I'm thinking of going to a local (also my first) tournament. This will be my first time playing with people I didn't teach how to play, and I have some questions. 1. What is a U-Boat build? 2. There was a rule stating only the new damage deck was legal, has this rule been lifted? 3. Do you have any advice for a "newb"? (I have actually been playing this game since late 2014.) The tournament is "reverse" hangerbay format. Meaning, I bring two squads of different factions, then my opponent chooses which one I field. I am going to field a rebel squad and a scum squad, do you have any build advice?

1. Jumpmasters. Typically three with torpedoes and dead eye and more re combinations that make them deadly.

2. Yes. Both are legal.

3. Don't die. Seriously, have fun. Drink fluids, eat lunch at some point. Be courteous, and a good sport.

Edit: list advice. Fly what you like to fly. Why? Cuz you have experience with it and know how to fly it presumably. If it's powerful, great, you're competitive. If it isn't you might be coming out of left field and the opponent hasn't faced it before. If both... Profit.

There is really nothing to add to That.

Caffeinated beverages, snacks and meals, water, advil. I literally bring a cooler with everything I may need. All day X-Wing is fun but mentality and physically exhausting.

Try to play the list you plan on bringing a few times to learn little nuances of it. Good luck and have fun.

Use it as an exprerience to have fun and to learn - also to play new people - , with Jumpmasters/UBoats bumpem as they use focus to fire tier torps, arc dodge or get within 1 if you can take a beating as thier torps are painly 2-3 range and they hit hard

Just remember to be deliberate about your actions, and verbalize everything, so that neither you nor your opponent misses something you shouldn't. You're playgroup back home might remember Guru should have a focus, but a tournament won't.

You playing in Colorado on Saturday? I'm (probably) going to a tournament just like that myself!

In terms of advice: whatever you do, have fun! Bring two lists you know well and enjoy flying, so that no matter what your opponent sticks you with, you will have a good time. Be sure to stay hydrated and sit down when you can, as you may find by the end of it that you are quite tired out. As for your specific questions:

"U-Boat" is the slang term for a Jumpmaster 5k loaded out to perform very efficiently with ordnance with very clever combinations of upgrade cards. If you see a Jumpmaster across the table, ask your opponent to run you through the things it can do, as there are many and varied builds that rely on often-obtuse (at first) combos to understand, but perform well. A good opponent should have no qualms answering any questions about how something works!

Both damage decks are legal.

If it is the Colorado one, I hope to see you there!

What do you normally fly for rebels/scum? Or better yet, what is your favorite ship to fly for each faction?

Always play lists you know. You will do better with them then a new one.

Go in expecting to have your ass kicked, and learn a whole bunch doing so.

Be sure to verbalise what you're doing and when, and you'll hopefully have less mistakes - strangers are less inclined to let you take that focus token after all, when everyone has moved on. That's probably the biggest key - you need to remember when to do things at the right time.

And make sure you have food and water handy, and a way to move between tables with just your 'game stuff', because not all venues have easy access to refreshments mid-game, nor space for a great big storage box - and you won't have time yourself to pack/unpack everything 'properly' even if they did.

Then, and this is the most important part - have fun! If you get your butt kicked, you've learned stuff for next time. If you kick butt, you're the dark horse of unholy terror. Either way, it should be a great day.

Especially with hangar bay, make sure you bring everything you need for both lists before you leave the house(cards, dials, etc). I've showed up to play and had even forgotten a large base for one of my ships.

What do you normally fly for rebels/scum? Or better yet, what is your favorite ship to fly for each faction?

I started going to tournaments last year, and it's been a ton of fun. The X-Wing community is, in general, one of the friendliest I've been a part of. I've made plenty of good friends at these events, and I've brought some of my other buddies into the tournament scene too.

I'll echo what others are saying; have fun, and bring snacks. It can be a long day, and you may not have a chance to grab food between matches. I always pack a couple of granola bars for a tournament.

Thanks guys!

Just remember to be deliberate about your actions, and verbalize everything, so that neither you nor your opponent misses something you shouldn't. You're playgroup back home might remember Guru should have a focus, but a tournament won't.

Agreed. No-one's asking you to reveal your super-secret tactics, but it's only polite to make sure your opponent is clear on what your individual cards are, and what they do in isolation. Even in a tournament, the point is both of you to have fun.

"Wait, what now?" and the feeling you've 'snuck' something up on someone or lied by omission tends to breed ill-feeling from the other side of the table, whereas "You cheeky [swearword], that's genius!" where you were fully aware of what something did but never thought of using it that way often provokes a feeling of polite admiration even as your ships explode.

Always play lists you know. You will do better with them then a new one.

This x 10¹². Nothing is a substitute for someone who knows what they're doing.

One thing I love to fly for scum is 2 Black sun soldiers with feedback arrays

You can't go far wrong with these things. One personal locally plays with a full Bugzapper swarm. watching players with interceptors trying to find a 'safe spot' is hilarious.

One big part of tournament play is to know the actual squad list meta. If you don't know what U-boats are, then I strongly suggest you to read about some very prominent lists (U-boats, Imp-Aces) and how to counter them (before you go to the tournament). Optionally watch some videos on youtube, there are thousands of them to get an insight about the playstyle of some lists.

Do or do not, there is no think!

Go for it!

Do or do. It, there is no think!

Go for it!

Maybe, IG-88C with a couple bug zappers...

Emmon + bug zappers + N'dru!

Emmon + bug zappers + N'dru!

Maybe, N'dru with Lone Wolf...