...I have gone ultra nerd sometimes when I am by myself and put out 6 obstacles and give myself a route to fly around. If I touch a rock I reset. Extremely nerdy, but it has helped a lot.

Hmmm, this could even be a fun competitive race - assume everyone has the same PS, and randomly determine activation order after commands are set. Upgrades can be chosen as normal (in secret) and revealed on deployment, but if two players have the same upgrade they both lose it at the start (to avoid everyone just taking PTL and EU).

Good training for setting up blocks as well - though somewhat more predictable given all heading for the same check-points.

Nice idea, I like it, could do different teams having to do the check-points in different order (e.g. reverse order for 2nd team) so everyone does not head for the same check point all the time.

Arguably, without further limitation, there wouldn't be much diversity (only 5 straight capable ships?) but you could play with "Speed divisions"... a 5-or-lower race, a 4-or-lower race, etc etc... you never know, someone might think a 4+boost better than a 5-without-boost (if EU too risky to take due to cancellation of duplicates).

A 4 + boost is actually better than a 5 because you will apply the length of the ship twice instead of once, after a 4 maneuver your front will be a 5 away. An additional boost is another 1 maneuver, which means another 2 away on top of that which totals for 7. Going just a 5 without a boost will leave you at 6 away. Not to mention you have an additional maneuvering option by banking the boost.

i actually learned a lot from reading on this forum. though, that was still tempered with some game time. go to another store and practice.

in your own practice, develop an opening, be able to explain why its a good opening.

Explain to us how your rock arrangement at the start of the game is beneficial for your list.

Create a rule of 11 opening engagement. (Go look up rule of 11 on youtube). Create an anti-counter to your opponent trying to counter you.

read the art of war. Then tell me what the main applicable tenants are and how to use them in xwing.

learn how to predict average dice hits.

Tell me mathematically when you should focus and when you should TL. (Hint: there is a right answer, its not an opinion.)

In fact, best thing you can do right now, is tell us what you know about the game. How does the game work? How does one list beat another list? Then we can see if you understand the game to our level, and teach you any gaps.

Show us what you believe to be your best list. And we can curb stomp any stupid upgrade choices out of you.

Until you can do those things, you have plenty to learn knowledge wise about this game.

No shame in loosing to better players that have played for years. The day I think x-wing is only about playing the newest meta list and you will auto win, I quit. Its a skills game, with added dice luck that will crap out some games. If they have been playing for years, they have ALL the knowledge, not just the strategic one. They are probably crunching numbers and thinking 3-5 moves ahead.

Also It seems a bit silly only to play a game where you can win tournaments to get your moneys worth, or did I misunderstand that?

A 4 + boost is actually better than a 5 because you will apply the length of the ship twice instead of once...

Ah, truuuuuuuuue!....

- - - - -

read the art of war.

and LISTEN to 'The Art of War'!...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAG_0P5tFNA

...not for any tactical reason, simply cos it's good for your ears!*

(* = if not played too loud over prolonged periods)

Play against yourself. It helps with fundamentals, it helps design an opening, and it helps recognize good and bad tactical situations a turn or two in advance.

He'll get hairy palms and go blind doing that.

Obiwan taught you well. But you are not a Jedi yet.

Tell me mathematically when you should focus and when you should TL. (Hint: there is a right answer, its not an opinion.)

I'd love to hear the answer to this one.

and LISTEN to 'The Art

QFT.

Sabaton are awesome.

You've mentioned that you can get casual games in with friends, but the top tier folks see your small collection and decide you're not worth the time of day.

So I think the best solution for you in terms of live play is to get together with your friends and plan to collaborate your purchases.

It's true that there's a lot of money that can be sunk into a list, but it hurts a lot less if your friends-- who are also new, therefore also don't have large collections-- will lend you stuff as needed, and vice-versa to benefit them.

If you're all in a mutually beneficial arrangement then you can really alleviate the cost as you grow your collections at a manageable rate.

Then, don't bring your whole collection to the store, but rather just your 100pt list-du-jour. They can't judge what they can't see.

Also, if you're playing with friends and have a list you think you might like to try but will require some purchases, don't be afraid to proxy.

In terms of skills, better git gud.

That might sound heartless but there's actually a wealth of tips and tricks that you can find with just a bit of effort and practice.

Look through the pinned post on the main page, "Index of Useful Links", paying particular attention to the strategy guides.

VASSAL has been recommended and I'll second it; in my experience the VASSAL community is far friendlier than these guys sound, so you'll have a pleasant experience there by comparison. I'd guess that's largely because the people on VASSAL are just happy to play a game, no time to judge.

Watch high-level games. There's like a hundred you can find on YouTube. You can also, if you do some digging, find some VASSAL saved games and watch the replay (Team Covenant's Aces League had some logfiles saved, for instance).

Learn the rules, learn all the abilities, learn all the dials and actions, especially for what you don't have. If you don't know what your opponents' ships can do, then you sure can't plan around it. If you forget a part of your opponent's list, you will make a mistake because of it, almost guaranteed.

Get to the point where you can point out mistakes that the commentators make when watching recorded matches (they often make at least one mistake).

before a tourney i was really excited to play in i got my list, set up a 3x3 board with another list i've worked on and flew against it.

i have also been known to just get the mat out, chuck on some roids and go flying unopposed (using actions to boost/barrel roll around the board)

I have been playing for 2 years, and have won exactly once. This game has a very steep learning curve, IMHO, at least to play well. Luckily for me, I can play and have fun without winning, which is why I probably don't to tournaments, and always play Epic.

Unfortunately, game stores filled with a bunch of arrogant jerks is a separate problem altogether.

I am playing since april, went directly at the end of april to my first tourney, went 2-2, my wife went 2-2 as well and had a good enough move for 5 place (out of 12). Second tourney I went 2-2 again. Had again even a game when I was one hit away from winning the game, small mistake turned the game. Both times I got more or less destroyed by the tournament winner.

Though I guess there are two large factors which help my play a lot. I play one match per day with my wife befor tournaments to get enough playtime and while our local group is very competitive in the sense that they travel around to basically every store championship tourney country and even beyond, they are at the same time flying casual. Giving tips even while in a tournament game when you tell them that you are new to the game.

also my tourney record is 5 match wins in 5 tourneys with one tourney i went 3-0 and won it (no one suspects a Bombing K Wing and a bombing ghost with TLT!!!)

they are always good fun though and really enjoyable with the group i play with. one even bought 3 jumpmasters and ran them in one tourney then packed them away as they where too powerful.

Without knowing what lists you run and what your favored playstyle is, it is literally impossible to diagnose the possible issues.

What lists do you run? Brobots? Palp Aces? Chihuahuas? Or do you need to fly something off the wall like four hawks? Do you like arc dodging or jousting?

Once you give us a bit more on list preference, we can help you build a list to match your skill set and minimize your weaknesses.

Even then, depending on your area, it might be hard to win regularly. There are a lot of great players out there. But I think getting your style discovered and then picking a list to match is the right place to start.

I have no idea what any of that means, lol. Traditionally, I'm a pretty straight forward player. I prefer to hit my opponent hard and right down the middle. In historical games, I would play a lot of heavy cavalry and heavy foot. Tough troops with staying power. I try to build lists like this.

also my tourney record is 5 match wins in 5 tourneys with one tourney i went 3-0 and won it (no one suspects a Bombing K Wing and a bombing ghost with TLT!!!)

they are always good fun though and really enjoyable with the group i play with. one even bought 3 jumpmasters and ran them in one tourney then packed them away as they where too powerful.

Your guys tournament metas are weird. Not for the unusual stuff which tries to break the meta, but for absence of the current meta in spades.

Even at a 14 man event we had BroBots, Dengaroo, Mynock Special. Triple Scouts, x7 defenders and defenders, Rainbow Dash. And the only reason what was not double lethals is that my wife loves her Dash. ;-)

Outside of Wes, Biggs, Lothal we had basically the whole US championship meta *g*

It means that if you have taken 3 named tie fighters and a firespray, than probably your list is not looking anything like competitive. Hence, despite that I would not recommend anyone to play with such people, but you have to be more cutthroat for yourself as well. Do a list that will be able to fight for top. And, in tournaments they have to play against you. Unless they drop but hey, that's not that bad for you.

Without knowing what lists you run and what your favored playstyle is, it is literally impossible to diagnose the possible issues.

What lists do you run? Brobots? Palp Aces? Chihuahuas? Or do you need to fly something off the wall like four hawks? Do you like arc dodging or jousting?

Once you give us a bit more on list preference, we can help you build a list to match your skill set and minimize your weaknesses.

Even then, depending on your area, it might be hard to win regularly. There are a lot of great players out there. But I think getting your style discovered and then picking a list to match is the right place to start.

I have no idea what any of that means, lol. Traditionally, I'm a pretty straight forward player. I prefer to hit my opponent hard and right down the middle. In historical games, I would play a lot of heavy cavalry and heavy foot. Tough troops with staying power. I try to build lists like this.

That is nothing like X-Wing works.

Though, try double VCX-100 with autoblaster turrets, fire control system and a filler. A Y-Wing with autoblaster turrets for example. I hear this combination is quite frustrating for the opponent as you cover a gigantic amount of space of the board with your turrets dashing out nasty amounts of dice to the front. Drive them into the abyss and hear the women lamenting.

Other lists which can do this somewhat as well are defenders.

edit: And if you do not mean what all this means, it means that you are far less competitive than you thought. Actually if you do not even understand the basic meta lists you are on the lower levels of casual even, no wonder you lose. If you not understand the meta lists, you have no chance in beating them.

Play against yourself. It helps with fundamentals, it helps design an opening, and it helps recognize good and bad tactical situations a turn or two in advance.

He'll get hairy palms and go blind doing that.

Besides it is very pointless. What helps a lot is playing ships on the table and mark were you think they will end up when you do x maneuver and then put your guess to the test. That will teach you to judge your movement options right.

But really playing against yourself is a silly exercise, wasted time imho. Play with your kids or wife.

I have no idea what any of that means, lol. Traditionally, I'm a pretty straight forward player. I prefer to hit my opponent hard and right down the middle. In historical games, I would play a lot of heavy cavalry and heavy foot. Tough troops with staying power. I try to build lists like this.

and that is why you fail - yoda. but seriously. the game is more about manuvers. You can take a strong jousting list and go straight at someone and if you don't manuver in a way to focus your fire on a single ship you won't win very often. I also like to take strong jousting lists. 4 x-wings or tie swarms, I like red dice. after like round 3-4 if you don't have a followup plan of attack for the next two moves you don't have a good chance. I'm finding that after a year I'm staring to run 50/50 on the games I play and the list matters less. quick tips I find it helpful to remember. flank, focus fire, avoid the rocks, don't get stressed and don't bump or get blocked. think about each of these each round and what you will do the following round depending on where you think your oppenent will end up. stay calm, have fun and fly casual.

Without knowing what lists you run and what your favored playstyle is, it is literally impossible to diagnose the possible issues.

What lists do you run? Brobots? Palp Aces? Chihuahuas? Or do you need to fly something off the wall like four hawks? Do you like arc dodging or jousting?

Once you give us a bit more on list preference, we can help you build a list to match your skill set and minimize your weaknesses.

Even then, depending on your area, it might be hard to win regularly. There are a lot of great players out there. But I think getting your style discovered and then picking a list to match is the right place to start.

I have no idea what any of that means, lol. Traditionally, I'm a pretty straight forward player. I prefer to hit my opponent hard and right down the middle. In historical games, I would play a lot of heavy cavalry and heavy foot. Tough troops with staying power. I try to build lists like this.

Here's my current Hawtness.

out local meta is swarming with PTLing vermin stacked with ton of tokens.

SO I devised this (subpar outside out meta as usually) wicked thing.

It's pretty tough, straightforward and can make a huge hole in almost anything. Dies a painful death against PWTs and Triple-scouts badly. Rocks freaky aces and minces them to dust. Nothing escapes the impending YV-666 DOOM

It takes practice to know your range control, because range is what this list requires most. You must get that early R1 shot with Partybus and focus-fire at least one torp at the same target.

Glitterstim allows you to have two turns of total-modified shots in a row after getting 1-4 stresses from Zuckuss

it will soon have a banner on the side

YOU

ARE

THE

TRUFFLE

I appreciate the feedback!

Honestly, maybe my mind just isn't right for X-Wing. I picked up the game because it has a big following and I was looking for a game that I could find players for pretty much all of the time. But with everything y'all have told me (and I appreciate the honesty), I feel like my best option is to just try to sell out and put it towards a game whose play style I'm more familiar with.

Thanks everyone. You told me what I needed to hear!

my best option is to just try to sell out

Giving up already?

That attitude will never let you feel the unfettered joy of finally_overcoming it

the more wicked sick and cutthroat competitive your meta is, the more FUN you can get.

remember, LOSING IS FUN

While I love the cartoon, it's been 8 months, and I can only tilt at a windmill so many times.

I'm going back to historicals and more traditional minis games. WarmaHordes is looking good, and I've been getting people interested in Saga again. Facesmashing with over-sized weapons (or beasties) and shields is more my thing I guess...

BenStark, I'm curious. Is your typical play style vaguely like marching a Napoleonic rank at your enemy in hopes of winning the damage trade-offs in the initial engagement? That's fun for kitchen table battles, but "jousting" like this misses out on so many of the game's newer mechanics and abilities. Jousting lists are pretty unimpressive these days against newer ship designs and capabilities. It may simply be a case where you haven't explored enough of the game to be able to make your 100 point list a true match for more current 100 point lists. You're bringing biplanes to a jet fight, perhaps.

While I love the cartoon, it's been 8 months, and I can only tilt at a windmill so many times.

I'm going back to historicals and more traditional minis games. WarmaHordes is looking good, and I've been getting people interested in Saga again. Facesmashing with over-sized weapons (or beasties) and shields is more my thing I guess...

You are playing for ******* 8 months and still have no idea what palp aces, wolfpacks, Brobots or chihuahuas means? Yeah, you suck. And you should go back to your non-competitive "traditional" mini games which hand out tournament point and stars based on how pretty you painted your minis.

X-Wing in a competitive environment is not for you and I actually understand everyone in your store who does not want to play with the middle aged "forever noob" guy. And I am saying this in your best interest, because your attitude is simply not fitting for a game which requires a significant amount of thought in the list building stage and on the table as well. It is just not for you.

Bye.

PS. You are not tilting a windmill, that would suggest efford. You are sitting on your thumbs for 8 months and are not really invested into anything.

BenStark, I'm curious. Is your typical play style vaguely like marching a Napoleonic rank at your enemy in hopes of winning the damage trade-offs in the initial engagement? That's fun for kitchen table battles, but "jousting" like this misses out on so many of the game's newer mechanics and abilities. Jousting lists are pretty unimpressive these days against newer ship designs and capabilities. It may simply be a case where you haven't explored enough of the game to be able to make your 100 point list a true match for more current 100 point lists. You're bringing biplanes to a jet fight, perhaps.

Yes and no. I can use a number of traditional strategies. I love cavalry in the armies that I use, because I love flanking maneuvers and the "Hammer-And-Anvil" tactic, pinning a unit down with heavy infantry in the front and then smashing it from behind with cavalry. But I do prefer a more straightforward approach, for the most part. I'm not going to waste a unit unnecessarily, but I've got no problem getting stuck in.

I'm an old school ancients/medieval wargamer, and in this game, it is to my detriment. I know that I lack a lot of experience with a lot of the ships, but I simply don't have enough down time to explore ALL of the ships available and don't have the spare cash to buy more ships frequently.