Season 3 opens up today for the X-Wing Vassal League. Ive participated in the last two seasons and it has been a blast. If you are considering signing up, here are some reasons why you should:

1. Tremendously well organized. The guys running the league do an OUTSTANDING job. Each season it gets better. You end up in a group of players of similar skill level that can play at about the same time you can play. Using online tools like challonge to track standings, challengeboard.net that uses ELO style rankings, this season we are getting slack channels to discuss and coordinate games as well!
   
2. You get reasonably competitive x-wing games from the comfort of your own home. Lots of good players in the league, and with games "counting for something", people try a lot harder than any old rando you find on vassal.
   
3. Meet cool people from around the world. You also see a lot of lists that may not be played in your local meta.
   
4. Play against and chat with "x-wing famous" players. Most of the big names you have heard of are in the league.
   
5. Exclusive swag. Team covenant officially supports the league and you can win actual swag if you do well.
   

If you want to sign up, go here: https://goo.gl/forms/XcFbTgTjLmLGY8bb2

If you need more details check this post here: https://www.reddit.com/r/xwingonline/comments/51u4nd/league_newsletter_982016_register_for_season_3/

For the love of God please don't sign up if you can't commit. It really sucks when over half the people in your division don't reply or what ever.

Sure I understand things happen, but be considerate. I think the mentality is it's the internet so oh well. Out of 8 players in my bracket, I've played against 3 and had hard time matching up with another, leaving 4 players that never once replied to my email, or pm.

It's a real pet peeve of mine. I got to play 3 (maybe 4 if our time can line up) games out of 8 games. If these people who don't even reply just never signed up then maybe people who do want to play would be in our bracket

I don't know how hard it would be to enforce, but if you sign up and want to drop out, you should have to do so and with good reason asap. To not say anything should put on a ban list. Maybe if it happens more than once. Seeing as you are required to provide email, real name etc (since there are prizes to hand out), but realistically that probably is too much to enforce

Just please be considerate of others players. If it's something you want to do, but are really unsure if you can commit, don't take a spot from someone who can, or end up so others don't get to play as often.

Sorry for rant, having real sh*tty day and cranky.

Edit

It really is fun, and I recommend it if you like fun and competitive XWing, but don't treat it as one of those things that you sign up for with not much intention of playing. Be considerate of others. Nothing worse than having 9 players total, and half never reply to your emails/pm.

There is plenty of time to play 6-8weeks not sure exact time, but that's a lot of time to get in a few games, so i can't really see how it be that difficult to find some time. I'm sure there are cases such as moving, or work, but it sure seems like it's a lot of players who do go a wall.

I think it's the mentality of the internet. "Oh this sounds cool I'll sign up and if I change my mind, doesn't hurt me as it costs nothing etc" which is half true. May not effect you, but it does effect those like myself who do want to play against other XWing players.

At the very least if you sign up and something does come up where you cannot make it, it would be respectful to message everyone in your bracket, and earthworm and explain your situation. This way those running it can probably take you out, and if not too late include someone who does have the time

Krynn - I wonder if a $5 entry fee (used for prize support) would help address that "oh its free why not" mentality. Buying into a tournament or league isn't crazy -- I pay 10$ a month for my local XWing league.

Right now the good fellas at the S&V Podcast and Team Covenant are paying for the prize support, which won't stop.

It probably would help, but at the same time may turn others awaythat may still commit

I have no XWing players in my area to play against other than 1 friend and a cousin that plays. Any competitive event we have to travel out of province.

With that said if I could I'd love to spend 5 bucks to participate in a league event, or 2 bucks a night and play some XWing, with that money going towards prizes etc.

At the same time as vassal is free it does make for a more casual environment. If people start spending money would that effect some players attitude? That I don't know. Very likely it wouldn't, but then again for now it's free and prizes are just an incentive, but if people start having to pay would we see a different attitude while playing online?

To people that haven't actually played vassal before, be aware that it takes a LOT longer than a normal game, in my experience. Maybe it's comparable to a normal game if both players are Vassal experts with all of the hotkeys perfectly memorized, but for me, games could last for more than two hours. I ended up dropping out of the league because I could drive to my LGS, play two games, and drive back in the time that it took me to play one game on Vassal. Not that I did that of course, I signed up because I don't have a ton of time to play, and I thought it would be a nice way to get a quick game. It just happened to be as much of a commitment as playing physical games for me.

Also I dunno, there's just something unfun about playing X-wing virtually to me. I plan to just stick to miniatures from now on.

I'd love to sign up. (I even did so, back when it started.)

But there's this insistence in the league (and by VASSAL players generally) that if a card is spoiled and included in VASSAL, it's okay for play.

I'm not interested in playing with unreleased stuff. I use VASSAL to practice for tabletop play, and vice-versa. If I'm not able to fly ARC-170s at the local tournament (or even league nights), it does me no good to play with or against them on VASSAL. (Not to mention how this practice shortens an already narrow window to get to play with a full expansion before new stuff comes out.)

So no VASSAL league (or tournaments) for me.

(There are more people who don't like to play with unreleased stuff that folks think, BTW.)

I'd love to sign up. (I even did so, back when it started.)

But there's this insistence in the league (and by VASSAL players generally) that if a card is spoiled and included in VASSAL, it's okay for play.

I'm not interested in playing with unreleased stuff. I use VASSAL to practice for tabletop play, and vice-versa. If I'm not able to fly ARC-170s at the local tournament (or even league nights), it does me no good to play with or against them on VASSAL. (Not to mention how this practice shortens an already narrow window to get to play with a full expansion before new stuff comes out.)

So no VASSAL league (or tournaments) for me.

(There are more people who don't like to play with unreleased stuff that folks think, BTW.)

Sozin maybe on the sign up page you should have a check box to allow players to select whether they prefer to play with or without unreleased content. Or, alternatively, on escrow, allow players to mark their match ups as "NO UNRELEASED CONTENT" or something? Idk, just some thoughts.

I'd lobby for donating 75% of the entrance fee income to Mu0n's tip jar, and the other 25% to prizes. Or maybe even 100% :-)

But yeah I could see how that could change the psychology of the participants.

Jeff's point about unreleased stuff is a good one too - its both a curse and a blessing. The Vassal meta has been a pretty good predictive indicator of the tabletop meta.

Kdubb, I'll summon an Earthworm to this thread :-)

I'd love to sign up. (I even did so, back when it started.)

But there's this insistence in the league (and by VASSAL players generally) that if a card is spoiled and included in VASSAL, it's okay for play.

I'm not interested in playing with unreleased stuff. I use VASSAL to practice for tabletop play, and vice-versa. If I'm not able to fly ARC-170s at the local tournament (or even league nights), it does me no good to play with or against them on VASSAL. (Not to mention how this practice shortens an already narrow window to get to play with a full expansion before new stuff comes out.)

So no VASSAL league (or tournaments) for me.

(There are more people who don't like to play with unreleased stuff that folks think, BTW.)

Sozin maybe on the sign up page you should have a check box to allow players to select whether they prefer to play with or without unreleased content. Or, alternatively, on escrow, allow players to mark their match ups as "NO UNRELEASED CONTENT" or something? Idk, just some thoughts.

I'd rather not have what I play dictated to me, because Vassal is a godsend for those of us who want to be competitive but don't have the cash for every single expansion every single wave. Vassal means I can test out a ship, build it on Vassal, then have my list of ships to buy ready for release day.

I don't really see the issue with playing unreleased content on Vassal, because it goes hand in hand with people playing janky lists they wouldn't fly in real life, like 4 Lambdas or 5 Scyks, because you can choose whatever you want.

Is it really that much of an issue that you might see an ARC or TIE/SF that you won't see in real life unless you went to GenCon?

Krynn - I wonder if a $5 entry fee (used for prize support) would help address that "oh its free why not" mentality. Buying into a tournament or league isn't crazy -- I pay 10$ a month for my local XWing league.

Right now the good fellas at the S&V Podcast and Team Covenant are paying for the prize support, which won't stop.

Or maybe, leave the UR unpaid, but if you have moved up from there, there is a fee?

We need Free-to-play divisions and 5$-entrance-fee divisions.

First, thanks for the plug. We'll be formally announcing signups for new players tonight.

I'm happy to address everything raised here.

On the subject of missing players. I've always said this is our most difficult problem to dace, and a few inactive players in a 9-player division makes for a vastly different play experience. My goal is indeed to replace inactive players with those on a wait list, or effect other changes to get people their promised number of games (In Season 0 we merged some pods, which seemed to work OK, though the structure here makes that less easy). The problem is that we haven't really developed the organizational capacity to identify and replace inactive players in a timely fashion. That's a goal.

I'm not inclined to handle money, for a bunch of reasons, firstly for legal reasons, and also because I don't know what we'd do with $1500 if everybody who signed up last season paid five dollars. Vassal play is free, and I'm happy with that for now. I am probably going to seat problematic players differently in the future to penalize frivolous sign-uppery, but we're still building basic structures, and identifying them and dealing accordingly is something we'd have to build the capacity for, as I said before.

Time. Yeah, that kind of goes with the territory. There has been some talk of doing games over Skype or a Mumble server, though that's a barrier a lot of players seem unwilling to cross. There is more thought to be had here.

Unreleased content. This is the first I've ever heard of this as a complaint- I've always understood it to be a "Feature not a bug." That said, I can understand where Jeff is coming from. (As it happens, I've been flying Rey-Lothal Rebel, but at a tournament tomorrow I'll have to fly OGHan-Chopper, and had to 'retrain' a little in preparation). I haven't even begun to think about this, but am very open to people's thoughts.

Work beckons, but I'll include these thoughts in the next newsletter, calling for input, and welcome further input here.

I've always said this is our most difficult problem to Dace .

Poor guy... He already has enough to stress about you'd think.

I would blame Autocorrect, but I was at my desk. With a real keyboard. And a big screen.

I would blame Autocorrect, but I was at my desk. With a real keyboard. And a big screen.

Any post, even if a mistake, which reminds us that Dace Bonearm is in fact a pilot in this game, is welcomed in my book.

I'd love to sign up. (I even did so, back when it started.)

But there's this insistence in the league (and by VASSAL players generally) that if a card is spoiled and included in VASSAL, it's okay for play.

I'm not interested in playing with unreleased stuff. I use VASSAL to practice for tabletop play, and vice-versa. If I'm not able to fly ARC-170s at the local tournament (or even league nights), it does me no good to play with or against them on VASSAL. (Not to mention how this practice shortens an already narrow window to get to play with a full expansion before new stuff comes out.)

So no VASSAL league (or tournaments) for me.

(There are more people who don't like to play with unreleased stuff that folks think, BTW.)

Imo it's polite to ask if a player minds. I've asked and been asked, and in one case I didn't want to play against unreleased stuff as I was practicing for tournament, and that was something I wasn't going to run into, and he was quite okay with that

yeah but can I download it on my work computer?

If your playing just casual on vassal most players don't mind if you don't want to play with unreleased stuff.

Imo it's polite to ask if a player minds. I've asked and been asked, and in one case I didn't want to play against unreleased stuff as I was practicing for tournament, and that was something I wasn't going to run into, and he was quite okay with that

I get that, but ...

(1) Shouldn't it really be the other way around, that people should expect to have to ask if they do want to play with un-released stuff?

(2) That doesn't help with leagues and tourneys, which have -- not always, because I've been playing X-Wing on VASSAL since the beginning, but for quite a while now -- been pretty explicit about allowing it. I haven't seen a "no unreleased stuff" league or tourney on VASSAL for at least a year or two.

If your playing just casual on vassal most players don't mind if you don't want to play with unreleased stuff.

Imo it's polite to ask if a player minds. I've asked and been asked, and in one case I didn't want to play against unreleased stuff as I was practicing for tournament, and that was something I wasn't going to run into, and he was quite okay with that

I get that, but ...

(1) Shouldn't it really be the other way around, that people should expect to have to ask if they do want to play with un-released stuff?

(2) That doesn't help with leagues and tourneys, which have -- not always, because I've been playing X-Wing on VASSAL since the beginning, but for quite a while now -- been pretty explicit about allowing it. I haven't seen a "no unreleased stuff" league or tourney on VASSAL for at least a year or two.

I think it is simply a majority/minority kind of issue. I would guess that the majority of players on vassal prefer to play with spoiled content, but just because the majority feels that way doesn't mean the minority should be excluded.

(Not to mention how this practice shortens an already narrow window to get to play with a full expansion before new stuff comes out.)

To be fair, it doesn't really narrow the window any, it just moves the window to be from spoiler to spoiler instead of release to release.

I think it is simply a majority/minority kind of issue. I would guess that the majority of players on vassal prefer to play with spoiled content, but just because the majority feels that way doesn't mean the minority should be excluded.

I think that's the key. The majority of players prefer to play spoiled content (its how I test lists to see if I want multiples of ships for new waves coming for instance), so that's the default. And that's why it's more of an opt out than an opt in. I have no problem playing games with only released content (I played triple defenders all but one game this season for instance, and I believe they were all after veterans released) if my opponent wants to, but I play just as much or more with the spoiled stuff. There's been one or two occasions that I passed on a game because I was specifically wanting to test a list with spoiled cards and my opponent didn't want to use unreleased stuff, but most of the time I have so many lists I want to test or practice that I have no problem just using a different one.

For the love of God please don't sign up if you can't commit. It really sucks when over half the people in your division don't reply or what ever.

Sure I understand things happen, but be considerate. I think the mentality is it's the internet so oh well. Out of 8 players in my bracket, I've played against 3 and had hard time matching up with another, leaving 4 players that never once replied to my email, or pm.

It's a real pet peeve of mine. I got to play 3 (maybe 4 if our time can line up) games out of 8 games. If these people who don't even reply just never signed up then maybe people who do want to play would be in our bracket

I don't know how hard it would be to enforce, but if you sign up and want to drop out, you should have to do so and with good reason asap. To not say anything should put on a ban list. Maybe if it happens more than once. Seeing as you are required to provide email, real name etc (since there are prizes to hand out), but realistically that probably is too much to enforce

Just please be considerate of others players. If it's something you want to do, but are really unsure if you can commit, don't take a spot from someone who can, or end up so others don't get to play as often.

Sorry for rant, having real sh*tty day and cranky.

Edit

It really is fun, and I recommend it if you like fun and competitive XWing, but don't treat it as one of those things that you sign up for with not much intention of playing. Be considerate of others. Nothing worse than having 9 players total, and half never reply to your emails/pm.

There is plenty of time to play 6-8weeks not sure exact time, but that's a lot of time to get in a few games, so i can't really see how it be that difficult to find some time. I'm sure there are cases such as moving, or work, but it sure seems like it's a lot of players who do go a wall.

I think it's the mentality of the internet. "Oh this sounds cool I'll sign up and if I change my mind, doesn't hurt me as it costs nothing etc" which is half true. May not effect you, but it does effect those like myself who do want to play against other XWing players.

At the very least if you sign up and something does come up where you cannot make it, it would be respectful to message everyone in your bracket, and earthworm and explain your situation. This way those running it can probably take you out, and if not too late include someone who does have the time

Yep, this is my frustration as well and am really debating whether or not I want to go with Season 3. My experience is that I don't have enough time to simply hang out on Vassal every night to try and catch games with my opponentsor respond to several that posted very short notice with a "Hey I'm on in an hour!" note (not that I mind that -- it just doesn't work for me). I can get a lot of games in when I can communicate with and schedule them. For example, I had no problems getting 4 games in for the Meta Morpher despite two opponents in wildly different timezones. I regularly tried to reach out to opponents in the Vassal League and have just 4 games since the league started but really only a couple of people in my division were good at communicating while some just don't even respond and I found this true of the last two seasons.

The extended time is a mixed bag and has hurt my rank a bit (not that I care all that much but it is annoying) because I've had less time to play (though I've still tried to send out a couple messages to schedule games) because I had a ton of time during the originally scheduled season to complete games but September is a terrible month for me and that's frustrating to see people add wins while I haven't added any games. All that said, I know that the organizers are doing the best they can and it's a massive beast.

For the love of God please don't sign up if you can't commit. It really sucks when over half the people in your division don't reply or what ever.

Sure I understand things happen, but be considerate. I think the mentality is it's the internet so oh well. Out of 8 players in my bracket, I've played against 3 and had hard time matching up with another, leaving 4 players that never once replied to my email, or pm.

It's a real pet peeve of mine. I got to play 3 (maybe 4 if our time can line up) games out of 8 games. If these people who don't even reply just never signed up then maybe people who do want to play would be in our bracket

I don't know how hard it would be to enforce, but if you sign up and want to drop out, you should have to do so and with good reason asap. To not say anything should put on a ban list. Maybe if it happens more than once. Seeing as you are required to provide email, real name etc (since there are prizes to hand out), but realistically that probably is too much to enforce

Just please be considerate of others players. If it's something you want to do, but are really unsure if you can commit, don't take a spot from someone who can, or end up so others don't get to play as often.

Sorry for rant, having real sh*tty day and cranky.

Edit

It really is fun, and I recommend it if you like fun and competitive XWing, but don't treat it as one of those things that you sign up for with not much intention of playing. Be considerate of others. Nothing worse than having 9 players total, and half never reply to your emails/pm.

There is plenty of time to play 6-8weeks not sure exact time, but that's a lot of time to get in a few games, so i can't really see how it be that difficult to find some time. I'm sure there are cases such as moving, or work, but it sure seems like it's a lot of players who do go a wall.

I think it's the mentality of the internet. "Oh this sounds cool I'll sign up and if I change my mind, doesn't hurt me as it costs nothing etc" which is half true. May not effect you, but it does effect those like myself who do want to play against other XWing players.

At the very least if you sign up and something does come up where you cannot make it, it would be respectful to message everyone in your bracket, and earthworm and explain your situation. This way those running it can probably take you out, and if not too late include someone who does have the time

Yep, this is my frustration as well and am really debating whether or not I want to go with Season 3. My experience is that I don't have enough time to simply hang out on Vassal every night to try and catch games with my opponentsor respond to several that posted very short notice with a "Hey I'm on in an hour!" note (not that I mind that -- it just doesn't work for me). I can get a lot of games in when I can communicate with and schedule them. For example, I had no problems getting 4 games in for the Meta Morpher despite two opponents in wildly different timezones. I regularly tried to reach out to opponents in the Vassal League and have just 4 games since the league started but really only a couple of people in my division were good at communicating while some just don't even respond and I found this true of the last two seasons.

The extended time is a mixed bag and has hurt my rank a bit (not that I care all that much but it is annoying) because I've had less time to play (though I've still tried to send out a couple messages to schedule games) because I had a ton of time during the originally scheduled season to complete games but September is a terrible month for me and that's frustrating to see people add wins while I haven't added any games. All that said, I know that the organizers are doing the best they can and it's a massive beast.

Maybe what needs to be done is make it aware to everyone if you do not make your games on time with no word to your opponent, two strikes your out. It'll become everyone responsibility to make sure you and your opponent communicate, and then report any that do not follow by these rules.

However that is also more work for the people who are volunteering their time which is definitely not fair.

I signed up for season 3 because I enjoy it. I don't get to play much outside of the two I regularly play with and if there was no vassal, I probably wouldn't even be playing XWing anymore.

As for unreleased content, that's what I like about vassal. I can know beforehand what I actually want to buy. For example I do want two arcs, had i used vassal more before wave 6 I may have saved money not buying 3 scyks, and 2 star vipers. Vassal has become a great way to test before hand what you will and won't want to buy.

As I said I have 2 people in my area to play with, and it seems they are becoming less inclined on buying new stuff, which also makes me wonder, should I? I feel they are loso interest and/or becoming tired of trying to keep up with all these constant waves and ace packs. Unfortunately with my current situation I am unable to buy as much as I could so again I love vassal for that.

The extended time seems to have done nothing for my pod last I checked. I think if you don't get your games in on time, too bad so sad, everyone was well aware. In fact I think the original may have been a tad too long. I would have finished my games long ago (thou I guess I did since I played with 3 out of 4 that have communicated out of 9 players total (counting myself). 6-8 weeks or whatever the original time frame is a long time. That's basically 1-2 games a week.

I'll end this rant on saying be considerate to everyone. Signing up and then not replying or just walking away is a piss poor way to treat others who want to play, and to the people organizing this so we can all have good fun, and im sure it's a lot of work, so let's try to make it a little easier on them please, for heaven's sake (god I sound like my mother lol)

I had dropped out because I was running my own events, but man I can't help but to come back! So I signed up.

Can I sign up if I have only been on Vassal for a month? Will people be pissed off if I dont remember all the hotekeys and have to right click to decloak or barrell roll? I have about 6 games under my belt.

Can I sign up if I have only been on Vassal for a month? Will people be pissed off if I dont remember all the hotekeys and have to right click to decloak or barrell roll? I have about 6 games under my belt.

This is the reason I won't play Vassel. Too confident I'd be terrible with the controls and wouldn't be able to enjoy games.

And no one would want to play me lol