Be Prepared: How to get ready for a tournament
Greetings pilots. This article is going to be less about flying plastic spaceships and more about preparing to fly them. If you are looking to enter into a competition, this article should help you to prepare for it. Here’s my top tips for getting yourself through an X-Wing Tournament.
Sleep is important!
You are going to be doing a mentally strenuous task. Funnily enough your Mother was correct and to perform well you do need some sleep. This one is a kicker for me as I have a nasty habit of painting into the wee hours of the morning before a tournament. The advantage X-Wing has over other miniatures games is that it’s all pre-painted! (Looking at you three colours and based minis requirement for 40k tournaments…)
As someone who goes to international tournaments, I’ve found getting to the venue with time to relax and chill out is incredibly important in any setting. I started doing this to make sure I didn’t turn up late but it also puts you in a good frame of mind for battering your opponents.
Get some munch in you
A good breakfast always goes down well. I’m usually one to skip breakfast but I always make sure I have a good one before a tournament. Don’t make it a yoghurt, something substantial is best.
It’s also key to keep yourself fed throughout the day. Often X-Wing tournaments don’t have a long break between games and I’ve found myself getting hungry. Stay away from sugar if you can, it’s great for a short boost but drops off fast and you'll get tired.
Lots of water!
This one is key. Something Paul Heaver (did you hear the clonk?) has said repeatedly is that you need to keep yourself hydrated during the day. Bring a water bottle and use it. Again, I would caution against too much sugar or caffeine. If anyone was around for the 2015 Nordic Nationals then I can confirm that necking two cans of monster before a tense game of X-Wing Is a bad decision and one I haven’t repeated since!
Spend a penny
If you know you have a small bladder (guilty) then get acquainted with the toilets early and remember to go between rounds. A surefire way to annoy your opponent is to have to run off to the toilet when he’s just finishing setting his dials. It’s also quite hard to keep your concentration when tightly crossing your legs.
Take a seat, I’ll be with you in a minute…
Playing with tiny toy spaceships is hard work people! Something that many people don’t think of is how much standing around you do during a day of X-Wing. On a more serious note, your legs and back will hurt if you stand up all day without any rest. Take the chance to sit down while your opponent moves his ships. Take a stretch, relax — you deserve it after the long day of PEW you’ve had.
Get some air
It’s important to get some space at some point during the day. Wander outside and go for a five minute walk. Enjoy your own company or complain about your dice with a friend. Some distance outside of whichever fine hall you’re playing in can help, especially after a particularly frustrating moment. It allows you to clear your head and get ready for the next one.
It’s only a game!
Remember the most important thing. The reason we play with toy spaceships on the weekend is because we enjoy it. Its very easy to take things seriously but the core values of the game remain the same as when you picked up your first dial.
So get out there and eat bacon! Or whichever quorn substitute which isn’t quite as good you prefer. I’m not picky.
Until next time pilots,
Fly Casual
Oli
