The other day I was playing in a local tourney and got matched against a newer player, who said he had only played around 10 games so far. He was flying typical load out fat han and poe against my double named punisher omega leader list.

There came a time in the game where his han had a few health left andcould have boosted out of arc of redline's missile volley, possibly surviving much later. He didn't boost however, and I chose not to suggest it to him, allowing redline to kill han. Not sure how I feel about that. I probably would have still killed han eventually but still...

This got me thinking about helping opponents. I have only played local store tourney's so far and am only a few months into competitive x wing. I try to always remind opponents of missed actions and forgotten effects, but I'm not so sure about suggesting tactics to an opponent.

What do you all do in similar situations?

How do you play differently in tournaments against newer players?

What's your overall etiquette for helping your opponents?

EDIT: grammar... stupid phone

During a match, I wouldn't suggest strategies or anything like that. After all, it is a competition. And if they're competing, then they felt ready for the task.

Outside of a tournament, if you're just playing to play, then you could certainly suggest things to help them improve. They'll get better, maybe presenting more of a challenge next time, and thus forcing you to improve as well. =)

It really depends on the tournament. I think that if it is a local 8-12 person tournament and your opponent is new or a fun person then you should help. There is nothing worse than loosing a tournament on a technicality or wining a tournament because of something silly.

Most extreme example I have seen was an 8 person tournament where the boards were connected in 2x2 (one edge of the board will connect to another). At that time I had 3 Tie Interceptors moving 5 forward and suddenly a Fat Han comes right in front of them! The person diagonally of me had miscalculated so much, that his entire ship entered on my field! Poof, 2/3 of his list is now gone at turn 2! So his opponent (one of the people running X-Wing Dank Meme on Facebook) laughed it up, and the four of us collectively decided that the Falcon goes back to his board, but gets a stress.

But this goes both ways, I will help people out at tournaments, but I will also call BS when a ship lands on a rock but they are trying to tell me it didn't.

It's fine to prompt your opponent to take an action if it looks like they might have forgotten, but I think in a competitive event you've got to let them play their own game.

There's nothing wrong with a little post-match analysis though - explain how you exploited the weaknesses of their list - how they could have exploited yours

I'm sure they'd appreciate that a lot more - I would

I wouldn't suggest strategies or maneuvers because a) it's a competition and b) it's pretty patronising and rude. I'll generally help out with mechanical things - say, if I remember a trigger that they've forgotten - but I wouldn't go the next level and start offering advice. Maybe they've got a good reason to, f'rinstance, target lock Omega Leader with a ship she's got locked up. It'd be pretty presumptuous of me to start questioning how they choose to play.

All this is just how I roll, I'm not saying it's How Things Should Be Done or that anyone who handles themselves differently is a Bad Person who's Playing The Game Wrong or anything.

I will remind my opponent of triggers that they may be skipping over like taking actions or using something that has no cost to use. To me that is making sure people play the game as mechanics intend it to be played.

I will NOT offer my opponent strategic advice although I may point out the strategic errors after capitalizing on them. To me this is the type of "errors" that are meant to determine the game's outcome. I try to avoid singling out possible strategic moves because the ones I point out are almost certainly going to be the ones I've already figured on seeing and thus which may be best for my game. Besides, who's to say what is actually the best strategy. If someone has a R1 shot that could put a lot of damage on a Palpmobile or a R3 shot that is likely to take out an Ace if it hits what is really the best call? The shuttle is a nice easy target but may not be as much of a threat while that Ace may be less likely to get removed but if it is then you've got one less ship to worry about.

Depends on the player and type of tournament. If it’s a casual game or low key tournament I try to help other players. Some players in those scenes have told me to not tell them as it’s the only way they learn. If it’s a premier event, forget it gloves are off and I will be enforcing missed opportunity and so should my opponent. In the end it’s up to you to help your opponent. In your case I would bring it up at the end of the game. If he was thinking about an actioned, I might have suggested some ideas but not the answer. In the end you not want to hold new players hands and expect help from every player but a little advice makes the stronger in the long run. J

I would recommend to offer advice after the match is done in tournament play. It'll potentially help them out in the future/rest of tournament. Also, it won't present itself as a item of conflict. Such as the advice not working in the game and the person feeling like you misled them.

That being said for newer players in tournament. I do remind them of actions by asking which action they want to take and rule items. Such as rolling extra die at primary firing arc at range 1, etc

I won't make tactical advice unless it's totally a learning game. Anything "real" and you're on your own, though we can discuss it afterwards.

I will almost always provide reminders to people so that they don't forget abilities. I don't want to win because some guy is nervous and forgets to trigger Howlrunner or is about to move a ship out of PS order. The last regional, I did it at least a dozen times in one game. The guy was a decent player (finished top 8 maybe?), but was just dealing with nerves and forgetting things. I lost and couldn't have cared less that I helped remind him.

It's a game. If you're not having fun, you're doing it wrong.

It totally depends on the nature of the tournament.

if it's fairly "fly casual" and there's not really anything on the line, then I'll offer advice/input as long as I think the other player is receptive to it.

Basically I'll treat it as I would a practice game.

If the tournament is at least semi-serious, then I'm there to win. I'll offer feedback and input after the game (again, as long as I think the other person is receptive to it). But whilst the game is still on I'm there to win. I don't want to make my job harder than it needs to be by offering tactical advice in the middle of that.

(I do of course want to be very clear on the difference between tactical errors and rules errors: If my opponent makes a tactical error like taking a poor choice of action or forgetting to use an ability, that is entirely different from them rolling the wrong number of dice or moving out of PS order. They're allowed to make tactical mistakes, but rules errors are something I will always correct people on.)

At a tournament, I'll point out triggers they are missing or situations where they forget to add bonus dice or something like that. It's probably burnt me a few times but I think it makes for better game when both players are helping to keep track of the proper game state and reminding each other of potential missed opportunities before they are missed.

I have no problem reminding people of triggers up to the Store Championship level. After that, I'll keep my mouth shut. But then, I don't go to regionals so it's a non-issue for me.

Regarding the boost, I think I'm as likely to help them as not, depending on my mood, but I'd probably feel better about it if I let them know it was an option so that I was sure they didn't just forget they had Engine Upgrade or something.

There was one time where some new players came to the store for our winter kit tournament. I had bombs an they didn't know how they worked. I destroyed 3 TIEs in that blast. I felt awful for not explaining how bombs work before the game. I guess I just didn't know how new he was. I tried to make it up to him by giving him some of my prizes, but the damage had been done and those new players never came back to the store. That was a brd way to learn my lesson of reviewing my list before the match even if my opponent doesn't ask to see it. In hindsight, I should have chosen to not drop the bomb. I don't know why I didn't I suppose I was still pretty new to tournaments and wanted to do my best. Plus, I had planned that drop a turn ahead of time and was ao excited it worked. I really regret that decision and hope I've grown as a player since then.

That was a bard way to learn my lesson of reviewing my list before the match even if my opponent doesn't ask to see it.

Was it sung, delivered in iambic pentameter, or maybe with the accompaniment of a lute or pan flute?

In a friendly, casual event, I will be happy to help my opponent.

In a store championship or better, no help whatsoever.

That being said, I will always help out new players.

If it's a tournament, you capitalize on your opponent's mistakes.

There is also no rule that allows your opponent to allow you to change your dial if you mistakenly fly off the map, it has to be done.

At a tournament, I'll point out triggers they are missing or situations where they forget to add bonus dice or something like that. It's probably burnt me a few times but I think it makes for better game when both players are helping to keep track of the proper game state and reminding each other of potential missed opportunities before they are missed.

There is a difference between reminding an opponent of a mandatory effect like range bonuses or Rebel Captive and reminding them of optional things like firing with a certain ship or doing an action.

I really like to avoid "gotcha" moments, even in the highest levels of competition. I've found tournament play in other wargames a little more forgiving of missed opportunities than X-wing and it's an attitude I bring to X-wing.

- obviously anything non-optional should be pointed out. To do otherwise, in my mind, is tantamount to cheating.

- if an opponent has an opportunity to do something, say at the start of the turn or whatnot, I like to at least acknowledge the time frame, if not remind them of it. "Okay - start of combat phase". I really hate when an opponent starts rolling dice without giving me a chance to activate start-of-phase actions or whatnot.

- if something obvious is missed, say an action, I will remind an opponent (technically optional, but every ship can focus). If something is entirely optional (e.g. PTL) then I would not unless an absolute beginner. For a practice game testing for a tournament I'll often take the chance to talk about other options and soforth at the time.

I'll never offer tactical advice during a competitive game, but i constantly remind my opponents of triggers, i lost regional games this year reminding my opponents of lone wolfs and autothrusters

I did have someone in a tournament immediately go to rolling dice in the combat phase before I could activate a end of activation phase trigger. I had a start of combat phase trigger as well.

He then argued that I had missed the opportunity because he had already declared his attack.

And when I say immediately went to rolling dice, it was the instant after he finished his last ship's moves and actions.

When he asked if he could do an action for one of his ships after he had moved onto another ship (and after I had moved one of mine). I refused. He then got all pissy about it.

Moral of the story: I treat you how you treat me. If you want to be the type who takes advantage of the slightest mistake or missed trigger and pull ****** moves like he did....I'm going to do the same.

But if you're going to remind me of missed triggers or actions, then I'll do the same for you.

And I will typically mention things like "Did you want to do an action?" if I notice my opponent has forgotten to do one and has moved to his next ship (or I'm about to move to mine). Or if he rolls 3 focus results and has a token, but starts to draw damage/lose shields I'll be like "Did you want to use that focus?".

And a lot of times, people will reciprocate. Makes the experience better. Because then you didn't win on a technicality or your opponent being tired/forgetful/new. You won on skill (and dice). Makes for a better game.

I had enough of the Try-hard Rules-Lawyering WAAC (Win At All Costs) types in Warhammer 40k

Playing on VASSAL has much less of that problem as you have to indicate by typing that you are done with a ship. Typically players will say "set" after a ship has completed it's activation. That should be a requirement for tournament play. You must say "set" (or otherwise indicate being done) to your opponent before they are allowed to activate the next ship, likewise with start of turn or combat phase or end of turn actions. Most of the time you wouldn't require actually saying it but it would eliminate these "missed opportunities" issues. Did your opponent say "set" for start of combat? No? Then you have to go back.

I have given the Heimlich twice, both times I ended up winning the match so helping your opponents out can have an upside.

Neither of them were actually choking on food when I did it, but that's neither here nor there.

It's good sportsmanship, with the caveat everyone has already thrown up, depends on the level of the tourney, and what's at stake.

I've had an opponent throw his green dice while I was trying to sort out his sloppy target locks, while he said "I already rolled, too bad." Then again, I've also been offered essentially a take back on a poor move. It swings both ways, just feel out your opponent.

I will say, the worst I've felt in a casual tourney was when my opponent tried to tractor my decimator, and anxiety prevented me from suggesting another target. I felt pretty bad.

I will absolutely point out anything mandatory (Rebel Captive, bonus dice for range etc). I'll also remind my opponent if he forgets an action with a ship.

Anything tactical (should I boost or focus, for example), I'll not say one way or the other. It actually annoys me when people do that to me, mainly because these most often tend to be the kind of people that aren't aware of the various options or reasons for choosing one action over another.

Also, if you keep forgetting something optional even after being reminded I may stop reminding you eventually.

One slightly obscure edge case happened at my last tournament. I shot an HLC Vessery at a Falcon with C3-P0 and scored 3 hits. I had Crack Shot and my opponent had 3 hull left. Basically, he needed 2 Evades, so had to guess 1 rather than the standard 0 on Threepio otherwise I would Crack Shot him. He guessed 0 and I didn't say anything. In the end he didn't roll the required evade anyway so it wouldn't have mattered but it was a slightly strange situation. There is only 1 possible correct play but is it up to me to point that out to my opponent? I decided not.

The other day I was playing in a local tourney and got matched against a newer player, who said he had only played around 10 games so far. He was flying typical load out fat han and poe against my double named punisher omega leader list.

There came a time in the game where his han had a few health left andcould have boosted out of arc of redline's missile volley, possibly surviving much later. He didn't boost however, and I chose not to suggest it to him, allowing redline to kill han. Not sure how I feel about that. I probably would have still killed han eventually but still...

This got me thinking about helping opponents. I have only played local store tourney's so far and am only a few months into competitive x wing. I try to always remind opponents of missed actions and forgotten effects, but I'm not so sure about suggesting tactics to an opponent.

What do you all do in similar situations?

How do you play differently in tournaments against newer players?

What's your overall etiquette for helping your opponents?

EDIT: grammar... stupid phone

During Tournament play Ill only suggest somthing "You could have boosted out of my arc" after we are into combat. Do it in a polite way and the other person understands your not being a ****** but it is a Tournament. Now when it comes to Casual Matches Ill allow people to change their Dials if the put in a bad manuever. First couple of games they are just learning, but going into a paid event, Store event or otherwise, is kind of a known semi competitive setting.