X-Wing - Happy New year! (Excelsior, Bristol)

Just the week-end after the Cardiff Regional, Rich is proposing the first X-Wing event of the year in Excelsior and I'm looking forward to some fun games.

I don't want to play the same list as for the Regionals, but still want to keep Ryad. I decide to get Palp on his shuttle (he's still good, even after his nerf), and Anthony let me borrow his Quickdraw (I haven't bought, nor played with a Tie-SF so far!).

I decide to make Ryad super tanky and the list I come up with is:

PALP AND THE LADIES (100)

“Quickdraw” (34)

Special Forces TIE (29), Veteran Instincts (1), Fire-Control System (2), Lightweight Frame (2)

Countess Ryad (37)
TIE Defender (34), Lone Wolf (2), TIE/x7 (-2), Stealth Device (3)

Omicron Group Pilot (29)
Lambda-Class Shuttle (21), Collision Detector (0), Emperor Palpatine (8)

Game 1: Paul
Autocorrect & autoblaster PS10 Nym with bomblets
Thweek (copy Ryad's ability)
PTL Fenn & title

I know Nym is the main danger for my list (which relies massively on defensive mods and dice). So he's my priority right from the start. I need to get him down quickly.
I put the shuttle on my left and QD center right. Nym is positioned on the side of Ryad which I don't like. It's my first game with this list (actually, first game at all with QD); and I don't have it worked out yet. So I move straight with Ryad and QD, thinking about trying to get behind with Ryad while QD puts some damage (even at the price of loosing her shields).

Imperials ladies facing some scums

But on the second turn, I double-think myself and, instead of going straight (afraid of getting into the range 1 bubble of Nym), I bank in with Ryad, while Fenn finds a nice block on QD.

Oh, oh: Ryad is not (yet) in the range 1 auto damage bubble...

This doesn't go too bad as it gives me a chance to put damage into Nym (but, not enough; as we will see!). If I remember well, Thweek unmodified shot doesn't do anything.
But now, Ryad should go away from the auto damage... Instead, I commit further, thinking I should be able to kill this pesky 1 agility ship easily...

Ryad is really in bad shape now. Thweek and Nym aren't fairing well either

A couple of turns later, Ryad has eaten a bomblet with Genius (at least, it's now off Nym), QD has done some damage on both Thweek and Nym, but, even with the help of Ryad and the shuttle, not enough to kill Nym.

The shuttle managed some nice blocks on the 2 ships chasing her, to keep the Emperor alive!

At the end of game, Ryad has been blown by the autoblaster. Nym is still alive (on 2 hulls I think, with 2 crits that just didn't do anything - original damage deck). Thweek is limping and the shuttle is on half points.

Loss: 0-51



Game 2: Rich G. (best TO ever!)
Rich is playing XXXXZ, all with the new Flight Assist astromech.

Rich creates a big line with all his ships to make sure I've got nowhere to hide.

Wow! That's a lot of guns pointing at my troops!

I dial in a stop for the shuttle, a 3 forward with QD and 5 foward with Ryad. What I'm thinking is that I'll k-turn the 5fwd with Ryad, so I can 3 k-turn here after and get her in line with the shuttle.
But Rich goes way too fast with his X-Wings and I'm already in range with Ryad, so decide to keep the straight. QD removes 1 shield and acquires a Targel Lock. Ryad doesn't do anything, but she also manage to get attacked by 4X and a Z at range 3, for no damage at all! Rich dice weren't bad at all, but range 3 with Sealth Device is 5 greens; with Focus, Evade, Lone Wolf and Palp on the defense, Ryad is SO tanky!


Next turn, Rich goes for the shuttle and block my k-turn with Ryad.

Ryad isn't going anywhere and the shuttle is in for a beating!

The shuttle is going to get a real beating.
But QD ends-up range 1 of the damaged X with focus and TL:

Everyone loves a range 1 shot with TL and focus!

This X-Wing is the first casualty of the battle.
Then, Rich creates a nice kill-zone on QD who explodes.. not without having dealt loads of damage (some doubles shots from front and back: beautiful)!
Then, it's a full health Ryad, still with her stealth device who can finish the last X-Wings and the Z.

Win: 100-63


Game 3: Philip
Philip is playing a really fun list: Thweek, Talonbane and Dalan Oberos.

I keep Ryad far away from the fight at the beginning (maybe too much away, actually), while QD engages and tries do deal loads of damage.

Ryad and the shuttle are just there to boost QD confidence... from far back!

And QD really gets loads of damage out (again, one beautiful 2 shots front and back, both range 1, doubles as I lost a shield!). I get harpooned as I forgot about Dalan Oberos ability (which give him the TL).

QD is still alone.. but gets a nice and doubled double-range 1 shots (so, 4 shots in a round :))

When QD goes down, both Thweek and Talonbane are badly damaged (Thweek on 2 and Talonbane on 1). Things are looking good, but Ryad manages to miss a range 1 attack (unmodified) on Talonbane (who is on 1 hulll and only one green dice due to a crit). Which means that Talonbane can regen 1 shield, and things are now looking grim. Next round though, the shuttle and Ryad kill both Thweek and Talonbane.
But the shuttle has taken some beating. Dalan kills the shuttle, but gets 3 stress for it (k-turn once, then uses Contraband to k-turn again. Ryad just gets behind to finish the game.

Win: 100-67


Game 4: Rich C.
Rich is playing Backdraft and Vader with missiles and Omega Leader (with juke,relay,SD).

I don't have any pictures of the game.
From memory, I wanted to focus fire on OL before loosing a ship, as I know she'll be really bad in the end game; she can also damage Ryad as she negates all the tokens and Lone Wolf.

But the engagement gives me an opportunity to really get in a perfect position with QD against Vader and backdraft. I only lose one or two shields to remove Vader (2 range 1 shots from QD and a last shot from the shuttle).

Still, Omega Leader seems unkillable. I forget about the harpoon on Backdraft and eat it on QD who goes down, but is avenged by Ryad shortly after.
Then Omega Leader is pursuing the shuttle, with Ryad just behind. Palp not being blocked by OL lock on Ryad means I manage to get some damage through and finally kill the Tie FO.
I've got Ryad and half a shuttle left.

Win 100-43



Game 5: Chris
Chris is really a great player to play against and always bring fun lists on the table.
He's playing Ryad, but with Tie-D and TB, and 2 alpha star wings: Lt Karsabi with title+HLC and wired) and another one with Jamming beam, title, advanced slam.


Going in, the Tractor Beam is what I'm really afraid of. I decide again to leave Ryad away and go in with the shuttle (not much afraid of a TB) and QD.

Not sure sacrificing the shuttle was the right choice of engagement...

This game is SO close and tense: it was a blast. It also was the end of the day and Chris and I made plenty of mistakes. I forgot FCS on QD and blanked out on next attack on the Lt. Karsabi, who escaped with 1 hull left to slam away (making me chase him way too long with Ryad and QD to finish him off). I also forgot about TB and kept my Palp for an evade on the shuttle... Only to see TB removing my only dice and not getting any use of Palp this round.
And Chris forgot to use Tractor Beam in the last two rounds... which may have changed the issue of the game.
But I also made some nice moves with QD, managing to get range 1 shots from the back on Ryad, while being out of arc a couple of times; and Chris flew very well and didn't fall in the trap of focussing on QD, he went for the shuttle and then straight for Ryad. But, even without Palp, Ryad is really tanky with the tokens, SD and LW. Lone wolf being in this case the real winner of the game!
I ended up winning on points with QD and Ryad alive, while Chris had his Ryad and the boat alive.
Qd was undamaged, but both my and Chris' Ryad were on 1 hull, both surviving miraculously range 1 attacks on the last round.

I don't remember the end score, but it was a couple of points...




As a last word, those games were just all so close and tense; with brilliant flying around, it was SO fun. This is exactly what I like in X-Wing and I enjoyed it immensely. My opponents were all real gentlemen, really committed to the games, but still with a flying casual attitude.
The event was perfectly ran by Rich (as usual)!

Post-nerf Palp is really less powerful, that's a given. But he still works and is actually more fun! Instead of passively waiting for the time you'll need him; you have to make a choice. Therefore, it's more tense and way more fun than before!


Special Congrats to Tim who won the first tournament of the year!

Congrats Tim!!!

Welsh Regionals - Firestorm Games - Cardiff

Despite a lot of discussions and list-theorizing online, I didn't get a lot of opportunities to practice before the Regionals.
A couple of games on Vassal, with a list mainly built to counter the very popular at the time PS10/PS11 alpha strike: Poe & Dash.
I even painted my Dash to be used during the event:

Poe / Dash, ready to flight!

But I had second thoughts just before packing my stuff as I did realise my experience of flying Poe and Dash was close to nil, and I wasn't sure I was going to actually enjoy myself if I took it (which is my main goal in going to an event!!).
Also, I watched a couple of streams of other Regionals and saw players using exactly the same build which put me off.
So, back to the drawing board, days (or hours) before the event. I even considered a list with Nym / Miranda and the new trajectory, plenty of bombs and TLTs and harpoons... But I wasn't sure it'd be really that good (boy, was I wrong!) or that it'd fit my style of play (probably more true).

I ended up with three lists: one per faction:
Poe / Dash
Bossk / Assaj
2 Tie-Def and a boat

Eennie Meenie Miney...

In the end, I packed the Tie-Defenders on the night before. But nearly reverted back to Poe / Dash on the morning!

The list I took is as follow:

Rho Squadron Veteran (26)

Alpha-class Star Wing (21), Deadeye (1), Harpoon Missiles (4), Long Range Scanners (0)

Colonel Vessery (38)
TIE Defender (35), Expertise (4), TIE/x7 (-2), Twin Ion Engine Mk. II (1)

Countess Ryad (36)
TIE Defender (34), Push the Limit (3), TIE/x7 (-2), Twin Ion Engine Mk. II (1)

I flew a lot the Tie-Defenders during their time of glory (with a Palp shuttle) and wanted to try the new toy (I literally took the ship out of his plastic covers when packing!).


Just a quick word on the venue and the event: it's a great venue, really fantastic for this sort of events; the tournament itself was very well organised and ran smoothly from an early morning to the end of the night. The event was very popular (~ 130 players I think?) and it was great to see all the local friends, but also some from quite far away!

So, now, for the battle report itself...


Game 1: Seb Brady
Everyone knows Seb, but just in case you don't, you're missing out! 😋
He is one of those players who are always a pleasure to discuss and play with.
Last time we played each other was during the Nationals in August 2016, but we both had so much fun that we remembered it well. Funnily enough, at the time, I was flying Defenders and Seb was flying Y-Wings. (not the same lists, but still...).
This time, he was flying 3 Y-Wings with bombs and Ion Turret with the title; and AP-5 (I think?).
This is obviously a bad match-up for Seb as my 3 agility ships with focus and evade are not that likely to get ionised and really couldn't care less about a 2 dice attack... Also, my boat's harpoons will really hurt the Y-Wings. I'm mostly worried about the bombs, but there are only 3 of them...
The engagement doesn't go well for the Rebels. I think I only got one Def and the boat ionised each once during the whole game. Seb's last Y-Wings manages to kill the boat to get some points in.
My red dice were really good (Seb tried to roll them, but without as good a result 😋); still, I always had TL+expertise or TL+focus if I needed them.

One of the Y-Wing is going to pop quickly thanks to the harpoons

Win: 100-26



Game 2: Rob Taylor
Rob is flying a nice build with Poe and Chewie. Poe has got BB-8 and the title (for loads of TL removing. Chewie has got CM and Expertise (with the traditional C3PO).

I put the Rho in the middle, my Tie-Defenders on my right, facing Chewie. He sets his Poe on the other side. I slow roll the Rho while the Defenders are catching up to chase Chewie who is sliding along his edge towards Poe. Poe starts by slow moving straight, before accelerating (still straight) in order to get behind me. I'm not too fussed about that, as I'm thinking I can catch Chewie before Poe really joins the fight.

First round of combat, Chewie  bank in while Poe is still too far and I get all my guns on Chewie including the harpoon. Rob pops CM (which is the obvious move!) and removes the TL from the Rho. But I still have the TL from Ryad - and so get one for Vessery as well. That's a lot of red dice with TL+focus and the Rho fires a harpoon anyway thanks to Deadeye.
Next turns, I follow Chewie and fire away until he dies. Meanwhile, Poe is now in the game and kills the Rho.
Still, it's then two undamaged defenders chasing Poe...
Win: 100-26


Game 3: Rich Greenaway
Rich is a great friend who organizes the best fun tournament in Bristol and who came with the whole family. He's just a great guy! I'm sorry that we have to face each other: one of us will have to lose (and also, I'm just a slightly bit afraid of his list! 😋).
He is flying 4 Nu: 2 with harpoons and 2 with HLC and all have Long Range.

He sets up on his right. I put my boat facing his entire squad, while Vessery and Ryad are on my right. He won't be able to bank in without going through an asteroid. So Rich goes straight (and Long Range Vess and Ryad) while my Rho hard turn away to slow play and get past the asteroid and the Tie-Defenders race forward.

The next turn, he still have to go forward if he doesn't want to break formation through the rock, and My Rho bank back in, while the Tie-Def do the same (they already are mid-board).

The Tie-Def haven't moved yet: they are going to bank in while the boats are still going straight

Then his four Nus hard 2 towards the Def and I can reach range 1 and avoid some arcs thanks to a 5 forward with Ryad and a 3 bank with Vess. With my Tie-Defenders range 1 and the harpoon from my Rho, that's 12 red dice, all fully modified... which kills his Nu before his turn to shoot. Vessery loses his shields in exchange. Then it's time for the Tie-Defenders to 4-K behind the remaining Nus which don't like having 2 Tie-Defenders on their trail with fully modified attacks and melt away quickly.
My Rho survives on 1 hull!
Win: 100-0

Game 4 : Calum
Calum is playing the list of the day: Nym with bombs and the 5-forward launch, with Miranda with Sabine, more bombs. All with TLTs and harpoons...
Facing this list, I'm not really sure what to do. I want to try and kill Nym fast and hope I'll have enough firepower to still deal with regen-Miranda. My thinking is that, eve if I don't, I'll have at least killed something...

Vessery and Ryad will cover the right, staying enough apart, while the Rho will bank towards the asteroid in the middle, to keep Miranda from shooting her harpoons, while having arc on Nym

So I end up trying to create a killbox on Nym, while keeping my guys apart to mitigate the bombs impact. It works quite well: Miranda is still away and Nym has to barrel-roll away to avoid having all my guns on her. Still, Vessery and the Rho both have a shot..
But before the combat, Vessery has got to eat a proton bomb (at least, he is the only one, thanks to having kept my ships apart). He gets a Major Explosion. For which I roll a hit. And then, instead of removing one shield, I misplay and draw a crit card: Direct Hit. Vess is dead before the game starts! (we only realised the misplay at the end of the game. Calum was really sorry about it, but it was entirely my own fault for forgetting my shields, just because I had a damage!).
After that, it's really is an uphill battle. I manage to get Nym down to 1 hull, but can't finish him.
At one point, Calum manages to let go 3 bombs on my 2 remaining ships!!

Loss: 0-100


Game 5: 100-0 Lee Garett
Lee brings a very interesting build with an Intensity Poe, a very annoying hotshot Fenn and an aggresive Lowrhick with Maul and Ezra.

I'm quite confortable jousting this list. Lee starts by turning away before coming back straight at me in formation. The initial engagement is not specifically good for any of us, even if my harpoons remove some shields from Lowrhick.

Ryad and Vess are going to rush in Range 1

I guess that his Lowhrick is going to go for the block and bank 3 towards my Defenders and I take the chance of a 5-K with Ryad (thanks to her ability), and a 3 bank for Vess. It works perfectly: Ryad ends up just behind a Lowrhick who has reinforced the front. Vess is also range 1, but in the front. Lee manages to get his Poe Range 1 of Vess, but Fenn bumps.
Poe rolls something like 2 hits / 2 crits without mods! I'm starting to get worried for Vess! But my green dice step up to the challenge: 3 natural evades and the evade token: safe!!
I hesitate a long time on the kill priority there, but decide to go for Lowhrick.
Vess and Ryad kill Lowrhick  and the harpoon gives a damage to all the ships!!
Before dying, Lowrhick has removed all Vess shields and put a damage in (this time, I roll three blanks). My Rho range 1 gives a crit to Fenn (who lost his shield from the harpoon) : direct hit!
Next round, Fenn goes down to a 1 hull Vessery.
Then it's Poe against the full list. I mess up a BR which would have blocked Poe, but still get the kill in the end.
My dice were probably above average overall during the game, but it's also all the tokens! TL+focus and evades!
Win: 100-0


Game 6: David Hammond
David is playing two Tie Agressor (Double Edge with Ability and Unguided Rockets and TLTs; and a Onyx with TLT) and quickdraw with VI, harpoons, advanced optics. All have LWF.
For the set-up, David chooses to put his Agressors closer to me than Quick Draw.
I manage to get really quickly in range 1 of the Tie Agressor with the Defenders, in order to negate the TLT shots and deal loads of damage from my fully modified dice (it didn't help that David's greens failed him).



Meanwhile, QD is a bit far away and shooting at the boat (which I had parked behind a rock initially, which helped mitigate damage).
The first Tie went quickly and then I had my boat running away / slamming, trying to keep him alive to occupy QD while my Defenders chase the last Tie. At some point, David misread my moves and Slooped QD in a position where he didn't get any shots; he then had to reposition which gave me some time alone to finish this last Tie.
It was then 2 undamaged Tie Defenders against a full health Quick Draw...

Win: 100-26

That's it: I'm finishing the swiss on 5-1 and end up 7th, making the cut for the first time!
I must say I was as surprised as happy! (Special thanks here to Alex and Steve who had to wait as we shared a car to come in!!)

I spent all the time between Round 6 and the Top 16 game praying not to have to face another Nym / Miranda list! But it didn't work 😄



Top 16: Ronan Eales
His list is very similar to the one Calum was using in my 4th game. The proton bombs were replaced by others to get some initiative bid.
I'm thinking of trying the same approach I did with Calum (but, hopefully this time, not to lose a ship too early). But I just mess it up completely!
I put my Rho in the middle and Vess and Ryad on the right.

At this point, I've not fully messed up yet and I still have a chance (I think)

Then, I think about slamming the Rho to get either a bump or range 1 and avoiding any vomited bomb, so I dial in a 3 foward and I launch Ryad and Vess in the midst of it as well.
But, I doubt myself when choosing the Rho action; I'm now thinking he's never going to come back to launch the harpoon, so I might as well keep him there, and focus. Plain stupid!
Not only the Rho is perfectly placed for Nym and Miranda to launch harpoons on him, but Nym can launch a bomb which hits both him and Ryad! If I had slamed as planned initially, the bomb would only have hit Ryad. So before I even fire, my Rho is gone, Ryad is double-stressed and damaged...

Game's over!

Vessery will try his best, getting Miranda to 2 hull (last damage being a crit, I was hoping for something really good, but ended up with the one giving a stress). And died heroically!

Loss: 0-100





To conclude this battle report, a great thanks to all my opponents for really good games and to the organiser for a great event! Many, many thanks also to the Vagabond Squadron and the loads of time spent joking together about the game and other stuffs while still trying to come up with fun lists! (and yet another thanks to Steve for driving me in and out - even if later than planned :))
It was a fun day of playing X-Wing; and chatting with great friends; and making new ones!