by Let’s meet Nostrus, a two-time French Vice-Champion in 2021 and 2022 who made his return after a break to represent France at the World Team Championship 2025. In this interview, the CIS player reflects on his wargaming journey and shares tips on how to climb the tournament rankings.
The player’s beginnings in Legion
Jack Brussell: Hi Nostrus! Huge congratulations on your results at the 2021 and 2022 French Championships. You were a finalist in both editions. With such a track record, you’ve settled the debate: you are an excellent and incredibly consistent player! For those who don’t know you, could you tell us a bit about yourself and, more importantly, your history with miniature games?
Nostrus: My name is Raphaël (aka Nostrus on Discord), born in 1997. I discovered miniature games as a kid with Warhammer Fantasy. I was a fairly dedicated player since I used to go to a gaming club. Later on, like most young people, I stepped away from the hobby for many years. That was until I discovered Star Wars: Legion in April 2020. I actually started with the digital version on Tabletop Simulator because I had sworn to myself I’d never buy miniatures again. I used to see this hobby as a bit of a trap: you’re driven to spend a lot of money on minis, some of which never even see the light of day. You enjoy that kind of game for a while, but you inevitably get bored, and then you regret those bulk purchases. However, with Legion, I loved the game so much that… I bought minis again 😅. And I don’t regret it, because the game itself is truly incredible.
That’s fascinating! You already had solid experience without ever having pushed a physical Legion mini. How did your first “real-life” games go?
The first time I played with physical miniatures was during a tournament using minis borrowed from Toto (Editor’s note: Toto is a well-known figure in the French community). I was so used to playing online that the sensation of playing in person was strange. It took me a while to adjust. For instance, when I needed to measure a distance, I would instinctively look for a button to display the range, forgetting that I actually had to pick up the physical measuring tools! 🫠
I didn’t get great results in that competition. That was mainly because I was running out of time in every game. I had a reputation for being very slow, which was true. I worked on that flaw throughout subsequent tournaments: I learned to play faster and become more efficient. You have to gain experience to progress; there’s no shortcut.
Speaking of experience, had you participated in many other tournaments before starting your first French Championship, the biggest SWL tournament in Europe ?
Yes, including notable events like the 3rd edition of the Confinement Cup on TTS, which had a very different vibe and a kind of long-term pressure. In the period between the two French Championships, I also played in around ten tournaments.
Pro Tips
Given your impressive and consistent results, you surely have a few keys to share on how to perform well in high-stakes matches. What advice would you give to players looking to improve their tournament rankings?
First, never concede an official match. Sometimes, mid-game, you feel like you can’t win because of bad luck or a poor start. When those thoughts creep in, you have to wipe the slate clean and start from scratch. Analyze the board and ask yourself: “How do I make it out of this from this new starting point?” It doesn’t matter if it’s harder than it was at the beginning. You have to consider every option.
As proof, during my quarter-final in the 2022 FC, I lost quite a few units by turn 3-4. I would have conceded if there was nothing at stake. But since it was a quarter-final, I persevered. Fortunately so, because I won the game. It’s proof that you need to mentally regroup even when all seems lost. Never give up. And that holds true even if you end up losing. It will likely allow you to lose by a smaller points margin, which helps your ranking compared to other players with the same win/loss record.
Secondly, study your opponents’ command cards. Personally, I study their effects so I’m never caught off guard during a game. If my opponent is playing Darth Vader, I think about all six of his command cards and their pip values. It prevents me from being surprised by a game effect. If I can’t remember a card’s effect, I quickly check it online before the match. It’s silly to lose a game because of that kind of oversight.
Finally, don’t let yourself be intimidated by opponents regarding rules. Especially when you know the rules well, you might still let an opponent lead you into an error. Sometimes they are acting in good faith and truly believe they’re right, but other times, you have ill-intentioned players who might make you doubt certain abilities. You’re always better off checking the rulebook in those cases.
And for those new to the competitive scene, what would you recommend to avoid being overwhelmed at the next French Championship (taking usually place in September/October each year)?
To prepare for a Championship, the best way is to get some mileage by participating in small local tournaments. Without experience, you’ll put yourself under unnecessary pressure, make mistakes, and that could cost you.
Next, you have to learn to manage your time well. Official games are timed, so any time wasted could prevent you from finishing the match. You should practice beforehand with a chess clock. In your first timed games, it’s common to forget to hit the clock, which gives your opponent free time and penalizes you for no reason.
There are also small tricks to save time, like bringing the right gear: for example, a small tray to hold your miniatures and small containers for your tokens. This prevents you from spending 20 minutes hunting for a specific token during the game.
Similarly, using a laser to check lines of sight is not only practical but cuts short endless debates (“No, I don’t think you have LOS” – “Yes, I do…“). The laser settles things quickly and avoids having to call a judge, which wastes everyone’s time.
Reflections on the 2022 French Championship
Behind every champion is a champion’s list. How did you come up with the Triple MagnaGuard list? Was there a specific reason for choosing the CIS as your faction?
The CIS is my “heart” faction. I only own miniatures for this army. I like having control over my activations, and it’s the only faction that allows for optimized order distribution. Regarding the list, the idea came to me during a period where I didn’t know what to play with CIS anymore. I was experimenting with bits and pieces. I tested the first draft of my Triple Magna list during a small tournament and it worked well. I refined it slightly before playing it at a tournament in Toulouse.
After those great results, the list was locked in. It was obvious I was taking it to the Championship. It was running well, and all that was left was for me to learn how to play it perfectly. It’s important to commit to a list at some point and practice with it before a major tournament. Even with an excellent list, if you aren’t used to playing it, you will inevitably make mistakes.
Did you pay close attention to the meta before starting the French Championship?
Yes, I was paying quite a bit of attention to the meta. I was fairly confident against successful archetypes back then, like Vader Blizzard Force, because my list was quite robust. On the other hand, I hadn’t had the chance to test myself against Shadow Collective armies. Fortunately, I didn’t encounter that faction during my run. From that perspective, things went well for me. It’s worth noting that the Collective was underrepresented at the FC (12 players, I believe), so the chances of meeting them were slim.
Let’s remind readers that a few weeks before the French Championship, you and Tza met in the final of a tournament in Toulouse. And within a few points, you were playing the exact lists you’d bring to the FC. Did you fear Tza’s list?
Absolutely. I had lost to him at that Toulouse tournament. Suppression on MagnaGuards really hurts. They panic and can no longer respond to threats. I knew another encounter against Tza would be problematic.
Unfortunately, what you feared happened… Tza was waiting for you in the final. Do you have any regrets regarding your list construction?
No, I don’t have regrets. I didn’t want to adapt my list solely to face him. I would have inevitably been less effective against other lists. Moreover, his list is unique and atypical, which made practicing against it difficult: he was the only one playing it, and he played it very well. If I had run into Tza earlier in the tournament, my decision would probably have weighed on me more. I might not have ranked as high. But meeting him in the final allowed me to have a great run through the rest of the Championship.
Did you take away any lessons from the 2022 French Championship?
Yes. The FC evolved my list. I removed one unit of Magnas and some B1s to bring three units of STAPs this time. They have the advantage of not being sensitive to suppression. This list could have taken on Yoda and Chewie without getting bogged down by suppression tokens, and it would have helped me manage my quarter-final against Blizzard Force better. So far, this list hasn’t let me down. I took it to a small three-game tournament, and I won all of them.
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Any final words?
I’ve started a new game, Conquest: Last Argument of Kings. The gameplay is similar to Legion: alternating activations with two activations per unit. I did a trial game on Tabletop. I systematically try out my units and games before buying them. That is my final piece of advice: if you’re on a tight budget, test units before buying them. A unit might be strong, but if its gameplay doesn’t match your style, it’s a wasted purchase. Trying before buying gives you a chance to save money! 😉
Thank you, Raphaël, for this insightful interview, and I wish you all the best for the future!
Written by :
Jack Brussell, the driving force behind Critical Hit
I discovered miniature games in 2020 through Star Wars: Legion, and soon felt the urge to share insights and strategies about the game with others. That’s how Critical Hit was born in January 2022. What began as a one-man venture into Legion became a true team effort in 2025: As new writers joined the project and I explored more wargames myself, the site expanded to cover many more miniature games, reaching an ever-growing international audience.
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