I got into X-Wing because I was at a friend's house and they invited me to put a squad together and play (they then trounced me, but I still got to fly the Falcon around and make pew pew noises). It had been about sixteen years since I'd played any miniatures game (used to do Epic 40K way back when), but I had started getting more and more into tabletop gaming with my wife and friends (Carcassonne, Small World, Ticket to Ride, etc.). One game of X-Wing hooked me - I went and plunked down for a Core Set and a few ships, played in a 2013 Regional, won some acrylic focus tokens, and it just got more expensive and fun from there. I can't say I would be QUITE as into it if it wasn't for the lore, but the game really is absolutely fantastic fun and keeps getting better. The community is amazing. And the miniatures just look soooooo good!

I'll be honest, I can't decide if the price or the unpainted miniatures is a bigger barrier for me to get into Imperial Assault - I'm just spoiled by X-Wing's colorful goodness now!

I play this game because it captures the lore into a well presented and streamlined (mostly, anyway) system that's fun to play.

Would I play it if it was a crappy Star Wars Game? Once or twice

Would I play it if it was an awesome game that had nothing to do with Star Wars? Doubtful. My free time is limited these days, so everything I do for enjoyment has to scratch several itches.

Much more because of the lore.

I have to also say that while I do enjoy the game, as well as the people I have met to play the game with, I do wish that it would be used to explore and enjoy the lore more. As Crabbok said on the previous page, it gets a bit old seeing Biggs (or any other particular character) again and again.

Not long after I started, I began work on an online campaign engine, but tepid response from my community as well as time constraints from my job have led me to shelve the project for the time being. I think the reality of the matter is that as many people who do say 'both', the bulk of the X-Wing-playing community is in it for the tactics of the gameplay rather than the lore aspect of it.

I like space games as I already have FFG stuff such as Twilight Imperium. I am slow to jump on things and I didn't get in until right before Wave 4. Still it is a nice game and I'm glad to have started this hobby.

As for Starwars lore well I like the OT, thought the prequales could have been better, and haven't read any of the EU stuff. So it is sort of like this for me.

But if you look at X-wing I think it does more of the exploration aspect of the fluff instead of the paper wrapping the fluff on a game.

But if you look at X-wing I think it does more of the exploration aspect of the fluff instead of the paper wrapping the fluff on a game.

I see what you're saying, and I think I understand what the video is trying to say. However, I do think that the video has a point that this game is a good game, but it does take SW as a bit of a sales wrapper.

That said, I do think we are invited to explore the SW universe by thinking up stories and missions around the games we play, but I don't see it being done. I really tried to do it, but gave up when there was tepid interest from the community and my own time became more constrained.

I'm in it for the awesomeness on all fronts.

There is enthusiasm in the Star Wars license, that is a given. I think the game does attempt to give more exploration to the universe then it just uses Star Wars as a sales pitch. It explores the game with the pilots and the ships from Dutch saying "Switch to Targeting Computer" giving a free target lock to the swarm of Tie Fighters and how through squadron tactics a humble Academy pilot becomes part of the most powerful force in the game. Also how it restricts crew and pilot names exploring how one charachter would act difrently as a gunner from a pilot.

Now as for the "meta" and competitive/tournament play you sort of have to divorce the game from the lore as "themed" list are hardly competitive. You have everyone min/maxing from the math-wingers trying to figure out which squadron combinations provide the best probabilities for attack and defense and compare them to the point cost, to people griping about how Fat Falcons and Echo/Whisper has put a stranglehold on competitive play. Also do I need to point out that Biggs Darklighter vs Biggs Darklighter is a different type of Clone War from the one Princess Leia mentioned to Obi Wan in her plea for help?

I thinking FFG has the balance between game-play and role-play handled fairly well despite all the "rebalance" recommendations made by those on these forums.

Now as for the "meta" and competitive/tournament play you sort of have to divorce the game from the lore as "themed" list are hardly competitive. You have everyone min/maxing from the math-wingers trying to figure out which squadron combinations provide the best probabilities for attack and defense and compare them to the point cost, to people griping about how Fat Falcons and Echo/Whisper has put a stranglehold on competitive play. Also do I need to point out that Biggs Darklighter vs Biggs Darklighter is a different type of Clone War from the one Princess Leia mentioned to Obi Wan in her plea for help?

I don't want to disparage the mathwingers or those who pay attention to the meta. I think that's terribly fascinating, even if I need to prevent myself from putting together spreadsheets. (Also, the mathwing boys need to also prevent themselves from doing so, because they have dissertations to finish.) I think that it's an interesting model of a complex adaptive system, which is something I think is fascinating for reasons entirely out of Star Wars.

There is enthusiasm in the Star Wars license, that is a given. I think the game does attempt to give more exploration to the universe then it just uses Star Wars as a sales pitch. It explores the game with the pilots and the ships from Dutch saying "Switch to Targeting Computer" giving a free target lock to the swarm of Tie Fighters and how through squadron tactics a humble Academy pilot becomes part of the most powerful force in the game. Also how it restricts crew and pilot names exploring how one charachter would act difrently as a gunner from a pilot.

On this we are somewhat agreed. I am definitely in agreement with you that there is incredible enthusiasm for the Star Wars license. That said, I wonder what the real nature of the bulk of that enthusiasm is. I have an understanding of what draws me, but I don't think that I am in the slightest bit representative.

I think I disagree with you on the rest of that, because I'm not really sure how what you describe really fits with an 'exploration of the SWU'. Maybe I just understand that concept differently. If you could clarify, I'd interested in your thoughts on the matter, however.

Definitely both for me. I loved Stackpole and Alston's X-Wing books back in the day, and then I got a chance to watch a game off to the side of a late night Magic tournament one night which got me interested in the game.

Now as for the "meta" and competitive/tournament play you sort of have to divorce the game from the lore as "themed" list are hardly competitive. You have everyone min/maxing from the math-wingers trying to figure out which squadron combinations provide the best probabilities for attack and defense and compare them to the point cost, to people griping about how Fat Falcons and Echo/Whisper has put a stranglehold on competitive play.

I totally agree that competetive lists aren't always the most fulfilling to play lore-wise, but in a competetive enviroment, I'm guessing that alot of the fun comes from winning. For me it's really important to balance it out, I don't do much competetive play yet, but if I ever get there I imagine it'll be important to allow myself to just do fun games once in a while. By that I mean playing with lists I know will send me down a loosing path, but that I play them just because they're fun and will bring some epic and unforgettable moments.

Star Wars brought me in. Great gameplay is a bonus.

For me the big lore versus game issue is same faction battles.

Same faction battles (without a **** good narrative... training exercise wears thin after a while) just are not star wars to me.

I totally lose the narrative / lore / mythos immersion to see Han solo fly the milenium falcon with chewie as co pilot against Chewie in a milenium falcon with lando as his co pilot or whatever.

Luckily nearly everyone i game with feels the same way so its not an issue.

Oddly I have no issue with a list with people in it who died at different times like say Garven and Arwyn (sp?) the A wing pilot.

For me, if i was running a tournament I'd specify you had to bring two lists. One imperial and one rebel (swap either for a S&V list when they come out). When you face your opponent you choose between you which side you will play (or toss for it if both want to play rebel for example).

I think that would greatly increase the narrative element of competetive games.

Like i say to me its about the lore quite heavily. I was really happy about S&V coming out as my wife likes fielding Kath Scarlet in her force and it never sat well with her being 'imperial' given that she raids them rather than helps them in the EU

I was drawn in by two things.

1. Star Wars universe. I love the original trilogy.

2. Pre-painted miniatures that look much better than I could do myself also saving me a lot of time.

What is keeping me in the game is mostly gameplay.

If not for Star Wars I wouldn't of touched a table top game. It's just something I've never been interested in. Collecting these mini fighters started for me because of I considered them something like a model. The high quality of the ships and the generally excellent paint apps really set them apart. Before I had collected those die cast metal fighters and vehicles that Hasbro use to make. They didn't always have good paint and far too often weren't very accurate to the source.

The fact you can also play a game with these is a huge bonus to me, it lets me kind of have a chance to relive the old glory days of playing X-Wing, TIE Fighter, X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter and X-Wing Alliance PC games. I do wish the ships were bigger, but then they would be too large to play the game with. It's one of the reasons I am so looking forward to Armada, finally being able to get capitals ships that have never been made before. I may never actually play Armada, but I'll be getting the ships just to have for display.

If you're the type of person who is comfortable running mirror matches than I automatically assume that you're here for the gameplay more so than the lore.

I'd rather watch paint dry than watch two falcons battle it out with each other. *shiver*

Playing the scenarios and running the epic campaigns are the way to go!

I started hearing about this game around fall of 2012. I was interested in a new mini game as I had finally reached my limit with 40K/GW. The beautiful minis were worth it even if the game blew. After a warmup game with a buddy, I started earmarking money for it. After my first 100 point game I bought a second core set. I'll be honest, it was all about the star wars for me, right up until I bought a HWK-290. Then I realized that I'm in it because of the awesome game and the SW part is the sweet, sweet icing on that cake.

Lore got me into it, lore and gameplay keep me here.

Until around the turn of the millennium, I was a total Star Wars junkie. The PT waned my interest. Then a couple years ago, my uncle got me the core set for my birthday or christmas (can't remember which), and I got hooked.

I'd still play the system if it wasn't Star Wars, but only if the subject was something I loved, and was done well.

Gameplay. For me, the Star Wars aspect is completely irrelevant. I'd play this with any types of ships -- although the fact that FFG cares about the minis is a big bonus. I'm kind of meh on Star Wars, for the most part. I'll watch the original trilogy, but the universe isn't something I spend any time on. I love the game, though; most fun I've had with a game since Starfleet Battles.

Both. X-Wing is probably the most fun I've had with a miniatures based table top game. The rules are easy to pick up, difficult to master, the games are are fast paced and relatively quick to play and above all, enjoyable.

At the same time, I love Star Wars! I love the story, and the characters, and I enjoy recreating battles from the films (or the games) on the table.

gameplay. I have watched the movies tons of times, but never picked up any of the books.

Wouldn't have played it if it wasn't Star Wars...

Wouldn't continue to play it if it wasn't awesome!

Before I got into this game, I pretty much hated Star Wars. The god aweful prequels tainted everything good about the first 3 movies in my mind (I still liked 4 and 5, but a big chunk of 6 felt aweful, making the majority of the movie s crap). Then I saw this game and it looked really good. After getting into the game, I grew to like the first 3 again, even Jedi. The rebellion era in general felt cool again. I'm still annoyed by the space wizards being basically gods whenever they show up, but there is plenty of universe that has nothin to do with them.

Anyway, I short the game is great, and the theme adds little. If anything, thw game makes the setting cooler.

I'm in it for both. I love the movies and the game is pretty great too. In the movies, I am a bigger fan of all the rebel ships, but in game play, I always go for the empire.

Both for me. Ever since I was a kid I loved the Xwing. Didnt really care bout the Jedis and Siths as much as other Starwars fans are but the fighters and Falcon though..

Coming from other miniature games though the balance Xwing has is excellent and the rules are clear cut even for tournaments. No rules bending and RAW vs RAI shenanigans.

My Rebel Fleet

Just need a regular Interceptor and a few more bombers then I can take a pic of my Empire Fleet.Now if only we can get that Empire huge ships now..

I've had to wikipedia what most ships past wave 2 are, so that's my star wars lore knowledge.