How is using a game mechanic that is essential to killing ace pilots that rely on actions to survive unsportsmanlike? I don't consider blocking my opponent to be a WAAC mindset/gameplan. Am I supposed to go easy on some fellow at the game shop on a casual night because I'm worried that he might not be having the time of his life? I feel like that falls under the category of "forgetting" to do all of your abilities to give your opponents more of a fighting chance if you A. are a better player or B. coincidentally perfectly counter their squad. Deliberately not playing to the best of your ability is more "unsportsmanlike" than using a game mechanic.

... 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 would only add that the main reason a lot of us want to win is because it means we get to play more games after the cut. We sign up for the chance at swag and bragging rights - we labor over what build to bring, because we want a chance to play in the finals - but when we're there, all that matters is sucking the marrow out of the bones of the tournament at hand - In the regionals this year, I wanted to make the cut because I wanted to play more rounds with guys who are playing "for realz". My deepest regret was not that I didn't get a few more bucks worth of swag, or bragging rights (though that hurt a bit since I just missed the cut) - what mattered on the floor that day was that I missed out on another three rounds of high level play.

I don't think I am alone in that sort of sentiment. I plan for, hope for, and build for all the swag and the bragging rights - or whatever recognition/validation I imagine can be had from such a victory - but once I am there - all I want is to pit myself against other players and see how it goes.

You certainly shouldn't feel bad for playing within the rules, especially for the rules in the core rule book. I always say "that's what they get for picking a ship that cannot move fast enough to avoid the block (3 banks, 4 fwds)."

Most comments here argue that it is a game dynamic and therefore acceptable. I agree with this.

However, I don't feel it was an intended strategy that FFG planned for. I believe the ships overlapping rule was put in place to resolve ships accidentaly overlapping. The game is about fast moving fighters. In no world, realisticlly or otherwise would fighters constantly smashing/bumbing into another to prohibit an enemy's movement, or control their own speed be a desirable and/or set maneouvre (just like fortressing).

But it is unsportsmanlike ... No way.

Is it thematic .. Also no.

Is blocking unsportsmanlike? No. Is it aggravating to play against? Yes. Some players are more fun to play against than others. When it gets bad for me is when I play the "jerk" player that also is running a blocking list. The "fun" player can make the blocking list not as bad to play against.

And now I'll chime in as one of the people who Vayn tabled last night:

You have absolutely nothing to worry about with that list. They say you learn more from your mistakes than your successes, and I learned a lot last night. I was the one setting maneuvers where it was possible for you to block me into having zero shots. Don't feel the slightest bit of remorse for it. I do not deserve your pity.

If anything, I was probably a bit unsporting when I rolled four hits with my wounded IG and declared "EAT MY HATE, MEATBAG." I tend to channel a lot of HK-47 when I fly IG. It should not be taken seriously.

For crying out loud, your list features DOUBLE FLECHETTE CANNONS. It's a very creative, sneaky list that makes good use out of a lot of things people don't generally use. You should feel proud about that..

... 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.

It's like he's spying on my life.

I think we all have a little hope-47 in us, I have an actuator in my lower back.

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?

I don't think this is a negative okay experience list or play style. If someone groaned about a fortressing player or 4 lambdas and 8 tacticians then fine, might not play it in a casual game, but if you're just using Intel Agent, eh. I'd be delighted to face a squad based around Intel Agent, I love using that myself.

Recently I played a XXXX, 3 of which had R7 droids. I beat brobots only losing Biggs. Forcing him to reroll all his hits must have been quite irritating, if only a hit was rolled I'd save my TL. If more were rolled I'd R7 it down to one or two and block it. Even with IG88B's ability I was well able to shrug off damage.

For crying out loud, your list features DOUBLE FLECHETTE CANNONS. It's a very creative, sneaky list that makes good use out of a lot of things people don't generally use. You should feel proud about that..

Spoil the list!

For crying out loud, your list features DOUBLE FLECHETTE CANNONS. It's a very creative, sneaky list that makes good use out of a lot of things people don't generally use. You should feel proud about that..

Spoil the list!

Not my list to spoil. I'll leave that to Vayn.

100 points

PILOTS

Blue Squadron Pilot (27)
B-Wing (22), Accuracy Corrector (3), Flechette Cannon (2)

Blue Squadron Pilot (24)
B-Wing (22), Flechette Cannon (2)

Blue Squadron Pilot (24)
B-Wing (22), B-Wing/E2 (1), Intelligence Agent (1)

Blue Squadron Pilot (25)
B-Wing (22), B-Wing/E2 (1), Tactician (2)

100 points

PILOTS

Blue Squadron Pilot (27)

B-Wing (22), Accuracy Corrector (3), Flechette Cannon (2)

Blue Squadron Pilot (24)

B-Wing (22), Flechette Cannon (2)

Blue Squadron Pilot (24)

B-Wing (22), B-Wing/E2 (1), Intelligence Agent (1)

Blue Squadron Pilot (25)

B-Wing (22), B-Wing/E2 (1), Tactician (2)

Stress city!

If your group doesn't like it the make it damage both parties when ships collide. It's a pretty fun way to play.

Most comments here argue that it is a game dynamic and therefore acceptable. I agree with this.

However, I don't feel it was an intended strategy that FFG planned for. I believe the ships overlapping rule was put in place to resolve ships accidentaly overlapping. The game is about fast moving fighters. In no world, realisticlly or otherwise would fighters constantly smashing/bumbing into another to prohibit an enemy's movement, or control their own speed be a desirable and/or set maneouvre (just like fortressing).

But it is unsportsmanlike ... No way.

Is it thematic .. Also no.

What I imagine occurring when small and large ships overlap (with the exception of Oicunn doing the overlapping) is not that ships are colliding but that they are locked in a tight dogfight and are engaging in evasive maneuvers with each other. The loss of the action reflect the increased concentration that is required to fly like this and the ship are not able to attack each other because they are closer than each other's targeting system's effective minimum ranges.

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?

What's he flying to be permablocked?

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?

What's he flying to be permablocked?

For my part, I was using SableGryphon's regionals list:

Boba Fett (Scum)

- Veteran Instincts

- Engine Upgrade

- Tactician

- Proton Bomb

IG88B

- Veteran Instincts

- Autothrusters

- Heavy Laser Cannon

- Advanced Sensors

And titles on both for flavor.

I very stupidly did a turn-2 S-Loop with IG, thinking that he would travel further than he did. I was hosed after that, as every attempt I made to clear the stress was pretty easily anticipated and blocked, and the stress was replaced by the Tacticians and/or Flechette Cannons (which were surprisingly effective against IG, as they eliminate the extra green die he would get for being at R3).

Meanwhile, Boba was also getting stacked stress effects thanks to the Flechette Cannon followed by Tactician shots, which killed his engine. Even when I did moves other than a green, the large base and Intel Agent made it very easy for him to barrel roll a B-Wing into position to block it.

I was, frankly, a bit overconfident about my ability to dodge most of what he was going to throw at me, and he made me suffer for it.

Not gonna read the whole thread, but to answer the prompt... no . It's a tactic. It's a perfectly counter-able tactic especially if you foresee it. Even if you don't, just make a big move. Might not put you in a perfect firing position, but you'll be free and the blockers will be stuck circling around themselves.

Jumped in to help to get to page 30.

How does the Accuracy Corrector + Flechette cannon do? Never thought about trying to combo that together. Must hit pretty often?

How does the Accuracy Corrector + Flechette cannon do? Never thought about trying to combo that together. Must hit pretty often?

Really great. Definitely becomes a target priority quickly though. I can freely BR to get good position, and like PhantomFO says, it cancels extra die at R3.

Still haven't tried it against fat turrets, which is what this build was originally for. Surprisingly effective against IG's so far.

100 points

PILOTS

Blue Squadron Pilot (27)

B-Wing (22), Accuracy Corrector (3), Flechette Cannon (2)

Blue Squadron Pilot (24)

B-Wing (22), Flechette Cannon (2)

Blue Squadron Pilot (24)

B-Wing (22), B-Wing/E2 (1), Intelligence Agent (1)

Blue Squadron Pilot (25)

B-Wing (22), B-Wing/E2 (1), Tactician (2)

Stress city!

100 points

PILOTS

Blue Squadron Pilot (27)

B-Wing (22), Accuracy Corrector (3), Flechette Cannon (2)

Blue Squadron Pilot (24)

B-Wing (22), Flechette Cannon (2)

Blue Squadron Pilot (24)

B-Wing (22), B-Wing/E2 (1), Intelligence Agent (1)

Blue Squadron Pilot (25)

B-Wing (22), B-Wing/E2 (1), Tactician (2)

Stress city!

Suffer-A-Stress City. /BowieSongsFromAParallelUniverse

seems more well rounded; not quite stress city

could have been 4 tactician Bs, or 3 Tacticians and 1 flechette

Stress is interesting against fat turrets. Their biggest strength is in the engine upgrade, so limiting their actions seems valuable. Plus you don't have to hit them twice like you do with Ion.

I wonder if 1-ion to disable a large ship would be totally broken or not.

If a single B has flechette and tactician, its single shot would induce 2 stress on an unstressed enemy?

If a single B has flechette and tactician, its single shot would induce 2 stress on an unstressed enemy?

Yes. Flechette happens during the attack, Tactician after the attack.