X-Wing for the next event, Motorcycles and more :-)

So, looking like there will be an event 4 Mar at Titan Games in Champaign…  It is a modified “Hanger Bay” event where you make 2 lists, choose one for Round 1, then you MUST choose the second one for Round 2.  Round 3 is back to you get to choose which one to fly…  Oh, and NO duplication between the lists at all…  Looking over what I might face, the only list I am REALLY overly concerned about the “Raptor Attack” (named by the Mynocks in their Podcast) which is the Ghost and Fenn Rau in his shuttle.  At this point, I have no really good answer for it.  I have a few lists that would do well enough against it, but they’ll pretty much just die to ANY other “meta” list.  Plus side, locally there the meta is just weird and I MIGHT be OK…  So, looking at flying:

DashPoe1 (100)

Dash Rendar — YT-2400	36
Push the Limit	3
Heavy Laser Cannon	7
Kanan Jarrus	3
Engine Upgrade	4
Outrider	5
Ship Total: 58
Poe Dameron — T-70 X-Wing	31
Lone Wolf	2
R2-D2	4
Advanced Optics	2
Autothrusters	2
Black One	1
Ship Total: 42

List 2 might be:

Wookies everywhere 3 (100)

Lowhhrick — Auzituck Gunship	28
Expertise	4
Tactician	2
Rey	2
Ship Total: 36
Wookiee Liberator — Auzituck Gunship	26
Expertise	4
Tactician	2
Courier Droid	0
Ship Total: 32
Wookiee Liberator — Auzituck Gunship	26
Expertise	4
Tactician	2
Courier Droid	0
Ship Total: 32

Or perhaps:

Unsaved Squadron (100)

Nu Squadron Pilot — Alpha-class Star Wing	18
Harpoon Missiles	4
Long-Range Scanners	0
Os-1 Arsenal Loadout	2
Ship Total: 24
"Countdown" — TIE Striker	20
Lightweight Frame	2
Adaptive Ailerons	0
Ship Total: 22
"Omega Leader" — TIE/fo Fighter	21
A Score to Settle	0
Ship Total: 21
"Quickdraw" — TIE/sf Fighter	29
Adaptability	0
Fire-Control System	2
Lightweight Frame	2
Special Ops Training	0
Ship Total: 33

Or even:

Unsaved Squadron (97)

Fenn Rau — Protectorate Starfighter	28
Push the Limit	3
Autothrusters	2
Concord Dawn Protector	1
Ship Total: 34
Thweek — StarViper	28
Advanced Sensors	3
Autothrusters	2
StarViper Mk. II	-3
Virago	1
Ship Total: 31
Guri — StarViper	30
Push the Limit	3
Autothrusters	2
StarViper Mk. II	-3
Ship Total: 32

The Dash/Poe is different than the “standard” one because I am using EU and PTL on Dash…  The YT-2400 was my first X-Wing ship (that my wife got me J), so I really like it a lot…  With Barrel Roll, Boost and the ability to simply ignore the terrain my mobility is simply unmatched.  I can REALLY get to almost anywhere on the field.  HLC for the heavy punch, and Kanan to allow me to clear a Stress on a White maneuver.  Which gets me every maneuver except the 4 K-Turn.  Since I care not at all about terrain, should never NEED the K-turn, but it is there I guess…  This is probably my answer to the Raptor Attack…  Dash goes out and erases Fenn Rau, does as much Damage as he can to the Ghost before he gets shot out of the sky…  Then without the ability to Boost at PS 11, Poe should be able to get in there and with Lone Wolf/Focus Conversion actually get a fair bit of Damage through to either kill the Ghost or at least get it to half to pull the score over to my side…  Against almost everything else?  Well, I have two pretty good ships and so a chance…  This is the one “Anti Raptor” list that I feel at least has a chance against the rest of the field.

The Wookies are a refinement to my previous one…  Stress and passive Focus Modification…  Lowrick should be able to build up a few Focus to make him a bit harder to kill.  The Couriers are to allow me to place my low PS Ships at PS 8…  Should make for at least an interesting game.  Do NOT bunch the lads up, roll in and sweep past…

The 4 Ship Imperial list is interesting to me…  Nothing REALLY OP there.  Just 4 pretty interesting Ships.  Should be fun to fly…

The S&V Starvipers are interesting to me…  For whatever reason I cannot find my 3^rd Starviper ship.  Have the rest of the pack, so I KNOW I have it around somewhere, else I’d be flying 3 of the darn things…  Fun ships, but they ARE exhausting to fly.  SO many different choices and they are just so slippery.  Ace flying at another level altogether.  Fun, but in an event that might have 5+ games?  Not so sure I would fly them…  Or at least not so well…

Weather is clearing a bit, hoping it stays like this.  Really wanting to get the Goldwing back on the road to be sure that the Sea Foam is actually working and clearing up the Carburetors for me…  REALLY not looking forward to the potential “tear them apart and rebuild them” project if it is more than them just having sat for a long time and getting gunked up.  But that bike rides SO much nicer than the old Silverwing.  The Silverwing was excellent for getting me back on a bike, but I had forgotten how nice the Heavy Cruisers are to actually ride.  With the Goldwing I can actually take longer trips comfortably.  The Magna got me to Michigan, but it was fast…  Not comfortable.  I had to stop every hour or so to stretch out and walk around a bit.  Might have to with the Goldwing, but it has the nice highway pegs and the seat is adjustable for a rider my height.  And with the 6 gallon tank, I anticipate not needing to stop nearly so often.  The Magna had a 3.5 gallon tank IIRC, and it burned through fuel…  Ironically at 5000 RPM on the highway it was actually quite efficient, getting closer to the 50 MPG the Silverwing got at 3000 RPM…  I am unsure what the final efficiency will be for the Goldwing, but I expect it will be in the 40-50 MPG range.  Honda makes excellent bikes as evidenced by the fact that my “new” bike is a mid-80’s bike and it is running pretty well. 

Job wise?  Holding pattern…  Applied for what I felt would be an excellent place for me…  Applied there before but did not have my transcript at the time.  JUST got my MS conferred, but no transcript in time, so did not get an interview last time.  No guarantee I would have gotten past the interview stage, I was not really all that confident or frankly that good at the whole “interview process” at that time.  I think this time around I am in a MUCH better place having actually worked on it and knowing a LOT more about how to do the whole interview thing…  Pro tip, do NOT just answer the questions quickly and factually.  I did that the last time I interviewed on Campus…  Right answers, but I failed on the “tell a story” part where I can demonstrate why my experience prepared me for this job and why I might be the best candidate.  Unfortunately, a few months in and nothing…  Plus side, no “thanks for playing” letter, but no interview either.  Will see, remaining hopeful as like I said, I think I really would be a good fit for that job.