reroll is significantly better than 1 damage, so there's no reason to settle for a below-average result.

Aren't the chances of you rolling a blank the exact same as rolling a hit/crit?

Yes, but the value of scoring a hit/crit is more than double the value of scoring a hit.

Imagine this scenario:

You are offered a choice between getting $100 outright, or the chance to spin a roulette. If you spin the roulette, these are the possible outcomes:

• 25% chance of getting nothing
• 50% chance of getting $100
• 25% chance of getting a million-dollar jackpot

You would always spin, right? This is obviously an exaggerated case, but the truth of the matter is that, as long as the jackpot is > $200, you should always spin unless securing the $100 right now is absolutely critical to you.

A hit/crit is worth 2 damage plus 1 critical effect. So even if you only consider Structural Damage and disregard the remaining effects as worthless (which is certainly not the case!), the expected value of a H/C is 2.15 damage. Or $215.

The expected value of a black die roll against an unshielded ship is 1.04 damage (again ignoring the other faceup card effects, which are massively situational).

So in the long run, settling for $100 when the average earnings is $104 is a losing strategy.

-If shields are down, you should always, always, always* fish for a H/C. The expected outcome of a reroll is significantly better than 1 damage, so there's no reason to settle for a below-average result.

Aren't the chances of you rolling a blank the exact same as rolling a hit/crit?

Chances are the same, but outcome is much better. If going against two shielded ship, the hit/crit=2 damage. If going against a one shielded or no shielded ship, the hit/crit=2 damage plus a damage card effect.

I agree with DiabloAzul's statement, with a caveat though. If you have a chance to kill a ship this turn, and moreover really need it to die this turn, it may be better to take the more consistent damage.

In my test game yesterday, I followed the always reroll strategy and it mostly worked. But when it came down to the ISD in question having 3 hull and no shields left, and my having three unactivated Y-wings in range left...I decided to take the near-certainty of killing the ISD vs increasing variability...

Definitely being done in the Rules thread...

... But the most damning piece in support, was one of the Designers stating, in an interview, that the intent was for them to stack... (Which allows Targeting Scramblers to stack under the same precedent - so no wanting it one way but not the other!)

So I am sure, and willing to bet Painting Credit, that the FAQ will give such advice when it is released in a further 20 days or so...

Always fish with blacks!