Activation Cap is not going to fix anything. People will just Max it out. Thrawn and max activations is still just as large an issue. State that you can only have up to 3 living non-unique pieces that cost 9 or less or something like that.
That helps the Bib popping people that dont move as well.

People don't want to ban Thrawn as far as I know. Brought it up years ago when people said Ozzel was the problem. Master Tactician, swap, and out activate is too powerful. He should cost 60.
I, personally, am on board with Banning pieces. We are so far away from WOTC. The best thing to do is what is most fun for the community.

Here's the thing: almost none of these overpowered pieces or squads were played throughout the year very much at all. They only showed up at VassalCon (not even GenCon). So banning a piece for a short period of time doesn't do anything...we either have to ban a piece forever or find a way to fix it (and the fix has to actually solve the problem).

I think there needs to be a specific thread (so as not to take this one off topic) discussing what people consider the problems to be.

Sounds like you don't want Imperials to win anything. Without Thrawn, they have no top squads. I've gone against Thrawn squads plenty of times. They are very good. but there are viable counters Thrawn swap just like everything else. I've beaten them plenty of times, even with the OR (used a Army of Light jedi squad to do it). Some factions have very good disruptive pieces. Some factions have access to Never tell me the odds. Every faction has access to a Muun Tactics broker, which as long as games don't last to many rounds, is actually a very viable way to win key inits. Thrawn has an incredible combination of 3 amazing mechanics, but that is kinda what the Imperial squads need.

Thrawn has existed for a very long time......why now is he all of a sudden this dire issue that needs to be banned forever? You don't like the piece, and that is fine. Maybe the squads you like playing just don't fare well against him. But that doesn't mean he is an issue that calls for him to be banned for everyone. Do you really think that because you have issues with facing him or Jabba that a vast majority of other players do also? Sorry, but there are a lot of really good players out there, who actually play in a lot of tournaments, and find ways to beat Thrawn and Jabba's mechanics. The only time a ban was absolutely necessary was Daala, because at the time, there was no good counter to her. Everyone tried for years to find a good counter, but she won everything easily and was a serious issue. Jabba and Thrawn aren't anywhere near the problem as what Daala was pre errata.

VassalCon is the most competitive tournament of the year. For you to diminish it like you have really is insulting to all the people who participate in it. And i think that must be your goal here, because you like to complain an awful lot about a) results of tournaments you don't participate in or b) pieces you don't personally use.

I love Imperials. I love Vader, I Love Sidious. That is who should own Imperials, not Thrawn. Thrawn should be a good support in the faction. He is cool and powerful.

Thrawn has won the most tournaments BY FAR (gencon, regionals, etc). "There are counters" is not really an answer because the counters, historically, have failed time and time again.

Thrawn has been the #1 or #2 option the entire time he has been a piece.
The TN way of playing Thrawn is not really an issue. We created melee pieces that take care of it. Banned Ozzel and Booming Voice, no issue anymore for us because melee force user pieces are powerful.
We are not afraid to get rid of bad things.

Tons of good really good players out there that beat their mechanics? They would be better just playing Jabba or Thrawn and not risking it. Why fight an uphill battle?

Looking at the squads at Vassalcon it is a joke. It is a joke because no one wanted to be as competitive as possible.
You can think whatever you want. I have always wanted the game to be fun. I have always fought for the game to be fun. I play the game probably more than most. Heck I have Play tested more than most on set 24. I used to be a maiin play tester until the stupid first draft of Old Republic Revan came out. What a joke that was. That was the last straw on how hopeless the Design team was. They did a great job with set 21.
I Love the "idea of the game" The players behind the scenes just can't seem to fix it. It is getting closer but has taken a decade. We have know everything about the game we do now 8 years ago.

PS Jabba and Thrawn should win every tournament that they are played by a top player. It is just that no one plays the top meta squads as much..... because they are not fun. No one likes playing Thrawn or playing against him.

So you thought the meta was melee heavy tank squads? Why? because that is what you thought people wanted to play. Not what was the best thing to play.
That is a mistake many people are making it seems. That is probably why you saw 2 Vong Squads there as well.

Melee Heavy squads do not win. Has there ever been a melee heavy squad win a gencon/vassalcon? Vader/Sidious got the closest right? mace Windu won it one year right?
You can't have an actual meta unless there is a competitive spirit through the regional season. Which there isn't. Everyone plays Tier 1.5 in regions.
That is why you can't even begin to think about what the true meta is. I love Jabba! I love Jabba because it can beat Thrawn. I think you get rid of Jabba and Thrawn just wins everything again. No doubt about it. The Ultrastar playing Thrawn with Cad Bane and Calo Nord would probably never lose.

Thrawn got a couple of good tools from the early v-sets too - Morrigan and Pellaeon both gave him access to unavoidable damage, which is crucial when his builds normally only get a few big attacks each round.

I still think Jim's thoughts are the most relevant. Make competitive play be the names we know and love. So I think that whatever can create that atmosphere the most rather it be through design, through balance committee, or through a switch to 150 is what should happen. All that other stuff is not really important now. Once you have the vision of what is important you just take steps toward reaching it. Maybe we should ask what most people enjoy in a skirmish and get a good feel for what we are aiming for. I love playing the game. I try to be competitive but would sacrifice a little to play something I love playing.

Despite winning a National Championship with a Thrawn swap squad, I agree with this statement. But... how do we get there?