Answering op's question: yes.

A well build & flown list will always have a good suprise factor. In a meta where everybody uses top 3-5 lists if you build smart you can win easily especially because people get used to flying against certain types of lists and will be thrown off balance. X-wing is balanced enough that you can be quite innovative and if you have skill you can succeed.

If you cant fly well and take a weird build you will get smashed. Then it depends - how competetive are you. Can you have fun while losing? If yes, go ahead and play some stores.

Of course it will be fun even if you're new as long as you have the right kind of attitude. Also as far as net decking x wing is not rocket science nor brain surgery so it doesn't take a PhD to see what the really strong, efficient, effective combos are like push and autos on fel.

Go and have fun!

My additional advice is... know the rules!

So, be sure you know the general rules AND the Faqs of the ships/upgrades you're using.

At my 2nd tourney ever, last year's Italian regional, I had to explain Chewie (crew) several times, same with the hlc crit-keeping rerolls on Dash AND Dash ability itself

I'm a newbie. Jumped into xwing with the sale-craze during the holidays.

I'm a gamer, I play hearthstone, LOTR LCG and lots of other games, and I know what it is like to 'deck build'...

but if there's one thing I hate is just to internet-deck, to just "copy" "lists" (why did the community settle on that term, why not squad?)... so I want to go with my own creative squad build, however I feel like it, and I would love to go to these (in)famous championships coming up... am I doomed? is it me or am I right in fearing that you can't go have fun unless you play List N of the top 5 "lists" the internets has agreed are OP OMG WINZ WINZ?

Or is there a good way to find a way to play x wing for casual (yet competitive-ish, where each side did try to build their list)... I almost would like to say "want to play x wing, but if you just copy internet lists, not interested"... what do the long term folks, and recent newbies, think of my concerns? Is the x wing community open to "just having fun"?

People here can't give you any meaningful answer if you'll enjoy a tournament since that is a subjective judgment only you can determine for your self.

Some people just don't enjoy tournaments at all, while others love them. So you have to go by your own experience. If you've played tournaments for other games and enjoyed it then you will be more likely to enjoy an x wing tournament. If you've played tournaments for other games before and hated it them most likely a tournament won't be something you enjoy in this game. If you've never done any kind of tournament in the past then the first one is going to be a crap shoot since your experience at the tournament will revolve around not just you, but everyone you play, and how your expectations and desires for said tournament mesh with everyone else's.

On your second subject it is completely your prerogative to accept or refuse a game against anyone if you don't feel it will be enjoyable. Don't let others bully you into thinking otherwise. I do it all the time for pickup games and have done it in tournaments in the past. There are people I just know I won't enjoy playing, and those I know I will, the unknowns are handled thru pre game discussion and if I determine their play style, list, or anything else will mean I won't enjoy it I pass on the game. I so rarely get to play that I'd rather just enjoy the bs'ing with the guys over playing a game and hating it.

I'm a newbie. Jumped into xwing with the sale-craze during the holidays.

I'm a gamer, I play hearthstone, LOTR LCG and lots of other games, and I know what it is like to 'deck build'...

but if there's one thing I hate is just to internet-deck, to just "copy" "lists" (why did the community settle on that term, why not squad?)... so I want to go with my own creative squad build, however I feel like it, and I would love to go to these (in)famous championships coming up... am I doomed? is it me or am I right in fearing that you can't go have fun unless you play List N of the top 5 "lists" the internets has agreed are OP OMG WINZ WINZ?

Or is there a good way to find a way to play x wing for casual (yet competitive-ish, where each side did try to build their list)... I almost would like to say "want to play x wing, but if you just copy internet lists, not interested"... what do the long term folks, and recent newbies, think of my concerns? Is the x wing community open to "just having fun"?

You're already a noob, so you're at a disadvantage right there.

If you bring a tier 1.5 or 2 list you're going to lose hard core. Everyone telling you to stop worrying about your list are people who are bad at the game who think there is a dichotomy between, "fun" and, "winning". This is a store championship, play to win and don't consent to your opponent performing forgotten triggers.

Paul Heaver, the 3 time world champion isn't someone that, "plays for fun" and flies whatever he wants to. He flies meta lists that are tweaked slightly to have counter meta aspects to them. I suggest that you do that too.

For example, if Palpatine Aces is prevalent, you may want to initiative bid down to 97-96-95 points and use VI on Vader and just beat them at their own game with your own Palp aces list.

Oh all the people not to listen to on these forums about competitive play it's the above poster.

He displays consistently that he doesn't know the rules of the game and goes out of his way to look for ways in which to bend or outright break rules to prop up his play.

Go to events, play what you want, win or lose graciously. It's not a complicated thing.

I know the rules of the game.

I've since apologized to my opponent that removed a ship that he thought was destroyed even though I rolled all blanks even though he had the opportunity to double check the die rolls. I also covered a tournament entry for him. I'm sorry, and I should have made note of it in the original thread but it was buried by then and didn't think it was relevant. What I did also wasn't that much of a transgression anyways, you take your ship off the board without double checking the dice it's kind of your fault bro.

If you play what you want, you /will/ lose unless what you want to play happen to be the meta net lists. Remember, I had to actually had to argue with a large portion of this forum that the Phantom and Fat Turretwing were broken even though they blatantly were. This forum is filled with people that think 2 attack ships without Crackshot aren't obsolete.

Deny your opponent missed triggers and win at all costs.

Yes, we know you try and win at all costs. You've made it clear in any number of threads that you are not above bending or ignoring rules to do so. Thankfully, most X-wing players aren't so wrapped up with winning that they will cross the line past fair play and into win at all costs idiocy.

Not all players, even ones that frequent tournaments often, care about thier W-L ratio. Some just want to get iut for the day and play some X-wing. That doesn't mean they aren't going to do thier best to win, but it means thier ability to enjoy the event isn't going to be defined by how many wins they rack up. Some players take lists full well knowing they don't stack up just to see if they can put in any work with the odd ball lists. Players even go so far as to challenge each other to build lists centered around certain concepts, just to see who can come out ahead at the end. Even high level players aren't going to put much stock in how they perform at a Store Championship.

It's a Store Championship. There are in any given area, are a bunch of them. Winning or losing them is pretty much inconsequential to a players ability to succeed in the larger events. No one boasts about winning a Store Championship, because even the most competitive players know that nothing short of some of the larger Regionals, Nats, or Worlds is a real feather in thier cap. Store Championships are when you try your new lists. They are just a slightly more intense practice then your casual game night games.

This forum is filled with people that think 2 attack ships without Crackshot aren't obsolete.

Stresshog has two attack and no crackshot, and it's not obsolete!

Yes, we know you try and win at all costs. You've made it clear in any number of threads that you are not above bending or ignoring rules to do so. Thankfully, most X-wing players aren't so wrapped up with winning that they will cross the line past fair play and into win at all costs idiocy.

Not all players, even ones that frequent tournaments often, care about thier W-L ratio. Some just want to get iut for the day and play some X-wing. That doesn't mean they aren't going to do thier best to win, but it means thier ability to enjoy the event isn't going to be defined by how many wins they rack up. Some players take lists full well knowing they don't stack up just to see if they can put in any work with the odd ball lists. Players even go so far as to challenge each other to build lists centered around certain concepts, just to see who can come out ahead at the end. Even high level players aren't going to put much stock in how they perform at a Store Championship.

It's a Store Championship. There are in any given area, are a bunch of them. Winning or losing them is pretty much inconsequential to a players ability to succeed in the larger events. No one boasts about winning a Store Championship, because even the most competitive players know that nothing short of some of the larger Regionals, Nats, or Worlds is a real feather in thier cap. Store Championships are when you try your new lists. They are just a slightly more intense practice then your casual game night games.

No, Store Championships are when you crush your opponent. So are $5 Friday tournament nights. Because players are expected to play well and missed opportunities don't have to be allowed unless you consent.

When do I ignore rules? And since when is denying shots with PS 8 ships when you fired with your PS 6 one first bending the rules? Stop being bad at the game and don't make mistakes.

You win at all costs. Because winning is fun.

Couldt go through the thread, but

1. In my experience, store champs are casual APART from requiring all proper materials (ship cards/bases/upgrades etc) and people hunting regional buys

It's very possible to have a lot of fun at a SC as a beginner

2.) Dont mind losing/being corrected on mistakes

Store Champ may be casual in atmosphere, but they are sanctioned tournies and some people take it seriously.

You have to be okay with them POTENTIALLY not letting you take back decisions or recovering missed opportunities (like forgetting to focus with Poe until he gets shot)

If you are, there'll be no problems. If you see someone is being overly anal or impatatient, communicate. Never be afraid to call a TO for help with either rules or players

Overall, the event is still casual. There's just a minimum standard when it comes to observing tournament (need official xwing cards/bases etc; no proxies) and game rules (such as missed opportunities)

No, Store Championships are when you crush your opponent. So are $5 Friday tournament nights.

With that attitude i won't be surprised if they start charging you 20$ to enter the 5$ tournament nights

Seriously now, going into a game like that, do you have fun while the game is going on? Or just when it is over and you won?

what list do you use?

Everyone telling you to stop worrying about your list are people who are bad at the game who think there is a dichotomy between, "fun" and, "winning". This is a store championship, play to win and don't consent to your opponent performing forgotten triggers.

What utter rot. For someone who thinks they can describe the vast majority of the X-Wing community with a single sentence; your statement actually says more about you than it does about us.

I wouldn't bother going whole hog trying to win

One of my most fun matches last season was v a newbie running a Mara shuttle, soonts and carnor. Hell, he was actually one of the most challenging! (Though we did both forget that Mara didn't stack )

By extension, the super dash of the following match got double stressed by r3-a2 Luke and then steamrolled through

Probably better to bring a list you're more familiar with than your opponent is

It really is confounding how people will willingly throw out the "at all costs" idiom without actually understanding what they are saying.

If you are saying you are "willing to win at any/all cost" you are saying you are willing to cheat to get the W. It's a saying that litterally means a person is stating thier willingness to do anything to win. It's right there in the phrase, it isn't some veiled coliquilism.

Just for grins, I will add my observation that the most exciting, i.e. FUN games I've ever had came down to the wire with two last jousters going at it each with 1 hull remaining. Win or lose, those are the experiences you'll carry with you.

No, Store Championships are when you crush your opponent. So are $5 Friday tournament nights.

With that attitude i won't be surprised if they start charging you 20$ to enter the 5$ tournament nights

Seriously now, going into a game like that, do you have fun while the game is going on? Or just when it is over and you won?

what list do you use?

I have fun when the game is going on against most lists.

I have even more fun when I'm winning/a close end game situation.

I use a bunch of lists as I pretty much have a complete 100 point set of all of the ships in the game. Lately I've been flying 3x Black Squadron, 3x Omega Squadron, 6x Crackshot, and a 94 point Imperial Boba and broken 35 point Soontir. Or a quad T-65, quad R7 build.

I have won, and I have had fun, and let me tell you, winning is a lot of fun.

#cobrasquad

All this, every post, these are the people and the attitude. This is why I fly X-wing.

No, Store Championships are when you crush your opponent. So are $5 Friday tournament nights.

With that attitude i won't be surprised if they start charging you 20$ to enter the 5$ tournament nights

Seriously now, going into a game like that, do you have fun while the game is going on? Or just when it is over and you won?

what list do you use?

I have fun when the game is going on against most lists.

I have even more fun when I'm winning/a close end game situation.

I use a bunch of lists as I pretty much have a complete 100 point set of all of the ships in the game. Lately I've been flying 3x Black Squadron, 3x Omega Squadron, 6x Crackshot, and a 94 point Imperial Boba and broken 35 point Soontir. Or a quad T-65, quad R7 build.

Well, at least you still try out different lists. I would have thought that a WAAC player would take the strongest list they could find and stick with that.

ps: No harm meant , just wanted to know what you take to ensure a win. Nice to see quad T-65!

Hi all! Thanks for the enthusiasm and time in responding to my OP... I'd love to keep this conversation going a bit, cuz, as you know, as OP this is a "I'm new and going to my first store championship OMG"...

I have been reading and seeing what tends to be "the" ships to run.

I have a personality to hate to just copy/parrot (yes, that is, I am not paying.. I mean playing... to win). So I want to be original, feel like I found something and like to play with it.

On the other hand of course that doesn't mean I feel like being contrarian (let's see if I can win with six Rebel Operative HWK-290s)...

Now, let's me shift to another topic -- ah yes, the upgrade cards... or the Uber pilots... as I said, I don't want to parrot... but, here's where I get sad....

Let's say, fine, I realize the Y Wing "needs" TLT... fine, I should run one right? Oh, what? In the K Wing? boo, I was hoping to just never buy k wing/tie punisher.

Wondering the player I am? An enthusiast. I've bought almost 1-of anything sensible. But see, I was trying to make a call that I could ignore some ships...

Advanced Targetting Computer? Tie/X1 "must have fix"... euh... what? you want me to buy an imperial raider? When am I going to play with that? (note: I'd LOVE to but I don't have that much time in casual play... and I already sucked up buying the rebel transport for Heroes of the Aturi Cluster!)

...

Okay. So, thoughts?

Oh, fine, maybe some want to answer something different... you saw already I'm a "one-of" person... (two core sets though)... has there ever been a thought at competitive-for-newbie lists that do not rely on OP-spamming cards that you take 10 of? [my observation: I kinda wish more cards were unique that are not today..]

Thanks again for any commentary, from your newbie representative I-hope-I-don't-have-to-pay-to-win player. (I LOVE IT WHEN PLAYED FOR FUN !!!)

and yes I am going to have fun on store championship day no matter what I sound like here! and I will report my feelings when it's done (and it could very well have "wtf, it really is sh*tty playing against xxxx")

Y-Wing's don't need TLTs. There are plenty of good Y-Wing options that don't involve Satan's gift to X-Wing. Find something you like, play with that, and have fun. Nothing else matters.