(Also posted in General Forum)
Here’s my experience and battle report from the Mesa, AZ regional on June 28, 2014. There were 9 So- Cal players who travelled to the regional (including myself) hoping to make a good showing and represent Cali. I’d been practicing flying a 6 Tie Swarm leading up to the Regional, but I knew Wave 4 might throw a wrench in my plan. Wave 4 dropped in stores 2 days before the regional so I had to change my game plan (Phantoms, Defenders, and Z-95s oh my!). I didn’t want to face a swarm of Z-95 w/Assault missiles (which there was), and didn’t want to deal with Phantoms (which were plenty) so I decided to go with either a Chewie build or a high PS rebel build. Literally 5 mins before the start of the tournament, I chose to go with the Chewie build which was probably the right choice. 50 players, 6 rounds of Swiss (60 mins), and cut to Top 8.
Chewbacca
- Predator
- Gunner
- Millenium Falcon Title
Tarn Mison
- R7 Astomech
Blue Squadron Pilot
- Fire Control System
I’d dreamed of using Tarn+R7 ever since the R7 card was spoiled months ago. Having the attacker re-roll dice (which can’t be rolled again) would turn out to be the all-star of my build.
Game 1 - Don
Echo
- Intelligence Agent
- VI
- Advanced Cloaking Device
Darth Vader
- Swarm Tactics
- Assault Missiles
Scimitar
- Advanced Proton Torpedoes
- Assault Missiles
Don’s list was packing some serious punch, and I didn’t want to even get close to Vader and Scimitar. I set up Tarn and Blue on my right and Chewie in the middle. Don set up Vader and Scimitar across from my X and B, and placed Echo on the opposite side. I turned my X and B and sent Chewie after Echo. My priority was to take out Echo and try not to get destroyed by the missiles. Don managed to land the Scimitar on a rock twice while chasing me, and I took out Echo fairly easily with Range 3 shots from the Blue. Vader managed to get off his assault missiles, but I survived unscathed.
99-0 (1-0)
Game 2: Jake
Captain Jonus
- Swarm Tactics
- Seismic Charge
Krassis Trelix
- HLC
- Rebel Captive
Omicron Group Pilot
- HLC
Jake had a bye from a Store Championship, and I took initiative. I set up my X and B on my left and Chewie in the middle. There was a gap between the asteroids in the middle of the board, and I wanted to use Chewie to flank his ships while he went after my X and B. Jake set up directly across from my X and B hoping that I’d joust him. On the first turn, I went 1 straight with the X and B, 3 straight with Chewie, and he slow played all his ships. The next turn I 2 right turned the X and B, 4 straight with Chewie, and he tried to go after the starships first. Jake had a HLC shot on Tarn (who was looking away), and he rolled 3 hits and a blank. I used R7, and he rolled the 3 hits into 3 blanks. That little astromech was a life saver. Jake was caught in an awkward position because the asteroids were in his way from turning, and I was coming back into play with Tarn and B. Chewie was making his flanking move and slowing killed Jonus over 3 rounds of fire. The shuttle got stressed from a 2 turn and landed on an asteroid and was shortly killed from focus fire. Krassis tried to run, but eventually got caught.
100-0 (2-0)
Game 3: Richard
Luke Skywalker
- R2D2
- Shield Upgrade
- Draw Their Fire
Biggs
Tarn Mison
- R7
Tala Squadron Pilot
I first met Richard at the Burlingame Regional (which didn’t end well for either of us), and he went on to win the Boise Regional. I was surprised to play him in the 3rd round because one of us wouldn’t be undefeated after this round. I set up Chewie on the far right, then Tarn, and then the Blue. Richard set up in middle. I probably could’ve flown a little better, but Richard’s evade dice were on fire! I think he rolled 7 or 8 straight evades with Biggs and if a Crit got through Luke just soaked it up. If you can’t kill Biggs after 2 rounds of focus fire, you probably won’t win. And that’s exactly what happened here.
0-100 (2-1)
Game 4: Name forgotten
Soontir Fel
- PTL
- Royal Guard Title
- Shield Upgrade
- Targeting Computer
Turr Phennir
- VI
- Targeting Computer
Alpha Squadron x 2
I forgot this gentleman’s name (sorry). I took initiative and placed the asteroids clustered in the middle. I placed Chewie on the far left, then Tarn, and then the Blue. He set up all 4 ships on the opposite side. This would’ve been a much closer match, but he made 1 piloting mistake that cost him the game. The asteroids gave him some issues, and he bumped Soontir into his Alpha, and then bumped Turr into Fel. I had a Range 3 shot with Chewie on Fel through the asteroid (2 hits and a Crit) and he rolled 4 blanks and a focus. He was basically 1 shotted except he had a shield upgrade. The Blue took him out later that round. I think he was demoralized after that (I don’t blame him), and the game lasted only a few more rounds.
100-0 (3-1)
I had a good shot at making the Top 8 after 4 rounds, but I knew I’d have to win the last 2 rounds. 4-2 would probably make Top 16.
Game 5: Victor
Biggs
Dagger Squadron x2
- Advanced Sensors
Rookie
Victor flew out from Iowa, and he also placed Top 8 at the FFG Regional. We were both 3-1 so this was another make-or-break game. This game was over fast. Victor had hot dice this game. He killed my B in the first round of firing before he even got to shoot. And then rolled 16 straight hits on Chewie who rolled only 1 evade all game. I couldn’t kill Biggs (again!), and it was over before it even started.
0-100 (3-2)
Game 6: Mike
Blue Squadron Pilot x4
- Ion Cannon
Ion cannons… why did it have to be ion cannons??? If I won, I’d have a good shot at making Top 16. If I lost, I’d probably leave with nothing. I placed Chewie on the far left, then stacked the Blue and Tarn next to Chewie. Mike placed on the opposite side. I slow played the B and X and went 4 straight with Chewie. My plan was to try to make him choose a ship to come after, instead of trying to joust him in the middle. He set up his Blues in a row so that when he banked into the middle they had wide coverage. This is where Mike had a mental mistake. All 3 of my ships were ionned, but Chewie only had 1 ion token and was flying above his squad. Mike 1 turned 3 Blues (stressing them) towards Chewie because he thought Chewie had been completely ionned. The move would’ve been great IF Chewie were ionned because he could’ve ionned Chewie off the board in 2 rounds. However, since Chewie wasn’t ionned he did a 2 turn to get out of his Blue’s firing arc, and avoided getting ionned off the board. That move was the game changer because Tarn and my B were behind him, and he was facing the wrong way and stressed. We played 2 more rounds but Mike conceded because he had lost 2 blues, and I was basically at full health.
100-0 (4-2)
So I finished 4-2 and placed 14th overall. It was a great day of gaming, and Iain (ManOnAWire) did an excellent job of TO. The So-Cal group ended up with 3 in the Top 16 and 3 in the Top 8