Timeline vs Waves vs Squad Lists

By any2cards, in X-Wing

First off, I did my best to search on this. I am well aware that *many* of the threads in this forum discuss various lists utilized by both rebel and imperial factions (understatement of the year).

What I am interested in is whether or not anyone (whether here, on BGG, or some other site) has ever compiled a list of squad lists utilized based on timeline and waves?

Essentially, I am fascinated by how things change, by how strategies adjust, etc. as new ships come out. For example, perhaps when the game was first released, and all we really had was XWings and Ties, the lists were based on just those ships (with appropriate pilots, skills, mods, etc.).

Then a new wave comes out, the meta changes, and now List A is developed and test for the rebels (with a similar one for the imperials). They are tested, changes are made, time goes by, and we see a "typical" well defined list (utilized for fly casual and tournaments).

More time goes by, a new wave, etc. etc. etc.

Before I go through the effort of re-reading this entire forum, and building such a "timeline" for myself, I am simply curious as to whether or not anyone else has gone through this effort, and where I may find such a thing.

I am not only interested in getting a list of lists if you will, but also in seeing the over all "big picture" as thoughts and strategies have changed.

Thanks in advance for any answers / assistance rendered.

There's only a few major tournaments that have been done in the life-span of the game (we're just coming up on the 2-year mark). If you look at the major events they each seem to sequence through the available waves:

2012 Worlds - Wave 1

2013 US Nationals - Wave 2

2013 Worlds - Wave 3

2014 US Nationals (upcoming) - Wave 4

I'd hesitate to look too closely at other national tournaments or regionals/store championships. There's a lot of local influence that can play out, and those events above are probably some of the only large-scope events that you might find.

My 2c on how the metagame has changed per wave:

Wave 1 - people getting their feet wet in the game. Lots of 3-ship rebel builds, 7-8 TIE Swarms and Vader mini-swarms. Pilot skill was a significant consideration

Wave 2 - Pilot skill considerations diminished moderately. The introduction of point-efficient large ships really gave 7-TIE Swarms extra efficiency because of action economy compared to the massive amount of 3 ship builds.

Wave 3 - A general decrease in the number of named pilots used, and pilot skill consideration almost totally gone (except with the success of Daggers/etc which was more of an answer to the metagame than an integral part). Except YT1300 based lists, almost every rebel build has 4+ ships, and empire gains a new option with the shuttle as a cheap weapons platform (introducing lots of mini-swarm variants).

Wave 4 prediction - more mini-swarms! 1-2 high PS well equipped pilots with 3-4 fodder ships will be more and more of the norm.

@mege ...

I appreciate your feedback. It is a great starting point.

A timeline? I might have one of those ... study away, OP:

2011 August 2 - X-Wing announced

2012 April 17 - Wave One, Dice Pack announced

2012 August 9 - Core rulebook, Tournament rules 1.0 released

2012 August 16 - Soft launch for Core Set, Wave One at GenCon

2012 August 17 - Inaugural Tournament

2012 September 14 - Core Set, Wave One officially launch; Wave Two officially announced

2012 October 11 - Dice Pack launches

2012 October 23 - FAQ 1.0 released

2012 October 31 - X-Wing Game Night Kit 2012 released

2012 November 10 - World Championship

2012 November 30 - Tournament rules 1.1 released

2012 December 14 to 16 - Kessel Run preview events

2013 February 28 - Wave Two officially launches

2013 March 1 - Tournament rules 1.2, FAQ 1.1 released

2013 March - Season One 2013 Game Night Kit released

2013 April 6 through June 29 - Regional Championships

2013 April 15 - Starfield Game Tile Kit announced

2013 May 4 - FFG Regional Championship; Wave Three announced

2013 July - Season Two 2013 Game Night Kit released

2013 July 22 - Tournament rules 1.3, FAQ 1.2 released

2013 August 15 - Soft launch for Wave Three at GenCon

2013 August 17 - North American Championship at GenCon

2013 August 20 - Rebel Transport and Tantive IV officially announced

2013 September 13 - Wave Three officially launches

2013 September 16 - Imperial Aces announced

2013 October 13 - Tournament rules 1.4, FAQ 1.3 released

2013 November 7 to 10 - World Championship

2013 November - Season Three 2013 Game Night Kit released

2014 February 7 - Wave Four announced

2014 February 22 through March 30 - Store championships

2014 March 17 - Imperial Aces officially launches

2014 March 18 - Rebel Aces announced

2014 April - Season One 2014 Tournament Kit released

2014 April 15 - Tournament rules 1.5.1, FAQ 2.0.1 released

2014 April 21 - Huge Ship rules 1.0, Epic Play tournament rules 1.0 released

2014 April 30 - Rebel Transport officially launches

2014 May 3 through July 26 - Regional Championships

2014 May 22 - Tantive IV officially launches

2014 May 30 through June 1 - Assault at Imdaar Alpha preview events

2014 June - Wave Four officially launches

2014 July - Summer 2014 Tournament Kit released

2014 Aug. 14 to 16 - North American Championship at GenCon

2014 Nov. 7 through 8 - World Championship