Madness Comics and Games hosted the DFW Regional and did a great job. It's just too bad the commute is so long for me. Google maps says 925 miles by car, 14.25 hours.

Worth it IMO =P

I'm surprised the super Han and Chewy build didn't win the Madness regional. I think he was on the top table the whole day and undefeated going into top 8. Team Covenant/Tulsa was well represented as they held 2 or 3 of the top 8 spots. And I think Zach finished in the top 16.

Big thanks to Matt, his family, the other judges, and Madness. It was incredibly smooth and fun. The custom playmats were well received and a great prize to those deserving 32.

I'm disappointed in my own performance. And learned that I still have a lot to learn.

Consolidated text summary of what we have so far for week 12. I'll update the first page posts later. I haven't entered it into Excel so I don't have updated statistics yet.

It occurred to me, that we should have been getting the elimination brackets all along. It's especially helpful for the wave 4 meta where we have Phantoms going up against Gunner YT-1300s. So if you know how some of the Final Cut squads got knocked out, then please let us know!

[edit]: All wave 4 details have been updated on the first page here:

http://community.fantasyflightgames.com/index.php?/topic/105107-2014-regionals-results/?p=1066845

These Wave 4 results are looking pretty predictable.

MJ: Madness was only a cut to top 8. With that many people there, top 8 didn't start until almost 9:30pm, 12.5 hours later. There is nothing else to provide, so you might want to go ahead and truncate at 8.

I think KineticOperator's build that beat me in the Colorado event in the first elimination round was Biggs McJerkyPants, Airen Cracken, and Chewbacca with (if my memory serves) C-3PO, MF Title, Luke, and Predator. But I might not have those upgrades right.

MJ: Madness was only a cut to top 8. With that many people there, top 8 didn't start until almost 9:30pm, 12.5 hours later. There is nothing else to provide, so you might want to go ahead and truncate at 8.

12.5 hours is a bit much for 7 rounds.

MJ: Madness was only a cut to top 8. With that many people there, top 8 didn't start until almost 9:30pm, 12.5 hours later. There is nothing else to provide, so you might want to go ahead and truncate at 8.

He takes the top third of lists.

MJ: Madness was only a cut to top 8. With that many people there, top 8 didn't start until almost 9:30pm, 12.5 hours later. There is nothing else to provide, so you might want to go ahead and truncate at 8.

12.5 hours is a bit much for 7 rounds.

75 minute rounds with about 5 to 10 minutes in between. Trust me, if you went full time there wasn't much idling around till the next one.

I think KineticOperator's build that beat me in the Colorado event in the first elimination round was Biggs McJerkyPants, Airen Cracken, and Chewbacca with (if my memory serves) C-3PO, MF Title, Luke, and Predator. But I might not have those upgrades right.

Thanks, I'll update... is "McJerkyPants" a Biggs-only title card? I haven't been tracking that one....

MJ: Madness was only a cut to top 8. With that many people there, top 8 didn't start until almost 9:30pm, 12.5 hours later. There is nothing else to provide, so you might want to go ahead and truncate at 8.

I'm hoping that we can get the Top Third squads, if the TO has them. What do you think the chances of this are? If it's zero then I'll just cut it off at 8, but there's potentially a lot more information there. Finishing 16th in a 72 person tournament gets weighted the same as being #2 in a 9 person tournament.

These Wave 4 results are looking pretty predictable.

I have two wave 4 Phantom lists that I have been kicking around in my head, nobody has played anything remotely close to them. Unfortunately I don't know that I'll get the chance to play at the Cambridge, MA Regional, I'm just way too busy after moving and needing to write my dissertation to justify taking a whole day off. We'll see....

I also have yet to actually play in a game store, so, jumping right in a Regional would be interesting.

Commentary:

1) I have been thinking that ACD Phantoms would have been much better balanced if Advanced Cloaking Device simply had the following text at the end:

"Then receive 1 stress token."

Think about it for a minute then let it settle in - I'm pretty sure that would reduce the effectiveness of the Phantoms. You would at least know that they are almost certainly going to perform a green maneuver next turn. You can build around this by adding Captain Yorr or Wingman EPT, but this would encourage more build diversity and would be a good thing.

Edit: I would also be OK with a cost increase. 4 points is probably not enough.

2) YT-1300 + Gunner + Z-95 support I'm not as worried about being permanently dominant, unless it HAS to stay as a counter to ACD Phantoms. It's a great list but is very beatable, especially by a swarm (either faction), if you focus down the Falcon first.

3) As I had predicted pre wave 4 release based on MathWing, TIE Defenders and E-wings continue to see very light use, especially the generics. But it's nice to see the named pilots getting occasionally kicked around. Corran's appearance in a winning squad should boost the E-wing's weighted average percentage a healthy amount. It looks like Rexler was used twice.

4) A-wings finally see a a couple of generic pilots used in wave 4, but they are clearly still the #2 dog ship behind the TIE Advanced. I personally think that the -2 cost Refit is exactly what the A-wing needs to make it viable. Sorry, I have to disagree with Kelvan and Co. on an earlier podcast lamenting how the Refit is too much of a buff - I think it will turn out to be just what the doctor ordered.

Thanks. If you come across clarifications for the #6 and #7 list that would be helpful. For stats tracking I went ahead and entered my bolded assumptions, but I could be wrong.

København, Denmark

July 6, 2014

Faraos Cigarer

info: https://www.facebook.com/events/462103997254063/

wave 4 not legal

Attendance: 22

Final cut: 5 rounds of Swiss, Final Cut to Top 4

• Winner: Wes Janson + Veteran Instincts; Ibitsam + Opportunist + Heavy Laser Cannon; Wedge + Determination
• 2nd place: Wes Janson + Veteran Instincts; Wedge + R2 + Push the Limit; Luke + R2-D2 + Draw Their Fire + Shield Upgrade
• Top 4: Howlrunner + Swarm Tactics; Backstabber; Black Sq. Pilot + Swarm Tactics; 4x Academy Pilot
• Top 4: Chewbacca + Draw their Fire + Intelligence Agent + C3-P0 + Millennium Falcon + Anti-Pursuit Lasers; 2x Blue Sq. Pilot + Advanced Sensors
• #5: Howlrunner + Stealth Device; Mauler Mithel; Dark Curse; Backstabber; 2x Black Sq. Pilot + Draw Their Fire
• #6: Soontir Fel + Push the Limit + Stealth Device; Turr Phennir + Veteran Instincts + Stealth Device; Omicron Group Pilot + Heavy Laser Cannon + Advanced Sensors + Rebel Captive (+ Engine Upgrade?)
• #7: Colonel Jendon + ST-321 Weapons Engineer; 2x Scimitar Sq. Pilot + Assault Missiles; Royal Guard Pilot (+ Push the Limit?)
• #8: 4x Royal Guard Pilot + Push the Limit

And on a wave 4 note, if anyone is at a wave 4 Regional today, feel free to tease us with updates!

BTW: I have made this attempt at animating the standings during the 5 Swiss Rounds and the Top 4 games

......

It occured to me, that we should have been getting the elimination brackets all along. It's especially helpful for the wave 4 meta where we have Phantoms going up against Gunner YT-1300s. So if you know how some of the Final Cut squads got knocked out, then please let us know

• Winner: Wes Janson + Veteran Instincts; Ibitsam + Opportunist + Heavy Laser Cannon; Wedge + Determination
• 2nd place: Wes Janson + Veteran Instincts; Wedge + R2 + Push the Limit; Luke + R2-D2 + Draw Their Fire + Shield Upgrade
• Top 4: Howlrunner + Swarm Tactics; Backstabber; Black Sq. Pilot + Swarm Tactics; 4x Academy Pilot. (Lost the semi final to #2)
• Top 4: Chewbacca + Draw their Fire + Intelligence Agent + C3-P0 + Millennium Falcon + Anti-Pursuit Lasers; 2x Blue Sq. Pilot + Advanced Sensors. (Lost the semi final to #1)

Thanks Forensicus, updated on the first page!

Regarding Burlingame, California's regional on 5/24:

(1) I was #6 after Swiss. My Bluebacca squad also had Intel Agent.

(2) I'm almost positive we had more than 39 players. When I asked the TOs, I was told "over 60." It sure seemed more like 30 boards going at once than 20.

I think KineticOperator's build that beat me in the Colorado event in the first elimination round was Biggs McJerkyPants, Airen Cracken, and Chewbacca with (if my memory serves) C-3PO, MF Title, Luke, and Predator. But I might not have those upgrades right.

Very close. Chewie had PtL rather than Predator, but otherwise spot on.

Regarding Burlingame, California's regional on 5/24:

(1) I was #6 after Swiss. My Bluebacca squad also had Intel Agent.

(2) I'm almost positive we had more than 39 players. When I asked the TOs, I was told "over 60." It sure seemed more like 30 boards going at once than 20.

Hm, this was at Kublacon - I don't suppose you could get confirmation of this? There may have been other kinds of games going on that the TO was lumping into the Regionals event? I wasn't there, obviously...

Edit:

So that means that you must have finished Top 4? Who knocked you out?

MJ: Madness was only a cut to top 8. With that many people there, top 8 didn't start until almost 9:30pm, 12.5 hours later. There is nothing else to provide, so you might want to go ahead and truncate at 8.

12.5 hours is a bit much for 7 rounds.

75 minute rounds with about 5 to 10 minutes in between. Trust me, if you went full time there wasn't much idling around till the next one.

If that were true then at most you'd be looking at a 10 hour event. 7 rounds over 12.5 hours averages out to an almost an hour and 50 minutes per round. That's where I'm confused. There'd be no way for an event to take that long. Was there an hour long lunch and dinner break?

12.5 hours was probably including the 3 rounds for Final Cut, which would add another 3 hours 45 minutes at the same rate, totaling 12.5 hours.

(7 rounds + 3 rounds )*1.25 hour / round = 12.5 hours

MJ: Madness was only a cut to top 8. With that many people there, top 8 didn't start until almost 9:30pm, 12.5 hours later. There is nothing else to provide, so you might want to go ahead and truncate at 8.

12.5 hours is a bit much for 7 rounds.

75 minute rounds with about 5 to 10 minutes in between. Trust me, if you went full time there wasn't much idling around till the next one.

If that were true then at most you'd be looking at a 10 hour event. 7 rounds over 12.5 hours averages out to an almost an hour and 50 minutes per round. That's where I'm confused. There'd be no way for an event to take that long. Was there an hour long lunch and dinner break?

I think in reality we started closer to 1030 and cut to top 8 at around 830. So the math adds up. No dinner break was given. Wall to wall winging. For an event this size it was extremely well run and organized.

Regarding Burlingame, California's regional on 5/24:

(1) I was #6 after Swiss. My Bluebacca squad also had Intel Agent.

(2) I'm almost positive we had more than 39 players. When I asked the TOs, I was told "over 60." It sure seemed more like 30 boards going at once than 20.

Hm, this was at Kublacon - I don't suppose you could get confirmation of this? There may have been other kinds of games going on that the TO was lumping into the Regionals event? I wasn't there, obviously...

Edit:

I think KineticOperator's build that beat me in the Colorado event in the first elimination round was Biggs McJerkyPants, Airen Cracken, and Chewbacca with (if my memory serves) C-3PO, MF Title, Luke, and Predator. But I might not have those upgrades right.

Very close. Chewie had PtL rather than Predator, but otherwise spot on.

So that means that you must have finished Top 4? Who knocked you out?

Christian (spacemonkeymafia), with:

Chewbacca + Predator + Gunner + C3-P0 + Millennium Falcon; Corran Horn + R2-D2 + Engine Upgrade + Veteran Instincts + Fire Control System

He went on to win it all. It was well played. His Corran Horn would not quit rolling evades even without focus, and despite putting every shot from all my ships on him, including stacked actions and point blank shots, when my Chewie finally went down Corran Horn was still on the board. I was pleased to see he went on to win it all, we had a great time playing. Lots of laughs, and plenty of serious nerd-cred garnered (and dad cred, "Everything is awesome!!").

I think KineticOperator's build that beat me in the Colorado event in the first elimination round was Biggs McJerkyPants, Airen Cracken, and Chewbacca with (if my memory serves) C-3PO, MF Title, Luke, and Predator. But I might not have those upgrades right.

Very close. Chewie had PtL rather than Predator, but otherwise spot on.

So that means that you must have finished Top 4? Who knocked you out?

KO was in Top 4 and lost to my Chewie/Corran build.

Lots of laughs, and plenty of serious nerd-cred garnered (and dad cred, "Everything is awesome!!").

...everything is cool when you're part of the team...

It's going to be interesting to see how Chicago's Regional turnouts. There is a full waitlist for people to sign up. Sooo, it's going to be a big one.

Regarding Burlingame, California's regional on 5/24:

(1) I was #6 after Swiss. My Bluebacca squad also had Intel Agent.

(2) I'm almost positive we had more than 39 players. When I asked the TOs, I was told "over 60." It sure seemed more like 30 boards going at once than 20.

Hm, this was at Kublacon - I don't suppose you could get confirmation of this? There may have been other kinds of games going on that the TO was lumping into the Regionals event? I wasn't there, obviously...

Edit:

I think KineticOperator's build that beat me in the Colorado event in the first elimination round was Biggs McJerkyPants, Airen Cracken, and Chewbacca with (if my memory serves) C-3PO, MF Title, Luke, and Predator. But I might not have those upgrades right.

Very close. Chewie had PtL rather than Predator, but otherwise spot on.

So that means that you must have finished Top 4? Who knocked you out?

Christian, with:

Chewbacca + Predator + Gunner + C3-P0 + Millennium Falcon; Corran Horn + R2-D2 + Engine Upgrade + Veteran Instincts + Fire Control System

He went on to win it all. It was well played. His Corran Horn would not quit rolling evades even without focus, and despite putting every shot from all my ships on him, including stacked actions and point blank shots, when I went down he was still on the board. I was pleased to see he went on to win it all, we had a great time playing. Lots of laughs, and plenty of serious nerd-cred garnered (and dad cred, "Everything is awesome!!").

To add to the commentary, we're seeing (at least in these first few regionals) the "near" extinction of some ship types. Some of it is that they are being replaced by new ships and the other is the meta.

1) X-wings: Even named are being pushed out a bit, but I think this is more new replacement by the cheaper Z-95.

2) Interceptors (not named Soontir): Meta (a lot of turrets) and new ship replacement (phantom does everything they do better)

3) Bombers: The meta is hurting them. Bombers swarms seem less effective and they can't really help against a phantom. I wonder if the chance the few lists that worked has passed.

MJ: Madness was only a cut to top 8. With that many people there, top 8 didn't start until almost 9:30pm, 12.5 hours later. There is nothing else to provide, so you might want to go ahead and truncate at 8.

12.5 hours is a bit much for 7 rounds.

75 minute rounds with about 5 to 10 minutes in between. Trust me, if you went full time there wasn't much idling around till the next one.

If that were true then at most you'd be looking at a 10 hour event. 7 rounds over 12.5 hours averages out to an almost an hour and 50 minutes per round. That's where I'm confused. There'd be no way for an event to take that long. Was there an hour long lunch and dinner break?

I think in reality we started closer to 1030 and cut to top 8 at around 830. So the math adds up. No dinner break was given. Wall to wall winging. For an event this size it was extremely well run an organized.

Then it appears the other poster can not tell time then.