In other words; do you have fun by using story-fluff to explain the rules-crunch of pilots and upgrades, and if so, what are they?

A few of mine:
Palob can steal Focus and Evade tokens at range 1-2, because he has a custom slicer tool suite built into his HWK, allowing him to hack enemy computers, and use their flight data to his own advantage.
Bistan can turn a hit into a crit and range 1-2; as an expert ground combat gunner, he is adept at heavy weapons ground warfare, hitting targets where it counts, but loses some of his ability to the extended range of some space combat.
Biggs paints himself as a clear target by reducing his evasive maneuvering and/or angling shields to rear during a joust, making him all-too-tempting of a target.

I feel like there was a very similar thread not long ago, I tried to find and necro it but couldn't; apologies to the original author and feel free to bump it in. Just a fun topic for me.

Just now, stuffedskullcat said:

How do YOU Fluff your Crunch?

That is a very personal question and we don't know each other anywhere near well enough for you to be asking it!

Integrated Astromech is your astromech taking a hit for you "I've lost R2!" style.

At night when nobody is around.

"I'll help you fluff your Garfield..."

Before stapling Smuggler Compartment onto my YT-1300, it always got engine upgrade if it was getting either Falcon title.

T-65s always got Vectored Thrusters for both some repositioning and just from watching A New Hope.

If I throw an A-wing in a list, it's Crynyd with Intimidation due to ROTJ and that pilot slamming intothe SSD bridge.

Y-Wings get the BTL-A4 title and Ion cannon turrets because of the X-wing video game series. Same with B-wings, TIE Defenders and Gunboats with Ion cannons. It just feels WRONG to fly them without ions.

Kylo can distract people with his whining.

3 hours ago, Firespray-32 said:

Integrated Astromech is your astromech taking a hit for you "I've lost R2!" style.

This tends to be what people say, I prefer the idea of your astromech is switching from doing what he normally does (his card ability) to fix the gaping hole in your ship.

For pilot skills I usually think of it as just the effects of fancy flying or maybe even the force. I think most competitive players don’t give a second thought to fluffing up the crunch. And that’s kinda sad.

Tactician cold calls the enemy fighter and suggests his heating efficiency would be greatly improved by the installation of a double glazed cockpit.

Stressbot just rings up and makes fax noises.

My youngest made up a bomb that applies the blinded pilot condition (no damage). It's a stink bomb of eyewatering intensity. The Bomber obviously poops it out and runs off, giggling.

Quickdraw is distracted and easily startled. Tap her on the shoulder to get her attention in the mess room and you will receive an elbow to the face.

Countess Ryad (posh Imperial courtesan who fancied TIE fightering) and her slightly rubbish PS 5. Aiming for the 4k but constantly over/undershoots it.

18 hours ago, Stevey86 said:

That is a very personal question and we don't know each other anywhere near well enough for you to be asking it!

The more important and personal question is how do you CRUNCH your FLUFF?

I don’t need an explanation for pilot abilities. I just have fun pushing around plastic spaceships from Star Wars and trying to do well at it.

1 hour ago, Pooleman said:

The more important and personal question is how do you CRUNCH your FLUFF?

But I want to go to Tosche Station and pick up some power converters!

Luke rolls two hot headed red dice hoping for critical whining results. Owen rolls 3 grumpy green dice and gets 2 evades and an insult result.

You can waste time with your friends later...

Maarek Stele targets specific systems of the enemy.

Finn always missing with his dice is the best example of this. He is a Stormtrooper after all.

Veteran Instincts. I always picture it makes a pilot better, so they can react after seeing what their opponents have done, but shoot before the opponent can. Did I do it right?