Paul Heaver wrote an article about how important the placement of asteroids can be when playing your squad or defending against your opponents squad. His "Turn Zero" articles are a must read for tournament level playing.

http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/edge_news.asp?eidn=4709

Here are some asteroid placement strategies outlined and what benefits they convey when you use them. I'm using the asteroid deployment zone shown on a 3x3 mat in Vassal.

The Asteroid Deployment Zone is the center square area. Any edge of the center box is range 2 to the mat edge. Range 1 deployment areas for ships are top, bottom, and both sides for a side to side match.

In every sample your ship deployment area is the one on the bottom and the opponent is coming from the top.

The Laneway (Aggressive)

Place one asteroid inside range 3 of your one corner (range 3 from both mat edges) where you want the laneway. Place your next asteroid range 2 (measured from the back edge of the first asteroid) and range 3 from the same mat edge. This blocks any asteroids from being put between your asteroids and the edge of the mat (note the 3rd asteroid cannot be placed where it is due to the other two being to close). This laneway allows for a wider area, clear of obstacles and a quick breakout with lots of room to maneuver. Works good if you have mid to high PS and/or you have ships with boost.

The Anti-Phantom (Defensive- Corner Castle Strategy)

So you forgot your turret in your other fleet and are now facing down a Phantom, one of the hardest ships to pin down. This asteroid placement can help. By using the far corner you stack the asteroids in a way that can block decloaking possibilities, limiting the options on that phantom and allowing you a shot and bringing your arcs to bear. Place your first asteroid in the corner of the asteroid zone and then each additional asteroid at range 1 on top of your corner placement and on the bottom of the deployment zone, also at range 1 of the corner asteroid.

In this image the side decloaking lanes are blocked by the asteroids or are off the mat, leaving a very predictable straight decloak available. This strategy works if you have ships that can all K-turn; It is not possible to stay in the corner if you don't have the K-turn ability. Works best if you face and fly parallel to your edge at the start.

Pro-Swarm (Aggresive- The Lineup)

Setup asteroids as close to your edge as possible and in a line. This allows you to maneuver past and gain access to the center, where you'll be able to turn in and confront your opponent easier with less asteroids breaking up your formation.

Setup in one side and deploy each asteroid as close to your deployment side as possible. Rocket past your own asteroids and go for the kill en-mass.

Anti-Swarm (Defensive - The T-Pee)

Your opponent brought the numbers and you need every advantage you can get if your squad is going to emerge victorious against his swarm.

Your first asteroid placement should be near the center of the table. You want to obstruct the middle area as much as possible. This helps to break up his numbers, causing them to lose actions and possibly take damage as he tries to engage you. Divide and conquer is the way to go for the win here. Pick off the injured and the lone straggler.

Your 2nd and 3rd asteroid placements should be at a 30 deg angle from the center one. The maneuvering options in X-wing are 45 or 90, so the odd 30 deg angle placement makes it harder to maneuver ships through or forces them around.

Your game can be won or lost from the moment you place your asteroids so understand how asteroids can help you or hinder you, depending on how you, or your opponent, are going to fly your squads.

Fly Casual.

but you and your opponent would take turns placing the asteroids, and it is very easy for him to place his asteroids to deny your own asteroid placements

True, but you can always use one of his to setup your strategy.

I do have to assume that if the player has control to setup as he liked he should go for the formation he wants. If your opponent places near your placement you can still use one of his in the spot of one of your own, depending on how close he has placed it to where you were going to go. Also, if he places to deny your asteroids, he's most certainly not setting up his own with any forethought, which can sometimes be an advantage as well.

Enough about asteroids when will we be able to place debris cloud tokens in competitive match!

This is a very useful article subject, but like Heaver's articles I can't follow it. Your pictures do not depict the entire playing area, I don't know what the white lines are supposed to be marking, where the board edges are and I have no idea what these formations look like in "the big picture" of the whole board.

This is a very useful article subject, but like Heaver's articles I can't follow it. Your pictures do not depict the entire playing area, I don't know what the white lines are supposed to be marking, where the board edges are and I have no idea what these formations look like in "the big picture" of the whole board.

Let me see if I can fix that.

i just dont quite get how you entice the phantom to come from the edge on you in the casltle.

i just dont quite get how you entice the phantom to come from the edge on you in the casltle.

You start in the opposite corner and fly into the Castle corner or you fly and K-turn but time your movement to force the phantom to engage you in the corner. It is a bit of a waiting game.

i just dont quite get how you entice the phantom to come from the edge on you in the casltle.

You start in the opposite corner and fly into the Castle corner or you fly and K-turn but time your movement to force the phantom to engage you in the corner. It is a bit of a waiting game.

I foresee more 4 ship rebel fortressing in my future. rofl.

This is a very useful article subject, but like Heaver's articles I can't follow it. Your pictures do not depict the entire playing area, I don't know what the white lines are supposed to be marking, where the board edges are and I have no idea what these formations look like in "the big picture" of the whole board.

Let me see if I can fix that.

Added in overview images to help clarify.

i just dont quite get how you entice the phantom to come from the edge on you in the casltle.

You start in the opposite corner and fly into the Castle corner or you fly and K-turn but time your movement to force the phantom to engage you in the corner. It is a bit of a waiting game.

I foresee more 4 ship rebel fortressing in my future. rofl.

Phantoms are like the Chitaree in the Avengers. Find a tight corner cause they can't bank worth a ****. They need lots of space to operate effectively.

I like this. The concrete examples paired with the reasoning are very helpful. Heaver's article was interesting, but a little too abstract. I appreciate that this offers some specific approaches to try out.

This is a great write up and something I wish happened a long time ago. I love the diagrams with specific placements.

My asteroid placement isn't quite so specific. I do the same as above when playing swarms, but against phantoms I often try to create a clutter in the middle, I feel it allows me to control or at least predict their decloak options.

Large ships with EU are what give me trouble. Ditto for my buddies double falcon builds, I can't find an asteroid placement that doesn't feel like its also in my way.

nice tactics discussion. will help me to organize how I want to set up. thanks man.