No it is not. 3/4 of the pilots in the game are pathetically underpowed compared to powercreep in recent waves, and upgrade spam has gotten absurd, not to mention all 2 attack ships are uselless without extreme upgrades. without an overhaul the game is no longer enjoyable without house rules.

with house rules, still really fun

On 19.1.2018 at 5:02 PM, Boba Rick said:

How to fix the game in two simple steps:

1) Reduce Harpoons down to 3 dice.

2) Make Genius a one time use card.

3) Get rekt by concussion missile gunboats with one ace?

1 hour ago, SEApocalypse said:

3) Get rekt by concussion missile gunboats with one ace?

At least I don’t have to read through a wall of text and deal with a condition.

Personally concussions finally being good and useful would be a nice bonus to nerfing harpoons; at lease one of the classic secondary weapon types has a place in the game.

1 minute ago, impspy said:

At least I don’t have to read through a wall of text and deal with a condition.

Personally concussions finally being good and useful would be a nice bonus to needing harpoons; at lease one of the classic secondary weapon types has a place in the game.

Most likely it would be cruise and homing anyway. ;-)

11 hours ago, ABXY said:

Which would be dead simple - if the designer of TS originally intended only to provide a pre-manoeuvre opportunity, make it clear (for just that card) when that opportunity is... i.e. before executing your manoeuvre.

I like your approach. It's down to a general level, not referring to specific other cards.

12 hours ago, impspy said:

I wonder if making TLT’s large ship only would be a good way to reign them in.

Nope - there has been a multitude of viable solutions that would be better than restricting the card to such a slim quantity of ships - not to mention the small ship expansions that would then come with an upgrade they couldn't use.

1 hour ago, ABXY said:

Nope - there has been a multitude of viable solutions that would be better than restricting the card to such a slim quantity of ships - not to mention the small ship expansions that would then come with an upgrade they couldn't use.

Which would be nothing new at all.

4 minutes ago, SEApocalypse said:

Which would be nothing new at all.

Everyone agrees that the JM5K is an abomination - let it be the only aberration in that respect also!

5 hours ago, ABXY said:

Everyone agrees that the JM5K is an abomination - let it be the only aberration in that respect also!

The Scurgg and the Ghost are also. Though, the Ghost is not as known for winning as the Scurgg. The Shadowcaster is highly winning and efficient for its cost for other reasons: the large base profile, the giant arc, and its reduced cost.

See a pattern yet?

On 1/22/2018 at 4:40 AM, Blail Blerg said:

The Scurgg and the Ghost are also. Though, the Ghost is not as known for winning as the Scurgg. The Shadowcaster is highly winning and efficient for its cost for other reasons: the large base profile, the giant arc, and its reduced cost.

See a pattern yet?

The Ghost wins by sitting in a corner and shrugging off damage while plinking you with 4 TLT shots. You absolutely have to bump it and try to shoot the Sheathipede through a Tactical jammer , and with unmodified attacks. It's hilarious.

Nice post @Blail Blerg, but it seems everyone is missing the mark, IMO.

I know the splashy OP issue was Trajectory Stimulation and yet it was a terrible issue; with Genius Nym abused it like he does most things (as his chassis is very JM5K like in it's amazingness). But I think the ignored the elephant in the room is still his stinking squad-mate mostly (when he's not running busted TLTs too). The real issue is Miranda: TLTs blended with crazy Regen. They could have left genius making TS freaking OP if they in turn corrected the obscenity that is TLT and reigned in the !!crazy unlimited plus one attach and or minus one TLT for shield Regen problem!!....for me anyway.

6 hours ago, clanofwolves said:

Nice post @Blail Blerg, but it seems everyone is missing the mark, IMO.

I know the splashy OP issue was Trajectory Stimulation and yet it was a terrible issue; with Genius Nym abused it like he does most things (as his chassis is very JM5K like in it's amazingness). But I think the ignored the elephant in the room is still his stinking squad-mate mostly (when he's not running busted TLTs too). The real issue is Miranda: TLTs blended with crazy Regen. They could have left genius making TS freaking OP if they in turn corrected the obscenity that is TLT and reigned in the !!crazy unlimited plus one attach and or minus one TLT for shield Regen problem!!....for me anyway.

The problem with Nym + Miranda now and has been Harpoon Missiles. They get fully modified Harpoons off procing 1 or most likely both as they can eliminate most ships in their alpha strike. That's 2 splash to any ship around. Take away harpoons and that Nym + Miranda build is gonna be different. If you put cruise on them, than they become MUCH more predictable in their approach.

7 hours ago, clanofwolves said:

Nice post @Blail Blerg, but it seems everyone is missing the mark, IMO.

I know the splashy OP issue was Trajectory Stimulation and yet it was a terrible issue; with Genius Nym abused it like he does most things (as his chassis is very JM5K like in it's amazingness). But I think the ignored the elephant in the room is still his stinking squad-mate mostly (when he's not running busted TLTs too). The real issue is Miranda: TLTs blended with crazy Regen. They could have left genius making TS freaking OP if they in turn corrected the obscenity that is TLT and reigned in the !!crazy unlimited plus one attach and or minus one TLT for shield Regen problem!!....for me anyway.

Gonna disagree about missing the mark. Imo Miranda is strong, but not exactly overpowered... Also, its kind of hard to know where she actually needs adjusting. Miranda is disgusting. But even if you had Miranda's ability say all your attacks this turn are reduced by 1 die, hmm. Would that be too much?

The whole issue is a pain. Too many upgrades and turrets in the recent history of the game. They're ALL overpowered. Miranda, Nym, Dash, (shadow caster), all of the jumps.

Exceptions Tie Aggressors, Deci. falcon isn't that strong nowadays either.

The way the meta works out was completely predictable years ago based on other competitive games that add content over time: as you increase the number of available tools, the number of tournament viable tools stays limited to the top few.

Each wave brings us diminishing returns. In order to make a splash on the game, anything new that is introduced has to be as good or better than the best of the existing pool of options. This means that in order for FFG to sell things, they need to at least have slight powercreep otherwise it isn't worth it.

Yes, the meta is as healthy as it's going to be at this stage of product development.

Yes, I think it is the healthiest I've seen it be.

Z-95 swarm is viable (recent regional runner up). 2 ship lists are viable (and everywhere). 4 ship rebels (recent regional top 4) or 4 ship Scum (recent regional winner) or 4 ship imperial (quick poon) is viable. Bombs are viable (crimson specialist made a top 8). Palp Aces are viable (won a regional).

I can't think of a specific archetype that hasn't shown well in some form recently. Sure some specific ships or pilots are subpar but that is to be expected.

4 hours ago, Ohnoeszz said:

Yes, I think it is the healthiest I've seen it be.

May not mean its acutally healthy. Just healthier than it used to be.

(That said, I agree, its pretty healthy right now after TS and Genius are gone.)

I still think Harpoons were a stupid design.

Aaaand now we're back to Rebel regen, ScumJank(tm) and turrets, yay.

Our local meta is about as open as I've seen it in the last 12 months. We regularly get ~20 folk at game night, and our store championship was sold out at 68 this year. Last night, there were imperials, scum, rebels in all formations. A lot of Miranda (expected, Lowhhrick and Rebel Fenn too) Imperials fixate on Gunboats right now, with a few Palp aces dotted here and there.

We have a 140+ person regionals this weekend, and I don't think anyone will be surprised by the lists that are at the top tables. There are pieces in the game that are objectively 'better' than others ... and at a big tournament, the good players will play the best pieces to maximise chances of success.

Right now, I think that there is a good element of scissors/paper/rock to the best pieces in the game ... be it defensive stacking with Lowhhrick/Fenn, Maximised front loaded damage with Alpha strikes or whatever else, there is variety and our local scene is buzzing with new and old players exploring the corners of the current game design.

Fix A! B is fine, C needs some love!....

x months later:

Fix B! A is fine, C needs some love!...

x months later:

Fix C! B is fine, A needs some love!

repeat ad nauseam.

*note this is not a rant against OP or asking for nerfs, just an observation*

On 1/23/2018 at 5:58 PM, Micanthropyre said:

The way the meta works out was completely predictable years ago based on other competitive games that add content over time: as you increase the number of available tools, the number of tournament viable tools stays limited to the top few.

Each wave brings us diminishing returns. In order to make a splash on the game, anything new that is introduced has to be as good or better than the best of the existing pool of options. This means that in order for FFG to sell things, they need to at least have slight powercreep otherwise it isn't worth it.

Yes, the meta is as healthy as it's going to be at this stage of product development.

eh i agree that most games do this, but they dont always need to.

For example every one of us has a swarm ship we like that isnt viable and could use a fix... Awing, Z95, Tie in, etc. FFG could do a whole wave of extra pilots and sell more than they are now. a ship doesnt need to be broken to sell.

FFG could also sell board terrain, 3d obstacles, aternate pilot cards, special paint jobs, etc, all of which are sold by 3rd parties and I think proven as products, and thats before considering other game modes or a campaign.

in short i agree with your summary of the games evolution but i think it could change paths

1 hour ago, Vontoothskie said:

eh i agree that most games do this, but they dont always need to.

For example every one of us has a swarm ship we like that isnt viable and could use a fix... Awing, Z95, Tie in, etc. FFG could do a whole wave of extra pilots and sell more than they are now. a ship doesnt need to be broken to sell.

FFG could also sell board terrain, 3d obstacles, aternate pilot cards, special paint jobs, etc, all of which are sold by 3rd parties and I think proven as products, and thats before considering other game modes or a campaign.

in short i agree with your summary of the games evolution but i think it could change paths

Can't sell terrain when it interferes with base placement. You want your terrain to be as flat as possible, which is why pumice stone asteroids with large debris clouds only see play when you have a corresponding flat asteroid base to replace with when something moves over it.

1 hour ago, spacelion said:

Can't sell terrain when it interferes with base placement. You want your terrain to be as flat as possible, which is why pumice stone asteroids with large debris clouds only see play when you have a corresponding flat asteroid base to replace with when something moves over it.

you just explained how 3d terrain can be used yourself. 3d bit placed on token. also certain house rules use terrain that cannot be overlapped at all, and FFG could certainly make their own version. Spires for example that you are destroyed if you hit or take damage.

i use Hanger bays you can fly through, arches, etc. and it isnt an issue. the point is the products are already being bought and sold, FFG could be the ones doing that if they chose. i made a mining colony asteroid base i use as scenery, and players just bump and get stress if they overlap it. works fine