Updated Obstacles

By DraconPyrothayan, in X-Wing

Okay. I confess: I haven't actually gotten to use the non-rock obstacles.

However, now that we've got a choice between Asteroids and Debris, it seems to me to be an impactful fleetbuilding decision.

Asteroids cause more damage when you land on or pass through them.

Asteroids prevent your ability to attack when you land on them.

Debris Fields cause a stress when you land on or pass through them.

Clearly, some fleets prefer facing some than others. Aggressors in particular find Debris to be a more favorable fight.

Also, having more shapes for obstruction might be beneficial in its own right: I could simply bring the 3 largest obstacles at my disposal to ensure a maximized Obstructrion rate for Biggs, or I could bring the 3 smallest to ensure my Shuttles don't get scuttled.

Anyone else have some musings as to this huge change in the game?

People playing Interceptors or Phantoms will bring the smallest asteroids they can. More free space means more mobility options.

And of course Super Dash bringing the 3 largest debris fields he can find

People playing Interceptors or Phantoms will bring the smallest asteroids they can. More free space means more mobility options.

However, with greater mobility comes less concern for the big boys.

I, for one, practice regularly with flying in dense asteroids, so I'm more than happy to play Clownfish among the anemonie.

I do wonder whether I should use the Debris instead of the Rock, though, just in case ;-)

And of course Super Dash bringing the 3 largest debris fields he can find

Dash will definitely bring Debris every time. It has literally no downside for his ship.

Asteroids do not do more damage than debris clouds it is just that they have more of a chance to do damage. I had flew threw a debris cloud only to eat a blinded pilot face up card. It does happen.

Debris clouds add stress, so using red maneuvers is very dangerous as double stress is not fun. You can K turn through a rock and still be good. K-turn, S-loop or Red move through a debris cloud will cripple you.

You can still attack on debris clouds however with exception of the big one debris clouds tend to take up a little more area.

Now of course you will pick your obstacles according to your list so Dash will obviously pick debris clouds.

I love the new terrain rules in theory; in practice, i'm finding they make Dash just a touch too powerful (I think the presence of Dash alone will force most players to avoid picking any debris for their list just in case they encounter him, which is kind of a downer).

Do debris fields give you a stress before your perform action step??

Do debris fields give you a stress before your perform action step??

Yes. Unless you are Dash or Tycho, you don't get to perform actions. (Actually, with Tycho I'm not so sure). (And does Yorr help to absorb stress from debris fields ?)

I think it would have been cool to also add the huge ships as obstacle type. Isn't there a "rule" that for friendly play, you can replace three rocks with one huge ship as an obstacle? It would have been easy to also add this option in the new rules.

Edit: Typos

Edited by MrkvChain

The fun part apart the new debris rules is that each player brings three.

We've been using a standardized set of six for 3 years, and suddenly there are 36 different combinations of obstacle to fly through.

It should lead to shenanigans, at the least.

Asteroids do not do more damage than debris clouds it is just that they have more of a chance to do damage.

That.... means the same thing, statistically...

I love the new terrain rules in theory; in practice, i'm finding they make Dash just a touch too powerful (I think the presence of Dash alone will force most players to avoid picking any debris for their list just in case they encounter him, which is kind of a downer).

Actually I'm not sure how they are making dash so powerful. Think about it, he avoids them anyway and never takes damage. In several battles, I have flown right through debris, taking the risk so I can target the Dancer. Which otherwise I couldn't have gotten shots. If it were me Dash should only take rocks never debris. I will always take debris, because I always want to shoot others and if that mean flying through it or landing on top of it. Then I will always take the risk.

All you Dash guys, bring as much debris as you want. I'm loving it!

When we were trying to find a place in the game for Eaden Vrill, we brought in three Debris tokens. Against a swarm, we were able to set them up in a way where they had to fly through a decently thick field initially. That worked wonderfully, adding several stress for Eaden to take advantage of. And a crit on Howlrunner. However, after the initial approach, they were able to avoid the Debris like any other asteroid, and it didn't matter.

The only other advantage was that the Debris tokens are pretty large, so there may have been several times they had to pick less optimal maneuvers.

As far as Dash goes, I don't land on obstacles all that much, so I'd prefer to take the more damaging tokens, rather than the Debris fields.

Actually I'm not sure how they are making dash so powerful. Think about it, he avoids them anyway...

Debris fields improve dash because he doesn't have to avoid them. With asteroids, dash still doesn't want to land on top of them because they will still prevent his attack, debris doesn't have that restriction so, with a board full of debris tokens, it is virtually like a completely empty table for dash (although they will still obstruct his shots, won't they?).

Actually I'm not sure how they are making dash so powerful. Think about it, he avoids them anyway...

Debris fields improve dash because he doesn't have to avoid them. With asteroids, dash still doesn't want to land on top of them because they will still prevent his attack, debris doesn't have that restriction so, with a board full of debris tokens, it is virtually like a completely empty table for dash (although they will still obstruct his shots, won't they?).

Interesting! Most of my dash opponents never end on obstacles, but I could see how it could be an advantage. For me that means they cannot stop me from shooting either. But I do get your point.

eagletsi

Actually I'm not sure how they are making dash so powerful. Think about it, he avoids them anyway...

Debris fields improve dash because he doesn't have to avoid them. With asteroids, dash still doesn't want to land on top of them because they will still prevent his attack, debris doesn't have that restriction so, with a board full of debris tokens, it is virtually like a completely empty table for dash (although they will still obstruct his shots, won't they?).

Yes, but the obstruction is a 2 way street, which tends to favor Dash - I've seen several good players consistently park themselves on the far side of a debris field when they can't arc dodge to grab the free green die.

It's not 'Woah so ridiculous!' but I do think it's a bit too strong at the moment to allow Dash players to just take big debris fields.

I found with playing dash you have to go right for him, and if that means going through a debris or rock, I do it everytime. Sure you might lose a hull or in worse case suffer a critical, but in most cases it has no effect on you. Unless you land on top of it, then with a rock you cannot shoot, which is really bad.

Edited by eagletsi111

It seems to me that people underestimate how big impact it will have on the game (eg. TIE swarm, Lambda, initiative). Moreover, some people even didn't read carefully how the new rules work (forming a pool of obstacles). (Not to mention, that some people still have no idea how debris field work.)

And no, Aggressors don't like debris fields.

We've been using a standardized set of six for 3 years, and suddenly there are 36 different combinations of obstacle to fly through.

Actually, each player can choose from 220 combinations, so total is 48 400.

So in theory I could take the fattest debris fields from wave 5 ships and the fat asteroid? Oh what a lovely crowded board if I can.

So in theory I could take the fattest debris fields from wave 5 ships and the fat asteroid? Oh what a lovely crowded board if I can.

Yep.

Alternatively, you could grab the 3 smallest from the pool.

It seems to me that people underestimate how big impact it will have on the game (eg. TIE swarm, Lambda, initiative). Moreover, some people even didn't read carefully how the new rules work (forming a pool of obstacles). (Not to mention, that some people still have no idea how debris field work.)

And no, Aggressors don't like debris fields.

We've been using a standardized set of six for 3 years, and suddenly there are 36 different combinations of obstacle to fly through.

Actually, each player can choose from 220 combinations, so total is 48 400.
Edited by TallTonyB