Page 78 - Star Wars Insider #195

ROUND 1 NOUGHTS & CROSSES
Ride & Safety
ROUND 2
The view from the pilot’s perspective
Range &
An X-wing’s cockpit provides note of Leia Organa’s observation
greater visibility to a pilot than the that Grand Moff Tarkin was laying Firepower
forward-facing viewport of a TIE a trap when the Death Star only

fighter. The Imperial cockpit design dispatched four TIEs to pursue Putting the “fi ght”
blocks much of its pilot’s peripheral the Millennium Falcon. into starfi ghters

vision, making it difficult to avoid Protective energy shielding
being sideswiped by an asteroid or offers an extra layer of defense for Finding your sightseeing tour of
ambushed by a Corellian freighter. rebel flyers, while the technology’s Tatooine a little dry? The icy vistas

X-wing pilots aren’t encumbered by absence on Imperial TIEs increases of Hoth making you feel blue? Or
hefty life-support helmets, either, their vulnerability. Unconfi rmed are you on the receiving end of
and they have a loyal astromech reports have emerged that a blind some unwanted Imperial interest?
onboard to watch their back. monk once downed unshielded TIEs An X-wing allows you to escape
Speaking of astromechs, what with a mere hand weapon on Eadu. such perils in the blink of an eye,

did the TIE fighter pilot say to their Flying into a battle zone is nerve- as the nimble starfighter packs its

R2 unit? Nothing, of course: they wracking enough but doing so at own hyperdrive. The downside to
don’t have one! Missions into deep such a disadvantage should strike this convenience is the abundance
space can be lonely, so an X-wing’s fear into any pilot. The First Order, of interplanetary errands that your
repair droid is a big win over the TIE, as in so many instances, remedied rebel and Resistance pals will likely
as an astromech can fix your spirits this Imperial oversight and fi tted ask you to run for them.

as quickly as it can a faulty circuit. their TIEs with shields as standard. While the First Order’s Special

Imagine the tales that a 30-year old A TIE fighter’s fragility should Forces TIE fighters are also equipped
droid can tell to pass the time on inspire caution in its pilots, who for hyperspace travel, their standard
a long voyage? Astromechs can be know that a single mistake can cost cousins and Imperial predecessors
a bit feisty, mind you, so don’t be them their lives, but their devotion are short range ships. However, their
afraid to tell your droid to watch its to the Empire is enough to quash speed and agility makes up for their
language if its bleeps and bloops get such thoughts. On the fl ipside, lack of a hyperdrive, and they are
a bit fruity. emboldened by their rugged and adept at preventing enemy fi ghters
Imperial pilots may be alone in sturdy ships, many courageous evade their clutches. Pilots should
their cockpits, but as TIE fi ghters rebels fall victim to recklessness. take care when traversing through
typically launch in endless waves, X-wing pilots have been known trenches and canyons, however!
backup is never far away—although to “stay on target” a little too long High-speed maneuvers tend to test
friendly collisions do tend to occur before being atomized by a TIE one’s intestinal resilience and have
worryingly frequently. If you fighter’s green blaster bolts. resulted in cases of unsanctioned

stumble across a single TIE fi ghter, Imperial squadrons have weight space sickness.
chances are that the rest of its of numbers, but X-wings punch As for firepower, once they have

squadron (or a moon-sized space above their weight with personailty you in their crosshairs, TIE pilots
station) will be lurking nearby. to spare, so round one has to go to rarely miss. The same cannot be
Rebel pilots should therefore take the Incom-built fi ghter. said about an X-wing’s targeting
computer, which failed to deliver
a single decisive blow against the
Death Star. Luke Skywalker was able
to save the day with a “one in a
million” shot, but only by placing
his trust in the Force rather than his
ship’s computer.
A long-range fi ghter fi tted with
proton torpedo tubes, an X-wing
needn’t jump right into the fray
with lasers blazing, however, as it
can launch torpedoes from a much
safer distance. Discretion is often the
better part of valor, even in a galaxy
far, far away.

TIE fighters may not always
have the legs of an X-wing, but their
effectivenes in one-on-one battle
makes them the clear winner here.

78 / STAR WARS INSIDER