I'd be interested in hearing what other players think about the rules for placing obstacles, using obstacles strategically, and the effects of the obstacles themselves. For example, a friend I play with didn't seem to like the station effect, so we just treated it like a big asteroid field during one of our games. Personally, I think the station effect is kind of cool, and I appreciate that the different types of obstacles affect ships in different ways. I think the player who chooses where to place the station could use this strategically to place the station where his ship(s) may be a few turns down the road, when he could really use that repair effect, so I think the second player could use this to their advantage since they get to choose and place the first obstacle.

When I play the empire, I'm not a big fan of obstacles (aside from the station). I place them out of the way, or as close to the front of the rebel play area as I can to try to box them in. I've sometimes just placed obstacles way off in a corner with the thought that I'm better off with them out of the way than with them potentially in the path of one of my lumbering VSDs. The rebels have an easier time dodging obstacles than VSDs, so why not take the three obstacles I have control over practically off the board? Alternately, as I mentioned before, sometimes I'll try to place them right in front of the rebel start area to slightly limit their feasible deployment zones. This tactic seems just as valid when used against the empire.

When I play rebels I don't worry quite so much about obstacles, as my ships are nimble enough to fly around them in most cases. At the same time, I'll also admit that I've certainly miscalculated at higher speeds and flown right into something. Still, I think the rebel's maneuverability gives them an edge when dealing with obstacles and as a rebel player I'm much quicker to place them in a way that actively stifles the enemy fleet, even if they're potentially in my way as well.

For people who don't like the station, would you play with 4 asteroid fields and 2 debris fields? Of course, both players would have to agree on this.

Just for reference, the rules for placing obstacles are:

Place Obstacles: Starting with the second player, the players take turns choosing and placing six obstacles in the play area. Obstacles must be placed within the setup area, beyond distance 3 of the edges of the play area, and beyond distance 1 of each other. If playing with only the ships and squadrons included in this box, players place only four obstacles.

(Learn to Play, Complete Setup, p. 23).

Obstacles effects (slightly paraphrased):

Asteroid Field: Overlapping ships receive 1 faceup damage card. Squadrons are unaffected.

Debris Field: Overlapping ships suffer 2 damage on any hull zone. Squadrons are unaffected.

Station: Overlapping ships may discard 1 face up or facedown damage card. Squadrons may recover one hull point.

*editing for spelling

Last night I hid luke in an asteroid field and it saved a lot of damage. problem was once the vic got in range i had 0 dice to shoot!

So here is a question. If I have 2 core sets, what is to stop me from using multiples of the same type of obstacles?

Not according to the tournament rules. You use the 2nd players obstacles.

But playing for fun do what ever you want.

You know, I haven't really thought about the patterns in obstacle placement in my games so far. When the objective chosen doesn't impose any particular importance on obstacles, I think that both sides have used them either to try to disrupt potential deployment plans or place them as far out of the way as possible. In one game where I attempted to place the station in such a way that it could be beneficial to me, the other player placed all three of their obstacles around it in a such a way to deter trying to venture over for a free repair.

The station has seen so little use (mostly because whoever places it seems to do so to deny the other player rather than to benefit themselves) that I cannot fairly determine at this point whether I like it or not. In general though and aside from say, narrative scenario play removed from the objective cards, I like the obstacles. They can either be a huge pain or a non-factor on the 3x6 surface depending on how each side wants to play.

Not according to the tournament rules. You use the 2nd players obstacles.

But playing for fun do what ever you want.

Or three core sets. 3 stations here I come.

But on a serious note, 6 obstacles on a play area that large are relatively worthless.