So! The largest X-Wing event in the world to date. Marvellous.
I don’t play enough x-wing. I’m not invested enough to care about winning, I wanted to meet people, see some old aquaintences and have a good time. I also wanted to give my opponents a game they wouldn’t get normally, see something a bit unexpected. The old PC game TIE fighter kindled my love of star wars. Also my twitch handle (rather arrogantly) is RhoSquadronAce. All these combined meant I bought these guys and girls, auditioning for a slot in Rho Squadron...
QuoteRecon
(32) Nu Squadron Pilot [Alpha-class Star Wing]
(0) Os-1 Arsenal Loadout
(3) Advanced SLAM
(2) Fire-Control System
(6) Adv. Proton Torpedoes
(4) Ion Missiles
Points: 47(32) Nu Squadron Pilot [Alpha-class Star Wing]
(0) Os-1 Arsenal Loadout
(3) Advanced SLAM
(2) Fire-Control System
(6) Adv. Proton Torpedoes
(4) Ion Missiles
Points: 47(54) "Whisper" [TIE/ph Phantom]
(5) Juke
Points: 59(32) Nu Squadron Pilot [Alpha-class Star Wing]
(0) Os-1 Arsenal Loadout
(4) Ion Missiles
(3) Advanced SLAM
(2) Fire-Control System
(6) Adv. Proton Torpedoes
Points: 47Total points: 200
Its a bit of fun, trying to put a second rank ship on the table with a decent damage output at all ranges. It’s weaknesses are obvious - it can’t turn around, agility is low and the chances of double mods are negligible. On the other hand, 3 speed SLAM 3 speed is fast and catches people off guard, and PS2 is a good level for blocking.
Results in testing (three games!) were mixed, but with no time to develope an alternate list I went with it. Walking around and looking at lists I was worried about my ability to cope vs everything. At this point I revised my expectations downward. It’s a stupid list. I’m going nowhere.
Game one - Giacomo, 4 Phantoms
Great, the Big Bad (tm). I’m already feeling negative and I’m going to be crushed.
After a cautious start he’s moved to his bottom left corner and I pounce while he has to round a rock and I know exactly where he’ll end up. I SLAM in fast and end with two Gunboats ar range one, one behind the Phantoms at R2 and whisper camping at R3 of the one I’ve locked. Perfect approach! I knock a shield off with Whisper, then he proceeds to delete a Gunboat which is rather saddening. My APT and an ion missile kills a Phantom though, which puts me ahead of points. Next turn my trailing gunboat gets an APT shot, having failed to get killed I proceed to delete another phantom and I’m in the lead. I clean up the rest with 35 minutes to spare.
okay... unexpected. 1-0
Game two - Dom, 4-T-70
So, Jess and three generics. I can out PS and manoeuvre these guys right? Wrong. He calls my approach and I lose a Gunboat on the first combat round. He repositions over a gas cloud which I’ve been avoiding (**** you ingrained tendency to avoid obstacles!). Nonetheless I persevere and finally kill Jess. It’s close as **** on the last round and I haven’t done the maths but so long as I don’t lose half points on my shieldless Gunboat I’m fine. I SLAM away. 8 point win. Phew. 2-0.
Game three - Kylo, Republic Swarm.
I’ve been worried about swarms, and this gentleman’s two ARCs and four Torrents gives 38 hitpoints (I think). Sinker with Commander Cody are the only named things. Also he’s wearing a Weekend Warlords shirt, a club that plays very competitive x-wing, but every member I’ve met so far is awesome
I’m happy with my approach. I catch an ARC in a pincer, and my APT, Ion missile and range 2 Whisper shot net one shield. I lose a Gunboat, and thanks to a mess up Whisper follows. It goes to time and I can’t remember if my half health gunboat survived or died. 2-1
At this point I’m flagging, been up since 4am. The event is running late. I’m still, despite all expectations, in the running. Sleepy me decides that once I’ve lost two I’ll drop and then find food and sleep!
Game four - Chris. 4 rebels (Cassian, Jake, Sabine, Wedge)
Four ship Rebels. Fab, I like this match up. He slow roles, I SLAM in to mess his approach and APT Wedge until he dies, then it’s a case of rounding up the rest with superior numbers. My tiredness is beginning to show and I lose half points on Whisper with some questionable moves and self-bumps. Still, I win. 3-1. ****. No sleep for me!
Game five - Stjepan, four phantoms.
Much the same as the first game I wait until he has to make a predictable move and pounce, only this time the Phantom lives on one hull. Next round I’m outmanoeuvred and I still fail to kill the Phantom but lose Whisper. I Kill two Phantoms by time but lose on points. 3-2 and drop.
I can’t decide whether it’s 2.0 or whether I accidentally made a good list or whether I flew well, but after round two I was exceeding my expectations. I honestly think I could’ve made the cut. I certainly could’ve won game five with a fresher head, game one proved that. Who knows what I might’ve met in round six and whether I could’ve won it, but honestly? No BS, this list kicks *** when flown properly.
I’m coming back next year. I’m travelling up the night before rather than early morning, and I’m going to have a proper go, with a tested, evolved and well practiced list containing Gunboats. You may commence the mockery now
Edited by Estarriol
