outside of all the list building and game related stuff, what is the best advice you would give to a first timer ?

anything that is usefull to know ? life hacks ? Something you wish you knew before your first tournament ?

Thanks

I'm still fairly new to the tournament scene as well but from my experience here are some things I learned:

- Get rest the night before

- Eat a good breakfast (the day is pretty long and will be draining)

- Bring snacks and water

- Sit when you can

I think the list I provided is pretty basic but can be easily forgotten. Just my two cents. Hopefully others with more experience can give you more advice. Good luck!

Stay hydrated.

Remember that win or lose, the point of the game is to have fun.

Try to learn something from every game you play.

Put $100,000 against yourself at 1-to-100 and roll like I do.

Money, baby. Money.

Don't run against Bro-I mean have fun!

• Be rested. Get 6 regular nights of sleep prior to the game.

Stay hydrated, stay loose, stay pleasant and polite, don't be afraid to ask your opponent how an upgrade or a combo works if you're unsure, don't be afraid to ask a TO to confirm if the explanation doesn't sound right, don't be That Guy.

Most of all remember - no matter how your games go, a day spent playing X-Wing is never a day wasted. Good luck, have fun!

In addition to the above advice, which is all good, I'd add:

Fly what you know. Practice at least a few to several games with the list you intend to play with and get familiar with it's ins and outs. Against a variety of lists if possible.

Have fun and don't get worked up about winning or losing. The first tournament is where you learn.

If you have a reference sheet for other ships moves, take it along for reference.

Fly casual.

Fly close, but not too close

• Make a small yet firm cardboard tray for carrying your supplies from one table to another. Being prepared is awesome, and being the first to your seat is as well.
• Put all supplies for play in that cardboard tray to make sure they fit. A minor amount of completetion can give you an endorphin boost.

This. You'll be moving around a lot. Whatever you can do to move quickly and without forgetting any of your stuff will help you to focus more on your games.

• Put all supplies for play in that cardboard tray to make sure they fit. A minor amount of completetion can give you an endorphin boost.

I use the top of the core set box!

Have fun and don't get worked up about winning or losing. The first tournament is where you learn.

If you have a reference sheet for other ships moves, take it along for reference.

Fly casual.

I've wondered about this. Can you bring reference sheets with other ships move to a tournament?

Also what about a cheat sheet for your list with the turn phases so you don't forget your upgrades pilot abilities etc?

Have fun and don't get worked up about winning or losing. The first tournament is where you learn.

If you have a reference sheet for other ships moves, take it along for reference.

Fly casual.

I've wondered about this. Can you bring reference sheets with other ships move to a tournament?

Also what about a cheat sheet for your list with the turn phases so you don't forget your upgrades pilot abilities etc?

Have fun and don't get worked up about winning or losing. The first tournament is where you learn.

If you have a reference sheet for other ships moves, take it along for reference.

Fly casual.

I've wondered about this. Can you bring reference sheets with other ships move to a tournament?

Also what about a cheat sheet for your list with the turn phases so you don't forget your upgrades pilot abilities etc?

I'm not sure what the actual rule is on this, but I would never tell a new(or old for that matter) player that they couldn't use a cheat sheet of some kind. As long as there is no actual cheating(and I'm not even sure how one would actually cheat with a cheat sheet), I think most would agree with me.

Speaking personally, I would much rather play against someone using a turn-order cheat sheet than someone who constantly loses track of the order of play!

Have fun and don't get worked up about winning or losing. The first tournament is where you learn.

If you have a reference sheet for other ships moves, take it along for reference.

Fly casual.

I've wondered about this. Can you bring reference sheets with other ships move to a tournament?

Also what about a cheat sheet for your list with the turn phases so you don't forget your upgrades pilot abilities etc?

Neither of these are hidden knowledge, so this is actually a courtesy to your opponent.

​Otherwise, you'll be asking "Can I see your dial before you select your maneuver?" which takes time out of both players' days.

1. Pick the list you want to play, practice it, and stick with it. You'll do better with a worse list you know how to play than a better one you don't. I can't tell you the number of times I played someone who kept making obvious mistakes and then after the game they were like "Yeah, I didn't know what to play so I just threw this together before the tournament..."

2. Double check that you have every gaming accessory you'll need - tokens, range ruler, templates, dice, obstacles, etc. The first round is not the time to find out you forgot your damage deck or that it only has 31 cards in it.

3. Know any rules and FAQs that are relevant to your list backwards and forwards.

4. Sleep the night before instead of staying up all night play testing. You're going to end the day exhausted - that's a given - but there's no reason to start it that way.

5. Eat breakfast and pack some snacks to eat between rounds. You'll play better if you're thinking about the game instead of your stomach.

6. Take your time when playing so you don't make stupid mistakes. There's a saying: "Slow is smooth. Smooth is fast." that basically means taking an extra second or two to do something right is better than ******* up because you were rushing.

7. The dice are going to screw you at the least convenient moments. It will happen. Make your peace with it.

8. Have realistic expectations. This is your first tournament so there's a good chance you're going to bomb out, but try not to get discouraged and, instead, think of it as a learning experience. Keep a positive attitude and remember that you're playing a game and should be having fun. If you find yourself not having fun for any reason, it's perfectly acceptable to tell the TO that you want to drop and just watch the games or whatever.

The tray idea. Absolutely.

Hydration.

Sleep the night before.

The expectation to lose every game, but learn something each game too. (That way every win is that much better!)

And yes, you're allowed to bring documentation of all "public" knowledge. It actually states in the FFG Tournament rules:

I think Paul Heaver (3 time World Champion) has said something along the lines of "Drink lots of water and wear comfy shoes."

And you all thought it was his ability on the table. No, it's the shoes...

I'd say to not get mentally bogged down. If you finish a game before the round is over, take a quick lap around the parking lot. Change of scenery gives your mind a break and you'll be able to go over the previous game in your head a bit clearer.

• If at all possible, get all other tournament attendees to bathe before the tournament.

I can't find the .gif of Hades saying "if only... iiiffff only....." so I'll just leave this one here instead.

Brush your teeth, it'll really freshen up your mind.

Check with your opponent before going off to the toilet.

Brush your teeth, it'll really freshen up your mind.

Check with your opponent before going off to the toilet.

Whatever you do, don't brush your opponent's teeth.

Dont drink too much alcohol, its a long day. Dont even drink too much of the celebratory bottles of champagne you brought to pop after each victory. Take it easy, share the wealth and you'll do fine

Can't stress the whole hydration thing enough, really. If you forget that, you will have a headache by the third match, which prevents you from enjoying the game, which should be your ultimate goal.