So, recently I broke out my rulebook since I thought I might be teaching some new players, and as I was browsing it I came upon something I'd never noticed before. The rules for setup include the following.

"...After the sixth obstacle is placed, the player who does not have initiative chooses an edge of the play area to be his own; his opponent's edge is the opposite side of the play area."

Now, I first spotted this on the reference on the back of the learn to play book from the TFA core sets but further checking shows the Rules Reference and Original Rulebook say the same thing.

Here's my concern. I have never seen this done. Ever. In every game I have ever seen including elimination matches at multiple regionals, players set up on opposite sides of the table and just use the board edge closest to them. But according to the rulebook, that's not correct. And this actually does matter, since not knowing the board edge you'll have makes most of the obstacle placement strategy I know of pointless (Including the strategy discussed in this article written by some X-Wing player you might have heard of, which served as my introduction to obstacle placement strategy). At the same time, though, rotating the playmate is horribly impractical most of the time. It's night impossible to turn a felt playmate without disturbing the obstacles, but you would have to turn it at tournaments since you typically have another game going on right next to you, so playing from two board edges is impossible.

So, is everybody doing this wrong? Am I missing a bit of history where organized play threw out this rule (Which, to be fair, is not found in the modified setup rules in the tournament handbook)?

Thats because tournament matches follow the setup procedure described in tournament regulations.

(Which, to be fair, is not found in the modified setup rules in the tournament handbook)?

This answers the question for tournaments. For casual play, it's generally too much hassle to set up, pick up all your stuff, then move to the other side if someone wants to switch xD Especially when you set up the board your way in asteroid placement, it's just kind of a redundant step that gets skipped.

Come to think of it, I like this idea.

This may impact int bid in a different way. Maybe you wanted initiative, but now due to placement, you'll want a specific side?So do you hand initiative to your opponent?

Plus now this can really mess with someone strategy even more. You laid down your rocks with the idea you'll be coming at them from a specific angle, but your opponent takes the side you wanted, now maybe you have to adjust your starting positions.

Or maybe this will have no effect at all. I think in some games it may

I've literally never seen this done, ever, no matter how casual the people who are playing. IMO, it's more trouble than it's worth; you have enough control over the map with asteroid placement, anyway, so this has always seemed an unecessary step that just wastes time an effort.

I don't know I kinda like it, it keeps people from being blockade pricks with their asteroids. Oh you want to to put crap all on this side well congrats you just landscaped your own home.

edit: And why turn the mat, just keep your ships in your hangar until side is declared I'm not seeing a setup problem here.

If you decide to follow it you probably should make sure everyone is well aware of it before asteroids start getting placed. My thought is that using it is basically going to cause asteroids to be a less important aspect of the game. I mean why would you carefully set up your rocks to your benefit if your opponent could just swoop in and capture that advantage? It is so much worse if one side sets up knowing it will get to pick a side AFTER the asteroids are set up and can just pile on an opponent who thinks he's placing rocks for his own benefit.

Don't use it. Just follow the tournament standards and whom ever has initiative starts placing obstacles and neither side is going to be doing any movement after that process has begun.

For casual play, it's generally too much hassle to set up, pick up all your stuff, then move to the other side if someone wants to switch

Probably because it would add another 5-10 minutes to set up when you have to move all your stuff to the other side of the table.

I don't know I kinda like it, it keeps people from being blockade pricks with their asteroids. Oh you want to to put crap all on this side well congrats you just landscaped your own home.

edit: And why turn the mat, just keep your ships in your hangar until side is declared I'm not seeing a setup problem here.

Am I the only person that wants all of the asteroids on my side of the board?

Probably because it would add another 5-10 minutes to set up when you have to move all your stuff to the other side of the table.

I cut a 16 pocket page in half and paper clip my ship to it. All upgrades and ship together. I have a nice little tournament box it would take me all of 30 secs. It may be worth it to use this rule vs someone who really cares about obstacle placement on a particular side.

Probably because it would add another 5-10 minutes to set up when you have to move all your stuff to the other side of the table.

I cut a 16 pocket page in half and paper clip my ship to it. All upgrades and ship together. I have a nice little tournament box it would take me all of 30 secs. It may be worth it to use this rule vs someone who really cares about obstacle placement on a particular side.

In a tournament setting you do not have the option, and springing it on someone in a casual environment might not be the best way to make friends.

It is a shame, though, that the tournament rules assign edges prior to setup.

Logical, but still. It'd be fun just to mess with your opponent, setup as if playing from one edge and then turning a quarter.

Logistically, during a tournament, too much of a hassle though.

It probably gets ignored for two reasons.

The first is that for tournament practice games it's not an option so you wouldn't do it. Your practice games need to be under tournament rules.

The second is that for friendly games we pretty much just throw the rocks on the mat and take it from there. Nobody takes a friendly game seriously enough to worry about this sort of thing.

Isn't this the same rule book that says the Imperials get the initiative?

But yeah it is just simpler to pick your edges 1st then place obstacles.

Come to think of it, I like this idea.

This may impact int bid in a different way. Maybe you wanted initiative, but now due to placement, you'll want a specific side?So do you hand initiative to your opponent?

Plus now this can really mess with someone strategy even more. You laid down your rocks with the idea you'll be coming at them from a specific angle, but your opponent takes the side you wanted, now maybe you have to adjust your starting positions.

Or maybe this will have no effect at all. I think in some games it may

Its exactly this. My play group uses this rule, and you have to be aware of this when placing the obstacles

This is a dead rule. Ignore it.

Nah I have my side and that's where I stand.

If you have an issue with that it's ts because I'm bigger stronger and far more hairy than you.

Yes and if anyone insists you do it, storm out of the house/shop/ garage come on here and write a rambling thread about how you have been bullied out of the game you love, tell everyone you are rage quitting and put your stuff on eBay.

It's the best way to handle disputes around here

Origins judge here. We had someone try to pull this rule. My first thought was "no way, that's not a thing" then he showed me the rule book. We let the switch happen but said "don't get too comfortable, you're prolly going to end up switching back". Got the Marshal and then found where it was in the tournament rules then made them switch back. Ended up having to extend their game by a few minutes because it took so long.

My personal opinion, this rule is absolutely ridiculous. The biggest reason is time. The extra setup time would either eat way into your 75 minutes or cause the round to start later. Neither of those are good options. This is compounded if you're at a venue with long tables scrunched together.

If you want to do this in your casual game, sure, as long as its agreed upon between players. In tournaments, no, a million times no.

And today's winner of the internet goes to...

Yes and if anyone insists you do it, storm out of the house/shop/ garage come on here and write a rambling thread about how you have been bullied out of the game you love, tell everyone you are rage quitting and put your stuff on eBay.

It's the best way to handle disputes around here

generally by the time youre ready to place obstacles you already have everything laid out and really dont wanna move it.

Not like it makes a huge difference in this game anyway

If you decide to follow it you probably should make sure everyone is well aware of it before asteroids start getting placed.

This rule is actually fairly common in many tabletop miniature games, like 40k, Flames of War, Warmachine ect... Both sides put the terrain on the table then one side gets to pick which side they use.

In most tournaments the terrain is set up before people start to play but still one person gets to pick a side. It helps keep people honest when placing terrain. It's kinda like when kids have to share a candy bar or something, one gets to cut the other gets to pick, so you know the one cutting will cut as close to the middle as possible.

That said in X-Wing for tournament play they decided to make the rock placement part of the game so it doesn't work the same here. Also rocks in X-Wing don't have quite the same impact that terrain can in other games, since they don't actually block LoS or anything.

thats why in 6th edition 40k there was such a huge stink about fortifications, because per 40k rules it was actually impossible to use them lol.

Fortifications had to be in your deployment zone, but were placed before terrain. You didnt pick a side till after the terrain though.

If you ruled it you pick then place, people would be a prick and put a giant tower infront of your aegis defense line (lets fortify this spot right here! ... but sir theres a giant wall in the- I SAID FORTIFY RIGHT HERE!)

If you ruled it fortifications are after terrain when you pick sides, then the rules actually worked...which in a competitive 40k environment usually meant the other side raging about the rules not being done right.

im glad xwing doesnt have anything remotely like fortifications to deal with lol.

This is fun to do in casual play. i did this once but we used mines instead of rock/debris. Inspired by a mission:

Only one player places all obstacles/mines and the other player picks which side. No need to turn the playmat- just set up your cards, tokens and other gear AFTER this.