The game is evolving fast, and with this evolution, a new meta and new rules. It’s human nature to resist change, and this has caused a bit of a debate between players about how the game “should” be played.

Now I’m not asking for everyone to drop their gloves and hug it out. As long as it’s civil, debate about the game we have all come to love is healthy to see another point of view and understand why there’s opposing opinions.

But I think the community feels like they’ve lost complete control of being able to enjoy X-Wing… I think we need to be reminded of a few things:

FFG did not develop an online community through VASSAL, creating a module for us to enjoy our game online.

FFG did not develop a tournament program Cryodex, to better assist tournament organizers in running large events.

FFG did not develop ListJuggler, to track tournament results and keep up with the latest popular lists.

FFG did not develop large events like the Stele Open, NOVA Open, and other tournaments such as in countries that are not supported by Organized Play.

FFG did not develop a Co-op Campaign, Heroes of Atturi Cluster, and other alternate formats.

FFG did not start twitch feeds, podcasts, YouTube videos, tutorials, custom paints/modifications groups.

FFG did not develop leagues in local communities (and others such as VASSAL) with all different formats and flavors, from explicitly casual to extremely competitive.

All of this was created by community members and people that have a true passion for the game.

The event format ran by FFG such as Store, Regional, National, and World Championships are a very SMALL piece of the pie of the overall enjoyment you can get out of this game.

If there is an issue you may have with what FFG has provided you to play the game, you and only you, have the ability to change it! Promote the game to expand your communities, share your ideas, run events with alternate formats, and find ways to get involved in making the game better!

I wanted to give personal credit to all of the individuals that have been part of everything I mentioned above, but there’s just too many to list, and many more working in the background. You guys know who you are. Thanks and keep it up!

and this has caused a bit of a debate between players about how the game “should” be played.

I agree with most of what you said, but really the current uproar isn't even about how the game should be played, it's about how tournaments should be played.

I'm a tournament player, I play in Store Championships, I play in Regionals, ect.. I enjoy a good competitive game. But even with as popular as X-Wing tournaments are they're still a small part of the overall community I bet. Frankly what's happened in Roanoke is getting way more bandwidth than it needs.

Sure it's an issue and one I think FFG needs to look at. But in the grand scheme of things, there's way more text being devoted to this issue then it deserves.

But your overall point is great. The community is what we make it, not what FFG does. So we as a community can move past this and go play the game again.

I feel like this deserves a JBR7 "Good Post". I don't have access to that authority but I'll stand in and say what he'd probably say. "They're your toys, play with them how you want."

...or something like that with more creative spelling.

(I love you JBR7)

I feel like this deserves a JBR7 "Good Post". I don't have access to that authority but I'll stand in and say what he'd probably say. "They're your toys, play with them how you want."

...or something like that with more creative spelling.

(WE love you JBR7)

emphasis added

I feel like this deserves a JBR7 "Good Post". I don't have access to that authority but I'll stand in and say what he'd probably say. "They're your toys, play with them how you want."

...or something like that with more creative spelling.

(I love you JBR7)

I find myself slightly irked by a lot of his joy-happy-kindofpointless posts, but he has been far too absent these past few days. Could certainly go for some of his token enthusiasm for this game right about now.

All I can say that has a trace of being different from the thousands of comments everywhere is that you should feed your love of x-wing with ways of playing outside of the top competitive tournaments, if you think that part of it is taking a turn for the worse. Starting a local league that gives points for playing (even losses), playing different opponents (10 different opponents is an achievement that gives points), playing different lists (playing each faction is another achievement), playing in stores (each game out in the public, outside vassal is an extra point) has done WONDERS for me. You feel liberated and start using stuff like StarVipers, Hound's Tooth, generic T-70s, double decimators, etc. It feels like I can use a way bigger part of my collection and still create wicked cool scenarios that play out. It breaks away from the meta copying lists or meta countering lists. If you only play serious tournaments, it will get austere and stale.

Breathe in a little variety and it'll keep your enjoyment up there. Be patient in how it'll play out. It's still the same, open ended and fun game as it was in 2012, only, bigger and better.

Far more went into that thread than necessary because it was the weekend, and I'm guessing FFG offices haven't yet opened.

Thank you for the reminder of the context, and the community which helped build this game for me. I, for one, will be less confrontational in future.