According to the normal rules if both players squads have the same point value (say 100) then initiative automatically goes to the Empire.

In tournaments it's different, initiative for equal sized squads (again, both 100 ie) is always decided by a coin toss. I can see that being the case on mirror matches, but why isn't the normal rule from the basic rules used, with Empire going first always? Does anybody knows?

After all there's probably a reason why that rule is in the rulebook, so why is it discarded for tournaments?

Thematic reasons? It's simple?

The reason is that when you use squads in tourneys you can have two imperial squads fighting each other. Who would get initiative then?

The reason is that when you use squads in tourneys you can have two imperial squads fighting each other. Who would get initiative then?

That doesn't explain why imperials don't get initiative against rebels.

It's just to ensure things are even in official tournaments.

It's just to ensure things are even in official tournaments.

That would imply that things are not even in normal/home play.

Hmm, looks like there's no real reason for that, nothing stated by FFG why they changed that part for tournaments...

It's just to ensure things are even in official tournaments.

That would imply that things are not even in normal/home play.

Correct.

In tournament play, during elimination rounds, a tie goes to the person with initiative. Having initiative for imperials would favour them during elimination rounds. That is why there is a coin toss.

Well, that's the reason then, thank you very much. I see the mechanic here now.

That would mean that without the possibility of a tie there would be no reason for that coin toss and everything could stay the way it is in the rulebook... (I talking with VASSAL tournaments in mind, if there's no time limit and you play until one side wins).

I talking with VASSAL tournaments in mind, if there's no time limit and you play until one side wins.

Unless two ships with the same PS kill each other...

so in a tournament with two squads (one imperial and one rebel) that have the same total squad points you flip a coin?

i thought initiative went to the imperials, even in a tournament with a coin flip only when they r the same faction.

if initiative always went to the imperials then imperials would always win in a tie, and that would make for an unfair advantage against rebels during tournament play. That is why it is based on points. The lowest point total squad gets initiative, unless it is a tie then it goes to a coin toss.