"Star Wars Armada really is a gem" Topic

I did a battle last year that I really enjoyed, as discussed here:

link

Fantastic, fantastic game. Third highest selling miniatures game in the United States, behind X Wing and 40k. A lot of fun.

If it wasn't for the cost I would have stayed in.

I really enjoy it as well. And since I don't have to buy every ship, it's not appreciably more expensive than any other period I play. An Imperial Star Destroyer is approximately the same cost as two units of Askari or a Sherman Platoon in 20mm

I'll be honest, I don't get the love for this game. I have a lot of stuff for Armada because I want the ships, but the rules strike me as so incredibly fiddly. My issues are many with this game-

1. There are so many bits and pieces that seem added only to include bits and pieces. This leads to an incredible amount of clutter around and on the table.
2. The movement guide means that any time you have a bunch of fighters and ships close to each other (which is often) that just the act of measuring your movement distance becomes and exercise in manual dexterity and people 'bumping' figs.
3. The sheer number of bits and pieces means set up and take down times are really long. You have to find all the cards you want, the bits that fit your ships and then set up your initial strategy for the first few turns.

The ships are fantastic, but I just don't get people's love of the rules. I always feel like I'm playing a game designed for game players rather than being in a tactical simulation. It's a taste thing, sure, but it confuses me. I love X-Wing, but Armada just seems to very contrived. I feel like if it weren't for the Star Wars license (and the amazing miniatures) people would have dismissed this game.

I agree with TGerritsen. Tried it but didn't care for it.

I'm also in agreement with TGerritsen. I LOVE spaceship games, and I bought into SW Armada – and I just don't get the love for it. As stated, it's fiddly and seems to have components just because "Star Wars".

I wish there were this much love for good spaceship miniatures games without the +cost for license and fiddlybits, like Full Thrust.

Normally I don't like fiddly games, but for some reason this one is ok with me. However, we have never built our own lists. That is where it breaks down for me. We use:

armada.fabpsb.net/gindex.php

And set it to random (other settings to taste.) Then we play with those random fleets.Its a lot of fun this way.

Thanks for the hint on using the random setting for Armada generator--never knew about that function.

I don't own it but I played it "once" recently and I loved it. I had the mechanics and bits explained to me. My friend had pre set the forces we were using to play with so it would be a balanced game, the only time saver. It took me 1 turn to get a handle on the mechanics of the game. I played my fleet close except one ship that I split off To take advantage of a good flanking attack. I did have to move a ship or two out of the way from the movement guide from time to time, but nothing more than the amount of time when playing a close fight in X-Wing. I don't get the fiddly issue though. If you have a problem with the counters, then sort them into storage boxes like most folks do with any other game. X-wing has a stack of different counters too, especially the scenario ones that you accumulate, but you don't have to look for them unless you want to use them. I've played other Starship games like Full Thrust which is a great game, but If I could afford to invest in a big ship game again, Star Wars Armada would be my go to.

The fiddly bits are a bit annoying and I completely avoid the whole issue of trying to combine the cards into 'perfect' combinations. But if you just play the game with the right spirit (i.e. zoom around blasting things) it can be really good. I've played and designed a lot of space games over the years and this one has a really good feel to it. And it has the best relation between big ships and fighter-craft, with both playing a significant role, of any game I've played.

When you say "Gem" do you mean, "It costs a lot of Gems to buy the game"?

Miniatures are great if pricey.

Basic system is good – almost as good as X-way – but like all FASA games the design is overwrought with way to many magic power cards.

In the end like X-wing it starts to come down to card combos and dueling paragraphs – you just have to hope your paragraph is better than your opponents. Tends to overwhelm even a great basic system like X-wing.

If you just play with buddies and can limit the card wars arms race so that manuvering on the table still means something could be a great game.

TomT

Just got the latest four sets of ships. The models are nice and they are good additions to the fleets. But I must say that FFG is now really reaching when it tries to provide a new set of cards for each ship. Some of the things don't make any sense and are either silly or bordering on magic powers. I have no plans to use any of them. Save the points to buy more ships and squadrons!

Scott- like?

I will agree that sometimes it seems that FFG is only out to make $$ and I dislike having to buy rebel scum ships just to get cards for my "law and order" forces but most cards have a use in some fleet build.

I think the game pieces are great and the rules designed for uber fans that look for the "perfect" combos. If you limit each ship to one or two upgrades only it works much better.

We played a very exciting game this past weekend and only had a handful of upgrade cards between the fleets.

I do like the rules but yes I find it takes a long time to setup and clean up afterwards(made worse by the fact that I always host with my own stuff).

Having said that, I don't know of another system where we could play the sizes of games we do (with that many fighters) and have it run smoothly and relatively quickly. Big multi-player games conclude in one evening. Back when we used to try big games of SFB in the '90's we'd have those all day games that you could never quite finish (but was fun to argue about who would have won!).

-Tim

"Star Fleet Battle's".. IIRC early-mid 80's. A friend and I played it. But after an hour of the "Energy Allocation", I'd had enough.
The 'record keeping' all but took the fun out of playing.

I mention this because when I first saw Armada, I 'knew' I wanted In on this game.. until I played it.
The movement gauge wasnt such a big deal. But getting the right cards & 'perks' and planning the 2 or 3 'action' dials a turn ahead, left me 'lost' more than once. /

Maybe a simplfied inititive die roll for movement, something like B5 Wars. Frigates etc. move first, then the Cruisers.
I did like the special combat dice.

I think Armada has the best minitures of any Sci-fi game, but when I started cking and saw a single Imp. SD was going to run about $50. USD. I knew then, "well, Im out". (

If you are going to be playing 'competitively' (i.e. tournaments and such) then yeah, the upgrade cards and all that can become a real pain and take away a lot of the fun. Me and my friends keep that to a minimum; maybe one or two cards per ship max. The order dials you get used to after a game or two. After that it really is a lot of fun. And yeah, the ships are expensive (although it's not hard to find discounts), but you don't need all that many. Despite the name, really big battles with armadas of ships just aren't practical.

I'm a fan of X-Wing, but Armada was not so great. Minis are great, but actual rules…not so much. I recall posting a review here on TMP when it came out, what a couple years ago…

*ScottWashburn
I think you and friends have the right idea. Dont let the 'name' OR all of the 'bits n pieces' (there are a good bit w this game) overwhelm you.

I like the idea of limiting the upgrade cards to One..or two per ship. Im still considering buying the Core game. In part for the miniatures, but also just to get the rules 'in hand'. Playing the games not the same as getting to study it first hand. Im very interested in refreshing my memory on the combat and movement mechanics.

Btw, if anyones looking just for the mini's, I would not bother w Ebay, a number of sellers offer the Game, but few 'if any' are selling just ships.

The Miniature Market and the WarStore, both have a good selection of ships, die, the 'manuvering tool' and fighter expansion sets.
Can anyone offer any other sites as suggestions?

As mentioned, Im think of getting the game, or plan B:
Just get those ships I want, dice set and manuvering 'gauge' then just make up my own 'Space ship combat' rules. Not my first time. )

Also try Coolstuffinc and Cardhaus for Armada stuff.

Coolstuffinc also runs Deal of the Day like Miniature Market so check with that.

Cardhaus has lowest prices on Armada BUT also some of the highest shipping cost so bit of a wash.

I really like the game and have invested a whole lot on ships and the new Corellian Conflict campaign, which we are due to start on Tuesday.

*thedrake
Thanks for the info on "Coolstuffinc" and the heads up on "Cardhaus" yea thats a pretty common 'bit' on ebay too. Sell really cheep, but then run the S&H way up to make their real money.

Since looking over this topic Ive gone bk and looked at "Miniature Market" SW Starship Battles series.

I have some of the Clone war ships, all in all nice. I did have to 'reshape' the 2 Commerce Guild DDs rear section. That was a MAJOR issue w/ many of the smaller sections. i.e. the aft section of the "Nebulon FF", SW SB listed it as a "Rebel Cruiser".

"Their" Assualt FF looked outstanding and as if it belonged to the SW universe, unlike the 'egg' in Armada, but again, some 'horrible' warping of the rear section on many of the models.

However, from what I have seen, their SD's, as well as Home One, and the Mon Cal. cruisers, which were thicker models 'seem' to have no warping problems. Granted almost all of the mini's were roughly 4in. regardless of class etc.

However, the Corillean corvette is no where near scale to the Imp SD in Armada.

But strictly for $$ reasons, Im considering 'mixing' SWSB Mon Cals and a Home One with Armada Nebulon FF and Corilleon corvettes.

Just a thought here.. its 'burn' when you have to count "every nickle/dime', but thats life.

Has anyone ever owned any of the SW SB ships and now own Armada. or have any opinions, Id be interested to know your thoughts.
Thanks