let's aim for 40pages this time round

So this post died about 3-5 posts after the OP decided to point out his ignorance of the game..

The only thing this thread is missing is good old IP

/closed

The OP is probably referring to repeated intentional use over multiple turns. Like someone who does it over and over again to block a big ship and isn't really interested in using any other strategy. I'm sure we'd all find it annoying to have a third of our points rendered partly impotent every turn because our opponent lacks imagination. And in a casual game, it's a little unsportsmanlike - not that some even know what this word means.

Blocking is okay.

Self-blocking doesn't feel right though, such as the proposed tactic of parking a shuttle with a black squadron wingman behind to take away the stress bumping into him, or the YT-1300 fortress. No matter the legality.

I can sympathize.

Your lone X-Wing has no damage, and the last remaining guys on the board are a TIE Interceptor and Fel, each with damage. You need to turn around to engage Fel. But it's almost prophetic, any move you make that other damaged interceptor will be there to block you and Fel will engage.

You pull a K-Turn? That Alpha pilot is right there and prevents you from doing so. Try to make a hard turn? He's already seen that, barrel rolling into position.

And there's nothing you can do as Fel shoots you in the back for two consecutive turns. No contest, and all because a fighter kept getting in your way.

Agreed. Blocking an enemy ship is reasonable - after all, it'd diving past them so you can't shoot them that turn (or have to jink not to crash into them, which amounts to same).

I'm very tempted to try using bombers packing seismic charges, and blocking one turn then releasing bombs the next sounds like quite a nice idea...

The idea of an alpha squint blocking you repeatedly is nice, but as you said, requires the opponent to guess your plan. No amount of boost and barrel rolls will let him cover hard left, hard right, 'stall' straight 1 and a koiogran simultaneously.

I'd imagine most of the time he'd block the koiogran - it's the downside of the X-wing that it only has one speed at which it can do that...

From a broader perspective, while the designers saw move last, shoot first to be an advantage for higher PS, it hasn't really turned out that way.

To give higher pilot skill a real advantage (in both phases) they really need to move first too.

Blocking is annoying, but just something you have to deal with in the game, it is a legitimate tactic. From a philosophical standpoint I think it was a mistake in game design. Move last, shoot first works on paper, but in practice not so much.

From a broader perspective, while the designers saw move last, shoot first to be an advantage for higher PS, it hasn't really turned out that way.

To give higher pilot skill a real advantage (in both phases) they really need to move first too.

Blocking is annoying, but just something you have to deal with in the game, it is a legitimate tactic. From a philosophical standpoint I think it was a mistake in game design. Move last, shoot first works on paper, but in practice not so much.

It really does. Blocking is the one thing high pilot skill pilots lose out on. However:

1. If we both have target lock, wedge can target lock a Storm Squadron Pilot at long range without being target locked in return - try it. The advanced moves first, moves up, has his action....and wedge isn't in range. Wedge then moves into range 3 and target locks the TIE.
2. If I have abilities such as Boost, Barrel Roll and Daredevil, then whilst I can be blocked, if I'm not, the value of being able to adjust my position after everyone else has moved should be pretty obvious.
3. Even if I don't, knowing who has moved where is useful when I decide on actions. A Black Squadron Pilot with Expose can either pull evade - making himself very hard to hit - or expose - making him quite easy to hit but with the firepower of an X-wing. I really want to make that decision knowing if anyone is in a position to shoot back...

If the blocker fails the block, he's likey within range 1 of your pewpews, so it's gonna die

I'll admit I don't like the idea of blocking, but since it's a part of the game I use it in order to win.

The thing that sucks most as a few have mentioned, is that it rewards taking low PS ships as they are the least likely to be blocked, and conversely you can intentionally use them to block.

I'm curious what would happen if the rule was changed so that colliding with a lower skill pilot did not cost you your action.

From a broader perspective, while the designers saw move last, shoot first to be an advantage for higher PS, it hasn't really turned out that way.

To give higher pilot skill a real advantage (in both phases) they really need to move first too.

Blocking is annoying, but just something you have to deal with in the game, it is a legitimate tactic. From a philosophical standpoint I think it was a mistake in game design. Move last, shoot first works on paper, but in practice not so much.

Just saying. Take the PSO sensor slot. Never get into a firing arc again. And it would doom interceptors something fierce.

Blocking is part of the game, but a higher skilled pilot is higher because he is a better pilot, so you would think he could avoid a bump situation, because he is better than the lower skilled pilot that moves first. A possible solution if FFG were to ever make a change(which I don't think they will) would be a pilot skill roll that would allow a higher skilled pilot have an opportunity to avoid the situation and retain his action. Collision is a valid attack for unskilled pilots, look at the Russians in WWII against the Germans or the Kamikazes of the Japanese, but higher level pilots always had a chance to avoid.

One more comment, if it were a die roll, say roll 1 defense die, on an evade you avoid the bump and retain your action. A die roll only takes place if you are a certain number of pilot levels better than the other pilot, say at least 3 or 4 levels.

yes I am a new player and yes I know it is part of the game, but it still seems like you should be able to win the game by being a better pilot and not using a legitimate but in my opinion cheap game mechanic.

If the blocker fails the block, he's likey within range 1 of your pewpews, so it's gonna die

This,

Happened last night, 2 xwings k-turned in behind a 4 Tie formation and B-wings sat in front, with squint slightly to one side. they lost 3 of the ties and squint in one round of shooting, was awesome target locks did their job

Cancelled

It's like when playing FPS, and those few people can find those areas that are hard to get to. Normally your not supposed to be up there, but by design they can be.

Some of the "cheap" stuff stems from paper to playmat. Being that it took over a week for me to get a response that only restated a rule. I don't think they are too concerned. We don't know if it was something "missed" or "intended", but like with most MMOs, it's easier to accept issues than "balance" them.

Seriously, what is up with the troll threads?

Unfortunately that's the direction this forum has headed over the past few months. Granted there have always been spats but people had always moved on and this had remained overall a very chill and decent place. As the game has grown in popularity we have had a lot more new people show up here and obviously have a range of opinions, many of which are not the same as what many around here are accustomed to.

Hopefully the ship can be righted but I'm afraid that we may have already gone beyond the point of no return.

Calling this a troll thread is rather harsh isn't it?

Re: "blocking seems like a really cheap way to play to me"

Now try blocking with a Blockade Runner!^* Starfighters become bugs on windshields.^** Oh snap.

* Clearly based on the ship's name we are obligated to use this strategy

** No miniatures were harmed in the making of this post, or were thrown at any car windshields.

The OP is probably referring to repeated intentional use over multiple turns. Like someone who does it over and over again to block a big ship and isn't really interested in using any other strategy. I'm sure we'd all find it annoying to have a third of our points rendered partly impotent every turn because our opponent lacks imagination. And in a casual game, it's a little unsportsmanlike - not that some even know what this word means.

Nothing is unsportsmanlike about playing the game by its established rules...rules which both players can leverage equally. Moreover, there's no requirement to play by preconceived notions of how a game ought to play out thematically or otherwise. Great tactics are devised precisely by breaking conventions and shaking up the expectations of your opponent. If a tactic bothers you then it should be encouraged and explored in order to see how it impacts the game. Blocking doesn't inhibit the contest at all and, in fact, makes it more nuanced and competitive.

So, blocking is not unsportsmanlike at all. It is really quite sporting.

Intentionally running one of your ships into another players ship seems like a really cheap tactic to me. The game offers plenty without people having to resort to cheap tactics like that.

Not again... yet another "I don't like a tactic so I'm going to claim it's <insert name here>."

Blocking is part of the game. Frustrating at times but working as intended.

I will admit I am more frustrated when my opponent is using blocking to their own ships' advantage, like on the shuttles. But again it is a tactic and a synergy that can be overcome.

I also would not want to see higher skill pilots moving first/shooting first. There are advantages to moving last as was stated earlier. If they decide to mitagate the preceived advantage to moving last then they may have more ships with slots to run advance sensors or maybe there will be an elite pilot skill that acts like advance sensors allowing you to take you action before moving. This way you can either avoid the collison or collide but have your action.

Blocking is indeed cheap, very cheap. In fact, it usually only costs 12 points to do it.