X-Wing: The Game Awakens

There is a disturbance in the Force...

With the arrival of the long awaited rebirth of the Star Wars franchise, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Pete and I are currently experiencing a new burst of enthusiasm for the X-Wing Miniatures game. So last week, we agreed to create two 100 point fleets each, me as Rebels and Pete as Imperials, and spend an evening making spaceship noises.

Game 1

Rebels

• Blue Squadron Pilot (B-Wing) with Heavy Laser Cannon
• Blue Squadron Pilot (B-Wing) with Heavy Laser Cannon
• Rookie Pilot (X-Wing)
• Rookie Pilot (X-Wing)

My thoughts behind this list was mainly to get my two B-Wings on the table for the first time. However, I had a lot of fire-power but only low skill pilots.

Imperials

• Soontir Fel (TIE Interceptor) - Push the Limit, Stealth Device
• Commander Kenkirk (VT-49 Decimator) - Engine Upgrade, Rebel Captive and other upgrades I can't remember

Although I had an advantage in fire-power and numbers, but Pete's list had greater durability, manoeuvrability and better fire arcs. Pete higher pilot skill would also have the ability to react to my moves and fire first.

The fleets advance. One of my X-Wings heads off on a flank attack.

The fleets open fire. The Decimator and an X-Wing take damage.

A dramatic K-turn sees Soontir Fel destroy the fleeing X-Wing.
The B-Wings pour fire on him, leaving the Interceptor on one damage.

The Imperials defend themselves by crashing into the B-Wings.
The X-Wing flank attack starts the long job of bringing down the Decimator.

The B-Wing's poor handling begins to show.
The Decimator takes more damage.

The Rebels pursue the Decimator, but Fel is ominously behind them.

Fel destroys a B-Wing.
The Decimator uses its Engine Upgrade to avoid fire arcs.

With two ships down and Soontir Fel stalking the Rebels, it was just a matter of time as he stalked and destroyed the Rebel ships in short order. The game was closer that it looked at the end as Soontir Fel had onlt a single damage point remaining and the Decimator was down to four (from about a hundred...I may be exaggerating). In fact, if I'd managed to score one extra hit on Soontir Fel on turn three, the game would have gone completely the other way.

In retrospect, I made two mistakes in this game. Firstly, the flank attack just delayed the second X-Wing's arrival to the fight. I'll admit that this was due to the fact that I didn't know the Decimator has a 360 degree attack. If my X-Wings had attacked together, I would have had an extra couple of shots early on, perhaps bringing down Soontir Fel.

Which brings me to the second issue. There were times when I had shots on Fel when I chose to shoot at the Decimator, as it was easier to hit and had a lot of toughness to remove. However, has I focused fire to bring down the Interceptor, Pete would had lost his advantage in manoeuvrability, and the B-Wings would have had longer to attack the Decimator. Honestly, I didn't identify the real threat.

Game 2

Rebels

• Han Solo (YT-1300, Millennium Falcon) with Chewbacca, Gunner, Engine Upgrade and Veteran Instincts
• Jake Farrell (A-Wing, Test Pilot) with Chardaan Refit, Adrenaline Rush and Veteran Instincts
• Prototype Pilot (A-Wing) with Chardaan Refit

This is my version of what's known as a 'Fat Han' build. The idea being that the Millennium Falcon can evade and boost it's way out of trouble, weather what fire it does take and then use what feels like endless re-rolls to ensure it's handing out at least some damage every turn. The A-Wings were there to draw fire and take on enemy fighters, thinning any swarms.

Imperials

• Rexler Brath (TIE Defender)
• Howlrunner (TIE Fighter)
• Backstabber (TIE Fighter)
• Academy Pilot (TIE Fighter)
• Academy Pilot (TIE Fighter)

Pete had a couple of upgrades that I can't remember. In a complete reversal of the first game, Pete had the fire-power and numbers, I had the manoeuvrability and endurance.

The Imperials split their forces.Howlrunner and Academy Pilots face the Falcon and Jake Farrell.
The Prototype Pilot tries to bait and switch the Defender and Backstabber.

In a surprise move, the Imperials focus fire on the Prototype Pilot.
This allows the Falcon and Jake Farrell to destroy an Academy TIE.

Things get close and ugly.
Jake Farell takes significant damage.

Jake Farrell uses Adrenaline Rush to get out of trouble.
The Rebels focus fire on the TIE Defender.

The Defender is destroyed as Jake Farrell once again miraculously survives.

Jake Farrell finally succumbs to enemy fire.
Han Solo faces the TIEs alone.

The Academy Pilot is the first to fall to the Falcon's guns.

The TIE's struggle to cause damage.

Howlrunner is finished off, Backstabber looks outmatched.

With a single TIE left and the Falcon still in rude health, we called it a day. The game would only have ended one way.

If I'm honest, my fleet took little to no skill to fly effectively and a fully tooled up Millennium Falcon is a tough beast. I think Pete made a mistake by attacking the Prototype Pilot early one, when Howlrunner and the Academy Pilots could/should have turned towards the Falcon. I think the only way to beat the Falcon is to concentrate on it. By the time Pete had taken out both A-Wings, he'd taken too much damage to stand a chance against the Falcon.

I'm not sure that a 'Fat Han' build is that much fun to play against, so I'm not sure it's something I'll do often. However, it's nice to know that it's there if there's a losing streak that needs breaking. Also, I like the fact that the iconic ship in the films is one of the best ships in the game; it feels right. So often in licensed games, the iconic characters are over shadowed by the unforeseen utility of 'Security Guard 3'. The Falcon should be hard to stop.

We're playing X-Wing again this week, but this time it's my turn to be the Imperials...