NOVA Squadron Radio – Episode 32: The NOVA Open 2015

Welcome to NOVA Squadron Radio! This week we are back after all of the great X-Wing that was the NOVA Open 2015. This week’s show is a little different, a little long, and a lot of FUN! We have full coverage of the NOVA Open 2015, including interviews with Frank Brooks, FFG games developer and Wade Piche, FFG Organized Play. All of that and a lot more!

NOVA Squadron Radio is:
Ed Horne – Host
Chad Brown – Co-Host/Editor
Sean Dorcy – Co-host
Bob Randall – Co-host
Kris Sherriff – Co-host

Here are the show notes from Episode 31:

[0:00 – 2:14] Show Opening
[2:14 – 22:21] News: Man Your Ships https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/news/2015/9/4/man-your-ships/
[22:22 –38:17] NOVA Open Interviews I: Aaron Utley, Capcup.Net, Greenman Designs
[38:17 – 2:18:26] Main Topic 1: NOVA Open Narrative
[2:18:26 –2:26:56] NOVA Open Interviews II: Ira Mayers, Richard Hsu, Ron Brannan
[2:26:56 – 3:38:28] Main Topic 1: NOVA Open GT
[3:38:28 –4:20:26] NOVA Open Interviews III: Mike Brandt, Frank Brooks, Wade Piche
[4:20:26 – 4:25:36] Show Closing

Musical Credits go out to the band ‘Insane Ride’ and their songs ‘Sound of Rock and Roll’ and ‘Wrong or Right’ found on the Free Music Archive at http://freemusicarchive.org/

Thanks for listening, and talk to you again in two weeks!

Here is the direct link: http://novasquadronradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/NOVA_Squadron_Radio_Episode_32_final.mp3

www.novasquadronradio.com

Love it. Love the length. Don't let anyone say otherwise.

Thanks guys!

You guys always play havoc with my data plan when you release these when I'm working! I guess I'll be buying extra data soon. (Totally worth it!)

Ok, I haven't listened to the whole thing, but I heard something concerning on the way to work. Guys, please, I'm begging you, don't sign up for events you don't intend on participating in, just to give money to the charity. All the X-Wing events sold out SO fast, and I would have given my left leg and hopped around the con the whole weekend for a chance to play in the narrative campaign.

PS: If you were just joking, sorry I took it so seriously.

Audio - Actually that is a fair point. I had not considered the fact that I would be taking up the slot for someone who might have otherwise wanted to play. Ok, I will make my donations in another way then. Thanks for the heads up!

Pure awesome, Ed thank you. Just drink more, that goes to charity too lol

Also a very good idea!!!!

Was also nice to hear Juggler's numbers on the new X-Wing modification and its impact on the ship's jousting efficiency relative to the B-Wing, which confirms that those of us who liked the change are not actually crazy.

Yeah integrated astro is a nice design and gives the X-wing the nudge it needs. Another nudge down the road couldn't hurt though and I'm sure it'll happen.

But I think you guys approached it weirdly in the show. Sure it's great on 1 point droids but it's free. So why not take it when you're carrying R2-D2? Obviously it's a last resort but at the end of the day, wouldn't you rather lose R2 than the ship?

It's never a wasted free points.

But man, that NOVA event sounds awesome. If I weren't clear across the country I would try to go next year!

NOVA was easily the best CON I have ever attended! It help when you room with Kris!

Other than "never take it on R2-D2" I'm generally in agreement. It is a ZERO cost upgrade that allows you to keep your ship alive longer. Should be as close to auto include as possible (if you can get enough cards for it!)if you're taking an astromech.

Was also nice to hear Juggler's numbers on the new X-Wing modification and its impact on the ship's jousting efficiency relative to the B-Wing, which confirms that those of us who liked the change are not actually crazy.

I actually ran the numbers on my phone while I was at the Patriots game, between plays!

I have some ever-so-slightly tweaked numbers from using a 3/2/2/4 statline (more accurate representation) vs 3/2/3/3, but it's basically a rounding error. Next episode when I'm on again, I'll spend a little bit of time discussing it.

Other than "never take it on R2-D2" I'm generally in agreement. It is a ZERO cost upgrade that allows you to keep your ship alive longer. Should be as close to auto include as possible (if you can get enough cards for it!)if you're taking an astromech.

I liked your account of the narrative event a lot. Sounds like it was a lot of fun but has some room for improvement.

The organizers had their work cut out for them trying to write fair, thematic missions that were going to be played by tournament-hardened players. I always try to write missions to that standard, and it is no easy task.

NOVA Squadron Radio – Episode 32: The NOVA Open 2015

Welcome to NOVA Squadron Radio! This week we are back after all of the great X-Wing that was the NOVA Open 2015. This week’s show is a little different, a little long, and a lot of FUN! We have full coverage of the NOVA Open 2015, including interviews with Frank Brooks, FFG games developer and Wade Piche, FFG Organized Play. All of that and a lot more!

NOVA Squadron Radio is:

Ed Horne – Host

Chad Brown – Co-Host/Editor

Sean Dorcy – Co-host

Bob Randall – Co-host

Kris Sherriff – Co-host

Here are the show notes from Episode 31:

[0:00 – 2:14] Show Opening

[2:14 – 22:21] News: Man Your Ships https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/news/2015/9/4/man-your-ships/

[22:22 –38:17] NOVA Open Interviews I: Aaron Utley, Capcup.Net, Greenman Designs

[38:17 – 2:18:26] Main Topic 1: NOVA Open Narrative

[2:18:26 –2:26:56] NOVA Open Interviews II: Ira Mayers, Richard Hsu, Ron Brannan

[2:26:56 – 3:38:28] Main Topic 1: NOVA Open GT

[3:38:28 –4:20:26] NOVA Open Interviews III: Mike Brandt, Frank Brooks, Wade Piche

[4:20:26 – 4:25:36] Show Closing

Musical Credits go out to the band ‘Insane Ride’ and their songs ‘Sound of Rock and Roll’ and ‘Wrong or Right’ found on the Free Music Archive at http://freemusicarchive.org/

Thanks for listening, and talk to you again in two weeks!

Here is the direct link: http://novasquadronradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/NOVA_Squadron_Radio_Episode_32_final.mp3

www.novasquadronradio.com

Episode 31 or 32, you have different numbers

I liked your account of the narrative event a lot. Sounds like it was a lot of fun but has some room for improvement.

The organizers had their work cut out for them trying to write fair, thematic missions that we're going to be played by tournament-hardened players. I always try to write missions to that standard, and it is no easy task.

Getting missions to be fair and competitive is really hard.

I liked your account of the narrative event a lot. Sounds like it was a lot of fun but has some room for improvement.

The organizers had their work cut out for them trying to write fair, thematic missions that we're going to be played by tournament-hardened players. I always try to write missions to that standard, and it is no easy task.

Getting missions to be fair and competitive is really hard.

Yep - in particular, making mission mechanics that cannot be exploited can be hard (especially in asymmetric missions like the ones at NOVA). One of the steps I always take in my mission design is to imagine and/or test run the scenario using the cheesiest lists and strategies, and make sure that the final design reins them in if necessary.

My policy is to hope that players approach the game casually, but plan for players to approach the scenario competitively.

I wish you wouldn't say that nobody plays Defenders, it's just not true, and discourages new players from trying stuff out.

That's a beast of a show, I can't wait to get started!

It was awesome seeing you guys out there, and getting nice and comfy with Mr. Ed "Cuddlepants" Horne.

Man hugs all around, can't wait for next year!

Hi all,

Thanks, as always for the feed back

On us saying that nobody flys the Defender. The show is geared towards competitive play, that's the way Ed introduces it at the start of every show and unfortunately the results back up that people are not flying the Defender. It makes me sad, I honestly tried to make them work and did OK with them but I personally feel that it is better for a new player to hear a true reflection on the ship than to go in to an event not understanding why it is not quite there.

The Narative was a really good event and was very rewarding to be a part of overall. I think I said on the show that when playing in a Narative balanced missions are not necessarily going to be on offer and nor should they be, as long as they are fun and interesting to play which most were.

I am only 2 hours in to my first listen (still a fan of the show!) my levels were better this time at least but I now need to be quicker on my mute, stupid mouth breathing!

Kris

New life in the defender(Well Vess at least): MK2 and new TL buddies in the tie/FO and soon TAP toting tracers. They are improving it incrementally but it still isn't there.

It's nice to hear how it all went down. Makes me want to go someday. Keep up the good work fellas.

NICE!

Hi all,

Thanks, as always for the feed back

On us saying that nobody flys the Defender. The show is geared towards competitive play, that's the way Ed introduces it at the start of every show and unfortunately the results back up that people are not flying the Defender. It makes me sad, I honestly tried to make them work and did OK with them but I personally feel that it is better for a new player to hear a true reflection on the ship than to go in to an event not understanding why it is not quite there.

The Narative was a really good event and was very rewarding to be a part of overall. I think I said on the show that when playing in a Narative balanced missions are not necessarily going to be on offer and nor should they be, as long as they are fun and interesting to play which most were.

I am only 2 hours in to my first listen (still a fan of the show!) my levels were better this time at least but I now need to be quicker on my mute, stupid mouth breathing!

Kris

I play Defenders competitively, doing reasonably well in the limited competitive events I've had the opportunity to attend.

Maybe there's others out there that can do well if they give it a chance, but all they hear is "Defenders are so bad" that they don't even try. It's self-perpetuating situation.

Hi all,

Thanks, as always for the feed back

On us saying that nobody flys the Defender. The show is geared towards competitive play, that's the way Ed introduces it at the start of every show and unfortunately the results back up that people are not flying the Defender. It makes me sad, I honestly tried to make them work and did OK with them but I personally feel that it is better for a new player to hear a true reflection on the ship than to go in to an event not understanding why it is not quite there.

The Narative was a really good event and was very rewarding to be a part of overall. I think I said on the show that when playing in a Narative balanced missions are not necessarily going to be on offer and nor should they be, as long as they are fun and interesting to play which most were.

I am only 2 hours in to my first listen (still a fan of the show!) my levels were better this time at least but I now need to be quicker on my mute, stupid mouth breathing!

Kris

I play Defenders competitively, doing reasonably well in the limited competitive events I've had the opportunity to attend.

Maybe there's others out there that can do well if they give it a chance, but all they hear is "Defenders are so bad" that they don't even try. It's self-perpetuating situation.

Emphasis mine.

So much this. This is my one issue with the show. Sometimes things come off as a bit elitist.

I don't get an elitist feeling from the show, they are clear about their emphasis on competitive play. There is, perhaps, an occasional lack of imagination in how they approach some ships. It seems like a ship needs either to be taken very frequently, or it needs to be taken by a well known player to get the time of day on the show. I wish any podcast would refrain from asking "is this ship worth the points?" and instead ask "what do you have to do to make a ship worth its points?". Sometimes the answer to the second question is a set of circumstances that clearly limits the usefulness of a ship, but sometimes the answer to the question illustrates interesting combinations and strategies to make a ship good in non-obvious ways.