Star-Lord Diplomat Academy

A Paired deck, to be played duo (or at a higher player count) with Cable Give Diplomacy a Chance (https://marvelcdb.com/decklist/view/46495/cable-give-diplomacy-a-chance-1.0). Alternately, anyone who is running Gunboat Diplomacy will love to be at the table with you, but a few key synergies get turned off.

Diplomat Academy

The goal is to maximize Gunboat Diplomacy, which Cable has 3 copies of and some alter-ego recursion with Vigilante Training. In order to get this online, all you need is one X-man ally on the board, ideally one with a thwart value of 2. Just one is enough for Gunboat Diplomacy to be above the curve and online (since Cable is an X-forces character naturally)

After achieving this, the next goal would be getting a second Diplomat on the board, and "graduating" them with Inspired, Comms Implant, and Danger Room Training. Because Star Lord is carrying 3 copies of each, this can be pretty reliable as long as you understand this his first priority and his role in the duo. After that (or at any time, really), Children of the Atom will give your Diplomats the credentials they need to be flexible.

Subsidized Development

Cable is a fantastic benefactor to play alongside. I've advised that he start with build support, which can get Knowhere our on the board usually on the first turn, which will boost your card draw a bit. Call for Backup and New Recruits help to find your diplomats fast and keep them out with other allies to block. Superpower Training can grab Leader of the Guardians or one of your Element Guns. Lock and Load can get the other.

Faculty Development

The last piece of this synergy is not necessary, but I smile when it happens. If Cable can give Star Lord X-Force Recruit and Star Lord can get out his copy of Children of the Atom, that will turn on Uncanny X-Force, giving all your characters an additional 1 thwart and no side scheme can survive repeated ally thwarting. This is, of course, as long as you never, ever play Nova Prime. But honestly, why would you?

Charitable Contributions

Cable will give you Skilled Investigator as soon as he can, and he has a copy for himself. Star Lord's Academy provides the Mission Leader. With both active, and the frequency with which side schemes appear and are accomplished, you'll often give each other two extra cards per turn. Now that's a tax write-off!

In this duo, Cable does the majority of the damage, using Gunboat Diplomacy and Telekinetic Blast, but he needs Diplomats and side schemes in the display in order to do this damage. Star Lord's Element Guns can do 3 damage at a time and tear up tough cards on the enemies, and he should do this if he has extra resources. That brings us into my last point

A Focus on Sustainability: An Academy for the Future

Star Lord has issues with survivability. With only 1 defense, it feels like a waste to defend. Star Lord is defended by his team, and any ally besides your two Diplomats stands ready to serve. But the biggest part of sustainability is being reserved in how much you use your hero ability. I usually use it 2-4 times per game, and then avoid it after the first few turns. Star Lord's events are below efficiency, and I almost never play them. Unless you're overextended with multiple encounter cards in front of you, Gutsy Move and Sliding Shot are much too expensive for what they provide. And if you do have those cards in front of you, then they are still often much too expensive (because some of the "cost" is hidden from you until you flip those cards over in the villain phase). Daring Escape is rarely worth taking an encounter card for a ready. I would not advise playing any of his events. Like a Payday Loan, you almost always pay more back later than you get now. The best use for his events is training your Diplomats and used as ammo in your Element Guns. Without overextending, Star-Lord's Helmet and Jet Boots are not as attractive, though I'll sometimes play the helmet if I don't have anything else to build.

Organizational Review

I originally ran this deck at 46 cards, but I found that the four cost allies (Beast, Deathlok, and Pete Wisdom) we're not necessary for consistency. Without these allies in the deck, I also cut The Triskelion and one copy of "Welcome Aboard".

If you really want to get down to 40 cards, I'd cut one more "Welcome Aboard" or perhaps one of the doubles. I'd love to cut one of Star Lord's events or Nova Prime, but they apparently have Tenure.