Saturday, May 18, 2019

X-Wing as the Republic...

So, getting in more games with my Republic forces…  I DID try the 2 Jedi list for a bit, but with only Anakin and Obi-Wan on the field it was good but extremely unforgiving.  A single mistake or bad roll and it is over.  So, probably a no for me.  The 2 lists I have been having success with are the Obi-Wan and 3 ARCs and the Anikin/Mace with 2 Torrents.  With the first list flying a single 104th  Squadron with Sinker and Wolfe.  Obi-Wan is basically just there to support and I lack the points to put the 7B upgrade on his ship.  Trying a swap to Luminara to help mitigate Damage but losing the 3rd Force point and I5 might be bad…  That list I’ve been calling my “Iron Curtain” list as I grew up watching the Pittsburg Steelers a lot in the 70’s (my father was from near there) and it just seemed apt…  NOT subtle, just line up and bull rush the other side.  Even if they DO get behind you, not the end of the world as there are still Arcs covering that area and I’ve spent a long time flying the ARCs between the two editions and so am fairly used to the quirks of the ship.  I am flying a slightly different version as the 104th cards are only 1/pack and I have re-purposed my “Rebel” ARCs to fly for my Republic forces…  And I like having the slightly higher I and re-rolls for everyone…  Seems solid.

The 2 7B’s and 2 Torrent list is amusing…  I’ve skipped a bid and Mace has Sense to help assure Blocking and the Torrents are surprisingly good at that…  I can see why this list has been doing so well in Tournaments.  I’m getting better at the whole fly to block thing that is pretty much the opposite of my normal “Ace” flying where I am trying hard to avoid being blocked and shot at while getting in my shots where I can… Flew it last evening and the Torrents got in more blocks than they did shots…  Mace with Sense made it fairly trivial to place the ships to block and it allowed me to get in the hits while the target was out of position and off balance…  This list with Luminara in place of Mace works out fairly well…  Less direct damage from the Jedi, but those Torrents last bloody forever…

Signing up for some events at Gen Con…  Trying for Nationals (or whatever they are called now) on Friday and maybe another Hyperspace event either Friday or Saturday…  Will see, likely will still be running my Republic forces then against the likely field of Rebel Beef (Beef Wedgeington as it has been dubbed :-) )… 

Tuesday, May 7, 2019

Post HS event X-Wing and minor updates...

So, the Bloomington Hyperspace Trial happened…  LONG day and I wound up close to the top, but in no danger of making the cut to play on day two.  Had a lot of fun and played the list I thought would do well.  ONLY minor exception being my last game where my opponent went to an absolutely glacial pace once he was in the lead…  Frustrating and I had to sit down and center myself a bit so I did not lose my temper…  :-)  Some things I suppose become easier as I get older.  Had the game gone another 2 turns I know Anakin could have swept the board for me, but alas it was not to be.  Got a load of neat alt arts and acrylic prizes, but most important I did enjoy playing a LOT of X-Wing.  

Think going forward I drop the ARC and swap to Obi-Wan from Mace.  Supernatural Reflexes on Obi-Wan since Anakin is priced JUST outside of sanity level at 32 points for that upgrade…  Still, I5 with SNR and the double repositioning should be difficult to catch if I choose to break off and run.  Anakin drops the Spare Parts for Afterburners since the extra Boosts even if I am Stressed is just REALLY good on this ship I think…  As it happens I am fairly good at arc dodging and being able to then boost to Range 1 for the extra Dice should allow me to clear the field a bit quicker.  Obi-Wan’s Pilot Ability is “neat”, but certainly NOT why I am bringing him.  Well, aside from being one of my favorite Jedi…  I5 and 3 Force being the break point where things get good for him to be a “Jedi AND Ace”.  Yes, the list is only 2 ships and both of them are essentially X-Wings with the dials of A-Wings…  But these are ships I do really enjoy flying and since I have no need to stay in anything like a formation should be difficult to pin down for most folks…  

DID get the word from the Springfield TO that there will in fact be a Hyperspace event there in the second part of the season…  So July or later…  Signing up for some events at Gen Con as well, so there should be at least a few more big events that I am flying in.  Have to say I am rather enjoying the way my Jedi fly, will have to see if they stay more or less the same post the July points rebalance…  Not entirely sure how well I’ll DO at the events both in terms of placement and physically as it is extremely draining to be bending over those tables all day, but as I get more and more in shape these things do seem to become a bit easier…

Running a fair bit, typically ~5K/day and 3 days/week…  Lifting a bit, etc…  And now that the weather has cleared a bit (at least n terms of the temperature) I’ll be doing more yard work and the like so I’ll have my tan back in no time…  

The job hunt is still ongoing and I am applying further out as I am now over my 20 years here at the University…  Faculty positions as well as “IT Director” type positions as I’m qualified for either really…  Sadly some that I’ve interviewed with have what I consider extremely unrealistic salary expectations.  One required a Masters, 10+ years experience, Industry Certifications, etc…  And they were offering $35,000-40,000 for the salary.  Since that is below the range we START people here, I think I know why they are having a difficult time attracting qualified candidates.  Especially when those qualifications would command several times that salary elsewhere…  The CIO here is leaving in June and looking at the list of retirements there should be some local opportunities as well.  I would MUCH prefer to stay here I suppose given that I know so many people and am very familiar with the environment…  Will see what comes up as I’ve now gotten a LOT of interview practice and even several offers over the last few years.  Just none that I’ve accepted yet :-) …