Personal opinions of the Twelve Grand Admirals of the Empire?

[CaptainPogo]

Yeah, we are aware of Thrawn and how his use of tactics really give his rank some very hefty merit as Grand Admiral...But what are your own personal opinions of the Original 12, counting Zaarin?

In a lot of ways...I feel mixed reactions towards them. Some of the things we do know of them is that some can do some pretty insane stuff. Nial Declann was a freaking force user and Zaarin developed starfighters including the Tie Defender...that's pretty hefty things to consider. Not to mention it does give you the feeling they can totally trash the Rebellion if they all worked together.

However, I felt they all (except Grant) went down so damn quickly after Endor (except Zaarin cause he was kind of dead already) though a saving grace to that fact is that the NR really wanted to take them out as soon as possible, no exceptions. Would love to see more out of them to see in action in the EU (though they have done quite a bit to at least get a back story than simply got slapped a rank and show that Thrawn wasn't the only one)

...I get a bit of a chuckle when the Essential Guide said that only Ackbar in the Rebellion is the only person worthy to combat a Grand Admiral...Considering his up/down record (I mean Ackbar in a very good day can do impressive stuff...But mainly, that deal of traps just lowers my opinion of the fishman)

[tlmiller]

Zaarin- Brilliant, since he developed my all time favorite starfighter in the SW universe.
Batch- Sure, created the Tie Phantom, but took forever to do it, had to really raise the ire of the entire Rebellion to do it, and ended up being assassinated by his own crew.  Pretty abject failure, if you ask me.
Declann - Never really did anything, died on the DSII
Grant - Crybaby.  Never really did anything, then hid in the Pentastar Alignment until heat cooled off and he could defect to the NR.
Grunger - Really bad loser.
Raz - Did nothing, commited suicide over the death of the Emperor.  REALLY bad loser.
Makati - Died doing his job, I like him.  Wish there was more about him.
Pitta - Kinda funny that he picked a fight with Grunger and died because he won.  Oh, the irony.
Syn - Lost to Ackbar.  How pathetic of a tactical mind do you have to be to lose to someone who's only claim to faim is being able to spot a trap AFTER it's been sprung?
Takel - I admit, I had to look up a list of Grand Admirals to even know he was one.  No idea who he is, or what he did.  Leads me to believe he was probably a waste of carbon.
Teshik - One of my favorites.  While spent most of his life as a violent, heartless villain, he was once, and was at his death, a good man.
Tigellinus - Didn't really do anything.  Killed by other imperials.  Meh.

[CaptainPogo]

Zaarin- Brilliant, since he developed my all time favorite starfighter in the SW universe.
Batch- Sure, created the Tie Phantom, but took forever to do it, had to really raise the ire of the entire Rebellion to do it, and ended up being assassinated by his own crew.  Pretty abject failure, if you ask me.
Declann - Never really did anything, died on the DSII
Grant - Crybaby.  Never really did anything, then hid in the Pentastar Alignment until heat cooled off and he could defect to the NR.
Grunger - Really bad loser.
Raz - Did nothing, commited suicide over the death of the Emperor.  REALLY bad loser.
Makati - Died doing his job, I like him.  Wish there was more about him.
Pitta - Kinda funny that he picked a fight with Grunger and died because he won.  Oh, the irony.
Syn - Lost to Ackbar.  How pathetic of a tactical mind do you have to be to lose to someone who's only claim to faim is being able to spot a trap AFTER it's been sprung?
Takel - I admit, I had to look up a list of Grand Admirals to even know he was one.  No idea who he is, or what he did.  Leads me to believe he was probably a waste of carbon.
Teshik - One of my favorites.  While spent most of his life as a violent, heartless villain, he was once, and was at his death, a good man.
Tigellinus - Didn't really do anything.  Killed by other imperials.  Meh.

...Seeing this clear detail of each man, I really think there should be an EU Book or at least tale that'll give many of these guys some credit to their rank.

Palpatine may have done a lot of scheming to get where he is but he's by far not an idiot and would show he more than earn his powerbase as Emperor. So if he gave these men such powerful positions, I'm incline to think he did choose talented men as Grand Admirals.

But yeah otherwise...A good many of these guys went out like chumps.

....I'm now not so surprised they would list Ackbar as their equal if most of them were not as effective as told.

Hell, Takel is listed as a Spice-addict. That's kind of bad enough I don't know the guy.

[Lord Xizer]

Some were true geniuses and others were adequate while still others were political appointees. Here's what I know about them and my personal opinions.

Zaarin- Probably the most brilliant after Thrawn in my opinion, developed the Avenger and Defender TIEs, nearly killed the Emperor, Darth Vader and Thrawn on more than one occasion. 
Batch- Brilliant scientist and sensible but no charisma or long term thought process
Declann - Capable tactician, mainly attained role for Battle meditation and as an agent within the GAs for Palps
Grant - Great strategist, poor politician but great ability to read situations
Grunger - one of the top four tacticians, might have even taken Imperial Center. Would have loved to know how that battle went in detail. Can respect him for kamikazing so as killing his enemy to prevent Pitta winning.
Raz - Political appointee, utter fool
Makati - Decent strategist, loyal and capable
Pitta - Zealot and apparently a decent strategist to have annihilated Grunger's Armada even if it lost him his own, probably died screaming.
Syn -Seemed needy but a decent tactician overall, killed by treachery more than enemy ability
Takel - Very good strategist, some limited future sight due to his glitterstim habit. Got bested by Grunger multiple times and died at a minor warlord's hands
Teshik - After Thrawn and Zaarin gotta say this guy was third best. Great tactician, charisma and loyal. Died with honor and integrity
Tigellinus -Arrogant and fickle, though a good strategist he fell prey to his own vanity

[CaptainPogo]

After a while, yeah I got to say...The Grand Admirals barring Thrawn had their moments and they got their reasons to be part of Palpatine's Circle of Twelve and Lord Xizer brings good points of their actions and merits.

Plus, cannot stop playing the Pacific Rim theme song whenever I use Thrawn in the game...Makes me feel like I'm kicking ass with a Grand Admiral in my fleet.

[Lord Xizer]

Indeed, really wish for a remake of TIE Fighter but with elements of Midway 360 in it, strategy, fighter combat and tactics.