Over the last week I think I've posted/proposed two or three other lists for my first-ever tournament (happening in a few hours!). In the end I'm going to run these three old standby friends. For one because I'm a little more comfortable with them, and also because I just think T-65s are the jam.

Any advice for someone headed into his first competitive play experience?

I've been trying to make triple t65s work as well. It's tough, but I mean--t65s, you have to love them.

I'd say to be careful with your initial engagement. Don't go charging in. Spend a turn or two out of range and try to get your opponent out of position.

This is super important because after the first shots are fired, it's going to be hard for you to line up a second shot. I might break formation after the first volley, keeping Biggs with your more important pilot, and flanking with the other.

T65s are three attack dice ships, so they hit hard, but with only two greens, they die hard two. Be patient and wait for the right shot.

At the end of the day though, forget all the advice. I'm still new to competitive play too, and the best suggestion I've gotten is to go in knowing that I'm not going to win the tournament--might not even win a game. Have fun, and enjoy learning new tricks from other players. X Wing people are the best, and are sure to be helpful.

Break a leg man!

May the force be with you...

You're going to need to watch out for stress-dealing mechanics like Asajj and Tactician+Snap Shot. Denger, Rear Admiral Chiraneau and Fenn Rau are going to be your biggest danger, with their high damage, maneuverability and/or flexibility. To have a chance of winning, you'll need to leverage the Wes/Wedge combo for all it's worth.

Finally, try and keep Biggs alive if you can - he's 26 points of MoV that your opponent might let go if you bait him with other ships.

29 minutes ago, Astech said:

May the force be with you...

You're going to need to watch out for stress-dealing mechanics like Asajj and Tactician+Snap Shot. Denger, Rear Admiral Chiraneau and Fenn Rau are going to be your biggest danger, with their high damage, maneuverability and/or flexibility. To have a chance of winning, you'll need to leverage the Wes/Wedge combo for all it's worth.

Finally, try and keep Biggs alive if you can - he's 26 points of MoV that your opponent might let go if you bait him with other ships.

You're saying I shouldn't be running him with my standard ship number 13?

31 minutes ago, BanthaFather said:

I've been trying to make triple t65s work as well. It's tough, but I mean--t65s, you have to love them.

I'd say to be careful with your initial engagement. Don't go charging in. Spend a turn or two out of range and try to get your opponent out of position.

This is super important because after the first shots are fired, it's going to be hard for you to line up a second shot. I might break formation after the first volley, keeping Biggs with your more important pilot, and flanking with the other.

T65s are three attack dice ships, so they hit hard, but with only two greens, they die hard two. Be patient and wait for the right shot.

At the end of the day though, forget all the advice. I'm still new to competitive play too, and the best suggestion I've gotten is to go in knowing that I'm not going to win the tournament--might not even win a game. Have fun, and enjoy learning new tricks from other players. X Wing people are the best, and are sure to be helpful.

Break a leg man!

I like the potential of using M9-G8 to help protect Biggs if Wedge breaks off to flank, for sure. Appreciate the advice.

As everyone else has given you list flying advice, I will give you some tournament advice. Stay hydrated. Bring water bottles or buy them from the store. People get so focused on playing the game they forget to drink water. Also bring a snack you can eat between rounds. Also don't load up on candy. It can really throw you off with its sugar crashes. If it's a long tournament like 5 or more games make sure to sit down as much as you can. You will be wiped out tired by the 4th game if you don't take care of your self. Hope this helps you and good luck in the tournament.

Trays to move your stuff from table to table and keep your stuff organized.

Double and triple check you have everything your list needs.

Sportsmanship is life

Go T65

3 hours ago, BanthaFather said:

X Wing people are the best

They are indeed, especially those flying T-65s. Good luck @FisherSpassky and let us know how it went!

On July 29, 2017 at 0:23 PM, BlodVargarna said:

They are indeed, especially those flying T-65s. Good luck @FisherSpassky and let us know how it went!

Quick recap:

The bad news (sort of) is that I misunderstood the scheduling – the FLGS Facebook page seemed to indicate just three, 60-min rounds of Swiss. That seemed odd, but I scheduled around it. Long story short, played two games of Swiss and then had to drop to get across the state for a family reunion.

The good news is I had a blast. Super super nice people, not only helped out with basic n00b questions, but also made the rounds and time between rounds really entertaining. Nice dude named James playing next to me found out it was my first tournament and just handed me a few alt art cards, which was rad (also, great swag at Pandemonium Games, along with tremendous staff).

The trip T65s didn't do so well. I lost game one to a guy named Chris running Rebel Junkyard. I flew a little too aggressively in the early rounds, lost Biggs before I should have, and just managed to take a 30-pt Lowhrick off the board. Flew better in round two vs. a Han + Poe list. Was pleased with setting up Han in what I thought would be a good kill box, but landed Wes on a rock and lost Biggs in the same round.

Learned a ton, and I'll for sure fly in another tournament. Thanks again to everyone for the great advice.

Sounds solid, i play a similar build with Wes and Wedge, but with a HWK with Kayle and Jan Ors crew and TLT to have 360° dmg and helping the T65´ s stay alive the long as possible

Glad you enjoyed your first run. Casual nights are often tournament style in my area and those will help you prep. Also getting extra games in on vassal. Playing more is what really helped me get better at the game.

Now that you have faced rebel junkyard and have an idea of what the list is like and since you like T65's...
The following isn't going to win your tournaments but you'll do okay and get to fly 3T65's:

Biggs: R4D6, IA
Lowhhrick: Draw Their Fire, Wookie Commando's
Rookie Pilot: 1pt astro: IA
Rookie Pilot: 1pt astro: IA

Here's an all X-wing list (ok, one is a T-70) I've won tournaments with. It lacks Lowhhrick levels of cheese, but still works -- and will have better offense.

Rookie Pilot (22)
X-Wing (21), R2 Astromech (1), Integrated Astromech (0)

Biggs Darklighter (26)
X-Wing (25), R4-D6 (1), Integrated Astromech (0)

Jess Pava (27)
T-70 X-Wing (25), R2-D6 (1), Integrated Astromech (0), Draw Their Fire (1)

Tarn Mison (25)
X-Wing (23), R7 Astromech (2), Integrated Astromech (0)

On 7/30/2017 at 10:32 PM, FisherSpassky said:

Quick recap:

The bad news (sort of) is that I misunderstood the scheduling – the FLGS Facebook page seemed to indicate just three, 60-min rounds of Swiss. That seemed odd, but I scheduled around it. Long story short, played two games of Swiss and then had to drop to get across the state for a family reunion.

The good news is I had a blast. Super super nice people, not only helped out with basic n00b questions, but also made the rounds and time between rounds really entertaining. Nice dude named James playing next to me found out it was my first tournament and just handed me a few alt art cards, which was rad (also, great swag at Pandemonium Games, along with tremendous staff).

The trip T65s didn't do so well. I lost game one to a guy named Chris running Rebel Junkyard. I flew a little too aggressively in the early rounds, lost Biggs before I should have, and just managed to take a 30-pt Lowhrick off the board. Flew better in round two vs. a Han + Poe list. Was pleased with setting up Han in what I thought would be a good kill box, but landed Wes on a rock and lost Biggs in the same round.

Learned a ton, and I'll for sure fly in another tournament. Thanks again to everyone for the great advice.

Hey, I was the guy flying that Han + Poe list! It was great to meet you and to see T-65's on the table. I thought you did quite well!

On 7/29/2017 at 6:27 AM, BanthaFather said:

I've been trying to make triple t65s work as well. It's tough, but I mean--t65s, you have to love them.

I'd say to be careful with your initial engagement. Don't go charging in. Spend a turn or two out of range and try to get your opponent out of position.

This is super important because after the first shots are fired, it's going to be hard for you to line up a second shot. I might break formation after the first volley, keeping Biggs with your more important pilot, and flanking with the other.

T65s are three attack dice ships, so they hit hard, but with only two greens, they die hard two. Be patient and wait for the right shot.

At the end of the day though, forget all the advice. I'm still new to competitive play too, and the best suggestion I've gotten is to go in knowing that I'm not going to win the tournament--might not even win a game. Have fun, and enjoy learning new tricks from other players. X Wing people are the best, and are sure to be helpful.

Break a leg man!

Ditto! T-65's are not the jousters we remembered from movies and games. They are suck between arc doger (not a lot of health) and jouster (bad dial)

Slow roll, make them come to you.

Good luck!

Here's what I'm working on right now:

Luke: Expertise, R2-D2, Vectored Thrusters

Tarn: R7, Integrated Astromech

Wes: Lone Wolf, R5-P9, Vectored Thrusters

Everyone has rerolls, and two of them have repositioning. The idea is to bait/block with Tarn, and flank with Luke and Wes. These guys do not want to be flown in formation.