If the Meta in your region is boring, I'm sorry. But PLEAAAASE- don't succumb to the pressure.

By Kdubb, in X-Wing

I've only heard terrible things about Epic.

I half justified my Raider purchase by saying I'd at least be able to organise I game of Epic to use it in (as well the ATC/Palpatine) but everybody around me refuses to play Epic after having tried it before.

Those people are negative nancies and you don't need them in your life.

But seriously though, it can take a bit of coaching to get people to adapt to a different style of playing. They 'figure out' the 100 point furball and know how to win, they don't feel as confident or the things they tried in Epic/Cinematic didn't work as well, so they prefer to stick with what they know because they feel it's more balanced. But just because they haven't figured out the balance of bigger points games doesn't mean it isn't there.

Try arranging a whole-afternoon game of Epic with teams. Advertise it on facebook for a week or so and then turn up with enough points to play at least one side (say 500 points) and just see who turns up. If more people turn up you can bring the points back to 250 per player or less, and if only one other person turns up, you can just play at 500 points each.

Or you can take baby steps and start by suggesting an escalation league, where players build up from say, 50 point squads and finish at say, 175. Just to get them used to playing at different points levels.

I want to show up at the store, spend 5 minutes setting up, and be able to fit in 2 or 3 games in an evening. The standard 100 point dog fight is perfect for that. I don't want to show up and find that since everyone is already playing it might be an hour or two until an opponent is free. Even worse, they finish their current games and are done for the night.

Which is cool, but is that really ALL you ever want to do?

There's so many ways to play X Wing I don't understand how anyone can just pick a favourite and play it to the exclusion of all else.

I've only heard terrible things about Epic.

I half justified my Raider purchase by saying I'd at least be able to organise I game of Epic to use it in (as well the ATC/Palpatine) but everybody around me refuses to play Epic after having tried it before.

Those people are negative nancies and you don't need them in your life.

But seriously though, it can take a bit of coaching to get people to adapt to a different style of playing. They 'figure out' the 100 point furball and know how to win, they don't feel as confident or the things they tried in Epic/Cinematic didn't work as well, so they prefer to stick with what they know because they feel it's more balanced. But just because they haven't figured out the balance of bigger points games doesn't mean it isn't there.

Try arranging a whole-afternoon game of Epic with teams. Advertise it on facebook for a week or so and then turn up with enough points to play at least one side (say 500 points) and just see who turns up. If more people turn up you can bring the points back to 250 per player or less, and if only one other person turns up, you can just play at 500 points each.

Or you can take baby steps and start by suggesting an escalation league, where players build up from say, 50 point squads and finish at say, 175. Just to get them used to playing at different points levels.

I want to show up at the store, spend 5 minutes setting up, and be able to fit in 2 or 3 games in an evening. The standard 100 point dog fight is perfect for that. I don't want to show up and find that since everyone is already playing it might be an hour or two until an opponent is free. Even worse, they finish their current games and are done for the night.

Which is cool, but is that really ALL you ever want to do?

There's so many ways to play X Wing I don't understand how anyone can just pick a favourite and play it to the exclusion of all else.

Pretty much. I get one night a week to play games and in the course of an 8 week league I'd probably end up missing two or three nights. I might be able to squeeze in a tournament on top of that every other month or so. I don't want to screw around setting up games, waiting on other people, or working out the kinks in some wonky set of rules. I have next to no interest in anything cooperative.

Playing a game that sets up quickly, has a reasonably quick play time, and has plenty of available players fits my gaming needs perfectly.

I LOVE people who bring creative lists. Nothing better than drawing softball match first round in a tournament to get an easy round 1 victory since you used your bye at the last one. Also they're good fallbacks in case something happens and you lose your first game you know you're fine since now you'll be playing the "fun table lists"

I belive it was Cornwallace in the Patriot who said "These rustics are so inept. It nearly takes the honor out of victory. Nearly."

Pretty much. I get one night a week to play games and in the course of an 8 week league I'd probably end up missing two or three nights. I might be able to squeeze in a tournament on top of that every other month or so. I don't want to screw around setting up games, waiting on other people, or working out the kinks in some wonky set of rules. I have next to no interest in anything cooperative.

Playing a game that sets up quickly, has a reasonably quick play time, and has plenty of available players fits my gaming needs perfectly.

I get where you're coming from. I work a rotating roster which means half the time I can make the store games night, and half the time I can't.

What we do around here is arrange games on a player by player basis on facebook before the games night. Sometimes we just turn up and try to get a game at the last minute, but that sometimes results in a wasted games night. If you want a game round here, the best bet is to arrange one. This means we can play games that last 3+ hours, and no one misses out. It works really well for us.

I can get the whole 'I only play pick-up games and I want them to finish quickly' thing but it seems so superficial, like you're barely scratching the surface of X Wing. Why not try having some friends come to your house for an afternoon and play a 500 point game, have some beers and chips, and try a different way of playing?

Edited by Chucknuckle

I can get the whole 'I only play pick-up games and I want them to finish quickly' thing but it seems so superficial, like you're barely scratching the surface of X Wing. Why not try having some friends come to your house for an afternoon and play a 500 point game, have some beers and chips, and try a different way of playing?

It must sound kind of odd, but I don't know anyone that I play with well enough to invite over.

I can get the whole 'I only play pick-up games and I want them to finish quickly' thing but it seems so superficial, like you're barely scratching the surface of X Wing. Why not try having some friends come to your house for an afternoon and play a 500 point game, have some beers and chips, and try a different way of playing?

It must sound kind of odd, but I don't know anyone that I play with well enough to invite over.

Very odd! My best man at my wedding is my oldest gaming buddy, and others I've known for years and played countless times. There's one or two in the group that I really wouldn't want coming to my house, but I can't imagine not knowing anyone I play with well enough to invite them to my house.

I get the sense some players have forgot this is a game played against another person who you should wish is also having fun. It seems so mechanical to just show up, play, then leave without any interest in anything other than tournaments and practicing for the next. I see it all the time.

It's as if everything isn't worth anything unless there's a heated competition involved. Kinda makes me think a lot of players would rather be more comfortable with a video game whose multiplayer they can jump in and out of.

Trinkets, titles, standings--they don't mean a thing, baby. It's all about the good time with buds.

Edited by mypantsarefree

Trinkets, titles, standings--they don't mean a thing, baby. It's all about the good time with buds.

This is something I don't really get. I'm not saying don't have fun, far from it, but if you're not at least somewhat interested in winning why play a game like x-wing (where 2 Players face off with a winner and a loser)? There's a ton of cooperative games (even HotAC for X-wimg) that seem way more appropriate for that kind of play.

You could always be the guy who runs, Wes, Biggs and a fully loaded nera.

I LOVE people who bring creative lists. Nothing better than drawing softball match first round in a tournament to get an easy round 1 victory since you used your bye at the last one. Also they're good fallbacks in case something happens and you lose your first game you know you're fine since now you'll be playing the "fun table lists"

I belive it was Cornwallace in the Patriot who said "These rustics are so inept. It nearly takes the honor out of victory. Nearly."

Thanks. You're the sort of guy who wrecks the game for me. Just so you know ;)

What if you like playing ships like OL or the Inquisitor? Should you play lists you don't like because they've become popular after the fact?

That's exactly how I feel ...what if the list I devised in my head turns out to be a list that other people play ...which is then mentioned on the line, does that mean I can't play it any more?

What if you like playing ships like OL or the Inquisitor? Should you play lists you don't like because they've become popular after the fact?

No. You should play whatever you want. You just don't get to complain when other people play what they want and it's the same as you.

It's the old phrase "Put up or shut up".

If someone is unwilling to initiate or facilitate change in a circumstance, they have no right to complain about that circumstance not changing.

I'm not complaining ...who's complaining? :-)

Or even better, stop playing the boring tournament format games over and over! Try some different points levels, try some scenarios, use some Epic ships, play Heroes of the Aturi cluster, mix it up a little!

Dude, hey ...fly casual man! ...I'm free to play whatever I like ...can I play 100pt dog-fights at my local club casually? ...right, off to get some cardboard to probably print out and maybe never play HoaC :-)

I LOVE people who bring creative lists. Nothing better than drawing softball match first round in a tournament to get an easy round 1 victory since you used your bye at the last one. Also they're good fallbacks in case something happens and you lose your first game you know you're fine since now you'll be playing the "fun table lists"

I belive it was Cornwallace in the Patriot who said "These rustics are so inept. It nearly takes the honor out of victory. Nearly."

Thanks. You're the sort of guy who wrecks the game for me. Just so you know ;)

The problem is, though, that these people will always be there and always going to tournaments. There is no stopping them. As long as people like him are around, then people will stick to the tried and true methods. This is what tournaments have become. It's super competitive. That's why I had no issues with ID because they were true to the heart of what tournaments are about. That's why I quit going. I'm OK with tournaments being what they are, but I'm done trying to make them something they won't be.

There is a lot more to X-wing than tournaments, though. Just accept that and you should be fine. Well...and find some guys to play with that want to play your way.

I LOVE people who bring creative lists. Nothing better than drawing softball match first round in a tournament to get an easy round 1 victory since you used your bye at the last one. Also they're good fallbacks in case something happens and you lose your first game you know you're fine since now you'll be playing the "fun table lists"

I belive it was Cornwallace in the Patriot who said "These rustics are so inept. It nearly takes the honor out of victory. Nearly."

Thanks. You're the sort of guy who wrecks the game for me. Just so you know ;)

The problem is, though, that these people will always be there and always going to tournaments. There is no stopping them. As long as people like him are around, then people will stick to the tried and true methods. This is what tournaments have become. It's super competitive. That's why I had no issues with ID because they were true to the heart of what tournaments are about. That's why I quit going. I'm OK with tournaments being what they are, but I'm done trying to make them something they won't be.

There is a lot more to X-wing than tournaments, though. Just accept that and you should be fine. Well...and find some guys to play with that want to play your way.

I'm with you. Operation convert club away from 100 point dogfights will commence after the current league is done :)

I LOVE people who bring creative lists. Nothing better than drawing softball match first round in a tournament to get an easy round 1 victory since you used your bye at the last one. Also they're good fallbacks in case something happens and you lose your first game you know you're fine since now you'll be playing the "fun table lists"

I belive it was Cornwallace in the Patriot who said "These rustics are so inept. It nearly takes the honor out of victory. Nearly."

Thanks. You're the sort of guy who wrecks the game for me. Just so you know ;)

The problem is, though, that these people will always be there and always going to tournaments. There is no stopping them. As long as people like him are around, then people will stick to the tried and true methods. This is what tournaments have become. It's super competitive. That's why I had no issues with ID because they were true to the heart of what tournaments are about. That's why I quit going. I'm OK with tournaments being what they are, but I'm done trying to make them something they won't be.

There is a lot more to X-wing than tournaments, though. Just accept that and you should be fine. Well...and find some guys to play with that want to play your way.

In Magic the gathering there is a name for those. Theso called archetypes. Spike.. the guy that plays to win no matter the cost . The johnny that wants to win, but it needs to be with style and if possible with his own ideas, the tommy the guy that wants to play amazing huge cards and do not care if it is efficient at all, and the vorthos.. that guy that put flavor and lore before anything else.

I get the sense some players have forgot this is a game played against another person who you should wish is also having fun. It seems so mechanical to just show up, play, then leave without any interest in anything other than tournaments and practicing for the next. I see it all the time.

It's as if everything isn't worth anything unless there's a heated competition involved. Kinda makes me think a lot of players would rather be more comfortable with a video game whose multiplayer they can jump in and out of.

Trinkets, titles, standings--they don't mean a thing, baby. It's all about the good time with buds.

If your opponent is quick to anger, seek to irritate him.

Dear OP,

I admire your commitment to improving your fellow man, and there by your favorite games environment. But I tell you plainly and from the heart, that I've always been, and still am, the route of player to build out of the box. Not the best at it in my area but definitely earned recognition for it. And I'm thus doubly sorry to inform you that there is plenty reason, in a competitive game environment, for players to flock to one list. Most importantly, because it works. In a localized meta, where there is little cross pollination with other play groups, the skill set of the herd will eventually start to level out as the weaker players catch up, and the stronger players stagnate. When this occurs, the most reasonable way to achieve victory, is to do so with a mathematically strong list. When you are equal in one regard, you must be better in another to win.

Evidence to this is easy to point out. You only have to look as far as what cards get used in lists and categorize them as cards that help you fly, or cards that have good math. Example: Stay on target. SoT is a strictly flying assist card, that also has a negative math in game play(stress), a positive point cost(cost 2 pts), and an opportunity cost(uses Elite slot). And you never see it in high end tournament build with any statistical relevance. Reason being, if your good enough to know where your opponent is going, you don't need it, and all you get out of it is down side. And that only is helpful on Keyan, who doesn't have other qualities that would make that a useful ship in the end to run anyway. This is to say, assuming equivalent skill, this will not save you and deal your opponent as much damage as even a extra evade+juke combo. Which is strictly math assist.

Other cards that would be useful as flying assist cards but practically never see play:

Echo

Boba Fett (imperial)

Juno Eclipse

Navigator

Lightning reflexes

Ello Asty

Blue Ace

IG88D

Lieutenant Lorir

Tetran Cowall

Zeta Ace

Adrenaline rush

Instead, you see high efficiency point: damage ratios. And math assist. And negative math mitigation or cancelling. Like:

Whisper

Soontir Fel

Poe Dameron

Jake Farrell

Dengar

IG88C

Push the limit

C-3PO

Palpatine

Dengar(crew)

In X-wing, When your at your best flying, against equal opponent, it becomes math. Fate save you if you didn't bring enough math.

Dear OP,

I admire your commitment to improving your fellow man, and there by your favorite games environment. But I tell you plainly and from the heart, that I've always been, and still am, the route of player to build out of the box. Not the best at it in my area but definitely earned recognition for it. And I'm thus doubly sorry to inform you that there is plenty reason, in a competitive game environment, for players to flock to one list. Most importantly, because it works. In a localized meta, where there is little cross pollination with other play groups, the skill set of the herd will eventually start to level out as the weaker players catch up, and the stronger players stagnate. When this occurs, the most reasonable way to achieve victory, is to do so with a mathematically strong list. When you are equal in one regard, you must be better in another to win.

Evidence to this is easy to point out. You only have to look as far as what cards get used in lists and categorize them as cards that help you fly, or cards that have good math. Example: Stay on target. SoT is a strictly flying assist card, that also has a negative math in game play(stress), a positive point cost(cost 2 pts), and an opportunity cost(uses Elite slot). And you never see it in high end tournament build with any statistical relevance. Reason being, if your good enough to know where your opponent is going, you don't need it, and all you get out of it is down side. And that only is helpful on Keyan, who doesn't have other qualities that would make that a useful ship in the end to run anyway. This is to say, assuming equivalent skill, this will not save you and deal your opponent as much damage as even a extra evade+juke combo. Which is strictly math assist.

Other cards that would be useful as flying assist cards but practically never see play:

Echo

Boba Fett (imperial)

Juno Eclipse

Navigator

Lightning reflexes

Ello Asty

Blue Ace

IG88D

Lieutenant Lorir

Tetran Cowall

Zeta Ace

Adrenaline rush

Instead, you see high efficiency point: damage ratios. And math assist. And negative math mitigation or cancelling. Like:

Whisper

Soontir Fel

Poe Dameron

Jake Farrell

Dengar

IG88C

Push the limit

C-3PO

Palpatine

Dengar(crew)

In X-wing, When your at your best flying, against equal opponent, it becomes math. Fate save you if you didn't bring enough math.

I see where you are coming from, but you are missing a very key thing. Some of those "flying assist" cards provides options that cannot be gotten any other way. Blue Ace (and Daredevil) provide a 90 degree boost. This is something that can give advantage, and there is no amount of guessing or skill that can get you a 90 degree boost.

Similarly, I saw quite a bit of Echo at regionals due to curved decloak options that no one else has, and IG88D provides a 90 degree sloop. Positional advantage is advantage, even if you have to make assumptions to math it out.

Dear OP,

I admire your commitment to improving your fellow man, and there by your favorite games environment. But I tell you plainly and from the heart, that I've always been, and still am, the route of player to build out of the box. Not the best at it in my area but definitely earned recognition for it. And I'm thus doubly sorry to inform you that there is plenty reason, in a competitive game environment, for players to flock to one list. Most importantly, because it works. In a localized meta, where there is little cross pollination with other play groups, the skill set of the herd will eventually start to level out as the weaker players catch up, and the stronger players stagnate. When this occurs, the most reasonable way to achieve victory, is to do so with a mathematically strong list. When you are equal in one regard, you must be better in another to win.

Evidence to this is easy to point out. You only have to look as far as what cards get used in lists and categorize them as cards that help you fly, or cards that have good math. Example: Stay on target. SoT is a strictly flying assist card, that also has a negative math in game play(stress), a positive point cost(cost 2 pts), and an opportunity cost(uses Elite slot). And you never see it in high end tournament build with any statistical relevance. Reason being, if your good enough to know where your opponent is going, you don't need it, and all you get out of it is down side. And that only is helpful on Keyan, who doesn't have other qualities that would make that a useful ship in the end to run anyway. This is to say, assuming equivalent skill, this will not save you and deal your opponent as much damage as even a extra evade+juke combo. Which is strictly math assist.

Other cards that would be useful as flying assist cards but practically never see play:

Echo

Boba Fett (imperial)

Juno Eclipse

Navigator

Lightning reflexes

Ello Asty

Blue Ace

IG88D

Lieutenant Lorir

Tetran Cowall

Zeta Ace

Adrenaline rush

Instead, you see high efficiency point: damage ratios. And math assist. And negative math mitigation or cancelling. Like:

Whisper

Soontir Fel

Poe Dameron

Jake Farrell

Dengar

IG88C

Push the limit

C-3PO

Palpatine

Dengar(crew)

In X-wing, When your at your best flying, against equal opponent, it becomes math. Fate save you if you didn't bring enough math.

I see where you are coming from, but you are missing a very key thing. Some of those "flying assist" cards provides options that cannot be gotten any other way. Blue Ace (and Daredevil) provide a 90 degree boost. This is something that can give advantage, and there is no amount of guessing or skill that can get you a 90 degree boost.

Similarly, I saw quite a bit of Echo at regionals due to curved decloak options that no one else has, and IG88D provides a 90 degree sloop. Positional advantage is advantage, even if you have to make assumptions to math it out.

I'd add that Ello Asty isn't a "flying assist card" by that standard but a "math assisst" card. His ability is a maneuver that, for most ships, results in weaker dice. I'd also argue that ships like Jake Farrell and Soontir certainly have an element of "math assist cards" they're strongest aspect is their flying assist at PS 9 and multiple positions.

In Magic the gathering there is a name for those. Theso called archetypes. Spike.. the guy that plays to win no matter the cost . The johnny that wants to win, but it needs to be with style and if possible with his own ideas, the tommy the guy that wants to play amazing huge cards and do not care if it is efficient at all, and the vorthos.. that guy that put flavor and lore before anything else.

I'm definetly a Johnny. Ultimately, I want to win and I'll take time to think about what I bring, what I might go up against; I try to come prepared. But I will never play the top builds of the moments. Never played Palp Ace, U-Boats, 4 Y-Wing with TLT Brobots, Any Paul Heaver's team, Tie Swarm, Fat turrets during Wave 4-5, Phantoms, etc, etc, etc. I went to tournaments with Defenders, Bombers, Generic Starvipers, YV, Kirhaxz. Sadly, it's harder these days because there is more and more variety in the top builds. It's harder to come up with a different squad that doesn't have a hard counter and then it's the luck of the draw... will you go against your hard counter or not. Last tournament I built against Aces and hardly faced one, even though a lot of players brought them... I just didn't faced them... **** pairing...

Note to self: go watch kdub's log files from the current Vassal League. Great post there, OP. I'm right there with you, having taken my Alpha Fleet Officer to top 8 at Store Champs, even taking down a Palp Aces along the way.

Dear OP,

I admire your commitment to improving your fellow man, and there by your favorite games environment. But I tell you plainly and from the heart, that I've always been, and still am, the route of player to build out of the box. Not the best at it in my area but definitely earned recognition for it. And I'm thus doubly sorry to inform you that there is plenty reason, in a competitive game environment, for players to flock to one list... When you are equal in one regard, you must be better in another to win.

One HUGE caveat here: initiative. If I am playing Palp Aces, and we're tied on the initiative bid, that die roll plays a large roll in determining the victor. Not 100%, but it can sure put a wrench in your plan. I can't play like that. I've got to craft my squad such that the initiative isn't crippling, which often means non-meta squads...except for triple Scouts, that one's an anomaly to me.

Trinkets, titles, standings--they don't mean a thing, baby. It's all about the good time with buds.

This is something I don't really get.

This is something I totally get.

Yes, I want to win as much as the next guy, but good times, good games, and the fellowship of friends trumps the rest. ;)

Note to self: go watch kdub's log files from the current Vassal League. Great post there, OP. I'm right there with you, having taken my Alpha Fleet Officer to top 8 at Store Champs, even taking down a Palp Aces along the way.

You will see lots of losses sadly. I am trying to be the change I am promoting here, but I don't think I am a top tier player, so it makes it a bit difficult. But I wont give up on my endeavor. :) I will say while I have a healthy amount of losses, all but one could have gone my way had I flown better. And considering in league games I usually fly a brand new list, I take that as a positive. I performed rather well in the Meta Morpher tourney with a couple of unorthodox lists, one of which I went undefeated with (Keyan, Wes, TLT Y). Here is the link to that tournament bracket with plenty of logs to watch. http://challonge.com/metamorpher1

And this one goes out to everyone- PLEASE watch some of Remi's (who is undefeated in bracket play) logs in that tournament. He is the player I referenced in the OP about winning with mindlink Talonbane, Palob and Guri. He is incredible. He recently took out a triple scout list without losing a ship (but in DarthDane's defense, his dice were incredibly cold). They don't have a log up for that one, but you can find that specific replay here from when the Scum and Villainy twitch feed streamed it. https://www.twitch.tv/scumandvillainypodcast/v/66089365

I always find the, "but I love to fly Fel or the Inquisitor" crowd. Duh! Who doesn't like driving the Ferarri? It's no special accomplishment that you win a few games flying a netlist with the best ships. Unfortunately many of that group couldn't produce a winning list from their own brain if their life depended on it. There's a huge difference between beating plebes with a top tier list you've worn out because you "like to fly Fel" and beating top level players. Too many players think they're better than they are. Especially given, occasionally a top build covers bad mistakes. Know your role. Until you've got victories vs half a dozen different SC level players or higher you likely aren't that great even if you're good "your" list that you "love flying". What Ive seen is that the best players I know are always experimenting and changing lists. If you haven't won a large tournament, SC, Regional or better you're most likely one of the unwashed masses like the rest of us, don't kid yourself. If you aren't kidding yourself play for fun. If you're playing for fun why not try something different or new?

I always find the, "but I love to fly Fel or the Inquisitor" crowd. Duh! Who doesn't like driving the Ferarri? It's no special accomplishment that you win a few games flying a netlist with the best ships. Unfortunately many of that group couldn't produce a winning list from their own brain if their life depended on it. There's a huge difference between beating plebes with a top tier list you've worn out because you "like to fly Fel" and beating top level players. Too many players think they're better than they are. Especially given, occasionally a top build covers bad mistakes. Know your role. Until you've got victories vs half a dozen different SC level players or higher you likely aren't that great even if you're good "your" list that you "love flying". What Ive seen is that the best players I know are always experimenting and changing lists. If you haven't won a large tournament, SC, Regional or better you're most likely one of the unwashed masses like the rest of us, don't kid yourself. If you aren't kidding yourself play for fun. If you're playing for fun why not try something different or new?

There is another thread somewhere in this forum where original poster asked: "What do you want in X-Wing?"

And reading this post I want to say: "I want X-Wing to be the game where there will be no dudes trying to tell me how should I play or how should I have fun."

P.S. What do you mean "playing for fun"? Because I am pretty sure people playing for win are exactly playing for fun - except they found satisfaction not in playing with suboptimal list but in outsmarting oppononent. I always try to build the best lists and if by that it means they will mimic 95% of other competitive lists so what? What is so bad about it?

Note to self: go watch kdub's log files from the current Vassal League. Great post there, OP. I'm right there with you, having taken my Alpha Fleet Officer to top 8 at Store Champs, even taking down a Palp Aces along the way.

You will see lots of losses sadly. I am trying to be the change I am promoting here, but I don't think I am a top tier player, so it makes it a bit difficult. But I wont give up on my endeavor. :) I will say while I have a healthy amount of losses, all but one could have gone my way had I flown better. And considering in league games I usually fly a brand new list, I take that as a positive. I performed rather well in the Meta Morpher tourney with a couple of unorthodox lists, one of which I went undefeated with (Keyan, Wes, TLT Y). Here is the link to that tournament bracket with plenty of logs to watch. http://challonge.com/metamorpher1

And this one goes out to everyone- PLEASE watch some of Remi's (who is undefeated in bracket play) logs in that tournament. He is the player I referenced in the OP about winning with mindlink Talonbane, Palob and Guri. He is incredible.

Well, Paul Heaver seems to have quite a few losses, so I think you're in good company :) I haven't watched his games yet, but I wouldn't be surprised if he were experimenting, too, feeling of the new meta.

And thanks for the links. I'll definitely take a look at them. Makes me feel better about losing to Rémi in my bracket in the league ^_^