TIEs in Atmosphere

[vong]

You would have to look at the aerodynamics of a ship.

i would argue that if a tie is -2D, and advanced would be -1D+2 (slightly bent, but still sporting twin sails). this would only apply to left/right manoeuvres, they are good at up down forward.

the defender would be back at -2D (bent outwards, catches more wind) i think, but in all directions (yay trigon!)

this being said, they have higher base manoeuvrability, so it will be "more manoeuvrable"

just have to look at the shape and see how hard it is to move, and in which direction. if you want a hands on test - bring some sort of model to the pool, as the higher resistance of the water will simulate high speed manoeuvres.
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[atgxtg]

[garhkal]

[Fallon Kell]

Knowing what I do about aerodynamics, I would say starfighters are almost exclusively more maneuverable in atmosphere than vacuum because they would generate deflection lift that would cause them to move where they're pointing more easily. TIEs wouldn't get a big bonus out of this because their pitch maneuvers wouldn't change their cross section across the angle of attack much, but any yaw maneuvers would have two huge rudders helping them out... That said, I can see how game mechanics would benefit from a simple subtraction.
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Complete Starship Construction System

[garhkal]

True, but ii would NOT consider a tie fighter aerodynamic.
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[CRMcNeill]

[Bren]

[vanir]

Certain features of starships aren't expressed in their specifications but in the description or knowledge of their construction.

For example, starships with hangars don't mention this in specifications but it is in their description notes and relates to overall cargo capacity of the basic design blueprints. For example a small cruiser with 2500 tons of blueprinted cargo capacity might have 1500 tons of actual cargo capacity and a modest hangar with standard facilities for 24 small craft.

TIE fighters don't have repulsorlift engines. They're designed for use outside of atmospheres. They're not manoeuvrable in atmosphere, simple (despite a base manoeuvre of 2D this is due to directional ion venting as opposed to S-Foils).
A YT has repulsorlift engines fitted, they retain any manoeuvrability ratings in atmosphere (but base is zero).

A stock YT can hover in atmosphere entirely out of proportion to its speed, it can decelerate smoothly. A TIE will plummet. If you want a TIE of any kind to hover you point it straight upwards so the ion vents point against the pull of gravity. Otherwise you use speed, zoom and energy management to function in atmosphere.

My guiding rule is simple, repulsors means you function in atmosphere just like you do in space, no repulsors means you don't, it's all energy and thrust with no manoeuvrability. None.

All snubfighters have repulsorlift engines.

[vanir]

[garhkal]

[vanir]

I'm being very ad hoc, but my discernment is at least two distinct types of starfighter as per mentioned in the movies and various sourcebooks: the Interceptor and the Snubnose Fighter.
Interceptors are good for point defence on cruisers and the like, they're stripped down and small, designed for combat in space and not much else. Their compact size allows them to be packed uniformly in the hull of a modest sized capital ship, which is just perfect. Where you can fit maybe 4-6 snubfighters for area you can hang 12 TIE or similar interceptors on racks, it makes good use of cargo capacity.

Snubnose fighters I think first appeared in planetary defence forces and were initially designed to function with equal abandon inside and outside of atmospheres. The Z-95 has great atmospheric performance, really exceptional, but is more conservative in space and the lack of hyperdrives definitely suggests this is a planetary security design.

So our blanket rule works along these lines. There are other tiny interceptors (there's one in the DE sourcebook). And we frequently design new starships for our gaming, again based along these lines.

It's just our house rules though, it's no authority on the SW universe.