From talking with some friends about last year's System Open, the prices are about the same except for the Hyperspace Qualifier that has been added in. It seems the amount of swag you can get is higher in this year's system open by just participating while it is now (potentially) more difficult to reach the top cuts. I'll just be happy to go to my first System Open, play tons of XWing, meet cool people, and get awesome swag!

19 hours ago, RStan said:

Oh, well that's a more valid question...

It could be different per event, but for example, on the Adepticon website they have posted a link to their "Basic Event List" which has everything as it is now, but can be updated. Seems most things are $15 - $30 to enter (shows $20 right now for Hyperspace Qualifier).

(posted this elsewhere - @Tbetts94 was refunded after registering for a Hyperspace Qualifier event)

I think the confusion here might be that PAX Unplugged and Adepticon are three day events, where most of the System Opens will be two day events. The System Opens that are part of a three-day event look like they'll be featuring Hyperspace Qualifiers, Hangar Bays (and other events like Space Race at Adepticon) that will be open to those not participating in the System Open itself, so they have seperate entry fees.

From the https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/news/2017/11/13/2018-system-open-briefing/ article:

"At least one Hangar Bay side event will be scheduled to accommodate System Open participants who do not progress from Stage 1 to Stage 2. System Open participants who join a Hangar Bay event at this point will receive an additional prize."

and

"Some venues - hosting events that include days without main event stages—may run more than one Hyperspace Qualifier."

Now, all that said, I know they charged for Hangar Bay and Elite Hangar Bay events at UK Nationals this year, but they did have a seperate ticket-based prize structure in place there where you could earn a wide range of swag that wasn't included in the Nationals prize kitty. Basically - as pointed out earlier in the thread - because we all stil have limited information regarding the pricing and structure of these events, it's probably worth waiting to see what the official word is before panicking about it.

You know what? I am ok paying what I am paying for the main event, the hanger bay, and the hyperspace qual. I intend to play the main tournament phase 1, and either play phase 2 or hanger bay, then do hyperspace qual on day 2 because there is no way I am good enough to make cut.

Especially now that I see hyperspace qual participants get most of the swag.... Just for playing!!!!

Granted my closest one is just a 6 hour drive.

On 11/16/2017 at 11:07 PM, ScummyRebel said:

then do hyperspace qual on day 2 because there is no way I am good enough to make cut.

Unfortunately it appears only players eliminated from Stage 3 are eligible for the Hyperspace Qualifier, not those eliminated before Stage 3. Much sadness all around because those prizes are sweet.

1 hour ago, eRADicator67 said:

Unfortunately it appears only players eliminated from Stage 3 are eligible for the Hyperspace Qualifier, not those eliminated before Stage 3. Much sadness all around because those prizes are sweet.

I think that's only for the 3 day events like PAX where they're also running a Hyperspace Qualifier on the Friday. Alex Watkins (the Asmodee Organised Play Manager for Europe) said the following on Facebook for the 2 day European events:

" Everyone with a main event ticket can play. The knock out part of the article is for those in the cut who get knocked out. They can then join in the hyperspace qualifier with byes for the rounds they missed."

Yeah, that literally makes no sense when you look at the System Open article:

Quote

Hyperspace Qualifier

The Hyperspace Qualifier is a uniquely constructed tournament that’s new to the 2018 X-Wing System Open Series.

At least one Hyperspace Qualifier is scheduled for each event, designed to run simultaneously with Stage 3 of the System Open. Each player who goes undefeated throughout the tournament’s six Swiss rounds earns an invitation to the Coruscant Invitational.

An intriguing twist to the event, however, is the “hyperspace jump” that players can take as they find themselves eliminated from Stage 3 of the System Open.

Any player eliminated from Stage 3 can immediately walk over and register for the Hyperspace Qualifier. He or she starts play in the next round of the Hyperspace Qualifier as though his or her previous rounds had all been byes.

Some venues—hosting events that include days without main event stages—may run more than one Hyperspace Qualifier.

If they're set to run simutaneously with Stage 3, then how can players eliminated from Stage 3 be the only ones eligible for it? Players eliminated from Stage 3 can join the Hyperspace Qualifier in progress - getting a bye for each round they've missed - but the event will already be underway by the time that happens...

On 15/11/2017 at 5:07 PM, FTS Gecko said:

No, clearly they don't. It's so much easier to pitch up the pitchforks and burning torches than it is to actually learn the relevant facts.

Just to remind you about this, now you can go and check there is no Spain Open this year. I think because someone on FFG staff did not liked something in the last one. Punishment to one of the greatest game communities. Thank you FFG.

It's nothing to do with "someone on FFG staff not liking something", and certainly nothing to do with "punishment to one of the greatest game communities". Which - if you read the officiall statement - you should be able to understand.

Quote

Hello X-Wing players.

I have had a few messages and comments about Spain not getting one of the 6 System Opens available to Europe in 2018. I understand that Spanish players will be upset by this, but I want to clear up a few points and explain the decision processes when it comes to deciding where System Opens go. I try to be as open as I can about things where I can be, but ultimately I have 6 events and many more countries that would like an System Open.

The System Open is an Open event designed to be open to all players regardless of their ability or experience. The emphasis on these events is inclusivity, encouragement of new players to the tournament scene and the growth of player bases. As such it is important to make sure that the locations of these events vary over time to cover as much of Europe as possible. Some countries will get opens more often than others. If a country did not get one this year, it does not mean they will not get one next year. Likewise, countries getting them this year will not automatically get one next year.

When deciding where to place these events a lot of factors are considered including, but not exclusive to, player requests, areas of opportunity to grow the game and the community, revisiting past countries and ease of access. As such, after looking at the options I had available to me earlier in 2017, I made the decision that only two of the three countries that had a System Open in 2017 will get a System Open in 2018. Spain was the one that would not. Believe me when I say that this decision was not taken lightly. Sometimes I must make decisions that are hard and sometimes I must make decisions that will be unpopular in some places. It is the nature of my role and the fact that not everyone can have everything all the time. I would love to try and please everyone, but when you attempt to do that you run the extremely high risk of pleasing nobody.

The other 3 countries that were selected will be fully announced as I confirm the details with the local organised play teams. Once we can talk about them they will appear on the FFG website alongside the three already announced, Germany, Italy and the UK.

Ticketing sites for these events will be going live soon and once they are ready I will share with you all the websites as well the when the tickets will go on sale. For now, head to the event pages I have set up on Facebook for updates.

Thanks

I'm sure it's very disappointing, but there's no indication of any kind of prejudice against the Spanish gaming community. As Alex says, with only 6 European System Opens available and other countries deserving the opportunity to host one, difficult decisions sometimes need to be made.

1 hour ago, Jarval said:

I think that's only for the 3 day events like PAX where they're also running a Hyperspace Qualifier on the Friday. Alex Watkins (the Asmodee Organised Play Manager for Europe) said the following on Facebook for the 2 day European events:

" Everyone with a main event ticket can play. The knock out part of the article is for those in the cut who get knocked out. They can then join in the hyperspace qualifier with byes for the rounds they missed."

Thanks, this is awesome news. I obviously misunderstood or missed that tidbit. I'm flying up from South Africa to go to the Birmingham event in the UK so it's costing me a lot of money. Good to know I can still go for those alt arts and target locks if I screw up in early rounds!

1 hour ago, eRADicator67 said:

Thanks, this is awesome news. I obviously misunderstood or missed that tidbit. I'm flying up from South Africa to go to the Birmingham event in the UK so it's costing me a lot of money. Good to know I can still go for those alt arts and target locks if I screw up in early rounds!

That is some impressive dedication, I'm just driving for three hours to get there!

5 hours ago, eRADicator67 said:

Unfortunately it appears only players eliminated from Stage 3 are eligible for the Hyperspace Qualifier, not those eliminated before Stage 3. Much sadness all around because those prizes are sweet.

I don't believe that's the case. The article makes no mention of the fact that you have to be eliminated from stage 3 to go to the qualifier.

The Adepticon registration allowed me to sign up for the hyperspace qualifier happening concurrently with day 2 (stage 3) of xwing. There was also a qualifier happening the day before the main system open even starts. I don't think they would say "you can be in the early qualifier but not the later one".

On 20/11/2017 at 11:38 AM, FTS Gecko said:

It's nothing to do with "someone on FFG staff not liking something", and certainly nothing to do with "punishment to one of the greatest game communities". Which - if you read the officiall statement - you should be able to understand.

I'm sure it's very disappointing, but there's no indication of any kind of prejudice against the Spanish gaming community. As Alex says, with only 6 European System Opens available and other countries deserving the opportunity to host one, difficult decisions sometimes need to be made.

I do not understand why other counteries having much less attendance to such events are still having an Open series tournament scheduled. Just that. Most of Spanish players are not going to travel anywere as far as I have been hearing around.

9 hours ago, negroscuro said:

I do not understand why other counteries having much less attendance to such events are still having an Open series tournament scheduled. Just that. Most of Spanish players are not going to travel anywere as far as I have been hearing around.

Probably because there are many other factors other than Open attendance that factored into the decision.

On ‎21‎/‎11‎/‎2017 at 11:19 AM, negroscuro said:

Most of Spanish players are not going to travel anywere as far as I have been hearing around.

Well, considering how fast the UK System Open sold out, maybe you're hearing wrong?

Yeah even last year the UK one was fully attended and there were a few large groups from other European countries over here. Clearly the UK one is just VERY popular, even outside the UK.

4 hours ago, InterceptorMad said:

Yeah even last year the UK one was fully attended and there were a few large groups from other European countries over here. Clearly the UK one is just VERY popular, even outside the UK.

L:ast year's wasn't fully attended, was it? I thought the numbers were down on 2016. There were about 130 tickets left with a couple of days still to go IIRC...

On 15.11.2017 at 8:11 PM, RStan said:

Oh, well that's a more valid question...

It could be different per event, but for example, on the Adepticon website they have posted a link to their "Basic Event List" which has everything as it is now, but can be updated. Seems most things are $15 - $30 to enter (shows $20 right now for Hyperspace Qualifier).

EDITED: Took a look and organized the current Adepticon Event List to just show X-Wing events. So right now (subject to change) if you wanted to participate in the System Open ($30), Hyperspace Qualifier ($20) and at least 1 Hangar Bay (each $10), you'll pay $60 total to enter in all that. Interesting thing though is, for now, there's a Hyperspace Qualifier scheduled for Thursday before any of the System Open Main Event itself starts and another one scheduled as described in the articles (alongside the Stage 3). Not sure if you could participate in the first and still be allowed to attempt the second one if you get knocked out of Stage 3.

System Open Hanover has 25€ entry fee for the whole event, including Hangar Bay and Hyperspace. The prices are basically up to the tournament organisers.
https://billetto.eu/en/e/star-wars-x-wing-system-open-2018-germany-Tickets-243308

Bologna is the same, 25€ for the whole two days and all events.

Yeah so far all the US ones are within cons/events, and so cost more for more of the stuff.

The European ones seem to all be in hotels, and so it's just the Open you are paying for.

50 minutes ago, InterceptorMad said:

Yeah so far all the US ones are within cons/events, and so cost more for more of the stuff.

The European ones seem to all be in hotels, and so it's just the Open you are paying for.

And it seems like we are getting special hotel deals on top. Though the italian one seems a little less organized than the german one.

On 11/20/2017 at 8:26 AM, ScummyRebel said:

I don't believe that's the case. The article makes no mention of the fact that you have to be eliminated from stage 3 to go to the qualifier.

The Adepticon registration allowed me to sign up for the hyperspace qualifier happening concurrently with day 2 (stage 3) of xwing. There was also a qualifier happening the day before the main system open even starts. I don't think they would say "you can be in the early qualifier but not the later one".

More mildly annoying is having to pay for the Hangar Bay, assuming I want to have the option open if I get eliminated on the first day.