I just recently made a list that makes good use of Intelligence Agent and stress mechanics. Initially I thought I would use IA to anticipate and keep a firing arc on the target, but I'm finding myself more often blocking the maneuver to deny actions and continue stressing the opponent.

It's not exactly a list to make friends with... but I think with some good practice it can be highly effective.

I do sometimes feel bad as I know how frustrating it would be if it happened to me.

Is this a list I should consider not flying? What's the general opinion on players that use these game mechanics?

Just as manoeuvring is a large part of the game, so is counter-manoeuvring. There are numerous ways to deny your opponent positioning and actions; blocking is one of them. But there are also numerous ways for the opponent to counter blocking; Stay on Target, Advanced Sensors, Enhanced Scopes, Navigator, et cetera.

Blocking your opponent to deny actions is essential with some lists (A-Wings, TIE Swarm...), self-blocking for speed control is essential with others (Lambda Shuttle lists, Aggressor lists).

I don't think it's unsportsmanlike. It's a part of the core mechanics of the game and is something you must consider how to use or how to counter effectively with any list you play.

Uh oh, here we go again. See you guys on page 30.

Blocking is a part of the game and a perfectly valid counter to certain builds and playstyles, just like stress lists and fat Hans.

Not everyone may like that list but it's far from the most abusive way to play.

Actually making use of a seldom used upgrade card, which in turn benefit - but doesn't change - a core mechanic of the game?

No.

Is this a list I should consider not flying? What's the general opinion on players that use these game mechanics?

I've got no issue with people running lists designed to block, even to excess - it's an important part of the game and kind of a vital check and balance against certain enemies (hello there Baron Fel!).

Blocking is fine. It usually means those who take super elites suffer the most. Cry me a river if Fat Han has a hard time due to blocking.

Blocking is fine. It usually means those who take super elites suffer the most. Cry me a river if Fat Han has a hard time due to blocking.

Exactly.

Furthermore, if you are the one running a high PS list/pilot, you should expect your opponent to try and block you whenever possible and plan your maneuvers/strategy accordingly.

I can imagine that playing against an opponent who constantly blocks your every move is not a lot of fun after a while, unless you win regardless - that might actually be very gratifying. It's up to every player to decide if not having fun because of some way of playing makes that style 'unsportsmanlike'...maybe it is, maybe not.

To me, the following holds true for every list: once I notice that some combination of cards consistently wins, I will look for something else to play, going back to my 'powerful' combination when an opponent has something I cannot beat. If you feel that your squad of blockers is almost never beaten and universally hated by other players, it might be time to gracefully retire that squad.

But since you only recently made that squad, don't you think that your opponents should be granted a little time to come up with a good counterstrategy?

Its a normal part of the game so no.

However if you play casual and your usual enemies get very annoyed by it you could just take a different list once in a while. If they keep playing the lists wher you need it to beat them suggest the same to them or go back to annoy them ;-)

Blocking is a strategy of the game.

Uh oh, here we go again. See you guys on page 30.

I'm sure this has been discussed before, but I'm fairly new to the forums :\

Is this a list I should consider not flying? What's the general opinion on players that use these game mechanics?

If you're not enjoying flying the list for whatever reason, you should definitely consider not flying it. It's a game, we play it for fun, if something's impinging on that fun that's all the reason you need to find a list you're more comfortable with.

I've got no issue with people running lists designed to block, even to excess - it's an important part of the game and kind of a vital check and balance against certain enemies (hello there Baron Fel!).

I'm having a lot of fun flying the list! But I don't want it to be at the expense of my opponent. It's definitely not for casual play, I'm just looking for something to take to Nationals.

My friend playing dash corran was up against a chiraneu whisper list during store championships. Corran iced whisper and dash was handling the rac. 2ell the other player chiraneu basically in the corner by the edge and the only way out of it was to 2 turn to the left. Any other maneuver would have taken him off the board. Unfortunately my friends dash was right there and had him pinned. My buddy then just kept dash against the read admiral and then flew corran to the opposite and just had him fly in a square for a half hour lol. I didn't think it was bad, my friend didn't and his opponent who yeah while definitely annoyed that the game was essentially over was fine with it and conceded so they could set up and try again while they waited for the round to be over.

This is totally legit strategy. I have blocked big ships off the board several times with ties.

I'm having a lot of fun flying the list! But I don't want it to be at the expense of my opponent. It's definitely not for casual play, I'm just looking for something to take to Nationals.

Every time one of these types of posts come up, I get a good chuckle from it. Not only from the tenor of the post, but from all of the responses it generates.

Why do people insist on either a) calling something unsportsmanlike or b) calling something against the "spirit" of the game, when all you are doing is adhering to established rules? If FFG didn't want to permit blocking, then it would be against the rules.

You want to have fun flying, but not be at the expense of your opponent? Stop rolling red dice and trying to damage his ships. It is very unsportsmanlike ...

unsportsmanlike would be your opponent complaining about the blocking when it's something he could play around

I'm having a lot of fun flying the list! But I don't want it to be at the expense of my opponent. It's definitely not for casual play, I'm just looking for something to take to Nationals.

Every time one of these types of posts come up, I get a good chuckle from it. Not only from the tenor of the post, but from all of the responses it generates.

Why do people insist on either a) calling something unsportsmanlike or b) calling something against the "spirit" of the game, when all you are doing is adhering to established rules? If FFG didn't want to permit blocking, then it would be against the rules.

You want to have fun flying, but not be at the expense of your opponent? Stop rolling red dice and trying to damage his ships. It is very unsportsmanlike ...

I've never flown with a list/against one that used this game mechanic before, and didn't know if some might consider "abusing" it. So I was curious as it was new to me and don't know if it was something that was looked down upon. Maybe using the word "unsportsmanlike" was wrong, just curious about the general opinion.

Even so, I can't be mad if the subject line drew attention. That was the whole point, why ask a question in a forum that no one will answer? I'd like to see what other people have to say on the subject.

Uh oh, here we go again. See you guys on page 30.

I'm sure this has been discussed before, but I'm fairly new to the forums :\

He's saying that this has to potential to be a controversial topic.

Blocking is not an issue when using upgrade cards, as this is a function of the game that was intended on being used. If they didn't want people to do this, they wouldn't have made the card that you are referring to.

This is a discussion that eventually segues to the topic of Fortress builds. They are the extreme on that spectrum, as it exploits game mechanics to, essentially, achieve the same results. The consensus on that issue is that it is a cheap way to play the game. It throws maneuvering out the window, makes no sense for the illusion of flying in 3D space, and even the game designers say they don't like it.

If you're playing competitively, it really isn't, and shouldn't ever be thought of as an issue. There is a reason we see very similar builds in the final cuts of various tournaments - and it isn't (entirely) because people lack creativity, or because these builds are "the most fun" to play - it is because they are the most efficient and therefore most competitive builds people have come up with. If you have fun playing them - that is a bonus - but you're not playing at that level for "fun" - your paying a fee for the chance to win some a few dollars worth of Acrylic swag, and some bragging rights amongst a select group of nerdy, and (mostly) middle aged men.

But if you're playing friends for the sake of having fun, and you're not having fun, or you feel like your friends are not having fun because of the build you're playing - then don't play it.

TL;DR: If your in a tournament, who gives a darn? if not - then play it if your friends will suffer it for your sake, otherwise don't. It isn't rocket science.

... you're not playing at that level for "fun" - your paying a fee for the chance to win some a few dollars worth of Acrylic swag, and some bragging rights amongst a select group of nerdy, and (mostly) middle aged men.

There is something very sad about this.

I have no problem with this sort of play but when your opponent is using IA and staring at his dials, trying to figure out all the options it can get annoying. Its not exactly slow play as they are just trying to figure out the best option and not deliberately going slow, but it can suck the fun out of a game.

Why do people insist on either a) calling something unsportsmanlike or b) calling something against the "spirit" of the game, when all you are doing is adhering to established rules? If FFG didn't want to permit blocking, then it would be against the rules.

I do think that someone "fortressing" in the corner is against the spirit of the rules. That's where you have all your ships bump each other on purpose to stay static on the table for an entire game of not moving. It's within the rules, but pretty lame. I wouldn't call a judge over, but I'd laugh and call the guy out for the lamest game of X-wing ever.

Blocking is no more unsportsman like than having your high PS pilot wait until your opponent has moved all of their ships and then using boost and barrel-roll to dodge out of their arcs.

My list last weekend was 2x Academy Pilot (my blockers), Fel, and Whisper with IA. I can't tell you how good IA is before decloak, and also knowing which way to barrel roll your academies

The list I would consider the toughest to fly against? One round I went up against Advanced Sensor Brobots. Holy Hannah that was tough!

It is entirely a good tactic, and the finer points aren't used very often with it. I just wish Arvel was better or I'd exclusively use him!

Why do people insist on either a) calling something unsportsmanlike or b) calling something against the "spirit" of the game, when all you are doing is adhering to established rules? If FFG didn't want to permit blocking, then it would be against the rules.

I do think that someone "fortressing" in the corner is against the spirit of the rules. That's where you have all your ships bump each other on purpose to stay static on the table for an entire game of not moving. It's within the rules, but pretty lame. I wouldn't call a judge over, but I'd laugh and call the guy out for the lamest game of X-wing ever.

It's against the spirit of the game though, it's meant to be star fighters pulling off hard turns and barrel rolls as lasers criss cross the void, not sitting in a corner for 90 minutes.