How to kill a Falcon? Howlrunner TIE swarm. Shreds it.

What's going wrong? Are you playing right and just losing? Are you crashing or getting arcdodged constantly?

As for sticking to one list, I've never played the same list twice.

list building can be a disease. I have at least that many lists too, but I do not play them all and have not played them all. What happens is I test one, and then run it into the ground and change a ship here and upgrade there, if it still holds up, then I set it aside and work another one.

Part of the problem with lists is that to keep up with the launches you have new ships to try and figure out. That doesnt help.

as for FFGs back yard, yea I hear you, same boat, but the upside is that you have lots of chances to play!

Because of my schedule, most of the games I do get to play are in a tournament format. When I can go, I'' usually end up playing three rounds. (losing all of them except that 1 time, and even then it was actually a modified win.) So I do end up playing the list three times in a row.

The last game I played was Roark with Moldy, Blaster, and Recon Spec, Chewie with something, and a Z95. I was up against Chewie with Gunner, 3PO, Predator, and ORS with maybe something and I think a Z95. I ended up taking out the Z and the ORS, but I just couldn't land anything on Chewie with 3PO. Man that card sucks. I've seriously thought about buying a Corvette just for that card. I cant imagine playing epic at this point, so a 60 dollar card kind of sucks, but it seems to work pretty well. (At least against me!)

I might be putting way, way, way too much thought into finding a Holy Grail (or Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch.) of a list, and should, instead, focus on flying something I like and enjoy.

How to kill a Falcon? Howlrunner TIE swarm. Shreds it.

What's going wrong? Are you playing right and just losing? Are you crashing or getting arcdodged constantly?

As for sticking to one list, I've never played the same list twice.

Playing right and just losing? Yeah, as opposed to crashing and getting arcdodged yes. I wouldn't say I'm playing right all the time. I think I still have some newb brain-fart moments, but I'm not crashing into astroids every turn. Bumping happens more than I'd like it to (not my ships, theirs.) so maybe action denial is an area of improvement. I try to TL and focus when I can too.

I always remind my students (and yes, it is horribly cliched) that good judgement comes from experience, and experience comes from bad judgement. Were it easy, everybody would be playing it. Losing is no fun, but at least you're playing and, hopefully, picking things up from the other guy. I'm guessing that you're not putting your car title and mortgage on the line, every time you get into a game. If you are, there are bigger problems we need to discuss. Just enjoy getting to move the ships and throw some dice. The wins will come.

I always remind my students (and yes, it is horribly cliched) that good judgement comes from experience, and experience comes from bad judgement. Were it easy, everybody would be playing it. Losing is no fun, but at least you're playing and, hopefully, picking things up from the other guy. I'm guessing that you're not putting your car title and mortgage on the line, every time you get into a game. If you are, there are bigger problems we need to discuss. Just enjoy getting to move the ships and throw some dice. The wins will come.

Well said.

But in this game I think losing can be tremendous fun! It depends on whom you're losing to.

After every game, whether you got stomped or your opponent barely squeaked by, talk about the game. You'll never learn from your mistakes if you don't recognize them as such, and sometimes there are little hidden things that don't seem like mistakes until long after they've been done. Hell, talk to your opponent even if you won. The more information at your disposal, the better you can analyze the current situation and any to come.

Also? Find the one thing that you like, then build a single list around that. Play that one list for a while before you move on. If you switch too much you'll have a harder time learning to play better (at least in my experience).

Do you run into asteroids and other ships unintentionally?

Do you have better theoretical statistics?

1. do you have a focus or TL or other dice mod when your opponent does not for MOST of your engagements?

2. are you rolling more red dice than green dice?

3. Do you have the same number or more shots on your opponent?

4. Are you modifying your position with movement actions when your opponent doesnt have to and is taking a focus?

These could imply you need more time to learn how to fly. Versus just needing to get to know a certain list.

I play everything, its fun.

I'm gonna sound like a tool I know but I've been good at x-wing from the start I've been playing eight months now and lost three games total, I've played star fighter games since I was nine or so and it's given me great spatial awareness which meant I picked up movement of the game very quickly.

I've found the game is less about list building and more about good movement, the best list won't work if you can't predict where your fighter will end up in relation to the enemy, practice the movements until you can look at the board and tell at a glance how your moves will go.

And that might be one of the other problems. I'll sit here at nights and just build list after list. I must have thirty lists built. I sit and think of what ability might enhance this card or what ships might pair well with this upgrade and how that might work with this and... it's all for nothing because I never win with any of them!

About playing better people, yes. They are better. Most of them are much better. It doesn't help that I'm right in FFG's back yard. Not like proximity to the company has much to do with it, but I believe the game is fairly popular here, and there are quite a few insiders and play testers around the community.

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I might be putting way, way, way too much thought into finding a Holy Grail (or Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch.) of a list, and should, instead, focus on flying something I like and enjoy.

My first tip is to practice flying so you can accurately judge where each maneuver will land you and make sure you are avoiding asteroids and bumping yourself, which it sounds like you are, and of course, knowing what fields of fire you will end up with after you finish all of those moves. So, moving on....

I think your above quotes point to the next step I'd tackle. The game has gotten pretty large and includes a lot of new ships and a wide variety, combining that with all the upgrades and then trying to figure out what may or may not work within the meta does require a lot, especially for a new player who isn't as familiar with the old ships. I feel fortunate that I got in in December, when Wave IV was a ways off and imperial aces was the next thing on the horizon. It allowed me time to learn Wave 1-3 and figure out what I liked there and incorporate the new stuff...anyway...

I'd suggest picking and playing ships that you like, either because of playstyle or you because you really like a certain pilot and then work your list around that. Centering your list around a certain playstyle and/or pilots consistently will allow you to get very good with them and player pilot skill is far more important than the list you build, within reason, of course. Don't go building a list around Marek Steele.

I, like many others, have a couple dozen lists built online, but I usually try to keep it to 4 lists that I'm working with, two lists from each side that I can pull out quickly and play with. Both lists for a side are centered around the same idea, though, so that while playing one I still can evaluate aspects of the other.

For example, currently, my two rebel lists are centered around Abaht, with one having 3Zs and Jan and the other adds X,B,Y. On the imperial side, I have two lists centered around Brath, one with 2 defenders and Backstabber and the other as a mini-swarm with Brath. After I play the lists I swap things in and out. Today I played both Brath lists and one will remain the same while the other I'm debating swapping out a ship and a couple upgrade cards.

As you play a lot more games, you won't need to play a list as much to get good with it, but getting good results is still far more about actually playing with a list rather than just building it.

When I alluded to bumping it was their ships. I think I've hit a total of one of my ships ever, and it was probably after my first ship couldn't complete a maneuver after bumping one of the enemy ships. The most ships I've ever flown at once is four. I've only ever taken astroid damage probably five or six times.

I'm not terrible at judging where MY ships are going to end up. Especially banks and turns. I have a harder time predicting where my ships are going to end up after my opponents ships are in place. (A longer, more complicated way of saying "I have a hard time figuring out what my opponent is going to do, and planning my move around it.) I end up bumping the enemy ships because I tend to let the other player have initiative. (Maybe a bad idea?)

When I alluded to bumping it was their ships. I think I've hit a total of one of my ships ever, and it was probably after my first ship couldn't complete a maneuver after bumping one of the enemy ships. The most ships I've ever flown at once is four. I've only ever taken astroid damage probably five or six times.

I'm not terrible at judging where MY ships are going to end up. Especially banks and turns. I have a harder time predicting where my ships are going to end up after my opponents ships are in place. (A longer, more complicated way of saying "I have a hard time figuring out what my opponent is going to do, and planning my move around it.) I end up bumping the enemy ships because I tend to let the other player have initiative. (Maybe a bad idea?)

Yeah, I meant it sounds like you ARE avoiding bumping yourself, so that it would be worth focusing on one list/sytle. Poor structure on my part on the bumping issue.

Initiative should only matter if you are flying same skilled pilots.

As for your opponent's moves, I'd say that as you get more games in you'll start to figure out your opponent's "best possible move" and then figure out what you can do to avoid the bump, if necessary.

Yep, upon re-reading I read it wrong. (say that five times fast.)

Part of it should be me getting more familiar with what the other ships can do. I've never really looked at the tie fighter dial because I've never played with one. Same with the interceptor, and advanced. It's hard to figure out what they're going to do because a lot of times I don't know what they CAN do.

After every game, whether you got stomped or your opponent barely squeaked by, talk about the game. You'll never learn from your mistakes if you don't recognize them as such, and sometimes there are little hidden things that don't seem like mistakes until long after they've been done. Hell, talk to your opponent even if you won. The more information at your disposal, the better you can analyze the current situation and any to come.

Also? Find the one thing that you like, then build a single list around that. Play that one list for a while before you move on. If you switch too much you'll have a harder time learning to play better (at least in my experience).

This. On the rebel side I like Wedge and I like Y wings. It took me several losses to realize that a wings maybe weren't so good. Sticking to something will help. One of the difficulties of this game I feel is that you typically don't roll enough dice to gain sample sizes large enough to insight on performance. Double falcons give me hell too and its one of the things I mentally prepare for when I'm list building.

I feel your pain with Imperial ships, bro I do. Imps are just not as forgiving at taking damage for the most part as the Rebel Scum. Then top that off with my flying Interceptors primarily Which could lead to the most glorious victory, or one of the worst losses ever. To me, and I don't win a ton, it's not the build, or the combo's It's the dice. I have somehow in someway really angered the dice gods, and they let me know it in every game. Atleast with Rebs all your ships have shields, so rolling blanks here or there will not wreak your day. But the Imps for the most part, and Interceptors in particular... Ugh, it blows. My advice, stick it out. Form a battle plan in your mind before the game and stick to it, adapting to what your opponent does during the game. It also couldn't hurt to say a small prayer to the dice gods before either. May the Force be with you.

I always remind my students (and yes, it is horribly cliched) that good judgement comes from experience, and experience comes from bad judgement. Were it easy, everybody would be playing it. Losing is no fun, but at least you're playing and, hopefully, picking things up from the other guy. I'm guessing that you're not putting your car title and mortgage on the line, every time you get into a game. If you are, there are bigger problems we need to discuss. Just enjoy getting to move the ships and throw some dice. The wins will come.

Well said.

But in this game I think losing can be tremendous fun! It depends on whom you're losing to.

Thanks.

It isn't fun playing with a jerk in any game. If your opponent is just looking to enjoy the game, and doesn't mind giving pointers either during or after the game, especially if it's a casual game, losing doesn't have to be a miserable experience.

Losing is learning

If you want to win a few games, find some people with a similar skill level. If you can't, teach someone to play because 20 games is not very many.

Looking back, me and my friends all learned the game at the same time so we were all beating each other pretty evenly. If you learn from a group of experienced players you will lose a lot before you get good enough to beat them.

Case in point, after about 100 games or so I went to my hometown and showed my old gaming group how to play (and got a few of them hopelessly addicted...good...good....) and I pretty much wiped the floor with them every single game.

I've only had 2 wins my last league. It takes some getting use to.

Thanks for all the great advice everyone.

We have a tournament this weekend so I think I'll fly something that a) I've flown before and b) something I like.

Thinking about either

Corran Horn, R2-D2, FCS VI?

B-wing, HLC, AdSen

Z95 x2

Or

Roark, Moldy Crow, Blaster, recon spec

Chewie, swarm

Biggs (does R2-D2 make sense? He stays alive longer, but it's 4 points on a doomed ship)

Or

B-wing HLC x2

Z95 x 3

Not sure if you have tried playing both sides yet, because they both play completely different. I've had far better results playing the Honorable Empire where as when I play the horrible Rebel Terrorists I have disastrous results.

The last game I played was Roark with Moldy, Blaster, and Recon Spec, Chewie with something, and a Z95. I was up against Chewie with Gunner, 3PO, Predator, and ORS with maybe something and I think a Z95. I ended up taking out the Z and the ORS, but I just couldn't land anything on Chewie with 3PO. Man that card sucks. I've seriously thought about buying a Corvette just for that card.

I know how you feel! I was flying interceptors at the Chicago Regional and just got eaten alive. Couldn't do enough damage fast enough, so when I lost ships, C-3PO kept those transports quite safe. Actually, I won the sportsmanship prize there, which was the Tantive IV Expansion Pack. The next day when I opened it, I almost tore the C-3PO card in half out of spite, but I thought better of it.

I also want to second what was said about talking with your opponent after the match. In one match I lost to dual falcons, and he said, I should have just jousted since I had 11-12 attack dice to throw. Well, I took his advice the next time I fought a Falcon and I was able to emerge victorious! Ended the day 2 wins 4 losses.

I have a few rules of thumb that I like to stick to in the planning/list building part of the game.

1) Every ship has a clearly defined role. Firesprays do damage, Howlrunner buffs, Academy Pilots die, Wedge kills, Kyle Kataran buffs, etc... Build ships to fit the role they naturally fill.

2) Do I want a ship to be a lone wolf or to run with wingmen? Build to that idea.

3) Upgrade to emphasize strengths, not cover weaknesses, with some notable exceptions. Vader is a very defensive ship that could use some upgrades to have him pack more punch without compromising his defense. This game seems to reward ships that are at the extremes rather than jack-of-all-trades ships.

4) KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid)

During the game I try and remember a few things.

1) Focus fire, a ship with one Hull left packs as much punch as a fully healthy ship. The goal is to kill ships, not deal damage.

2) See #1

3) If you sense a possible kill, be aggressive

4) Remember what your unique pilots and upgrades can do. Printouts from here (http://xwing-builder.co.uk/build) or other places help a LOT.

5) Usually, it is better to go after the weak ships first, then you can focus on the big guys.

6) Kill force multipliers first. Howlrunner is public enemy number 1.

I agree with the guys saying, keep it simple, stick to one list (or only make slight changes), and keep playing against as many different opponents/builds as possible and learn every step of the way. There is a light at the end of your tunnel!

I started out publicly at the Imdaar tournament and went 0-3! Two weeks ago I was in the top four of a local Escalation Tournament with 20 participants, many of whom were top 4 at the two local Imdaar tourneys! And last night I finished in a three way tie for first in league! The basics above helped me improve!

Stick with it and you'll get there!

Thanks for all the great advice everyone.

We have a tournament this weekend so I think I'll fly something that a) I've flown before and b) something I like.

Thinking about either

Corran Horn, R2-D2, FCS VI?

B-wing, HLC, AdSen

Z95 x2

Or

Roark, Moldy Crow, Blaster, recon spec

Chewie, swarm

Biggs (does R2-D2 make sense? He stays alive longer, but it's 4 points on a doomed ship)

Or

B-wing HLC x2

Z95 x 3

FFG Event Center or Cambridge? If it's the Event Center I'll see you there!

As for you list choices, I think the last one is nice and straight forward with the B's staying at long range with the HCLs and your Z-95s for interference. The other two have a bit more flash and may be more interesting to fly. In list two, R2 on Biggs isn't usually an ideal choice and I'd say those points would be better spent on Gunner if you can work it out. I don't have many suggestions to the first list, but it looks a bit more fickle and challenging because of the style of the E-Wing and the points that Horn takes up (so losing him will be a very big loss) That said, I jumped right into interceptors as they were a lot of fun to fly and the E-Wings have some of that.

Yep. FFG. Saturday is my birthday, so hopefully I can get at least one win for a gift.

The only game I won was using the first list. I think I only lost Corran once. I know he's a huge point cost, but he worked out great with R2. I really like the e-wing. It's one of those "do I play what I like or what might have a chance?" things. That being said, the B is my favorite.

I'd take gunner, but of the four or five times I've taken it, I never had to use it. It's one of those cards that everyone loves, but I've never had its ability kick in.