Everyone's talking about the Main Event, but once I finally read the entire article, I found the Hangar Bay Side Event to be quite interesting:

https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/news/2016/1/27/open-briefing/

https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/news/2016/1/27/system-open-spoils/

You bring 2 squads of different factions, and depending on what you see for your opponents squads, you pick one, then you both reveal at the same time and go. (first link)

Also, did no one notice that the point structure is different, offering 4 points for modified wins instead of 3? (second link)

I think this would be an interesting tournament structure to explore, and I am curious about the 4 mod win points instead of 3. Perhaps testing for new scoring structure?

I like the Hangar Bay, it allows for disrupting the meta a bit more. You can bring your favoured list and a meta destroyer. Something wreaking havoc in your area? Bring something just in case.

Facing 4 TLT's? Bring some A-Wings or Interceptors. Dreading the stresshog? Build a counter or bring Tycho.

This new system seems really cool. I typically end up bringing two squads to game nights anyways, so this sounds like a fun new way to mix up how I choose which squad to play.

I don't think a 4-mod point structure is something they are looking to explore. Looks to me as though the 4-point mod win for the Hangar Bay events is only done so for prize distribution:

After all three rounds, the prizes will be handed out according to this chart:

7-11 Tournament Points = 1 additional copy of the printed card

12-15 Tournament Points = 1 additional copy of the printed card, 1 copy of the plastic card

So at the 4-mod win structure ensures that all players that get 3 wins get the better prizes, whereas if a player only gets 2 Wins or 2 Wins + a Draw, that player only gets the additional printed card. If they distributed the plastic card at 9-15 Tournament Points (using normal scoring structure), that would allow the 3-mod-win undefeated players get the plastic card, but also allow the 2 Full Win - 1 Loss players get those prizes as well. Really seems like they only want to give (or have enough to give) to the players that go undefeated after the 3 Rounds.

Woot the year of the smokey token and templates has begun. Now the question is will they get a complete token/template set out as prize support for the 2016 year?

I don't think a 4-mod point structure is something they are looking to explore. Looks to me as though the 4-point mod win for the Hangar Bay events is only done so for prize distribution:

After all three rounds, the prizes will be handed out according to this chart:

7-11 Tournament Points = 1 additional copy of the printed card

12-15 Tournament Points = 1 additional copy of the printed card, 1 copy of the plastic card

So at the 4-mod win structure ensures that all players that get 3 wins get the better prizes, whereas if a player only gets 2 Wins or 2 Wins + a Draw, that player only gets the additional printed card. If they distributed the plastic card at 9-15 Tournament Points (using normal scoring structure), that would allow the 3-mod-win undefeated players get the plastic card, but also allow the 2 Full Win - 1 Loss players get those prizes as well. Really seems like they only want to give (or have enough to give) to the players that go undefeated after the 3 Rounds.

Makes sense!

But maybe they might look at each event and see if that change had a significant effect on the rankings? How often do people get 3 modified wins and end up below someone 2-1? Etc. It's tournament data they can collect at premiere events.

It looks like they changed the modified win to 3 points in the article (much to my disappointment).

This format seems like a lot of fun. Another element of strategy in the game.

Yeah, Bring 2 is a fun event that I've heard been done before for X-Wing, though this one's slightly different in that each list has to be a different faction (other variants just couldn't share ships).

That sounds fun, and an interesting solution to the age old question of "I LOVE BOTH OF THESE SQUADS, WHICH OF THEM DO I BRING??!!!"

It looks like they changed the modified win to 3 points in the article (much to my disappointment).

Still says 4 to me.

And it makes sense from what LucCros said.

I really like the idea for this new tournament structure and I hope it becomes popular. Even aside from the metagame implications, I love that it helps to break up the monotony of playing the same squad all day long in the larger tournaments.

You could also do some interesting variants on this. For example, instead of two different factions, you could say that both lists must be of the same faction but not have any of the same ships.

I wonder who's going to be the guy that brings 4x Y-wing TLT as both Rebels and Scum?

I wonder who's going to be the guy that brings 4x Y-wing TLT as both Rebels and Scum?

The guy that loses a lot of games to everyone who brings anti-TLT tech as one of their two lists.

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The "bring two lists, pick one in secret" setup is standard in WarMachine tournaments, except that they're typically restricted to the same faction (way more factions, though).

They also have "master" events that require three lists, and that each list be played at least once past the cut (which leads to a lot of strategic list choice based on who you expect to face in later rounds).

Edit: also, unique characters are typically limited between the lists, so that you couldn't bring (for example) Vader in both lists. Since this is specifying different factions, that would only make sense for Boba and Kath, so the restriction is less relevant.