After reading the Wave 2 previews I'm wondering which ships/upgrade/strategies will be the easiest to do well with right out of the box. To put it another way what ships/upgrades/strategies do you think will have the steepest learning curve?

As an example I think the Devastator title sounds like it's going to take practice to utilize well and may get you killed.

Vader also has the possibility of leaving yourself vulnerable at the wrong time, but I think he will be less risky than Devastator. I might consider taking him at Sullust.

Ackbar seems like he will easily fit to already existing Rebel strategies and therefore would be an easy choice to include.

That brings up another point. Are you going to try out a new strategy that is only possible with the wave 2 ships or are you going to try and just fit the wave 2 ships into a list/strategy you've already mastered?

While I see the potential for new strategies, I don't think that's how you'd want to play if your goal was to win the Sullust tourneys. Use upscale versions of your tried and true tactics, with maybe a few new upgrades to help things along. Nothing I've seen from this wave sounds truly "game changing", and most of what I like will just be a nice addition to the tactics I already use.

I've got an easy plan for Ackbar, assuming I could fit everything in for 400 points.

The Empire I'm not sure about, mostly because I'm not inclined to run the Raider and the Scum fighters for the kinds of lists I'd like to build.

Do we know what expansions are coming in what packs? Because that's a great determinator as well. Rebel players will get rebel packs, so it's not going to work if you're banking on one particular card that your enemy has.

The MC30 is going to give people fits. . . I personally recommend don't going speed 4 unless you need to chase or escape. Stay 2 or 3 and stick with the MC80.

Other than that Imperials will have a decent time and will likely win more I think since they need less experience and testing to work well with. Some people may go upgrade heavy.

It will likely be easier for an imperial player to win the Sullust tournaments. They're definitely more point and click compared to the rebels. As long as you don't do some really stupid things, you're always going to have a reasonable shot at the opponent.

Raymus would work really well with the MC30, use the manoeuvre command and token to boost speed and make your escape!

The MC30 is going to give people fits. . . I personally recommend don't going speed 4 unless you need to chase or escape. Stay 2 or 3 and stick with the MC80.

Other than that Imperials will have a decent time and will likely win more I think since they need less experience and testing to work well with. Some people may go upgrade heavy.

I think you are right about the MC30. It looks like the steepest learning curve of all the new ships. I would put the Raider as the next difficult. The ISD and MC80 seem like could subsitute them into a list you already run in place of a Vic or AF2 and not have to change your strategy at all.

The one played by the best/most experienced player.

I feel like an Imp player who tosses an ISD into a list they already know will have the easiest time (not necessarily most likely to win, just easiest time). ISD pretty much plays like an easier to fly VSD. So, if you know how to fly a VSD, then you know how to fly an ISD.

I guess what I'm saying is if you can dodge a wrench, then you can dodge a ball.

if you know your assault frigates well, then you'll have the easiest time with sullest ships + akbar

otherwise, the imps are basically the same **** they've always been, just bigger (and smaller). Much easier to wrap one's head around than the shrimp, imo

the only tipping point will be if people insist on all ship lists (minus the requisite 1 character squadron), in which case the faction with b-wings will win (your requisite rogue/villain squadron will be Jan Ors and you will love her)

in which case the faction with b-wings will win

I love your enthusiasm for B-Wings so much.

in which case the faction with b-wings will win

I love your enthusiasm for B-Wings so much.

it's because they're stupidly good

seriously, uncontested they make hamburgers out of GSDs

I shouldn't discount the imps, though. An ISD-2 + Rhymer blob actually throws out more dice than Yavaris'd Bs

BlueBlack BlueBlack BlueBlack BlueBlack RedRedRed

versus

Black Black Black Black BlueBlueBlueBlueRedRedRedRed

so 4 blacks and 4 blues and 3 reds up against 4 blacks 4 blues and 4 reds in a single activation. Possibility of instant re-direct/brace on the ISD attack (Assuming no accuracies which is a bit of a stretch) is a *****, but dat range!

of course, the ISD alone is 30 points more expensive than Yavaris and her 2 Bs, so fair's fair

The Empire is easier, quicker, and more seductive. Therefore it's better. (Why would you want hard, slow, and ugly anyway?)

But anyway, I've been on a bit of a serious playing hiatus, and I've got an interesting week up ahead (first week of classes). I'll also be TOing the first Sullust tournament in Portland that weekend, on the Friday. I'm more concerned with making a good tournament happen than I am doing well for myself at that tournament.

Hopefully, I can catch the I-WILL-WIN! bug after my TOship is done. That way Lyraeus can have his big win on Friday*, and I can mercilessly brutalize people on Saturday and Sunday, and take all the biggest toys home with me.

* Are you feeling the jinx, L?