I've been playing for about a year now and the other day I decided to count my damage deck on a whim. I had 32 cards!

So I decided to go through and figure out which damage card I was missing and lo and behold I had 11 Direct Hits in my damage deck!

I never bothered to count it out before because I had always just assumed that I was cleaning up my cards correctly. I don't recall any instance where I could have messed my deck up (i.e. using someone else's deck or sharing a deck).

On the bright side I feel better about my playing skills since apparently I've been playing with a handicap for a while now

Indeed. I did a random audit last week and found that two Direct Hits had migrated to my other damage deck, I usually supply all components when I play with a couple friends. I don't think it was intentional, probably got mixed up during cleanup one night. Fortunately, I don't think any matches were played with the off-balance decks.

Yeah...I know for certain a few of mine are mixed up. I just haven't gone through them lately because there's been no tourney nearby.

Good advice, I started doing this regularly when my opponent counted his deck after a match and found he had 34 cards- so I double checked mine to find I only had 31

Now I check mine after every match. Only takes a minute or two in any case.

How many are supposed to be in the deck?

33... two of each except Direct Hit, which I think is seven?

I've been playing for about a year now and the other day I decided to count my damage deck on a whim. I had 32 cards!

So I decided to go through and figure out which damage card I was missing and lo and behold I had 11 Direct Hits in my damage deck!

I never bothered to count it out before because I had always just assumed that I was cleaning up my cards correctly. I don't recall any instance where I could have messed my deck up (i.e. using someone else's deck or sharing a deck).

On the bright side I feel better about my playing skills since apparently I've been playing with a handicap for a while now

I'd have to assume that, if challenged by a TO, they'd have to assume you're not cheating. Either that, or you have a terrible idea of how to cheat.

How many are supposed to be in the deck?

Yeah I feel bad because I have played in a few tournaments with this deck, but if someone had checked it they would have just laughed.

My friend (who owns multiple core sets) gave me a spare damage deck so I don't have to drop the extra cash for just the cards. I will now count them after every game.

I generally count them out and organise them to confirm all the cards are correct prior to the event cause I'm usually there 30 minutes early. Additionally i offer my deck for opponents to peruse if they so desire.

And carry a spare damage deck in a sealed bag. Good habit and abit overkill but would hate to win an event cause I dodged a game changing crit due to a illegal deck or even worse be disqualified.

I always count them before and after each game.

I am like that.

I have two damage decks I take to games (more to offer a deck for someone to use if they need than anything else). I periodically count them for correct total number only but I do have coloured dot stickers applied to the front bottom corners of the card sleeves. This makes it easy to find any mixed cards between the decks without marking the visible side of the cards in normal play (the backs)... S'worked fine so far...

just counted mine and had 29!! but fortunately I found them with my ship upgrade cards from my last battle apparently i cleared them off with a ship hat had been blown up. I had not bothered to put away those ships yet. normally i would have noticed that as I store my upgrade cards in a binder... would help if the damage deck was bigger!! physically bigger..

When i am TO 'ing i do random checks on peoples damage decks. Always 33 so far ..

I compulsively count my deck and check for the 7 Direct Hits. Even mid-tournament.

One time at Nationals I placed my Damage Deck on a players beside me. Lets just say I won't be doing that again.

So I decided to go through and figure out which damage card I was missing and lo and behold I had 11 Direct Hits in my damage deck!

Yup. That sounds about right. Every card in a damage deck slowly morphs into a Direct Hit over time. It's like a radioactive decay thing.

Yeah I feel bad because I have played in a few tournaments with this deck, but if someone had checked it they would have just laughed.

My friend (who owns multiple core sets) gave me a spare damage deck so I don't have to drop the extra cash for just the cards. I will now count them after every game.

Contact FFG. They have great customer service. I lost an asteroid and a damage card while playing at worlds and they sent me new ones. I imagine as long as you are not asking for 12 cards, they understand things happen.

There's a reason you should check your opponent's damage deck like it mentions in the rules. It would help you avoid these issues while checking to make sure you're opponent isn't using a 'rigged' deck.

Counting cards may be the fast way to check a deck but laying it out face up is better as it shows any actual problems with it.

I while back I noticed I was missing a card. I contacted FFG and was like 1 injured pilot card pls.

They sent me a whole new deck + a few upgrade cards from the core set.

This has become somewhat of a pre tournament ritual for me.

1. Count/ shuffle damage deck. (Primary and a sealed spare)

2. Gather squad pilots and upgrades, seal in a ziplock bag.

3. Gather ships/ bases/ dials/ stands and spares.

4. Gather all templates and two range rulers.

5. Count out double the amount of tokens necessary.

6. Package squad and components into a Plano container.

7. Pack dice.

8. Pack a rule book.

9. Open the FAQ on my phone.

10. Snacks. Tylenol. Water. Monster Energy Drinks.

I'm normally really unorganized, so this helps me not lug everything I own to a tournament. There are implied tasks not listed like ensuring that the ships are serviceable and are free of defects, and that the dials are not so worn as they cannot be easily identified as belonging to a particular ship.

I count mine before every match. I had a scare two years ago at Nationals and counted 32 cards at the beginning of a match, thankfully the 33rd card was in my box of stuff static clinging to the side. I have not done an audit.

A guy I played against at a tournament has his sleeved and put a J on the sleeve so he knows quickly if someone has his cards.

I have 2 decks with correct inventory, but somehow had one more direct hit card in total than I should. Which is odd as I have only played games where I supply for both players.

preparing for my first turny the corret count is 33 2 pf everyrhing plus 7 direct hits?

The other day I audited my cards and found I had 35 cards. I found the two extras because they had the slightly thicker FFG sleeves (also, there were three of that type), whereas mine have the cheapskate sleeves. I've been trying to find the father of these two lost babies, but so far nobody is claiming paternity.