This weekend a lot of us played in this event, and it was a lot of fun! the one I went to there were only 8 participants. There was a lot less friendly banter between everyone there this time for some reason, although I did my best.
I was undecided what to take to the event right up to the point of filling in the team sheet, but had discussed options on the way there with my mates. I came up with the team name and the second line of the song for a giggle. It goes... Gamma, Gamma, Gamma (A Fel After Breakfast) Won't someone help me blow these rebels away! Ok I know it's a silly name, but it raised a few laughs and made me sing at opponents.
So I ended up with what I thought was one of the stupidest lists I'd ever done, it was:-
Soontir Fel - Push the limit and Targeting Computer
Gamma Sq Bomber - Siesmic charges and Flachette Torpedoes x3
On paper I figured I'd have fun but not do very well.
Round 1
Played a guy with from what I remember had
Wes - droid
Ten Numb - auto blaster
Luke - R2D2
Was his first tournament (my 3rd) and played fairly well, he didn't use target locks much which helped me a lot.
Ten numb was quite nasty, but after I dropped all 3 bombs and his squad took a total of 8 damage from them the game turned a bit, Luke went down in flames early on as he said before we started he'd not lost him when flying before! I ended up only losing one bomber down to me flying badly with that one but Soontir was causing havoc targeting and evading.
Win
Round 2
Played nice bloke with
Wedge - Opprotunist and R2 unit
Ten Numb - Can't remember what upgrades but no HLC or advanced sensors
Jan Ors - Blaster Turret and something else
This one was a very close run thing, took out Ten Numb (yes B's were everywhere! cursed rebels) He forgot about the bombs too, which dealt out 6 damage this time way more points taken from them than I expected! Did have an interesting point when Soontir took out Jan and he thought he could still use ability to roll extra dice when Wedge shot at the same time as Soontir. Bit of a discussion involving pretty much everyone there but TO found an FAQ on exact thing and decision went with me.
We ended up with Soontir and Wedge flying round each other, felt Soontir had an advantage with boost/barrel roll but went to time. ended I destroyed 70 and lost 66 so.
Modified Win
Round 3
Ended up playing one of the guys I travelled there with, I know his list and decided how I'd play it.
Krassis Trelix - Heavy Laser Cannon
Bounty Hunter
Onmicron Shuttle - Vader
I knew the odds were against me, and really had to take out that HLC with reroll of one dice. was a cagey start and got torps off fairly well (as I had all day, but without too much damage, the stress was nice though) He vadered one of my bombers away, and by third round Krassis was down. Bombs didn't work that well, but knew there was always gonna be at least one game they didn't.
lots of flying around and being able to guess others moves later we came down to the bounty hunter with 5 hp and 2 bombers with 2 hp left each. he took out one, and then followed lots of me trying to get out of rear arc while getting at range 1. took me down to 1 hp and with bounty hunter at 2 hp, then when it looked worst for me an errror of judgement took the bounty hunter out of bounds, I got the win but it felt weird somehow usually I'd gloat about it but it was such an intense fight and so close all the way it wiped me out completely!
So at 3 wins I was in the lead, there was only 3 scheduled games so we were looking at that was it although the way I thought it was played out we'd have to play again with the new ships. Might be fun, but was decided we'd not do that and would carry on with top 4 playing off for final.
Semi Final
Played a guy with
Wedge - opportunist
Rookie
blue sq x2
Can't remember any other upgrades
This was a very strange match, I was really feeling wiped out and made a few mistakes. I also noticed a lot of little things that bothered me, now I know that people do make mistakes but there comes a point when you think "ok those movements are not being placed properly and every single one of them is working well for him" then we had an argument!
He barrel rolled with a B-wing, not in itself unusual until you find out he used just the white part of one side of the template against the base to get around an asteroid and from no target to a range 1 shot at a bomber (which I'd put there knowing it was unlikely to be able to get behind) this went on for a while and he insisted that it was legal, then he started changing story and saying he had used all the template but this was only on the final resting place of roll. This was the point I'd had enough and just let him get on with it, I know I shouldn't have and I was in the right but I figured I was top 4 and had thought I wouldn't win a game so "fly casual" sprung to mind.
Didn't help that this was the game that my dice decided I'd had enough success and went off the rails. One of those things though and can't be helped!
Did leave me with a sour taste to the day though. Worst thing was my mate also lost play off so from 1st and 2nd we were playing for 3rd and 4th Curse those rebel scum! So we ended up having to play again, at this point I'd stopped caring and just flew straight at him and let him blow me up. I did enjoy making ridiculous moves to throw his game and I did manage to take out his shuttle and bounty hunter in the end.
So finished 4th, and the guy who I played in the semi won the event. It was only afterwards that the 3 of us in the same car discussed his play and comparing notes we found that it had happened all day, including in the final. Still The first and second place chose rebels and my mate chose the Phantom, so I ended up with the Defender, which is exactly what I would have chosen in first place anyway! Yay!
So what did I learn from the day?
1. I'm not used to playing 3 games and holding intense concentration
2. I really need to speak up when people are breaking rules
3. What I thought was a spur of the moment stupid list worked way better than a well thought out planned list!
4. I do love bombers and Fel
5. Singing at tournaments makes people forget about bombs, until I sing the Imperial Death March with just the word "Bomb"
6. Playing x-wing then watching Empire Strikes Back afterwards isn't overkill!
If you read all this, you might be mad but Have Fun and Fly Casual!
Edited by Soontirbeblownup