Our local league might be trying something new this season. During league nights, each player brings 2 builds and present them to his opponent. Then, each player secretly selects the build that he intends to use on a dial and they flip them at the same time, selecting the build. If I understand it correctly, this is something that is sometimes used on Vassal.

I know how to go to a tournament with a single list meant to address the local meta, but I was curious if other forum members had participated in such a system and if they had learned any specific lessons associated with it (mostly geared towards the Imperials).

I have my "no mercy" list composed of Soontir (push the limit), Turr (veteran instinct) and Whisper (gunner, veteran instinct, fire control system and advanced cloaking device) which can offer a challenge to anything in my local meta, so what 2nd list could possibly complement it? That or what mistake should I avoid while making that second list?

Thanks!

Well, what type of a list does that not do well against? I'd say some big, turreted ships. So, pick a list that does well against those. Maybe Tie Swarm? Or 4 Tie Bombers w/ ordnance? Something like that.

In a lot of ways this is an answer to calls for "sideboarding" where in a CCG you could switch up your deck after playing an opponent in one match. Of course the opponent gets the same opportunity and sometimes the changes made completely alter how the deck plays.

When you have the opportunity to have two lists to go with you could have two similar lists, possibly using the same list for both, or two very different lists. Assuming you go with different lists you may have a list you like to play but you should be aware of the things that would give that list the post trouble and have you send list be something that can handle your counter or even be your squadron's counter which could put you in a mirror match situation.

IF you consider lists to be Rock, Paper, or Scissors then you need to be prepared for what two lists your opponent presents to you. If you have Rock and Scissors lists and your opponent shows you two Rock lists you had better be prepared to play Rock yourself or risk getting crushed. If they have two Paper or two Scissor lists then you pick your list accordingly to give you the advantage. If they also are showing Rock/Scissors (the same things you're playing) you probably should play Rock as that either gives you an even match or a win; picking Scissors gets you a mirror match at best and an unfavorable matchup at worse. It is when your opponent has Rock/Paper or Paper/Scissors that the choices get hard because depending on who picks what you are looking at the win/lose/draw matchups. Now squad building isn't quite as simple as RPS but it does show you how the selection process can work. If you look at is as Rock/Paper/Lizard/Scissors/Spock you may get a more complete outlook but it does make things a little more complicated.

I like the 'opposite side of the coin' kind of builds in events like that. So you are running an elite Empire Build for list one, take a Fat Han or Super Dash for list two. Covers all your bases if you come up against a bad matchup for your primary list.

I actually don't like the opposite side of the coin idea. In my experience, most people go with that. So if you're running an Echo, you're more than likely to see at least one Fat Han as the other list. As such, you're more likely to switch to your second list to counter fat han...

Instead, I prefer to go with two lists that have similar weaknesses, but different strengths. As such, you can pretty much know "okay, I'm playing against a Fat Han because both of my lists are weak to him... But, I am going to take the list that gives me Outmaneuver on Echo instead of VI on Echo." Or something similar. That way, you're playing the list you want to play, but you get to option it to make it even better against the list you're pretty confident you're going to play against.

Since when has squadron construction come down to two sides of a coin? I've always thought there should be at least three archetypes to consider although there are times when one is put down really hard by one of the others to drive it nearly extinct. If you primarily play Phantoms then Fat Han may be your nemesis but does that mean you play Fat Han as #2 or do you go with Swarm which counters Fat Han? The problem with Swarm being that it gets eaten alive by your Phantoms.

If you are really good with some archetype then playing two variations on it with different strengths can be a good idea. You keep some things the same but alter the rest. Examples of that could be flying a Phantom but then deciding what to match up with it; possibilities include more Aces, a Decimator, or even a mini-swarm. All of them would leave you with something you know well while adjusting the rest of the squadron.

We adopted this for league in Pittsburgh, and it's gone over very well. Players have different strategies when they bring their 2 lists of course, but no one has ever complained about it. Most importantly it lets you attempt avoid games that can be auto losses. If you bring BXXZZZ, and you opponent shows up with Echo and Whisper you don't have to play a match that you are starting so far behind the 8 ball.

If you can bring different lists to each game, you should tailor your lists against what you know your opponent is strong and weak against and with.