That's only true if you're using X-wing Alliance numbers rather than the TIE Fighter stats, DScipio. If we go the later then the Avenger gets lightly toasted.

TIE Avenger: TIE-Defender:

Speed 145 MGLT 155 MGLT

Manuverability 150 DPF 175 DPF

Shields 100 SBD 200 SBD

Hull 20 Ru 20 Ru

Hyperdrive Yes Yes

Laser 4 4

Ion - 2

Warhead Capacity 4 Capacity 4

Tractor Optional Optional

Trying to see if I can find a source for their other statistics, but I'm not sure there was one at that point. Either way, the Defender was 'broken' there, was omitted in X-wing vs. Tie fighter for that reason (The game file does exist, and it apparently reads "Advanced space superiority fighter. This craft is too powerful to be put in this simulation. Dream on, fanboy!"), and reintroduced in Alliance with toned down stats.

Edit: corrected by source:

Thanks, as I could not find the TIE-Fighter stats. However even in TIE-Fighter it was more satifing to down TIE-Defender (traitros) with the Avenger than the other way around.

I also always thought that the TIE-Defender was a good concept for a rare Elite-Fighterbomber, while the Assualt Gunaboat and the TIE-Avenger were more plausible as actually mass-produced fighters (altough not in the scale of the T/F, T/I or T/B).

The real point is that the Defender was a lame, OP, elite, end-game fighter for a single-player game.

Flying plain TIEs and Ints were frustrating at times, but also more satisfying.

I always hated fighting Avengers more than Defenders, they gave me more issues for the most part as the Defenders tended to try to run while catching an Avenger in your gunsights was frustrating.

I do agree, DScipio, the Defender is a great concept for an advanced fighter built by a rich empire, while the Gunboat and Avenger were good mass-produced, quality fighters. It's bleeding edge tech vs. systems that just plain worked.

As for Green's point, funny how we can play the same thing and come to a completely different conclusion. Anyhow, I like Defenders a lot.

Actually, the TIE Avenger had an additional advantage over the TIE Defender. The Avenger's shields regenerated faster than the Defenders.

Oh the hours i spent in TIE Fighter and X-Wing Alliance...

It regenerated faster in Tie fighter because it was half the shields that a Defender had, so it should fill twice as fast Man those games were terrific.

TIE Fighter, X-Wing Alliance and Star Wars: Rebellion all the way

TIE Fighter, X-Wing Alliance and Star Wars: Rebellion all the way

I still think that X-Wing (PC-Game) was also great.

Its a shame, that cou couldnt add cards to Rebellion but just replace them. Anyhow I replaced the TIE-Defender in Rebellion with the Avenger, as it seem more plausible to have it as a mass produced end-game fighter.

....Okay, I will reinstall Rebellion....

TIE Fighter, X-Wing Alliance and Star Wars: Rebellion all the way

I still think that X-Wing (PC-Game) was also great.

Its a shame, that cou couldnt add cards to Rebellion but just replace them. Anyhow I replaced the TIE-Defender in Rebellion with the Avenger, as it seem more plausible to have it as a mass produced end-game fighter.

....Okay, I will reinstall Rebellion....

PLEASE tell me there's still a way to play Supremacy/Rebellion? I haven't been able to for years and I miss it so!

TIE Fighter, X-Wing Alliance and Star Wars: Rebellion all the way

I still think that X-Wing (PC-Game) was also great.

Its a shame, that cou couldnt add cards to Rebellion but just replace them. Anyhow I replaced the TIE-Defender in Rebellion with the Avenger, as it seem more plausible to have it as a mass produced end-game fighter.

....Okay, I will reinstall Rebellion....

PLEASE tell me there's still a way to play Supremacy/Rebellion? I haven't been able to for years and I miss it so!

Rebellion is on steam

http://store.steampowered.com/app/441550/

Actually, the TIE Avenger had an additional advantage over the TIE Defender. The Avenger's shields regenerated faster than the Defenders.

Oh the hours i spent in TIE Fighter and X-Wing Alliance...

Not if you used the ion cannon energy banks to load your shields. Tie Defender had 3 weapon energy banks: laser, Ion, tractor - Tie Avenger only 2: laser and tractor.

The real point is that the Defender was a lame, OP, elite, end-game fighter for a single-player game.

Flying plain TIEs and Ints were frustrating at times, but also more satisfying.

You were dramatically outnumbered in while flying the Defender. The Tie Defender was a logically answer to Zaarins Tie Avangers. And cases like Zaarin are also the reason why the Empire like to stick to humble Tie Fighters as the backbone fighter - even if technology is there and resources are boundless. It is also logical that Tie Defenders are so absurdly powerful that it would be a great danger if traitors would use them against the Empire. So it is only logical to have only a very limited number of them - given into the most loyal hands. This goes for any fighters with hyperdrives installed: You make it traitors far too easy to defect. Tie Fighters, Tie Bombers and even Tie Interceptors can't go far from their base by their own. Its much more secure this way.

I think that ion cannons do play a role in anti-fighter defenses. What is the difference in armament between a TIE Bomber and a Y-Wing? 2 ion cannons. What the difference between the TB and Y in Armada? 1 black vs. 2 blue. While black has more chance to land hits on a squadron vs. blue, 2 blues outshine 1 black. Anti-ship armament is the same for both.

There's also a matter of whether a ship's perceived maneuverability gives it a better ability to attack. The A-Wing has a better anti-fighter rating than the Y-Wing despite having less weaponry yet has equal AF to the B-Wing despite the B-Wing being a Star Destroyer salvo in fighter form. This is the same as the TIE Fighter which is probably has the least amount of armament in the entire game.

So where is the Defender in all this? Ion Cannons means that it outguns the X-Wing in a similar way that the Y-Wing outguns the TB. It also generally has a better time of getting those guns on target than the X-Wing.

As a final argument for the extra damage, Ion cannons are literally an extra source of damage for the TIE/D every turn in that other Star Wars game that FFG puts out.

Can you imagine the reaction from all the X-Wing fans if Armada got the gunboat before X-Wing?

It would be glorious

We'd be all for that. It would mean the coming of the Gunboat was inevitable and we could start sacrificing such worldly things as spouses and jobs in preparation.

The real point is that the Missile Boat was a lame, OP, elite, end-game fighter for a single-player game.

Flying plain TIEs and Ints were frustrating at times, but also more satisfying.

fix'd

Can you imagine the reaction from all the X-Wing fans if Armada got the gunboat before X-Wing?

It would be glorious

We do have the H-6, so gunboats are a possibility still