If you have 33 points to spend on an imperial ace would it be:

1, Vader + Stealth Device + ATC or

2, Soontir + Stealth Device +PTL ?

Soontir PTL Autothrusters. 32 + 1 point bid.

Or go with another ace: Quickdraw, Inquisitor, Vessery

Carnor Jax + PtL + Autothrusters + Royal Guard TIE + Targeting Computer. Or leave off the Royal Guard TIE and Targeting Computer and use 2 points elsewhere, maybe for an initiative bid.

Or Soontir, I guess, but I'd rather take Autothrusters over the Stealth Device.

I'll add my hat to Autothrusters > Stealth Device pile.

Without AT I spend a lot of time at range 3 or getting shot by a turret lamenting that blank I just rolled.

Soontir with AT plus an initiative bid.

depends too much on the rest of the squad - what else are you bringing?

One can take autothrusters, the other can not take them. That is basically all you usually need to know.

(Vader can be still good, but than you really gamble on being able to deal with turrets fast enough or not facing them at all, not a good gamble in most cases imho)

depends too much on the rest of the squad - what else are you bringing?

Palpshuttle + Whisper

With the loadouts as presented, I think I'd roll for Vader. Sans boost, yeah he's less maneuverable but he can focus-evade in dire circumstances even after his stealth pops. Less-dire cases, he can swing for the target-lock/focus or target-lock/evade for the auto-crit. All this without committing to a green maneuver to destress. Combine that with his shields vs. those pesky PWTs and he can probably crunch some Rebel scum.

If you have 33 points to spend on an imperial ace would it be:

1, Vader + Stealth Device + ATC or

2, Soontir + Stealth Device +PTL ?

3, Bounty Hunter

... like a challenge?

33 pts: Vader or Soontir?

Neither,

31pts Inquisitor is the superior choice.

Yep, Inquisitor. Aka "Soontir Lite". "Diet Soontir". "Soontir Zero".

First choice (the cannon go-to):

31 points for Inquisitor and 2 point bid left over. The Inquisitor for me will not that infrequently outperform even 35 point soontir so I would always take him over a lesser 33 point version.

I agree that the standard Inquisitor build is probably your best bet. If you're set on Vader, I might try Vader + Predator + ATC. No Engine Upgrade is rough, but it gives you more incentive to take defensive actions. Predator keeps your damage output high. You could opt for Juke instead, which saves you a point for the initiative bid.

I'd opt for Vader personally, if only because everything probably going to be swimming in BMST for a while until the Wave 9 buzz dies down.

depends too much on the rest of the squad - what else are you bringing?

Palpshuttle + Whisper

Soontir, because then you can fill out to 100 points and make your opponent figure out the initiative bid. One of those PS9 ships will love the initiative choice, the other you will have to fly more conservatively. Put more stress on your opponent

I agree with the last poster. You can play both Soontir and Whisper and if the opponent brings a PS9, his initiative bid might be somewhat wasted since you have hedged your bet sort of speak. If your opponent brings PS8s (which are quite common) you have really won out with two PS9s in your squad.

This is a personal thing, but I find Soontir much more fun than the Inquisitor (unless the Inq brings Proton Rockets).

First choice (the cannon go-to):

If you don't need the PS bid, I would use this - substituting Predator for the Vet Instincts

Soontir with PTL, AT, TIE MkII is my go to build. The MkII engines only add green 3 banks, but it makes you a tad more unpredictable when trying to clear the stress. 3 bank with boost/BR is a pretty good way to get out of funky town while setting yourself up for another run.

Vader.

Because Vader.