I switched things up a bit today and played Rebel for the first time in a while. I took:

NOTES:
My opponent has only played this game a few times, and clearly had problems with collisions. With Vader this is brutal. With Mauler it's also pretty nasty. I was able to avoid a lot of damage and land a lot of easier hits because of this.

My opponent also failed to remember to use his Expert Handling successfully, or maybe just didn't see the window to do it. But at one point Tycho, Luke, and one Rookie were all holding TLs on Howlrunner, and she just let those stand. I cashed them all in in the final 2 turns.

My final opinion: the Rebel squad is pretty strong. Maybe not an epic build, but fairly versatile and powerful, and very straightforward to fly. The Imperial squad was seriously disadvantaged from the start. With his flying skills as they were, my opponent shouldn't have been using Vader as a dogfighter; a stand-off Squad Leader would have been better. Backstabber also didn't belong in this squad; losing him and the two expert handling upgrades would have turned Backstabber into 2x Academy TIEs and been a better build – of course it also would have led to even more collisions.

Anyway, still a fun game that could have gone at least a little different if my guns hadn't become very hot in the endgame. My opponent learned a lot about managing maneuvers for pilots of all different skills.

i think expert handling could be replaced for the imperials list. its not bad but it costs u an action that would be better spent on focus (or even evade) most times.

- 3 expert handling (6 pts)

-1 engine upgrade (4pts)

-1 backstabber (16pts)

+2 academy pilot (24pts)

+1 swarm (on vader)

keep a tight formation with howlrunner towards the back but still within 1 of your other ships

I see four rebel fighters, including two named pilots, going up against four TIE fighters (ok, three and an Advanced) and my money is always going to the Rebels. If the Imperials aren't use Expert Handling to break the rebel target locks then that definitely is a waste of points; here a chain of Squad Tactics could have had everyone shooting before the Rebels had a chance to.

Perhaps it isn't as in "theme" but a four fighter Imperial squadron to try might be:

Vader (29) + Engine Upgrade (4) + Assault Missile (5) + Squad Leader (2)

Howlrunner (18) + Stealth Device (3) + Determination (1)

Backstabber (16) + Stealth Device (3)

Dark Curse (16) + Stealth Device (3)

Variation would be in the missile choice and elite pilot upgrades.

The concept is that Vader can lead the squadron into the battle hopefully unleashing the Assault missile somewhere it can deal damage to multiple ships. I put Determination on Howlrunner to keep some of the criticals for sticking but you can drop it if you like the point. Dark Curse is in there to be a pain to take out.

Yep, that's a better list. Although I still think Backstabber is not the best choice for a small squad including Howlrunner. So in that case I'd take the point fromt Determination and convert Backstabber to Mauler. And yes, Vader without a missile is missing a good opportunity for sure.

The more I read the more I applaud FFG for making a balanced and fun game.

WotC made a balanced game that was not fun. Now they are trying again with 5th Edition.

After the 3 Imperial games, played one as the Rebs tonight. Decided to take it easy with a HSF type squad:

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Opponent ran Kath Scarlett with a ton of upgrades: Proton torpedo, gunner, proximity mine, Determination, stealth. Then Mauler with stealth and elusiveness, an obsidian TIE, and a academy TIE. I had the edge from the beginning, though, as he deployed scattered across the map. Mauler and Kath were mostly together, but that was it.

I kept a tight formation and Biggs did his job of buying time for Han to shoot plenty. He took two of Kath's shields on turn 2, then one-shotted the Obsidian TIE on turn 3 when it flew to range 1. Except for one turn I kept out of range 1 of Mauler, and just chipped away at Kath most of the time. Eventually Mauler k-turned and ended up at range 2 and I took the chance to get a shot in – probably the best I'd get. It worked for one point and took out the stealth. Same turn the Academy TIE got hung up on an asteroid and the Rookie tucked in behind him at range 1 and blew him to bits. Next turn Kath was able to take out the Rookie, and Mauler took out Biggs, leaving just Han with no shields against a damaged Kath and Mauler.

I paced alongside Kath, doing consistent damage, but at one point slipped ahead too far and had to eat 2 damage and an agility crit from the torpedo he finally got off. Mauler had dodged some asteroids but was closing in on a 0-agility Falcon, so it was time to end this quick.

The following turn I landed 3/3 hits, including 2 crits, on a Kath with one HP remaining. She cancelled one hit, and then – unbelievable – drew two Pilot crits which were discarded immediately, and kept on flying.

The NEXT turn I turned hard, guaranteeing a 1-range attack, and killed her off finally while also keeping Mauler out of range 1. Then the turn after that landed the killing hits on Mauler for the win, with 4 hp remaining. I think it might have been nailbaitingly close if the other squadron had come at me in a tight formation, but we'll never know.