The intro…
Hello and welcome to this week’s blog!
Truth be told I’m feeling a little bit out of the loop on a few things as home life has been busy and so has work. I’m undertaking a rather ambitious garden project with little skill and no experience. What could go wrong eh?
I know that some events have happened but I’m actually not sure what or when. I’m also in the process of catching up on some podcasts which are catching me up on that information.
Speaking of events though, I need to mention the Welsh Open!The XWA’s VERY FIRST System Open event of the new OP calendar is coming and it’s coming SOON!!
On the 19th & 20th of July at Firestorm Games in Cardiff we will be playing 2 days of main tournament with a top cut as well as a side event for those who don’t get into the cut.
The ticket price includes lunch on both days (and it’s a hot lunch!) and for prizes we will have the *still currently unannounced* (sorry!) XWA System Open kit as well as some of our own prizes and of course the epic bounty table!
Tickets are on sale here and I would REALLY appreciate it if you could get your ticket sooner rather than later if you’re intending to come!
XWA Update…
Ok, look, there’s no easy way to put this…
Well, at least on the part I’m responsible for.
System Open kits are ALMOST finalised. It’s so very close that I can smell it. Some components are actually already in production and others are on their way to me but some are still being tweaked in terms of design.
We are just 6 weeks away from the Welsh Open but I’m still confident we will get everything here on time.
An announcement is coming. The document is drafted. We are close. I promise.
Alright, let’s get to the main bit!
The main bit…
Ok, well, this might feel like a bit of an anti-climax but given the title of the blog you can’t be surprised!
Since the Exile Squad Championship a few weeks back I’ve actually not manged to play ANY X-Wing.
Ok, well actually that’s not really 100% accurate. I’ve not managed to play any real life in person X-Wing.
I have actually played a game online. One game. It was in the Fam team format that is being used in a tournament I’m in where pilots are drafted to a team and then the team makes 5 lists which are cross faction.
My team is doing pretty well but it’s definitely in spite of rather than because of my games. I’ve won just one of my 4 games so far. Still, I did (and always do) volunteer myself to be put into the hardest matchup if it gets us easier games on paper elsewhere.
My last game was against former Team England captain, former World Champion Oli Pocknell and, well, it went exactly as you might think! Possibly worse!
Anyway, I didn’t take any screenshots on that and since the format is a bit odd there’s not much point analysing my list composition or anything like that.
But with the next event that I’m attending being the one that I’m running, what exactly is there to talk about?
I’m still quite happy with the list that I flew at Newport a few weeks back.
Han Solo (AaD) – Customized YT-1300 Light Freighter (6)
Chewbacca (AaD) (0)
L3-37 (AaD) (0)
Tobias Beckett (AaD) (0)
Lando’s Millennium Falcon (AaD) (0)
Ship Cost: 6 Loadout: (0) Half Points: 3 Damage Threshold: 6
Fenn Rau (AaD) – Fang Fighter (6)
Fearless (0)
Adaptable Power Systems (AaD) (0)
Beskar Reinforced Plating (0)
Ship Cost: 6 Loadout: (0) Half Points: 3 Damage Threshold: 2
Dengar (AaD) – JumpMaster 5000 (6)
R2-G8 (AaD) (0)
Synchronized Handling (AaD) (0)
Starboard Thrusters (AaD) (0)
Punishing One (0)
Ship Cost: 6 Loadout: (0) Half Points: 3 Damage Threshold: 4
Mining Guild Surveyor – Modified TIE/ln Fighter (2)
Ship Cost: 2 Loadout: (0/0) Half Points: 1 Damage Threshold: 1
Total: 20
Yes some of the ships are expensive and yes, I could have done better but I like what the pieces do and while I STILL miss some triggers or fail to take full advantage, I feel like that just means there’s still potential in this list that I can tap into.
That said, I’ve not got an event coming up to prep for so why bother with even more reps with this list when there’s o much more out there I can try?
I do quite enjoy some parts of the list so I’m looking at Scum pieces and how to fit them in.
I really like the new Fenn so he stays. The TIE is just filler so he’s pretty expendable. This then begs the question. Do I drop Han or Dengar? Or both?!
I feel that one needs to stay. High initiative is a feature here but each ship has its own pros and cons.
For Han
| Pro | Con |
| Higher health than normal Scum Falcon One time get out of jail SLAM Potential for big attack roll Can self double mod | Low agility, no rerolls like Rebel Falcon Conditional on fully execute More conditions (obstructed, etc) Tricky to achieve multiple times |
And Dengar
| Pro | Con |
| Two agility Free calculate Can hand out strains Double tap | Often unmodded on defence Need to fully execute to recharge If I remember the trigger Needs opponent buy-in |
What I found over the course of the 4 games that I played both ships is that while my opponent needed to focus on one of them at a time, it was normally Dengar that survived. That’s mostly to do with them not wanting to shoot him to trigger the double tap, which I totally get. So then is that the reason why Han was targeted more than Dengar? I also didn’t normally get pumped up shots with Han with him getting extra dice for obstructions and my target being stressed. Then again, is that because my opponent was actively avoiding triggering these conditions? If so then my using Han affected my opponent’s actions and that in itself is a good thing (for me).
The thing is, I had games where Dengar did nothing and I had games where Han did nothing (except maybe survive when he possibly shouldn’t have).
So with no conclusion to draw there’s only one thing for it – testing.
But once again there’s an issue. What to fit into the list? Something that works with Han might not work with Dengar. Perhaps I’m overthinking it. Maybe I just need to play about with things and see how they feel.
First up, I’m throwing int he new Mando.
I played this twice and loved it. Definitely in.
So that’s 10 points. What do I do with the next 10?
I could keep either Han or Dengar and then have a 4 point ship. The new Cad Bane SL is pretty cool when I tried that before. There’s also the option of Talonbane Cobra in the Khiraxz which could throw out a 5 dice shot at range 1. Or maybe a HWK-290 with Dace Bonearm or Tapusk being options there. Leema Kai is maybe another possibility.
Or do I go with two of those 4 point options and get the TIE back in? That puts me on 5 ships which might be better for objective play.
Alternatively I could go for two 5 point ships instead. That said, I’ve actually no idea what 5 point ships are any good at the moment. I’ve seen that Nym is around a bit and has the possibility of being a real nuisance. Perhaps I could even swap 6 point Fenn out for 5 point Fenn and then have Fenn, Nym one of the big i6 6 pointers and Mando?
Eeesh. This is why I’m no good at list building. So many options with no clear idea of what I want a list to achieve while so many different options are zooming in and out of my brain.
Maybe this is an option:
Captain Nym – Scurrg H-6 Bomber (5)
Ion Cannon Turret (6)
Veteran Turret Gunner (4)
Seismic Charges (3)
Proton Bombs (5)
Ship Cost: 5 Loadout: (18/18) Half Points: 2 Damage Threshold: 5
Fenn Rau – Fang Fighter (5)
Fearless (3)
Ship Cost: 5 Loadout: (3/3) Half Points: 2 Damage Threshold: 2
Dengar (AaD) – JumpMaster 5000 (6)
R2-G8 (AaD) (0)
Synchronized Handling (AaD) (0)
Starboard Thrusters (AaD) (0)
Punishing One (0)
Ship Cost: 6 Loadout: (0) Half Points: 3 Damage Threshold: 4
The Mandalorian (AaD) – Naboo Royal N-1 Starfighter (4)
Outmaneuver (0)
The Child (AaD) (0)
Kineso-Switch (AaD) (0)
Calibrated Laser Targeting (0)
Ship Cost: 4 Loadout: (0) Half Points: 2 Damage Threshold: 2
Total: 20
Then again, this also seems pretty decent?
Fenn Rau (AaD) – Fang Fighter (6)
Fearless (0)
Adaptable Power Systems (AaD) (0)
Beskar Reinforced Plating (0)
Ship Cost: 6 Loadout: (0) Half Points: 3 Damage Threshold: 2
Dengar (AaD) – JumpMaster 5000 (6)
R2-G8 (AaD) (0)
Synchronized Handling (AaD) (0)
Starboard Thrusters (AaD) (0)
Punishing One (0)
Ship Cost: 6 Loadout: (0) Half Points: 3 Damage Threshold: 4
The Mandalorian (AaD) – Naboo Royal N-1 Starfighter (4)
Outmaneuver (0)
The Child (AaD) (0)
Kineso-Switch (AaD) (0)
Calibrated Laser Targeting (0)
Ship Cost: 4 Loadout: (0) Half Points: 2 Damage Threshold: 2
Leema Kai – BTL-A4 Y-wing (4)
Dorsal Turret (3)
Plasma Torpedoes (7)
XX-23 S-Thread Tracers (4)
R4 Astromech (2)
Ship Cost: 4 Loadout: (16/17) Half Points: 2 Damage Threshold: 4
Total: 20
I just do’nt know!!
Also, ruining people’s day with tractor tokens also holds some appeal:Fenn Rau (AaD) – Fang Fighter (6)
Fearless (0)
Adaptable Power Systems (AaD) (0)
Beskar Reinforced Plating (0)
Ship Cost: 6 Loadout: (0) Half Points: 3 Damage Threshold: 2
Ketsu Onyo – Lancer-Class Pursuit Craft (6)
Fearless (3)
Qi’ra (2)
Contraband Cybernetics (3)
Mandalorian Optics (3)
Shadow Caster (0)
Ship Cost: 6 Loadout: (11/11) Half Points: 3 Damage Threshold: 5
The Mandalorian (AaD) – Naboo Royal N-1 Starfighter (4)
Outmaneuver (0)
The Child (AaD) (0)
Kineso-Switch (AaD) (0)
Calibrated Laser Targeting (0)
Ship Cost: 4 Loadout: (0) Half Points: 2 Damage Threshold: 2
Leema Kai – BTL-A4 Y-wing (4)
Dorsal Turret (3)
Plasma Torpedoes (7)
XX-23 S-Thread Tracers (4)
R4 Astromech (2)
Ship Cost: 4 Loadout: (16/17) Half Points: 2 Damage Threshold: 4
Total: 20
Look, I guess what I’m saying here is…
The conclusion…
I don’t know that I’d fully understood just how uncomfortable I feel in not know what to fly.
In switching over to Scum recently I’m finding that not only do I have a good amount of learning to do in what’s in the faction, what works well together but the difference between knowing things in my head vs playing it on the table.
It’s pretty shameful really that I’ve spent the majority of the last.. oooh, 8 years now (!!!?!) playing primarily Rebel. It’s fine to have a favourite, of course, but knowing that the best way to find the weaknesses in a list or ship or pilot/upgrade combo is to fly it yourself, I guess it’s on me that I’ve not delved into this further before.
So, lovely reader, now is the time for help! Let me know which of the options above you think is the best list to run. Or maybe you think they all suck and have an alternative suggestion. Please make sure to comment wherever it is you found this post (Facebook, Discord, Reddit, wherever!) and let me know what you think!
That’s all from me for today. It’s still touch & go whether I’ll get a game in this week but either way I’ll be back next week spouting more nonsense!
In the meantime PLEASE get your Welsh Open ticket if you haven’t done already!! See you next time!
The outro…
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