Not sure what happened to the last threads about this, but trying to figure out exactly where everyone landed on this (no pun intended). Wave 4 still does not have an exact release date of course, and I'm going to assume it's safe to say that no one thinks imbdaar prizes should/could be used before the actual wave 4 date (seems pretty common sense). But it looks like there is a tentative launch for wave 4 for the final week of the month. So was the consensus pretty much that it would be legal right away for July events or w/e. Got a regional on June 21, would be crazy if it dropped earlier than expected on the 20th.

I know the wording used in the new documents, but if it was crystal clear, there wouldn't have been several debates about it. I'm guessing the "North America" line ended up winning, but was wondering if there was ever any official clarification or if anyone thinks any specific regional may actually try to forbid it.

And then for the regionals at the very end of July (going to one then as well on the final weekend), we may get this situation all over again with Rebel Aces. Though I'm kinda thinking that will end up skidding into August.

From the last Imdaar article:

NOTE: While top players at this weekend's Assault at Imdaar Alphapreview events will each walk away with one of the upcoming X-WingWave IV expansion packs, these Wave IV starships and upgrades will not be legal for tournament play until they are officially available through retailers.

The official stance is that if it's past the release date, and it's not on a ban list, it's legal. So unless we get a ban list, they'll be legal as soon as FFG makes the official released announcement.

The problem with the "ban list" is the exact wording makes it seem like it's up to the event. And of course the example giving is for this exact situation of products being released during a tournament season. And the fact that it is a total 180 to the stance they had during store championships when imperial aces was not legal until they were all played. I guess that part doesn't matter, if they decided to pull a 180, they pulled a 180 and it's done. But it still seems a bit strange since regionals are 10x more important than store championships and it was just a few new pilots/upgrades for an existing ship instead of new ships entirely. The LCGs have had a policy in place since pretty much their inception (at least for a couple of them) that is pretty much the same as the new xwing policy, so maybe they just wanted things to be more uniform across their games.

I guess the bigger question would be if any one regional that is after the release date will be "ballsy" enough to not allow the ships. If they come out on a Friday, it won't matter which week, there will be some regional(s) the next day.

Only time will tell I suppose.

I'm expecting to tourney rules to be updated on the release date with the ships being banned until XX/xX/XX (day after the last regional), but without that, go for your life.

I contacted FFG regarding this. Wave Four is legal once it is released regardless of how close that may be to when your Regional event is run.

Which is nice and fine. Streamlines the whole thing. Works for the LCGs, not sure why it wouldn't work for the minis.

Which is nice and fine. Streamlines the whole thing. Works for the LCGs, not sure why it wouldn't work for the minis.

Distribution issues. Some people travelling may have been able to get their hands on the stuff but others may not have. In Warhammer tournaments that I have played in, most have used the one month rule where stuff is legal so long as it was released at least one month prior to the event. It give people time to get the models, have a play with them and work out how they work.

Which is nice and fine. Streamlines the whole thing. Works for the LCGs, not sure why it wouldn't work for the minis.

Distribution issues. Some people travelling may have been able to get their hands on the stuff but others may not have. In Warhammer tournaments that I have played in, most have used the one month rule where stuff is legal so long as it was released at least one month prior to the event. It give people time to get the models, have a play with them and work out how they work.

To be fair Warhammer has a crapload of more issues to deal with than X-wing. Games are larger, one faction is updated at a time, and the WHOLE faction is updated, each faction has unqiue rules that apply to that faction, much larger ruleset to be dealt with, not as many rules previews/leaks (or prerelease tournaments to check rules out), Items must be assembled and painted prior to play not just popped out of the package from a same day purchase and plunked on the table(relatively speaking to 40k/fantasy), there are also copies of X-wing on vassal (I think GW put a C&D order on vassal for their games).

I could probably come up with another paragraph but there are so many differences between X-wing and Warhammer that it isn't even apples and oranges its like apples and bowling balls

To be fair Warhammer has a crapload of more issues to deal with than X-wing. Games are larger, one faction is updated at a time, and the WHOLE faction is updated, each faction has unqiue rules that apply to that faction, much larger ruleset to be dealt with, not as many rules previews/leaks (or prerelease tournaments to check rules out), Items must be assembled and painted prior to play not just popped out of the package from a same day purchase and plunked on the table(relatively speaking to 40k/fantasy), there are also copies of X-wing on vassal (I think GW put a C&D order on vassal for their games).

I could probably come up with another paragraph but there are so many differences between X-wing and Warhammer that it isn't even apples and oranges its like apples and bowling balls

Oh there's lots of differences. But it's still a good idea to not have new stuff being allowed in the middle of a season of tournaments. See the Munitions Failsafe + Cluster Missiles debates for a good reason why in addition to distribution issues.

But that's how FFG is running it so we shall live with it.

See the Munitions Failsafe + Cluster Missiles debates for a good reason why in addition to distribution issues.

Really not all that tricky.

Take two lists. Ask the TO before the event how it will be ruled. Pick list that has/doesn't have/is set up to counter this unstoppable combo. Profit.

As the TO of the Regional Championship on June 28th in AZ, while I might be surprised I am counting on Wave 4 being released and legal for the event. So I have been scouring the forums for examples of things they may end up needing to FAQ about the new ships, pilots, and upgrades. In that work, I have come to two general rules of thumb to follow that I think will serve fairly well for the players that day as I try to sort things out and make a ruling:

1.) Is there precedent in other areas of the FAQ that may guide our thinking on how this new situation should be handled?

2.) Given the options presented as possible arguments, which one seems to keep the overall game the most balanced? In other words, if one option is pretty clearly broken if you read it one way, I will err on the side of the other way.

There may be some tough choices to make, but I am confident logic and reason will win. We will certainly do our best.

I personally would support a month delay from release or 2 weeks or something. I took advantage of B&N early release of the GR-75 and flew Hobbie w/ R3-A2 + Flechettes at the May 5th PA regional... I caught several people off guard with how it plays. Two weeks later, I ran the same Hobbie at the Ohio regional and people knew how to deal with it much better there. So either people attending the Ohio tourney were better players overall (I actually think the competition in PA was better) or the two weeks in between gave people a chance to play against it and realize that it's really just a gimmick.

Side note: Going into PA, I knew it was a gimmicky list, but was hoping to catch people off guard to it, and succeeded. It failed at Ohio. I should not have done as well as I did with as gimmicky of a list as it was.