The reason why people mostly fly Rebels around me is pretty simple. They just find the look of the Rebels to be more interesting. Before the Firespray and Lambda, you were limited to a TIE variant, all of which involve a ball cockpit and solar arrays. Since the game seems pretty balanced, people decided to play with the ships they thought looked cooler, so that meant a lot of Rebel players in my area.

so if im seeing the big picture right it seems that the only imperial builds that r winning r tie swarms - with a rare showing from firespray, and very rare bomber and shuttle squads featuring??

rebels are dominating the meta?

It's far from a complete picture, but based on the info that we have: Yes, feels like the Rebels are very dominant. Until we get someone analyzing top 4 squads or more complete attendance #'s it's not definitive or anything.

Imperials: Lack of ship diversity is starting to catch up, swarm still best option, Firespray still very strong

Rebels: Take 4 ships (or 2 big ones), add some upgrades and you're good to go.

Everyone: PS war is in full effect.

well, the experience is that Rebel IS the meta, mostly because of a few reasons I'm able to pinpoint:

> gameplay wise, Rebels feel safer than Imperials, mostly due to the distrust of the Green dice. The Bwing has 8 printed hp, the Xwing has 5 printed hp, your TIEint has only 3 hp and an unconfirmed number of evade results from the green dice. Given a choice, I doubt most would prefer the TIEint over the Bwing/Xwing.

> much easier to fly rebels due to turret weapons, that also happen to directly counter imperial flying aces.

> IRL, much cheaper to field a competitive Rebel squad. Not only do you usually need less ships, your upgrades need not stem from that many different sources either. Consider a regular HSF list, you only need the core set, falcon, Xwing expansion. A 4 TIE swarm + Firespray will set you back 2 core sets, 1 TIE expansion, 1 Firespray. Pre-Imperial Aces, flying Soontir PTL Stealth means you need the TIEint, Awing and Firespray. Compare that to Luke R2D2 DrawFire, which is simply core set + Falcon.

> easier to build rebel squads. Just make 4 slots for a 4 ship squad, switch around the ships like some generic RPG game

I got it.

Germany Düsseldorf (Mage Store)

Squadron:

Howlrunner + Determination

5 Academy pilots

Scimitar + Assault Missile

Add Tampa, FL - Armada Games, March 29th to the TBD list please. Will report lists and winning faction afterwards.

I got it.

Germany Düsseldorf (Mage Store)

Squadron:

Howlrunner + Determination

5 Academy pilots

Scimitar + Assault Missile

Now thats interesting! How was the Scimitar performing? Did you get his missile off? ^^

I can imagine that the swarm locked the enemy fleet long enough in place so that the Bomber could get a lock on a back row ship and fired with focus?

Maybe some more interesting numbers for the overall picture:

Gamestore 'Avondtuur' in Arnhem, The Netherlands on 9 March 2014 (7 participants):

First place:

Kath Scarlett w/ Gunner and (I believe) Determination
Bounty Hunter w/ Gunner
Alpha Squadron Pilot
(win, win, win, modified win)

Runner-up (me, won tie-breaker (due to winning from this player) with player who became 3rd):
Horton Salm w/ R2-Astromech, Ion Cannon Turret, 2x Proton Torpedoes
Jan Ors w/ Swarm Tactics, Nien Nunb, Ion Cannon Turret
Garven Dreis w/ R2-Astromech
(win, loss, win, 'bye')

Third place:
Darth Vader w/ ? (some missile?)
Soontir Fel w/ ? (Push the Limit?)
Academy Pilot (3x)
(loss, win, win, modified win)

I played in 2 tournaments on Saturday and top 4 results are these

Tournament 1

1) 3 firesprays

2) Jonuus, 2 Schmics w/ loadouts, 2 alpha squads (me)

3) Turr, Fel, Vader

4) Ibi, Ten (very fun squad to fight)

Tournament 2

1) 3 firesprays

2) Turr, Fel, Vader

3)Jonuus, 2 Schmics w/ loadouts, 2 Alpha Squads (me)

4) Han Shoots First

For my area, imperials are the dominating faction by a long shots. I would like to say that myself included, we are an area that loves our interceptors and are rather veterans at playing with them. If the matches had been longer that 60 minutes I'm sure the tournaments would have been slightly different.

Game Empire San Diego:

Biggs, Rookie, 2 x Dagger + Adv. Sensors

20 people in attendance.

So what winning lists surprise you guys the most?

So what winning lists surprise you guys the most?

id say this list...

Kath Scarlett w/ Gunner and (I believe) Determination

Bounty Hunter w/ Gunner

Alpha Squadron Pilot

not too many ppl run a named firespray pilot into the top tables.

also any squad with bombers is also kinda a surprise.

So what winning lists surprise you guys the most?

For me, any list with Jan Ors. I never really thought she'd be a tournament ship due to her high point cost. I guess people really like her ability.

Definitely any Bomber list for me. When I face them, I always feel like I can muck up actions enough to make them not worthwhile. I am especially surprised by the Jonus, 2 Gamma, Dark Curse list.

I am surprised that Han Solo isn't in the list. Not a single HSF squad managed to win?

What about the Double Falcon lists? ... not a single?

I am surprised that Han Solo isn't in the list. Not a single HSF squad managed to win?

What about the Double Falcon lists? ... not a single?

I believe there's 2 or 3 Duel YT-1300 builds that have won store championships so far.

So what winning lists surprise you guys the most?

For me, any list with Jan Ors. I never really thought she'd be a tournament ship due to her high point cost. I guess people really like her ability.

I almost did! Her ability is great, but make sure you have a ship that is more attractive to shoot, or protect her with upgrades.

Mar 15, Highlander Games, Columbia Heights, MN

6 players

Won with 2x Blues with Ion and FCS, 2x Golds with Ion turrets.

2nd was 2 Blues with Adv Sensors and HLC, Luke with R2 unit, engine, and PTL.

Low turnout because the FFG Center championship was the same day, but a couple of us lost out there quick and went to Highlander instead. No idea who won at FFG, as far as I know they are still playing! 32 players, so they were doing 5 rounds then top 8!

March 15 - Borderlands in Greenville, SC: 26 players- Winner: Rebel Scum

4 x Blues with AS

I finished 2nd with 2 x BH w/ gunner and 2 APs.

March 15th,

Dragon's Lair Comics & Fantasy, Austin, TX

4 players: 2 Rebel, 2 Imperial

Winner:

3 Rookie Pilots (X-Wing)

Luke Skywalker w/ R2-D2, Shield Upgrade, Draw Their Fire

2nd:

Soontir Fel w/ PtL

Turr Phennir w/ VI

Howlrunner

2 Obsidian Squadron Pilots

3rd:

Bombers w/ lots of missiles and bombs

4th:

XXXB

Last game went to time and had a 1 point difference.

Brookhurst Hobbies is in! I came in at 3rd.

Winner - Imperial (4-0)

Howrunner + Veteran Instincts + Stealth Device (22)

6 Obsidian Squadron Pilots (13 + 13 + 13 + 13 + 13 + 13 = 78)

Runner Up - Imperial (4-0)

Darth Vader + Expert Handling + Concussion Missiles + Stealth Device (38)

Soontir Fel + Push The Limit + Stealth Device (33)

Turr Phennir + Veteran Instincts + Stealth Device (28)

3rd - Rebel (3-1) (me)

Biggs (25)

Dagger Squadron Pilot + Advanced Sensors (27)

Dagger Squadron Pilot + Advanced Sensors (27)

Rookie Pilot (21)

4th - Imperial (3-1) (Dallas Parker, placed 2nd at worlds) (I beat him with my luck!)

Howlrunner + Push The Limit + Stealth Device (24)

Dark Curse (16)

5 Academy Pilot Ties (12 + 12 + 12 + 12 + 12 = 60)

We played 4 rounds with 18 people (2 didn't play last round) no cut off and strength of schedule to break the ties.

I had a hard schedule myself playing people in this order...

Beat #8 or 7 not sure

Beat #5

Beat #4

Lost #1

so I had the highest schedule out of everyone at 60 (don't know what that means but the winner had 45)

The GASP event in Pittsburgh on 3/8 had 19 players.

FFG in the Twin Cities had their store tourney today. Any results?

Bordeland Comics and Games, Greenville SC.

Top spot had 4 B's w/ adv. sen, 2nd ran 2 firesprays and 2 academy, and 3rd ran 3B's 2 A's. We had 26, and a good mix of fleets including a 2 HWK/wedge list, and some pretty good shuttle list.