Within Empire at War, there are a wide selection of troops, ships and other memorabilia from the Star Wars films that we are now enjoying commanding and using to conquer the galaxy. Is that what you think? Nah, I didn't think so. We're all playing because we want to march Darth Vader across a field and use him to skewer Chebacca and listen to the Wookie moan in his death throws, or to see the Millennium Falcon firing away at a Star Destroyer, holding it up just long enough to let your forces jump into Hyperspace. In the end, we need a hero, or three. Though while we need them, some people need a bit of guidance on how to use them, and that's what this article hopes to do.
Rebellion:
Mon Motha, the leader of the rebellion is nothing more than a galactic benefit. Keep her out of harms way and try and put her on a tactically insignificant planet with lots of production capabilities. She really is the heart and soul of the rebellion, so if you're feeling adventurous, create a capital ship for her and name it. It adds character to the game and makes the whole thing a little more personal.
R2D2 and C3PO are a pair of the most overlooked characters in Star Wars. Their ability to control enemy turrets and repair vehicles can turn the tide of battle and can help in a prolonged attack against some of the Empires scarier technology. A well placed, turret can easily turn your enemy's defences.
While R2D2 and C3PO may be somewhat overlooked and unpopular, there is no denying, that everyone has heard of Obi-Wan Kenobi. His role within Empire at War is similar to the droids in that he should be used as a support unit for your main assault. His healing properties and damage reduction ability make him able to add a few seconds of extra fighting on for a potentially devastating effect against the Empire forces.
Kyle Katarn, while not a fully fledged Jedi in the Jedi Academy games, is still a small force to be contended with. His speed and detonators make him an ideal 'hit and run' unit. Especially if combined with Han Solo and his EMP burst.
Next I'll go into Chewbacca and his uses. While another tremendously fast unit, Chewwie has the ability to take over enemy vehicles, and this is really invaluable. When used in tandem with a small assault force, this ability to take over any vehicle can really add that extra bit of firepower that can turn the tide of battle.
Han Solo, owner of the Millennium Falcon, is the 'hammer and anvil' unit of the Rebellion. His EMP burst is invaluable for facing off against a large empire armoured column. It makes them easy pickings for things like Kyles Detonator attack, or the Bombing Run. His speed makes him one of the most durable heroes' as well, simply sprinting away from trouble in the blink of an eye.
The Millennium Falcon is the ideal scout for your lengthy star missions. Being one of the fastest ships in your fleet with the best fighter eliminating prowess, it makes for an ideal scout, especially when used with the 'invulnerability' ability. It can also be used as a vanguard to your fleet, drawing lots of enemy fire while your fleet reacts in an appropriate manner, defeating priority threats.
Sticking in Space, the Sundered Heart ship, led by Capt. Raymus Antilles provides a great ability in that he can reduce the enemies' firepower. If used in conjunction with Commander Ackbar, this really can be the tide turner of any star battle, providing a weakened enemy, not able to counter the sometimes overwhelming amount of firepower the Rebellion ships can throw out. His engine boost ability also assures that he will be able to escape from the stickiest of situations, while maintaining the highest possible amount of life.
Commander Ackbar and Home One are the lynchpin of the Rebellion Fleet, providing a strong leader, and abilities that make him a must when fighting large scale battles. His ability to bring the overwhelming firepower capabilities of nearby ships against the Empire Fleet makes him an invaluable asset when fighting enemy capital ships. He can always be your last man out of a fight too, with the shield boost ability, giving vital seconds to make a hyperspace jump or to generally escape from a losing battle.
Finally, we come to Red Squadron. While a fully named unit, they really have little difference from a standard X Wing squadron. Their defining feature really is the 'lucky shot' which makes them able to provide a little extra support in bringing down larger ships, but really, nothing more. They can also make an excellent scout, using the 'lucky shot' to bring down Empire patron cruisers.
So there you have it, "We need a hero" - a simple guide to the heroes of the Rebellion. Coming soon will be 'We need a villain', a guide on how to use the Dark Side of the force to your advantage.
