Unless I missed it I have a couple questions.

1) Is there an entry fee, and if so how much?

2) Is the prize support only for the winner, or is it top2/4/8/whatever?

If the entry fee is fairly high, like $10 or more, and the prizes are only for first, or maybe only top two, and the same 1-2 people are always winning those prizes, then yea I'd come to the tourneys a lot less, and instead just play the casual days for cheaper (or free).

I believe that this is exactly what the OP is hoping to prevent from happening to the players in his area.

Playing casually is fun but actively bringing the ability of the local player base up will be bettere for everyone.

if everyone stops playing events and just kicks around for super casual games the game as a whole will not grow, and anything that does not grow naturally dies off. (figuratively speaking of course)

Hey ... I just saw this exact thread on HCRealms.

Play and help your local community play better. I always helped my opponent along such as taking actions when they forget or remind them of their abilities.

This can be helpful to an extent, but if it happens too often, it gets boring playing yourself.. meaning, at some point the player has to take responsibility for their own game play..

Play and help your local community play better. I always helped my opponent along such as taking actions when they forget or remind them of their abilities.

This can be helpful to an extent, but if it happens too often, it gets boring playing yourself.. meaning, at some point the player has to take responsibility for their own game play..

And not everyone likes being helped, even with good intentions. Some people find it annoying or patronizing.

Basically, after reading your advice, I think that I will not go to every tournament (maybe every other or every few) and will try to run a different fleet each time.

Have fun, test various lists, teach others how to play. If you win, be mindful how you win.

Good luck...

This is the best advise and what I recommend! As others have mentioned, try fun and crazy lists! You can have fun and learn and become more skillful yourself without driving other players away!

Play and help your local community play better. I always helped my opponent along such as taking actions when they forget or remind them of their abilities.

This can be helpful to an extent, but if it happens too often, it gets boring playing yourself.. meaning, at some point the player has to take responsibility for their own game play..

And not everyone likes being helped, even with good intentions. Some people find it annoying or patronizing.

I don't like winning if I won with my opponent making lots of mistakes. If the opponent doesn't want any help than stop, but I have never ran into this. I've played in tournaments with brand new players and they are greatful for the tips and tricks I have learned in the past. The only time I disliked helping someone was during the Finals for Imdaar. I probably helped my opponent 5 or 6 times with the new wave 4 but he didn't let me take my ACD action because I forgot..so I stopped helping him out and ended up winning. I was down to 1 Defender against 2 X-Wings and 1 Z95.

I don't want to sound cocky but this is what I did in my local group. I was nervous because I was winning all the time but I think I was able to help my local group play better. And guess what, we did awesome in regionals. One 1st and one in the Top 4.

I do agree that you should use the time to try new builds as well. Keep the game fun and fly casual.

Play and help your local community play better.

Exactly this. Have fun and play well. Get to know your opponents. And offer them advice - especially casual games to try things out and talk strategy - if they're willing to hear it. Improve your local community, which will in turn improve yourself.

I've been in a similar situation for a long time at my local store with our monthly Heroscape tournaments. I haven't kept track, but I'm pretty sure (and a few other players insist) that I've won many more tournaments than any other player. Some call me the best in the area, though I think there may be one or two better who just don't play as often. At any rate, I used to get pretty upset at my losses when they happened.

When I finally realized that I had nothing to blame (not the dice!) but myself, things got better. Half the time I'd handicap myself by playing suboptimal builds, as a personal challenge (sure, I can win with the best builds, but can I win with lower-tier builds?). The rest of the problem was "giving up" on games when dice were bad, rather than trying to play even better. So when I realized those two things were not only holding me back, but more importantly affecting the other players' enjoyment of the game*, I started playing better builds again and staying focused on my play rather than the dice. And what happened? I got back on a winning streak and enjoyed myself just as much winning or losing.

And our local community, though it has shrunk over the years, is a pretty close core group of awesome guys!

*And these are just games,after all.

I'm the most dedicated X-Wing player in my local group. There's one or two who are close, but I'm far more addicted than they are. What with their families, and kids, and all that stuff. My wife tolerates me going, because she knows I like playing (and she really doesn't like Star Wars at all).

I have the best local knowledge of squad builds, synergies, FAQ, and whatever else. So yes, I win. A lot. It's not really because I'm some super awesome player, as I really only play against my local group. But compared to them, I'm stellar.

How not to get accused of cheating... Use a common pool of dice, rather than each player using their own. Have one set of range rulers for both players to use (annoying yes at times, but it cuts out any chance that it's "different" from theirs). I'll even go so far as to suggest an "alternate" action or attack pattern if they pick one that really doesn't make any major level of sense. I tend to allow players to pick up a missed action, or token, or whatever, especially if I know that they haven't clocked in the hours that I have.

I'd avoid bringing intentionally "crappy" builds. If you win with those, you'll actually discourage people even more. Even less skilled players who bring an XXBB list will feel bad if you clear them off the table with a well flown, and tactically well used, HWK/A/Y/X squad.

Beyond all my rambling, offer to be the Tournament Organizer after you win one. It'll look to others that you're helping foster their ability to play (and to not win every time). I'm sure the store owner will love having a vibrant, active community in their store - because active and vibrant players tend to buy more stuff! You'll still have a strategic use for being the TO too, in seeing what everyone brings, and their relative success with it.

Offer to run Demo Days for the game too, to try to build more interest and to find more players. Do things to help grow the game. Help train those next players so that they can, hopefully, kick your ass some day.

And after all that... fly casual.

If you win you win. Period. Especially at tournaments. I've had this kind of issue in magic, pokemon, chess, smash brothers, and a number of other games. I wasn't the best at them by my standards(low level competitive player), but I was better than most if not all of my friends. It's an awkward place, but the best thing you can do is be a good sport, part of which is not sandbagging.

I don't know, fly casual.

It's not a bad thing to skip one now and again, it is nice to let others achieve. Sometimes some players are just flat out better, and it can be lame to like you said, know that going there isn't worth it since one person is bound to win it non-stop.

We had that in a store I used to work with when we ran magic tournaments.. Really is no wonder Type 2 is around..

As Han would say: "Great, kid. Don't get cocky"

You won a tournament. I think it's a tad but early to start worrying about your undefeated string if victories.

Everything I said above though, goes right out the window when it's official FFG Regional and above tournaments. Crush your opponents like the slimy mynocks that they are. *squish*

But do it gracefully, and with tact, and a good dose of modesty. No one likes a poor winner.

As Han would say: "Great, kid. Don't get cocky"

You won a tournament. I think it's a tad but early to start worrying about your undefeated string if victories.

Not just the tournament. Been doing very well in casual play as well. So, it is likely, though not a lock, that I'll win or at least place high in the next tournament should I participate.

If I really want to be a jerk, this thread would not even need to be made. No, I want everyone to have fun. It is a game after all, and I play this game to get some stress-relief from my otherwise busy job.

So, I don't want to:

(a) Ruin the game for others by making it very difficult to win anything.

(b) Ruin the game for myself by embroiling myself in needless controversy (as I described).

© Ruin the game for the store by discouraging others from attending tournaments.

Just how many tournaments in a row have you won? Because from what I read in your first post, it is your first. How many have you attended to before?

Before jumping to the conclusion and being worried that you'll win every tournaments you attend to, I would begin by participating in a couple more and see how it goes. Maybe you are just in a hot streak, it happens in sports, I don't see why it could not in competitive gaming. Sometimes I go Fencing and I'm unbeatable, other times i lose most of my match. Sometimes when I play basketball I score from wherever I shoot, other nights nothing get in. Maybe you were in the zone.

If really you start being the big winner at your place, I would suggest, if winning is your worry, starting to experiment with units/builds that you are less used to play with.

But really, see how it goes before going there with 4 HWK.

Dont gimp yourself.

Play, bring your A-game, have fun, but ensure that your opponents are also having fun.

Offer encouragement & tactical tips after the game - in a respectful way.

Fly casual.

Not just the tournament. Been doing very well in casual play as well.

Here's what I'd do. Bring your A game and maybe skip a few tournaments. As much as it isn't fun to know you don't stand a chance, it's much, much worse to know you only won because the other guy wasn't trying.

If you're known as the local ace and come in with a list consisting of 6 HWK's without turrets, well frankly that seems a bit insulting to me. It would either make it look like you think you can win with such a gimped list, or else the only way anyone stands a chance if you fly such a gimped list.

I'd rather lose a fair game then win a match thrown my way.

But the other thing you can do, is offer to run a flight school on a night that works for you. Maybe showing other people some tips and helping them hone their skills and lists then you'll have more serious competition.

One final thought. Perhaps if you do find you win every tournament you enter, you could ask the other people there what they think. Maybe they'll have some ideas, or maybe they'll all look at it as you're the guy to beat and when they do get that win it will be all the sweeter.

My local area has started running monthly tournaments. The first was Assault on Imdaar Alpha. I brought a tie swarm consisting of Academy pilots, howlrunner, and backstabber. Nothing shockingly new here, very common build. I won.

First monthly tournament I brought tie swarm consisting of 4 academy and 4 obsidian pilots. Again I won.

From this experience I have decided that my local meta does not deal well with the tie swarm as such I will not bring it to the August tournament. I feel that changing my list to something else, while maintaining a competitive edge, will have me viewed as a good pilot and not a jerk by bringing the same type of list.

That being said, should I be fortunate enough to win again, I will volunteer to TO the next month at the Tournament.

But the other thing you can do, is offer to run a flight school on a night that works for you. Maybe showing other people some tips and helping them hone their skills and lists then you'll have more serious competition.

This a great suggestion. Perhaps he could even suggest an official store event, like a league.

We're doing a slow-grow league in my store right now where another veteran and myself are teaching a cadre of new players in a relaxed and casual environment (i.e. suggestions are made, "take backs" allowed, ships and upgrade cards are borrowed). It's been a lot of fun for everyone involved.

(i.e. suggestions are made, "take backs" allowed, ships and upgrade cards are borrowed).

If the intention is teaching, which would be the whole point of a "flight school" then you'd almost have to do this.

It's a bit like teaching chess. Someone makes a move, and the teacher will say "why did you do that?" To make the pupil consider the move, and then depending on the answer will either let them keep that move, or perhaps have them take it back and make a different one, or else show them the best move to make and why.

Stealing an idea I saw on a chess site, perhaps something else you could do, especially if you have a few people is have one gaming running, with the trainees controlling the same side. They all discuss what each move will be, and then vote on the one they want to make.

Keep on going as you are now, if you do keep winning, build suboptimal to increase the challenge level.

If you have a good working knowledge of the rules I would suggest being a TO/Judge who plays without keeping a record. It is important to always play your best because competition (the healthy kind that promotes sportsmanship and playing by the rules as opposed to "no holds barred" winning that includes cheating/ points shaving/ rigging games) promotes excitement and interest and fosters a healthy gaming environment and friendly social interaction.

By playing sub-par or creating lists that are easier for others to beat, you rob yourself and the opponent of skills development and exciting games.

Taking the time to play against skilled opponents is a good opportunity for people, novices and experts alike, to develop better and exciting games for both tournament and casual play. This ensures that the X-wing community continues on indefinitely as people return for the excitement of simulated space combat.

A few months back, I competed in all three Assault on Imdaar Alpha tournaments held in Kansas City. I took first place on Friday, first place on Saturday, 4th place on Sunday.

I'm not gonna lie, after that weekend, I felt a little bit of animosity from my fellow pilots. I little underlying resentment if you will. Only one other player went all three days. He actually won our Regional. I straight up told him to fly his Regional list on Sunday and he would beat me. He did and did. He took first place on Sunday.

As I see it... if a person has a problem with another pilot, that's their issue. Not yours. You brought your A game and won. You should feel great about it. Just don't gloat. I've gloated a little to my close friends... especially when they talk crap...

If you are curious about my list, here it is:

http://xwing-builder.co.uk/view/74400/howls-bounty

The Regional list was Howl w/ Swarm and 6 Obisidians.

I agree with a lot of the advice here.

IF I won 2-3 tournies in a row then I would probably offer to play to even up numbers (like a TO assistant) or use an "experimental" list or something.

Otherwise play your game. I find it helpful if you sort of root for your opponent or at least acknowledge good moves and bad luck. Remind them of missing actions etc. Maybe after talk about the match in a friendly manor... "I would have placed your squad differently at setup because 1, 2, 3 etc"