So, I got X-Wing for Christmas and I've just signed up to my 1st tournament, a very relaxed 50pt affair. I know I want to use Vader, but was wondering what I should pair him with.

Vader + title + ATC leaves 20pts. I could go Zeta Ace (i like the big barrell roll!) with Juke maybe?

Or give Vader EU, leaving enough for an Epsilon Squadron Pilot? Seems a bit all eggs in one basket though...

Having played all of about four games I'm not really sure, just don't want to hamstring myself too badly before I even start.

I've now played my first two games of the tourney, things are going better than expected!

First game I went with Vader+VI+Title+ATC with Zeta Ace. Had my first sighting of the IG-88B which, fitted out with Autothrusters, PtL, Mangler Cannon, Advanced Sensors and Glitterstim, seemed a scary prospect. I steeled myself for possibly being out of the game after the first pass, but Zeta absorbed the alpha strike with one hull remaining, leaving me in a pretty good position after a few turns. My opponent, who had only bought his ship the day before, had other plans and managed to fly it off the board trying to avoid an asteroid! 82-18 win in my first ever competitive game. Would've been 100-0 if I hadn't flown Zeta over an asteroid on my final turn...

Second game I went with EU on Vader and downgraded Zeta to an Epsilon. I was against a Red Squadron Pilot with R7-T1 and Flechette Torpedoes and a Blue Squadron B Wing. Funnily enough i'd been drawn against my mate who also only started playing at Christmas, until this tourney we've only played each other. Vader was absolute gold in this match, killing the X Wing early but then bad maneuvering on my part meant the B Wing left him with 2 hull and a Damaged Cockpit. He took to the hills, and eventually I managed to get the shots to finish the B Wing (that was now shooting before both my ships) without anything dying. 100-0 win.

Things learned so far? EU is a must on Vader, still not sure if I need VI at 50pts (worried about VI Whisper/Poe but could take Wired instead for some stress mitigation?), and I really need more practice at not reliably finding at least one asteroid a game. Oh, and this game's ridiculous amounts of fun :-)

welcome to cardboard/plastic crack addiction.

Vader with EU is disgusting.

Vader with VI is really there to counter VI Poe, if you're not finding many VI poes might i suggest a crackshot to assure that you get some damage through on a critical turn (heh ATC, critical) but seriously with ATC whatever you crackshot will assure your critical gets through.

at 50 points i can see there being very few ships on the board... do you know who LOVES the thought of having less ships on the board?

Omega Leader. 21 base points of if i have you TL'd you cant modify ANY DICE. wowzers.

throw on Juke and Comms relay and you have 26/50 points, half your list is getting shot at by modifiable dice.

like i said this leaves you with 24 points, you could either run 2 tie fighters (academy pilots) or run Lt. Colzet (PS 3 Tie adv from Corevette Epic Expac) with Accuracy correctors, use him as a blocker and constant nuisance.

I recomend you keep it.simple. If you have played only 4 games, two Academy Tie plus two obsidian Ties are.good toys to learn. No EU, Titles or Sensors. Simply run, roll, k turn, learn when to.select slow sharp turns and when to go straight 5.

And have fun !!!

Thanks for the advice!

I realise VI is mainly anti-Poe, but with my skill levels it's there as insurance to absolutely make sure he goes last. Also it's a slow-grow tourney with games at 75pts then 100pts, he can form the cornerstone of the list as it grows without changes.

Crackshot would be good, but don't have the card... Nor Colzet to fly a Tie Adv. I toyed with the idea of Omega Leader and the two APs but decided that Vader looked like he'd be more fun to fly, plus would get me learning to arc-dodge straight away. OL gets a place in my 100pts list though, I'm not completely stupid...

Hexdot - fun is being had, I assure you :-) I've played a lot of games in my time, so I jumped right in with a list that did a couple of things and trusted myself to work it out. My main concession so far has been to not run a Phantom list until I get the hang of these asteroids!