Hello community. You can call me Lev. I am an older X-Wing TMG player. I figured it was about time I came to forums.

I ran X-Wing builds when I first started, and kept it that way for so long. I started out using Luke, and 3 other X-Wings (it was all that was available at the time). I swapped luke for Wedge later on. As time went by, my builds got less and less effective due to new cards that had better stats, or better synchronization than mine.

I did see in the forums from a few months ago that F.F.G is looking in to buffing the X-Wing. The idea I saw going around a lot, was the one saying that they want to give X-Wing's a generic astromech. The Generic Astromech would be like having a free Recon Specialist. If they implemented this, it would save me points, and give me more Synchronization options such as a HWK-290 with Jan Ors as the crew. It would be easy to implement in Tournaments.. Put a Recon Specialist by the X-Wing so people are aware of the change. I doubt they will do this however. In case they don't, I was thinking of running 6 A-Wings as my back up strategy (for when I retun to the competitive scene). This is what I was thinking:

Arvel Crynyd

Chardaan Refit

A-Wing Test Pilot

Intimidation

Green Squadron Pilot

Chardaan Refit

Prototype Pilot x4

Chardaan Refit

My logic for this new build is because I did see a 5 A-Wing build with Proton Rockets work in the competitive scene. If I take the proton rockets out, add an A-Wing, and get Arvel, it will be bump central.. Have Arvel Block, and reduce the Agility of my target by 1, and let the other A-wings have their way with them. I recognize this will be a little harder to do because I am so use to X-Wings but, I can practice for it.

I would only need to find an X-Wing TMG group or something. The Alienware Gaming store or whatever that is closest to me.. They have X-Wing TMG nights on Saturday but, no one ever goes. I am there most Saturdays, only to sit in the store for 10 minutes and not get 1 opponent.

If this idea isn't good I thought of two other strategies to try:

Talonbane Cobra

Graz The Hunter

Black Sun Ace

Body Guard

Cartel Marauder

This leaves me with 2 points. I can use those to get Glitterstim on Graz or the Talonbane. Or I can put XX-23 S-Thread Tracers on the Cartel Marauder, and on Graz or the Talonbane

The back up to this would be:

Talonbane Cobra

Cartel Marauder x3

Z-95 Headhunter

Which strategy do you think would be most effective for a return to the competitive scene out of the theory crafts I posted?

Also while I am here.. I know it is off topic, but, I am new. Where would I go to make a suggestion to FFG?

Thank you if you respond and help.

Hi RPLev welcome back to x-wing. As far as a 6 wing list goes the biggest problem you will run into with your current build is that Arvel simply cannot work as a bumper if he is your highest PS ship. I've tried a similar list in the past, but at PS 6 he will be moving after all of your other ships. As A-wings really can't slow themselves down this usually means that your other ships will be leapfrogging him each turn, and you will be relying on him leaping out in front and then you risk bumping yourself and not the enemy. If there was a way to give him enhanced scopes he would be good, not great but at least good.

So sorry, he is just useless as a pilot despite his obvious potential (And the fact that he is Green 1) because FFG design his ability in a way that it doesn't work with the rest of his ship.

Now if you run him, Tycho, and Jake he can work as your bumper as he is your lowest PS ship. Flown well this can work, but for A-wings to really come into their own you need them to have PTL.

I've flown A-wing squadrons a lot, and tried a large number of methods for making squads of them. I've found two methods that are effective:

1. 4 A-wings each aroun 25 points. No one has Prockets in this kind of a build as they cost 5 points for an A-wing and limit your options substantially. Basic A-wings need a modification and PTL at least to be useful most of the time, and if you aren't takin two EPTs you're missing out on the one thing which makes this ship truly unique.

Example builds:

Jake Farrel- PTL, Outmaneuver

3x Greens- PTL, Calculation

All have Chadraan, Test pilot, and Autothrusters

Gemmer Sojan- PTL

3x Greens- PTL, Outmaneuver

All have Chadraan, Test pilot, and Autothrusters

My personal favorite:

"Green Arrow"

4x Greens- PTL, wingman, Chadraan, Test pilot, and hull upgrade

2. 3 elite A-wings with missiles. I took this sort of list to regionals in Mass this year. Each ship does a lot and they we all pretty potent, but you only have 12 hit points on the table so you can't afford any mistakes.

Example build:

Tycho Celchu- PTL, Daredevil, Prockets, Test Pilot, Expiramental Interface

Jake Farrel- PTL, Outmaneuver, Prockets, test Pilot, Autothrusters

Gemmer Sojan- PTL, Test Pilot, Prockets, Autothrusters

Flown well this list is terrifying, flown poorly and you are dead in 10 minutes.

If you want to try a 5 ship list is recommend Gemmer with PTL and Autothrusters as your one elite ship, with Chadraan Refit he is an even 25 points, so he is usually easy to fit into a list. Add 4 Prototypes gets you to 85 points, you can spend 10 of those on Autothrusters for the prototypes and 5 on Prockets for Gemmer or just take a 6th prototype.

I hope that all helps out.

Thank you for such a great response. Unfortunately this is my first time on the forums so most of what you typed went over my head. I have no idea what EPT means. I understood PTL because I have heard that a lot in real life. I guess this is something you learn after being on the forums more then a day.

As for this Calculation Card.. I have no idea why this is in here. I may not know A-Wings but, I know tournaments. I was told to never take the Marksmanship card as it is a waste of points. This Calculation Card looks to be just like it.

I think I came up with a solution for the problem them thanks to you starting the spark so to speak. I remember there was an old strategy called "daisy chaining". I don't know if this still works but, if it does.. let me show you how this works.

Arvel Crynyd

Intimidation

Chardaan Refit

Jake Farrell

Chardaan Refit

Swarm Tactics

Green Squadron

Swarm Tactics

Chardaan Refit

Green Squadron x2

Chardaan Refit

This a 3 way Daisy Chain.. Jake's Swarm Tactic goes to the Green Squadron, That Green Squadron then sends his Swarm Tactic to Arvel. This makes 3 of the 5 A-Wings 7 Pilot Skill. The last two are 3 Pilot Skill. That fix the strategy a little?

Daisy chaining works to let you shoot sooner, but swa tactics only matters during combat so Arvel is still moving second to last sadly.

No problem being new to the forums, I am myself as well. EPT means elite pilot talent.

As for calculation it is there because you should usually be double auctioning to get a focus and evade token with push the limit. As you are getting shot at first you may need to spend the focus before you get to shoot, but if you don't then calculation is great for A-wings as you only have two attack dice. With two attack dice you will most often roll just 1 focus result, and if you do calculation lets you turn that into a crit result. You can still focus for hits on those rare occasions you roll 2 focus, but it's a cheap card that boosts your overall damage output substatially.

As for marksman it is actually a VERY good card for any ship which can shoot twice, so anything with gunner, as it lets you convert focus for each attack. The meta dislikes it as a card mostly because the mets believes that EPT slots must always have veterans instincts.

Oddly another upgrade to try with Arvel would be daredevil. Unlike boost daredevil is a maneuver, and thus you CAN use it to bump. The stress you gain from it isn't a big deal as you can clear it so easily. Honestly if you are really set on getting Arvel to do his thing I'd try him with daredevil, you will much more reliably make it into contact with an enemy ship that way.