I really don't get how people don't see this. Tie Fighters are INFINITELY more effective as a design than than X-Wings.
Let's break it down.
Let's break it down.
The primary role of space fighters in EVERY Star Wars film is space superiority. That is, controlling the aerial (or rather spacial) battlefield.
And the Imperial Navy has to do this, across an ENTIRE galaxy. That is going to require an INSANE number of fighters and pilots.
And the Imperial Navy has to do this, across an ENTIRE galaxy. That is going to require an INSANE number of fighters and pilots.
That means they are INEVITABLY going to have to rely on dispersed mass production and pilots trained in a wide variety of academies spread across tens, if not hundreds of planets.
It doesn't matter how evil the Emperor is. Getting consistent quality is going to SUCK
It doesn't matter how evil the Emperor is. Getting consistent quality is going to SUCK
That's BEFORE you consider ops. Units redeployed to star destroyers from different academies etc. That's a tactical nightmare:
"They teach you the Inverted-V at Corellia?"
"No sir. They focused on three-fighter offsets"
*Sigh* "Okay, I'm signing you off for simulator time"
"They teach you the Inverted-V at Corellia?"
"No sir. They focused on three-fighter offsets"
*Sigh* "Okay, I'm signing you off for simulator time"
And then there's maintenance. This training problem exists for your maintenance crews too.
Not to mention that you're probably getting fighter deliveries from a whole bunch of different shipyards. Spares too. Because navy bureaucracy is gonna suuuuck.
Not to mention that you're probably getting fighter deliveries from a whole bunch of different shipyards. Spares too. Because navy bureaucracy is gonna suuuuck.
Here enters the Tie Fighter.
It is basic as balls.
It is simple to fly.
It is reliable.
It is fast as fuck.
It is dirt cheap to build.
Now, okay, it's a bit explodey, but who cares? You can train pilots for it in about 10mins and you're the Empire. Manpower is a free resource.
It is basic as balls.
It is simple to fly.
It is reliable.
It is fast as fuck.
It is dirt cheap to build.
Now, okay, it's a bit explodey, but who cares? You can train pilots for it in about 10mins and you're the Empire. Manpower is a free resource.
Sure, the Rebellion can come at you in their sexy space planes with flippy wings, pull out targeting computers, shields and astromechs. But complexity is the enemy.
I bet X-Wings are a bitch to maintain, I bet they're a bitch to build, and I bet they're a bitch to learn to fly.
I bet X-Wings are a bitch to maintain, I bet they're a bitch to build, and I bet they're a bitch to learn to fly.
I'm sorry, and I know this is hard to accept, but I'm going to say it:
The Tie-Fighter is the fucking Space Sherman the Star Wars universe.
I hate to break it to you, but X-Wings are Space Tigers.
And Shermans vs Tigers will always go the Sherman way. Eventually. Numbers baby!
The Tie-Fighter is the fucking Space Sherman the Star Wars universe.
I hate to break it to you, but X-Wings are Space Tigers.
And Shermans vs Tigers will always go the Sherman way. Eventually. Numbers baby!
"Waaaaah, but X-Wings blew up two Death Starrrrs"
No they didn't. X-Wings got SPANKED above the first Death Star, DESPITE the fact that they had force parity with the Ties so it should have been an easy win
(go watch that scene again and count them)
No they didn't. X-Wings got SPANKED above the first Death Star, DESPITE the fact that they had force parity with the Ties so it should have been an easy win
(go watch that scene again and count them)
The first Death Star was destroyed because Tarkin was too stupid to put enough Ties into space, so neutered their tactical advantage
AND YET STILL
It took an emo junior space wizard and his IMPERIAL NAVY TRAINED criminal mate doing crazy million-to-one shit to pull out a win.
AND YET STILL
It took an emo junior space wizard and his IMPERIAL NAVY TRAINED criminal mate doing crazy million-to-one shit to pull out a win.
Oh yay! The Death Star is exploding! Look they won!
Did they hell.
Go count how many X-Wings fly away at the end. It's cheaty space-wizard boy and Wedge Goddamn Hero Antilles. The only LEGITIMATELY BRILLIANT pilot we see in all three films.
Did they hell.
Go count how many X-Wings fly away at the end. It's cheaty space-wizard boy and Wedge Goddamn Hero Antilles. The only LEGITIMATELY BRILLIANT pilot we see in all three films.
And no. Second Death Star doesn't count either. Once again, the Imperial Navy BEATS ITSELF by being massively overcocky and not deploying its forces effectively.
Which is what happens when you let daddy space wizard force-choke his way through your senior ranks.
Which is what happens when you let daddy space wizard force-choke his way through your senior ranks.
ASIDE: Honestly, NO WONDER the Emperor tried to wipe out all the space wizards.
I mean, you have to feel for the guy. Who keeps blowing up his toys? Space Wizards. Who has neutered the effective command level of his own Imperial forces? Space Wizards.
They're a menace.
Anyway.
I mean, you have to feel for the guy. Who keeps blowing up his toys? Space Wizards. Who has neutered the effective command level of his own Imperial forces? Space Wizards.
They're a menace.
Anyway.
I'm telling you right now. Put Ackbar in charge of the Imps over Endor and that battle is a massacre the other way.
I bet you Ackbar went to sleep every night DREAMING about capturing a Tie factory, so he could stop listening to prima donna flyboys whine about their astromechs
I bet you Ackbar went to sleep every night DREAMING about capturing a Tie factory, so he could stop listening to prima donna flyboys whine about their astromechs
So that's my point here. The Tie is an INFINITELY better combat design because it was optimised for every aspect of its role and function.
Because warfare isn't top trumps. It's not one on one battles. It's not even battles. It's WARS.
Because warfare isn't top trumps. It's not one on one battles. It's not even battles. It's WARS.
And wars are won on the production line, in the lines of supply and on the training ground.
And if you have the weapons that are optimised for that, then you will ALWAYS win in the end.
Unless some emo space wizard boy turns up and ruins your day. The little git.
And if you have the weapons that are optimised for that, then you will ALWAYS win in the end.
Unless some emo space wizard boy turns up and ruins your day. The little git.
Anyway. Sorry. End of space rant. I love you all really. Even you wannabe X-Wing prima donna flyboys.
May the force be with you always.
(Oh and if you secretly agree with me, but are surrounded by X-Wingers. It's cool. You can buy me a coffee here: ko-fi.com/garius)
May the force be with you always.
(Oh and if you secretly agree with me, but are surrounded by X-Wingers. It's cool. You can buy me a coffee here: ko-fi.com/garius)
ADDENDUM: And if you want my more historically accurate stuff, you might want to start here, with how a medieval crusading order briefly ended up being a major airpower after WW2!
MOAR ADDENDUMS:
To be clear, I'm NOT trying to directly comparing the value of the superiority fighter vs multirole fighter here. Similarly I'm not taking a stance on either the Empire or Alliances, underlying doctrines.
My thoughts on that here:
To be clear, I'm NOT trying to directly comparing the value of the superiority fighter vs multirole fighter here. Similarly I'm not taking a stance on either the Empire or Alliances, underlying doctrines.
My thoughts on that here:
