New to X-wing, Need Advice

By CameronGordon, in X-Wing Off-Topic

Hello Everyone

My name is Cameron Gordon and I am new to X-wing but I am not new to FFG. I was an armada player but I left the game due to the fact that it was just absolutely non-existent in my area. I have a couple of questions that I hope the community will answer.

1) Is there a Facebook group for x-wing players? I know legion and other games have one.

2) What is the hyperspace format? what format is the most common?

3) This is a more specific question but is there a play group around the Boone N.C area? I plan to move to that area in the spring of 2021 in search of work! I was hoping to get started looking for play groups in that area!

Thanks in advance and I look forward to many forum discussions in the future!

Lots of various Facebook groups usually those are around a FLGS. Maybe check the organized play forum or post there.

Hyperspace is a limited or perhaps curated format where certain ships, pilots, and upgrades can not be used. Extended is the open format with all ships and upgrades. Depends on the location. My group only does Extended but more tourney oriented groups will do hyperspace as a lot of official organized play is hyperspace.

Can not help you with groups in Boone.

12 hours ago, CameronGordon said:

3) This is a more specific question but is there a play group around the Boone N.C area? I plan to move to that area in the spring of 2021 in search of work! I was hoping to get started looking for play groups in that area!

A little searching turned up this location. I'd suggest asking them.

https://www.boonegamers.com/dragon-s-den
https://www.facebook.com/DragonsDenBoone

I have been to dragon's den! Nice people but mostly 40k is played there. Didn't have much to in the way of FFG games. Nice people though!

1 minute ago, CameronGordon said:

I have been to dragon's den! Nice people but mostly 40k is played there. Didn't have much to in the way of FFG games. Nice people though!

They might be a source of contacts and/or info, though? We don't have a FLGS any longer but a couple of brothers recently started a smallish one out of a spare room of their brew pub and they were a wealth of information about people they knew who were into X-Wing, even if only a little. We've talked about them starting to host open gaming again after the Covid situation eases up, and that would include inviting some of those folks to come and meet up. One of the brothers might even start playing, and they don't stock X-Wing but now they can special order anything I want when I ask.

Sometimes you just need to start with a kernel (like a gaming site) and take initiative to bring like-minded folks together there and start your own scene. Just an idea. 😎 🍺

4 minutes ago, Spinland said:

They might be a source of contacts and/or info, though? We don't have a FLGS any longer but a couple of brothers recently started a smallish one out of a spare room of their brew pub and they were a wealth of information about people they knew who were into X-Wing, even if only a little. We've talked about them starting to host open gaming again after the Covid situation eases up, and that would include inviting some of those folks to come and meet up. One of the brothers might even start playing, and they don't stock X-Wing but now they can special order anything I want when I ask.

Sometimes you just need to start with a kernel (like a gaming site) and take initiative to bring like-minded folks together there and start your own scene. Just an idea. 😎 🍺

That's great! Thanks for pointing me in the right direction!

2 minutes ago, CameronGordon said:

That's great! Thanks for pointing me in the right direction!

No prob. My eldest daughter used to co-own a FLGS (the economy and Covid killed it) and I feel confident that, if you and the folks you gather to your banner show some solid and reliable interest in bringing the game to their door, they'll consider stocking it and maybe even hosting sanctioned events. It's all about catering to a market that will bring in buying customers. First they need to see enough dependable interest.

Getting them to be able to special order stuff for you is a good early step. Then get butts in the seats. I know it's not as good as stepping into an already-existing and active scene, but this is a niche hobby in a struggling economy and when you don't live in a large metropolitan area ya gotta do what ya gotta do. 😎

Just now, Spinland said:

No prob. My eldest daughter used to co-own a FLGS (the economy and Covid killed it) and I feel confident that, if you and the folks you gather to your banner show some solid and reliable interest in bringing the game to their door, they'll consider stocking it and maybe even hosting sanctioned events. It's all about catering to a market that will bring in buying customers. First they need to see enough dependable interest.

Getting them to be able to special order stuff for you is a good early step. Then get butts in the seats. I know it's not as good as stepping into an already-existing and active scene, but this is a niche hobby in a struggling economy and when you don't live in a large metropolitan area ya gotta do what ya gotta do. 😎

Absolutely!

Check out with the Shuttle Tydirium podcast folks, too (facebook). Their captain is based in Charlotte, and might know some players. Especially on the cinematic and casual side.

On 10/24/2020 at 6:48 PM, CameronGordon said:

1) Is there a Facebook group for x-wing players? I know legion and other games have one.

2) What is the hyperspace format? what format is the most common?

3) This is a more specific question but is there a play group around the Boone N.C area? I plan to move to that area in the spring of 2021 in search of work! I was hoping to get started looking for play groups in that area!

1) As others have pointed out you might be able to find a local squadron facebook page, but for a more global page that encompasses everybody in X-wing, you can hit up the pages of the major podcasts.

There is a an index of useful links page the Midwest Scrub made, and he made an accompanying A Guide to Community Resources blog to help navigate those links.

2) Hyperspace format is a limited format that removes some upgrades, pilots, or ships from play, allowing for a more curated format. It tends to be the more "new player" friendly format as it only contains ships that have been rereleased in 2nd Edition, as opposed to the Extended format in which all ships, pilots, and upgrades are fieldable which has some 1st Edition ships that are currently hard to find.

Any squad builders should have ways to select between the formats. The current official FFG squad builder is kind of janky, so we recommend Launch Bay Next for mobile and YASB 2.0 for browsers.

As for which is the most common, Covid complicates that, since we have no organized play. Official store championship level tournaments are typically Hyperspace, while regular tourney are the organizer's choice. Regional, Continental, and World level tournaments are extended. Organized Play may change that next year, that's up to them.

3) Looks like other got you covered here. It might be a little harder hooking up with a group due to Covid though.