I've played maybe 10 games in the year I've owned X-Wing models; most of those have been in the last month.

I started with an ambition to play Empire ships, but...

Rolling 3 evade dice is something that makes me crazy. And not in a 'oh isn't that a misery we all share' kind of way - it did and does make me want to quit playing. And I do not like the sportsmanship I devolve into when I whiff on 3-dice. I honestly would not have wanted to play me when I get like that.

So stepping back from the noose I strung from the banister, I've decided to try some lists that A) focus on shields versus agility, and B) put the offense right out front for me. The thought is that statistically evade dice hate my humanity, apparently I can't fly well or with tactical awareness, and also that most players around here are going 'fat-large.' They too are inexperienced; I obviously can't beat them, so I'm going to try joining them.

My first list designed along these lines is a K-Wing centered list, because I think K-Wings are perhaps the sexiest looking ship in the game. Add a B-Wing. And finish it off with an X-Wing.

Miranda Doni

TLT

Lando Calrissian (because I wan't to channel the Klumps, if you know the reference)

Keyan Farlander

PTL

B-Wing/E2

Jan Ors

Garven Dreis

R2 Astro

At worst, it should be interesting and last longer than the 2 shooting phases of my last 2 games. (Seriously, that happened)

Let the hate flow through you.

As someone who can't roll green dice myself, welcome to the Rebellion.

Interesting, Miranda is really good, Keyan is fine, I like him, but Garvin... an't quite there. See he likes to be a higher skill than his friends, so he shoots first, but he doesn't have an Elite slot, so you can't even use veteran instincts on him. If you want a T-65 X-wing, I'd lean towards Wedge or Biggs, Luke can be ok sometimes, and he is a little more reliable with green dice, but not totally amazing. With the points on your list, I'd probably bring Biggs, who likes to be near Jan Ors anyway. He'll keep Miranda and Keyan from taking damage for a round or two (Biggs will die fast, so I wouldn't put a bunch of points on him).

And I'd put advanced SLAM on Miranda, so she can use Lando after SLAMing.

I love the ability of the Empire Stealth Deviced ships to evade. But I know your pain. Some games, the dice smile upon me and grant me lots of squiggly arrows. Some games, they frown, and show me nothing but blank faces. A good Imperial list is always contingent upon luck.

I too used to play like you. I thought that the imperials, with all their green die and evade actions, where very survivable in a fight. Oh was I ever so wrong lol! Let's look at the math involved with the die first, to hopefully help you understand why relying on your green dice alone to help you survive is very unwise indeed. Both dice, red and green, are 8 sided, but their results are not even. A red die has 3 hits, 1 crit. So effectively a 50% to hit per die. Your green die has 3 evades. The favor is for the attacker. Did you focus? Let's take that into consideration next. Both die have 2 focus results. So an attacker with a focus has a 6/8 chance to hit per die, whereas the defender only has a 5/8 chance to evade. The green die has 3 blanks compared to the red dices 2. Favor? Heavily leaning towards the attacker. Rebels naturally have higher attack values. They rely upon their superior fire power to kill their opponents, and they rely upon shields for survivability. Rebel jousting swarms and tanky turret ships are what the rebels are best at. When I first started playing I played with a tie swarm, and xwings devastated me every time. So I began playing rebels, and I learned the ways of the rebel jousters. Then I discovered the fat Han build and oh boy that was fun! But I missed the Imperials, and it wasn't long before I went back to the dark side. What have I done differently upon my return? I learned how to play arc dodgers. Rebels are the kings of fat turrets and jousters swarms, but Imperials rule when it comes to arc dodging. And now I play by two simple rules. Fly higher pilot skills then my opponent is rule number one. If I shoot first, there's a good chance my opponent won't be alive to shoot back. Rule number two, stay out of their firing arcs. I fly a lot of Interceptors and phantoms. Interceptors are usable again after autothrusters came out, and even after the nerf phantoms are still just as powerful as ever. I choose ship for attack dice, the high skilled pilots to shoot first, then I upgrade for defence. I use my actions to boost/barrel roll out of firing arcs, even if it means I don't get a shot back. I only ever rely on my green die if I have no other option. So if you're tired of the green die, try learning arc dodgers. I'd hate to see an imperial defect to the rebels...would be a pity if I had to hunt you down lol

A good Imperial list is always contingent upon luck.

I strongly disagree. A good imperial player relies upon skill to predict his opponents moves, and chooses pilots that shoot first. He spends his actions boosting/barrel rolling to stay out of firing arcs. I've played many games where I never let my opponent get a single shot off on my ships. I play the Phantom and I cloak often. Not for the extra green dice, but for the boost it gives me. Green dice are simply a fallback plan when maneuvering fails. Took me a while to learn this, but after I did I havnt been able.to bring myself to play rebels or scum. Although the kwing offers great maneuverability, I might end up playing that sometime lol

A good Imperial list is always contingent upon luck.

I strongly disagree. A good imperial player relies upon skill to predict his opponents moves, and chooses pilots that shoot first. He spends his actions boosting/barrel rolling to stay out of firing arcs. I've played many games where I never let my opponent get a single shot off on my ships. I play the Phantom and I cloak often. Not for the extra green dice, but for the boost it gives me. Green dice are simply a fallback plan when maneuvering fails. Took me a while to learn this, but after I did I havnt been able.to bring myself to play rebels or scum. Although the kwing offers great maneuverability, I might end up playing that sometime lol

To be more specific, there are times when arc-dodging simply doesn't work. That's when luck comes in. I haven't fought TLTs yet, but those would be kind of hard to dodge, b/c getting in close to one will likely put you in range of another.

A good Imperial list is always contingent upon luck.

I strongly disagree. A good imperial player relies upon skill to predict his opponents moves, and chooses pilots that shoot first. He spends his actions boosting/barrel rolling to stay out of firing arcs. I've played many games where I never let my opponent get a single shot off on my ships. I play the Phantom and I cloak often. Not for the extra green dice, but for the boost it gives me. Green dice are simply a fallback plan when maneuvering fails. Took me a while to learn this, but after I did I havnt been able.to bring myself to play rebels or scum. Although the kwing offers great maneuverability, I might end up playing that sometime lol

To be more specific, there are times when arc-dodging simply doesn't work. That's when luck comes in. I haven't fought TLTs yet, but those would be kind of hard to dodge, b/c getting in close to one will likely put you in range of another.

When I'm up against any turret ship, I use my interceptors to take them out and I keep my other ships away from it. I have destroyed fat Hans and fat dashes with a single Interceptor (fully upgraded turr phennir specifically) The only time arc dodging doesn't work is when they block you in. Which is why I choose high pilot skills. Shoot first, shoot hard, they don't survive long enough to return fire.

Arc dodging requires more skill than I possess, and given the propensity of turrets, Firespray, and that 666 ship, I have tried for the last time getting out of arcs because I can't do it without failure. 3 dice 360 beats my pilot skill. And the 666 and Firespray might as well be 360 degrees given how I predict opponent moves.

My preferred Keyan build is Stay on Target and E2/Kyle, then possibly put Jan on something else like Miranda. The A-Wings with PtL can Focus/Evade and then hopefully the AutoT will kick in sometimes too to help.

Miranda Doni — K-Wing 29
Twin Laser Turret 6
Jan Ors 2
Ship Total: 37

Keyan Farlander — B-Wing 29
Stay On Target 2
Advanced Sensors 3
Kyle Katarn 3
B-Wing/E2 1
Ship Total: 38

Green Squadron Pilot — A-Wing 19
Push the Limit 3
Chardaan Refit -2
Outmaneuver 3
Autothrusters 2
A-Wing Test Pilot 0
Ship Total: 25

I absolutely will not use a 3-evade dice ship in this list. If I whiff one more time on 3-dice, it's going to be the end of me. I don't even want to roll 3 evade dice for the x-wing at range 3! Seriously - I need voodoo practices: I'm only going to roll 2 dice, then another one. No more 3 or more at once roll. Nope.

The K-Wing is there so I don't have to worry about losing a shot (as much as normal). Both the B-Wing and the X (I may go with a T70 Novice instead of Garven) are in the list so that I have something to 'practice flying' with. And along that training idea, I don't want to add a second turret to the list. I have to practice positioning whether I like it or not. A T70 offers the chance to try "Do the Chickens have Large" Talon Maneuver (another movie reference for those over 30), and that may screw up the other beginners who only play large ships and/or turrets.

I definitely added Advanced SLAM to the K-Wing (thanks for that!). And that pushed the points up which requires a re-think of Garven, who is too expensive at that point. Thus the T70 novice (probably with R2).

The debate I'm having now is whether to ditch PTL for Stay on Target (or Predator or something else you might recommend).

So to update:

K-Wing now has Advanced Slam

Garven is out and replaced with a T70 X-Wing w/R2 in a flat points exchange with Garven & the Advanced SLAM

Don't like rolling dice? Fly:

4x Blue Squad with Acc. Correctors

Join the club, we got t-shirts

I highly recommend bb-8 poe with Miranda. He makes a potent, maneuverable wing man and between his abilities + thrusters even the green dice have to behave

Don't like rolling dice? Fly:

4x Blue Squad with Acc. Correctors

Both the B-Wing and the X (I may go with a T70 Novice instead of Garven) are in the list so that I have something to 'practice flying' with. I have to practice positioning whether I like it or not.

This sir, was me about 6 months ago. Only thing I could fly effectively was a fat Han with eu. Just focused on dodging asteroids and let the arc do the rest. But I hated how easy it got hit, so you know what I did? I built a squad of 3 different arc dodgers. And I played with that list until I learned how to fly an arc dodger. At this point, I loved the idea of 3 arc dodgers that it's pretty much my main squad. I've gotten quite well with it and hope to have a chance of using it in tournaments. So if you find it difficult to fly a ship, keep practicing buddy. Watch youtube tutorials, and tournament plays. I've learned so much just by watching what others do. I've gotten to the point that I know who's gonna win the match within their first activation (if not just by looking at their lists) Practice makes perfect bro, ask ppl who play around you to play matches with you, ask them to tell you what you did wrong if you lose, and then learn to avoid those mistakes. And fly casual, if you ain't having fun then what's the point?

Oh man I feel you dude. You just painted the perfect picture of me.

I also get super frustrated with the little green bastards. I watch other players roll evades all day long. Me... nothing.

I am however changing the way I play. I am going to start using focus' purely for defencive purposes unless the opportunity presents itself.

To be honest, I had a little Sith moment after my... third? yeah, third game.

Played my shortest match ever, rolled exactly NO. Evades. None. Only evades I got were tokens all game.

What did I do?

I blowtorched one of the little green bastards out on my concrete patio, in front of all their friends. All the way down to slag.

Seem to have... motivated the troops, shall we say.

Oh man I feel you dude. You just painted the perfect picture of me.

I also get super frustrated with the little green bastards. I watch other players roll evades all day long. Me... nothing.

I am however changing the way I play. I am going to start using focus' purely for defencive purposes unless the opportunity presents itself.

Yes, Focus is often key to the survivability of 3+ green dice ships. I brought down Han and Leebo with three Delta Defenders and all I did was focusing... and position well. Then again, Defenders have shields so maybe not the perfect Imperial resilience example.

To be honest, I had a little Sith moment after my... third? yeah, third game.

Played my shortest match ever, rolled exactly NO. Evades. None. Only evades I got were tokens all game.

What did I do?

I blowtorched one of the little green bastards out on my concrete patio, in front of all their friends. All the way down to slag.

Seem to have... motivated the troops, shall we say.

First: that's the ticket.

I'm an avid cyclist, so I was thinking of taking the dice on bike rides (along with a 10-pound weight) to represent my hatred for them, and to let it go. (Seriously, that's the kind of freak show I am.)

I like your idea MUCh better.

It is better to be feared than loved.

I need to use my hatred...

Second:

I took the list I mentioned here, and guess what Lando Calrissean rolled all game long: Yep, evades. Not always two. But 1 or 0, and no focus... (making Jan Ors useless to support the K-Wing.)

I've used Miri with TLT and EM & bombs, with two loaded Green Sqd A-wings to great success. It's about keeping them out of primary arc so AT triggers all the time.