The prizes for the System Open events are incredible and prestigious components and trophies to forever commemorate your harrowing mission.

Scyk, TIE Bomber, and T-65.

You know people won't stop complaining about the locations.

Maybe, but if there was 5 major tournaments in the US, North America, Nationals, Worlds, and 2 System Opens (east and west) at least then most people would have at least one event that wasn't half way across the country for them.

Myself I'm spoiled, I consider the FFG Event center a semi-LGS, it's about an hour away...

Register for the tournament here

It only lets you register for the first day of the Hoth tournament.

So are the qualifying tournaments following the same format as the London finals, are are they just going to be regular games?

You folks realize that O'Hare airport is one of the largest airports in the country and it's only 15 minutes from the site of the tournament? You can get <$100 round trip tickets to Chicago from just about anywhere in North America. It's centrally located, relatively inexpensive, and can handle large numbers of people.

Why would they consider taking this anywhere else?

I'm not as worried about the location as I am about the timing of the announcement. It's going to end up as a fairly restricted competition, simply because a lot of working adults can't schedule a week off work with so little notice.

To reiterate, this. I only get so much PTO a year, and all of it for 2016 was spoken for, with hotels booked, badges purchased(well, mostly, except for GenCon but the plan was there), and in some cases requests already made and approved months ago. Concerts, Dice Tower Con here in Orlando, GenCon for the first time, DragonCon like every year, and a couple other personal bits and it's pretty much all spent. I could handle the tickets and hotel that would be required probably without issue, it's the time with no notice that's the problem. I will be trying to keep a few days available next year for when they do this again though.

Sienar Fleet Systems is located in Germany =D

Good job, FFG ^^

only if you consider 'ess ländle' part of germany ..

hmm... I have no idea if I have time or not, but.. really considering the 3h drive there

from here on, stuttgart will be known as 'Sienar City'.

..and little punks with blue hairs and jedi-mumbojumbo-tricks will get shot.

The winner should have to play Paul Heaver.

My vote is for the star viper and TAP.

The winner should have to play Paul Heaver.

My vote is for the star viper and TAP.

That's a bit of a disservice to anyone in Europe who's a great player, but wasn't able to afford the trip to the US. I wouldn't be surprised if we see some equally skilled players that "came out of nowhere" that'll give Mr. Heaver a good challenge.

You folks realize that O'Hare airport is one of the largest airports in the country and it's only 15 minutes from the site of the tournament? You can get <$100 round trip tickets to Chicago from just about anywhere in North America. It's centrally located, relatively inexpensive, and can handle large numbers of people.

Why would they consider taking this anywhere else?

I'm not as worried about the location as I am about the timing of the announcement. It's going to end up as a fairly restricted competition, simply because a lot of working adults can't schedule a week off work with so little notice.

To reiterate, this. I only get so much PTO a year, and all of it for 2016 was spoken for, with hotels booked, badges purchased(well, mostly, except for GenCon but the plan was there), and in some cases requests already made and approved months ago. Concerts, Dice Tower Con here in Orlando, GenCon for the first time, DragonCon like every year, and a couple other personal bits and it's pretty much all spent. I could handle the tickets and hotel that would be required probably without issue, it's the time with no notice that's the problem. I will be trying to keep a few days available next year for when they do this again though.

If it was all spoken for then no matter when they announced this for in 2016 you wouldn't be able to go...

You folks realize that O'Hare airport is one of the largest airports in the country and it's only 15 minutes from the site of the tournament? You can get <$100 round trip tickets to Chicago from just about anywhere in North America. It's centrally located, relatively inexpensive, and can handle large numbers of people.

Why would they consider taking this anywhere else?

I'm not as worried about the location as I am about the timing of the announcement. It's going to end up as a fairly restricted competition, simply because a lot of working adults can't schedule a week off work with so little notice.

To reiterate, this. I only get so much PTO a year, and all of it for 2016 was spoken for, with hotels booked, badges purchased(well, mostly, except for GenCon but the plan was there), and in some cases requests already made and approved months ago. Concerts, Dice Tower Con here in Orlando, GenCon for the first time, DragonCon like every year, and a couple other personal bits and it's pretty much all spent. I could handle the tickets and hotel that would be required probably without issue, it's the time with no notice that's the problem. I will be trying to keep a few days available next year for when they do this again though.

If it was all spoken for then no matter when they announced this for in 2016 you wouldn't be able to go...

If I'd known ahead of time I could have moved some things around, likely cutting days off for DiceTower as there's no travel involved, or made plan to squeeze out GenCon travel plans a bit before solidifying things. Point being you can't plan to schedule something if you don't know it's going to happen.

You folks realize that O'Hare airport is one of the largest airports in the country and it's only 15 minutes from the site of the tournament? You can get <$100 round trip tickets to Chicago from just about anywhere in North America. It's centrally located, relatively inexpensive, and can handle large numbers of people.

Why would they consider taking this anywhere else?

I'm not as worried about the location as I am about the timing of the announcement. It's going to end up as a fairly restricted competition, simply because a lot of working adults can't schedule a week off work with so little notice.

To reiterate, this. I only get so much PTO a year, and all of it for 2016 was spoken for, with hotels booked, badges purchased(well, mostly, except for GenCon but the plan was there), and in some cases requests already made and approved months ago. Concerts, Dice Tower Con here in Orlando, GenCon for the first time, DragonCon like every year, and a couple other personal bits and it's pretty much all spent. I could handle the tickets and hotel that would be required probably without issue, it's the time with no notice that's the problem. I will be trying to keep a few days available next year for when they do this again though.

If it was all spoken for then no matter when they announced this for in 2016 you wouldn't be able to go...

That's an awesome point.

I totally understand the complaints of US players and the short notice. Glad to finally have something cool and European based. A little surprised that there are no Asian or Australian locations though.

Stay at an Airbnb when you get there and you could probably get in under $500 for the weekend.

$500 to play X-Wing? What reasonable person who is debt free, completely secured for retirement, and found $500 sitting in the middle of the street wouldn't jump at that opportunity?

Stay at an Airbnb when you get there and you could probably get in under $500 for the weekend.

$500 to play X-Wing? What reasonable person who is debt free, completely secured for retirement, and found $500 sitting in the middle of the street wouldn't jump at that opportunity?

You're just being pedantic. Plenty of people still paying of student loans, still saving for retirement, and not finding random money can afford a trip to attend an event for a hobby if they want and plan to do so.

Having it at such short notice is more of an impediment then the overall cost.

The winner should have to play Paul Heaver.

My vote is for the star viper and TAP.

That's a bit of a disservice to anyone in Europe who's a great player, but wasn't able to afford the trip to the US. I wouldn't be surprised if we see some equally skilled players that "came out of nowhere" that'll give Mr. Heaver a good challenge.

My years of gaming has shown me that it is difficult to compare US to European gamers. They just game differently.

The winner should have to play Paul Heaver.

My vote is for the star viper and TAP.

That's a bit of a disservice to anyone in Europe who's a great player, but wasn't able to afford the trip to the US. I wouldn't be surprised if we see some equally skilled players that "came out of nowhere" that'll give Mr. Heaver a good challenge.

My years of gaming has shown me that it is difficult to compare US to European gamers. They just game differently.

Entirely true. I watched a stream for a European Cataan match, and I had to look to see if they were actually playing the same game the way they managed their turns. And that's not a game with a ton of variety to it... but they managed it.

It was particularly noticable with the Regionals results. Some very interesting stuff was happening there.

I'm excited by this. I don't think for a second that I'll make it as far as the second day of the Birmingham (sorry... Yavin) event, and certainly not into the top few, but I'll have fun anyway, and the Hangar Bay event is on day two, so that'll do. Plus it's an excuse to go to the Games Expo. I'm in.

Btw I see people talking about 3 days events but the qualifying events are on the 30th of April and 1st of March. That's only two days. What am I missing?

Btw I see people talking about 3 days events but the qualifying events are on the 30th of April and 1st of March. That's only two days. What am I missing?

Some of the events are 3 days, but it's Q1/Q2 (only go to one) followed by finals.

This sucks and blows at the same time!

It blosucks!

As someone based in New Zealand I have to say that it is pretty disappointing that there isn't a single event in Asia or Australia. I understand that there are probably logistical reasons behind this but its hard to shake the feeling that we have got the short end of the stick again. It would have been an amazing show of support for X-Wing's loyal fans in this part of the world to have a single event here so we could feel included in the wider X-Wing community.

I was like ... gasp!

Then I read more and I was like ... I must!

Then I saw Europe and I was like ... depressed.

This is a neat idea, and if it goes well in the EU, hopefully we could see something like it here in the states next year.

It has been mean to have to force international players to travel to MN for 3 years, when we all know the center of the universe is now officially Charlotte =)

I was like ... gasp!

Then I read more and I was like ... I must!

Then I saw Europe and I was like ... depressed.

This is a neat idea, and if it goes well in the EU, hopefully we could see something like it here in the states next year.

It has been mean to have to force international players to travel to MN for 3 years, when we all know the center of the universe is now officially Charlotte =)

Yep. It's called Worlds.

...when we all know the center of the universe is now officially Charlotte =)

Is she? Poor Charlotte. That must be painful.