So, I took the plunge and bought in with a base set. Loved Descent, but I'm excited to see how skirmish mode works and I've played a couple solo matches.

Here's my question - in comparing X-wing to Star Trek Attack Wing, the comment is often makes that X-Wing is the "better" game because it's 30% what you bring and 70% how you fly it. For STAW this is reversed.

How does this apply to Imperial Assault? It seems as though the dominant meta is a bunch of Imperial Officers and some uber troops. Are there other options? Can you outplay your opponent with a "weaker" build?

A lot of that had to do with the maps/scenarios for tournament play where the goal was to rush out and capture objectives. The 4x4 (4 Royals Guard, 4 Officers) did that really, really, really well.

Not sure how the new maps will affect that, but the combination of cheap 2-point units that can order others around with relatively cheap, speedy, and very tough melee units are what makes Imps dangerous.

That being said, you can make other imperial lists and several rebel lists do very well. At the moment Mercs struggle, but I think that can change up with the new merc models.

I did very well at my regionals bringing a trollish Merc list (2 Trandos, 2 Elite Trandos, 1 Elite Nexu), and outplayed some rebels and imperials....but I did get crushed by the stupid fast lists on objective points. Didn't have trouble killing things, just could stay quick enough or get in enough activations.

New tourny maps look more like slugging matches so the more punchy lists probably will rise in prominence a bit.

There are limited options for building squads at the moment due to the lack of figures available.

The problem with imperial officers is that the current map list for tournament play favours them and if you buy 4 core sets you can build the most powerful list (4 officers 4 royal guards).

These are teething problems with a game that has yet to get its first box expansion.

Within 2 weeks the maps are changing to a much more balanced set, well be getting an additional 10 deployment cards and a bunch of new command cards.

It is possible to outplay a superior squad, a skill that will be all the more important with the new set of maps.

There are limited options for building squads at the moment due to the lack of figures available.

Quoted for truth.

Right now there is a limited number of lists, that win tournaments on a regular basis:

4 Imperial Officers, 4 Royal Guard ("4x4")

4 Imperial Officers, 2 Royal Guard, 2 E-Web Elite

4 Imperial Officers, 2 Royal Guard, 1 Stormtrooper, 2 Probe Droid Elite ("9Act")

4 Imperial Officers, 1 Royal Guard, 1 Stormtrooper, Darth Vader ("Vader's Fist")

Gideon, Mak, lots of Rebel Saboteurs

Gideon, Mak, lots of Rebel Saboteurs, Luke

Gideon, Mak, lots of Rebel Saboteurs, Luke, Jyn

(Variations of "Rebel Blast")

It has been argued a lot, if the Imperial Officers are unballanced, please let's not repeat this here.

To answer your questions:

I think it's 30% what you bring, 50% how you fight with it and 20% how you roll the dice.

A good player with a weaker build can definitly outplay a weaker opponent.

It is possible to outplay a superior squad, a skill that will be all the more important with the new set of maps.

Quoted for truth ... again.