Is it a good idea, or just flat out wrong? With the bid varying so much from store to store, region to region, should we just fatten up our aces and fly better?

It totally depends on the list.

Just as one example, if I fly Guri with advanced sensors, then I care less about the bid. If I fly her without sensors, then a really big bid becomes much more important.

Another example: Soontir as a lone ace in a list----absolutely need a big bid. Soontir plus other aces that are capable of murdering high initiative ships so I don't have to worry about a bad endgame matchup? Bid becomes much less important.

3 hours ago, blade_mercurial said:

It totally depends on the list.

Just as one example, if I fly Guri with advanced sensors, then I care less about the bid. If I fly her without sensors, then a really big bid becomes much more important.

Another example: Soontir as a lone ace in a list----absolutely need a big bid. Soontir plus other aces that are capable of murdering high initiative ships so I don't have to worry about a bad endgame matchup? Bid becomes much less important.

Correct!

I think the bid matters more when you're flying I5 pilots because there are a lot of I5's.

But it really comes down to the list...

I am flying a Juke list atm in which I don't care about initiative. My opponents usually gave the Ini to me and I am really thankful for it