So Worlds was all phantoms and fat Han (to counter phantoms). How can FF still say the ship isn't broken?

Clearly, she is OP. Needs to banned...

On the other hand, she's only been in the winning squad one of those three times. =P

But yeah. Howlrunner should be banned from tournaments along with banning C-3PO from being used on YT-1300s.

To be fair, getting rid of Howlrunner would open up a swath of design options for Imperials that are currently limited by her. As a purely Imperial player (until S&V hits), I am all for this.

can u be specific? so if howlrunner is banned the imperial options somehow increase?

So Worlds was all phantoms and fat Han (to counter phantoms). How can FF still say the ship isn't broken?

well 7 of top 16 were falcon squads and 6 of top 16 were phantom squads with 5 (3 swarm and 2 rebel fighter squads) so thats not all but certainly a significant number.

top4 was 2 FatHan, 1 swarm, 1 BBBY.

Top 32

20 Rebel Alliance

10 - Han Solo

03 - Chewbacca (+1 in a Han Solo list)

05 - Multiple Blue Squadron Pilots

02 - Ace* and Biggs Darklighter (+1 in a Chewbacca list)

*Wedge Antilles or Corran Horn.

12 Galactic Empire

06 - "Howlrunner" and TIE Fighters (+1 in a "Whisper" list)

04 - "Whisper"

02 - Ace* and Sigma Squadron Pilot

*Soontir Fel or "Echo" .

Rebels were all either unique YT-1300s, generic B-Wings, or Biggs Darklighter screening for a PS9+ pilot.

Imperials were all either "Howlrunner" with generic TIE Fighters or TIE Phantoms with support.

I tried to analyze this, but I'm not really sure what to say, other than that I'm disappointed.

Clearly, she is OP. Needs to banned...

On the other hand, she's only been in the winning squad one of those three times. =P

But yeah. Howlrunner should be banned from tournaments along with banning C-3PO from being used on YT-1300s.

To be fair, getting rid of Howlrunner would open up a swath of design options for Imperials that are currently limited by her. As a purely Imperial player (until S&V hits), I am all for this.

can u be specific? so if howlrunner is banned the imperial options somehow increase?

What I mean is going forward. Currently every ship Imperials get and every card they can use have to take Howlrunner into account. She just has that strong of a presence in the faction because of what her ability is and how it works.

Clearly, she is OP. Needs to banned...

On the other hand, she's only been in the winning squad one of those three times. =P

But yeah. Howlrunner should be banned from tournaments along with banning C-3PO from being used on YT-1300s.

To be fair, getting rid of Howlrunner would open up a swath of design options for Imperials that are currently limited by her. As a purely Imperial player (until S&V hits), I am all for this.

can u be specific? so if howlrunner is banned the imperial options somehow increase?

I think they're trying to say that she is "too good" not to use if you're running 3+ (your number may vary) Ties, so that's always 18-20ish points of a list devoted to her. Taking her away means those points are now free to be used elsewhere meaning other stuff would likely see play, not to mention the mini swarm that generally accompanies your feature ship, whatever it may be, becomes less of prime choice.

Top 32

Rebels were all either unique YT-1300s, generic B-Wings, or Biggs Darklighter screening for a PS9+ pilot.

Imperials were all either "Howlrunner" with generic TIE Fighters or TIE Phantoms with support.

I tried to analyze this, but I'm not really sure what to say, other than that I'm disappointed.

Here are all the lists: http://teamcovenant.com/sozin/2014/11/08/2014-x-wing-world-championships-top-32-report/

Some pretty creative stuff in there.

Round 5: Final Table

• Paul Heaver (Flight 2, rank #2)
• 2013 World Champion, 2014 US Nationals Top 4, 2013 VASSAL winner
• Han Solo + Predator + C-3P0 + R2-D2 + MF + Engine Upgrade; 3x Tala

DEFEATS (100 - 13)

• Morgan Reid (Flight 1, rank #2)
• 2014 Australian Nationals Champion
• Whisper + VI + ACD + FCS + Rebel Captive; Howlrunner + Swarm; 3x Academy

How do you get the 100-13?

Morgan's List was 98, right? And he had 1 Academy Pilot left.

So it's either 100-12 (using "points remaining"), or 100-14 (using "100-points destroyed").

Clearly, she is OP. Needs to banned...

I don't think anyone would argue with the idea that Howlrunner is one of the most OP pilots in the game.

But yeah, inclusion of an 18-point support pilot is TOTALLY the same as a 60-point centerpiece. Both are entirely equally easy to fit in lists. I mean, just the other day I was building a list with Farlander and Wedge and Biggs, and looking at the points I had left I was trying to figure out the best use, and I said "Hey, I know! I'll drop a Fat Han in there, he makes everything better!"

Honestly, if I didn't already think there was a problem with Falcons, arguments like this would certainly convince me there was.

Round 5: Final Table

• Paul Heaver (Flight 2, rank #2)
• 2013 World Champion, 2014 US Nationals Top 4, 2013 VASSAL winner
• Han Solo + Predator + C-3P0 + R2-D2 + MF + Engine Upgrade; 3x Tala

DEFEATS (100 - 13)

• Morgan Reid (Flight 1, rank #2)
• 2014 Australian Nationals Champion
• Whisper + VI + ACD + FCS + Rebel Captive; Howlrunner + Swarm; 3x Academy

How do you get the 100-13?

Morgan's List was 98, right? And he had 1 Academy Pilot left.

So it's either 100-12 (using "points remaining"), or 100-14 (using "100-points destroyed").

Recorded as per the tournament rules for scoring MoV. If you kill all your opponents ships or he concedes, it counts as the full 100 points destroyed regardless of the squad's initiative bid.

Is there a replay of the final match anywhere?

Clearly, she is OP. Needs to banned...

On the other hand, she's only been in the winning squad one of those three times. =P

But yeah. Howlrunner should be banned from tournaments along with banning C-3PO from being used on YT-1300s.

To be fair, getting rid of Howlrunner would open up a swath of design options for Imperials that are currently limited by her. As a purely Imperial player (until S&V hits), I am all for this.

a swath of options that all get wrecked by fat Han. Like everything else it looks like

Is there a replay of the final match anywhere?

Team Covenant most likely taped this game so it'll be on youtube in the near future. Otherwise, the only way to watch it was live via twitch.

Is there a replay of the final match anywhere?

Looks like it's at http://www.twitch.tv/ffglive/b/586727040 about an hour in (I'm just watching it now).

Top 32

Rebels were all either unique YT-1300s, generic B-Wings, or Biggs Darklighter screening for a PS9+ pilot.

Imperials were all either "Howlrunner" with generic TIE Fighters or TIE Phantoms with support.

I tried to analyze this, but I'm not really sure what to say, other than that I'm disappointed.

Hey, my top 32 list had Roark and Cracken in it!

Here are all the lists: http://teamcovenant.com/sozin/2014/11/08/2014-x-wing-world-championships-top-32-report/

Some pretty creative stuff in there.

+1 to Cracken!

So Fat Han won it all? That is EXTREMELY disappointing. That means turrets will probably increase in use now as everyone who hasn't used then yet will want to copy the success.

Most people would get rolled if they tried that build. You need to watch the match to see it, but the guy can really fly.

I'm Landon Otis, placed 17th at nationals, 15th at Omaha Regionals. I won round 1, 100-0. I lost to Paul round 2 0-100.

Thanks for doing this

Looks like we gotta be brushing up on our swarm flying. I think next year the meta is gonna shift away from phantoms and towards falcons, outriders, and decimators vs rebel, imp, and scum swarms! Gotta break out the Z's!

Yeah, I'm certain there will be at least 2 or 3 other releases that will shake things up (see Advanced help or "big plans for the Bomber").

Scum Kath alone is going to be huge, always attacking at 4 dice.

Well as an aside from the state of the meta debate, just want to say that I'm really excited by the fact that Paul Heaver has won two years in a row now. Why is that? Because it's an extremely strong point of evidence that this game is more about skill and knowledge than it is luck. Now okay, a lot of us who play probably realize this but for people just looking into the game or getting started it's a sign that they can stop blaming dice for their losses and that it's possible to learn to play better.

Really expecting this to lead to more people being more analytical of the game and coming up with new ways to win and sharing their ideas. Guys like MJ, Sable, Theorist over on TC, Heaver himself, all the podcast guys and the various guys who do consistent quality battle reports, sozin for streaming Vassal games and for lady luck, all the local and online TOs. We're lucky as a community to have them and the future of the game is bright because of the community no matter what all the doomsayers want to say about this weekend's results. Not to mention the passion of the developers which I don't think anyone can argue after watching the streaming commentary and recent interviews!

Actually to be honest what the win and the lead up to it instantly reminded me of was the line from Rounders "Why do you think the same five guys make it to the final table of the World Series of Poker every year? What, are they the luckiest guys in Las Vegas?". Study up and happy flying guys.

The finals match up basically sums up the whole meta

Congrats to everybody.

Well as an aside from the state of the meta debate, just want to say that I'm really excited by the fact that Paul Heaver has won two years in a row now. Why is that? Because it's an extremely strong point of evidence that this game is more about skill and knowledge than it is luck. Now okay, a lot of us who play probably realize this but for people just looking into the game or getting started it's a sign that they can stop blaming dice for their losses and that it's possible to learn to play better.

Really expecting this to lead to more people being more analytical of the game and coming up with new ways to win and sharing their ideas. Guys like MJ, Sable, Theorist over on TC, Heaver himself, all the podcast guys and the various guys who do consistent quality battle reports, sozin for streaming Vassal games and for lady luck, all the local and online TOs. We're lucky as a community to have them and the future of the game is bright because of the community no matter what all the doomsayers want to say about this weekend's results. Not to mention the passion of the developers which I don't think anyone can argue after watching the streaming commentary and recent interviews!

Actually to be honest what the win and the lead up to it instantly reminded me of was the line from Rounders "Why do you think the same five guys make it to the final table of the World Series of Poker every year? What, are they the luckiest guys in Las Vegas?". Study up and happy flying guys.

And to add to this point the Top 8 was filled with: 2013 World Champ, AUS National Champ, UK National Champ, 2014 NOVA Open Champ, 2014 HOTH Tournament Champ, 2013 Worlds Runner-up and a 2013 Worlds Top 4 player.

Top players making the top tier of a Worlds tournament because they are in fact the best in the World. Couldn't have asked for a better showing! Skill wins over luck everytime. Congratulations guys!

I've posted by photo diary of the event over on TC. enjoy

http://teamcovenant.com/sozin/2014/11/09/2014-world-championships-photo-diary/

I've posted by photo diary of the event over on TC. enjoy

http://teamcovenant.com/sozin/2014/11/09/2014-world-championships-photo-diary/

Is that a...

I take it all back, oneway. I take it all back.

Yep. that's an advance. Rick's the man.