For future reference, we can call these jokers Squadjumpers.

It's definitely unfair to have a situation where one player is building their list with full advance knowledge of what you've already built, I agree. Unless you give consent, of course. I've played casual matches and said "hey, I'm going to try this out, build something you think will be a good match against it."

But otherwise, I'll keep my cards facedown and my ships in my box until start time. Problem avoided.

This is pretty much why X-Wing does not work as a casual game. It requires so much policing by the players involved to make sure neither list has a big innate advantage against the other one. And of course everyone disagrees about which lists are "too good" for a particular casual outing.

We have a guy in my local area that ONLY wants to play "thematic matches" (faction-wise), so he "just wants to look at your list and ships before deciding what to play". I dont mind, I take it as a challenge, as I could run in to such a list at a tournament anyways..

What are you using that would provoke people to aggressively counterbuild it?

13 hours ago, AllWingsStandyingBy said:

This is pretty much why X-Wing does not work as a casual game. It requires so much policing by the players involved to make sure neither list has a big innate advantage against the other one. And of course everyone disagrees about which lists are "too good" for a particular casual outing.

But it does work as a casual game. Always has.

The people playing it on the other hand? That's where the problem tends to lie...

I don't get any of this, fortunately. When we play around here we show up with one or two lists and see which matchup would be the better (learning) experience. If lists are too hard on each other we modify them.

I've never seen this at a casual night, except for when someone specifically asks to practice against a bad matchup. Unfortunately, I see this at tournaments (when not required to submit lists ahead of time) once in a while, and it always leaves me with a sour taste. Part of this game is predicting the meta, and building a squad that can handle a variety of opponents. Switching your list after showing up and seeing what's on the tables is dirty.

6 hours ago, Sciencius said:

We have a guy in my local area that ONLY wants to play "thematic matches" (faction-wise), so he "just wants to look at your list and ships before deciding what to play". I dont mind, I take it as a challenge, as I could run in to such a list at a tournament anyways..

I like thematic matches as well, but I do it on my side. I have no control over what my opponent brings to the table. The better way, if that's what he wants to do, would be to arrange the game and agree to any list-building restrictions beforehand.

2 hours ago, Criwi Romed said:

I've never seen this at a casual night, except for when someone specifically asks to practice against a bad matchup. Unfortunately, I see this at tournaments (when not required to submit lists ahead of time) once in a while, and it always leaves me with a sour taste. Part of this game is predicting the meta, and building a squad that can handle a variety of opponents. Switching your list after showing up and seeing what's on the tables is dirty.

At a tournament I see it as being perfectly legit provided the list is turned in when it needs to be and doesn't hold anything up. If you're worried about showing up early and then having someone scout your list then just don't show your hand until the time to react to it has passed.

So you're one of those guys. Gotcha ?

Well unfortunately for people around me, I'm an alpha in almost any group. In 40k (Ive played that since '94 ish) and XWing I kinda tell people we're playing blind lists unless a group is already up running when I show up.... And in a few months I've usually dragged established groups to blind lists too

Personally I don't care if someone's hard countering my lists. I'm always thinking tournament prep. But I know most of my club pals hate list tailoring and I try to look out for their game day experience... and I'm a control freak, it's a problem

I usually bring a tourney list and a casual list... Then ask my opponent witch they'd rather face. My casual list(s) run about .600 so I think I've struck the right cord there.

We had a guy come early to a tournament and I watched him change his list at least 3 times as he saw others come in and what they had. He ended up winning with a palp aces castling list... It was sad because his first list of Upsilion and two aces looked really fun and still competitive.

3 hours ago, Criwi Romed said:

So you're one of those guys. Gotcha ?

And which "guys" are those?

IF I were going to a tournament I'd probably have a couple squadron with for consideration and if a glance around the room seemed to indicate one is likely to do better than the other that would be the one I'll use. I wouldn't go in and then spend a half hour once I got there deciding what to play after scoping out the place.

If I care if someone knows what I'm playing why would I broadcast it beforehand?

3 minutes ago, StevenO said:

And which "guys" are those?

IF I were going to a tournament I'd probably have a couple squadron with for consideration and if a glance around the room seemed to indicate one is likely to do better than the other that would be the one I'll use. I wouldn't go in and then spend a half hour once I got there deciding what to play after scoping out the place.

If I care if someone knows what I'm playing why would I broadcast it beforehand?

The guys that do exactly as you just described... It nullifies the part of list building that requires you to PREDICT the meta. You are instead REACTING to the meta at the last moment possible. You may see this as insignificant, but it gives you a distinct advantage before the tournament starts. It has been my experience that the X wing community frowns upon this behavior.

I understand you may be trying to overcome some skill disadvantage, but you might want to try getting to know a list, and straight up outflying your opponents rather than hard countering them. It makes for a much more fun game, and the victories are so much sweeter.