Well that's certainly better than nothing. Here's hoping!

Pretty sure the Whisper player is Rick Sidebotham. He used that list to win the Canadian Regional. Great guy and awesome player.

Ok, Jeff B just beat Paul H, and is moving to finals with lando and chewy.

And Rick S just beat Nick J, and yorr, soontir, and whisper are going to finals

Yep, it was Rick (aka Dark Templar). He's playing well.

My gencon story: took "Beefcake" (Howl + Swarm Tactics, Scimitar x5) to Thursday's event. Went 5-2, finished 20th or 21st; both of the games I lost I felt pretty good about. In today's final I lost to Dark Templar in round 2, Texx in round 4, and drew (!) a crazy game in round 3 against a whisper list.

Overall, Beefcake was brutal against non Whisper lists, mauling many small and many ship Rebel lists in Beefcake fashion (formation flying, keep Howlrunner alive for more than 2 rounds, get into range one and don't worry about losing actions). It struggled mightily against Phantom and Tie Swarm lists, where the multitude of 2-attack dice did poorly against 3+- evade dice ships. But in each of my vs-Phantom games I managed to box in Whisper and prevent her from decloaking (in some cases for 3 rounds in a row), so its definitely possible to win those games, just an up-hill battle.

Kudos to FFG for running a nice tournament - there's a few lose ends yet to wrap up (Alex, you and I spoke to Ian about that, in case this hits your todo system).

And Rick S just beat Nick J, and yorr, soontir, and whisper are going to finals

Whisper will take this one home. I've had the pleasure of playing Dark Templar online and we've played in 3 real life events together (although not played each other). He is a great player and someone who puts a lot of time into the game.

I just logged in for the first time in a long time to say GO RICK!

This guy (DarkTemplar) is the nicest guy out there and the embodiment of fly casual. If he wins, America couldn't get a more gracious champion.

Finals now, several rounds of stall but dmg is going out now

Boosting Soontir and whisper move into point blank range of chewy, some big damage, and whisper loses 1 shield

As much as I am a rebel player at heart, I hope the imp list wins. I'm a little burnt out on all the falcon love.

I don't suppose Team Covenant is recording?

They are, so there will be a video

So sorry Spoilers!!!!!!!!!!!

There is now a pileup in the center, with only soontir not bumping. Chewy has 3 hull 1 shield

They are, so there will be a video

Awesome!

I have to admit that I wanted the TIE Swarm in the Top 4 to win simply because it has been under-represented.

I'm guessing that the dual Falcons without Gunner are going to have a hard time nailing down the high agility Imperials, but a lot depends on the dice, and locking down Whisper's movements.

TC still hasn't posted the Plano regional finals they filmed. (At least not to my knowledge) so it might be awhile.

TV still hasn't posted the Plano regional finals they filmed. (At least not to my knowledge) so it might be awhile.

Well. We all just need to harass them, clearly.

Hey TExx, THanks for taking the time to post game updates btw.

Keep the play by play coming if you can. Some of us sitting home on a saturday night are getting a little excitement lol.

Tell Rick Grish says, "fly casual and good luck."

I'll admit I'm pretty surprised that a dual falcon list with no gunners on either made it that far. No predator or ptl or anything either to help the attacks.

I'll admit I'm pretty surprised that a dual falcon list with no gunners on either made it that far. No predator or ptl or anything either to help the attacks.

You don't need Gunner if all you face are agility 1 Falcons.

Ok, its over! Lando took a hail of fire from buzzsaw phantom and went down, then the next turn soontir and whisper chase down chewy with 1 hull and finish him off!

Ha! Can't believe Rick won with that ballsy list. That is just crazy. Congrats to a great player and nice person.

So, was this a standard Top 8 single elimination format?

I read somewhere that it was going to be double elimination, but that's not standard tournament rules.

So out of curiosity, what have been the most successful rebel and imperial builds lately that DO NOT contain any of the following?

1) Falcon with 3po

2) Whisper/Echo with ACD

3) 7-8 Tie Swarm

And so everyone's worst fears have been realized...

...a shuttle has won Nationals.

(A Phantom was there, too.)

D4rkt3mpl4r takes the US National. Wish I could've been there to see it in person, but I can't imagine a more deserving and gracious player. He was the best star pilot in the galaxy, and a cunning warrior. And he is a good friend.