I like where you're going with this, let me add.

1. fine.
   

2. stupid idea. IF, and this is a big IF with 100-size-font, you decide to do this idea, it should be exclusive with the type of ship they're affiliated with. IE, Wedge can get into Bigg's X-Wing, his own X-Wing, any U-wing, but not and ship from any other faction. You could also limit things to allow a pilot to only fly fighters, bombers, or cargo ships. That way, it's just not going to be your arena team in your arena ships for ultimate arena dominance. I'm sorry, but your Relic7 Malak shouldn't be allowed 1 foot inside Hound's Tooth. That should be a Bounty Hunter exclusive. All characters should not be included as pilots, or at the very least, introduce a new "Pilot" skill where various pilots who are known as kickass pilots in canon (Vader, Wedge, Poe, CLS, ect) have the best score in this skill with characters with minimal canonical piloting skill getting minimal points. Pilots with a higher pilot rating would boost their ships speed, offense, defense, and evasion, but not HP/Protection. The pilots would bring their own abilities already in-game to each ship they pilot, so each ship would be truly unique based on who's piloting them.

3. 1 execption to this would be for Capital Ships. They should have designated commanders. Instead of ship-to-ship synergies, have entire fleet synergies. Each Fleet commander should have 3 different synergies that you can select for your fleet - that way, you may not know if you're going to win immediately upon battle start.

4. Add more Capital ship commanders
   Ackbar - Home One - Rebels
   Thrawn - Chimaera - Imperials
   Tarkin - Executrix - Imperials
   Windu - Endurance - Galactic Republic
   Gen Kenobi - The Negotiator - Galactic Republic
   incoming - Gen Grevious - Malevolence - Separatists
   +
   Adm. Raddus - Profundity - Rebels
   Cpt. Cannady - Dreadnaught - 1st Order
   General Hux - Super Star Destroyer - 1st Order
   Admiral Trench - Invincible - Separatists
   Nute Gunray - Nemoidian Command Ship - Separatists
   Darh Nihilus - Ravager - Sith Empire
   Rae Sloan - SSD Ravager - Empire
   Garrick Versio - ISD Eviscerator - Empire (bring in Inferno Squadron)
   Queen Amidala - Naboo Royal Cruiser - Galactic Republic
   V. Adm. Holdo - The Raddus - Resistance

This way, ships like Hounds Tooth would still have independant strengths, but the squadron synergies may include defeats for Hound's Tooth. More command ships would make for a lot of fleet synergies to create multiple counters for each. Additionally, because each fleet would have 2-3 strategies, call them "Battle Formations" if you want, you may have a fleet strong vs. 1, but weak vs another.

Increase the number of pilots - I can think of a bunch of people with piloting experience that aren't in-game. They include

CLS ST Han Qi'Ra R2D2 Fulcrum

Nest FB Luke Lando

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1. you're trying to solve what I already suggested in point 2.
   Instead of this. Have fleet synergies. All ships used with a corresponding capital ship gets those bonuses. Want to change things up, include 2-3 bonuses for each capital ship - to be selected and revealed on the opening screen.