I must confess, I have attended tournaments wearing the same t-shirt as many other players there. So I can totally relate to being one of the guys in the clique. If you have attended tournaments, you may have seen other people in my clique. I hope you have, and know immediately who we are.

You will know us by our dark blue "Fly Casual" shirts. Fly casual has been the mantra of the Xwing community to remind new and experienced players alike that this is a game. It is meant to be fun. If you're taking the game too seriously, you're probably playing the wrong game.

I have not seen the types of behavior described by the OP by this community. I have heard of these behaviors, and the locals are great about weeding those players out.

Fly Casual.

I've only noticed friendly people even from other countries which is impressive for a gaming community. I'm in Omaha and or group is big, and inviting and I've made friends all across the community. Meet the other players and have fun. Though on a side note, I do want top make some shirts with the "fly casual" shuttle exploding and it says "fly aggressive"

I've only noticed friendly people even from other countries which is impressive for a gaming community. I'm in Omaha and or group is big, and inviting and I've made friends all across the community. Meet the other players and have fun. Though on a side note, I do want top make some shirts with the "fly casual" shuttle exploding and it says "fly aggressive"

You know who to contact for that. But it will be difficult to get multiples printed up now, as you know.

I have never seen anything like what the OP describes at any of my LGS or any of the tournaments I have attended. There have been other discussions on this forum, discussing the age of XWM players, and there seems to be a good spread in my area (lots of late 20's plus plenty of 30/40+ who bring their young kids, but few in the hormone addled ages of 13-20). Perhaps the good behavior in my area is due to that age distribution.

40k rules are so vague and badly worded its a wonder every game does not degenerate into fist fights.

I stopped playing 40k for about 5 years and came back it to, I just could not do it. I heard 40k focuses on models first and rules Second I believe this to be truth. It could be a small part of the problem.

I know with my wife when she does not understand the rules to a game she get super defensive when I start winning. It's not a fault it's just the way she is and I believe with dice games it makes it that much worse.

7th was the final nail in the coffin for me I've stopped playing because GW clearly no longer cares about the game they just want to sell as many models as they can before they go bust.

Thats why i enjoy x-wing so much tight rules means there are very few occasions when we have to double check a friends actions, its so much cheaper as well.

I know I'm a nerd and all... But people who act like that just need to get a life. Go drink good beer and get laid or something.

I've never come across any cliques at x-wing events - maybe some quiet introverted people, but that's pretty normal. I've made plenty of new friends at events - even when a few people traveled as a group to an event they were all very friendly and eager to meet new people. Yet another reason this game is amazing.

Given what I've heard and seen so far X-Wing seems to be made up of mostly good people who aren't at all elitist jerks like you see in other games.

Why... I don't know, perhaps it's our avg age, or something to do with SW. But I would say part of it is the Fly Casual campaign.

Cliques are terrible in X-wing

All those academy pilot jerks hovering around that jerkface Howlrunner like it makes them better or something, going around bullying other pilots just because they don't travel in a big group. Horrible.

xwing vs attack wing.... yep you have a couple cross dressers, but for the most part the xwing community know they have the better game, but attack wing players argue you have more options (though not many balance options)

I went to worlds 2013, several regional in 2013, and a regional in 2014... plus many other events. There are people who are friends and may talk more to each other, but I've never run into anything like this (though, I, like others, have run into an occasional player who takes the game too seriously).

As some of you might know, I am fairly new to X-Wing. I am thinking of playing in some local events soon (not Regionals, more like casual play or store tournaments), and I am wondering:

How bad are cliques in X-Wing?

<snip>

Anything like that in X-Wing?

Never seen it. Ever.

By clique problems, I mean a situation where there is a group (usually no more than 5-10 people) who are considered the local "elite players." They only talk among themselves and they treat outsiders with disrespect, mocking outsiders' mistakes and flaunting their own successes. Most of them are younger (around high school age), though some could be college-age and beyond. Their attitude is more than just "play to win." Rather, they have a "play to demoralize the opponent" attitude.

As an illustration, there was this a clique for some other game (not X-Wing). The people in the clique all wore similar jackets and have their own unusual manners of speech. Most of them are quite rude - they slam game pieces, shout their actions, and glare at their opponent. Some engage in intentionally distracting actions like picking their teeth while playing or whistling or flipping through cards madly. Overall, they make the gaming experience very unpleasant.

Anything like that in X-Wing?

Cliques are terrible in X-wing

All those academy pilot jerks hovering around that jerkface Howlrunner like it makes them better or something, going around bullying other pilots just because they don't travel in a big group. Horrible.

Yeah, and they are always picking on that poor Biggs kid.

in Singapore, not that bad. Although certain people tend to favour playing at particular stores, we still mingle around. The more experienced players often share knowledge with other players, so there's not so much issue regarding elitism and other such cockyness.

at most, there's only a recent case of 1 player being singled out for a general lack of EQ, but that's about it.

I haven't seen any of that in NYC, but I do welcome the idea of a club jacket for either side--would be a lot of fun!

Not that I would stop anyone who played the game from wearing one if they wanted.

Everyone I have met who plays X-wing is excited to meet and play against new people, whether or not they are a veteran or rookie, everyone I have played is just excited to have fun flying their favorite Star Wars fighters.

As some of you might know, I am fairly new to X-Wing......As an illustration, there was this a clique for some other game (not X-Wing). The people in the clique all wore similar jackets and have their own unusual manners of speech. Most of them are quite rude - they slam game pieces, shout their actions, and glare at their opponent. Some engage in intentionally distracting actions like picking their teeth while playing or whistling or flipping through cards madly. Overall, they make the gaming experience very unpleasant.

Anything like that in X-Wing?

Since there isn't a "back-in-my-day" reply yet, I will add my 2 cents.

Don't want to get banned so I can't describe what would happen back in my day were anyone to try this. My FLGS is pretty good size and I have still yet to see any personality issues. Wookiee Hunter bought enough ships that he could field a full epic game with 300 points per side so that those with financial issues could still play and not worry about buying ships. The big green orc is also in my group and is a super cool guy, it's funny to see how you all interact on-line.

Aww, I'm blushing over here.

I've experienced this in MtG and, to a lesser extent, in the WoW TCG. I tend to ignore it though. A teenager glaring at me from across the table will only make me giggle

The X-Wing community seems to mostly consist of slightly older players though. There was a poll on BGG in the last week...

http://boardgamegeek.com/thread/1197346/out-curiosity-how-old-are-x-wing-players-poll

...and most players (that also visit BGG and read threads there) seem to be between 30 and 35. I like to believe that people who are older than 20-25 and still play board games are usually more laid-back about it...

I just play with my friends. I'm not big into playing with strangers.

you're totally missing out

meeting new people is the best way to improve your game as well as giving you a broader knowledge of game play experience. everyone has their own particular play styles and by just playing with your friends you only know how they play

but then again if you never participate in tournament play then what i just said makes no real difference other than the meeting new people aspect

i've made a bunch of new friends over the past year and a bit just from playing this game

Well, IDK about X-Wing players.

But Attack Wing players, so far that I've met, are dicks.

Well, IDK about X-Wing players.

But Attack Wing players, so far that I've met, are dicks.

Well, IDK about X-Wing players.

But Attack Wing players, so far that I've met, are dicks.

fight, fight, fight!

Community in X-Wing hasn't been an issue from what I've seen