joelker41 wrote:
I have to make the obvious comment here, outside of GOWK and 4 other squads (KKBM, Droids, finger's, and Engineer's squads) none of the other squads were even 1.5 let alone tier 1 (I consider the droids and Kyle to be 1.5). You guys are talking about GOWK destroying the field and raising hell, he seriously and obviously didn't face competitive builds:
only 7 t 1.5 squads? I think its a bit unfair. These are squads that have done well in tourneys in the past (Gen Con, consistent area winners, or good builds against the current Meta etc etc)
20. Nathan - GGDAC, Lancer, 2 IGs
18. Breman - Mara, Han, Dodonna, BBSV
16. Terry - Potty Palps, Mithrawn, Arica, Vader U
15. Fred - Kyle BM, Kype, Wede, Dash,
14. Alex - GGDAC - IGs X4, San, BDO
8. David - VAU, Potty Palps, Mithrawn
7. Eric (Engineer) - VAR, Luke HPU, Han Smuggler, Mouse, Ugo, Dodonna, Rieekan, Juno, R2-EA
6. Philip C - GOWK, Arc Trooper Sniper, Dash, R2-AM, ugo, Captain Rex, Mouse X2
5. Tim - Obi U, Luke HPU, Han Smuggler, T3, Rieekan, Juno, Mouse X2, Ugo X2
4. Ben G - Darth Malak, Lobot, Dash, Jarael, Holo Sid, Ugo X2, mouse X2
3. Matt P (MtMagus) - GOWK, JWM, Lobot, Dash, R2, Caamasi
2. Jon B (JonnyB) - GOWK, Lobot, R2, Rex, JWM
1. Deri (Fingersandteeth) - Xizor, Lobot, TBSV X2, Czerka, Ozzel, Mas, Ugo, IG Tarkin
so by my count half the field were upper t2 and above. I see you don't consider Bens squad to be t1 but then he beat a GOWK squad and was 5-10 points away from taking the whole thing (i'll ignore the mistakes and just look at the potential of the squad for now). This means that after the 1st round you have a tough competitive field. I probably got the easiest path to the top, Jonny easily got the hardest which is why he came in 2nd.
Quote:
1) No YoBuck. I still can't figure that out.
it was odd not to see him, particulally after the performance in Texas. But then my squad was designed to counter it. 160 dmg in one turn needing 3-7s to hit is pure yobuck hate.
Quote:
2) No maxed out Vong Squad. Warmaster is not the best option for Vong by a long shot.
Maxed out vong squads don't really exist IMO. JH swarms generally get locked out and/or outpointed, Nom/bombs get out pointed unless your opponents are unfamiliar with them. The issue is not enough fast dmg potential. Vong have always been the classic spoiler squad. Everyone says you can't run blah blah because of the vong but the vong have never been something top guys play. They are far too fallable. No vong squad is above t2 IMO.
Quote:
3) Only one dedicated Rebel triple threat squad (which evidently Atlanta seems to love, they are terrifying if played correctly).
two actually and the ended up 5th and 7th. Both losing to GOWK.
Quote:
Honestly the non-GOWK players will have much better squads, be played much better, and will be armed with JA improvements out the waazoo (Ossus Guardian NR squads, Kol, etc).
I'm assuming your talking about Gen COn here? I don't disagree with the improvements perspective. There are certainly more options to put force dmg on GOWK. Kol and the guardians are probably the best additions so far (anakin is not bad but a little fragile). However, there may be some additions that makes GOWK even better. Time will tell.
However, you say that your offering opinions but if you read the sentence above you are basically dismissing this regional becasue you don't like 1/2 the squads and feel like the player skill was poor. The above statement is bordeing on insulting.
But anyway, i don't want to get into a pissing match as i hate them, i'm just analysing your perspective, pointing out some of your bias and offering you an alternative angle.
I've been a big protagonist for 'don't ban GOWK'. I've taken a step back from that because he is so very very tough to deal with and its possible he will become even more of a terror.
The one factor that makes GOWK (and top squads in general) vulnerable is that his best builds are well known and very well documunted so people can plan counter squads knowing what the top GOWK squads are. If he persists in performing well at regionals even with his builds being so transparent then you can't ignore the power held within the piece.
Through the history of this game, any squad that was known to dominate was soon beaten off its perch (e.g. Han/Mara MTB was a terror before Gen Con last year, but was unable to make top 8 because people were prepared for it). If GOWK remains top even with all the hate being designed then you have to conclude that he is excessively overpowered.
The regionals will help to confirm or disprove this. So far the evidence is tilting towards an overpowered GOWK.