The intro…?
Hello and welcome to this week’s blog!
Let me start by saying this is not the usual kind of blog (that will become clear very quickly!).
So yes, I have missed the last 2 Tuesday of blogging.
I got about 30% of a blog written about not having had any games (or any that I had pictures of to be able to talk about at least) when 1 day over turned into 2 or three.
By then I DID have games to talk about (2, in fact) but now I no longer had any available time to do the write up!
UGH!
On top of that, life has been exceptionally busy.
Good weather in the UK (NEVER guaranteed) has meant that my garden project has taken priority over, well, quite a lot of things actually, but specifically X-Wing related stuff.
I’m certainly no DIY expert (or even enthusiast) but I’m quite proud of how it’s coming together. Getting the kids involved is also helping to rid us of generational ‘fear of DIY failure’ from my childhood. It’s not perfect but we’re doing it together and for me, that’s more important.
Anyway, you’re not here for half-baked woodwork projects, you want the X-Wing!
And here’s where I must admit defeat.
I can’t in the way that I would like to right now.
You see, on top of the garden stuff, it has also been exceptionally busy with the XWA.
Just over a week ago we were (finally!) able to release the details of the System Open prize kits. Getting to that point was significantly harder than wave 0 or the Squad Champ kits had been and, unlike Squad Champs where the date likely has some flexibility, the System Open event dates are set in stone and time has felt like ti’s been accelerating inexorably towards them.
I do want to expand on one part of the System Open kits that I’m especially proud of but also is one of the major causes of the delay while we hashed out details: The OP Symbols
Firstly, we have updated the Squad Champs symbol a little. This will be reflected in the upcoming Wave 2 Squad Champs kits when they come out but is still recognisably similar to the ones used in the Wave 1 kits.
Next up we have the brand new System Open symbol. This will be used on all prizes (where we can fit it!) at these premier level events
And lastly we have the pièce de résistance! The World Championship symbol! Adorned with a crown and painted with gold this will indicate that your beautiful bit of swag was earned at the toughest event there is!
Of course, the System Open kits a packed full of lovely items for you to use in your games of X-Wing, be a little memento of a great day out and, just maybe, show off just how well you did!
If you’ve not seen it, the full details of the kit is here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_eAc5qP9hipLkL543eLcC_FTVvDBOriqnj7Cp9To6ME/edit?usp=sharing
The stress and pressure of getting all of this stuff ordered has also meant that I’ve not been able to dedicate as much (or any!) time to the upcoming Welsh Open!
The Welsh Open is the VERY FIRST XWA SYSTEM OPEN event, which, among other things, meant that I was really feeling the pressure of getting the XWA prizes done in time!
Since I’m talking about it I suppose I should be encouraging you to buy some tickets then shouldn’t I!
The Welsh Open is an official XWA System Open event running on the 19th and 20th of July (OMG THAT’S THIS MONTH!!!!)
It’s being held at Firestorm Games in Cardiff, a beautiful, huge gaming venue which has lots of space, great lighting and a cafe (and bar!) on site.
Lunch is included in the ticket price on both days where we will be running the main event on Saturday with a top cut on Sunday. In case you don’t make the top cut we will have a side event running on Sunday which will be the same as last year – cross faction lists!
For prizing we will be using the aforementioned INCREDIBLE XWA prize kit (yes, I’m biased) as well as some other, Welsh Open specific goodies that we’re cooking up to go alongside them.
So what are you waiting for?! GET YOUR TICKET!!!
The conclusion…
Alas, I have again run out of time to do anything else here. Time has been my enemy the last few weeks and for that I apologise. With the Welsh Open out of the way soon and Squad Champ and System Open kits heading out into the world things should become less crazy. I hope.
I wanted to start talking about Patreon gifts for this quarter (why is everything all happening AT THE SAME TIME??!??!) but I’ve not had time to take any photos yet.
If you would like to become a Patron then you can sign up here but I will be back with more details next time, honest!
And the reason I have no time and I’m sending out this post as it is? I’m going away on holiday! Woo!
So yeah, you can expect radio silence from me for the next 2-ish weeks although I’m going to be home over a week before the Welsh Open (unlike last year!!)
That’s it from me today I will see you in 2 weeks time!
The outro…
Thank you so much for visiting my blog, I hope you’ve enjoyed it! If you’d like to support me in continuing my X-Wing blogging adventure there are a few ways you can do that.
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A MASSIVE thank you to my wonderful Patrons for their ongoing support for the blog and enabling me to give away shiny things!
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