I've got a slight modification to the 'never go head on' and 'wait till you're in range' rules, which are good rules for most situations. However, RSFKrow has clearly demonstrated that Y-Wing pilots should always try to take TIEs head on (check out the Rebel Pilot class stats), as soon as you locate one flying towards you. The closer you let it get, the easier it will be for it to evade your fire, and you're dead if a good TIE pilot gets behind you. Also Airspeeders will more easily take out both TIE Starfighters and Bombers in head-on confrontations than in any other situation than having them flying conveniently straight and level away from you.
Hitting a target traversing across in front of you can be really hard to get your head around because of the so-called space invulnerability bug. If you appear to be hitting the enemy, but the hits are not registering, simply increase your aiming lead on the target until they do. It may well look like you are missing, but the hits will register if you get it right.
On ICR, TIE Defender pilots should never attack the static Rebel Nebulon B. You are being absolutely no help to yourself or your team; all you are doing is making a nice easy target for surviving Y-Wing pilots returning to rearm. You are supposed to be defending the freighters, so defend them!
As a Rebel on Yavin learn to fly a Y-Wing really low, down in between the 'buildings', below the horizon of the manned turbolaser turrets. Take note of any manned turret positions. They are easily distinguished from the AI autoturrets because you can actually see the green laser bolts and they show a red icon up close. Try to pop around cover less than 200m from them and open up with your torpedoes only. I didn't know about the weak spot (thanks Twigs) but 4 Y-Wing torps does them no matter where you hit. Nice easy kills on an otherwise thankless bombing run, and a big help to your teammates as well. Without the HUD indicators, I was able stay low and hidden in a Y-Wing for ages on Yavin, circling out of sight while my torps regenerated. Now they're back it's not so easy, but it's still a good tactic against the turbolaser whores.
Mmm... vanilla!
Closed Alpha Test & Deth..
