[canceled]X-Wing UnderUsed format (alpha)!

By Elavion, in X-Wing

Posted at

Due to the new FAQ combined with the project's low popularity, it is now canceled.

Hello everone, I present to you my little project: An alternative competitve format for X-Wing.

First of all, I wanted to say that this format is supposed to co-exist with the official format (called "OverUsed" or "OU" later in this post). It is meant to provide a breath of fresh air for competitive players by giving you an experience with less of everything: less mobility, less action efficiency, less pilot skill.
But what is it, exactly?
UnderUsed (or "UU" to keep it short) is basically a format where a vast majority of what is (or was recently) considered "meta" in OU is banned. This includes both pilots and upgrade cards. Note that this isn't meant as a way to condemn "overpowered" cards, but simply to create a vastly diffrent environment- if UU became popular enough, it would create it's own metagame- that's simply the way competitive games work.
If you play using these rules, please leave feedback! I'd love to know what lists you used and if it was enjoyable so I can tune it and make it better : )
Also remember: This project is currently in the Alpha stage. Rapid changes may occur when feedback starts flowing in. There is a changelog at the bottom of the post and any recent changes are marked in red . Additionally, the thread name will be edited to include the date of last modification.
Without further addo, let's jump right into it- when creating your squadron, all standard restrictions apply- in addition, you may not use any of the cards listed below.
X-Wing UU Banlist
Banned Upgrades
Astromech: R2-D2, R3-A2, R5-P9
Bomb: -
Cannon: -
Crew (Rebels): C-3P0, Kanan Jarrus, Sabine Wren
Crew (Imperium): Darth Vader, Emperor Palpatine
Crew (Scum): K4 Security Droid, 4-Lom, Zuckuss, Dengar
Elite: Veteran Instincts, Push the Limit, Lone Wolf, Crack Shot, Adaptability, Attanni Mindlink, Expertise, Swarm Leader
Illicit: Glitterstim
Missiles: Homing Missiles, Proton Rockets
Modification: Engine Upgrade, Autothrusters, Guidance Chips, Lightweight Frame
Salvaged Astromech: R4 Agromech
System: Advanced Sensors, Fire Control System
Tech: Comm Relay
Title: TIE/x7
Torpedoes: Plasma Torpedoes
Turret: Twin Laser Turret
Banned Imperial Pilots
TIE Interceptor: Soontir Fel, Carnor Jax
TIE Defender: Colonel Vessery, Countess Ryad
TIE Bomber: -
TIE Advanced: Darth Vader
TIE Adv. Prototype: The Inquisitor
TIE Fighter: Howlrunner
TIE/fo Fighter: Omega Leader
TIE/sf: Quickdraw
TIE Phantom: Whisper
TIE Punisher: -
TIE Striker: Duchess
Lambda-class Shuttle: -
Firespray-31: -
Upsilon-class Shuttle: -
VT-49 Decimator: Rear Admiral Chiraneau, Captain Oicunn
Banned Rebel Pilots
A-Wing: Tycho Celchu, Jake Farell
ARC-170: Norra Wexley
Ghost: -
Attack Shuttle: -
B-Wing: -
E-Wing: Corran Horn
HWK-290: -
K-Wing: Miranda Doni
Rebel TIE FIghter: -
T-70 X-Wing: Poe Dameron (both)
X-Wing: Biggs Darklighter
Y-Wing: -
Z-95: -
YT-1300: Han Solo (Millenium Falcon expansion pack), Rey
U-Wing: -
YT-2400: Dash Rendar
Banned Scum Pilots
Y-Wing: -
Z-95 Headhunter: -
Firespray-31: -
HWK-290: Palob Godalhi
Kihraxz Fighter: -
M3-A Interceptor: -
G1-A Interceptor: Zuckuss
Protectorate Starfighter: Fenn Rau, Old Teroch
Quadjumper: -
StarViper: -
Hound's Tooth: Trandoshan Slaver, Bossk
Aggressor: IG-88B
JumpMaster 5000: Manaroo, Dengar
Lancer-class Pursuit Craft: Asajj Ventress
FAQ
Q: Why didn't you ban the X card?
A: I am aware that I left out some cards that you're very used to seeing. They can be separated into four groups:
-Combo cards: Those are the cards that are widely used only because they're a part of a very specific combination. I left them unbanned because a different piece of that combination was banned, and this way those cards can see play in diffrent contexts as well.
-Ship-defining cards: Some cards were designed for a specific ship to make it feel unique; most titles fall in this group. I left them unbanned to keep that feeling, although their top pilots are often unavailable.
-gateway cards: This is basically extra munitions. It needs to exist to keep ordnance relevant.
-borderline cards: In some cases I am unsure whether something should be banned or not. At least some of those will probably get banned in the future.
Combo cards:
Latts Razzi (crew)
Kyle Katarn (crew)
Countermeasures (modification)
Glaive Squadron Pilot (TIE Defender pilot)
Black Squadron Pilot (TIE Fighter)
Omicron Group Pilot (Lambda-class Shuttle pilot)
Ship-defining cards:
Chardaan Refit (missile)
Advanced Cloaking Device (modification)(also borderline)
Advanced Targeting Computer (system)
Titles (except for TIE/x7 which is banned)
Gateway cards:
Extra Munitions (Torpedo)
Borderline:
Gunner (crew)
Vectored Thrusters (modification)
Tomax Bren (TIE Bomber pilot)
Lothal Rebel, Chopper (Ghost pilots)
Ahsoka Tano, Sabine Wren (Rebel TIE Fighter pilots)
Countdown, Pure Sabacc (TIE Striker pilots)
Kylo Ren (Upsilon Shuttle Pilot)
Nien Numb (T-70 X-Wing pilot)
Q: Why did you ban the X card?
A: An overwhelming majority of cards were banned because either
a) They are a major factor in the current OU metagame (example: Attanni Mindlink)
b) They were a major factor in the metagame fairly recently and would simply return if left unbanned (example: Soontir Fel)
There are some (currently one) cards that I banned because I think they would simply break the format if left unchecked. Those cards are:
-Duchess- This ship combines a very high pilot skill, a noticeably low point cost and excellent arc-dodging capablities. Additionally, an overwhelming majority of her counters were already banned (Twin Laser Turret, Sabine Wren (crew), majority of PS9 aces) leaving players with very few answers to her.
Q: I have no idea where to start with my UU squadron. Can you give me some ideas?
A: Sure! I'll give you two for each faction:
-Redline (TIE Punisher pilot) combines a formidable pilot skill and great attack power. Load him up with Long Range Scanners and the ordnance of your choice for a formidable alpha strike.
-Omega Specialist (TIE/sf pilot) armed with the Special Ops training title, Collision Detector and Predator may prove surprisingly effective. Without access to the strongest upgrades, many people may opt in for the cheapest generics, so Predator can be very useful. Additionally, TIE/sf's rear facing arc is even more useful in this less mobile metagame.
-Nien Numb (T-70 X-Wing pilot) is one of if not the most slippery ace in the format. Armed with BB-8 and Stay on Target, if you reveal a speed 3 forward maneuver you can perform a barrel roll and then rotate it to any of the 6 other speed 3 maneuvers. You can also add an Integrated astromech and the Black One title for greatly increased durability at allmost no cost.
-Wes Janson can provide great support in almost any squadron. His ability to remove any of the opponent's basic tokens at the very solid pilot skill of 8 can be even more devastating in UU, as very few ships are capable of "tokening up".
-As one of the few pilots at Pilot Skill 9 in the format, Talonbane Cobra can become a major threat in the format. Armed with Fearlessness, Cloaking Device and Vectored Thrusters, he is able to close in on an opponent surprisingly quickly.
-Armed to the teeth with Gonk, Hull Upgrade, Predator and R5-P8, Tel Trevura can afford to spend his actions regenerating shields while also dishing out reliable damage.
Q: It's tedious to check the banlist all the time during squadron building. Is there a faster way?
A: Currently no, unfortunately. However, if the project becomes popular I will either ask the creator of some major squadron builder to include it as an option or I'll just make it myself.
Q: OverUsed? UnderUsed? Those names sound familiar...
A: Yes, my initial inspiration was Smogon's usage-based Pokemon tiers. (Smogon is the largest community hub of competitive Pokemon. If you're into Pokemon pvp you should check them out). However, I decided to take a more subjective approach than they did because of the much smaller sample size (they get hundreds of thousands of games per month, we get a few hundred on juggler and a majority of players don't even fill in their lists) and the much more shifting nature of X-Wing.
Changelog:
27.02.2017
-Added Countess Ryad to the banlist (She slipped my mind)
Edited by Elavion
Posted at

After playing MtG for a number of years in different formats, I rather see a simple ban list. By simple, I mean all named pilots are banned. There's your UnderUsed format!

Posted at

Wow. So you like the Ghost a lot, have Imperial stuff listed with Rebels, and think Ryad is fine, but that Solo isn't.

I'd find someone a bit more impartial to make this ban list for you. A like the idea, not real pleased on the execution

Posted at

- Without named pilots.

- Every card is unique.

- Without EPT.

- Just barebone ships.

- No turrets.

- Only small ships.

- Only standard arc ships.

- Max 30 points per ship.

Any and all of them (or combinationts) bring the same:

<< provide a breath of fresh air for competitive players by giving you an experience with less... create a vastly diffrent environment, it would create it's own metagame- that's simply the way competitive games work. >>

That you ask, but in an easiest and simpler way, as Kubernes says. And event more important, a less biased one.

Otherwise...

Posted at
1 hour ago, Lobokai said:

Wow. So you like the Ghost a lot, have Imperial stuff listed with Rebels, and think Ryad is fine, but that Solo isn't.

I'd find someone a bit more impartial to make this ban list for you. A like the idea, not real pleased on the execution

Wow, you're a really mean person. But anyway:

-Ghost pilots are on borderline because I expect UU to have a higher amount of raw red dice (more low-cost generics), which counters immobile 0 agi ships. Additionally, it lost a lot of power because Biggs, FCS and TLT are banned.

-The imperial large ships were listed in rebels due to a copying error.

-Ryad was an overlook and is now corrected.

-Han is banned because he used to be a major meta threat. Possibly an unnecessary ban because most of fat han's tools are banned, but I'm being careful about PS9 pilots. Might unban him in the future.

Edited by Elavion
Posted at
1 hour ago, Kubernes said:

After playing MtG for a number of years in different formats, I rather see a simple ban list. By simple, I mean all named pilots are banned. There's your UnderUsed format!

The problem with a simple banlist like that is that it will not work for x-wing.

To answer this particular suggestion: three x7 Glaives and 4 TLT Ys both slip through.

57 minutes ago, Draconis Hegemonia said:

- Without named pilots.

- Every card is unique.

- Without EPT.

- Just barebone ships.

- No turrets.

- Only small ships.

- Only standard arc ships.

- Max 30 points per ship.

Any and all of them (or combinationts) bring the same:

<< provide a breath of fresh air for competitive players by giving you an experience with less... create a vastly diffrent environment, it would create it's own metagame- that's simply the way competitive games work. >>

That you ask, but in an easiest and simpler way, as Kubernes says. And event more important, a less biased one.

Otherwise...

The problem with this list is that most of those suggestions kill off entire ships, while at the same time letting standard stuff through. They also take away a good chunk of the game's diversity.

If you use multiple restrictions from this list, you end up with very little variety.

Edit: whoops, double post. Still getting used to the new forums.

Edited by Elavion
Posted at
2 hours ago, Lobokai said:

Wow. So you like the Ghost a lot, have Imperial stuff listed with Rebels, and think Ryad is fine, but that Solo isn't.

I'd find someone a bit more impartial to make this ban list for you. A like the idea, not real pleased on the execution

1 hour ago, Elavion said:

Wow, you're a really mean person. But anyway:

-Ghost pilots are on borderline because I expect UU to have a higher amount of raw red dice (more low-cost generics), which counters immobile 0 agi ships. Additionally, it lost a lot of power because Biggs, FCS and TLT are banned.

-The imperial large ships were listed in rebels due to a copying error.

-Ryad was an overlook and is now corrected.

-Han is banned because he used to be a major meta threat. Possibly an unnecessary ban because most of fat han's tools are banned, but I'm being careful about PS9 pilots. Might unban him in the future.

Without x7 I don't think ryad really needs a a ban. X7 is what makes the defenders so crazy good right now

Posted at

/D is no joke either.

Posted at

Banned - Anything that's fun!

Posted at

I tried something like that earlier but it wasn't too popular. Instead of banning whole cards I just worked on banning pilot-upgrade combos based upon top brackets of premier tournaments. For pilots that often did not equip upgrade (i.e. Academy Pilot) cards I just made it a requirement to put an upgrade on it in attempt to encourage alternative builds outside the established meta.

Even though not a single card was banned, closest was IG-2000 but there wasn't a combo with C and IG-2000 on it it still did not gain any popularity because banning cards is rather a strict restriction.

I think what would be better is what FFG did with Android: Netrunner where they made certain cards cost 1 more influence no matter what faction you were playing. Now spending influence is not the same as spending squadron points but something similar like making certain pilots or upgrades cost 1 more point. It acts more like a softer ban. I tested this out with a theoretical list and compare it to the Seattle Regional and found only 1 list had to redesign their list. The others just had to trim off an extra upgrade that was more of a filler and not a solid part of the build like a seismic charge. There was one list that didn't have any of the power pilots/upgrades. So I thought it will work but I learned it is very difficult to convince players to try something other than 100 point standard . Even Escalation and Epic is a hard time getting players to come to the table.

Still instead of a Ban I think a simple point increase list would do better.

Edited by Marinealver