List Advice for Beginner

By Sensei, in X-Wing

I'm brand new to the game and I've really been enjoying it so far. I'm attempting to put together my first list and I'd appreciate any feedback/advice/suggestions.

I'm planning to pick up Rebel Aces when it becomes available, so I'd like to get as much use out of that expansion as possible. I also really enjoy flying the E-Wing, but I'm finding it rather pricey to fit into a balanced squad. I feel like List 2 might be more interesting, but List 1 seems to have more synergy.

Are either of these lists viable, or am I going to get crushed? Thanks in advance for any help!

List 1 (99 total):

Corran Horn (40)

-Fire Control System

-R5-P9

Keyan Farlander (33)

-Opportunist

Garven Dreis (26)

List 2 (100 total):

Corran Horn (41)

-Fire Control System

-R2-D2

Keyan Farlander (33)

-Opportunist

Jake Farrell (26)

-Veteran Instincts

-Outmaneuver

-Chardaan Refit

-A-Wing Test Pilot

I'm a relatively new player as well and I just can't get over the E's cost either. My next game I'm going to run a generic (I've only flow Corran so far) against my buddy:

Knave - hull upgrade

Rookie

Rookie

Rebel Op - recon, moldy crow, ion turret

Biggest problem with that is Pilot Skill. I have a 1 (just crazy that it's 27 points for a ship at only PS1...) and 3 PS2 ships. So idk. Been toying with Etahn, wedge and garvin as well. Def going to get 2 rebel aces packs to run some B's and A's as well man. A solid start! What ships do you have right now?

Corran is a lot of points in one basket if you're new to it. Its also not the most durable points.

while there is a lot of falcon hate you could get a lot more durable and dependable ORS in a upgraded YT1300 for not much more.

Starting out I stuck with X, Y, A and B wings until i got good at working out manouvres.

Only A wings are a risk in that group, the X and B wing are forgiving and the Y wings predictable but powerful 'controllers'

I've got an e wing, never been able to jusitfy its cost when i coud fly two A wings for the same price.

I'm a relatively new player as well and I just can't get over the E's cost either. My next game I'm going to run a generic (I've only flow Corran so far) against my buddy:

Knave - hull upgrade

Rookie

Rookie

Rebel Op - recon, moldy crow, ion turret

Biggest problem with that is Pilot Skill. I have a 1 (just crazy that it's 27 points for a ship at only PS1...) and 3 PS2 ships. So idk. Been toying with Etahn, wedge and garvin as well. Def going to get 2 rebel aces packs to run some B's and A's as well man. A solid start! What ships do you have right now?

Sometimes low PS is good, especially for imperials.

Like you can use cheap ships to block stronger ones and with a defender having PS 1 means you are always going to move first and be able to pull off those white K turns.

I know you're both playing rebel but dont assume 'low Ps = rubbish' , sometimes you *want* low ps.

I'm brand new to the game and I've really been enjoying it so far. I'm attempting to put together my first list and I'd appreciate any feedback/advice/suggestions.

I

List 1 (99 total):

Corran Horn (40)

-Fire Control System

-R5-P9

Keyan Farlander (33)

-Opportunist

Garven Dreis (26)

List 1 by the way Garvin is pretty pointless. He's going to fire *after* the other guys so even if he does use his focus he can only pass it on to potentially help with the defence of the others.

If you can pass it on to a lower PS skill you get twice as much use out of it as you get two chances to turn focus's to hits or evades

Several times i've had rounds where Garvin doesnt even get to use his focus ability as he just doesnt roll any eyes.

A strong starting list i've used is

Dutch Vander (passes on target locks) in a Y wing

Garvin (passes on focus) in an xwing

then a low PS Y and X

I usually put an R2 on the Y wing to increase the amount of green choices

also is it R5?, to aid one of the Y wings with damage

if you can afford it R2d2 keeps Garvin in the fight longer.

Edited by Gadge

Keyan is going to have trouble getting any use out of Opportunist. It gives him a stress, sure, but you won't be facing lots of tokenless opponents since he's fairly high PS and likely to be shooting early. Maybe consider something like:

Corran + FCS, PTL (40)

Farlander + AS, PTL (35)

Biggs (25)

Biggs can keep them alive to do big damage and both of your big guns are quite nimble and able position themselves in order to maximize their fairly focused firepower.

If your new I'd advise starting with the basics first as the e-wing needs more advanced manoeuvres to survive long enough to get its points back.

This ^^^^

I love Corran. I took a very similar list to my first tourney and got slaughtered. I wouldn't advise 3-ship rebels for any beginners unless you've been playing with it for a while.

I would bump Corran to r2d2(he will almost never have a focus left over when it matters). And drop Garven to Biggs or 2 bandits if you have them. Also if you can find a way to put VI on Corran it'll help tons. As it is you will have all kinds of trouble with Whisper, Soontir and VI Turr.

Agreed with what was stated above, as new players getting down the basic mechanics of the game, flying, not hitting rocks or flying off the board, these are the things you should focus on. Do you have favorite ships from the movies or background fluff, get those. Have a favorite pilot from a video game or a book, fly him/her. This is where you are going to have the most fun.

List construction and analysis only comes into play when you get a bit more serious about the game and want to kick it ou a notch competitively. Then, follow the more detailed advice above.

Also, Corran Horn with R2-D2 is just disgusting! A-Wing, even Jake, I have not had any luck with at all. Far too little firepower in that ship for me.

Also, for a new player, I recommend our podcast... we cover all of these issues in great detail (shameless plug)!

Been toying with Etahn, wedge and garvin as well. Def going to get 2 rebel aces packs to run some B's and A's as well man. A solid start! What ships do you have right now?

I haven't had much luck with Etahn. It seems like his ability doesn't come in to play all that often, but maybe that's just because of the group I play with. I'm either hitting shields or I'm blowing up the ship, there's a small window where a crit over a hit would actually make a difference, and even then only if you flip a good crit.

Corran is a lot of points in one basket if you're new to it. Its also not the most durable points.

while there is a lot of falcon hate you could get a lot more durable and dependable ORS in a upgraded YT1300 for not much more.

Starting out I stuck with X, Y, A and B wings until i got good at working out manouvres.

Only A wings are a risk in that group, the X and B wing are forgiving and the Y wings predictable but powerful 'controllers'

I've got an e wing, never been able to jusitfy its cost when i coud fly two A wings for the same price.

For no real reason other than preference, I enjoy flying the more maneuverable ships. For that reason, I didn't really enjoy the Y wing and I've been shying away from the HWK. I may have to give the YT1300 a try, though. I appreciate the suggestions!

List 1 by the way Garvin is pretty pointless. He's going to fire *after* the other guys so even if he does use his focus he can only pass it on to potentially help with the defence of the others.

If you can pass it on to a lower PS skill you get twice as much use out of it as you get two chances to turn focus's to hits or evades

Several times i've had rounds where Garvin doesnt even get to use his focus ability as he just doesnt roll any eyes.

I believe you can use a focus token even if you don't have an eye to use it on. It obviously has no affect on your dice rolls, but it'd alow Garvin to pass the token on.

Garvin would primarily pass the token to Horn for his end phase attack so he's got a TL+Focus for both attacks. But in the off turns it'd be for defense.

Keyan is going to have trouble getting any use out of Opportunist. It gives him a stress, sure, but you won't be facing lots of tokenless opponents since he's fairly high PS and likely to be shooting early. Maybe consider something like:

Corran + FCS, PTL (40)

Farlander + AS, PTL (35)

Biggs (25)

Biggs can keep them alive to do big damage and both of your big guns are quite nimble and able position themselves in order to maximize their fairly focused firepower.

I see what you mean about opportunist. I think in the second list it works, though, since the other two ships are higher PS. I'm trying to avoid Biggs for the time being since I don't have confidence in being able to position him optimally, yet (i.e. in range 3 of half of the attackers, but out of range for the rest).

If your new I'd advise starting with the basics first as the e-wing needs more advanced manoeuvres to survive long enough to get its points back.

I appreciate the advice. I'm not worried about losing matches in the learning process, though, so I'd rather learn on the job, so to speak.

I'm brand new to the game and I've really been enjoying it so far. I'm attempting to put together my first list and I'd appreciate any feedback/advice/suggestions.

I

List 1 (99 total):

Corran Horn (40)

-Fire Control System

-R5-P9

Keyan Farlander (33)

-Opportunist

Garven Dreis (26)

List 1 by the way Garvin is pretty pointless. He's going to fire *after* the other guys so even if he does use his focus he can only pass it on to potentially help with the defence of the others.

If you can pass it on to a lower PS skill you get twice as much use out of it as you get two chances to turn focus's to hits or evades

Several times i've had rounds where Garvin doesnt even get to use his focus ability as he just doesnt roll any eyes.

A strong starting list i've used is

Dutch Vander (passes on target locks) in a Y wing

Garvin (passes on focus) in an xwing

then a low PS Y and X

I usually put an R2 on the Y wing to increase the amount of green choices

also is it R5?, to aid one of the Y wings with damage

if you can afford it R2d2 keeps Garvin in the fight longer.

I believe his idea on that is to shunt the focus to corran to fuel the droids shield regen. Also you don't need eyes on a roll to spend focus, you can just spend it with all hits or evades (or all blanks), so that you can move the token. I actually have to say I like the idea behind the list and say try it out at least.

Eh?

Surely the way Garvin works is that if he uses (as in makes 'eyes' into hits or evades) his focus he can pass it on to another pilot?

You cant spend a focus token without a reason can you?

That doesnt sound right.

You can, it's in the faq.

I love Corran. I took a very similar list to my first tourney and got slaughtered. I wouldn't advise 3-ship rebels for any beginners unless you've been playing with it for a while.

I would bump Corran to r2d2(he will almost never have a focus left over when it matters). And drop Garven to Biggs or 2 bandits if you have them. Also if you can find a way to put VI on Corran it'll help tons. As it is you will have all kinds of trouble with Whisper, Soontir and VI Turr.

I figure Garven would be passing Corran focus tokens to replenish the shield. I tried a 4 ship squad and just got destroyed. I think a big part of it was the way I flew, though. I'll give it another shot next week.

List construction and analysis only comes into play when you get a bit more serious about the game and want to kick it ou a notch competitively. Then, follow the more detailed advice above.

Also, Corran Horn with R2-D2 is just disgusting! A-Wing, even Jake, I have not had any luck with at all. Far too little firepower in that ship for me.

Also, for a new player, I recommend our podcast... we cover all of these issues in great detail (shameless plug)!

Appreciate the advice! See, I'm probably not the typical X-Wing player. I don't really know much at all about Star Wars, I just really enjoy the strategic elements of the gameplay. So for me, the squad building is one of the more fun aspects of the game.

Yeah i just checked, cant say i agree with that but the rules are the rules

It actually says you can spend it and choose not to modify the results.

Personally i'd have said there has to be a focus eye *to* choose not to modify as it seems a bit lame to be able to pass it on regardless.

Oh well its not going to hurt me playing it the faq way as i usually use garvin