Among countless debates about which ship is better, or which list is guaranteed win, what kind of synergy is best, there is a one point usually missed. How you as a pilot and player learn and progress in your skill. Again, and again people write their blogs, post comments or created videos telling you what you should do to win, but miss the essential element: Practise is a good thing, but its alone is not enough, you will benefit greatly if knew the size and destination of your learning curve, because if you don't you most likely to pick up several bits of information with no explanation or more important understanding of its usefulness.
Although, Starwolf does not claim all-knowing, there are some stages we could pin-point to focus your learning curve. First of all you as player, and human being have to know how you learn new information and how long it takes you master certain things.
Learning:
During World War II, US Air force conducted a a research on how pilots became efficient in air combat. Their study showed that in order to actually understand the situation around them, pilots must have endured 5 combat missions. First they had to survive high-speed-adrenaline nature of air combat, then they need a good awareness and gunnery skill, only then came in tactic of dogfight.
What it also showed, that regardless of training methods, only 40% of information given at one certain time was memorised and then only 20% was effectively put to a good use. Surprisingly, similar results were achieved by all major air forces. To bring some examples, most aces of WW2, like Hans Marsellie, Alexander Pokryshkin and others started their rise to acedom only after initial embarrassment and misfortunes. What this has to do with you playing an x-wing game?
First of all, whoever told you that playing a combat game is a relaxed and fun experience probably wanted to sell you something. X-wing, despite being simple in its mechanics, is utterly challenging. It forces you to analyse, predict, plan and create strategy to win. It's a great mental exercise, and it is fun when its comfortable and easy for you.
Secondly, the very same rules of 5 sorties and 40% learning are applicable to you as player. Which means that when you play and analyse games you gradually train and improve your skills.
Third: none gets to be the best without commitment, training and learning. So keep your friendly games fun, but use them as training for tournaments.
Lest look at the skill progression ladder.
Training missions: not only games against living opponents are useful, sometimes just allowing yourself to move ships on the board and make mistakes will teach you faster, as you can immediately see the outcome and can understand which the plans and action were not appropriate.
Take a break: in the beginning of this article Starwolf mentioned that only 40% of learnt material was remembered and only 20% effectively used. In order to increase that you need to do only two things: repeat your lessons and games and take a break so that your memory could internalise experience.
Practise makes a master.
Starwolf, out.
Although, Starwolf does not claim all-knowing, there are some stages we could pin-point to focus your learning curve. First of all you as player, and human being have to know how you learn new information and how long it takes you master certain things.
Learning:
During World War II, US Air force conducted a a research on how pilots became efficient in air combat. Their study showed that in order to actually understand the situation around them, pilots must have endured 5 combat missions. First they had to survive high-speed-adrenaline nature of air combat, then they need a good awareness and gunnery skill, only then came in tactic of dogfight.
What it also showed, that regardless of training methods, only 40% of information given at one certain time was memorised and then only 20% was effectively put to a good use. Surprisingly, similar results were achieved by all major air forces. To bring some examples, most aces of WW2, like Hans Marsellie, Alexander Pokryshkin and others started their rise to acedom only after initial embarrassment and misfortunes. What this has to do with you playing an x-wing game?
First of all, whoever told you that playing a combat game is a relaxed and fun experience probably wanted to sell you something. X-wing, despite being simple in its mechanics, is utterly challenging. It forces you to analyse, predict, plan and create strategy to win. It's a great mental exercise, and it is fun when its comfortable and easy for you.
Secondly, the very same rules of 5 sorties and 40% learning are applicable to you as player. Which means that when you play and analyse games you gradually train and improve your skills.
Third: none gets to be the best without commitment, training and learning. So keep your friendly games fun, but use them as training for tournaments.
Lest look at the skill progression ladder.
- Learn the controls: at this step you learning the basics of the game; how turn works, what actions can do, manoeuvres and collisions. Though it seems logical and simple it is the most important step because it is foundation of entire game. You must get it right and become natural with it, to free your mind power for other aspects of the game. Approximate learning time: 5 games
- Location! Location! Location!: at this step you learn that x-wing is all about the positioning of your ships, asteroids, deployment zones and formations. Once you mastered area control, you can predict where your and opponents ships will most likely move, how to take cover and place your ships into striking position. Learning Rule of 11, is most advantageous at this point. Once you are natural with this step, plotting the course fro your ships would become much easier, bumps and crashes almost non-existent. Approximate learning time: 10 games
- Tactical advantages: this step is all about synergy of your list and piloting. skill bonuses, action economy, mutual support an focus fire, use of distance and positioning. In short every little bit that would get you a one shot kill against opponent and advantage during the turn. This is challenging as at this step you have a lot of ground to cover, including list building, synergy combos and piloting into precise position. Approximate learning time: 10 -15 games.
- Strategy and dirty tricks: at this step you plan your game for several turns ahead, you choose each and every engagement, learn how to take damage to retain combat abilities of your ship, learn and understand how to move centre of combat into position most preferable to you, maintain initiative each and every turn. What is also important, you can play knowing psychological tricks and resist same pressure from the opponent. Approximate learning time: 15-20 games
Training missions: not only games against living opponents are useful, sometimes just allowing yourself to move ships on the board and make mistakes will teach you faster, as you can immediately see the outcome and can understand which the plans and action were not appropriate.
Take a break: in the beginning of this article Starwolf mentioned that only 40% of learnt material was remembered and only 20% effectively used. In order to increase that you need to do only two things: repeat your lessons and games and take a break so that your memory could internalise experience.
Practise makes a master.
Starwolf, out.