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So, as a 40k player primarily, I've never been one for tournaments (reasons should be obvious for those who play 40k). But, I've become quite a fan of X-wing, and decided that, with it being a very well balanced game, to give the tournament scene a try. I took part this past weekend in a local tournament at a FLGS I go too occasionally. 10 people showed up, including me and a friend of mine. Never played against these people, or met them before, but I figured it'd be a fun experience. I decided to bring out the Rebels that I haven't played in awhile. The list I ran was as follows:

Wedge Antilles
- Squad Leader

Luke Skywalker

Corran Horn
- R2-D2
- Fire Control System

Had a ton of fun, and ended up taking first by a large stretch (was very surprised).

On the 5th they're having another tournament, and I figured I'd give it a go, but with an opposite list. I was thinking of trying:

Soontir Fel
- Auto Thrusters
- Push the Limit
- Royal Guard Tie
- Stealth Device

Rexler Brath
- Outmaneuver

Turr Phenir

I'm mainly curious how you guys think this list will do. It seems solid on paper, as my Tie Defender has done so much work in the past, but I've never actually tried Soontir Fel (Turr Phenir is my usual, and my favorite). I'm no power gamer, so I don't want to most powerful net-list, but I would like some feedback from regular tourney goers.

Thanks in advance.

I'm also a 40k guy, or rather played a ton before moving onto better designed/managed games, and I can tell you that X-wing is a refreshing experience.

This biggest compliment I can give it is that every ship is legitimately viable. Sure there will be "optimal" builds, and better pilots versus others, but it is still a system where skill will allow you to do well with virtually any list.

To that end, I say keep making your own lists and experiment. The "meta" players will tell you that there are maybe four viable builds, which is silly. This game is not Heroclix or 40k where units can either be amazing, or total gak.

When everyone was already certain that X-wings were over-costed crap, I still won local tournaments building around Wedge and Biggs and flying them well, and when people were 100% sure that the old Phantom was the only way to win, I took 3rd at Battle for Salvation using a then unheard of Colt 45 list (Fat-Hat's diet-beer counter-part... modest-Lando). :-p

Its a rare game where playing often is your best bet, as experience and good play will trump net-listing, 75% of the time.

NewTruthNeomaxim wrote:
I'm also a 40k guy, or rather played a ton before moving onto better designed/managed games, and I can tell you that X-wing is a refreshing experience.

This biggest compliment I can give it is that every ship is legitimately viable. Sure there will be "optimal" builds, and better pilots versus others, but it is still a system where skill will allow you to do well with virtually any list.

To that end, I say keep making your own lists and experiment. The "meta" players will tell you that there are maybe four viable builds, which is silly. This game is not Heroclix or 40k where units can either be amazing, or total gak.

When everyone was already certain that X-wings were over-costed crap, I still won local tournaments building around Wedge and Biggs and flying them well, and when people were 100% sure that the old Phantom was the only way to win, I took 3rd at Battle for Salvation using a then unheard of Colt 45 list (Fat-Hat's diet-beer counter-part... modest-Lando). :-p

Its a rare game where playing often is your best bet, as experience and good play will trump net-listing, 75% of the time.

Agreed on all points. I'm thinking of trying out more tournaments running off the wall stuff that no one typically uses. I also wanna challenge myself to make the StarVipers usable.

I'm debating with this next tourney if I wanna try Soontir Fel for the first time (since he's really good, obviously) or if I wanna replace him with Darth Vader with Squad leader and some of the new fangled upgrades (though I'm not really a fan of the Advanced Targeting Computer).

I THINK two StarVipers were either in, or just out of the top 16 lists at Gencon... so they have their place.

That's the other thing... I find that soooo many people build and place around the meta that anything "new" throws them, and messes up targeting priority, etc...

People often say the game is down to pure rock/scissors/paper with "Big Ship" build, Swarms, Phantom-Elite small ships x2, as the only meta lists... but then you field something atypical and people will often show that the extent of their "experience" is just playing those match-ups.

Its thinking like that that saw no one using the Imp Shuttle, until someone threw people for a loop using one or two as super blockers.

Outside the box is actually rewarded here, unlike 40k. Just see the Gencon results where a character landing, intentionally on a debris field threw the whole match into chaos and earned a win.

NewTruthNeomaxim wrote:
I THINK two StarVipers were either in, or just out of the top 16 lists at Gencon... so they have their place.

That's the other thing... I find that soooo many people build and place around the meta that anything "new" throws them, and messes up targeting priority, etc...

People often say the game is down to pure rock/scissors/paper with "Big Ship" build, Swarms, Phantom-Elite small ships x2, as the only meta lists... but then you field something atypical and people will often show that the extent of their "experience" is just playing those match-ups.

Its thinking like that that saw no one using the Imp Shuttle, until someone threw people for a loop using one or two as super blockers.

Outside the box is actually rewarded here, unlike 40k. Just see the Gencon results where a character landing, intentionally on a debris field threw the whole match into chaos and earned a win.

Haha, wow. That really is what I love about this game, is that any build can do well if you pilot it right. I mean, I used the aforementioned list in the previous tournament, and I went up against Twin Firesprays and thought I was gonna get creamed. But he didn't expect me to outmaneuver him like I did. I won that match without losing a single hull point on my ships (and killed both of his Firesprays).

 krodarklorr wrote:

NewTruthNeomaxim wrote:
I'm debating with this next tourney if I wanna try Soontir Fel for the first time (since he's really good, obviously) or if I wanna replace him with Darth Vader with Squad leader and some of the new fangled upgrades (though I'm not really a fan of the Advanced Targeting Computer).

Vader will be the more forgiving of the two pilots. Soontir Fel demands very precise flying - a good opponent will punish you severely for any mistakes you make with him.

For a new player, I recommend flying "old man lists" - lists with relatively few special rule interactions, that rely mostly on you successfully keeping the opponent in your firing arcs and just out-shooting him. TIE Fighters and TIE Adv /w accuracy corrector or adv targeting computer are good for that.

Soontir Fel
- Auto Thrusters
- Push the Limit
- Royal Guard Tie
- Stealth Device

Rexler Brath
- Outmaneuver

Turr Phenir

Main thing I would suggest here is to drop Outmaneuver on Rexler in favor of Veteran Instincts and Autothrusters on Turr Phenir. With the new TIE Advanced cards, you could also look into adding Vader or one of the other TIE A pilots (I would replace Rexler with Vader). Twin Ion Engine Mk. II is also a great upgrade to have on Defenders or TIE Advanceds.

I too jumped from 40K...your wallet will thank you for this move. As will your sanity as you go through the rules and potential interactions of upgrade cards.

The best thing about X-wing is any list can win...if you develop it to your style, practice, tweak when required.
Lots of Meta-Variations at Regionals. I flew 4 Y-wings to top 8. Another guy was flying a 5 Y-wing variation (I had taken that list to Top 8 at Store Champs)...and he got creamed. Lots of Meta lists also got creamed.
Fly what suits you and practice. ScreemerStar, Leaf Blower, and the like don't lead to auto-wins in X-Wing.

dkellyj wrote:
I too jumped from 40K...your wallet will thank you for this move. As will your sanity as you go through the rules and potential interactions of upgrade cards.

The best thing about X-wing is any list can win...if you develop it to your style, practice, tweak when required.
Lots of Meta-Variations at Regionals. I flew 4 Y-wings to top 8. Another guy was flying a 5 Y-wing variation (I had taken that list to Top 8 at Store Champs)...and he got creamed. Lots of Meta lists also got creamed.
Fly what suits you and practice. ScreemerStar, Leaf Blower, and the like don't lead to auto-wins in X-Wing.

Yeah, I'm tempted to start practicing with some crazy, off the wall lists, but first I think I wanna try what I know is good, and I'm used to. So time to break out the Interceptors and Defenders.

But for real, hats off to Fantasy Flight for actually caring to make a balanced game, and not make OP units just to sell models...*cough*GW*cough*.