Looking at ship stats on a chart can bring to light some strange similarities.

The E Wing and Tie Advanced, may seem a long way apart, and in many ways they are, but the way BB balances ships out, they can be matched up intriguingly.

Points;

EW 27 to 35 (49 max) vs 21 to 29 (35 max) Def

The biggest difference between the two is points cost. The E Wing can actually make a 2 ship list with EPT’s and maxes out at a 3 ship list. The Advanced on the other hand can effortlessly add 1 or 2 more to a squad. How does the E Wing justify that?

Base Stats;

EW 3 3 2 3 vs 2 3 3 2 Adv

Base stats are very different. The usual weakness of Imperial Tie’s, a 2 Primary is balanced some what by the fragile 2 Hull of the EW.

Actions;

EW Focus, Lock, Roll, Evade vs Focus, Lock, Roll, Evade Adv

Identical. The EW is better than most Rebels here, but not against this opposition. The E Wing has some ground to make up for those extra points.

Upgrades (BB style);

EW Torpedo, System, Droid vs Missiles Adv

Again, the Rebel Torpedo vs Imperial Missile dynamic. This really became evident to me when in BB Ordnance became a major upgrade option. The E Wing has a varied suite of combinations with the unique Droid + System slots and actually has the best upgrade choice of any fighter, while the Advanced only has missiles. Clear divergence here. Although the EW has more options, it must still spend more points to use them.

Moves;

EW 10 White, 5 Green vs 10 White, 4 Green Adv

EW Speed 5, 4 & 3/K-Turn vs Speed 5, 4 K-Turn Adv

One more green move and an extra K turn. The Advanced is still a pure blood Tie, the E Wing a pseudo-Tie, like it was designed to be.

Pilots;

EW 4 (2 Elite) vs 8 (6 Elite) Adv

Hampered by smaller choice the E Wing can offer two very strong, attack minded pilots, while the Advanced (like the Defender) is relatively spoilt by offensive, defensive or manoeuvring choices. The EW Pilot short-fall is helped to an extend by upgrade slots, allowing for some interesting combinations. The Advanced has many neglected Pilots, thanks to Vader. In a full squad, some of these can prove to be quite tricky. The E Wing and Coran Horn + Advanced Sensors + a good Droid is often a killer combo, if a little expensive, but in this case, Vader offers one of the best pilots available to the Empire.

Summary;

Anytime a squad gives up a one ship advantage, it must justify that shortfall with either strength, trickery or uniqueness. The E Wing tries to do a bit of all of these. The Systems slot on a fighter makes it unique, the extra fire power and Droid + Systems + Torps combo can hit pretty hard and the dial is strong.

The Advanced on the other hand is no slouch straight off the blocks. Sure it lacks punch with a 2 Primary and unsupported Missile slot, but an extra ship (or more) and mix of Pilots can help here. A 5 ship Advanced squad (including either cheap Ordnance or an Ace), vs a 3 ship Ace + Droid E Wing squad would make an interesting match up. On paper you would back the Advanced, but maybe not.