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I know this has been asked before, but I have a couple questions I didn't see answersed in the other posts. I was Freelance Tier 1, but I gave it up and now I'm trying to decide. Whichever I pick, I'd be out of Tatooine - so Smuggler's Alliance or Crimson Phoenix. (I'malready a GCW smuggler).

First thing is a direct ship and skill comparison. Smuggler ships seem to be generally slower and more sluggish than Alliance ships, but with more firepower - is this correct? Which ships are better? I really don't know much.

Skills - it seems like smugglers get one useful skill, pirate trap - while alliance pilots get a whole bunch more helpful things as well as much better shield adjustment droid programs. Or am I off here?

I know you can go overt and shoot either faction if you declare in space...

And the missions - I got to Shandon in the Lucky Despot, and she was giving me duty missions, etc... mostly hijack, kill pirates, etc etc etc. I'm guessing most duty missions are the same so what about proper missions? The only one I've really gotten was from Karrde sending me to find a contact... on the other hand I was coming in to dock at the Tatooine space station and the comm guy told me about this Valarianbounty thing - also every station I talk to tells me they have work for me. Does that happen if you're a factionpilot - would I have gotten any missions from space stations if I'm a Rebel pilot?

Lastly... what are the tier missions like in comparison? I don't want to level one pilot and then find I prefer another one so... hence I'm asking - what do you usually have to do, like the Lok delivery, or etc etc in higherlevel SA and Rebel. Do either Reb or SA get actual smuggling missions? (I say Reb because, well, they're technically against the law.)

And in conclusion which is more fun and which would you guys recommend?

Thanks. heh a lot of questions, but I'm continuously confused about this stuff.