Hello all.

Is there any reason to use the new named Imperial pilot who gives tactical 1 instead of the generic who gives surge converts to hits?

If there ever is a vecichle that already has surge converts to hits then I would say yes but otherwise I dont see it at all.

Am I missing something?

A pilot with tactical 1 would have been great for the rebels though, both veichles would have too speed through the map to gain that aim token since they both have cumpolsory moves too.

Not really and yes the rebel need a pilot that adds offence.

Unless you can combo with aim tokens I rathet have surge-hit.

I ran some probablility calculator, and with either 3red/2black/3white (tank with RT-97C) or 3red/3black/3white (AT-ST with 88 Cannon) the odds are pretty much the same between either shooting with a aim token or a surge to hit. In the case of the tank with the DLT-19 (4red/2black), the odds are actually better with the aim.

Of course, once you add a aim token to the pool with surge it becomes better. But 2 aim token is pretty close to surge+aim, and you have slightly better chance to get crits, not that it really matters with Impact 2/3.

So it really depends on if you can get a aim token reliably or not on your vehicles. You could have Veers or an Officer nearby to give the aim. What I don't like about that though is that you have to activate them before the vehicle and sometimes you don't have this luxury.

The named Imperial pilot is also 5 points cheaper.

Me personally, I plan on trying the First Sergeant with my tank since I know I'll perform a standard move every turn, if not only to reposition my fixed forward line of sight.

He's cheaper. Surge conversion is generally better, but that's how a points-based system works: you pay more for stuff that's better.

38 minutes ago, Red Castle said:

I ran some probablility calculator, and with either 3red/2black/3white (tank with RT-97C) or 3red/3black/3white (AT-ST with 88 Cannon) the odds are pretty much the same between either shooting with a aim token or a surge to hit. In the case of the tank with the DLT-19 (4red/2black), the odds are actually better with the aim.

Of course, once you add a aim token to the pool with surge it becomes better. But 2 aim token is pretty close to surge+aim, and you have slightly better chance to get crits, not that it really matters with Impact 2/3.

So it really depends on if you can get a aim token reliably or not on your vehicles. You could have Veers or an Officer nearby to give the aim. What I don't like about that though is that you have to activate them before the vehicle and sometimes you don't have this luxury.

The named Imperial pilot is also 5 points cheaper.

Me personally, I plan on trying the First Sergeant with my tank since I know I'll perform a standard move every turn, if not only to reposition my fixed forward line of sight.

It's important to remember 1 pilot is action-locked and the other isn't i.e. every time you can't move and shoot, the character does nothing, but the Hammer pilot still works (ioned, vehicles damage, etc). you're essentially paying +5pts to not put an asterisk next to your accuracy, which, for me, is a pretty good deal. I'd also say that, in any situation where you don't care about moving, the Hammer pilot is better. Sure, you can vibrate in place for an aim token, but, you're not necessarily getting enough out of the movement and you might as well have just aimed and fired.

29 minutes ago, MasterShake2 said:

It's important to remember 1 pilot is action-locked and the other isn't i.e. every time you can't move and shoot, the character does nothing, but the Hammer pilot still works (ioned, vehicles damage, etc). you're essentially paying +5pts to not put an asterisk next to your accuracy, which, for me, is a pretty good deal. I'd also say that, in any situation where you don't care about moving, the Hammer pilot is better. Sure, you can vibrate in place for an aim token, but, you're not necessarily getting enough out of the movement and you might as well have just aimed and fired.

Table experience will tell of course, but my initial believe is that with that very large side weakness and fixed front, I’ll want to move every turn. If I realise that I don’t really have to half the time and have the 5 more points for the other, I’ll upgrade to the surge version.

The named pilot is cheaper. If you're scraping for points, and the pilots are close to the same, go with 5 points and move on.

I suspect the named pilot was meant to be on the tank while you're trying to move 1 action each turn.

He's cheaper so if you;re at 795 he becomes and option.

They only include one copy of each card - I was trying to cram an Occupier and AT-ST and Veers all together in a list last night.

23 minutes ago, buckero0 said:

He's cheaper so if you;re at 795 he becomes and option.

They only include one copy of each card - I was trying to cram an Occupier and AT-ST and Veers all together in a list last night.

The unboxing videos I've seen show two of the generic pilot cards, and one of the 1SG.

I think the landspeeder had two generic pilots as well.

If so, major kudos FFG, major kudos.

2 hours ago, Red Castle said:

Table experience will tell of course, but my initial believe is that with that very large side weakness and fixed front, I’ll want to move every turn. If I realise that I don’t really have to half the time and have the 5 more points for the other, I’ll upgrade to the surge version.

I will also point out that you can't aim and use the named pilot. 1 of your actions has to be to move and while this gives you an aim token, the vehicle can't aim on top of this without outside help . Hammer can aim, shoot and benefit from pilot in the same activation. So any activation where moving isn't required/desirable, Hammer come out way ahead.

I forget what does tactical do?

3 minutes ago, chr335 said:

I forget what does tactical do?

Gives you an aim token for moving.

4 hours ago, Alpha17 said:

The unboxing videos I've seen show two of the generic pilot cards, and one of the 1SG.

sweet - that is good news. Then store capt Abhab for the next vehicle that comes out that already has surge abilities ( I think the recommissioned Ewok gliders are the next Imperial vehicle to be released)

The named pilot will encourage advancing your armor more than the unnamed pilot. If you have difficulty committing to moving forward with an ST or TX it might be better to use the named pilot.