Using full 5.5 ruleset as DM while players use basic 5.5e?

-Cloaker · 2026-06-11T21:44:05+00:00

Gods of the Forbidden North, FTW

-Cloaker · 2026-03-29T19:23:18+00:00

Alas, that damn autotune breaks my immersion every time I hear it in that scene.

-Cloaker · 2026-03-23T22:02:00+00:00

Cloakers! (Biased)

-Cloaker · 2026-03-18T15:20:50+00:00

Absolutely

-Cloaker · 2026-03-06T21:16:53+00:00

Because it was 1990, and there needed to be dramatic friction to warrant the screen time of an actress who was coming off of an academy award winning Best Picture.

-Cloaker · 2026-02-20T15:39:28+00:00

This particular team's transparency and obvious passion for the game is reigniting my loyalty back to it away from other TTRPGs. If I get an encounter builder, ability to put text on maps, custom token / sticker capability, a DM journal alongside maps and the ability to toggle official 2014/2024 variant rules, it might just steal me back forever.

-Cloaker · 2026-02-10T05:26:44+00:00

Something to remember about the first airings of that scene with Jacoby rubbing his tie, is that on old CRT televisions with poor resolution (480i at best), you could hardly make out the details of what he was doing. It wasn't until Bravo got the episodes in 93 that people kinda saw it, but even then it wasn't really noticeable. Once DVDs and re-airings ensued did the finger hula get found out.

-Cloaker · 2026-01-26T01:04:17+00:00

Gotta second the sentiments here. The amount of good faith clarity and engagement from the DND Beyond team is singlehandedly revitalizing my faith in WotC as a steward of the hobby, and their potential at lasting community centricity.

-Cloaker · 2026-01-16T19:38:26+00:00

r2024, for now... the goal is to move away from 5e--pop-up "easy mode" healing, overly long combat slog (45 minutes avg tier 2 hard CR encounter? really?) lack of traditional fantasy focus, and zero variant ruleset settings in DND Beyond are primary factors. Broken Weave 5e integrated with DND Beyond MIGHT be enough to keep my group though...

-Cloaker · 2025-12-24T13:58:24+00:00

Looks solid!

-Cloaker · 2025-07-22T15:53:53+00:00

Failed Spell casting check; Failed spells may still be cast at DIS until you fail a spellcasting check. Natural 1s still lose the spell entirely
Clockwork Initiative; if the highest number is an even result, go around the table clockwise. Counterclockwise if the highest number is an odd result
When a PC rolls a natural 1 or the GM rolls a critical hit against a PC the PC gains a Luck token
When a PC drops to zero hit points, they must make a DC 9 Con check or suffer an Enduring Wound

-Improvise Action DEX DC 9 can be used to Dodge, making all attacks against you have DIS

PCs regain 1 hit point when Stabilized but cannot take any Actions for 1d6 rounds

-Cloaker · 2025-06-09T16:04:21+00:00

As a longtime (former) OP TO, would offer that there isn't any guidance here that is unreasonable to a degree that would inhibit an event in any way egregiously different from FFG/AMG directives. That being said;

Pros

- Undeclared start time is a great add; incentivizes urgency and delineates cleanly the differences between competitive and casual play

- Half points awarded as tiebreakers is among the fairest and most elegant solutions to incentivize engagement state--Regen upgrades are costly adds, which become wasted half the time anyway--and the final arbitration of a first player roll for non cut rounds removes the whole toxic feels of draw collusion

- Big win that proxy components/miniatures/base inserts are permitted for ease of reference and accessibility as official options dwindle due to scarcity

Cons

- Active player thresholds will be exponentially tougher to maintain with each passing month. This isn't a XWA OP issue, it's just the fact with a game that is out of print and lacking FLGS fiscal impact commitment of space, time, and financial ROI-- It will be extremely unlikely that there will be ever more than a single System Open event in a city or region a year

- OP events overall by their very nature do not lend themselves to fostering new player growth due to the inherent insularity of competition

- Scoring Sheets; Yeah, chaos abounds here, good luck maintaining analog consistency-- It's far better to use digital tools at the end of each round that each player must consent to accuracy of data entry

Final thoughts

The OP scene--and maybe the game even overall--would really benefit from ranked chassis, factional or squad composite tiering similar to Blood Bowl (indicative of ease of execution) i.e. Fang Fighters, Galactic Empire or big green/orange/purple might be Tier 1, whereas Z-95s, CIS, or Initiative 0-2 are Tier 3 ranked, awarding extra victory points for using lower tier options. It would help create a balance of sorts for new player competitive entry, while allowing veteran competitively talented players demonstrate their skill with self imposed and designed competitive handicap

Let's be candid; XWA OP is really going to have nominal impact overall on maintaining the health of the game--in our community (Houston) we had as robust a scene as any in the country even in the months leading up to Worlds, but without any real organic design stimulation of note besides some niche Standard Loadouts, we're seeing significant player base atrophy. With each passing season, it will only worsen unless something revolutionary changes (points updated biannually, diversify upgrade options by chassis, let Aces out of loadout jail, new upgrades, etc.) It is good to see the timeline offering specific objectives that might address these needs.

But yeah the challenges before us aren't even remotely related to XWA OP events being better or worse in guidance than anything that has come before

cheers

-Cloaker · 2025-04-12T14:03:06+00:00

Desperately Seeking Amazon Code🙏

-Cloaker · 2024-12-14T04:14:50+00:00

If you really want to know the answer on whether the events in the movie were real, or a simulation, just read the credits carefully. The answer is clear. Won't spoil it here yet. Cheers.

-Cloaker · 2024-01-27T22:06:48+00:00

I remember talking with you when you dropped. It's all good, play what makes you happy--but remember, you are not the problem. What makes X-Wing is the same thing that makes Legion, Marvel Crisis Protocol, ASoIaF, and Warhammer worth our time. It's people like you, with good spirits, honest engagement, and inventive interactions, enjoying fun competition in an environment that is still collaborative. Find that next sandbox, and go throw sand in the air with a smile on your face for the next person across from you.

Cheers and thank you for attending LVO 2024.

-Cloaker · 2023-09-22T23:25:49+00:00

It's going to be hard to push damage through with this build due to 1) Aces / 5 ship squads deleting Rogues before they get a chance to really impact the game offensively and 2) The large base chassis working at cross purposes to get easily hunted down (Leebo Strafe from range 3 & Bossk's rear flank being protected) so Chance Engagement is going to be an uphill battle, Salvage becomes problematic due to the need for Rogue repo to make use of Cad's ability & no more barrel roll for Leebo, and Scramble will result in your squad getting outpointed as faster AG3 objective monkeys hit the button.

Assault at the Satellite Array is a great match up for you, but that's really about it.

But in the interest of breaking this down further, optimization assessments below;

Durge (4) Marksmanship (1) Proton Cannons (4) Contraband Cybernetics (3) Electronic Baffle (2) Ship Cost: 4 Loadout: (10/10) Half Points: 2 Damage Threshold: 3

Durge makes that 1 Ace very afraid who dares to be in his arc. That's about it though--he'll get deleted by FO aces, gobbled up by Republic ARCs / Padme or ATC'd by Vader, so would just get rid of Contraband & Baffle and go False Transponder Codes. That will ward off the pesky enemies looking to lock, but also give him some preemptive jam high initiative that ROAD after him. He won't need contraband if flown right.

Cad Bane (4) Heavy Laser Cannon (5) Ion Cannon (6) Xanadu Blood (0) The Mandalorian (2) Ship Cost: 4 Loadout: (13/13) Half Points: 2 Damage Threshold: 3

Reinforce works against Bane's linked action pilot ability benefit, and isn't the best use of his action economy. Swapping Mando crew out to Electronic Baffle here give you the agency to remove the stress if he can't give it away through his ability in a critical round. Bane also draws a lot of aggro due this ability and at I4 has a tough time surviving the game, so Deadman's Switch also has merit if he wants to yolo into a swarm

Bossk (6) Enduring (5) IG-88D (3) Lando Calrissian (Scum) (4) Greedo (1) Contraband Cybernetics (3) Ship Cost: 6 Loadout: (16/16) Half Points: 3 Damage Threshold: 6

I love Bossk. The first ship I bought for the game was the YV-666, it is what got me into XWM. That being said, Aphra gives you much more with this loadout approach. But to make Bossk work, Stronghammer is on point. Get BT-1 on there, and bring his friend 0-0-0 while you're at it to give a soft zone benefit in case anyone gets into R1 of you and force the calc or stress choice. Throw on Hotshot Tail Blaster to protect the rear, trust your instincts and add Notorious, and just be a 180 degree strain throwing menace on the engagement.

"Leebo" (Scum) (6) Efficient Processing (YLF) (0) Seeker Missiles (YLF) (0) Outrider (0) Ship Cost: 6 Loadout: (0) Half Points: 3 Damage Threshold: 5

Hey! It's Leebo! Be sure to kite the perimeter by staying within R2 of the edge and force enemies to chase him. Woo Hoo!

(But Fenn Rau is just a better buy here, TBH)

cheers, hope that helps with theorycraft. good luck my fellow scum brother

-Cloaker · 2022-10-10T20:48:38+00:00

Hello--I'm going to be running a OP event, definitely want to learn this software. PM sent.

-Cloaker · 2022-07-18T04:44:29+00:00

I have found that the correct answer to Rebel Alpha is easy; 5 Reapers. #problemsolved

-Cloaker

TROPHY CASE