This is honestly an issue that I feel self-divided on. I'm newer to X-Wing, and can't throw together lists as easily, since it usually requires buying some other pack. What this means is that I've never really had the materials to fly the "hot new netlist" or the "weird meme jank list." However, as of Christmas, I can now throw together Nym/Miranda and Kanan/Fenn, along with being able to try some decent jank. I have a tournament coming up soon, and I know I could do well, quite possibly better than with a more Tier 2 list that I've practiced if I use either of the two netlists above. But it just doesn't feel right to crush someone with an OP combo that was a playtesting oversight; I want to win because of skill, and flying, and a good guess of the opponent's maneuver. I will be flying non-netlists at said tournament (Hangar Bay at Polar Vortex 2018), but does anybody else feel a similar division? I'm trying not to give in to my fear and anger, but the raw power of Sabine calls to me...

Whats your favorite ship or pilot?

Last year I went to my first regional championship. I was torn between 3 lists. None were netlists, but one was stronger than the other two. The problem was that it was also less fun to play than the other two. I chose the strong but boring list. Worst X-Wing decision I've made. This year, my favorite build is in much worse shape than it was last year, but I'm bringing it anyway.

1 minute ago, Boom Owl said:

Whats your favorite ship or pilot?

VCX-100. I have found success with the generic, but I want Hera to work.

4 minutes ago, Npmartian said:

VCX-100. I have found success with the generic, but I want Hera to work.

Have you tried Hera crew on the generic? Amazing and fun.

4 minutes ago, Npmartian said:

VCX-100. I have found success with the generic, but I want Hera to work.

Is that actually your favorite or just the ship you have had success with?

Asked another way...what ship feels the most fun to play?

If you've ever played Arkham Horror they have these slide rulers where you adjust abilities. On top is an ability like "Speed" and on the bottom of the slide is "Sneak". The higher you slide your speed value, you reduce your sneak value.

That's how I feel about netlisting. Except the abilities are "Fun" and "Winning".

Only you can determine where on that ruler you are comfortable in adjusting between the two.

5 minutes ago, Boom Owl said:

Is that actually your favorite or just the ship you have had success with?

Asked another way...what ship feels the most fun to play?

The VCX always appealed to me because of how much pure damage it could deal. It's quite the feeling to put 6 damage on Nym with one ship in one combat phase. I like the generic, but Hera needs some figuring out.

7 minutes ago, Npmartian said:

VCX-100. I have found success with the generic, but I want Hera to work.

I fly A TON of ghost lists. My current one is Double Lothal + Ezra stress bot. It's been pretty successful for me and I like it for a number of reasons. Most importantly, they are very high health ships and can can absorb a heavy alpha or one round of bad engagement. When playing over many rounds it's easier on my brain when I don't necessarily have to worry about one of my ships going "poof" in one bad round of combat. Hera as a pilot is in a really awkward place and you would be better off tossing in something like a Fenn Rau shuttle and an engine upgrade on a lesser Ghost and letting them reposition at essentially PS11.

Hera crew on a Ghost is an absolute blast. If you are stressed, your opponent really has to think about if you are going to use the 1 hard and knifefight, or dial in a 5K over debris to set up a kill box.

48 minutes ago, Npmartian said:

The VCX always appealed to me because of how much pure damage it could deal. It's quite the feeling to put 6 damage on Nym with one ship in one combat phase. I like the generic, but Hera needs some figuring out.

Gotcha.

Any reasonably balanced VCX build is going to be at least average and ultimately meta-adjacent if it has a TLT/Autoblaster and the Phantom 1 title.

Here is how I approach it:

1. What ship or pilot do I genuinely enjoy using?

2. How can I optimize both the fun and effectiveness of a list that involves that ship or pilot?

Thats it.

Just do you and be nice & always be accommodating to new players.

Don't overthink it.

Play the ships you enjoy the way you enjoy them.

Set it up on the table and play against yourself. Or buy your buddy a drink and say, hey, be my punching bag. I wanna try this list. You can make it sting less too by giving him a list to pilot. So he feels no attachment to the result of the game.

1 hour ago, Npmartian said:

the raw power of Sabine calls to me...

Not Sabine she’s everywhere!

Play whatever list you like. Then swap sides and play against it. Then you’ll see how much fun it is. I’ve done this and found Ryad was a bit of a nightmare to play against so started mixing it up a bit.