After a good game the other night we were discussing how the 'total disclosure' in xwing sort of means that quite often anything loaded up too heavily is just a prime target, if you can kill it before it uses any 'one shot' upgrades its never going to make those points 'work'

It also makes it very hard to do feignts or decoy manouvres as its really bloody obvious what you're intending if your opponent knows exactly how a ship is kitted out from the off.

So we're thinking about trying a few friendly games where only the pilot card and base chit are visible to all at the start of the game and any other upgrades get revealed when they are used... could make for some nasty surprises and interesting ploys.

Alternatively perhaps ships upgrades get revealed if they come withing range 1 of the enemy as you're close enough to see even the crew then

Dunno, could be fun and suggesting this as a one off/house rule not an intention to change game in general.

Has anyone tried this?

I've just got fallout 4 so im unlikely to even look at an xwing ship for a fortnight

I've thought blind until used would always be a fun way. It would also be interesting to treat all pilots as generic until they prove otherwise. (But that could really benefit pilots that want to be lower ps)

I've done it a couple times. It does add some intrigue to the game but unless it's already an underused ship or card you pretty well know what it is.

Oh look... Soontir with 4 cards... Whatever could that be? I see your bomber has 3 cards...looks like 2 + extra munitions to me...

I'd like it just for the fun of it even if it nets little in tactics. I'll take all the extra tactical options I can get as long as they don't big down gameplay (which this wouldn't).

One question is what do you do with permanent stat change cards like sheild, stealth, VI?

I'd like to try it. I think it would be a nice change of pace and add some flavor to the game.

TS suggestion makes sense:

in a dogfight an enemy would hardly notice your internal upgrades or wether you are an elite pilot or not, unless he comes up close & recognize any markings that betray your identity or witnesses you having external mods that would not be standard.

Imho it would make the game more interesting, like in MTG you only know after a few turns what deck your opponent is playing and what cards to watch out for.

What about a variant where the pilots and upgrades are randomly chosen?

Each side picks 4 ships, then randomly pulls pilots for those ships, then randomly pulls one upgrade of each type that the ship can take. If there is a title that will fit onto that pilot then it must be drawn from the available title upgrades. If an upgrade card grants a new open slot then fill that slot with a random upgrade!

I haven't tried this, but it could be a nice change for a couple of games. Good luck trying to make a fat Han with falcon title!

What about a variant where the pilots and upgrades are randomly chosen?

Each side picks 4 ships, then randomly pulls pilots for those ships, then randomly pulls one upgrade of each type that the ship can take. If there is a title that will fit onto that pilot then it must be drawn from the available title upgrades. If an upgrade card grants a new open slot then fill that slot with a random upgrade!

I haven't tried this, but it could be a nice change for a couple of games. Good luck trying to make a fat Han with falcon title!

how do you check points?

It is a fun format.

We've done this a few times in our weekly games and will intersperse it here and there in the future. Doesn't slow too much down other than the occasional 'what cards do I have again?' As Rakky noted above, sure, some combinations you might be able to guess. But others you won't. Maybe your opponent is trying something different or maybe you can't guess exactly how a bomber or missile boat is loaded.

Unfortunately, due to the ship tokens you can't hide pilots and PS like you can with upgrades. Oh, well. Unless someone creates custom, generic PS7 tokens until you engage up close.

Go ahead and try it, Mikey. You might like it. (Yes, that is an old reference to Life cereal commercials.)

What about a variant where the pilots and upgrades are randomly chosen?

Each side picks 4 ships, then randomly pulls pilots for those ships, then randomly pulls one upgrade of each type that the ship can take. If there is a title that will fit onto that pilot then it must be drawn from the available title upgrades. If an upgrade card grants a new open slot then fill that slot with a random upgrade!

I haven't tried this, but it could be a nice change for a couple of games. Good luck trying to make a fat Han with falcon title!

how do you check points?

Play with people you trust?

It is a fun format.

We've done this a few times in our weekly games and will intersperse it here and there in the future. Doesn't slow too much down other than the occasional 'what cards do I have again?' As Rakky noted above, sure, some combinations you might be able to guess. But others you won't. Maybe your opponent is trying something different or maybe you can't guess exactly how a bomber or missile boat is loaded.

Unfortunately, due to the ship tokens you can't hide pilots and PS like you can with upgrades. Oh, well. Unless someone creates custom, generic PS7 tokens until you engage up close.

Go ahead and try it, Mikey. You might like it. (Yes, that is an old reference to Life cereal commercials.)

Just cut a small piece of paper to cover the PS of the pilot. Or use part of a post-it note. Roll dice for initiative and each side treats its ship as PS 2. You reveal the pilot(s) when range 3 is reached keeping the upgrades concealed until use. Each side would take turns setting their ships on the board just like asteroids are placed.

In the case of a flanker with a high PS the owning player could choose to unveil the pilot before R3 is reached if he wants to tip his hand and get into the fray quicker.

To add a little more to the fog of war, the upgrades are not only face down but covered so the opponent doesn't know how many cards or what type they are. An opponent wouldn't know if the bomber was loaded for bear or a bare bomber escorted by missile carrying Zs.

Initiative based on points would be the only problem. You could swap initiative every turn to even things out and still keep builds secret until combat.

Just a couple of thoughts.

Set all cards behind a screen, or face down. Including the pilot cards, turn them over as soon as they want to use their ability, or shoot or move at their own PS.

Keep the bases off the ships until that time, we all know how to mark locations and take ships off the board.

Are you flying against a random patrol, or is it the Red Baron?

That A-Wing flying so coolly, isn't that Tycho?

Until the reveal, everyone flies at the lowest PS for that ship.

Why should we know that Z95 has a Dead Man's Switch and stay the hell away from it?

Concentrate all firepower on that Decimator, it has the Emperor on board!

It's a trap! Cease fire, they have a captive!

Did he fire one of two missiles? In the excitement I kinda lost count myself, do you feel lucky?

What about a variant where the pilots and upgrades are randomly chosen?

Each side picks 4 ships, then randomly pulls pilots for those ships, then randomly pulls one upgrade of each type that the ship can take. If there is a title that will fit onto that pilot then it must be drawn from the available title upgrades. If an upgrade card grants a new open slot then fill that slot with a random upgrade!

I haven't tried this, but it could be a nice change for a couple of games. Good luck trying to make a fat Han with falcon title!

how do you check points?

You play with what ever you end up with. You might end up with an interceptor with EU, which is a waste, or you might luck out and get FCS on your B-wing. It's all random, so you might end up with 200 points on one side and 75 on the other, but it all depends on what you were able to draw as to whether those upgrades are going to do any good for you.

Like I said I just had an idea, I have never tried to play a game like this and I doubt I would do so more than a couple times.

I'd be in favor of keeping all upgrades stacked face down, and only revealing them if they come into play.

Have a list written out so that the TO can check points if needed.

I have done randomly chosen pilots - you shufffle pilot cards and draw towards your point limit one card at a time. You can choose to stick where you are and use any remaining points for upgrades, or continue to draw to the next card. If you go 'bust' over your points limit you scrap the cards in your hand to the discard pile and redraw from remaining pilot cards. You get some interesting pilot combos, but retain the ability to customise with remaining points for upgrades.

Best when drawn openly as part of casual game, as it makes for some comedy squad builds.

What about a variant where the pilots and upgrades are randomly chosen?

Each side picks 4 ships, then randomly pulls pilots for those ships, then randomly pulls one upgrade of each type that the ship can take. If there is a title that will fit onto that pilot then it must be drawn from the available title upgrades. If an upgrade card grants a new open slot then fill that slot with a random upgrade!

I haven't tried this, but it could be a nice change for a couple of games. Good luck trying to make a fat Han with falcon title!

What we have done in the past is shuffle all the different ship cards from whatever faction you want to use, then draw cards. Add up the points for each ship drawn until you draw a ship that takes you over 100, then remove that ship and use the points you have left for upgrades. If you can't make it work and a Tie or Z95 to get you close. It can be pretty fun.