There is a certain satisfaction in judging the distance between your Millennium Falcon and an asteroid, placing the movement template on the table, and watching as you avoid a crash by fractions of an inch. The same satisfaction as trying to predict how an opponent’s TIE Fighter will weave through that asteroid field, then nailing them as they fly right where you planned they would.

These are the joys and gambles of the X-Wing Miniatures game, a tabletop game based in the Star Wars universe. Players choose a faction to represent, from the regimented squadrons of the Galactic Empire to the mercenaries and bounty hunters that comprise Scum and Villainy. Each faction has its own list of ships and pilots that provide a different play experience and feel to the game.

Resetting Dials

I should step back to explain why X-Wing is currently at the front of my mind. About a month ago I was browsing Reddit and saw a post titled “2.5 Rules are up!” which made me raise an eyebrow. The game that I had played off and on since 2012 was getting another rules update? I checked the post, and sure enough, the company that runs competitive X-Wing, AMG, was releasing a massive rules update to the game. 

Pilot values were changing, squad building was changing, even the way obstacles like asteroids were treated was changing. This was big. Having been away from the game since the start of COVID, it got me thinking. Maybe now was the time to get back on the table, to see what this new shakeup had to offer.

A New Hope

I set out to find the nearest shop that was hosting regular X-Wing game nights. A few minutes later I was on the Facebook page for Reality A Games in West Warwick, where a (reportedly) dedicated group played every Wednesday night. That got my mind buzzing. This was my opportunity to start from scratch, and to fly with ships I hadn’t flown in years. I got to work immediately on a Rebel ship list.

Fast forward a few weeks and I haven’t missed a game night yet. Along with Ron, the head of the Rhode Island X-Wing group, I’m throwing dice and dodging laser fire in all manner of ship from across the galaxy far, far away.

As I fly around the board avoiding obstacles and completing objectives, it’s hard for the game to not take on a life of its own. Han and Chewie in the Falcon become the daring defenders of the Rebellion, as Vader’s use of the dark side of the Force cements his legacy as a Sith Lord. The tight corners and close calls are exciting, and the stories of the underdog pilots and pantomime villains connect each game with the rich tapestry of Star Wars lore. That is, until next week.