I would be more concerned with the extra time involved than the extra help.

It's definitely bad form for spectators to comment aloud on the games. Spectators shouldn't be commenting on what the players should do or what actions they should take aloud for everyone to hear. That's not cool. So, if spectators shouldn't be helping, then there is no way you can specify one spectator as a "coach" and get around it. Everyone not playing is by definition a spectator.

Between games, absolutely. We all discuss our games with our friends and talk about what we saw each other doing right or wrong during the games we've seen. That's fine.

Even if I see a rule being missed or broken while watching a game, I try to keep my mouth shut, but admittedly I'm not always successful. The game is between them, and it's their game to police.

Yeah, no coaches during a game.

I treat X-Wing pretty much the same way as I would a game of chess. If someone had a blank about a rule and asked me or one of his buddies for a clarification because he did not want to disturb the TO, I'd be fine with it, but that's where I draw the line. Giving or recieving strategic advice, however, is a bad idea, even with the best of intentions. You risk announcing your thought process or reminding your opponent of what moves you can do.

Example:

*I set my dial next to my interceptor*

Opponent's buddy: "Oh, here comes the white K-turn!"

Opponent: "Well duh!"

*Player 2 sets his dial next to his Tie-Defender.*

*I remember the white K-turn, pick up my dial, change to compensate for the maneuver and set it back down again.*

*We agreee at that round begins and I end up outside of firing arc at range 1. I then look at the buddy.*

Me: "Thanks for telling me the move he was going to do."

Opponent's buddy: "But I didn't!"

Me: "You suggested it, he confirmed it..."

I could have been nicer or more subtle about it, but I wanted to get accross that he was not actually helping as much as he thought he was.

I'm very surprised to even see this question. The answer is very obviously no.

In a boxing match the boxer's physical skill, strength, and endurance are ultimately what wins the fight. Not the dude on the corner saying "jab!". Sure, he may help, but it may have little/no impact on the outcome given the other factors.

This is a strategy game. Nothing is being pitted against your opponent but your skill and analysis abilities. If someone is essentially feeding you the answers to what you should do, who is really playing? You or your coach?

If you had to arm wrestle for attacks or something then I could maybe see where you are coming from, but the fact is you aren't/won't.

That being said, in a friendly setting it is not all that uncommon to have observers watch quietly and then after a game is over ask questions about choices/etc. In fact it is very sporting (imo) if your opponent does so as well. That is the only situation where I could see a "coach" of sorts being valuable. They wouldn't change the outcome, but give you advice to get better after.

I find it hard to believe that anyone would find it ok to have an assistant working with your opponent while playing a match. although the rules for X-Wing have not clearly been defined in this matter, perhaps it's time to update the rules to reflect this situation since it has been brought forth.

I have done, and completely believe in, coaching players 'in-between' games. I think we all do that, and should do that! I usually travel as a team, with several people in tow to our non-local tournaments. So as a team, we will meet up and try to play the 'what if' game. What if I play him and his Fat Falcon list, what should I do? It looks like you are going to meet him on the final table, here's how you beat the TIE swarm with your list. I like this guy's build, watch out for that if you play him, its really good. And so on.

All of these conversations are good and I completely encourage them, and a truly competitive team will be doing this in return to you and your team, so it is almost foolish to not do some 'in event' planning or adjustments in tactics. HOWEVER, once tables have been set, dials are being placed, and dice have begun to roll, that is where that kind of talk ends. At some point, the player must be left on their own to fight the battle for themselves. Coaching stops right there.

The only exception I see to the no "coaching" is a semi-local one. There is a semi-local player who occasionally plays in events who is wheelchair bound. He comes to play with an "assistant", not a coach. So, yes, theoretically it is a team vs. individual game when he plays, but from my experience the "assistant" just does the physical moving of pieces, setting dials, rolling of dice, etc. based on what the wheelchair bound player tells him to do.

So, that example, and maybe an adult teaching a child how to play (which should occur outside a tournament setting).

On a separate note, having a non-player sit with someone during a major tournament, & chat with them during the entire game can be very annoying/distracting.

Discussing strategy away from the table isn't a problem.

Table talk is illegal, and while not specifically addressed in this version of the FAQ it has been addressed before with a firm 'not allowed'. If you are watching a game and offer any tips or suggestions I will ask you to stop and if it continues, I will have the TO remove you under the scope of the rules and I will have your friend dq'd for cheating. No place for 'gamesmanship' or 'fudging the rules' in a freaking miniatures game.

This isn't 40k.

This game has gotten way too serious

This game has gotten way too serious

This statement. I don't even... clearly, the Eye of Sauron is trying to bait me into arguing with a troll. I will step away and go find second breakfast instead, I think...

X-Wing is a turn-based strategy game. There is one turn-based strategy game with well established tournament scene and rules: Chess. In chess, players are not allowed to discuss a game in progress with anyone (1). Spectators may discuss, but only in a way the players cannot overhear. Which means in a separate room (2).

I suggest to use the same for every turn-based strategy game. Including X-Wing.

(1) Exceptions are the opponent, the referee and in case of a team event the team captain. The team captain is only allowed to voice an opinion whether or not the player should offer or accept a draw.

(2) Enforcing those rules away from the table is an issue.

I don't see FFG ever allowing coaches or assistants at premier events. I certainly wouldn't be interested in participating in that, anyway.

The way I see it, tournaments are about determining the best players on the day. If there's a coach, it's entirely possible that the player will become merely the coach's puppet, moving the ships around but not making any real decisions.

If we're comparing this to boxing, the boxer is doing most of the work during the match and making the most important decisions in the moment. The same is true in just about any other coached sport I can think of.

And really, this is a game where you push toy spaceships around on a table and maybe go home with some acrylic tokens and cards for doing a good job. The idea of introducing coaches or assistants to do that just seems silly.