FFG states abusing a mechanic can be considered cheating (is infinite loops). I would find parking two ships a potential violation of that rule. I personally wouldn't want to fight it but I wouldn't call a TO on this either.

I hope you've also complained about "swarms" as well. It is a strategy that is COMPLETELY within the rules. Most of the "unsportsmanlike" comments I've seen are regarding people who refuse to acknowledge that it is a usable, but ultimately beatable, strategy. I'd also say the reply is the polite way of saying "We heard. We'll see. Don't expect too much."

I think what it means is that if it's useless they won't do anything about it because it's not worth the effort, but if it's successful they just might. Locking two ships together is very much against the spirit of the game (can two YTs actually do that?), which I think FFG values, whereas TIE swarms are what the Galactic Empire actually does and are something FFG designed. They're putting a lot of anti-swarm stuff in now because the swarm's proven too powerful, but hordes of flimsy craft are something they intended to be in the game from the start.

If the YT fortress was something they intended they've have released a Turbolaser instead.

If it becomes an unbeatable strategy they'll cut it. It isn't and never will be, so they will 100% not be doing anything about it. Fortress builds are not practical or even on the powerful side buildwise. There is nothing wrong with Fortress builds other than that people like to whine about them because badly thought out gaming ethics. The only ethic in a game is to play something you enjoy. If somebody likes playing Fortress Builds they should be able to. It isn't going to win them any games and isn't going to overpower the tournament scene. I mean, 5 Awings could probably take this build. A Tie swarm certainly could. Any XXBB list can. Just about anything you want to run can eat through an actionless Falcon that isn't moving to evade Line of Fire in two rounds of firing. Suddenly their entire strategy is gone before they hit the same firepower 4 Xwings can put out in a single round.(8 focused 3 dice attack.)

Besides all the complaints about the Falcon Fortress strategy no one has explained to me how it is actually any harder to beat than any ole two Falcon build. If you've got two Falcons inching along the edges the entire game it's really all the same thing.

Besides all the complaints about the Falcon Fortress strategy no one has explained to me how it is actually any harder to beat than any ole two Falcon build. If you've got two Falcons inching along the edges the entire game it's really all the same thing.

It's not. It's worse. At best 1 ship gets an action. The complaints are silly, to say the least. At worst they are indicitive of players who don't see games as something where style can deviate from their definition.

Besides all the complaints about the Falcon Fortress strategy no one has explained to me how it is actually any harder to beat than any ole two Falcon build. If you've got two Falcons inching along the edges the entire game it's really all the same thing.

Because your ships will not be shooting anything close to 100% of the time. And you can't K-turn around them because they are on the edge of the map.

Edit:

Actually, this seems like the movie - when Han and Luke took the gunner seats, the falcon seemed to not move at all. Talk about flavor...

Besides all the complaints about the Falcon Fortress strategy no one has explained to me how it is actually any harder to beat than any ole two Falcon build. If you've got two Falcons inching along the edges the entire game it's really all the same thing.

I think generally the idea is that 2 falcons moving you can trail behind and get multiple rounds of fire on them consecutively. With locked falcons, the theory is that you have to fly at them and then have to turn around or fly by the next round, receiving fire you aren't returning. I think it is a false premise because you can just cheese it and join the scrum with them, but I think that is the reason people think it is harder.

Good point. I guess the default Fortress Build would be:

Chewbacca + APL + Gunner

Lando + APL + Gunner

Chewie gets a free focus action from Lando.

Still, this build doesn't scare me either. Realistically, you are going to have a round or two of fire before you close on them to bump. That is the only scary part and it is no different from 2 falcons (except this cheese has less actions) Between that round(s) and the round you bump, you ought to chew through a 1 agility ship with no actions. It isn't even moving, so you ought to have all your ships on target. You are only going to take 1 round of APL fire IF you don't take down a ship on the approach, and I'd much rather take (possibly) 1pt of damage spread out on multiple ships than fly by and take fire from 2 ships with gunner. 1

And you just crash in to Chewie in this case to make that free focus worthless while you down Lando.

I could see an interceptor heavy squad struggling against this, but that is true of any double falcon build and has nothing to do with the "fortress" bit.

Actually, this seems like the movie - when Han and Luke took the gunner seats, the falcon seemed to not move at all. Talk about flavor...

Pretty sure that was due more to film editing and the fact that TIEs were moving faster than the Falcon.

Actually, this seems like the movie - when Han and Luke took the gunner seats, the falcon seemed to not move at all. Talk about flavor...

Pretty sure that was due more to film editing and the fact that TIEs were moving faster than the Falcon.

That could be but motion is relative. Anytime I'd run big starship scale encounters in the RPGs I could basically pick one ship that "doesn't move" and then move everything else relative to it.

If they have Anti-Pursuit lasers, then I guess the counter is to come in with a strafing run that is just slightly above their ships. When you get past them, you K-turn and strafe again. You should have plenty of time to set up the run properly. The only annoyance is you might not kill Chewbacca on the first run, before you pass him. If your opponent is smart they will set up Chewie on the "short" side, so you have more runway to attack Lando, thereby protecting Chewie.

Strategically I'd come in at the corner of range 3, fire go forwards a little if you have the space/ a 1 forwards. and then loop back out with 3 hard over and over again. Sure, you aren't shooting every turn, but proper placement can give them a single shot per attack as well.

Man Kir Kanos could have fun never getting shot by chewie...

The YT fortress build could very well be defeatable. As I have mentioned, I only ran two scenarios against it with pretty strong lists. And this was before Wave 3 meta became available.

My concern has always been that this kind of build feels like 'gaming the game', finding some loose rule or strategy that was never thought of when the rules were developed and using it.

Yes, it is perfectly legal play to sit your ships together and not move and gain no actions from it. The problem becomes that if it is a somewhat successful build then the risk is that more than one person would use it during a tournament setting. How fun would that be to play against? The dogfight game gets reduced to assaulting a 'castled up' squad that doesn't move. The weaving and dodging, the back and forth, becomes attacking a stationary object.

Feel free to try this build out with your play group and see how easy or not it is to defeat. It looks easier to defeat that I think most people realize. And after you've played it, imagine going 2 or 3 rounds of swiss at a tournament against it... and then maybe you'll understand my stance on it.

It's what is known in Scotland as a 'pochle'. Legal, yes, in the 'Spirit' of the game, no. I also suspect it applies mainly to tournament play, I can't see a bunch of friends who enjoy the game trying this out on each other, you would soon find yourself playing solo (pun intended).

It is a shame however if you prepare for a tournament, look forward to it, then the guy pulls this on you, legal or not I wouldn't be chuffed.

Wargaming is full of these types of players, you will never stop it.

It's obviously an exploitation of the rules and really isn't in the spirit of the game but if someone slaps it down against me that will make me a happy person because it's so easy to beat*.

You can shred a YT-1300 with focused fire quickly and if they don't have TL's or focus they aren't nearly as effective.

Props to the OP for the thread.

*Edit: I probably shouldn't say so easy to beat but rather much easier than against a normal dual YT list where they are mobile and getting their actions.

Honestly I'd have to say that if I were going up against this build I would have focused on Chewie first because I hate him and his crit nullification.