I was browsing the Giant in the Playground forums when I ran across one of their D&D Optimization Challenges again, and I got to thinking . . . what if we did squad-building challenges here? It would be an interesting theorycrafting exercise, and a nice way to get some builds for unusual ships and cards.

Would anyone else be interested?

It would be interesting, but have to set some unique rules to make it work, like "must include XX ship (no, that's not double X-Wing), or a certain card or cards, etc." You could also have a design contest, the once a set squad wins, have a new contest that would be "Best Squad to Beat The Winning Squad".

Challenge: Build a squad the majority of players agree could be competitive on at least the Regional level that includes "Fel's Wrath".

Go.

If there were such a contest I would auto win....

OGP with EU x4

"I'd like to thank all the losers, now feel the pain of Lambda Death Action RAWR !!!"

If there were such a contest I would auto win....

OGP with EU x4

"I'd like to thank all the losers, now feel the pain of Lambda Death Action RAWR !!!"

I like the confidence!

Nice idea but how about seeing what lists do perform well in tournaments and vote? or some form of this? Though i do like where you are wanting to go with this i think.

Oh and please don't take what i just posted in the wrong context. I am open to some new ideas that are out there.

Needs to be a "make mediocre upgrades viable" contest.

I'm considering how to make Saboteur worthwhile.

Hope we dont have an insulting judge type thing going for this.

I'm sure I could find a list or two for such a contest.

It would be interesting, but have to set some unique rules to make it work, like "must include XX ship (no, that's not double X-Wing), or a certain card or cards, etc." You could also have a design contest, the once a set squad wins, have a new contest that would be "Best Squad to Beat The Winning Squad".

That's kind of what I was thinking. (The link I threw in there was to an "Iron Chef Optimization challenge," where you have to make an OP character build using the [generally underpowered] secret ingredient). In X-Wing, you could have a lot of challenges -- you must use the X-Wing, or Saboteur, or the Defender, or heck, even the Phantom, considering how little play it has seen recently.

Not sure how the judging would work. You could either have one person judging all the posts, or just have everyone vote using the Like button based on certain criteria.

I'm sure I could find a list or two for such a contest.

Sable, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't thinking of your lists when this idea popped into my head ;P.

Challenge: Build a squad the majority of players agree could be competitive on at least the Regional level that includes "Fel's Wrath".

Go.

Squad building challenges would be interesting, as long as they don't get too silly. Actually no, I like silly. For example I'll see your Fels Wrath and raise you an Arvel Crynyd:

21 Kyle Katarn
4 Engine Upgrade
3 Recon Specialist
3 Moldy Crow
4 Blaster Turret

24 Jake Farrell
2 Squad Leader
3 Experimental Interface
3 Proton Rockets

23 Arvel Crynyd
0 A-wing test pilot
3 Daredevil
3 Proton Rockets

96

The idea is Kyle Katarn does his usual focus stockpile, then during the combat phase he assigns a focus token to Jake Farrell which triggers his ability to perform a boost or barrell roll action. Jake then uses the action to trigger Experimental Interface which allows him to Squad Leader Arvel Crynyd. Arvel can then DD into a nearby ship.

The Kyle Katarn and Jake Farrell build is something I've been toying with for a while now but I've not really been able to figure out the rest of the list. That and I'd run Jake Farrell with Push the Limit instead of EI, that way you can:

Jakes action = TL or Evade

Kyle Katarn->Combat focus to Jake->Jake boost or barrel roll->Jake PtL Focus->Jake barrel roll or boost