Table size and obstacles

By Meestho, in X-Wing

Greetings,

We just started playing at our LGS and I was wondering what table size are you using? In the rulebook it specifies that it should be 3x3 but in the obstacle section, they mention that if we use them, we could play on a bigger surface. Hence the question.

About obstacles, has any of you tried to craft 3D obstacles? I know that ships can "land" which I think can make it difficult to use 3D ones, but I think a table would look better with them. What is the community take on that?

Thank you.

JN

standard play is 3x3 with the set of 6 asteroids for the core set. For 3D asteroids, just place their stands on top of the 2D asteroid tokens and just move them out of the way anytime a ship or template would interact with the asteroid

The standard format -- 100 point dogfight with 6 asteroids -- is played on a 3x3 play size. I would guess that most players are using this format, and it is the format used in almost every tournament.

For games with higher point counts, some players move up to a 3x6 foot play area. This is the size used for official Epic games.

For casual gaming, you can use any play area size you like. The nice thing about 3x3 is that you don't spend a lot of rounds maneuvering toward the enemy -- you're usually within shooting range on round 2.

The terrain/obstacles in this game (asteroids) are important to play, and ships must be able to land on/overlap them/fly through them for the game to work as intended. So if you use 3D obstacles, you should place them on top of the 2D tokens and remove the 3D obstacle when a ship needs to maneuver around/on/through it. If you like, you can house-rule that your 3D obstacles instantly destroy any ship that collides with them.

Edited by DagobahDave

While the PLAY AREA is 3x3 it is often very nice/helpful to have a little space around the table to hold cards and other accessories nearby but off the play area.

Now you could play on any size area but then you're looking at the quality of the engagement. If you play on a bigger area you probably should be adding more obstacles otherwise they may become so thin they are irrelevant.

Great thanks.

So if we have 4x4 table, what would you suggest we use to define the play area?

JN

Try using a mat or a blanket that fits and use the left over space for the card and token area. Or you can just play on the 4X4 and use another table for cards and tokens. Grab a black section of cloth from the craft store and use that. Cheap space playing area and keeps the bases from sliding like a table top would.

I would say 3x3. It will give you plenty of room for the rest of your stuff, and it's the standard tournament size. If your LGS has loads of tables just wide enough to play Magic like my LGS does, push 2 together and use a play mat (to span the gap). If you want to enlarge the play field, a 3' depth works well then expand the width. If the play area is too deep, you'll have trouble reaching the whole board without moving all around the table.

Is this for home use? Personally I plan to make a table for my place, a 5' x 6' board that I plan to felt. It'll give me 2 3' x 3' areas for two games, room for an Epic game, as well as a foot of space on both sides for cards etc (should fit an entire core set box, which is what I use to carry around my stuff at tournaments. A 4' x 4' table is perfectly fine. For defining the play area, you can go as simple as using tape. Depending on what type of table it is, that may be fine, but if it's a table that could make the ships prone to slipping and sliding, you may want to get something to put on top.

3x3 is the most common área, but in the rules is only suggested, so you could use any, other advantage is that with this mesure you could get one round to get position and the second round to start the attacks, shorter, you start the attacks earlier, and larger you could bored until you starts, greettings

Also, where does it state in the rules that asteroids HAVE to be used? I thought that obstacles were optional? Are they actually a required part of tournaments or just... assumed or traditional? :unsure:

Yeah, the official tournament rules require asteroids.

"The player with initiative places the six unique asteroid tokens from his core set next to the play area. He chooses one of these asteroid tokens and places it into the play area. Then, his opponent chooses one of the remaining asteroid tokens and places it into the play area. The players continue to alternate until all six tokens have been placed. An asteroid token cannot be placed at Range 1–2 of any edge of the play area or at Range 1 of another asteroid token."

Using asteroids for cover, or choosing to plow through them, adds some nice tactical options to the game. I'm really hoping the debris clouds coming with Wave V work a little differently from asteroids, just to give us even more to think about.
Edited by DagobahDave