Hey guys,

given some two or so complaints about a long awaited expansion, I feel the need to address something I thought every local gaming group would've gotten their heads around long ago: proxying cards one does not own

X-wing has exploded, and while the diversity now is absolutely incredibly (especially compared to the dark ages of wave 5) there are a lot of ships that need "navigating" so to speak in order to become viable

you know, things like:

Tie Defender (two fix titles, unreleased)

Tie advance (Fix titles and system, locked behind raider)

A-wing (title and refit in rebel aces)

etc.

Navigating the expansions required can be frustrating for a new player, who just buys the ship and rightfully assumes the game company has made it viable. As players who, presumably, wish to foster and maintain a gaming community, it's up to us to do the right thing and not be assholes about it.

as such, I thought it might be since to throw out the not-so-official, common sense proxy guide employed by our local group

I. How to Proxy:

1. Highest priority is having the right ship dial (kinda hard to play without) or, at the very least, a proper substitute (y-wing dial - red maneuvers = K-wing)
2. Second priority is having the proper base with the right firing arcs. While it's easy to remember that stuff like a K-wing has a PWT, trying to envision where extra arcs may be on a firespray or YV is just headache inducing. Also, it helps to use a base with the same PS of a pilot you're proxying
3. Also second priority, as there's no way to state how much not doing this will throw people off, is having the right model. No one is going to care if your interceptor isn't royal guard or saber colors etc. (except for those weirdos that are awesome to troll with red soontirs and gray carnors), but it really REALLY helps to have the proper model of the ship you're proxying.

IMPORTANT:

Once all that's accounted for, the next step is to have some way to track what you're proxying

This can easily come from card print-outs, or from having your printed list (easily accomplished through a service such as a squad builder) out and ready for your opponent to access

Basically, as the one proxying, your job is to make life as easy for your opponent as possible. The less ready you are, the more confusing the game is, and the less enjoyable it will be

II. When to proxy:

Sanctioned FFG competitive events require you to have the official cards. This means that during a Store Championship, Regionals, Nations, or Worlds etc. you should forget proxying and set about borrowing from your buddies

For casual games, it's really down to what your opponent is willing to put up with. I'm willing to bet most guys are just looking for a fun game, and will be a-okay with you trying-before-you-buy so long as you follow the guide-lines in part I and make life easier for them

For casual tournaments, the local TO is the ultimate authority (sorry ) but in my experience they're also reasonable people looking to grow the game they enjoy

For our local tournaments, the proxying "rules" are a little stricter

• As per official rules, the ship card + base + model + dial must conform to the ship you are flying
• Local tournaments do NOT allow the proxying of unreleased content, to make life easier for everyone involved

So while I can get away with flying Tempest Squadrons with Tie/x1 + Accuracy Corrector despite not owning the raider nor the 4 freaking Starvipers I'd need, I can't slap Mareek Steele (Defender) on the table and go to town with Tie/D.

Basically, in order to maintain a competitive atmosphere that conforms to the current perceived meta, you're only allowed to bring the things you could have bought at that time

Leave testing unreleased content for your casual games

III. Why is this important?

Basically, proxying exists to keep from losing people due to frusturation

there is nothing less gratifying than investing time and money in a model only to figure it for worthless or that it does not fit in one's playstyle (especially if it's something as expensive as a Raider-fixed Advance). It's basically why GW has bled so many of us.

Proxying is a balancing act where both the proxyer and the opposing player make life as easy as possible for each other, such that they can more easily enable the playing of this excellent game. It is the ultimate try-before-you-buy, something that allows the consumer to safely invest money in tech that he/she knows will be worthwhile

On the flip-side, one must not demand to proxy especially in competitive events. There is a certain air that needs to be maintained for even local tournaments, as players may see them as opportunities to practice for higher level tournaments and will not want to waste time playing against ships/upgrades that will not be released before the next round of Store Champs take place (re: Imp Vets).

Ultimately, proxying is an act of communication between fellow players for the sake of making this fine game more enjoyable. Exercise common sense such that the process is as painless as possible and, above all else, be a gentleman about it (re: don't be an *******)

So grab your printouts and your lists and, above all, go have fun

Visual Guide:

Casual: Wave 7 Defenders (w/TieD tractor beams) face off against Wave 7 Bombers w/long Range scaners

Casual Tournament:

Wave 7 Advance with proxied Tie/x1s and Accuracy Correctors lead a fully un-proxied AC + conner + seismics + munition Deathrain into battle

Store Championship/regional/national/worlds:

don't do it

I would only expect my opponent to have all cards in a formal tournament setting. Otherwise, squad-builder printouts and marking off things appropriately (e.g., one-use items) is more than fine. It's not just about access, it's about fair play and helping people decide their next purchases. Believe me, I am as annoyed as anyone that 2/3rds of the ships in this game have or still need a fix. That speaks very poorly of FFG's testing and balancing. I am also annoyed that the fixes come in new purchases which I attribute more to their desire to actually balance than corporate greed, but I can certainly see how it may aggravate some, especially new and/or budget challenged players. My sincere hope is that we get a version 2.0 with appropriate card and token packs so that not every ship needs a gratuitous title, mod, etc just so they aren't under-powered.

I always make sure to tell people I play with that they are allowed to proxy anything they desire and can make work without a headache.

It's difficult to proxy models and dials. We allow all kinds of card proxies in everything except formal FFG tournaments. However, most people here just play casually and only want to play with what they have, and don't even worry about proxies.

Good post and good ideas all around though, FGD.

Good post FGD, but I think you may be preaching to the choir a bit here. I think most of us feel the same way. Proxies are fine in casual games, but in things like Store Championships and the rest you're expected to have the proper cards.

Myself I'd rather see printed cards then a squad builder list. But that's mostly because I think that would be easier to read.

I'm also ok with a single card as long as every ship of that type has that upgrade. So if you were playing four Advanced, one AC or ATC for the whole list would be ok with me.

Here is a proper proxy model for the Death Star:

Great post Fickle!

[...]

I. How to Proxy:

1. ...
2. ...
3. Also second priority, as there's no way to state how much not doing this will throw people off, is having the right model. No one is going to care if your interceptor isn't royal guard or saber colors etc. (except for those weirdos that are awesome to troll with red soontirs and gray carnors), but it really REALLY helps to have the proper model of the ship you're proxying.

[...]

The resident Soontir Fel will continue to fly the ship of his choice:

[...]

I. How to Proxy:

1. ...
2. ...
3. Also second priority, as there's no way to state how much not doing this will throw people off, is having the right model. No one is going to care if your interceptor isn't royal guard or saber colors etc. (except for those weirdos that are awesome to troll with red soontirs and gray carnors), but it really REALLY helps to have the proper model of the ship you're proxying.

[...]

The resident Soontir Fel will continue to fly the ship of his choice:

I should add "some exceptions may apply"

[...]

I. How to Proxy:

1. ...
2. ...
3. Also second priority, as there's no way to state how much not doing this will throw people off, is having the right model. No one is going to care if your interceptor isn't royal guard or saber colors etc. (except for those weirdos that are awesome to troll with red soontirs and gray carnors), but it really REALLY helps to have the proper model of the ship you're proxying.

[...]

The resident Soontir Fel will continue to fly the ship of his choice:

Like a true Red Baron! Just hold your breath as long as you are on duty in space.

Very well said sir. For proxying cards, bases and even dials I use "Strange Eons". I highly recommend it as it covers all of your proxying needs

I'm generally in agreement with the OP, but even at my kitchen table you'd need a pretty compelling argument to get me to agree to proxying models or dials.

Also, no matter the level, I can't see allowing proxies in any kind of tournament. I TO events at my FLGS, and we're pretty casual, but no. I will work with somebody who wants to run something specific, especially if some of the components are presently out of circulation, by trying to find a copy they can borrow.

Testing out cards that have been spoiled but not released, or that you just don't have, in a casual game? Absolutely. I've done that and will probably continue to do so.

Good post FGD, but I think you may be preaching to the choir a bit here. I think most of us feel the same way. Proxies are fine in casual games, but in things like Store Championships and the rest you're expected to have the proper cards.

Myself I'd rather see printed cards then a squad builder list. But that's mostly because I think that would be easier to read.

I'm also ok with a single card as long as every ship of that type has that upgrade. So if you were playing four Advanced, one AC or ATC for the whole list would be ok with me.

I agree, good post FGD.

VandorDM, it's good to hear about having just one card. I supports buying the expansion without over buying models we don't need. Even so I was in Orlando, FL and thought awesome I know an LGS that plays X-Wing every Sunday. I stopped by and it was a local tournament and even though I buy most everything I didn't have enough cards for the squad I brought with me. People come go, leave early and no one had ever met me. I'm sure if I begged enough someone would have let me use a card and stayed until I was eliminated but I just didn't feel right so I went to Universal instead. For that price I could have bought a bunch of more ships.

I, however, prefer printing out squad lists and just passing them out. Maybe it is just a reading preference but it also helps me speed up the game setup, protect my cards and not stress to much over greasy fingers. Yes I still stress if it is my token and ships.

One key rule that I follow is that proxying is basically a house rule, and as such being allowed to proxy is a privilege, not a right.

Even for casual gaming, unless I have previously checked with my opponent I will have at least 2 lists with me: the one I would like to play if my opponent is ok with the proxy request ("Hey, mind if I try out a TIE/D list?"), and a backup list that is fully tournament legal.

Thanks for the post, it is good to see that reason is favored over the need for 100% buy-in.

+1 in my book

As a new player it is overwhelming to look at the initial investment required to run a squadron the you want. Using "Han Shopped First" it is easy to see that just about any reasonably competitive setup requires a number of cards that are not included in a particular kit (K-Wing with Prox Mines for example). I have no interest in running a Slave I or an IG-2000 so why in the world would I shill out the money for ONE CARD?!?

I also understand the need to own the model you plan on playing, and think this is a completely reasonable request. It would be hard for anyone at any level to remember every round of a game that that B-Wing over there is actually a Y-Wing. It would really impair the opponents ability to plan if they have to keep reminding themselves of the modification.

Well locally I use repainted Star Wars Miniatures Game A-wings (because they're closer to being true scale than the package scale ones) and Micro Machine Halloween Poe without too many problems (as well as homemade alt art Pilot/Upgrade cards), but I already own all the stuff that goes with it.

Really dials are the most difficult item to proxy: tiles can be printed pretty easily and there's minis/Micro Machines for the rest of the ships if you've got them already laying around.

In our group when it comes to proxy out side a tournament we don't care how its done. we don't even print anything out just leave the yet another squad builder open on our phones we don't even bother getting out ship cards when we do. we are very lazy

I would say that you should proxy in casual games only if you've asked and your opponent is ok with it. There have been times I think where I should not have proxied against someone (they were too new to handle even better stuff) and times where they proxied against me when I didn't really feel like playing against something like that.

On a somewhat related note: locally we don't really require that people get out the X1, Chardaan Refit, Test Pilot, and IG-2000 cards. They're all auto-includes (unless you're putting missiles on As), so it's just a waste of time/table space to actually get them out.

Here is a proper proxy model for the Death Star:

I see some nice stolen valor in the background