Rank: Advanced Bloo Milk Member
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Joined: 6/23/2010
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Location: The Hutt, New Zealand
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Our Lower Hutt, New Zealand, playgroup, had a 100 point tournament on Sunday. One thing I noticed was how few of the characters used were from the major movies. I ran Republic with Anakin and R2-D2, and one Seperatist squad had Darth Sidious, who are obviously major characters. Most of the other characters I saw, however, were from the EU, or had minor roles in the movies (Wedge's Snowspeeder, General Rieekan, Poggle The Lesser, Mas Amedda, Destroyer Droid). On the other hand, there were at least a couple of Jorus C'baoths and Sora Bulqs - characters that I'd have no idea about if it wasn't for the game.
I don't think it's a problem - it's great that there are lots of pieces to choose from. I do think that:
- There's a good argument that it's worthwhile making more Darth Vaders, Luke Skywalkers etc, even though there are plenty already.
- It would be nice to have some good Fringe alternatives to Dash, Renegade Smuggler and Jarael in that mid-20s price range. They're both so good at what they do, and easy to boost with CEs, that they're ubiquitous - a lot of the squads had one or the other, and a couple had both.
It was pretty interesting playing 100 - I'm not sure if there's been a lot of 100 play with the last few sets, so I don't think that there is really an established meta? The two squads that did best in the rounds we had were: (i) Darth Sidious, Sora Bulq, Poggle, and a whole lot of drones, and (ii) Jorus C'baoth, Dash, Kel Dor. 100 is pretty open, right? You're more likely to get away with running an extreme build like the Geonosian swarm as other teams are less likely to have the tools to counter it. Using Darth Sidious was clever, as it stops Bastila from screwing you over, as you can set the Drones off yourself, rather have to wait for the other player to attack you, which makes it a lot easier to get around Advanced Battle Meditation.
I'm not sure if this post has a point - it's more me thinking out loud during my lunch break, and I've spent so much time typing it that I feel like I should post it....
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Rank: Advanced Bloo Milk Member
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Location: West Bend, Wisconsin
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I agree, many of the famous characters are not very competitive, but don't forget about Luke RC and LV
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Leia and obi spirit have won gencon the past 3 years. All those squads had Luke and han too.
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Rank: Advanced Bloo Milk Member
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Location: The Hutt, New Zealand
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Quote:Leia and obi spirit have won gencon the past 3 years. All those squads had Luke and han too Sure - top Rebel builds have lots of famous characters, and most Imperial squads will feature a Vader and some commanders in Imperial uniforms. Yoda, Anakin, Panaka, and R2-D2 are pretty often seen in Republic squads, and Sidious is seen often in Separatist. Just in this particular tournament it was pretty striking how few famous characters were played. I guess it's because the EU factions are much more playable now, which is great, and also some things that are great at 200 don't work at 100 so well - for instance it's hard, although certainly not impossible, for a Vader to fit in enough support.
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Rank: Advanced Bloo Milk Member
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Or, Sith, Mandos and Vong are entirely EU based factions, apart from Maul and Sideous. New Republic has our favourite film characters but also spans past that to mainly EU based people. Republic and Separatists are ok for having film characters, but some of their best people and best stories are told in the books and comics and computer games, not in the films.
You make some interesting points though. I think we would be better with In-faction alternatives for Dash. OR are getting that now, and one that isn't reliant on opportunist.
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Rank: Advanced Bloo Milk Member
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I guess there are some figures which are meta yet aren't particularly true to the roles they play in the films. Yoda is played, but pretty much only when he is mounted. Yoda and Mace would be more of clone commanders to mirror the films. We also don't see that much of regular clones, but may do in the future.
For seps we are getting revamped battle droids so should see some more of them, also Dooku which would be good.
We have seen a new Vader who commands troops which is true of him in the films. We have plenty of him as a melee piece which is true of him in V & VI.
I think Rebels have enough, although Commando Luke didn't do all that much lol, he really just stole a speeder bike and killed a couple of Scout Troopers. The main action we don't see is Chewie, who really was tough pretty much indestructable. Also Mon Mothma and Ackbar should maybe see more action also.
I think Jabba and his posse don't see enough play if we compare face time in films to game time.
But there are many who do get game time who have face time - R2-D2, Grievous, Luke, Vader, Leia, Yoda (mounted!), Anakin, Obi-Wan, Han and Mouse Droids (who can forget the squeling mouse droid running/rolling from Chewie's roar!?). There are others too.
I guess the main thing is to realise that we can't just recreate the films in our skirmishes because sometimes Vader kills Luke lol, and other things happen also. I do think the issue raised in this thread is being rectified though with the v-sets and we will see really cool version of characters we love, taking us back to their classic roles.
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