After a month of playing this game, I have arrived at some conclusions.

1.) This is a game with a strong tournament emphasis. I believe that playing in tournaments is a life style choice. It is not a life style choice I desire to emulate.

2.) This is a game where the player needs to have a firm grasp on synergy and statistical and probability mathematics. I have read or noted articles on the Internet where individuals dissect the game synergistically or mathematically, or both. This knowledge is beyond my capacity for comprehension. it is "magic talk" to me.

Looking at these conclusions, I have arrived at the decision of quitting the game. I have acquired all the expansions up to the current wave. I am segregating the materials into two piles: what is donatable and what is recyclable. I would like to know what items have value, that other players may like to have freely. Can you help me with this? Thanks.

Can't think of the name off-hand, but there is a group which donates ships to deployed troops somewhere on these forums. That'd be a good choice imo.

Isn't that cause called "Let Them Fly"?

To the OP as far as statistical analysis goes, you don't have to have that ability to do well at the game.

Statistics are great to know for game theory and squad building but not essential for actually playing the game.

I really enjoy participating in large tournaments, but I can't stand "math-wing" and all that statistical talk. I'm here to fly starships, not work on spreadsheets (this might also be why I'll never win a tournament ).

I know lots of people who love the game and don't play in tournaments at all.

Yeah Looks like that donate to the troops thing is called Let 'Em Fly and would be a good choice.

Otherwise you could maybe work something out with your FLGS so they can use the ships as a demo-copy of the game or something.

Agreed if you want to donate the above cause is a good one to give them to.

1.) This is a game with a strong tournament emphasis. I believe that playing in tournaments is a life style choice. It is not a life style choice I desire to emulate.

It is a game with a strong tournament emphasis. It is also a game with a strong casual emphasis. There is absolutely no need to focus on the tournament scene if you don't want to. Just get a group of friends who want to fly toy space spaceships and have fun.

2.) This is a game where the player needs to have a firm grasp on synergy and statistical and probability mathematics. I have read or noted articles on the Internet where individuals dissect the game synergistically or mathematically, or both. This knowledge is beyond my capacity for comprehension. it is "magic talk" to me.

There is no need to have an understanding of all that stuff. I'm a pretty smart guy and most of MajorJuggler's mathwing stuff is way beyond me. You know what? Doesn't matter because I just like playing the game. Most of the conclusions that the mathematics people come to a person without the math background can come to just from experience. It didn't take statistical analysis to conclude that the TIE Advanced was a bad ship before the fix, it just took playing the thing a few times. The math just serves to explain WHY it was bad to those who care.

You can unload your stuff if you want, and its great how your planning to do it, but I think you are selling it and yourself short and will be missing out on the greatest casual wargame that has ever been produced.

I don't think the tournament scene is as important as you think, but if that's how ya feel, that's how ya feel. I'vebeen playing for years, and haven't been to an actual tourney.

As for the math, screw it. Just fly what's fun. It's a game, after all: not a homework assignment.

If you are gonna donate, then please, give it to the troops. They deserve it.

The forums are filled with tournament players. These are people who want to dissect and discuss every aspect of the game so they can improve.

However, there are tons of casual players out there who don't know or care that this forum even exists. They just love flying their ships around. If the tournament talk is getting you down, ignore it and just have some fun!

The core set was not designed as a major competitive game at all. It was designed to give you the feeling of flying Star Wars starfighters in space. I think it does a brilliant job and you can have a lot of fun with the Wave I battle of Yavin stuff without getting sucked in.

I have contacted two local game shops. One of them responded. They accept donations, which they use as demos.

Thanks for the advice, guys.

You're reading the forums too much. Much of it is competetive here. I see how it could scare away casual gamers. I only play casual. My friends play what they want and none of us play "the meta". I would wager 95% of the player base is casual. It's the players who are competetive get on the forums to keep up to date and compare notes.

Play what you have fun with. Don't play what someone else says you need to play to win.