I have not played in months and there is an upcoming casual tournament that I want to attend. The thing is they have stressed that it is a casual tournament and want people to approach it thusly. I have new ships/upgrades I want to try, but they could be considered "hard core" or something. What I am thinking of is:

The new shiney (100)

Poe Dameron — T-70 X-Wing 31

Lone Wolf 2

R5-P9 3

Autothrusters 2

Ship Total: 38

Gold Squadron Pilot — Y-Wing 18

Twin Laser Turret 6

R2 Astromech 1

Ship Total: 25

Gold Squadron Pilot — Y-Wing 18

Twin Laser Turret 6

R2 Astromech 1

Ship Total: 25

Bandit Squadron Pilot — Z-95 Headhunter 12

Ship Total: 12

If you faced that in a casual tournament would it be out of place? Too competitive our meta-tastic?

That's a fairly competitive list there, so my feeling is that it is indeed too 'hardcore'. I could be wrong since I'm not really a casual player...

Ironically, I think they need to have more defined rules before they can count you out for being "too hardcore."

If they don't give you a series or restrictions or limitations (or even pointers), then it's on them.

Just sub out a TLT Y for something else and you have a "cobbled together" list. And you can still practice formation flying with them and learn TLTs.

Nothing gives the appearance of casual while being cool and competitive like 3+ Bandits/Binayres/Academies.

Could also just drop your Z-95 and add in some random upgrades on your other ships. I just know that one of the first steps I took into becoming something resembling a competitive player was realizing that another ship was often better than lots of upgrades. Now I tend to assume I'm facing a more casual player when I see that kind of thing. Along those lines, Engine Upgrade on your Y-Wings is tons of fun! And maybe some Seismics? That's the 12 points you're spending on the Headhunter right there. Just a thought!

What do they mean by casual?

If you want it to look more casual you could drop the Z-95 for 3 Proton Torpedoes or 4 via Extra Munitions.

Casual Tournaments in my mind are an oxymoron. Tournaments are usually something high intensive and well Casual is low intensive.

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Han Solo: Keep your distance, though, Chewie, but don't look like you're trying to keeping your distance.
Chewbacca: [barks something]
Han Solo: I don't know. Fly casual.

Use a WAAC build, but don't look like your using a WAAC build...? IDK fly casual. lol

Ok, will someone explain to me why some builds are considered a no-no for casual play but ok for a tourney?

Depends on the players attending. If there is a lot of new players and the tournament is to introduce them to the tournament format, I could understand the TO to ask veteran players to not make top tier list and experiment instead.

Makes for a better experience for the new players instead of being crushed by veterans, and it diversify the lists instead of being more of the same.

EDIT: As for the OP list. I would switch one of the Y-Wing for something more inorthodox and I think it would be okay for a casual tournament. I would not say your list is hardcore, but I could see it doing well in a standard tournament, so it might be too good for a casual tournament. The question you should ask is, would you have fun playing against it?

Ok, will someone explain to me why some builds are considered a no-no for casual play but ok for a tourney?

It does seem to be an example of the tacit belief that certain lists win by themselves, doesn't it? Believe me, I can lose just as spectacularly with Fat Han as I can with three Interceptors!

Ok, will someone explain to me why some builds are considered a no-no for casual play but ok for a tourney?

It does seem to be an example of the tacit belief that certain lists win by themselves, doesn't it? Believe me, I can lose just as spectacularly with Fat Han as I can with three Interceptors!

I don't think the problem is that list win by themselves but more that some are just not fun to go against in a casual setting.

Exemple, I would not bring a full fledge Pre-Nerf Whisper/Echo in a casual game/tournament because I know that it could be frustrating for some players, same goes for a classic Han with 3P0 and R2D2.

If they are stressing that it is a casual tournament they may mean the attitude you play with rather than your squad list.

Shake hands, chat to your opponent and if they make minor mistakes that won't drastically change the state of the game like they forget their action and go to move another ship or they forget to de-cloak remind them (Unless it's going to be a game changer, hey still try to win right?). That is what I would consider casual regardless of what list you take.

This is something I don't understand. How are you to improve your flying ability if that build is frowned upon for casual play? A friend and I play Wednesday nights and usually fly different builds. We can get two or three games in before midnight, which is the time I turn into a zombie. There's no rhyme or reason to the faction or builds flown. Sometimes it'll be a net build or someone's tourney build or something we cooked up. We managed 3 games Sunday where I managed to lose 2 of them. VERY BADLY. I won the first by creaming his build. I had Razzi and two khiraxz vs Strom, Deathrain and 2of the FO Ties. All 3 games were basically the the same squads. While I wasn't elated by losing those two games I learned a lot. If you're going to get better at flying these ships you need to fly against the toughest builds available. You also need to know your builds inside and out.

I think the distinction between what's acceptable or not for casual play seems pretty arbitrary.

A casual tournament does sound kind of odd, but if you want to make your list more 'experimental', I would drop the Z-95 and equip the Ys a little differently. Add the title, bomb loadout, extra munitions, and Conner Nets...and now you are having some experimental fun.

I'm in a boat with a few others here, where I always bring something different to a tournament. I have never taken a list to a tournament that I have played before...always something fresh that I have no idea to fly. But I play for fun, so...

2xTLT ywing is anything but casual list:P

2xTLT ywing is anything but casual list:P

It's not like he has 4 of them...

Unless they've banned TLT from this "casual" tournament, why not play it?

Anytime I've ever heard of a "casual tournament" it's meant if someone forgets but then remembers a focus within a reasonable amount of time, let them take it, if someone wants to barrel roll but then decides they don't, let them have it... I've never heard "this list isn't allowed, this list is too competitive, this list isn't casual enough..." I would make sure you are interpreting what's being defined as a casual tournament before you start throwing your list out the window...

You don't gain much by winning against an easy list or not playing to win in the first place.

I went to a tournament this past weekend that was deemed casual, but everybody was still out to win.

The TO asked who was there for the first time and I raised my hand. I got paired with a guy relatively inexperienced - Maybe a few casual games to his credit.

I was not remorseful when I won the game and took a guy's squad out in 25 minutes with no losses on my side. He just has more to learn than I do.

This is only my second tournament and I went 2-3. Better than the 0-4 result from the first tournament.

Everybody was helpful and gave a few pointers here and there. A couple of times when somebody's arc on my ship was questionable - I let it go without too much debate because it could have been called either way - Right on the line.

I enjoyed the way everybody played and am not resentful that I lost a few. Took home an alternate art Recon Specialist card and bottle of R2D2 Bubble bath for my trouble. (Yes - Bubble Bath.)

It sound like the OP is running ships and upgrades that he has not before, so I don't think it's a problem to try to build the best list he can.

I agree that the requirement of a casual list is really weird and needs defining. If the idea is to be friendly to new players, I would suggest doing it by approximate costs -- how many expansions (and of what size) do you need to fly this squad? Don't bring TIE x1 or C-3PO because those aren't upgrades a new player is likely to have. I might bring two IG-200, but I'd only use upgrades that come in that pack, for example. That's a $100 list (counting the core).

But seeing as how nobody (myself included) knows what they mean by casual, my thoughts don't really mean anything.

I think as long as it is something you haven't flown before, it is considered 'experimental' and therefore should be OK in the casual setting. We all agree that if there are 'rules' to a casual tournament, they need to be clearly defined.

I had just got done TOing on the 6th. My first time running one. I stressed it to be casual. Meaning bring your best 100 point list, but be respectful about your playing. Meaning don't be a jerk about someone forgetting and action or not knowing the rules. If people make mistakes let them correct it.

If you want it to really be considered "casual" from every aspect go with ion turrets instead of TLTs. You aren't taking your best possible option, but it is interesting.

I don't see the point myself of a casual tournament. It's too much like saying you have to bring a knife to the next gunfight.

Yeah it ended up being a casual attitude tournament for the most part. But there were alot of new people and experimental lists. Also there was a super dash with regen-doni and a bug zapper list too, so a good mix. Ended up swapping poe for Blue ace and took the following

T-70 X-Wing: · "Blue Ace" (27)

· R2-D6 (1)

Autothrusters (2)

· Lone Wolf (2)

Y-Wing: Gold Squadron Pilot (18)

Twin Laser Turret (6)

HWK-290: Rebel Operative (16)

Twin Laser Turret (6)

B-Wing: Blue Squadron Pilot (22)

-- TOTAL ------- 100/100p. --

Shhhhhh, if you say "casual" three times you summon Paragoomba Slayer.