Hello all. The following brief overview is match 2 of 3 in my first tournament. There were 6 players, 4 Imperial and 2 Rebel. This took place several weekends ago, so I’ve forgotten some of the finer details. Also I apologize for the lack of pictures, since my phone died on me during the event.

Note: All directions will be from my perspective.

My List: Rebels

Assault Frigate Mark IIA (81) Nicknamed “Blunderer”

• Electronic Countermeasures (7)
• Intel Officer (7)
• XI7 Turbolasers (6)

Nebulon-B Escort Frigate (57)

• General Dodonna (20)

CR90 Corvette B (39)

• Dodonna’s Pride (6)

CR90 Corvette B (39)

Squadrons:

X-wing (13)

Luke (20)

Total: 295

Objectives: Fleet Ambush, Advanced Gunnery, Intel Sweep

My goal with this fleet was to have 4 ships to mitigate my disadvantage if I didn’t get initiative. My two squadrons were meant to hold off the enemy until my other ships sped out of range, and maybe Luke would get some shots off on a capital. I was expecting a large number of Imperial players, and definitely Gladiators. I tried to equip my assault frigate to punch through a single side of a Vic or Glad and start doing crits as well as a flanking Dodonna’s Pride. I always deployed my CR90s at speed 4, my Neb-B at speed 2 and Blunderer at speed 3.

My Opponent’s List: Imperials

Victory I Class Star Destroyer (73)

• Flight controllers (6)
• Expanded hanger bays (5)
• Corrupter (5)
  

Gladiator I Class Star Destroyer (56)

• Demolisher (10)
• Assault Concussion Missiles (7)
• Admiral Screed (26)

Squadrons:

2x Tie Advanced (24)

2x Tie Bomber (18)

Major Rymer (16)

Darth Vader (21)

Sontir Fel (18)

Total: > 295 (I had the low bid. However, I’m missing something, or got something wrong about his list sorry)

Objectives: Superior Positions, Precision Strike, Hyperspace Assault

Setup:

I chose to take initiative and then chose Precision Strike as the objective, with Dodonna's pride and Luke I was hoping to score crits anyway so it seemed a natural fit. The station was placed by my opponent near his side of the board centered. I used my obstacle placements to try and keep his Vic from getting a straight run to the station from either of his deployment corners. His other obstacles were placed near the edges of the map. Our fleets were fairly lined up opposite each other, as I planned a joust with my Neb and a cut across with Blunderer. My corvettes were lined up on either flank. My opponent's Vic started speed 2, while Demolisher was speed 3. I planned to try and quickly take down Demolisher and then move on to the Vic.

Turn 1:

I angled Blunderer to the left to cut across his Vic at long range and get some shots on Demolisher who was even further left. My corvettes moved slightly further out on the flanks and my Neb-b slowly plodded forward. My x-wings hid on the far side of Blunderer. My opponent moved his ships forward with his squadrons slightly ahead of them.

Turn 2:

I activated Dodonna's Pride first and took several shots at his Vic, but I was only able to take a few shields out, however my move took me out of his front arc. His Vic then responded with his Rymer strike. The 3 bombers and Darth moved and all fired into the side of my Neb-B, luckily only one hit was rolled and the side shield went down (and was repaired immediately later in the round). I then moved my second corvette out of Demolisher's close range side arc after taking down some shields. His Demolisher when next and put fire into my assault frigate. I returned fire with my remaining ships and managed to deal a crit, choosing structural damage. This gave me a victory token as well as more face down cards to flip in the future with Precision Strike. I moved my x-wing to engage Rymer and feelings, while Luke tried to move to intercept the Demolisher, however Sontir and his escorts moved and engaged.

Turn 3:

Chose Blunderer to move first and unleashed my fury upon Demolisher, with two attacks I did several more damage, another crit, and a flipped crit. Demolished was left with one hull, but was able to return fire and limp away. Since I had no chance to come about and catch Demolisher I chose to now focus on his Vic which had slowed and was currently over the station. Out remaining ships went and exchanged some fire, not really accomplishing anything however. My x-wing managed with the earlier help of some escort frigate anti-squadron shots, to take down one bomber but Luke was taking a beating from his attackers.

Turn 4:

As I engaged Corrupter I learned of a huge tactic error on my part. With my previous manuvers I had left my Neb-b and assault frigate no choice but to ram the front of Corrupter, who was then able to stay on the station! This is where Blunderer earned its name, since it's only move left only its front arc facing the Vic...our ships pounded fire into each other and I earned numerous victory tokens thanks to Dodonna's Pride and the few damage I got through the shields. Blunderer, however wasn't able to stand up to the return fire and exploded in a fiery blossom. Through the fire my Neb-b continued to fire at Corrupter. Demolisher began his slow turn about. Luke was at one health and fired his last shots at an advanced before Sontir's ability finished him off and my other x-wing went down, but it had managed to hold off Rymer and friends to the point where my ships had left them behind and they wouldn't be able to add much to the rest of the match.

Turn 5:

This turn was a slugfest between my remaining ships and Corrupter, which only had a few hull remaining by the end of this round, but I had gained several more victory tokens. By Neb took a frontal volley from Corrupter but only took 2 damage cards, which after the ram left it with 2 hull remaining. Demolisher continued its slow turn around and began to repair, while my opponent’s squadrons tried to catch up to my ships.

Turn 6:

I redirected my rear shields to the front of my Neb-B and took another shot into Corrupter while also firing anti-squadron shots at several incoming bomber squadrons. Corrupter’s next activation however blew the Neb-b into fragments and it finally moved forward off the station (which was the only reason it survived so long), However with my next two activations my corvettes exacted their revenge and finished off the victory, however my stock CR90’s movement left it within a Demolisher shot (“Demolisher shot” meaning the shot after his move). This CR90 had already lost all its shields to rear and side shots from the Victory and Demolisher easily finished him off. This was the last action of the game as the single remaining rebel ship fled into hyperspace to avoid the now back up to half strength Demolisher.

Summary: Although I lost most of my ships I scored 12 fifteen point victory tokens, while my opponent only had 5. The final score difference was less than 5 apart with my opponent slightly in the lead; this meant a MOV split of 5-5. This game was a blast to play and went down to the wire. I learned several things, one of which is to never let any ramming take place if your opponent is on the station. I failed to foresee this outcome and my misjudging of my maneuver got my Assault Frigate locked in an impossible situation. I was impressed however at how much punishment the Neb-b could take as long as it was taking frontal shots. If not for the ramming damage (3 cards/damage) it would have been able to survive both frontal shots from the Vic! Overall, a great game and thanks to my opponent!

After this round I was now sitting in a three way tie for second place in the tournament standings (11 points MOV). Keep your eyes out for AAR 3 which I will try to get up in the next few days. I’ll discuss a little more about my impressions of my first tournament, how I might have changed my list, and other general thoughts. Until then!