There were 7 First Round Byes out of 16 players.

So 8 byes ;P

And yeah, 8 byes.

So, weird thing with Pittsburgh, they were also using the TOME software, and it also gave 9-1 byes for the first round. Everyone collectively came over to try and explain why that shouldn't be the case, but the decision was made by the Organizer that if the official FFG software said 9 point bye for the 1st round, then a 9 point bye is what everyone gets.

In the end, it didn't really change the top standings at all.

First place was 27 points (bye taken, 26 if 8 points) (Rieekan)

Second place was 25 points (bye taken, 24) (Ozzel)

Third place was 22 points (no bye) (Motti)

Fourth place was 21 (bye taken, 20, H2H tiebreaker over 5th place) (Screed)

Fifth place was 20 points (no bye) (Rieekan)

Sixth place was 19 points (no bye) (Motti I think?)

Seventh place was 19 points (bye taken, lost by MOV) (Motti)

and... I forget 8th place. 14ish?

I was the random player to get the 8th bye in the first round. My bye was put in as an 8-2, unlike the rest of the byes. According to the TO, I got 8-2 because that's what is in the rules, while the Store Champions got 9-1s.

I finished 10th with 16 pts. and was flying a Rieekan cruise missile style build.

Biggs, please tell me you beat you beat a DeMSU in a head to head match up.

All this entire data spread says to me is the Demolisher is undercosted...

Actually, yes. I had 9-1 475-141 win against a GGRRR in Round 2.

Full recap to come later.

Actually, yes. I had 9-1 475-141 win against a GGRRR in Round 2.

Full recap to come later.

YEEEEEEEESSSSSSS!

Actually, yes. I had 9-1 475-141 win against a GGRRR in Round 2.

Full recap to come later.

This, I want to read.

RIEEKAN IS OVERPOWERED.

Nerf please

Rieekan is only overpowered because people continually try to take quick striking lists around low bid Demolisher builds that depend on eliminating an activation early and running an opponent through to get position advantage and then reducing the opponent to nothing. Essentially Rieekan is an anvil to a hammer list.

So if people learned to play without the Demolisher crutch Rieekan would not be present in the meta as he is now.

Rieekan is only overpowered because people continually try to take quick striking lists around low bid Demolisher builds that depend on eliminating an activation early and running an opponent through to get position advantage and then reducing the opponent to nothing. Essentially Rieekan is an anvil to a hammer list.

So if people learned to play without the Demolisher crutch Rieekan would not be present in the meta as he is now.

Yup. Biggs and I have been working the Rieekan angle as a specific counter to DeMSU. I've been going squadrons, he's been going ships. That's why you see me on the 'Demolisher isn't overpowered' side of the argument despite being a Rebel player. Against some lists, it's powerful. Against others, I couldn't care less.

I just don't find the thought that one has to play Rieekan to be able to compete. Bleh.

I just don't find the thought that one has to play Rieekan to be able to compete. Bleh.

I don't either. He just makes it easier to deal with the ubiquitous DeMSU. The popularity of DeMSU is the main reason for Rieekan's popularity.

I just don't find the thought that one has to play Rieekan to be able to compete. Bleh.

I don't see having to play Rieekan as the end all be all either. I chose my list because I knew I would be going up against Demolisher MSU type lists. In my regionals I had a first round bye and the next three opponents went accordingly a Demolisher MSU rhymerball, a Demolisher MSU(few fire sprays), and a Demolisher/ISD2 rhymerball combo. The results for me were 9-1, 10-0, 9-1 respectively. All because I played lists that I specifically knew would dominate the meta, and prepared against. My goal was to change the meta, and hopefully in the next regional event I will see more heavy squadron list meta!

I just don't find the thought that one has to play Rieekan to be able to compete. Bleh.

I don't see having to play Rieekan as the end all be all either. I chose my list because I knew I would be going up against Demolisher MSU type lists. In my regionals I had a first round bye and the next three opponents went accordingly a Demolisher MSU rhymerball, a Demolisher MSU(few fire sprays), and a Demolisher/ISD2 rhymerball combo. The results for me were 9-1, 10-0, 9-1 respectively. All because I played lists that I specifically knew would dominate the meta, and prepared against. My goal was to change the meta, and hopefully in the next regional event I will see more heavy squadron list meta!

I just don't find the thought that one has to play Rieekan to be able to compete. Bleh.

I don't see having to play Rieekan as the end all be all either. I chose my list because I knew I would be going up against Demolisher MSU type lists. In my regionals I had a first round bye and the next three opponents went accordingly a Demolisher MSU rhymerball, a Demolisher MSU(few fire sprays), and a Demolisher/ISD2 rhymerball combo. The results for me were 9-1, 10-0, 9-1 respectively. All because I played lists that I specifically knew would dominate the meta, and prepared against. My goal was to change the meta, and hopefully in the next regional event I will see more heavy squadron list meta!

And your list?

Assfrig B

Rieekan

Boosted Coms

Assfrig B

Advance projectors

Expanded Hangars

Adar Talon

Gallant Haven

Nebulon B Escort Frigate

Yavaris

Veteran Captain

Luke

Wedge

Nym

Jan Ors

H-6

A-wings X 3

I just don't find the thought that one has to play Rieekan to be able to compete. Bleh.

I don't see having to play Rieekan as the end all be all either. I chose my list because I knew I would be going up against Demolisher MSU type lists. In my regionals I had a first round bye and the next three opponents went accordingly a Demolisher MSU rhymerball, a Demolisher MSU(few fire sprays), and a Demolisher/ISD2 rhymerball combo. The results for me were 9-1, 10-0, 9-1 respectively. All because I played lists that I specifically knew would dominate the meta, and prepared against. My goal was to change the meta, and hopefully in the next regional event I will see more heavy squadron list meta!

And your list?

Assfrig B

Rieekan

Boosted Coms

Assfrig B

Advance projectors

Expanded Hangars

Adar Talon

Gallant Haven

Nebulon B Escort Frigate

Yavaris

Veteran Captain

Luke

Wedge

Nym

Jan Ors

H-6

A-wings X 3

You realize you are provingy point right?

I just don't find the thought that one has to play Rieekan to be able to compete. Bleh.

I don't see having to play Rieekan as the end all be all either. I chose my list because I knew I would be going up against Demolisher MSU type lists. In my regionals I had a first round bye and the next three opponents went accordingly a Demolisher MSU rhymerball, a Demolisher MSU(few fire sprays), and a Demolisher/ISD2 rhymerball combo. The results for me were 9-1, 10-0, 9-1 respectively. All because I played lists that I specifically knew would dominate the meta, and prepared against. My goal was to change the meta, and hopefully in the next regional event I will see more heavy squadron list meta!

And your list?

Assfrig B

Rieekan

Boosted Coms

Assfrig B

Advance projectors

Expanded Hangars

Adar Talon

Gallant Haven

Nebulon B Escort Frigate

Yavaris

Veteran Captain

Luke

Wedge

Nym

Jan Ors

H-6

A-wings X 3

So. . . Rieekan. . . Again.

You realize you are provingy point right?

I think I am misunderstanding your point. What I am saying is that Rieekan is not overpowered, he is just a very good answer to the current Demolisher heavy imperial meta. As soon as people learn to fight without Demolisher the meta will change and other commanders will take form, and the people will be mixing up the lists more.

The OP has been updated to include the data that we got from Pittsburgh - Thanks Biggs!

There is now a post on my blog that is full of lots of interesting graphs from the first month of Regionals data.

LINK

I think I am misunderstanding your point. What I am saying is that Rieekan is not overpowered, he is just a very good answer to the current Demolisher heavy imperial meta. As soon as people learn to fight without Demolisher the meta will change and other commanders will take form, and the people will be mixing up the lists more.

Perfectly put.

I think I am misunderstanding your point. What I am saying is that Rieekan is not overpowered, he is just a very good answer to the current Demolisher heavy imperial meta. As soon as people learn to fight without Demolisher the meta will change and other commanders will take form, and the people will be mixing up the lists more.

Perfectly put.

My issue is that in order to counter a possibly overbearing list you are pretty much forced to use Rieekan. That is my issue. Your list and statement that you choose your list based on clontroper5 style of list proves my point. This takes away from the balance that the game has so far cultivated.

Actually, yes. I had 9-1 475-141 win against a GGRRR in Round 2.

Full recap to come later.

This, I want to read.

Here you go then.

I think I am misunderstanding your point. What I am saying is that Rieekan is not overpowered, he is just a very good answer to the current Demolisher heavy imperial meta. As soon as people learn to fight without Demolisher the meta will change and other commanders will take form, and the people will be mixing up the lists more.

Perfectly put.

Who is saying anything about Rieekan being overpowered? I know ow he is not.

My issue is that in order to counter a possibly overbearing list you are pretty much forced to use Rieekan. That is my issue. Your list and statement that you choose your list based on clontroper5 style of list proves my point. This takes away from the balance that the game has so far cultivated.

Sure I get it, but metas shift all the time. Once people start realizing that the Demolisher MSU is not the end all be all because there is a hard counter to it. They will look towards other ways. Also I am working with people here to develop other lists that don't involve Rieekan, or a Demolisher. So I play the Demolisher list for them so they can practice against it, and I think we are starting to have some success. We have a dodonna build(that quite honestly I am scared of) and we have a garm list with an MC80 that is quite promising. Not to mention quite a few imperial lists being developed without Demolisher. We are eagerly looking forward to the next regionals to see how they go.

Rest assured though the meta is very healthy and vibrant in our area. Our community has some mad scientists, and love to experiment. (Almost to a fault). Bottomline I don't feel all doom and gloom about the balance right now I fully expect players in my community to be building lists to destroy my Rieekan list at the next regionals, and I also expect even more people to not be so dependent on Demolisher type builds.

Actually, yes. I had 9-1 475-141 win against a GGRRR in Round 2.

Full recap to come later.

This, I want to read.

Here you go then.

Thanks!

Thanks for crunching the numbers shmitty, some great stuff here!

Did you ever end up posting your spreadsheet? I'd be really interested to see the breakdown on deployments (averages, top 8/4/1 chart, etc). I can do it myself if you have posted it; otherwise, think you could run those numbers?