While i'm aware im like totally shooting myself in the foot at times i always try an build my forces for a game around 'likely' combinations and stuff that looks like something from one of the movies.

In general I always like to fly ships in pairs so you have a physical 'wingman' for each pilot and if pos i like four of the same ship.

For example i recently played part two of the tantive campaign with the wife and the refueling tantive is guarded by 75 points of non unique rebels at a 'rebel friendly' space station.

I decided that as it wasnt a true rebel out post, older ships made sense so took four bandit squadron z95s and a 'rebel op' HWK for a force that represented either a 'neutral' force with rebel sympathies or a really 'outpost' rebel force that hadnt got re-equipped with xwings yet.

Likewise when i play imperials i actually prefer to have a flight of four bombers, or three interceptors or six ties than have a force with one or two of each in.

I know its not competetive and i'd get rinsed with all but the swarms at tourneys but does anyone else use a 'film rationale' method when choosing lists for casual games?

That's something I like doing for casual games at home once in a while. I did the Escape from Hoth missions using only named pilots and ships that were actually there in the story, it was totally uncompetitive but lots of fun and super cinematic!

cool, i was thinking of doing a yavin game with the named rebel pilots. Bit trickier for the imperials as only really vader is named as being there film wise but i definitely want to do a yavin game that is restricted to ships and pilots that *could* be there (i.e no boba fett but howlrunner would be ok)

Mauler Mithel and Backstabber were Vador's wingmen in the trench run, also Dark Curse is the one that gets behind Luke before being blasted by Wedge. So you can at least include those guys!

I completely agree, and Ill also include the starting formations of the ships. Thats why I like a bit more of RPG on my games and dislike tournaments and meta gaming.

In a game like this with made up ships or planes it would be ok if the old ships disappeared when new ships arrived. But in this game Im afraid we will some day only see ships like Phantoms and Decimators and we lose the X-Wings and TIE fighters.

You sir, are welcome to come round for a game of Xwing at my house anytime!

I am with you totally. I try and make all my lists thematic in some way. I dislike totally mixed formations as they are unrealistic, as much as they can be in a sci if game, and matched formations look much better.

Recently ran a series of games at a small convention to introduce people to the game. Favourite amongst the punters was the escapes from the Death Star. One falcon flown by Han with illegal crew, Luke, c3po, r2 d2 and leia, not that she ever comes into play. Set up the falcon in the middle of the board with asteroids to taste. Imperials get 2 flights of 3 ties set up in opposite corners. Each round the falcon does not do a red makeover it gains a hyper drive (energy) token. During the end phase after gaining the eighth token the falcon jumps and escapes. We ran this a few times to check it out and about 4 times on the day. Every time the falcon escaped, just, with hull left and the ties numbered 2-5 left. Great fun .

that sounds like a cracking scenario. I might borrow that for a home game if you dont mind

I can use the tantice 'hyperdrive' card then!

Where the TIE flights 'black squadron' or 'acadamys' ?

I like to build thematic and 'realistic' (don't start.. ) lists no matter what game I'm playing. To me it just makes more sense to have a list that has more 'common' elements in it rather than all elites/specials/etc. As a retired military person, to me the 'grunt' (whichever brance of service you want to use) is the mainstay of your forces. They should be prevalent in most (note.. I'm NOT saying ALL.. just MOST) units. There are exceptions of course. Building lists like that has been my downfall for the very few games that I've played in tournaments. But on the flipside of that, I have pulled off a few surprise wins and had people compliment me on my armies theme. Since I'm not really a tournament player, thematic/narrative forces and games are what I enjoy the most. Also I think thematic list building can be very challenging to do and play, considering that you may have some pretty severe restrictions on what you can and cannot take, self imposed or scenario imposed.

I'd be interested in seeing some themed 'fleet lists' like the army lists you get in other games.

For example something like an option to take a 'rebel interceptor' squadron.

Your core ship is A wings, you can upgrade some of these to say e wings at a cost but you have to take two at a time or whatever.

Some options are discounted or come as standard to some formations but other options are not allowed to that squadron

I know the option bar at the bottom does this to a degree but i think it could be quite characterful is done as part of 'campaign packs'... you get a booklet with some new debris/scenery tokens or even better models, six to eight linked scenarios and then force lists of 'what was there' (in the imagined 'history') to choose from.

Cool idea. Now sell it to FFG!

Combining elements of current tabletop games (force selection and upgrades) with some old school "scenario/campaign books" is an epic idea in my book. It would give us "fly casual" players something to enjoy as much as those who are into the tournament and 'meta' scene enjoy that.

I have some friends who freelance for FFG (mainly 40k RPG stuff) , i'll see if they can suggest it to someone who might listen

Maybe we can do a poll on the forum here to see what the response would be? It would only be a small percentage of the whole market for certain, but it might help make a case. Just a thought...

I there a poll option? I'd be up for that if there is.

I'm not sure. I was just throwing the idea out there.

I suppose if there's not an actual poll option on the forums we can check the forum rules and see if we can do an 'informal' one.

Possibly link it to an external survey/poll facility?

Possibly... again, we'd have to check the forum rules and someone more internet literate than I would have to do it.

Gadge, Academy TIEs. We reckoned that Vader wanted the Falcon to escape so sent up the b team.

I am with you totally. I try and make all my lists thematic in some way. I dislike totally mixed formations as they are unrealistic, as much as they can be in a sci if game, and matched formations look much better.

Recently ran a series of games at a small convention to introduce people to the game. Favourite amongst the punters was the escapes from the Death Star. One falcon flown by Han with illegal crew, Luke, c3po, r2 d2 and leia, not that she ever comes into play. Set up the falcon in the middle of the board with asteroids to taste. Imperials get 2 flights of 3 ties set up in opposite corners. Each round the falcon does not do a red makeover it gains a hyper drive (energy) token. During the end phase after gaining the eighth token the falcon jumps and escapes. We ran this a few times to check it out and about 4 times on the day. Every time the falcon escaped, just, with hull left and the ties numbered 2-5 left. Great fun .

I thought of something similar, but Its Chewy flying the falcon with Luke, Han, Leia, 3PO and R2 as crew. I figure Chewy had the stick and Han was a gunner.

I'm all about the thematic stuff...

I wish more gamed like you do with builds..

Some Imperial groups that belong together

Death Star TIE Fighters:

- Black Squadron

- "Mauler Mithel" (Vader's wingman)

- "Backstabber" (Vader's wingman)

- "Dark Curse" (Chased Luke, blasted by Wedge)

- Darth Vader

Bespin (Cloud city) TIE Fighters:

- Obsidian Squadron

- "Howlrunner" (Obsidian leader)

- "Night Beast" (Howlrunner's wingman)

- "Winged Gundark"

TIE Interceptors

- Saber Squadron (participated in the battle of Endor)

- Soontir Fel (Saber leader)

- Turr Phennir (Fel's wingman)

TIE Bombers

- Scimitar Squadron

- Major Rhymer (Scimitar leader)

- Captain Jonus

TIE Defender

- Onyx Squadron

- Rexler Brath (Onyx leader)

Someone else can group up those Rebels

I tend to picture X-wing ships as 5 per squadron. Not that that has much relevance to real life or movie life.

I believe Ace Combat squadrons do run at 5 sometimes. Yellow Squadron. Some of the enemy squadrons were also 5.

Ace Combat 5's Razgriz was the more typical 4, in two pairs.

So I have a squadron of:

1 command cow

5 bombers

5 interceptors cover

For campaign, we assign a squad commander to each 80 point division, breaks 300 into 4 groups.

I always see flights as four small ships in two pairs of two.

But then the films have TIEs flying in pairs, threes,fours and even the odd solo one...