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Rank: Ewok Groups: Member
Joined: 6/4/2021 Posts: 2
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Hi folks, I'm headed to GenCon, and I don't have any familiarity with V-Set cards or the current metagame. I'm looking for squad ideas, especially ones with characters that thematically match the units I have. Even naming a few good units to build around would be a big help. I really can't read the entire card library and wrap my head around what the units actually play like and whether they're decent. I also can't really tell which squads posted to the builder are appropriate for these events and level of competition. I'm not expecting to do well, but I at least want to be in the games. I am specifically playing in the 200pt non-unique, and the Escalation game-modes. Related: is Escalation an elimination game-mode, or do you guarantee to bring in your entire squad before the end of the tournament? Feel free to discuss other events in this thread, but I'm looking for help for only these specific game-modes. Some models I have for inspiration: Probably have one of each: clone/storm trooper/droid, episode I-VI characters, Bounty Hunters, generic sith/jedi/knights, black sun or fringe, mandalorians, yuuzhan vong EU: Gha Nachkt, Roan Fel, Marisiah Fel, Jagged Fel, Solo/Skywalker Families, Mara Jade, Monsters/Dejarix/Mechs/Big Droids, Kyp Durron, Proxy, Durge, Ganner Rhysode, Quinlan Vos, Jariah Syn, Kazdan, Xizor, Arica, Calixte, Crix Madine, Zam Wessel, Kyle Katarn, Bao Dur, Naga Sadow, Jarael, Dash Rendar, Lumiya, Vodo-Siosk Bass, Argys and the Senate commandos Here is a reddit post I made recently about this. Nobody had squad ideas for me there https://www.reddit.com/r/starwarsminiatures/comments/1lcy34e/gencon_event_prep_and_squad_ideas_for_newish/
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Rank: Moderator Groups: Member
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Joined: 5/26/2009 Posts: 8,454
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Power creep has been pretty slow in the Vsets, but when you consider that it's been 20 sets since WOTC, it is noticeable. A suboptimal WOTC squad would be crushed in the modern game, but it also gets crushed by optimized WOTC. An optimized WOTC wouldn't win, but it could play decent games.
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Rank: Moderator Groups: Member
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Joined: 5/26/2009 Posts: 8,454
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Do you have a faction preference? You can play a decent game in any faction, and in most subfactions (ie thematic squads). Not all would be favored to win, but you'd be in the games. There are lots of options.
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Rank: Moderator Groups: Member
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Joined: 9/16/2008 Posts: 2,325
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FlyingArrow wrote:Power creep has been pretty slow in the Vsets, but when you consider that it's been 20 sets since WOTC, it is noticeable. A suboptimal WOTC squad would be crushed in the modern game, but it also gets crushed by optimized WOTC. An optimized WOTC wouldn't win, but it could play decent games. I think kybuck, gensky, mas, panaka, and doombot still has a fighting chance. GOWK is still v-set level tier 1. Might be able to base something off that with minimal v-set pieces.
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Rank: Moderator Groups: Member
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Joined: 4/30/2017 Posts: 1,009 Location: Lower Hutt, New Zealand
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For the non-Unique tournament, I think a good simple yet competitive character to build around would be the Arkanian Jedi General (Old Republic). You can't really go wrong with an AJG, some of the different Soldiers it can boost (e.g. Old Republic Trooper), and maybe a couple of other commanders. The squad doesn't really need any Unique characters to be solid. Another option would be Separatist BX Commando Droids ( Snipers/ Spotters) which are in a similar situation (and can get Double Attack from the Commando Droid Captain). Sounds like you have some droids and Jedi/troopers in your collection so you'd have the minis to play either of those (it's unusual to have exactly the right miniatures for every card, so feel free to use proxies). I think it's safe to assume the escalation tournament is not elimination-based- usually for all events other than the championship, you would play every round, unless you get a bye. There are lots of different options for what to play. I've had fun playing the OT Rebel heroes in escalation. The best versions of the big three (Luke, Leia and Han) all have the "Hero of Endor" tag and work well together.
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Rank: Advanced Bloo Milk Member Groups: Member
Joined: 6/8/2023 Posts: 116 Location: Your mom's house
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Senate commandoes are cool, they can get up to four attacks at 30 damage. Maybe throw GOWK in, as adamb0nd recommended. I've also had reasonable success playing a squad involving Darth Maul Apprentice of Hatred, San Hill Chairman, and General Grievous Hero of Hypori with variable filler.
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Rank: Advanced Bloo Milk Member Groups: Member
Joined: 4/30/2008 Posts: 2,124
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kevgk wrote:
I am specifically playing in the 200pt non-unique, and the Escalation game-modes. Related: is Escalation an elimination game-mode, or do you guarantee to bring in your entire squad before the end of the tournament? Feel free to discuss other events in this thread, but I'm looking for help for only these specific game-modes.
You get to play all rounds of the escalation tournament (most of our games are Swiss round so you get to play all the rounds)
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Rank: Ewok Groups: Member
Joined: 6/4/2021 Posts: 2
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Appreciate the advice everyone. I'm open to whatever ideas you think of up until the events. I'll have time in the car and hotel to keep working on squads, but this is some helpful places to start. Its a bit of analysis paralysis since theres tons of vsets to work with, but also I have plenty of minis I'd love the opportunity to play with, and its kind of hard to pick your favorites. FlyingArrow wrote:Power creep has been pretty slow in the Vsets, but when you consider that it's been 20 sets since WOTC, it is noticeable. A suboptimal WOTC squad would be crushed in the modern game, but it also gets crushed by optimized WOTC. An optimized WOTC wouldn't win, but it could play decent games. This is helpful insight. I'll probably stick to my favorite units for the most part and maybe fill in the gaps with some mid-cost vset units. FlyingArrow wrote:Do you have a faction preference? You can play a decent game in any faction, and in most subfactions (ie thematic squads). Not all would be favored to win, but you'd be in the games. There are lots of options. I'd give a special look to Mandalorians or other troopers since they are what I like to collect the most. I don't have much for sith or new republic, but plenty of lightsaber units to proxy with. Gandalf's post is insightful too. I think all of the old republic jedi might be better than usual with how much text is on each card, and I have plenty of lightsaber minis to work with. Similarly, the twin suns agents are probably extra powerful in this format too. On the other end of the spectrum, separatist droids tend to have lots of buffs and cheap units to try to out-activate opponents relying on 35 point units. They would give me more flexibility in rounding out a squad after picking some core units. adamb0nd wrote:I think kybuck, gensky, mas, panaka, and doombot still has a fighting chance. GOWK is still v-set level tier 1. Did GOWK get an errata? I remember reading about something like that but don't remember specifics. I'd avoid him if people think hes a little bit of a sweaty choice, but seems like a safe core unit for Escalation. Lightsaber wrote:Senate commandoes are cool, they can get up to four attacks at 30 damage. Maybe throw GOWK in, as adamb0nd recommended. I've also had reasonable success playing a squad involving Darth Maul Apprentice of Hatred, San Hill Chairman, and General Grievous Hero of Hypori with variable filler. I think senate commandos might be a good choice too since they scale well in numbers. GOWK for round 1, and either bring in Argys in round 1 or 2. Then the rest of the rounds are just adding commandos and utility pieces. I do have Maul and San Hill units to work with, but I don't have a unit that visually matches Grevious well. I'll give those extra considerations. another question for the thread: what are some go-to utility units like mouse droid and ugnaught demo? Does each faction have better units to fill those roles or are people mostly still playing with them?
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Rank: Moderator Groups: Member
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Joined: 5/26/2009 Posts: 8,454
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Mice and uggies are still ubiquitous, but you no longer bring them just for activations. Bring them for door control and CE propagation, as intended. If you don't need either, there are now other viable utility options for 3/4/5 points.
Look at XT-6 Droid, LothCat, Mandalorian Guardsman, Prowler 1000, and Sith Recruit. Also, Spaarti Clone and Killik Drone. All viable filler. Some Fringe, some in factions.
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Rank: Moderator Groups: Member
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Joined: 9/16/2008 Posts: 2,325
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kevgk wrote:
Did GOWK get an errata? I remember reading about something like that but don't remember specifics. I'd avoid him if people think hes a little bit of a sweaty choice, but seems like a safe core unit for Escalation.
Once upon a time he was banned, and at some point soresu style mastery was erratad. Over time, due to power creep and solutions to counter with him, the those were both lifted. Now he works as his card says. By today's standards, he's a grade A piece but not broken.
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FlyingArrow,
Guest,
TheHutts |