https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/news/2017/7/10/x-wing-101-fly-what-you-love/

I really like this list and it's nice to see Imp shine so cheerio MR Chamblee

It is a refreshing thing to remember that this game is not just about hype comp but having fun and flying better. The imps are far from a dead faction.

Again great article.

While I appreciate the imp article really that suggested list is balls to the walls bad: no auto thrusters on the interceptor. and two ships that will have a VERY hard time staying in Howl bubble for more than 2 turns max. That's literally 1 damage increase over 2 ships IF you actually get them to land within the bubble (ex, not move as a block and instead do a meet up in the middle of the board during midgame.)

There's casual, and then there's giving advice that seems to make Imperial players lose. imo.

Quote

Yea, we know Imps can't compete with Scum and TLT's after the Palp and Defender nerfs, but please keep buying Aggressors until the inevitable TLT nerf.

The thing that bugs me the most is the careless attention FFG pays to their articles. I mean, if you buy those packs, where are you going to get the VI for Sabacc? Like, are you even trying FFG? I appreciate the idea of giving new players some idea of how to build their squads and how to use them, but not giving them the knowlegde of where each upgrade comes from, will confuse them and they will end up buying things they may have not needed nor wanted.

13 minutes ago, Blail Blerg said:

While I appreciate the imp article really that suggested list is balls to the walls bad: no auto thrusters on the interceptor. and two ships that will have a VERY hard time staying in Howl bubble for more than 2 turns max. That's literally 1 damage increase over 2 ships IF you actually get them to land within the bubble (ex, not move as a block and instead do a meet up in the middle of the board during midgame.)

There's casual, and then there's giving advice that seems to make Imperial players lose. imo.

I think the problem is for AutoT you can't get the price under 101.

Also the point is that is what he likes so roll with it.

9 minutes ago, Stilgod said:

TLTs

Lol. At least for a while I'm gonna have fun TLTing crap. While rocking my awesome Imp aesthetic.

Also, honestly I think FFG is actually trying to address an issue we had with imps: everything was either slow dundly shuttles or 3hull pop machines. And they're trying to give us some medium bulk.

To that end, I don't think TLT is going to get nerfed. Its the T2 and lesser evil of all other evils.

4 minutes ago, Cubanboy said:

I think the problem is for AutoT you can't get the price under 101.

Also the point is that is what he likes so roll with it.

I appreciate the casual play "roll with it" idea.

But I don't appreciate giving advice that will lead to much frustration with new players.

Some people think casual fun and good play/list building can't coexist. And I will admit many times that it can be hard. But really that just makes the whole environment worse: Either you're a fun lover, or you're a try hard WAAC player and stop posting in my thread~! Is that what you want me to feel @Cubanboy ?

I'm not even that big of a comp guy. I even get along with @Joe Boss Red Seven . lol

Solid list.

For a couple new dudes starting out and not sure what to get,this list and expansions are a perfectly fine starting off point.

Then your buddy builds a list from one of the other 101 suggestions and off they go.

There's no reason this squad can't beat any other squad for 101 bucks.

9 minutes ago, Blail Blerg said:

I appreciate the casual play "roll with it" idea.

But I don't appreciate giving advice that will lead to much frustration with new players.

Some people think casual fun and good play/list building can't coexist. And I will admit many times that it can be hard. But really that just makes the whole environment worse: Either you're a fun lover, or you're a try hard WAAC player and stop posting in my thread~! Is that what you want me to feel @Cubanboy ?

I'm not even that big of a comp guy. I get along with Joe Boss. lol

Let me step back for a second and say I mean no harm in posting and was excited to see imps show cased.

I meant have fun with something you love even if it's not too Tir 1 100% grade A. I don't know but I feel like a lot of people are not happy with the game unless you fly a certin list of cards and i don't feel like that's true. I want to encourage love what you play and play what you love.

Also I don't think you can get the list in the article under 101 and you lose the nice buy this faction and get a good list.

Last thing if a new player is going Straight to cut throat torny play any list is going to be tough, for fun there is no reason we can buy what you want and throw it down on game night.

Its a different opinion and it really does mean no harm.

6 minutes ago, Cubanboy said:

Let me step back for a second and say I....was excited to see imps show cased.

It is a nice bone to throw; I liked it and it was positive; but Imperials are the only faction with their top tier nerfed; the other two are awaiting their day under the hammer so it is kinda 'salt in the wounds' until it finally happens.

Interceptors though; my joy ?

3 minutes ago, clanofwolves said:

It is a nice bone to throw; I liked it and it was positive; but Imperials are the only faction with their top tier nerfed; the other two are awaiting their day under the hammer so it is kinda 'salt in the wounds' until it finally happens.

Interceptors though; my joy ?

Weird thought maybe imperials are brought in line with what the power curve should be and the other factions will get there soon.

Just now, Cubanboy said:

Weird thought maybe imperials are brought in line with what the power curve should be and the other factions will get there soon.

This.

Yep, we can't hardly wait around here ?

VI was actually meant to be Swarm Leader hence the 98 points. Must have been a miscommunication somewhere along the line.

Still, it's a fun list to mess around with and definitely close to what I'd be flying if I was brand new.

The problem is they are trying to use PR to balance a system when that simply won't work. The game has gotten popularity through both its recognizable Star Wars licenses and the rather accessible competitive scene. However the balance is all off now. Most people already refuse to play scum for store championships out of protest but when regionals and nationals come along people are going to fly what wins, not what people want to fly. Sure there is a great deal of skill and list and faction familiarity is a big part of that skill but people will switch ships if they don't work. Take a look at TIE Interceptors and TIE Phantoms (I decided to use imperial ships for this example). When Wave 4 came out every Imperial was flying TIE Phantoms and Interceptors were only a rare thing. It wasn't untill the decloak nerf and autothrusters that Interceptors became the top dog and Whisper was more of a novelty.

Bottom line, when it comes to competition the best players will play what wins, regardless if they like it or not.

When push comes to shove,
you gotta fly what you love,
even if it's not a good idea!

@Chumbalaya - you're speaking my language! I'm right on the same page with you on TIE interceptors, and you even called out the esteemed Lt. Lorrir! Great article! I wouldn't mind giving this one a try. Makes me that much more determined to bring TIE interceptors (plural!) to my next Store Championship tournament. Can't wait!

I really liked this article! Very nice demeanor and writing style. This game can be confusing for new players to get into, and I like that these articles are trying to demystify the game. Yes, it's not a tier 1 list (they said so in the article), but I think this is good enough to beat the K-Wing/X-Wing/X-Wing list they show it flying against. Plus, Carnor is really good. I think everyone should play him at least once. This list is decent enough for any new player to show up at a casual game night and not get destroyed. I also like this $101 budget they've had in some of these articles, to try to see the game from the perspective of a new player.

I did what the article says when I started and bought TIE Interceptors. I did buy the StarViper for the Autothrusters to go with them a bit later. You could build this for ~$90.00. You could branch out from here and get the standalone Interceptor, Inquisitor's TIE, or TIE/fo for a better ace than Tetran (or to run triple Ints with proxies). I've been able to win about half the games I've played against my friend's casual lists (like Tractor Vess, the Inquisitor, and Ryad or Bren) with variations on this squadron (sometimes subbing in a Striker). I've only won one of six, pretty casual, tournament games with it, though. I probably would have had just as much fun, and more success, with Defenders, but ... I've come to really love these ships, and their aesthetics. If all my ships were melted in a house fire and I was able to re-buy, I think I'd get all the same ones again.

Tetran Cowall (24)
Push the Limit (3)
Autothrusters (2)
Targeting Computer (2)
Royal Guard TIE (0)

Carnor Jax (26)
Push the Limit (3)
Autothrusters (2)
Targeting Computer (2)
Royal Guard TIE (0)

Epsilon Squadron Pilot (15)
Hull Upgrade (3)

Epsilon Squadron Pilot (15)
Hull Upgrade (3)

Total: 100

View in Yet Another Squad Builder

I agree that the article series may lead a new player to believe they can be successful in a tournament with one of these beginner lists, though, and that would be unfortunate. Hopefully prospective tournament players will do some further research before they buy much.

3 hours ago, Marinealver said:

The problem is they are trying to use PR to balance a system when that simply won't work. The game has gotten popularity through both its recognizable Star Wars licenses and the rather accessible competitive scene. However the balance is all off now. Most people already refuse to play scum for store championships out of protest but when regionals and nationals come along people are going to fly what wins, not what people want to fly. Sure there is a great deal of skill and list and faction familiarity is a big part of that skill but people will switch ships if they don't work. Take a look at TIE Interceptors and TIE Phantoms (I decided to use imperial ships for this example). When Wave 4 came out every Imperial was flying TIE Phantoms and Interceptors were only a rare thing. It wasn't untill the decloak nerf and autothrusters that Interceptors became the top dog and Whisper was more of a novelty.

Bottom line, when it comes to competition the best players will play what wins, regardless if they like it or not.

Article says its not tier 1 competitive. Just something to give beginners a decent list so they dont get completely wrecked on casual xwing nights. Ive seen some newbies come to the store with some jank that dont make sense and help them the best I can before we play. Omega Ace with Experimental Interface and Expose, crap like that. If they read the 101 articles, they can bring a decent list to stores while they get familiar with the game and how certain cards and abilities combo, which the 101 articles do a great job of showcasing.

Come on guys, the article outright states that the list is supposed to be fun for a new player, not to win worlds. It introduces different types of ships while staying below $100.
Of course there are no autothrusters. Who bought on of their first ships just for the cards?!

Yes sure, best players will play what wins. New players don't.
We've seen the thread with costs in worlds - you won't be even slightly competitive below $200. So competitiveness is really no valid criticism, at all, on a $100 list article.

I'm with @Marinealver on the PR blurb at the beginning of this article. It has a whiff of desperation in it. As for the main article itself it claims to be for beginners and then proceeds to build a list with two very fragile ships, hard to fly ships that are better at flanking duties than being in a Howlrunner swarm (good luck keeping an Adaptive Aileron equipped Striker in range 1 of Howl as recommended). Honestly I wouldn't have fun with this list but newcomers may enjoy their list being tabled. I do applaud that the list uses ships a newcomer would recognise.

29 minutes ago, GreenDragoon said:

Come on guys, the article outright states that the list is supposed to be fun for a new player, not to win worlds. It introduces different types of ships while staying below $100.
Of course there are no autothrusters. Who bought on of their first ships just for the cards?!

Yes sure , best players will play what wins. New players don't.
We've seen the thread with costs in worlds - you won't be even slightly competitive below $200. So competitiveness is really no valid criticism, at all, on a $100 list article.

They ain't good enough in my wonderful little game parlor... WHERE REAL STAR WARS IS PLAYED.

Hel-nah. NAHhhh...

So basically, looking at the playmap picture: a) for some reason the imp player took initiative and now Miranda is going to lay a ton of bombs, or b) why on earth did Miranda not slam already and placed a lot of bombs just where that imp player is going to be, or c) the imp player already hit all the bombs layed by Miranda, and for some reason forgot to remove all his ships...

28 minutes ago, GreenDragoon said:

Come on guys, the article outright states that the list is supposed to be fun for a new player, not to win worlds. It introduces different types of ships while staying below $100.
Of course there are no autothrusters. Who bought on of their first ships just for the cards?!

Yes sure, best players will play what wins. New players don't.
We've seen the thread with costs in worlds - you won't be even slightly competitive below $200. So competitiveness is really no valid criticism, at all, on a $100 list article.

@Chumbalaya Finish what Nand started