So, as you may know, I am not a very competetive player. Over the weekend though, something happened, I tried out a list using two tournament tier ships, and one less s. I won pretty well with it, but there was something different. I typically fly against Defenders and Arcs with X-Wings, A-Wings, and occasionally a few interceptors. This game was the first time in a long time where the win came very easily. The flying wasn't any different, the ships just had better dice control. When I was thinking later of how to tweak it, I realized that I was taking out my one nonmeta ship for some much higher tier material. It shouldn't bother me, but I just don't know how to feel about it, since I have always been a more "fly casual" type. Flying powerful was a nice change and still fun, but I feel like going back to some of my "for the heck of it," type lists will be unsatisfying. Anyone else ever experienced this?

I know exactly what you are talking about Blue. I used to play X-wings and B-wings a lot and enjoyed them just because of the way they looked on the table but as my local meta ramped up for a regional I had to switch to ships with more defense and damage mods. Since then I have used the X's and B's a couple of times but always become dissatisfied with their performance compared to newer ships. The dials on most of the older ships will just not support the upgrades it takes to be competitive these days. I guess it is kind of once your mind is opened to something there is no going back. You just feel the limitations of those ships every turn it seems.

"Once you start down that dark path, FOREVER will it dominate your destiny..."

I just hate feeling like my ship is holding me back when I know there is better... Just seems like a cop out though.

No, it's all Obi Wan's fault. He's jealous. He's holding you back.

6 minutes ago, BlueMusketeer28 said:

I just hate feeling like my ship is holding me back when I know there is better... Just seems like a cop out though.

The Vassal Custom Card League is putting together fan fixes for underperforming ships. Feel freeto join when we start... and keep playing with other entrants after the tournament is over.

Yeah. I spent all my time flying triple Jumpmasters before FFG released three separate FAQ nerfs for those. Now I never win, because I completely lost track of the new ships and all my lists are two waves behind. So I guess I've seen the other side of the meta coin, now... *sigh*

1 hour ago, Rakaydos said:

The Vassal Custom Card League is putting together fan fixes for underperforming ships. Feel freeto join when we start... and keep playing with other entrants after the tournament is over.

I totally would but I'm a student and very busy. Also never got the softwear for vassal and making the cards right.

Dont worry about the cards, we'll handle them. Just play the game with us.

Hmmm... how you tempt me Rakaydos.... what time is typical for you guys? I might be able to squeeze out an hour now and again.

3 hours ago, MenaceNsobriety said:

I know exactly what you are talking about Blue. I used to play X-wings and B-wings a lot and enjoyed them just because of the way they looked on the table but as my local meta ramped up for a regional I had to switch to ships with more defense and damage mods. Since then I have used the X's and B's a couple of times but always become dissatisfied with their performance compared to newer ships. The dials on most of the older ships will just not support the upgrades it takes to be competitive these days. I guess it is kind of once your mind is opened to something there is no going back. You just feel the limitations of those ships every turn it seems.

Fly Tarn with R7 or M9 and Hobbie with Targeting astro. You get a lot of efficiency for ~ 50 points

29 minutes ago, BlueMusketeer28 said:

Hmmm... how you tempt me Rakaydos.... what time is typical for you guys? I might be able to squeeze out an hour now and again.

"As arranged by email."

Season 1 was a few months back, only had a Khlrazx fix and a few new ships... season 2 is offering 3 ace packs of fixes, but will be a few months more before we can start.

14 minutes ago, Nyxen said:

Fly Tarn with R7 or M9 and Hobbie with Targeting astro. You get a lot of effeciency for ~ 50 points

I can confirm

Re: OP:

"Fly casual" doesn't mean you have to "fly crappy." There's nothing wrong with flying top tier ships and lists in casual play. Fly what you want and have fun and make sure your opponent is having fun! If you stumble on a jerk list that screws your opponents over on a regular basis you'll quickly realize that it isn't the list for you, even if it is a top tier list.

At my recent regionals I took Hera with autoblaster and Accuracy Corrector, along with Biggs and etc. It was a powerful list in the current meta, but I learned that I probably won't ever fly it in casual play. It's not especially fun to see where your opponent is going, then change your maneuver so that you land by him and then deal 4 damage that they can't do anything about.

8 hours ago, Herowannabe said:

It's not especially fun to see where your opponent is going, then change your maneuver so that you land by him and then deal 4 damage that they can't do anything about.

Which is honestly a thing I think many people forget or don't recognize. What's fun to fly is going to depend greatly on what you're doing.

If I'm playing on a friend's kitchen table I'm not going to bust out a top tier list (unless the point is to test it). I'm going to fly some X-Wings or Ties or something. If it's a store championship I'll fly something that I think has a good chance to win, but I'm not going to fly the most powerful list I can come up with. But if I'm at regionals or beyond, then yeah I'll bring something like what you mention above.

When I'm at the kitchen table win and lose isn't all that important, but as the level of competition and cost of entry goes up, the less I'm there just to play some fun games and the more I'm there to win. Not that winning is the only thing that matters, but I don't go to regionals just to play X-Wing, I go to pit myself against the best the area has, and see how I manage.

14 hours ago, Rakaydos said:

"Once you start down that dark path, FOREVER will it dominate your destiny..."

"Only a competitive gamer deals in absolutes..."

Just now, FTS Gecko said:

"Only a competitive gamer deals in absolutes..."

"From my point of view, the casual gamers are evil!"

Peace is a lie, there is only passion.
Through passion, I gain strength.
Through strength, I gain power.
Through power, I gain victory.
Through victory, my chains are broken.
The Force shall free me.