Between the masterful flying and Nand's dice - something special happening here.

XD

"Nerf T-65s - imagine four of them!"
-- circa. Worlds 2017

Glad Justin won. Biggs the last ship on Rebels side. Wtf.

What an amazing game!

Nand's amazing flying and some good early dice generated a sliver of hope but it was only ever going to end one way without some serious misplays on Justin's part. The matchup was that lopsided.

The irony of the list Nand faced - it was his list from World's 2016, just updated for the FAQ.

As soon as those holy green dice came back to normality, the match ended pretty much as expected, I'm afraid.

Great and exciting final with good flying. And even one iconic ship was present!

Oof. Miranda left in a bad spot and was annihilated. The match was pretty much gone by that point. Was fun rooting for Biggs, tho.

Nand took the list that counters the post-World's 2016 meta; Justin took Nand's 2016 list, with 2017 upgrades.

3 hours ago, Rinzler in a Tie said:

Nand took the list that counters the post-World's 2016 meta; Justin took Nand's 2016 list, with 2017 upgrades.

Next year someone should take Doug kenny's 2012 list with updates and see how far they get.

I swear to god I'm considering entering next year's Worlds with just TIE Bombers and seeing what happens. Counter the counter's counter.

We'll continue to regress through the waves, in defiance of ships like the U-wing and Upsilon, until it's just Superfriends vs TIE swarm again, albeit updated to double regen, IA Superfriends vs Crackswarm.

I didn't get Miranda turning to face the rock rather than like a 1 bank or something. Why did he do that?

30 minutes ago, Stay On The Leader said:

I didn't get Miranda turning to face the rock rather than like a 1 bank or something. Why did he do that?

Fatigue I suspect.

3 hours ago, Stay On The Leader said:

I didn't get Miranda turning to face the rock rather than like a 1 bank or something. Why did he do that?

2 hours ago, Keffisch said:

Fatigue I suspect.

I think he was planning ahead for that Ion Bomb. He knew he was going to do it 2 turns out. Didn't expect to take 4 damage from Tel.

14 minutes ago, Engine25 said:

I think he was planning ahead for that Ion Bomb. He knew he was going to do it 2 turns out. Didn't expect to take 4 damage from Tel.

But a 1 bank bomb drop position is about the same place as a 2 turn bomb drop. Probably even a little bit better.

So... what WAS that turn onto the rocks about?

9 minutes ago, Stay On The Leader said:

But a 1 bank bomb drop position is about the same place as a 2 turn bomb drop. Probably even a little bit better.

So... what WAS that turn onto the rocks about?

I have to think that @Engine25 is right and he was setting up a next-round bomb/get-out.

I respect his decision to joust so much for three reasons:

1) He executed it so well. His flying and approach was the best it could have been
2) His dice were ridiculous. He didn't know that going in but the dice gods were smiling on him
3) He knew kiting wouldn't get him the win. Those boats are more maneuverable and have the PWT. Not even putting rocks between the Rebels and PhuaBoats would have saved him (though it would have slowed the bleeding).

The important thing to remember is the T-65 and T-70 do not normally have the firepower and hull to kill two U-Boats. But in the hands of Nands, that was **** close.
Anyone remember what the final hull-count was on Tel and Dengar? I seem to remember Tel being dead once, right?

Watching it again while it's still up on Twitch...
https://www.twitch.tv/videos/140861921

1 hour ago, Rinzler in a Tie said:

I have to think that @Engine25 is right and he was setting up a next-round bomb/get-out.

I respect his decision to joust so much for three reasons:

1) He executed it so well. His flying and approach was the best it could have been
2) His dice were ridiculous. He didn't know that going in but the dice gods were smiling on him
3) He knew kiting wouldn't get him the win. Those boats are more maneuverable and have the PWT. Not even putting rocks between the Rebels and PhuaBoats would have saved him (though it would have slowed the bleeding).

The important thing to remember is the T-65 and T-70 do not normally have the firepower and hull to kill two U-Boats. But in the hands of Nands, that was **** close.
Anyone remember what the final hull-count was on Tel and Dengar? I seem to remember Tel being dead once, right?

You're right about Tel, he was on his second life (1). I believe that Dengar was down to 3 hull. Before the last two rounds, total health was 4-3 in favor of S&V.

^ Yeah, this game was sooo close. Nand defied odds and his dice defied everything I've ever known dice...

I feel like I need to watch it again because I didn't think the dice were that off at the time.

2 minutes ago, Stay On The Leader said:

I feel like I need to watch it again because I didn't think the dice were that off at the time.

He put Tel to one hull after the first or second round of firing - and still managed to take shields off of Dengar.
Meanwhile, Biggs and Jess survive a torpedo each, then survive until the end of the match. Nand rolled evades every chance he got

1 minute ago, Rinzler in a Tie said:

He put Tel to one hull after the first or second round of firing - and still managed to take shields off of Dengar.
Meanwhile, Biggs and Jess survive a torpedo each, then survive until the end of the match. Nand rolled evades every chance he got

Apart from when he didn't roll evades and Miranda exploded?

I'm going to watch it again and see how far they were from expected results, because I think he wasn't much off overall.

Just now, Stay On The Leader said:

Apart from when he didn't roll evades and Miranda exploded?

I'm going to watch it again and see how far they were from expected results, because I think he wasn't much off overall.

Definitely interested in that statistical breakdown. The X-Wings were certainly were above the damage curve.

And I'd wager that Nand's green dice were generous, too.

5 hours ago, Stay On The Leader said:

I didn't get Miranda turning to face the rock rather than like a 1 bank or something. Why did he do that?

Edit: whoops, talking about the wrong move. I think that turn was to get Miranda's firing arc on target so she could fire the plasma. Giving her the best chance to regen while still doing damage?

He was going over the rock regardless. I think the 2-hard turn had a decent chance of blocking Dengar. As it was the 3-bank just barely cleared. If he had dialed in a two bank or sloop Dengar would've bumped and been forced to shoot at Biggs, meaning the only shot Miranda was taking was front Tel through the obstacle. Jess and Biggs get decent shots on Dengar, Miranda can drop cluster mines on Dengar the next turn, with a decent chance of taking him out.

It was risky, but I honestly think it gave Nand the best chance at victory.