Daala.

Just a really horrible piece in most people's opinion. It's not an exaggeration to say that she seriously fractured our community and caused players to quit in mass droves.

We tried to fix her. Then tried again. She's still a problem.


Reason she isn't a bigger problem? Most people don't play her because they hate her that much.

The few times she's been played at high level competitions she's either won, or run into the perfect counter. Does everyone want to see a meta that has to count on someone playing that Daala counter to knock her out?

Now with the change to activation control - she is even better. She doesn't have to worry about possibly needing to bring in Ozzel - she just out activates everyone. With 5 pt pieces that can do 40 damage at insane high attack ratings.

But are there people that secretly love her and are staying mum?

Or would nobody shed a tear, and in fact most even give a cheer - if we once and for all banned her here?

What are the 4pt pieces that she runs with?

Corrected

I played her a few weeks ago (see my play report in the Indiana Regional thread). I felt dirty afterward.

However, I'm not 100% sure she needs to be banned. I didn't enjoy playing that squad, because it's basically a one-trick-pony and I enjoy squads that have a variety of tactics available to them. So the reason I'm not interested in playing her is more because of the enjoyment factor, and less because of the broken-ness factor.

Basically, Daala tends to lead to extreme Paper squads. And similar to extreme Rock squads (Mace/GOWK or Caedus/Barriss) and extreme Scissors squads (Yobuck, pawned Lancer), it either works really well or it hits its achilles' heel and crumples. If someone had played a Scissors squad at the Indiana Regional, I would've lost. And even then, Jason was within a couple of dice rolls of beating me with SITH! (lol, I love that!) But that's the risk you take when you play an extreme squad: you'll probably have a better chance against the broader field of available squads, but you'll be virtually helpless if you hit your counter.

Now, there is an argument to be made that with lower participation numbers it becomes less and less risky to play an extreme squad (of whatever version), because there are less players who might end up playing a counter to your squad. But if that's the case, then we could institute a rule in a tournament that "Daala will be banned if we have less than X players." I'm not sure that's necessary, but it is a middle-of-the-road approach that doesn't change things forever.


My Snowtroopers were 6pts each, not 4, btw. They used to be 4pts, before the Rapport fix, several years ago.

I personally still think Etienne's Daala squad with the Elite Scout troopers and dignitaries is the best build. And now it's unlikely to be out activated. It's not as extreme as the TJ style "all in on the snowtroopers." That's the thing - there is versalitiy within Daala.

thereisnotry and General Grievous - from your posts it sounds like your vote was "no, I don't play her but she is good for the game"(but there is only 1 vote for that). Yet we still have 6 votes for "No, I love her. She's my favorite design!"

So who voted for that? Not trying to call anyone out - just trying to make sure the votes aren't trolls. Also like to hear why so I can understand better.

Thank you for the responses so far. Your opinions are all valid.

I'm not trying to necessarily change anyone's mind. I just only hear negatives, so I am wondering who is pro-Daala but that I am not hearing.

I didn't vote right away...forgot. I voted for "she's good for the game"

And after playing the Snowtroopers, I think I agree with you that Etienne's build is probably better. The Snowtroopers have more raw damage output, but they are much more vulnerable (Furious Assault, Yobuck, etc).

I voted "No, I love her. She's my favorite design!"

She's not exactly my favourite design, but "No. I don't play her but she's good for the game" didn't fit my stance either because I do play her from time to time. I like her design and I like that the major EU character has a major role in the faction. She's definitely one of the top squads but she doesn't win all the time- usually only when the best players are playing her. I've beaten her with squads that aren't swarm hate squads at all, like Covenant and Talon Karrde (to qualify that- I wasn't playing against the top Daala players or the best Daala builds). I know a few other New Zealanders, such as kiki, who really like playing her.

I voted that she's my favorite mainly as a protest against the poll options. I wanted to just say "no" without having to say anything else. Since that wasn't an option I went with the answer that was the most controversial.

All 4 designers on that set no longer play

I did the same as flying haha but I don’t see why it’s big deal, is it a witch-hunt for people that like her or a discussion on balance. Mind you I was the guy fighting for reserves before they got the hard counter followed by a major nerf so I know my opinion doesn’t carry much weight. We’ll just keep playing how we play in the north.