So we're all familiar with jousting, the basic attack strategy. Simply group up your ships and charge head on. But what about other strategies to do, such as pincer attacks and baiting your opponent, and any other methods? I've been trying to open by splitting my forces and having them get my opponent into a pincer attack by the first or second combat phase, but it hasn't been working. Either my opponent rushes my ships before they can turn inward, or he suddenly waits and slows down and mine move in too soon and are unable to get a good angle, or he goes after one half and my other is too far out to make an attack.

Does anyone have any good recommendations for how to accomplish good opening maneuvers? I've read a few, like the Art of Deception with the Super Dash build, but it's hard to apply those tactics in a build that doesn't have a ship as manuevable as Dash. Some kind of formula or pattern would be great too, like 'do this move first, then this one', 'if your opponent goes here, then go there', 'don't let your ships get out of (x) range of each other'. Articles and tips like that would really help.

I think Turn 0 is as close to opening maneuvers as you can get. But lately with the adjusted placement to include turn 0 modified pilot skill and placement out of deployment zone I haven't seen anything from the grapevine yet.

I think the most commonly known ones are the Heaver articles and I for one would like to see a continuation of this (assuming Mr. Heaver would like to of course.)

Reading something written by one of the greatest players as well as tackling a less understood aspect of the game is always welcome.

Especially reading something and realising I already do that, it keeps the dream alive that maybe, just maybe, one day I'll have my own trophy/article/card.

Honestly this is so dependent on your squad and on what you're facing, that it's very difficult to do. A TIE Swarm will always open differently to Dengaroo, and importantly also, a TIE Swarm will open differently when playing superdash than when playing parattani.

Some of the big archetypes have opening-play articles (there's a nice one for swarm/formation flying, there's a nice one for the a wing 4- and 5-ship swarm) but mostly really you need to work out what works best for you and your play style.