If they are not careful, X-Wing 2.0 will have balance issues and flaws upon release if they do not take the time to properly check and test everything. I say this because there are way too many pilots and updates to try and check/test/balance with the limited testing time they are giving themselves.

I would like to see FFG take there time and get 2.0 right the first time, but money talks and balance walks.

Yes, I know about the special app, but that will only fix the hidden cost value and not fix the actual wording on the cards.

Even if they take their time, will 2.0 be perfect? No, but I think players would appreciate a smaller Errata and FAQ than a larger Errata and FAQ.

You're right about not fixing text, but they can still pull the "Oh, that's broken? It's 180 points now" lever. So that's good.

Just now, Tlfj200 said:

You're right about not fixing text, but they can still pull the "Oh, that's broken? It's 180 points now" lever. So that's good.

They can also add/remove slots from ships or outright ban certain ship/upgrade combos.

From what I've been told, they've been playtesting it for a long, long time now. I'd assume they'll have done a better job with this than the last couple of waves.

you know that its not like they just decided on May 1 to start developing 2.0. They have been working on it for around a year based on what the devs have said in their interviews after the announcement. They have been wording cards to be specific yet open-ended to account for future possibilities. They have taken their time and like it was said above, they will be able to better adjust points and upgrade bars with the new app.

They've been working on 2.0 for over a year, and dedicating a LOT of time and resources to it. I think it's pretty clear from the announcements and interviews they've given that they're being very careful with it.

This isn't their first rodeo.

X-Wing 1.0 was.

43 minutes ago, HaranHaste said:

you know that its not like they just decided on May 1 to start developing 2.0. They have been working on it for around a year based on what the devs have said in their interviews after the announcement.

1 year might seem long but it really isn't for X-Wing. IIRC they said at least once the typical design cycle for each wave was 12 to 18 months or so.

49 minutes ago, Alpha17 said:

From what I've been told, they've been playtesting it for a long, long time now. I'd assume they'll have done a better job with this than the last couple of waves.

The last couple waves may have been so **** BECAUSE of 2.0 testing ?

2 hours ago, LordBlades said:

1 year might seem long but it really isn't for X-Wing. IIRC they said at least once the typical design cycle for each wave was 12 to 18 months or so.

But they have said the new system gives them more time (in the same time) because they don't have to lock point costs and upgrades in early, none of that has to be set before graphic design gets it, let alone the printers. So they can keep balancing alot longer then before with the same lead time.

1 minute ago, Icelom said:

But they have sad the new system gives them more time (in the same time) because they don't have to lock point costs and upgrades in early, none of that has to be set before graphic design gets it, let alone the printers. So they can keep balancing alot longer then before with the same lead time.

That's good, but it still won't beat 1000 eyes on the new cards the moment they are announced. They've given themselves an out, though, and that's that they'll be more quickly able to react to "public playtesting" instead of having to wait another year and a half to introduce a counter card/ace pack.

1 hour ago, Tlfj200 said:

You're right about not fixing text, but they can still pull the "Oh, that's broken? It's 180 points now" lever. So that's good.

This is a great meta lever to have on hand be sure....

1 hour ago, Innese said:

They can also add/remove slots from ships or outright ban certain ship/upgrade combos.

Yeah, but this is not a good way to fix things as no one wants partial cards and have to flip through an FAQ every time a question comes up. Sure the app will have the correct info, but the cards would then be incorrect. This is always an issue with casual and games introducing normies to X-Wing.

They should take their time to insure that the ship/pilot/upgrade options/dials are good enough that they don't have issues outside of squad cost imbalance. Best way to do that? Get some good players to try and BREAK the game they have at this moment before they go to printing. I'm sure there are many takers even on this, their forum.....just sayin'

They are taking their time testing it. Having an open beta for the duration of 2e is continuous testing and balancing, just quicker than FAQ-based (one would hope).

Even with the ability to adjust points, I agree that FFG still needs to be careful about the abilities they print on their cards. But they've made it much easier on themselves to correct over/underpower issues. Weird card interactions will still require an FAQ & Errata, but it's possible that they are set up to distribute corrected cards more easily this time.

well if the play testing credits read the same the JM5K, H6, or Sheathpiede...

19 minutes ago, clanofwolves said:

Yeah, but this is not a good way to fix things as no one wants partial cards and have to flip through an FAQ every time a question comes up. Sure the app will have the correct info, but the cards would then be incorrect. This is always an issue with casual and games introducing normies to X-Wing.

They should take their time to insure that the ship/pilot/upgrade options/dials are good enough that they don't have issues outside of squad cost imbalance. Best way to do that? Get some good players to try and BREAK the game they have at this moment before they go to printing. I'm sure there are many takers even on this, their forum.....just sayin'

Upgrade slots and such are no longer printed on the cards, its all through the app.

10 minutes ago, Innese said:

Upgrade slots and such are no longer printed on the cards, its all through the app.

...ooooh, well I'm not in the know; I've been looking and listening, but I didn't get that detail. Thanks for the assist!

Just now, clanofwolves said:

...ooooh, well I'm not in the know; I've been looking and listening, but I didn't get that detail. Thanks for the assist!

No worries! But yea all slots and points are going to be managed through the app with not a single one shown on the card(s).

Just now, Innese said:

No worries! But yea all slots and points are going to be managed through the app with not a single one shown on the card(s).

Wonder if people who would lean heavy towards casual play might not go the 2.0 route due to this detail?

1 minute ago, clanofwolves said:

Wonder if people who would lean heavy towards casual play might not go the 2.0 route due to this detail?

Its possible, but FFG has stressed many times that the App is free, will have a browser version, and can be printed from a pdf.

14 minutes ago, Innese said:

Its possible, but FFG has stressed many times that the App is free, will have a browser version, and can be printed from a pdf.

True, it'll be fun to see. I have a few mates that just love cards and try to stay away from tech when running pint games; they're reserving judgement and not pre-ordering and waiting to see how it flushes out.

It is not going to be balanced. There will be dominating archetypes that take the top tables at premier events. The thing is now FFG has a better way of correcting such oversights.

I'll be honest, I am not a fan of games as a service business model especially on video games. However X-wing 2.0 is as close to this service type of miniature game as you can get with its very own free officially supported app. I will say this may not be the right way (if there is such thing) but it will be the better way.

49 minutes ago, Innese said:

Upgrade slots and such are no longer printed on the cards, its all through the app.

Oh snap! I hadn't even noticed that! That's awesome!

41 minutes ago, clanofwolves said:

True, it'll be fun to see. I have a few mates that just love cards and try to stay away from tech when running pint games; they're reserving judgement and not pre-ordering and waiting to see how it flushes out.

You won't need the app to actually play. Just for squad building. Also, for truly casual, people can build squads using the Quick Build cards provided with each ship - just build to a specified threat level using the cards and you're good to go.

Jim

In a way, all of X-Wing 1.0 was playtesting for 2.0. Particularly the last several waves in which IIRC they were specifically trying things out in order to get a feel for how to incorporate them into 2.0 (mobile arcs, bullseye arcs, etc). Now they should have a pretty good grasp of what kinds of things will break the game, which is why 2.0 doesn’t have things like TLT, Poons, unlimited regen, massive attacks, token stacks, etc. I suspect it will be more balanced on the whole (meaning there won’t be as big a spread between the best ships/lists and the worst ones) than 1.0 right out the gate, with any outliers being reigned in with point cost adjustments over the next year or so.