He comes out to our x-wing nights. He doesn't own any minis or even a copy of the rulebook. He doesn't even come with a list, he throws one together based on what people are willing to lend him. We've asked him to buy a few minis, but he never gets around to it and generally we are happy to lend him some for a game.

But the worst part is......he always wins.

always.

He's played around 6 or 7 games and he's won every time. I'm talking ROFLStomps. He tables guys with their "tournament lists". Its both magical and the most rage inducing thing I've ever seen in gaming. Sure, a lot of it seems to be luck of the dice but its getting on everyone's nerves that this 'casual' player who barely knows the rules shows up and beats everyone with their models and dice.

So, what does this say about X-Wing? Is it a good thing that any list can do well? Is it bad this game relies so heavily on dice?

In case anyone asks, here are the two lists he made from yesterday's game:

Roark Garnet

Wedge Antilles

Garven Dreis

Blue Squadron Pilot

Krassis Trellix + HLC

Turr Phennir

Alpha Squad

Academy Pilot

You can see he doesn't like add-on cards much...he finds them complicated.

He comes out to our x-wing nights. He doesn't own any minis or even a copy of the rulebook. He doesn't even come with a list, he throws one together based on what people are willing to lend him. We've asked him to buy a few minis, but he never gets around to it and generally we are happy to lend him some for a game.

But the worst part is......he always wins.

always.

He's played around 6 or 7 games and he's won every time. I'm talking ROFLStomps. He tables guys with their "tournament lists". Its both magical and the most rage inducing thing I've ever seen in gaming. Sure, a lot of it seems to be luck of the dice but its getting on everyone's nerves that this 'casual' player who barely knows the rules shows up and beats everyone with their models and dice.

So, what does this say about X-Wing? Is it a good thing that any list can do well? Is it bad this game relies so heavily on dice?

In case anyone asks, here are the two lists he made from yesterday's game:

Roark Garnet

Wedge Antilles

Garven Dreis

Blue Squadron Pilot

Krassis Trellix + HLC

Turr Phennir

Alpha Squad

Academy Pilot

You can see he doesn't like add-on cards much...he finds them complicated.

Spacial sense is a form of intelligence, so maybe this guy just 'gets it.'

As odd as this sounds, I need to tip my mind into the right place for X-wing or I fly terribly. Wonder is probably right. this guys mind is just right in that place where he gets it.

He's also avoiding the usual newbie mistake of over-upgrading his ships. If he's erring on the side of few or no upgrades, it is hard to build a truly terrible list

Watch how he plays and become a better player.

Every time I hear people start to talk about how the game is all about chance I remember when I introduced X-wing to all of my friends back in my home town, I played maybe 10-15 games that week and won all but one of them. Skill trumps dice 90% of the time.

This guy sounds like he has a natural gift for winging. If he actually applies himself to the game he might be the Bobby Fisher of X-wing!

Build a list to out fly him then. Things he doesn't normally see, PtL interceptors help with that but try not to use the normal against him.

I actually have a theory about 'beginner's luck'.

I argue that beginner's luck has little to do with the beginner, and more to do with the sensei. The sensei unwillingly applies complex strategies to the game. Why? Because they have trained themselves to compete against opponents of similar skill. They expect complex strategies to be thrown at them and prepare to counter.

A beginner does not have these strategies in their repertoire. When they play they simply push their pieces around the table. The sensei subconciously counters these blundering moves with a well structured counter. Only to find the next move to be another blundering attack.

In short, the sensei overthinks the extremely basic manouevres and over complicates their own game. Applying high level strategies against completely non-existent tactics.

I actually have a theory about 'beginner's luck'.

I argue that beginner's luck has little to do with the beginner, and more to do with the sensei. The sensei unwillingly applies complex strategies to the game. Why? Because they have trained themselves to compete against opponents of similar skill. They expect complex strategies to be thrown at them and prepare to counter.

A beginner does not have these strategies in their repertoire. When they play they simply push their pieces around the table. The sensei subconciously counters these blundering moves with a well structured counter. Only to find the next move to be another blundering attack.

In short, the sensei overthinks the extremely basic manouevres and over complicates their own game. Applying high level strategies against completely non-existent tactics.

Yeah, it's easy to overthink sometimes. A beginner will take that k-turn even though it causes stress and gives no actions and puts three of your ships behind him. Instead of thinking three moves ahead, they think about the present only.

Somehow, that actually works sometimes. Maybe those of us with a little more experience could learn something from them.

Have you ever taken a 5 year old bass fishing? Because I have. Frequently.

I consider myself to be an accomplished angler. I can turn most any plastic bait into a bite.

However, my 5 year old will sit in the boat with me and run the fishing rod like Leonardo from the Ninja Turtles, using whatever plastic bait was on closeout at Wal-Mart because he though it looked cool and he likes to buy lures, and he will catch fish on days when I struggle to get a bite.

This to me means one of two things:

A. He catches the stupidest, most nearsighted, trigger happy fish in the lake.

B. I am WAY overthinking the movement of the bait, finding cover, fishing the terrain, etc, and need to just chill out and bounce a worm around on the line until something happens.

I think you can probably guess which of the two is the real answer.

Direct corrolation to X-Wing.

My 5 year old has shot down Soontir Fel with PTL making crazy moves all over the table because his ships NEVER go where I anticipate them going. He just picks a movement on the dial and enjoys moving the ships around and rolling the dice.

Not saying your friend is like a 5 year old - just that the analogy stands to reason.

You are playing tournament grade X-Wing, he's just having fun and your anticipation of his strategy is most likely killing you since he probably isn't using one.

1. Know thy self- you seem to have a reasonable grasp of this

2. Know thy enemy- this you THINK you know... but you really don't. You see him as a noob/casual XWM player, as in "without skill or knowledge". Clearly that assessment is wrong.

From what you have said, I'd agree with the other's comments that this guy is successful because he has:

a) Good spatial relationship skills

b) A decent grasp of tactics in general

c) He follows the KISS Principle by keeping it simple- simple list... simple tactics... simple maneuvers.

He does not "over think" the problem, he just plays his game and lets his opponents try to figure him out, effectively letting his opponents defeat themselves. * I bet the rage and frustration he inspires also works in his favor

As has been said earlier, "study his game play" to learn his thinking and devise ways to beat him. Or, if you cant beat him, join him... ie. "Fly Casual"- don't over think it, just play and have fun- I bet you'll be more successful.

You should really check your friends midi-chlorian count. He could be the one!

Ugh, its so awkward. He's the only who doesnt bring any models and I think its too late now for us to 'enforce' some rule what we wont play with him until he brings his own stuff. Besides, what would that really accomplish? He'd probably just get better or something.

Next is that, well its embarassing. I dont know how others feel, but when I played this guy last I was completely gutted. @hujoe bigs, thats funny because thats exactly what I used! Last game I tried: Soontir Fel PTL targetting computer, Saber PTL, Saber PTL and Howlrunner Swarm tactics. This guy dismantled me in 5 turns. Howlrunner was dead in 2, soontir fel the next and so on. I might have said something like "this is supposed to be a good list!", in despair and frustration. Being the guys we are, the jokes dont let up. "Well it aint bro", comes the response from a friend intently watching. Another chimes in after its over "you just got X-Winged!". I'm ready to toss my minis in a microwave! haha

I sound like a nerd-rager now.....the best comeback I had that night was "Yeah well, he probably likes the prequels". *sad trumpet*

Yes, but why. Was he outguessing you and getting shots you weren't expecting or did the Octahedons Of Bitter Capriciousness just betray you over and over again?

to be fair, it was mostly dice. but still.....

He's probably been secretly playing on vassal for months, and then comes trolling your store pretending to be a noob with no ships to play with and beats everyone handily.

I actually have a theory about 'beginner's luck'.

I argue that beginner's luck has little to do with the beginner, and more to do with the sensei. The sensei unwillingly applies complex strategies to the game. Why? Because they have trained themselves to compete against opponents of similar skill. They expect complex strategies to be thrown at them and prepare to counter.

A beginner does not have these strategies in their repertoire. When they play they simply push their pieces around the table. The sensei subconciously counters these blundering moves with a well structured counter. Only to find the next move to be another blundering attack.

In short, the sensei overthinks the extremely basic manouevres and over complicates their own game. Applying high level strategies against completely non-existent tactics.

I actually remember doing fairly well in Smash Bros against my friend who was practicing for a tourny, and he said that it's because he couldn't predict what I'd do. I had no "professional" experience, and I was simply hitting buttons. I had an idea of what to do, but not really. I didn't do things he expected me to, and I did things he didn't.

So it's simply the randomness of being new that throws people off. The newbies strategy is "off the other players ship". The pro plans ahead. This actually can make the pro more predictable, honestly.

I considered that, but I doubt it. I think its really just a combination of us going easy on him and lucky dice in his favor. We've been hoping he would pick up the hobby but he's perfectly content to use our toys and beat our heads with them. If I werent on the receiving end of it, I would think its funny. There's this developing theme in our gaming community of the "******" gamer. In my 40k meta, theres a guy that is similar to this. He doesnt paint his models, doesnt know or care about the fluff, always takes the most winningest lists he can find online and REALLY gets in people's face. He talks like a gangsta when he starts winning and it makes people crazy. he turns his ballcap backwards and his trademark is saying "Learn your codex yo!". This guy crushes people, he's won best general at two local tournaments. Welcome to polite Canada. haha

I considered that, but I doubt it. I think its really just a combination of us going easy on him and lucky dice in his favor. We've been hoping he would pick up the hobby but he's perfectly content to use our toys and beat our heads with them. If I werent on the receiving end of it, I would think its funny. There's this developing theme in our gaming community of the "******" gamer. In my 40k meta, theres a guy that is similar to this. He doesnt paint his models, doesnt know or care about the fluff, always takes the most winningest lists he can find online and REALLY gets in people's face. He talks like a gangsta when he starts winning and it makes people crazy. he turns his ballcap backwards and his trademark is saying "Learn your codex yo!". This guy crushes people, he's won best general at two local tournaments. Welcome to polite Canada. haha

The solution is to take the kid gloves off...

I considered that, but I doubt it. I think its really just a combination of us going easy on him and lucky dice in his favor. We've been hoping he would pick up the hobby but he's perfectly content to use our toys and beat our heads with them. If I werent on the receiving end of it, I would think its funny. There's this developing theme in our gaming community of the "******" gamer. In my 40k meta, theres a guy that is similar to this. He doesnt paint his models, doesnt know or care about the fluff, always takes the most winningest lists he can find online and REALLY gets in people's face. He talks like a gangsta when he starts winning and it makes people crazy. he turns his ballcap backwards and his trademark is saying "Learn your codex yo!". This guy crushes people, he's won best general at two local tournaments. Welcome to polite Canada. haha

The solution is to take the kid gloves off...

Maybe try beating him at his own game?

well maybe not me, i'm garbage at this game.

I considered that, but I doubt it. I think its really just a combination of us going easy on him and lucky dice in his favor. We've been hoping he would pick up the hobby but he's perfectly content to use our toys and beat our heads with them. If I werent on the receiving end of it, I would think its funny. There's this developing theme in our gaming community of the "******" gamer.

I think it would be worthwhile to really embrace this friend of yours and invite him into the gaming community. I understand that constantly losing to a player who doesn't even own any ships can be very frustrating. But I think everyone has been focusing on him winning rather than the real issue at hand. Why doesn't he have any ships. Is he short on funds or is there another reason?

Depending on that answer I would look into raising money to buy him a starter, or see if you can pull together some unused ships from your community and donate them. Once he has ships of his own you will see his squad building and play style change. His play level should rise in sophistication, hopefully removing any "beginners luck/over-thinking sensei" issues. He'll also be more likely to invest in the game which removes the burden of him constantly borrowing ships.

Only lend him Tie Advanceds.

Me too. I spend hours building lists, whereas my opponent often puts hers together in a few minutes before the game. She wins ~90% of the games we play. Part of the problem is I'm terrible at maneuvering - always bumping stuff, hitting asteroids, etc -- and this is after 50+ games. I'm just not very good at estimating where my ships will end up.

I'm not so sure it's spatial thinking so much as it is spatial perception. If this game is any indication, it's amazing that I can make it to work without being hit by a bus.

well maybe not me, i'm garbage at this game.

Lend him crappier ships, and pilots... See if its luck then.