Short version: build a 100-point squad with your favourite ship type(s) and then switch with you opponent.

Long version:

This is not really a squad build topic, not a complete battle report, nor a mission/organized play, so therefore it is here in the generic X-wing section

A while ago I was planning on trying triple interceptors. But before the game I got into a discussion with a friend about the variety of ships. How I am glad the most wanted expansion gives the Y-wing a possibility to shine as the mainstream scum fighter instead of ending up as the unsung hero of the rebellion even though it was used more widely than the X wing (as the hurricane was in comparison to the spitfire). She answered she prefered to give scum its own face with the unique looking Scyk.

Eventually we realized I favour the sluggish, high hit point ships, such as B-wings, Y-Wings, and TIE Bombers. She favours the agile, low hit point arc dodgers such as A-wings and Scyks. We even split rebel aces as she wanted a fourth A-wing, but not a third B-wing. I wanted the aces B-wing, but no A-wing.

Astonished at each others preference as well as each others on-hatred-bordering adversity against our own preference, we came up with a challenge:

We would make a squad of our own preference and then switch.

Thus she ended up with my creation of;

- Ten Nunb, B-wing, Mangler Cannon

- Keyan Farlander, B-wing, PtL, Advanced Sensors

- Dutch Vander Y-wing, y-wing title, autoblaster turret, R7-T1, bomb loadout, seismic charges

Whether Ten Nunb had adv. Sensors too I can't remember.

I ended up with her well proven squad of four A-wings:

- 2x Green Squadron Pilot with Predator and Chardaan Refit

- 2x Green Squadron Pilot with Predator, Proton Rockets, and Munitions failsafe.

Tested against a triple tie, triple interceptor squad and won

Tested against a Decimator and a Firespray and won

What did I do against my own creation with this squad? I lost

By the time I slowly started to understand a bit more of the A-wing I had only two of them left, the B's and Dutch barely had a scratch.

But it was tremendously good fun! As we were both completely unfamiliar with the ships assigned to us we both got through the same learning curve. Even the dials started as a mistery resulting in outcries of: 'What! It can't do this?!?' And: ' HOW slow can a vehicle be ?!?, added with: It's dead ALREADY?!?'

We learned a lot about ships we normally didn't give a second glance.

It gave me insight in how to fly arc-dodgers, something I have to build on in the future.

It gave her a new found appreciation of B-Wings.

I seriously recommend to find someone with a completely opposite idea of an ideal squad, build your favourite dream-squad and then switch your squads.

Have fun!

I think some kind of random squad generator would be fun..

another fun thing I want to try is building the crappiest squad I can and making my opponent fly it while he does the same to me..

But but but then I might have to play rebels!

I wrote a similar topic last year about playing with the squad you built and then switching sides after the game and playing the opponents squad. It really helps new pilots learn how to optimally fly their squad and helps veterans as they try and "crack the code" if they are stuck against one squad in particular vs. their tournament list.

I feel that this is still one of the best ways to play the game and these types of topics should definitely happen more often.

I think some kind of random squad generator would be fun..

Here you go!

http://x-wing.fabpsb.net/gindex.php

"Yes, I always play Howlrunner with Lone Wolf and Experimental Interface!"

Nice idea, I like it!

Make it random to decide if you trade or not and you won't run into that problem.

Or you could do like me, never use a squad more than twice, outside of tournaments that is. That way I'm familiar with just about every ship, combo, pilot and ability there is. Why fly a certain list all the time when you can come up with new lists. Gotta try them all!

Give it a 50% chance of having your foe pilot it, or else folks will build turretless HWKs.

Spice runner swarm!!!

"Yes, I always play Howlrunner with Lone Wolf and Experimental Interface!"

Nice idea, I like it!

Ive found that when I want to play a random list I just mix up all the ship tiles and grab several at random. My last random list was - Gamma Squadron Pilot, Onyx Squadron Pilot and Lt. Lorrir versus Kenkirk and Chiraneau...it was fun but I got slaughtered.

Something I do pretty frequently is pick a ship and a pilot I don't normally use and keep experimenting till I get something workable.

Few weeks ago it was Kagi. I really wanted to include him in a list, but shuttles are difficult to invest points into.

I ended up taking some new stuff and after a few losses built something respectable.

My current project is Vessery. I love defenders but I have never flown Vessery before. Teaming him up with Krassis whom I have never flown before either. Still learning how they fly together but it's been fun.

The important thing is to give yourself a requirement, then build around it to see what you come up with.

What is being suggested may be a way to for someone to try new things but to work best you really should have good squadrons to begin with. If you were going into a tournament where you know you are always using your opponent's squadron that usually results in you making the weakest squadron possible.

If an opponent brings a fake 'good' squad, he/she didn't get the point. You make a squad which really represents your favourite ship or ships. A representation which really opposite the combat philosophy of your opponent. Swarms vs Millenium Falcon and Outrider ,or TIE Bombers vs TIE Interceptors, or A-wings vs B-Wings, or Y-Wings vs Scyks. In the future go with Kyrhaxz vs E-Wing, or a bunch of mist hunters vs Star Vipers

Randomized squads can give you weird or even flawed combinations, making you waste points. By allowing correctional solutions you lose the randomness. Building what you see as the worst mainly results in lots of HWK-290's.

Here you both follow your vision and then fight it. It is worth it to make it really good as you will suddenly see your favourite squad from a totally different view; the opposing one. It is worthe to receive a good squad so you can test your design and learn something about a ship you might have hated before.

Will I buy an A-wing? Nope, but I do respect them more instead of outright hating them

Give it a 50% chance of having your foe pilot it, or else folks will build turretless HWKs.

If that happens its really not worth yout time playing vs him/her...

1st they must think you are stupid not to notice it

2nd they would only do it to win and not to play

We often replay battles, swapping squads for the rematch. It's sometimes enlightening to see how someone else uses your creation.

Give it a 50% chance of having your foe pilot it, or else folks will build turretless HWKs.

If that happens its really not worth yout time playing vs him/her...

1st they must think you are stupid not to notice it

2nd they would only do it to win and not to play

Playing trash vs. trash can force you to do things you might not normally think of doing. It also makes you appreciate things more.

Give it a 50% chance of having your foe pilot it, or else folks will build turretless HWKs.

If that happens its really not worth yout time playing vs him/her...

1st they must think you are stupid not to notice it

2nd they would only do it to win and not to play

Playing trash vs. trash can force you to do things you might not normally think of doing. It also makes you appreciate things more.

Might be. I can see the fun of creating junksquads. The downside is this game is balanced enough to make most squads at least reasonable for casual play

I would like to see a few tournaments done this way.

Each round is 2 games where each player uses their own and their opponents list.

The points are then added to get a total per player for the round.

It will not appeal to all, as some people rely too much on a good net list and are actually quite poor pilots.

You could brand the event an Aces Tournament. All about finding the best pilot, regardless of ships.

This kind of event will also provide a lot more useful data as to which combos players prefer and give more players exposure to ships they do not own.

The only other issue is that players need to use real care and respect for other people's models and cards and take responsibility for loss or breakage.

Sometimes I ask my (non X-wing playing) partner to pick my ships. Two or three different ones. I then build something around those ships that (hopefully) works.

Last time resulted in a Lando/Cracken action-efficiency partnership, with a HWK as wing man.

OK it one thing if both build trash but if only one does it its pretty much senseless.

I think some kind of random squad generator would be fun..

I suggested this to my gaming group with fab's generator, I think it is.

Idea is you randomly generate 3 squads each using the stuff you own, then you have to pick one of the 3 to fly. Whether or not you are allowed to specify faction is up to whoever organizes it, I guess.

another fun thing I want to try is building the crappiest squad I can and making my opponent fly it while he does the same to me..

Done that. It was one of the few annoying experiences I've had with the game.