The closet Fringe only squad I can think of would probably be something built around Xizor. Xizor/NBSV/Cad Bane is fun. But you can make it much better just by tossing in r2 and Mas.

Exactly. That was the Fringe squad I was thinking about too. Even a Rodian Diplomat wouldn't be a horrible choice there, since the squad is so shooter-heavy.

Heck, you might as well throw in Mace too! j/k

So the pendulum swung all the way to one side, back, then there again.

Low activations, High activations, Low again.

Sith are a part of the discussion for real now.

Congrats to the V-set designers. You have succeeded, any faction can win a regional, many MANY squads can compete, no one squad build type is dominant.

Tough to deal with when trying to figure it all out, but best for the game methinks.

13/16 2012 Regionals completed.

Imperials 3 (3 fairly different squads)
Sith 2 (same squad)
Republic 2 (very close to the same squad)
Sep 2 (single lancer, double lancer)
Vong 1
OR 1
Reb 1
Mando 1

Tim B 3 (Vong, Imp, Sith)
Graham B 2 (OR, Sep)
Jason K 2 (Imp, Rebel)
Josh H 2 (both Rep)
Matt S 1 (Imp)
David W 1 (Sith)
Han T 1 (Mando)
Joey K 1 (Sep)

An excellent summation Tim, it will be interesting to see if the NR can bring home a victory before time is called.

There and back again... a designer's tale.

Not if anything to say about I have.

No more hints on my last regional squad.

Bring the heat Jake!

Hey now are you going to be in Danville to take this heat that he is going to be bringing?? I want to win one of these things after going 4 this season so I keep telling him to bring a pile of crap and test his skills.. Odds are he'd still whoop my butt

Alas no, I will be unable to attend but make sure you put my KKJBM to good use.

BTW... I know what you mean, getting to two finals myself this regional season and not winning is tough but nonetheless encouraging. My encounters thus far with Jake have been epically absurd!

However of greater importance is that my international assignment has been postponed and therefore I'll be attending the GenCon festivities.

W00T!!!

Everything is proceeding as I have foreseen....

Thats great to hear! I've been wanting a match with ya since we met in Lansing.

Well we shall see what the GambleTron 8000 has to say about the pairings. It certainly would be fun to clash with you, now to work on deciding on the squad. As this particular string has indicated, the Meta is wide open.

So here's my question/observation. Do we usually see power house pieces emerge from the previous set, while the most recent set tends to just lend support? There have been plenty of squads that have done well using V-set 2 pieces as their main damage dealers, but V-set 3 has mainly provided support. Sure there have been exceptions, Sithborg using Marka, the few squads we've seen using Corran, even most recently the squad with Galen, but for the most part the most popular V-set 3 pieces have been Foul, Tyber (who kinda does both, supports and attacks), guys from Cantina Brawl and the are more support or tech based.

I think it was just how the last set was, more support heavy. Maybe some powerhouse squad will rise to the top based on it just needing more time to be discovered, but I just think it's more the fact that it was just how that set turned out. Also - with every set more things can help a power squad rise. Foul helped Mace rise up. I'm sure Markos Ghost will make him better. You get the point.

That's definitely true (in terms of V-set 3 just being more support oriented). But I was also thinking (and the regionals this year have shown this) the V-sets continue to make all factions competitive, and this is the first time that's every really happened for a regional season. So it makes sense that strong pieces from V-set 2 (since it's been around a little longer) would emerge this regional season, since people are thoroughly familiar with them and know how to use them.

just as long as ponies are involved

If Im there, there will always be Ponies involved.

Does this mean your going to Danville regional? Or are you specifically talking Gen Con?

Jake I was referring to GenCon, as I'll be on BT that weekend.

Well, I finished 2nd at Charlotte with a Nomi Sunrider squad. She is also a weird tweener piece, sort of a crappy beatstick but with random kind of good tech sprinkled on top. I was pleasantly surprised at how good Force Pull 2 was, and very disappointed at the borderline uselessness of her CE and the practical impossibility of using Force Light.

I'm sorry, in case you missed that I FINISHED SECOND AT A REGIONAL WITH NOMI FREAKIN SUNRIDER. And Bossk, Trandoshan Mercenary, of all pieces.

Tim Ballard, I challenge you to play Nomi Sunrider at a regional this year. If you can win with that, Daniel and I will carry you around Indy on a palanquin during Gencon.