I've seen the meta coalesce around certain builds quite a few times in X-Wing's history and whenever it happens - from Fat Han or Whisper + Chiraneau through Brobots and 4 TLT Ys up to the current U-Boats and Pal Aces - it leaves some people feeling frustrated. And I can understand the sentiment. It can be disappointing to set aside time to go to a tournament only to play the same list over and over again. Then to watch the cut get filled with virtually-identical lists.

So, how about this for a simple idea for maintaining variety: In tournaments, squadrons with the same ship make-up are paired against each other in the first round and whenever the players have the same tournament points.

All the 3 JumpMaster lists would play against each other in the first round, then the winners would play each other, immediately ruling 3/4 of them out of the cut for most tournaments. In consequence, only the best 3 JumpMaster player (or whatever meta list is currently being spammed) would bubble up to the top table.

It has these advantages:

• Keeps the tournament scoring unchanged.
• Continues to keep working as the meta shifts.
• Gives everyone free choice over what to bring. Nothing gets banned or nerfed.
• Can easily be handled in the tournament software.

The best players would still reach the cut, but following the meta too closely would make the journey harder, while innovation and creativity in squad building would be rewarded.

What do you think?

could be VERY fun.... never will happen

I like it. Send it to ffg op?

I've seen the meta coalesce around certain builds quite a few times in X-Wing's history and whenever it happens - from Fat Han orWhisper + Chiraneau through 4 TLT Ys up to the current U-Boats and Pal Aces - it leaves some people feeling frustrated. And I can understand the sentiment. It can be disappointing to set aside time to go to a tournament only to play the same list over and over again. The to watch the cut filled with virtually identical lists.

So, how about this for a simple idea for maintaining variety: In tournaments, squadrons with the same ship make-up are paired against each other in the first round and whenever the players have the same tournament points.

So all the 3 JumpMaster lists would play against each other in the first round, then the winners would play each other, immediately ruling 3/4 of them out of the cut for most tournaments.

The best players would still reach the cut, but following the meta too closely would make the journey harder, while innovation and creativity in squad building would be rewarded.

What do you think?

Nerf to U-Boats because most of them are run 3 in a squad.

Doesn't effect Palp Aces at all. Usually people fly a variety of the aces.

In order to promote more variety, there needs to be a nerf to Palp Aces and Acewings in general. Then you'll just be able to bid to PS 4 and pound U-Boats.

Or FFG could official support the top gun format, the best way to play the game.

Interesting idea. How do you pair people with "random" squads?

Is it ship-based or... ? Inq/Vader/Fel is same as Fel/Inq/Lambda? What about swarms?

What happends, if there are 3 torpedo boat lists: two get paired and third one gets a bye or he gets a random opponent?

ParaGoomba Slayer, I am new to the forums, but I really don't understand which list you prefer to play yourself

I like the concept voidstate, certainly an interesting proposal

So, everyone plays mirror matches until they're the last man with a given list standing. Sounds to me like it would be boring as hell.

So, everyone plays mirror matches until they're the last man with a given list standing. Sounds to me like it would be boring as hell.

But facing u boats four times in a row isn't?

How will that change the meta?

So, everyone plays mirror matches until they're the last man with a given list standing. Sounds to me like it would be boring as hell.

You want to play the meta? Sure, go ahead. But you also have to play against the meta...

Meta Happens. Thats what wave relics do and FFG sell more stuff this way.

So, everyone plays mirror matches until they're the last man with a given list standing. Sounds to me like it would be boring as hell.

But facing u boats four times in a row isn't?

Take the cracks and laugh maniacally.

For total victories In a row? AWW YEAH

I love this idea!!

The lists should be paired "closest" pilot-wise, that would make it work with palpaces aswell!☺️

So, everyone plays mirror matches until they're the last man with a given list standing. Sounds to me like it would be boring as hell.

Which is the point, in a way. Bring a creative list or suffer X-Wing's version of Groundhog Day.

So, everyone plays mirror matches until they're the last man with a given list standing. Sounds to me like it would be boring as hell.

Which is the point, in a way. Bring a creative list or suffer X-Wing's version of Groundhog Day.

Does Bill Murray get replaced by Melissa McCarthy? Because that I don't want.

I like the intent of the OP. But, how can you accomplish it in an actual way? This idea really just punishes anyone that has a matching list (TIE swarm etc.), so that takes it right off the table. The only thing that even seems like it could work is to maybe have some sort of super desirable prize for a completely unique list. By unique I mean that nobody else at the tournament has more than one pilot card in common your list. If the prize/incentive is sufficiently cool, it will make a lot of players consider playing something they think no one else would bring. If everybody with a "unique" list got the prize, that could bring more variance to the scene.

However, I think it's worth saying that the above, the OP, and all the decent ideas that have been floated over this will most likely never come to pass. The tournament scene is (right now) driven by the prizes, and by and large seems to operate exactly like FFG wants it to (or they would change it). The cynic in me says that it makes a certain kind of sense I suppose, if you want to move lots of one kind of ship.

How will that change the meta?

Technically, it won't. But players who can't think outside the box can only play in the box. If you want a broader play experience, you will avoid making mindless multiple meta matches materialize.

The tournament scene is (right now) driven by the prizes,

What are the prizes? (Never been to tourney.) Seems to me an alt-art card isn't much incentive to get all worked up about.

How will that change the meta?

Technically, it won't. But players who can't think outside the box can only play in the box. If you want a broader play experience, you will avoid making mindless multiple meta matches materialize.

yeah but what about people's who list is close to the meta but not quite who do you differentiate, or all lists that have palp have to be in together? or all lists with 3 jumpmasters even if it isn't missile boats which I faced in the Yavin open. Who makes this call?

The tournament scene is (right now) driven by the prizes,

What are the prizes? (Never been to tourney.) Seems to me an alt-art card isn't much incentive to get all worked up about.

Check out the bay of e and get back to us. The secondary market for the prizes is a tad insane. Make sure you look at the official stuff, not some knock off. FFGOP makes alternate dice, acrylic tokens and templates (and a card now) as well as AA pilot, crew and upgrade cards. The crazy bad sport tales you hear are over these prizes.

A long time ago in a Game shop just down the road they tried to run a tournament format that required original list building and skill. We just got 4 players no "completive meta" showed up.

The format was 3 rounds with 3 objectives and you build your list to suit you had 20 mins before the match to do so. the format required skill in list building and knowing what ship could do

when you change the format Meta players cant cope. so if there was a change like the OP has suggested people might stop showing up and I am unsure if that might be worse

I hate it when people play Meta and nothing but Meta but sadly I have come to realise that its just the way it is. I don't like it and I wish there was a way to encourage more original list building but I don't think it can happen. the fear people have of losing is to great so when people think if the take list A,B or C that they wont come last and have a chance of getting to the top table they will do it

At least I know to expect rehearsed Meta players in the top cuts and know to counter it.

I am lucky however lately many of the non Regional/National events I go to have very few of these players and original list builders are dominate

I understand the intent of the idea, but in the end I don't care for it, for the main reason that lists don't play against eachother, people do. If we were robots, then identical lists are identical competitors, but we're not...

Neat.

I like the concept, but in any but the smallest tournaments it just doesn't sound practical to accomplish, certainly not with the current software.

The tournament scene is (right now) driven by the prizes,

What are the prizes? (Never been to tourney.) Seems to me an alt-art card isn't much incentive to get all worked up about.

Check out the bay of e and get back to us. The secondary market for the prizes is a tad insane. Make sure you look at the official stuff, not some knock off. FFGOP makes alternate dice, acrylic tokens and templates (and a card now) as well as AA pilot, crew and upgrade cards. The crazy bad sport tales you hear are over these prizes.

OK, it's alt-art and acrylic tokens that can also be had on the open market. Nothing that is not already in existence for the game or can't be bought for a pittance. I guess I could understand if they were new "if you win them then only you can fly them" pilots, but otherwise you're just a bad sport for not-so-special bling.

Unless the point is to win them so you can dump them on e-bay for 10 or 20 bucks.