In our area, we can either send the lists beforehand, or come with it the day of the tournament. Of course, you don't get to hang around see, and then choose the list. When you arrive to the shop, you present the list, and then join the others who are already inside.

We do it this way, while a bit more taxing for the TO, because the TO will always play (whoever he is, that way he doesn't know the lists either, since he is the first one to put his list down, with another player who would be the judge).

It's far from perfect, but it works for us. The ideal would be TO not playing, and lists sent a few days before the tournament, and that's how it is should be in any big tournament aswell.

And yes, i consider what you said unsporting, luckily we don't deal with it here.

And what do you win even if you desparately want to win? Some tokens? A Promo Card? It's not like we are all starving and the winner gets the last loaf of bread.

Tournaments are about having fun, and playing lots of games.

And what do you win even if you desparately want to win? Some tokens? A Promo Card? It's not like we are all starving and the winner gets the last loaf of bread.

Tournaments are about having fun, and playing lots of games.

You win a little self importance.

At a local event, I'll bring an imperial list and a rebel list and play whichever isn't represented. This has worked both for and against me in the past. The reason is that I've found a lot of players like some variety, rather than simply running into all imperial or all Rebel squads on the day.

For major events I try to figure out the meta game beforehand and design a list to beat it, and then practice the hell out of the list. Although I consider myself fairly decent at the game, going in cold with a list wouldn't end well for me. Changing at the last minute would cost me rather than benefit.

You win a little self importance.

If your sense of self-importance hinges on whether or not you can beat everyone else in your area at a plastic spaceship game, it's time to take a step back and rethink your life.

I don't entirely understand why it matters.

I go to the tournament and put whatever I want on the table. Maybe I did my research and studied the meta. Maybe I asked a bunch of friends who play in the area, maybe I pulled the best list off the internet. Maybe I just decided to fly 5 naked Ys and a Z for the fun of it.

Everyone gets to their list by a different route. Having more information about your opponent's is a viable option. If you chose to exercise it, that's your right as a player.

That being said I've seen players try and be tricky about stuff like this. Never seen them finish in the top at an tournament I've been to.

You win a little self importance.

If your sense of self-importance hinges on whether or not you can beat everyone else in your area at a plastic spaceship game, it's time to take a step back and rethink your life.

100% agree but there are people like that out there that get over competitive over a game that means nothing if your not having fun.

I play hard but fair. For me being competitive is where I find the enjoyment. Testing my ideas and skills against others.

If I wanted to have a laugh I'd fly some action fleet around my house making pew pew noises.

I'd never let this overshadow being a good sport but once we're on the board I play by the rules and will take advantage of any mistake made by the opponent.

I've never seen it happen with X-Wing and doubt that it will ever become much of an issue.

Honestly if you can do a decent enough job of building something that matches up well against the "en vogue" lists and other strong lists that you would normally expect to see then you should be fine. Then practice with it as much as you can.

Anyone who is switching lists at the last second to try and get an advantage is probably not good enough anyway. And they may not have the seat time with their list that you have with yours. The mechanics of a Fat Han are way different than a TIE swarm. If you aren't on your game you are probably going to end up eating too many rocks.

There have been a few times I wish I had two lists because the faction I was playing was 100% represented (and the other was missing). But in the end, scouting is a losing proposition because most of a list is easy to hide by just having your cards face down on the table.

I am in the camp that 'scouting' is part of competitive play. Be it on the day of the event or stopping by on a regular X-Wing night to see what everyone is flying, it is something that

That being said the really good players have practiced their lists against every build, including the ones they are weak against and will not need to switch up their lists last minute.

I can't roll my eyes hard enough.

If I dont have a list when I show up, I am not playing. I try and set my list and run the heck out of it prior to the games.

I had thought of this during Worlds to take the friday and see what Thursday had in store. But that means I would have to have run 2 lists to deal meta and locking down one list was hard enough.

If you want to combat the scouting of it, just don't pull your ships or cards out prior. have them in a box or just before start and then pull them out. Or to mess with them pick something totally different and place it out, turn your sheet in with your actual list. that way any onlookers will see you are running Fat Han, when really you are running swarm.

I've scouted before. Not in x-wing but often in 40k. I would generally pick an army I wanted to play as my fun list, and then bring my 110% tryhard meta army as well. If the game group was more laid back, I busted out the fun list. If it was hardcore day, I would tryhard all day.