What is the most common tactical Mistake beginning players make?

By joyrock, in X-Wing

21 minutes ago, HammerGibbens said:

"Man I wish there were some way to look up more effective lists for ideas. Oh well, maybe next time I'll try Expose instead."

Don't forget daredevil and experimental interface.

"I wish Palpatine wasn't nerfed - he was doing wonders for my Gamma Squadron TIE bomber swarm..."

6 hours ago, spacelion said:

At least they're learning, as opposed to building a crap list and getting spanked over and over again and never figuring out why their list is bad to begin with.

All they're learning is how to use a strong list, they don't learn why is it strong and they typically don't know the basic rules/tactics unless their squadron utilizes them.

Once you get spanked, analyze why and think how to avoid it. Alter the list and try again and again and again. Quoting Rocky: that's how winning is done.

EDIT: Just to be clear: I'm not saying new players shouldn't look for inspiration or advice, I do it myself. All I'm saying is they should first understand the game mechanics and logic behind the ideas they want to use. Learn to crawl before you walk n all that..

Edited by hilux
4 minutes ago, hilux said:

All they're learning is how to use a strong list, they don't learn why is it strong and they typically don't know the basic rules/tactics unless their squadron utilizes them.

Once you get spanked, analyze why and think how to avoid it. Alter the list and try again and again and again. Quoting Rocky: that's how winning is done.

Again, I'd really debate this. A HUGE part of learning this game is learning to judge the size of your manoeuvres, the speed of your engagement, ranges, how fast or slow opponents go, when boost/BR can get you out of arc, etc etc etc.

It's really difficult to actually have TIME to learn that stuff when you get ploughed under in 3 rounds flat of shooting.

On 28.3.2017 at 9:36 PM, Thormind said:

#1 mistake: choosing the Imperial faction. It's the hardest to fly properly and it's unforgiving. You also limit yourself to a very small number of decent options to build your squad.

#2 mistake: not really a mistake but more an advice. IMO at the beginning you need to try a couple of ships but only until you figure out how you like to fly and you find something you like. After that it's better to try to use the same ship for sometime to get a better feeling of how it plays. I think you learn faster that way than if you keep changing ships everytime you play.

#3 again no a mistake but a good way to learn is to ask your opponent what mistake you did at the end of a game. If you are playing casual you can also ask him to comment your moves as you play.

#1 is nonsense to be honest. 2 Imp Vets and one Defender is the cheapest way to get into the competetive game and triple D is very forgiving, even after the nerfs. Once you have the basics down using that list aces aren't hard to fly, as any meaningful descisions they make are usually made with the final boardstate known. I will never get the sentiment that imperial aces are the hardest thing to fly. That honour should go to swarms that don't fly in formation, now that requires some serious thinking.

To me the number one mistake any new player can make is not discovering the game on their own terms. When I started I had a pretty limited collection with no regards to what was the meta and that lead to some interesting games with Major Rhymer as one of the imperial main ships. It is a good idea to start the game with a partner, so you can have this experience.

@MajorJuggler this should be considered f being put into the list of useful links.

1 hour ago, thespaceinvader said:

It's really difficult to actually have TIME to learn that stuff when you get ploughed under in 3 rounds flat of shooting.

If it happens at a tournament, you've time to book the result and play again, that's what I'm doing every time it happens to me. :) At a friendly game it shouldn't happen at all, bringing a top tier list to a sparing with a n00b is kinda lame and can't imagine it being fun for anyone.

Just now, hilux said:

If it happens at a tournament, you've time to book the result and play again, that's what I'm doing every time it happens to me. :) At a friendly game it shouldn't happen at all, bringing a top tier list to a sparing with a n00b is kinda lame and can't imagine it being fun for anyone.

*shrug* I don't usually bring top tier lists, but I also don't bring bad lists. It's not that tough to plough under the average 'I have 3 expansions and I'm not going to proxy anything' list even with a middling list.

2 minutes ago, thespaceinvader said:

*shrug* I don't usually bring top tier lists, but I also don't bring bad lists.

To me it depends on the opponent level. If they know more or less what they're doing then sure, but for my game vs a total beginner last weekend I've used a B-wing and a K-wing with no ordnance. And we both had fun.

Oh yeah, if I'm teaching a stone newbie I'll ramp up to running even a middling squad.

But it took me probably two months of play to even start having a handle on the length of moves, whether or not something would get me in range, etc.

1. Trying to avoid asteroids at all cost. Sometimes it's worth the risk.

2. Forgetting that bumping can be extremely useful.

3. Forgetting about the range modifiers or applying them to secondary attacks.

4. When flying a swarm (many ships with the same PS, that is), moving the wrong ship first, so that your whole swarm becomes one big clusterf... due to bumping.

On 3/28/2017 at 3:38 PM, WWHSD said:

I think that's another trap that new players fall into. If your squad depends on a lot of interactions between cards one of two things is going to happen:

1. You've got too much BS to remember that you end up forgetting to use effects.
2. If your opponent messes up your interaction somehow you've got a bunch of worthless upgrades.

This is a great point. I played a new guy last week that tried to run an all synergy squad with Kyle hwk and Shara. I just ran a bunch of TIE fighters and crushed him. I felt bad about it so I tried to help him as much as possible and explained that when your whole list relies on the synergy it gives your opponent a clear target.

chopping and changing between lists too much. u need to master one before trying something else.

I think it's also on veteran players to take less than optimal list against newbs. It's a good time to take some fringe or second tier ships. Levels the playing field and gives everyone a challenge.

Thinking that the list that just won the last major tournament will guarantee them a win, even if they've never flown half the ships in it.

Cheers
Baaa