Tuesday, June 26, 2018

X-Wing light AAR, and June wrapping up...


Well, ended up going to Titan for the League event…  Won, so I got the nice shiny metal Focus tokens that seem to be highly valued for some reason or another…  Not really seeing it myself, but that I am given to understand is not unusual.  I ran:
Bum Rush (100)
Jakku Gunrunner — Quadjumper
15
Courier Droid
0
Pattern Analyzer
2
Spacetug Tractor Array
2
Ship Total: 19

Fenn Rau — Protectorate Starfighter
28
Push the Limit
3
Proton Torpedoes
4
Autothrusters
2
Concord Dawn Protector
1
Ship Total: 38

Guri — StarViper
30
Push the Limit
3
Advanced Proton Torpedoes
6
Fire-Control System
2
Scavenger Crane
2
Autothrusters
2
StarViper Mk. II
-3
Virago
1
Ship Total: 43




Took me a game to figure out what the Tug does…  Roll in with say, a 3 Bank then use the Tug Array to Tractor the target.  In some cases to move it out of formation, but usually just to give the -1 Agility.  Then Fenn Rau and Guri hit it at Range 1.  So, -1 Agility to deal with the 5 Dice usually modified Attack from Fenn followed by ANOTHER almost guaranteed 5 Dice hit from Guri.  The Advanced Proton Torpedoes (APT) on her specifically since she gets a free Focus just for being at Range 1.  The APTs are R1 only, and with the FCS or PTL I will have the Target Lock ready by the time I get there.  Usually take the R3 shot on the way in to establish the lock and then double reposition to get out of Arc and at R1…  Brutal.  And then she uses the Crane to get the APTs back.  1 time guaranteed, but usually at least twice…  She is almost always getting kills…  In my three games I know I used the APTs 7 times.  Like I said, took me a game to figure the list out, and when I did…  Well, I was a fan of Gary Fencik and Doug Plank growing up, the “have one get there first, hold the target and the other just roll in and hit the target HARD”.  Works REALLY well.  Close loss my first game, and the next two were 100-0 sweeps.  So, MoV was the good tie breaker for me.  So, this might actually be a contender for a “fun” event like a smaller SC perhaps…

Looking ahead, I have at least 2 SCs in July coming up…  Urbana and Bloomington on the 14th and 21st respectively…  No clue on how many people are going to be at either of these events.  Gopher in Urbana I think I will definitely be flying my “fun” stuff…  Debating for the Bloomington one, I suspect the power level will be MUCH higher there, but…  A LOT of people have just checked out and are just waiting for version 2 of the game.  And I want to be sure to NOT go in full OP mode with all the broken stuff to places like Mattoon where it is such a small group of players just getting started really…  I’d MUCH rather have more games in the longer run than a few more victories in the short term, and the game is transitioning to the second edition so I want to be especially careful not to push the locals I really enjoy playing against away from the game at this delicate time.

Work stuff…  Applying for a few other jobs here at the University and doing the standard “recon” for the positions turns up one of the things that annoys me most about this place.  2 of the 3 places already essentially HAVE people working in the jobs being advertised, seems that this is just the required fake search to legitimize the promotion in place.  I have to wonder how many other places out there have things like this where you would waste so much time, energy and money (since the time and energy are ALSO costs) to comply with State rules (or whatever rules) on the surface, but of course it is just meaningless motion allowing them to do what they were going to do anyway.  I remember working in the real (Corporate) world where promotions were just “fill out the paperwork and that is it”.  Hell, in the Army I was just told that “You are a Corporal now, Chappell” when I went from SPC E-4 to CPL E-4 to comply with some Brigade level directive that only an NCO could command an armored vehicle.  Same thing going to SGT, my Platoon SGT handed me a pair of his old SGT stripes to pin onto my Gortex and uniform until we got back to a place where I could buy more…  But in any case, still applying.  Mostly to see if I actually get interviews to practice, but there is also that saying about “You miss every shot you do not take”.  Hoping to at least make it to the first cut and get in some more practice as I’ve updated my resume quite a bit, and at least to my reading of the requirements I certainly at least meet/exceed all of the required and most (or all) of the preferred qualifications…  J  Of course, I am biased and NOT on those committees, so my opinion on that has no weight at all.  We will see I suppose.

Motorcycle is running REALLY well.  The replacement speedometer is nice, and she is running at 60-80 MPH in 4th gear…  5th or OD allows me to cruise comfortably at 70+ and the engine purring along at ~ 3000 RPM.  The bike is old enough to lack anything like a cruise control (Friction lock on the throttle to “sort of” have something like cruise), reverse gear or anything computer controlled…  I installed USB power to allow for the speedometer and a second port to let me charge up my phone should it be needed.  There is also a second lighter adapter plug that I can connect should it be necessary.  Frankly I do not THINK I will need it, but the options are good to have.  The phone connects via Bluetooth to my headset/mic to in theory allow me to use the phone or say, listen to music while out on the bike…  She runs nice and quiet, which works for me since I dislike loud noises for the most part…  And is really nice having that much power when I hit the road.  Thinking I’ll bike it to at least some of the X-Wing events coming up.  Waiting on replacement paperwork to submit my application to the “Combat Veteran’s Association” (NOT a MC), so at some point I’ll be riding more and wearing those nice patches again…   

Tuesday, June 19, 2018

Hey, June is half over...


So, Diet Mode back in full force and have to admit things get weird at times…  Not eating anywhere as much and drinking a LOT of water.  The Fitbit is nice to track how much I walk, and between running 3/week and then running around a LOT at work I am keeping it to the 15,000 steps/day range.  Exercise mostly in the prison workout and running…  Up to ~2.5 miles/3 times/week.  Have the 5K coming up the 29th, so I suspect I’ll be fine.  It is also odd wandering around Campus.  Difficult when I pass one of the many places that make the food I like, but conversely I have my “diet mode” reinforced when I walk by places that make bad food that I cannot eat anymore.  Like one of the new pizza places on Campus that makes giant slices…  Probably the worst pizza I have had when I DID try it.  To be fair I suppose, it was during the 1-5pm range when a slice and a drink was $5.  Doing the typical NY style thing where they reheat the slices on order, so the slices were likely leftover from the lunch rush.  But it REALLY illustrated that I cannot eat that sort of food anymore.  Eating a lot of “healthy” options and drinking nothing but water for the most part.  Has been several years now since I more or less quit drinking…  Not really something I talk about much, and I do get some odd looks from folks at times.  I found that I was just drinking too much, and that line between what I thought about doing and what I did started to blur and go away.  Not really 100% NOT drinking, I do occasionally have a Guinness, Belhaven Black or Dragon’s Milk…  Just that it is SO rare that I even do drink that I might as well not be drinking.  But like I said, people who knew me in the old days are still quite surprised I do not drink as it seems I might have had a bit much to drink in the old days…  

Have to admit I am REALLY looking forward to X-Wing version 2.  I have a bunch of events to get through before it hits.  Including Gen Con.  I’m REALLY looking at lists that I will have fun flying at this point.  So, my Fett/Fenn list is one I enjoy flying.  Not really likely to win me an event, but I’ll have fun.  Guessing that Kylo/Whisper will be the same way for me.  2 Aces zipping around and maybe even shooting now and then.  The Firestorm list?  That is just there to kill things.  Efficient, win big or die.  But boring really…  So, it depends on how much I decide I really want to just win I guess.  Guessing the last SC I play if I have not gotten Range rulers or the like I might bring it out and go with it…  Dunno, but getting in some games with my fun lists to try and help my locals at least get further in the events...

Legion, Rebels being painted, I have my 800 point list ready, now to get in some games before Gen Con I think…  Bolt Action I am getting my British Paras, and so will be painting them up and getting in some games I guess…

Friday, June 15, 2018

And then there were 3, testing X-Wing builds for SC season...


So, got in some testing…  The Boba Fett/Fenn Rau list with Expertise on Fett…  Did “meh”…  So, plus side, I am now back down to 3 potential lists for SC season.  Ran into the problem of tweaking a “Netlist”.  The “improvements” I made did not improve the list, they instead made it just a bit worse.  Fett DID hit hard, but jousting with Quickdraw took me down to just a few Hull.  So, back to VI for him as the PS advantage is just SO good.  Debating the Harpoon vs Homing Missile for him.  In the Meta I expect to see there will be more things that will be hurt by not getting to use their Evade Token than by the Harpoon condition…  Maybe.  The Harpoon followed by the Proton Torpedo is REALLY good. 

Mandelorians 1 (97)
Boba Fett (Scum) — Firespray-31
39
Veteran Instincts
1
Ion Cannon
3
Dengar
3
Harpoon Missiles
4
Glitterstim
2
Bomblet Generator
3
Engine Upgrade
4
Andrasta
0
Ship Total: 59

Fenn Rau — Protectorate Starfighter
28
Push the Limit
3
Proton Torpedoes
4
Autothrusters
2
Concord Dawn Protector
1
Ship Total: 38


So, back to Phil GC’s Mandalorian list (https://suchanxwinghipster.wordpress.com/2018/04/13/the-67-the-mandalorians-strike-back/).  It is a solid list, but I have the advantage of several years of flying Firesprays that most simply do not have.  And of course I REALLY like the Mandalorian Protectorate fighters…  Fenn Rau is easily the best fit for me there with the “slightly more aggressive” nature of the Pilot Ability and Loadout I run…    

2 other lists in contention for me, but I suspect it will be this one and the Firestorm one (Nym/Ten Numb) that I fly as I have the most experience with them and frankly the Firestorm is a combination of brutality and ease of flying that I CAN use the whole day at a longer event without melting my brain…  The burden of execution is really on the other player.  I can set up to joust, and they can accept the joust or try to run.  Running buys you an extra turn living.  Does not change the results most times.  Yes, matches poorly against some things, but there are a LOT it just erases.  Quickly.  So, maybe in Bloomington, but not likely what I’ll run in Mattoon or even Urbana.  I suspect Champaign is going to be a toss-up for me, will likely make the decision “game day” as it were…  4 so far I am going to it seems, will see where the Peoria ones fall.

Sunday, June 10, 2018

X-Wing prep for SC 2018 season...


So, only a little bit of X-Wing over the long break…  Much work on house, etc…  But DID listen a few times to an excellent cast from the Carolina Krayts (http://carolinakrayts.libsyn.com/podcast/listener-4-how-to-git-gud-and-other-aspects-of-being-good-at-games).  SO much excellent content in this episode.  They did skip all of the normal silliness and it mostly concerns game theory and how to get better at the game.  Most of the podcasts are concentrating on version 2 now, so it is frustrating…  I REALLY want to play v2, but we have until mid-September and all of the Store Championships and Gen Con to get though…  So, have to decide what to play in the interim and just how “competitive” I really want to be…  And there are really only a few normal events during this time frame I think…

Not entirely sure how much of this will end up with me on the table at the local events at least.  Mattoon is too small a venue to really bring out the “big guns” as it were.  Titan IS big enough, but the local Meta is…  Well, weird.  I’ve played some of the better “Meta” lists locally like the Triple Wookies.  Did OK, but it HAS been a long while since I made a local cut.  My “Try Hard” list (Nym/Dengar) made the cut at the larger SC in Bloomington.  Exhausting to play so many games, especially as the day went on and the quality of the opposition continued to improve.  NOT saying that the early rounds were pushovers, I simply had a better list than several of the guys I played against.

But coming up on the SC season again, and having some of them scheduled locally finally I suppose it is time to decide on what to run.  I have it distilled to 3 basic lists I think.

Mandelorians 3 (97)
Boba Fett (Scum) — Firespray-31
39
Expertise
4
Ion Cannon
3
Dengar
3
Homing Missiles
5
Glitterstim
2
Bomblet Generator
3
Engine Upgrade
4
Andrasta
0
Ship Total: 63

Fenn Rau — Protectorate Starfighter
28
Push the Limit
3
Autothrusters
2
Concord Dawn Protector
1
Ship Total: 34


This is probably my “fun” list…  An Ace in Fenn Rau and a really solid “Swiss Army Knife” in Boba Fett.  Fett has a lot of answers to a lot of things out there now.  Solid, but I suspect it will be no better than a gatekeeper list.  I can easily PREVENT some of the big Meta lists from getting past, but… 
×
KyloWhisper (91)
"Whisper" — TIE Phantom
32
Veteran Instincts
1
Sensor Jammer
4
Rebel Captive
3
Advanced Cloaking Device
4
Ship Total: 44

Kylo Ren (TIE Silencer) — TIE Silencer
35
Push the Limit
3
Advanced Sensors
3
Advanced Optics
2
Autothrusters
2
First Order Vanguard
2
Ship Total: 47

This is another fun one…  It has some things I do NOT want to see, but it matches well against a lot of things.  Can by the time SC season actually hits swap out the Rebel Captive for Director Krennick to make Whisper just an offensive machine with the Shield removal and FCS (essentially) built in…  Lose the Stress to deal with Expertise, but…  In any case, it is a really fun one for me to fly with it just being Aces.  I HAVE to restrain my normal “slightly more aggressive” nature though while playing…  The losses I look back and analyze I find that it is almost always just me overextending and being overly aggressive…

Firestorm Special (99)
Ten Numb — B-Wing
31
Veteran Instincts
1
Trajectory Simulator
1
"Mangler" Cannon
4
Extra Munitions
2
Sabine Wren
2
Proton Bombs
5
B-Wing/E2
1
Ship Total: 47

Captain Nym (Rebel) — Scurrg H-6 Bomber
30
Veteran Instincts
1
Twin Laser Turret
6
Extra Munitions
2
Harpoon Missiles
4
Thermal Detonators
3
Proton Bombs
5
Trajectory Simulator
1
"Genius"
0
Long-Range Scanners
0
Havoc
0
Ship Total: 52


This is just my “Try Hard” list.  While some consider it a joke it does simply erase things off of the board…  Have played against really good lists and in some cases won it in 4 turns.  This is the same sort of list that my last year’s Dengar/Nym list was.  Not necessarily “loopholes”, but seems like that effect…  Bombs that ignore Shields and just put Criticals into the Hulls, TLTs and unavoidable Critical Hits to trigger the Harpoon Missiles…  Oh, and Sabine to add in more Damage…  Only 2 ships, but SO many interactions and it really illustrates WHY version 2 of the game is absolutely needed.

Eh, need to get in more games I think...  But have pre-orders in for some of the v2 stuff and not entirely sure how much fun the SCs will be and worried that Gen Con (Continentals) will be just no fun at all as it is being played AS v2 gets the early release...  Have new templates coming in as well...  Will see how things play out.  Looking like Bloomington is at the end of July, Titan in mid August...  Gopher in mid July perhaps?  Looking at those three at least, maybe Peoria and Springfield...  Will see. 


Tuesday, May 29, 2018

Mattoon AAR for the Memorial Day Weekend event...



Mattoon AAR

Well, took the Fett/Fenn build to Mattoon… 

Mandelorians 1 (97)
Boba Fett (Scum) — Firespray-31
39
Veteran Instincts
1
Ion Cannon
3
Dengar
3
Harpoon Missiles
4
Glitterstim
2
Bomblet Generator
3
Engine Upgrade
4
Andrasta
0
Ship Total: 59

Fenn Rau — Protectorate Starfighter
28
Push the Limit
3
Proton Torpedoes
4
Autothrusters
2
Concord Dawn Protector
1
Ship Total: 38

It was surprisingly solid.  Mind, I flew the Firespray a LOT in the last year and a half, so I might be an outlier in this…  Fenn Rau is absolutely solid and Boba Fett is an amazing “Swiss Army Knife” with all of the options on the ship.  The Harpoon is still borderline broken, and the Ion Cannon was surprisingly good.  I found myself using that at Range 3 (Front) more often than not, and KNOWING where the enemy ship would be ending up was amazing.  With EU, I could force myself into Range 1 and usually PS kill a ship…   Of all the things there I found myself REALLY wanting more consistency on Offence and the Proton Torpedoes on the Protectorate Starfighter being “less useful”.  I fired it once and frankly I could have just fired primaries for almost the same effect…  Can’t really remember a lot about the games, but was one Attack from going undefeated.  Tim’s build just outlasted me a bit as his one Hull Inquisitor survived my Range 1 attack with all the Rerolls to counterattack and kill the Firespray to end the game…  Brings me to my next/reaction build:

Mandelorians 3 (97)
Boba Fett (Scum) — Firespray-31
39
Expertise
4
Ion Cannon
3
Dengar
3
Homing Missiles
5
Glitterstim
2
Bomblet Generator
3
Engine Upgrade
4
Andrasta
0
Ship Total: 63

Fenn Rau — Protectorate Starfighter
28
Push the Limit
3
Autothrusters
2
Concord Dawn Protector
1
Ship Total: 34

I’ll probably test this next…  With Fett’s “Rerolls Forever” effect, having a way to get Focus conversion was something I REALLY missed.  Makes him almost as good as the Kath Scarlet build, and in some ways even better…  Well, if you play him aggressively like I tend to I suppose.  The Harpoon being replaced by a Homing Missile is just a basic Meta call.  I am seeing a LOT of things with Evade tokens, and figure if I am not trying for the combo of Harpoon/Proton to just try and erase one ship at PS 9, this will help the mid game a lot more.  Honestly I could just forgo the Missile, but that leaves me with either a huge build or…  Well, I do not need a huge bid and since I’d need to get to 12 Points to get another ship…