7 hours ago, Scumwing Apologist said:

I honestly don't know what they're thinking. Ever since BBTTF FAQ in March, everyone's been expecting a follow up of some kind. Why eviscerate Palp and X7, but leave other known powerhouses intact? JM5K for sure has needed addressing since Wave 7, being the most egregious offender in the game. Biggs has needed addressing for some time as well, though FFG seemed to double-down on Biggs with Wave 11. Then there's Miranda/Sabine/Adv. Slam- three offenders that all tend towards the 'Uber-Powerful and Under-costed'- each adding an element of low-counterplay anti-fragile ship mechanics to the game.

I honestly don't get FFGs plan here with the March FAQ? Why just beat up and obliterate one faction and not hit the offenders from the others? I'd really like some Dev input on the topic, but alas, the Devs seem either unwilling or unable to engage- and the game is hemorrhaging players as a result. By all metrics, X-Wing is worse off than a year ago.

what He said.

5 hours ago, Larky Bobble said:

The one I am interested in is sales of wave 1,2 and 3 ships. They are the ones that show how many hardcore SW fans are entering the game. Pure Gamers will buy the more efficient waves to be competitive

I don't think that is as big an indicator as you. I've heard of plenty of people I would describe as hardcore Star Wars fans who got in because of later ships, like some of the Bounty Hunter ships, or some of the newer designs from sources like Rebels. As someone who grew up with Dark Forces and Shadows of the Empire, the idea of having Kyle and Dash's ship got me even more excited about the game than even X-Wings did.

The thing that pisses me off about the current state of the competitive game is that most of the issues are easily fixed, but FFG seems either unwilling, or unable to make those changes.

The Imperial faction is looking pretty well balanced at the moment. They've got lots of good ships, but none stand out as hugely overpowered. The problem is the other two factions, and their ability to abuse blatantly broken card combos.

Why haven't they nerfed the **** out of the Jumpmaster chassis? Why is TLT still Range 2-3? Why hasn't Bigg's ability been changed to something less game-warping? Why hasn't K4 crew received the same changes as X7? Mindlink*?

While we're at it, how did Bomblet Generator make it past play-testing? And Lowhhrick? Now Harpoon missiles too. Basically, who's designing and play-testing this rubbish?

*I don't consider Mindlink itself to be 'broken', but releasing a bunch of ships with too many green turns sure broke it.

8 hours ago, zhentil said:

3. Get rid of the Phantom Nerf. This is just because i love the Phantom but all in all it would give the Imperials SOMETHING really cool.

No. Just no. Decloaking after everyone (with lower PS/init) has moved is not something I want to see come back, even if Cloak is on other ships now.

6 minutes ago, spacelion said:

No. Just no. Decloaking after everyone (with lower PS/init) has moved is not something I want to see come back, even if Cloak is on other ships now.

Except given the current state of the game Whisper is probably still moving before everyone else, PS9 aces are dead and Nym killed them. I really, honestly think the worst thing they have done since the JM5K was making him an 8 (10) when he really should have been a 7 (9) so that Imperial ships actually had a chance. Though honestly the Phantom nerf didn't nerf much, and it actually got rid of one of the ways to hard counter it which was with ion tokens.

57 minutes ago, DarkArk said:

Except given the current state of the game Whisper is probably still moving before everyone else, PS9 aces are dead and Nym killed them. I really, honestly think the worst thing they have done since the JM5K was making him an 8 (10) when he really should have been a 7 (9) so that Imperial ships actually had a chance. Though honestly the Phantom nerf didn't nerf much, and it actually got rid of one of the ways to hard counter it which was with ion tokens.

If they stuck with previous balance conventions, Nym would be PS7-8 without an EPT. I don't see a reason why the heavy bombers from the other two factions don't get EPTs, but the Scum one should. That is besides the obvious answer of power-creep.

It's like FFG learned nothing from the Jumpmaster. Handing out upgrade slots willy-nilly just feeds into the problem of cards combining in unforeseen broken ways.

Posted this elsewhere, posing it here as well (don't see why not since everyone seems determined to have the same conversation in every other topic)

Changes are coming people, just clearly not in the middle of Nationals season. We know this for a fact. We've already seen evidence of it thanks to an updated version of the Advanced SLAM card that's on the horizon.

Plus, it seems to me the vast majority of the "problems" encountered here are an issue when playing at the top of the competitive meta. Of course you're going to see similiar lists in the cut for Regional, National, International events. You'll never see players taking jank lists en masse doing well at top tier events. People playing at that level want to minimise the risks when listbuilding and use what they know will get them results. You simply don't take unneccesary chances when playing at the top level. I mean, in a lot of instances in the top cut at these competitve events you're not just looking at the same lists, you're looking at the same players!

Expecting otherwise is like expecting San Marino to be competing alongside Germany, Brazil, Spain in the semi finals of next year's World Cup. Sometimes the stars might align and you might get a surprise upset (like Wales at last year's European Championships or Greece in 2004), but the majority of the time you know which teams to bet on before the event even begins.

Maybe we need another variant on this topic - "Top Ten Players In This Stale Meta". See how many times the same names show up in the cut for the same events and the same time period. Because it stands to reason that if the same players are making the cut at multiple events, they'll be running the same (or very similiar) lists.

Just wait for the broken af TIE Silencer.

11 hours ago, Scumwing Apologist said:

Not conclusive, but definitely points to a decline.

As a counterpoint, the UK is shaping up to have its biggest X-Wing Nationals to date, with over 250 players already booked, and a decent chance it might go past 300 on the day. That seems pretty healthy in terms of participants.

3 minutes ago, Jarval said:

As a counterpoint, the UK is shaping up to have its biggest X-Wing Nationals to date, with over 250 players already booked, and a decent chance it might go past 300 on the day. That seems pretty healthy in terms of participants.

I'm going. I'll see you there!

What happened to the so called leaked FAQ? Was it all a hoax or is FFG waiting to add some more nym stuff onto it before release?

10 minutes ago, william1134 said:

What happened to the so called leaked FAQ? Was it all a hoax or is FFG waiting to add some more nym stuff onto it before release?

It's unlikely that FFG will release any major changes in the middle of Nationals season. However, there's a different version of Advanced SLAM in the card fan for the Star Wing in Wave 12, so it looks like one of the rumoured changes may be accurate, at least. We'll just have to wait and see.

Sold my x-wing collection a couple of years ago, thought about coming back but after I read the topics here from the last few days, it seems like I should wait some time before I reinvest?

1 hour ago, FTS Gecko said:

I'm going. I'll see you there!

Excellent. I'll be one of the crew wearing "Moldy Crows" t-shirts.

4 hours ago, CRCL said:

If they stuck with previous balance conventions, Nym would be PS7-8 without an EPT. I don't see a reason why the heavy bombers from the other two factions don't get EPTs, but the Scum one should. That is besides the obvious answer of power-creep.

It's like FFG learned nothing from the Jumpmaster. Handing out upgrade slots willy-nilly just feeds into the problem of cards combining in unforeseen broken ways.

Well penned. It does seem these designers make mistakes like everyone else, but don't learn from those mistakes like some, sad.

4 hours ago, FTS Gecko said:

Changes are coming people, just clearly not the month after the first part of "Bringing Ballance to the Force", nor January, nor February, nor March, nor April, nor May, nor June, and certainly not in the middle of Nationals season. We know this for a fact. We've already seen evidence of it thanks to an updated version of the Advanced SLAM card that's on the horizon.

Plus, it seems to me the vast majority of the "problems" encountered here are an issue when playing at the top of the competitive meta or at your local LGS or Vassal because it's better to fly the OP stuff to boost your odds of winning. Of course you're going to see similiar lists in the cut for Regional, National, International events. You'll never see players taking jank lists en masse doing well at top tier events because why? Don't players want to win? People playing at that level want to minimise the risks when listbuilding and use what they know will get them results. You simply don't take unneccesary chances when playing at the top level. I mean, in a lot of instances in the top cut at these competitve events you're not just looking at the same lists, you're looking at the same players who oddly enough know to take the broken, OP stuff so they can have the best shot to win; who wouldn't?

--deleted wonderful football illustration--

Maybe we need another variant on this topic - "Top Ten Players In This Stale Meta". See how many times the same names show up in the cut for the same events and the same time period. Because it stands to reason that if the same players are making the cut at multiple events, they'll be running the same (or very similiar) lists because it is OP and they're gonna run it till FFG makes it balanced.

Love your thoughts @FTS Gecko, just added a few of my words to it to season it a slight bit ?

9 minutes ago, clanofwolves said:

Love your thoughts @FTS Gecko, just added a few of my words to it to season it a slight bit ?

@clanofwolves be up in this thread like Gordan Ramsey, all

4 hours ago, Keffisch said:

Just wait for the broken af TIE Silencer.

wrong faction buddy

Imperials never get the OP ship. It always lacks the upgrade slots to do anything remotely broken
Only time imperials have ever been considered broken was the TIE Swarm or Palp meta. And i wouldnt even consider those broken since TIE Swarm was/is insanely hard to fly right and Palp was irritating but not autowin easy like some of the jank out there right now.

@FTS Gecko when the UK nationals will take place?

Just now, Arma Quattro said:

@FTS Gecko when the UK nationals will take place?

A week on Saturday, 15th September - https://www.esdeviumgames.com/news-item/side-events-and-schedules-for-ffg-nationals/

We get it. Some of you guys are super not happy about the current "competitive" meta. It'd be great if you guys commiserated in one thread instead of dozen.

3 hours ago, FTS Gecko said:

It's unlikely that FFG will release any major changes in the middle of Nationals season. However, there's a different version of Advanced SLAM in the card fan for the Star Wing in Wave 12, so it looks like one of the rumoured changes may be accurate, at least. We'll just have to wait and see.

Yeah, I expect the FAQ to hit after nationals and before the next wave is released since they need it out before the new Adv SLAM card hits the shelves. Probably around the same time the spoiler article for the Gunboat is out. It wil probably have a few tweaks from the spoiled version, but it will look similar

7 minutes ago, Vineheart01 said:

wrong faction buddy

Imperials never get the OP ship. It always lacks the upgrade slots to do anything remotely broken

The original TIE Phantom/Cloak release was OP. Never is a strong word to use.

The Phantom wasn't OP enough to win Worlds. So was it truly OP? Some even claim its stronger now after the cloak fix.

Palp and Defenders were considered OP too. They didn't win Worlds either and they were seen alot at Worlds. They were even used in the same list. But their combined OPness still wasnt good enough to win.

FFG could revert these three to prenerf status and they still won't take Worlds this year.

30 minutes ago, Zarovichx said:

The Phantom wasn't OP enough to win Worlds. So was it truly OP? Some even claim its stronger now after the cloak fix.

Palp and Defenders were considered OP too. They didn't win Worlds either and they were seen alot at Worlds. They were even used in the same list. But their combined OPness still wasnt good enough to win.

FFG could revert these three to prenerf status and they still won't take Worlds this year.

"Winning Worlds" is a bogus test. By that logic, Biggs hasn't been OP since 2013. There are ships and lists which dominate the top-tiers of tournament play, but between dice luck, bad match ups, and plain being outflown, can lose at the top table. Attani Fenn Rau is a great example from Worlds 2017. There were nine in the top 16, in a few kinds of squadrons. However, it'd be the wrong conclusion to draw that Fenn Rau wasn't far stronger than most ship, simply because he didn't win the last game.

1 hour ago, gennataos said:

We get it. Some of you guys are super not happy about the current "competitive" meta. It'd be great if you guys commiserated in one thread instead of dozen.

Or you could not click on threads you obviously dislike. That would be great too.

After many more NOVA updates, the top ten shuffled amongst themselves a bit, but no new entries: