UK X-Wing nationals 2017

I took the leap and decided to enter my first big tournament this year the UK X-Wing nationals.

I've been dithering a bit lately about my list, trying one or two variations on it during the last few weeks but eventually decided to go back to a favourite I've been flying for a while now.

Protectorate Starfighter: · Fenn Rau (28)
Attanni Mindlink (1)
Autothrusters (2)
Concord Dawn Protector (1)
Lancer-class Pursuit Craft: · Asajj Ventress (37)
Attanni Mindlink (1)
· Latts Razzi (2)
Burnout SLAM (1)
M3-A Interceptor: · Inaldra (15)
Attanni Mindlink (1)
"Light Scyk" Interceptor (-2)
M3-A Interceptor: · Sunny Bounder (14)
"Light Scyk" Interceptor (-2)
-- TOTAL ------- 99/100p. --

I set out at 05:00 on Friday morning  hoping for 3-3 (and not getting disqualified 😂) and arrived home 23:45 Sunday night having managed 4-2 and finishing 85/267 which I'm immensely pleased with!

Managed to gain several really cool bits of swag and had some great games with a lot of great people. 6 hangar bay games on Friday, 6 tournament rounds on Saturday and 5 hangar bay games on Sunday.

Glad I made notes and took pictures because it's all a hedonistic blur now.

Round 1 I found myself facing a familiar duo.

T-70 X-Wing: · Poe Dameron (33)
Veteran Instincts (1)
· R5-P9 (3)
Autothrusters (2)
· Black One (1)
Pattern Analyzer (2)
YT-1300: · Han Solo (46)
Veteran Instincts (1)
Engine Upgrade (4)
· Rey (2)
· C-3PO (3)
· Millennium Falcon (Evade) (1)
-- TOTAL ------- 99/100p. --

I managed a win here 57-35 a comfortable start to the day and I felt vaguely optimistic!

Round 2 another familiar list very similar to my own.

Lancer-class Pursuit Craft: · Ketsu Onyo (38)
Attanni Mindlink (1)
· Dengar (3)
· Shadow Caster (3)
Lancer-class Pursuit Craft: · Asajj Ventress (37)
Attanni Mindlink (1)
· Latts Razzi (2)
M3-A Interceptor: · Inaldra (15)
Attanni Mindlink (1)
"Light Scyk" Interceptor (-2)
-- TOTAL ------- 99/100p. --

A drastically different outcome here though! My opponent new what he was doing here and well and truly schooled me in how to fly the Lancer pursuit craft. Annihilating me 0-100.

Round 3 I met Miranda & Nym, I caused a fair bit of damage but no half points on Nym 😠

Scurrg H-6 Bomber: · Captain Nym (30)
  Veteran Instincts (1)
  Twin Laser Turret (6)
  · Bomblet Generator (3)
  Engine Upgrade (4)
  · Havoc (0)
  Accuracy Corrector (3)
  · "Genius" (0)
K-Wing: · Miranda Doni (29)
  Extra Munitions (2)
  Homing Missiles (5)
  Twin Laser Turret (6)
  Cluster Mines (4)
  Thermal Detonators (3)
  Advanced SLAM (2)
  · Sabine Wren (2)
-- TOTAL ------- 100/100p. --

This was my second disaster in a row! 0-100 and I've got to admit it knocked the wind from my sails somewhat. A friend said he was going to drop to play side events and I very nearly joined him.

Round 4 I persevered and met a favourite paired with another Captain Nym!

Scurrg H-6 Bomber: · Captain Nym (30)
Veteran Instincts (1)
Extra Munitions (2)
Twin Laser Turret (6)
Cluster Mines (4)
Cluster Mines (4)
Long-Range Scanners (0)
· Havoc (0)
· R5-P8 (3)
Lancer-class Pursuit Craft: · Asajj Ventress (37)
Push The Limit (3)
Gyroscopic targeting (2)
· Dengar (3)
· Shadow Caster (3)
Black Market Slicer Tools (1)
-- TOTAL ------- 99/100p. --

This was a peculiar game, I lost both my M3's quite early and hammered his Lancer soon afterwards but I could not get that Nym! They are my nemesis! I managed a 26-49 win however.

Round 5 featured Imperial ships that I've been practicing with recently and that may have helped me a little.

TIE Advanced: · Darth Vader (29)
Veteran Instincts (1)
Cruise Missiles (3)
Guidance Chips (0)
TIE/x1 (0)
Advanced Targeting Computer (1)
TIE Aggressor: · "Lieutenant Kestal" (22)
Veteran Instincts (1)
Cruise Missiles (3)
Twin Laser Turret (6)
Guidance Chips (0)
TIE/sf Fighter: · "Quickdraw" (29)
Veteran Instincts (1)
Fire Control System (2)
Special Ops Training (0)
Weapons Guidance (2)
-- TOTAL ------- 100p. --

I lost my poor Sunny Bounder and Inaldra in the battle (again) but other than that managed a strong 100-26.

Round 6 was a peculiar surprise for me, four Tie aggressors with TLT.

TIE Aggressor: Sienar Specialist (17)
Twin Laser Turret (6)
Lightweight Frame (2)
TIE Aggressor: Sienar Specialist (17)
Twin Laser Turret (6)
Lightweight Frame (2)
TIE Aggressor: Sienar Specialist (17)
Twin Laser Turret (6)
Lightweight Frame (2)
TIE Aggressor: Sienar Specialist (17)
Twin Laser Turret (6)
Lightweight Frame (2)
-- TOTAL ------- 100p. --

I think having a mighty lot of experience flying TLT's in the past really helped me here. I often find ramming formations is a useful tactic and when they couldn't shoot me with their turrets it enabled a 100-12 victory for me.

All in all I ended up 4-2 and a very happy little pilot! It exceeded even my most optimistic hope of 3-3 and earned me 85th place out of 267 competitors which is something I can be proud of! I might add that following my brutal murder in round 2 I bought myself a second Lancer pursuit craft 😋

Have you seen my mojo?

We all do it, lose our will or motivation, lose momentum or simply get distracted by something else.

Aylsham show 2015

So what can you do when you've lost your "mojo" and have that absurd combination of wanting painted models but not having the determination to actually paint them? For some this might be the painting, for others the building or it could be the daunting overwhelming of it all! Here's a few ideas . . .

1. Try something completely different!

• Are you getting fed up of brown World War II infantry? Paint something sci-fi or brightly coloured.
• Sick of all those eyes or similarly difficult piece? Try painting a vehicle or a building.
• Reduced to tears gluing together hundreds of tiny arms, legs and guns? Why not something with a (single piece) fully cast miniature.

2. Google it! (Other search engines are available.)

• As obvious as it sounds, go to whichever browser you like and do a search on the item(s) you want to work on, it just might throw up some inspirational results.

3. Lights, camera, action!

• Go turn on the TV and see if you can find (preferably) a film, documentary or program relating to your subject matter. 

4. Just a little?

• This often works for me, I just decide that I'm going to build/paint one thing or even half of it. Maybe do some basing or repair a broken item. Just go for something that's going to take five or ten minutes, for me this is easy and -often- triggers an enthusiastic surge.

5. Speak to your friends.

• This is another one I find very effective. I can talk to others about their works in progress and see what they are doing (or have done) and often this will spur me into action, particularly with mass infantry.
• Often friends will provide positive motivation if they think/realise you're struggling with getting anything done.

6. Get out!

• This can be easier said than done, but go and visit a place of inspiration.
• Historical gamers can find these in many forms, museums or military collections being prime examples.
• Sci-fi inspiration can be a little trickier to find out in the real world, maybe try locating a technology or eco centre that allows visitors.
• Fantasy players and painters might look to old local architecture for inspiration or s visit into the wild countryside (if you have any nearby.)

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away (episode I)

I've always loved Star Wars, it's the first film I ever saw in the cinema and like so many I've grown up with what was a truly ground breaking trilogy (yeah I know). The Jedi knights leading the rebellion against the evil empire (it's all a matter of perspective) and of course SPACE SHIPS!

A demo game I played at Dark Sphere (London)

These ships were different though, not all shiny and new, most of them were grubby and sometimes didn't even work - Millennium falcon, I'm looking at you! The story was perhaps a little familiar in places but some of the ideas and characters were totally revolutionary!

I'd seen games of XWing being played and greatly admired the rather nicely pre-painted ships, the titular XWings dog fighting the menacing Tie fighters along with all the other memorable ships from the (first three) films. I though to myself "I could enjoy this" . . .

The release of Episode VII The force awakens, saw a huge increase in XWing players at Athena games where I work and I thought to myself, it's time to jump on that band wagon!

Well the game itself is quite easy to get into, it doesn't require a huge capital investment (which is often a problem) the core set is just £30 for either original or The force awakens versions and contains everything you need to start playing straight out of the box.

You'll get a great XWing and two Tie fighters, all rather nicely painted. Tons of markers, templates, counters & cards and 3 of each attack and evade dice (4 would have been ideal).

I managed to bump two ships into the same asteroid!

The basic premise of the game is to move as per your ships available maneuvers and shoot your opponents ship when in range - dead simple but that's the beauty of this game. There's normally very little in the way of cover (you are in space) so you must think carefully about your closing speeds and position. Ideally you want to be able to get the first shots in! The game also uses a mechanic where the lower skilled pilots move first but the higher skilled pilots will shoot first, so things can start to get a little more complicated.

Like most people I didn't settle for the single T70 XWing in the core set, I got an additional one, then two AWings, this would comfortably make up the standard 100 points. I then got myself a KWing (massive flying tank) because i thought it looked awesome, to be honest I thought that of the other ships too.

My mighty KWing is mighty

To date i have only played a handful of games, but thoroughly enjoy it, I consider it my "lite" game, both in physical presence and cost when compared to my old friend Bolt action (think hundreds of Russian infantry)