This is a story of how I got a top64 card from 2017 Baltic Nationals.
Saturday the 16th was the day when Lithuania had the first and biggest Baltic National Championship. As the Baltic states, let's face it, are small - only 6kk - the player community is small as well. So, when the info about the Nationals came, it was slowly spread around the communities.
Anyways, I booked the tickets, booked a hostel near Vilnius bus station as I was arriving late and was ready to go. List selection was not hard - being not much of Imperial player and not having any Scum ships, I decided to go with Rebels. I think I have flown Corran/Dash the most, but those times are over now. I knew Rey hit like a truck so that was nr one choice for me. The question about the 2nd ship was hard - last tournament I borrowed a HWK and those 6 red dice were scary. But I don't have a HWK. I am really bad with Miranda, as I have no idea how to fly it. Eventually, following the meta and hype, I got Nym. I've played a few (4) games with Nym on Adaptability and Advanced sensors, but that got me to 100 points. Knowing that moving last was a must, I had to switch to VI for high PS. Also, I did not have Adaptability 
And was a bit afraid of Kylo.. So, the final list I went with was a 98 points list:
Rey + Expertise + Millennium Falcon (TFA) + Kanan Jarrus + Finn
Captain Nym + Twin Laser Turret + Veteran Instincts + Havoc + Bomblet Generator + Genius
I took 1 big asteroid and 2 small ones, but the night before descided against the big one and threw another small on in. My suprise was that it turned out now I had two of the same small ones... I've also borrowed the new damage deck, as that old Injured Pilot was quite scary.
Anyways, after spending 9 hours and 600km in a bus, I was in Vilnius. Had an OK sleep at a hostels "quiet room" above a bar and was ready to play and win some games. I doubt there is anyone who does not want to win stuff, right?
The venue was a board game club - amazingly looking basement with lots of tables and painted walls and lots board games. Everyone was very friendly and welcoming. I saw no Kylo, so that was a relief, but now I do miss that I did not ask anyone for Adaptability.
After brief set up of tables and getting pairings, the first ever Baltic National Championship started with 18 people present. Please stop grinning now - that's like half the player base of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania combined 
taking into account people who do not visit tournaments. Also, some people were on vacation or somewhere else.
Round 1 vs Lukas
Lukas had
- Quickdraw" + Special Ops Training + Lightweight Frame
- "Whisper" + Fire-Control System + Advanced Cloaking Device + Veteran Instincts
- Carnor Jax + Push the Limit
The only thing I was afraid a bit of was actually Quickdraw, so I descided to leave him for last. First target was Jax. There was an average asteroid field spread out in the middle with a bit more to the top. Set up ended with me on the right and him on left. Half way forward we turned torwards the middle. That's where the action started. As I am not very skilled with bombs, and Rey was way faster than Nym, Rey was the first one to get some beating. The biggest problem with the set up was that Whisper was rolling 4 hit naturals... and my dice were cold. Jax somehow lived more than 2 rounds of TLT and Rey shots, so that was dissapoining. I think after first or second shooting we had the longest planning of the game. There were not many places to move for Rey and Nym with asteroids on one side and possible blocks from the other. Once the dials were set, I found out that you actually can decloack through ships. Did not change much for whisper, but changed a lot for where the other ships could go. Eventually Jax died, then I lost Nymand Whisper and Quickdraw were full. The game was comming to an end, so I hoped that I can get a least quickdraw down. He rolled some really bad green dice on the final turn and I was just beggin that the last card he draws will be direct hit. Sadly, it was not.
Loss. 0-1 29:69
Round 2 vs Linas
Linas had
Colonel Vessery (35)
Twin Ion Engine Mk. II (1)
TIE/x7 (-2)
Countess Ryad (34)
Push the Limit (3)
Twin Ion Engine Mk. II (1)
TIE/x7 (-2)
"Pure Sabacc" (22)
Lightweight Frame (2)
Adaptive Ailerons (0)
With a few other upgrades whis I don't remember
My first target was Sabacc, who died actually rather quickly. I was a bit afraid of Ryad, but Vessery had positioned himself way better into my arcs. I think I finally got a strategically placed bomblet now, that blocked some of the movement. Ryad and Vessery died quite soon. At some point I let it go and just had fun playing, without the pressure of competition. Linas got half of Rey.
Win. 1-1 100:29
Round 3 vs Masiej
The winner's list:
- Rey + Millennium Falcon (2) + Expertise + Engine Upgrade + Kanan Jarrus + Finn
- Miranda Doni + Twin Laser Turret + Bomblet Generator + Long-Range Scanners
This reminded me that I wanted to add the Scanners to my list when putting it together, but also reminded me that I do not have them I was suprised by two things: 1) Masiej had 3 large asteroids with him and 2) he smiled and looked suprised, when I gave him the initiative. After placing the asteroids top part of the map looked like an asteroid field. I immidiatly thought that I did something wrong there as I will have problems navigating between them. Opposite corner set up as well, but this time I put Nym in the middle. I flew up along the board and Masiej flew down. At half way I tried moving into the middle with Rey, while Nym was moving away from the middle to the left. This game was not a bomb rush, but a massacre of first Nym and then Rey. And a few blocks so my Rey ended up stuck on a big asteroid. Second last turn I knew I was loosing this so my Rey went face to face with Masiej's, hoping for simultaneous fire and at least getting some MoV of half Rey. This ended with Blinded pilot, followed by Stunned Pilot. I misjudged the next move by Masiej (thought he would not fit) and he nicely blocked me for last damage. Did not even get to shoot. So much for getting the new deck
Loss. 1-2 0:100
Now I was sure I was somewhere waaay down the list and I really needed that last win.
Round 4 vs Tomas
He had
Tel Trevura (30)
"Gonk" (2)
R5-P8 (3)
Hull Upgrade (3)
Punishing One (12)
Bossk (35)
"Mangler" Cannon (4)
Dengar (3)
With some more upgrades. Think Bossk had VI or Adaptability, Zuckuss and Engine also.
I knew I had to get behind Bossk and then deal with Tel. While I went forward on the right, Tel moved along the edge Gonking, Bossk moved down. Tel was a bait and I, apparenly, took it. Later I turned into middle where I met Bossk. Again, Nym was lagging behind. Finn did not save me from those converted crits and Rey fell after getting some damage into Bossk. I was hoping to get some nice return fire, but got 2 x Blinded pilot on my last option to do this. Apparently, I am very bad at planing as I was not able to get behind a YV-666. A few rounds later Nym was almost dead and between two opponents ships at the top right corner. Knowing, that I will eventually die to the paibot, I layed a few mines and bumped into Tel. Bossk was comming from behind. I risked it and detonated both bombs. Luckily, I got less damage than bossk who now was at 2 hull. Was Nyms time to shoot unmodified TLT shots, hoping to PS kill him. First one got in. Now was time to pray again to the dice gods. Sadly, they were not on my side. Revenge from Bossk was brutal.
Loss. 1-3. 24-100
I was quite dissapointed. That meant I will not be getting into TOP 16 of Nationals Result was that I ended up on the 2nd last place. Being the only Estonian guy at the tournament felt like representing the country in a way - not a heavy burden, but still.
Lessons learned: 1) fly more 2) fly even more 3) try to get more people into the game - here in Estonia we have like 3 players active if I offer a game or two 4) try to keep ships together.
All in all, this was a great experience, the biggest tournament for me yet, with quite hard trip and amazing people. I was so impressed with all the promo stuff people had. It looked amazing. Envy-envy And when I saw Masiej play in the semi-finals, i was impressed!
There were also a random raffle for things from sponsors - a game mat from Deep Cut Studios, a token set from Applied Perspective and dice trays or token boxes from GameGuard. I got a token box that I brought myself to the tournament. Well, least it got to travel a bit.
Results
http://lists.starwarsclubhouse.com/get_tourney_details?tourney_id=3424
