Podcast discussion on Alternative Formats - What would you like?

By heychadwick, in X-Wing

Hi Guys,

The Shuttle Tydirium was thinking of putting out an episode with a lot of guests from different podcasts where we talk about alternative formats and favorite ways to play the game from different people. If we did something like this, what questions would you like to hear? Also, who would you invite?

Potential questions:

Captain’s Question: What is your favorite ship or pilot that isn’t top meta that you like to sneak in whenever you can?

  1. What is your favorite non-100/6 format and why?

  1. What format is best to teach new people to play?

  1. Is there any official FFG mission that you have enjoyed? If so, what’s your favorite?

  1. What is the easiest format to get tournament players to try out?

  1. Have you ever played with the epic ships?

  1. Have you ever played any of the campaigns that come with epic ships?

Edited by heychadwick

The idea that I keep circling around developing is a persistent campaign system that doesn't require all the huge (but fantastic) investment of time & effort and extra rules etc of HotAC. I think you could do it all with a simple cards expansion that produces a 'game outside the game' and enables the persistent campaign and victory condition.

I don't listen to them much but I hear the S&V podcast has talked about formats.

I wouldn't necessarily invite only podcast hosts, but invite folks with ideas that gain traction. Not sure what that looks like though.

definitely need to include something on the Mario Kart format if your discussing alternate formats, just as much fun as HotAC!

also, can i give an honourable mention to using Warhammer scenery in X-wing games (mainly our Mario Kart games if I'm honest) - it does add something a little different to the table

as for who - what about the Slingpaint guys? Or Team Covenant? Heck, see if you can get on of the Devs in on the show for it as well.

@heychadwick - been a bit since you've posted a new thread around here.

Alternate formats I've played in:

  • Scenario/narrative story-driven event (I can't remember who put that on at GenCon)
  • Original Trilogy Format (there are variations, but the popular one up here is bring two lists, Imperial and Rebel, using only ships seen in the original three movies - not Special Edition - and always end up playing Rebel vs Imperial on the mat. It works surprisingly well)
  • Hangar Bay - not quite as sold on this one, it ends up still being the same meta on top
  • HotAC - nothing more to say here!
  • Scenarios - (I refer to single shot scenarios here...)
  • Epic!!!!

I'm always looking for new ways to play and change things up. I'm looking forward to Grayskull to run locally, though I'm still trying to determine how I'd run it. Our weekly turnout numbers have never been high (small shop/smaller city) but it's a serious full day event unless the scoring has been streamlined. I'm still considering making an excel spreadsheet to calculate the scores. I need to clean up my video recording setup as well for this... I'm not going to be able to play so I might as well do something.

Edit: Oh right! Mario Kart! I wasn't as fond of that as others, but my daughter likes it.

Edited by LagJanson
8 minutes ago, LagJanson said:

@heychadwick - been a bit since you've posted a new thread around here.

I'm always looking for new ways to play and change things up. I'm looking forward to Grayskull to run locally, though I'm still trying to determine how I'd run it. Our weekly turnout numbers have never been high (small shop/smaller city) but it's a serious full day event unless the scoring has been streamlined.

You could always run one mission a week for a bit. That might be easier to do than a one day event.

Yes....I haven't started a new thread in a while. I come here and just haven't seen anything interesting on these forums.

15 minutes ago, Surak said:

as for who - what about the Slingpaint guys?

Yeah, those are local guys for me. Blake is part of them and Hornet Squadron Radio. I've reached out to him.

What would people like to hear about, though? Just us talking about different formats? Us saying what we like about specific formats? Trying to find unique ones? What type of discussion would be good?

I would like to request to definitely discuss the Death Star scenarios. I know you guys spent a whole episode on the trench run but maybe bring it back up in conversation. I know a lot of people would love an official version of this.

2 minutes ago, heychadwick said:

What would people like to hear about, though? Just us talking about different formats? Us saying what we like about specific formats? Trying to find unique ones? What type of discussion would be good?

to tune in line with the devs interview, maybe take a poll beforehand and then discuss what you like /don't like about the most popular formats people vote for. I think the idea here is that FFG gets involved with alternative play, but they want to have a starting point.

or maybe do all of them in a 4-5 part episode series.

Let me edit the first post with potential questions for other podcasters.

I'd love to get developers involved, but I don't have those connections.

18 minutes ago, heychadwick said:

What would people like to hear about, though? Just us talking about different formats? Us saying what we like about specific formats? Trying to find unique ones? What type of discussion would be good?

Given that HotAC and Mario Kart are pretty well known, maybe trying to find more unique and newer ones. I heard tell about "A-Wing Soccer."

Having the Devs specifically talk about AltX-Wing would be amazing if you could pull that off. You guys have positioned yourselves as "kings of casual." :D

X-Wing: It's Not Just 100/6 Anymore!

Edited by Darth Meanie
32 minutes ago, FlyingAnchors said:

I would like to request to definitely discuss the Death Star scenarios. I know you guys spent a whole episode on the trench run but maybe bring it back up in conversation. I know a lot of people would love an official version of this.

Good reminder. I need to run Death Star 2 again and retest with the changes.

edit: link!

Edited by LagJanson

I haven't tried the scenario with changes, either. I'd like to, but we are in the C-ROC missions now.

Edited by heychadwick
3 minutes ago, heychadwick said:

I haven't tried the scenario with changes, either. I'd like to, but we are in the C-ROC missions now.

Good thing you've done half of them already. Only one left (or two if you play both sides of the campaign and need to revisit the other mission 2 option)

Plus a crappy ship

rules - fly your normal squad and get 31 points to play a crappy ship.

Crappy ships include but not limited to

U-wing Tie

b wing

Long time, no see, refreshing to detect Shuttle T is still present!

Some things I'd like to see:

Battle of Scarif

Kessel Run, smugglers trying to run the gauntlet between Imperial patrols (or rebels cracking down on dirty criminals in rebel controlled turfs) and environmental hazards (ion storms, gravity wells, huge wreckage, lotsa asteroids), who is fastest (and survives!)

Scenes from the TV show Rebels, how to translate certain clashes of Ghost/Shuttle/Phoenix Awings vs Empire, Mining Ties, Protectorate etc, or escorting the Blade Wing etc (and before any snort about childish children's show, exactly this is how you get children and teens to play)

Hunger Games

Other co-ops besides HotAc (it takes a lot of investment, and I am not sure if it is the best to play with children, risk that they get accostumed to having these gross broken combos EPTs, and then find normal X-wing with normally max 1 or max 2EPTs an Awings boring)(My children love to play coop with me, right now I am try to make small skirmishes where we fly against ships steered by the various AIs.)

we are also trying to come up with a canyon racing variant based on the old Gorka Morka chase scenario (moving scenery and everything)

1 hour ago, Managarmr said:

Long time, no see, refreshing to detect Shuttle T is still present!

Work blocks the forums. :(

2 minutes ago, heychadwick said:

Work blocks the forums. :(

same here, apparently its a security risk?

finally seen the updated questions, to answer a few:

have I played epic - yes. It's awesome. Play whenever you get the chance.

easiest format to get tournament players to try - HotAC, hands down.

favourite way of teaching new players - Mario kart subbing the custom weapons for a random stack of standard upgrade cards

4 hours ago, Stay On The Leader said:

The idea that I keep circling around developing is a persistent campaign system that doesn't require all the huge (but fantastic) investment of time & effort and extra rules etc of HotAC. I think you could do it all with a simple cards expansion that produces a 'game outside the game' and enables the persistent campaign and victory condition.

Check out the Coruscant Campaign rules in the alternate formats thread.