I asked this question in another thread, but it got hijacked by a weirdly intense discussion of ISIS, of all things. I'll ask it here:

With the introduction of a new faction (scum), does this mean that it will be possible to play a three-player game? Or are you supposed to still just play with two 'sides', only now you have another option of which to pick?

Thanks!

nope (we'd have to play on a triangle or something)

I imagine team epic will involve side picking. S&V have no real allegiance aside from to themselves, and more than a fair number of them work as mercenaries.

(casual games excepted of course, go nuts)

"FFG X-Wing triangle mats to go on sale soon! Hexamats still on the boat."

Isn't everything "still on the boat"?

We have been playing 3 player casual for a year. 3 full 100 point lists going at each other.

Its not going to be official but casual games are fun. Key is to not kill yourself trying to off one team while the other team comes in to finish you off.

Its an interesting challenge IMO. But will not transfer to tournament play.

Use 3x6 table. The arc dodger fanatics kind of hate it as your always seem to be in someones arc in this style of play though. Its a real challenge IMO.

In Imperial Assault Skirmish mode, when you're building your teams, there's a card that the empire can field that let's them add a few mercenary guys on their team and the Mercenary faction has a card that lets them add 2 Rebel people on their team.

It let's you mix factions a bit, while still having your team made up of predominantly one faction.

I super mega highly doubt that something like that would make it into X-Wing, but it wouldn't be a bad thing per se.

I can see some 3 player scenarios popping up.

Faction 1 must defend "X"

Faction 2 must destroy "X"

Faction 3 must capture "X"

How it plays out I'm not to certain but I expect it would most likely be a small space station or shuttle as the objective.

Technically it has always been possible to play 3 player FFA, but it does require home rules. No tournament (beyond some lucky FLGS) will though, but if friendly games are what you mostly play (and it is what most people mostly play) then your good to go.

I have a feeling that Most Wanted will include a 3 player mission that will basically tell you how to set up a 3 way game for casual play. But tournaments will remain 2 player affairs due to time constraints if nothing else.

I've been considering a three player scenario with full strength Rebels and Imperials, or maybe set their point limit to 120pts. Anything not spent on your own squadron can be used to 'bid' for the help of the third smaller Scum fleet say 50-60pts. This smaller fleet is 'allied' with one or other of the main fleets when their services are bought but has questionable loyalty to say the least and can be persuaded to switch sides for more credits mid battle.

To spice it up more, which ever side they are allied to.. Their ships count as friendlies for the scum abilities that leech off their own ships so the scum player can use their employers ships while maintaining their own resources for future turns.

2V1 epic could work, Thrawn's final battle anyone?

unless you have the attack only the person on your right rule then you can have sides ganging up.. even if accidentally as in targets of opportunity. however three person games are still fun. have used a 4x4 mat for it and or two 3x3 mats..

FYI:

The Aggressor comes with Rebel, Imperial, and Scum tokens. I'm hoping this means there's a 3-player mission included with it.

Yep; competitive 3-player games are a bad idea. Specific scenarios designed for 3 factions are difficult to engineer, but possible. I published on on Mission Control already (honor among thieves) with plans for another.

The real problem is managing the shifting alliances inherent in a 3 player competition. It is very easy to knock out one player early, which is not really fun. Good scenarios will manage the shifting alliances closely to prevent early knockouts.

I like the idea of three people, everyone shooting the guy to their left. The board would have to be weird, as a square would be hard to start with. We've got a big circle we can use, and I'm definitely trying this out onec scum comes out

It wouldn't be that hard to start on a square. Just have one player start on the left of one side approximately one third of the way from the left corner, have the second player start in the center of the side to his right, then the third player sits directly opposite the first player.

In a friendly non - official game? Why the hell not! I will.

Here's a simple system: bounty hunting.

- Each player prepares a 100 point squad and starts with a score of zero.

- Each time a player destroys an enemy ship, he gains a number of points equal to the cost of the ship destroyed. The value of the ship which dealt the final blow is also increased by 50% (rounded down) of the value of the kill up to a maximum of twice its original cost.

Ex:

Soontir with push the limit (30 points) destroys Wedge (29 points). The Imperial player gains 29 points, but Soontir is now worth 44 points if destroyed by an opponent. Suddenly the Scum player looks at the Imperial player, sniffing an opportunity to make a quick profit.

This is to simulate that as a pilot gains notoriety, he also becomes a more popular target, attrackting bounties on his head. This also prevents alliances because even if you two teamed someone... then the one who dealt the final blow is not only in the lead, but he also became the juiciest target on the board.

Thanks for all the responses! Sounds like this could be quite a bit of fun.

Isn't everything "still on the boat"?

It feels like that all too often aye

Here's a simple system: bounty hunting.

- Each player prepares a 100 point squad and starts with a score of zero.

- Each time a player destroys an enemy ship, he gains a number of points equal to the cost of the ship destroyed. The value of the ship which dealt the final blow is also increased by 50% (rounded down) of the value of the kill up to a maximum of twice its original cost.

Ex:

Soontir with push the limit (30 points) destroys Wedge (29 points). The Imperial player gains 29 points, but Soontir is now worth 44 points if destroyed by an opponent. Suddenly the Scum player looks at the Imperial player, sniffing an opportunity to make a quick profit.

This is to simulate that as a pilot gains notoriety, he also becomes a more popular target, attrackting bounties on his head. This also prevents alliances because even if you two teamed someone... then the one who dealt the final blow is not only in the lead, but he also became the juiciest target on the board.

That's a cool idea.

Will have to steal that

I've also been playing 3-way games for quite a while, here's my findings;

- Unequal ganging-up happens, purposefully or not, and unfortunately the guy in the middle tends to be the one on the receiving end. Even when he isn't you do invariably end up with one player less involved initially than the other two and as a result he usually has the strength of numbers to finish the other two off...

- introducing a points increase for the man-in-the-middle helps, 25-30% is usually more than enough

- because of the inherent inequality this format is v.unlikely to ever go "official"

- it's still a fun format so definately give it a go

And I think dotswarlock's idea sounds great-I'll definately be giving that a try...:-)

I can see some 3 player scenarios popping up.

Faction 1 must defend "X"

Faction 2 must destroy "X"

Faction 3 must capture "X"

How it plays out I'm not to certain but I expect it would most likely be a small space station or shuttle as the objective.

We've found 'three player games' have to be done like this. You need a narrative and scenario that stops two players consciously or subconsciouly ganging up on one faction.

its *very* hard to split your fire evenly when the key to success is to concentrate fire on one ship.

Without a story or scenario objective a few things can very easly happen that make three players games very dull.

1. player A and B gang up on C... rubbish game for C

2. Player A flies round the edge of the table and waits for B & c to knock the stuffing out of each other and picks off the survivors... again not a great game

3. Players try there best to be impartial and just shoot at the nearest target or the the storgest opponent to even it up but because of the random element of dice that means that sometimes you end up taking a shot you know you shouldnt but its a risk, it fails, leaves you wide open and you get shot to pieces by both sides.

The games mechanics allow three players to work very well as its not 'ugo igo' but you do need a bit more substance than 'deathmatch' in my opinion to make it worthwhile.

A good scenario exaple might be

Player A is a rebel convoy they need to get from one short edge to the other and off that edge.

Player B is scum, they need to either kill off all imperials and a number of rebels to force them to surrender to be raided.

Player c needs to capture Player A's ships and defeat the scum.

In this set up player A has to try to survive and play defenively but has an 'end game' in sight.

Players b and C need to take each other out with player A as a 'speedbump' between them.

No player has an incentive to join up with the other.

Now ive not playtested that, i just invented it as i was typing but its how i'd run a three player game.

You'd have to work out the minium turn amount of time it would take the rebels to get their slowest ship off the 'exit edge' and make sure it was at least about eight turns to make it a playable game.

Like force them to take a HWK with a high vlaue passenger

Imperials and scum need it to be ionized with no support around withing range (shooty range) 3 to be able to send a boarding pod over from a large ship.

The best way to Play with multiple people is just do teams. The game can work with Free For All conditions because of the PS mechanic but unfortunately as stated before gang ups do happen. And the person late to the party has the advantage. Furball fixes this though because you keep throwing out squads of units so even if your one squad gets wiped your other squad could potential clean up and re position. The only X - Wing tournament i've won was a furball and there were only 4 of us.. = P Keyan with C-3PO is godlike.

Isn't everything "still on the boat"?

It feels like that all too often aye

It does down in my neck of the woods.