Is it me or can I charge my shields a lot faster from diverting power from lasers then actually cranking shield power to full. It seems like having my shield power to full often has no effect.

Pretty much this.

I've always found more useful to only control laser recharge level (depending on whether i need more speed or more punch) and divert laser power to shields when in trouble

Also, don't forget the good old "press-S-3-times-FAST" to rebalance your shield evenly

I never noticed this before. I'm going to have to set up some experiments. :)

Let's see what this does getting that damn Y-Wing through the proving ground. Never managed that badge as a kid.

Additionally, with more power to engines, who needs shields? Punch it!

Shields are for the weak. The biggest advantage of the TIE-Fighter over an X-Wing is that it does not waste energy on something like that :D

And the biggest advantage of the X-Wing over a TIE Fighter is that the Empire is stupid. Survivability ftw. ;)

Speed tanking > shield tanking :p

Now that I'm actually thinking about it, I realize that it's always surprised me that Star Wars as a whole has no real equivalent to the anti-fighter flak guns from games like Freespace 2. Those would be certain doom for TIE Fighters.

Yeah, the closest thing might be "turbolasers" mounted on the cap ships. Short as hell range, but get within that range, and most fighters will get shredded in seconds (Wotan Weave notwithstanding). :P

Keep telling yourself that. I only need to hit you once. :P

Careful there... Speed can get you killed easily if you don't know how to use it. Do a 180° turn at full speed and then try this maneuver again with less speed. The difference? The faster you are, the wider your arc. Try a looping in an A-Wing to get behind a TIE bomber and you'll soon see green bolts hitting your canopy, because the bomber will end up beeing "above" you, easily following your path with its lasers (or waiting for a torpedo lock).

Another problem with speed becomes apparent when you're facing cap ships. Your guns won't fire faster just because you're flying faster. The faster you are, the fewer shots you'll send towards your target! And every single strafing run is dangerous, so you want to do as few as necessary.

Another problem with speed: It's harder to evade shots coming from ahead, because they're "coming faster". And if you're caught by a stream of laser bolts coming from ahead, you'll catch more hits before you'll be able to pull out (and this with weaker shield oO).

Speed is great - in short bursts! But be careful with constantly flying too fast.

I don't feel like that's the same. Any "laser" will by nature be a directed energy weapon; flak guns as I'm thinking of them rapid-fire explosive shells that detonate in the space around enemy fighters, the idea being to overwhelm shields and hull integrity with collateral damage.

Once they bring XvT on GOG galaxy I will gladly accept the challenge.
I suggest you do not google how this usually ends, because that would spoiling the surprise for you. ;-)

Anecdotal evidence doesn't compensate for pilot skill. ;-)
Anytime, anywhere.

Loving it!

I was more of a Tie Fighter (not interceptor) kind of guy. In multiplayer going up against an x-wing was scary in the head to head engagements. Once the dog fight turned into a turning fight I felt more comfortable.

But there were definitely some really skilled x-wing players who would put me in my place. I found that the majority of players flew Tie interceptors though because of the speed advantage and the ability to get in and out of turning fights.

Needless to say once (hoping) XvT is re-release, it is going to be epic.