Hi.

Like everyone else on this forum, I´m looking forward to the release of Armada.

An avid gamer of naval and space miniature battle games, I´ve been looking for a game to pick up the torch after my last gaming passion in this genre, Battlefleet Gothic.

I used to play a lot of Man´O´war as well as some Dreadfleet.

After reading all the previews of Armada, it dawned on me; theres no boarding actions?

I don´t expect a Corellian corvette to overtake a star destroyer, but perhaps an addition to the game mechanics would allow for smaller vessels like assault transports, to make hit-and-run attacks against the capital ships, and disrupt shields and weapons systems.

These transports could be represented by squadrons like the fighters.

Hopefully something like this would be implented down the line.

What do you think? Could this be viable?

Also a quick question:
In Team Covenants gaming demo of the game, did I hear the organizer say that cap-ship anti-fighter attacks, dismiss the first hit scored on squadrons?

Thanks.

Hi.

Like everyone else on this forum, I´m looking forward to the release of Armada.

An avid gamer of naval and space miniature battle games, I´ve been looking for a game to pick up the torch after my last gaming passion in this genre, Battlefleet Gothic.

I used to play a lot of Man´O´war as well as some Dreadfleet.

After reading all the previews of Armada, it dawned on me; theres no boarding actions?

I don´t expect a Corellian corvette to overtake a star destroyer, but perhaps an addition to the game mechanics would allow for smaller vessels like assault transports, to make hit-and-run attacks against the capital ships, and disrupt shields and weapons systems.

These transports could be represented by squadrons like the fighters.

Hopefully something like this would be implented down the line.

What do you think? Could this be viable?

Also a quick question:

In Team Covenants gaming demo of the game, did I hear the organizer say that cap-ship anti-fighter attacks, dismiss the first hit scored on squadrons?

Thanks.

I'm not sure about the demo game I haven't watched them my self.

But I do think boarding actions would be pretty sweet maybe there in the rules and we just haven't seen them yet.

boarding actions are not really part of the SW lore though, ships are too busy pounding each other with turbolasers.

(I don't count that Clone Wars episode where the droids swarmed a republic cruiser in atmosphere, I have never liked that star destroyers can just park themselves in atmosphere)

boarding actions are not really part of the SW lore though, ships are too busy pounding each other with turbolasers.

(I don't count that Clone Wars episode where the droids swarmed a republic cruiser in atmosphere, I have never liked that star destroyers can just park themselves in atmosphere)

There is part of an episode where General Grievous leads a boarding party (And has probably his finest moment in the series) and that was in space.

However, it must be said that this is the Clone Wars era, I doubt the Rebel Alliance is willing to to risk so many lives boarding a Star Destroyer unless it is insanely important to do so.

So I am alright with no boarding actions in the game personally if there are none.

Yes, boarding actions in the Empire time period are uncommon, and also very one-sided. Imperial ships can "board" rebel ships, as seen at the beginning of Episode IV, but that occurred after the ship was already disabled and helpless, and could have been destroyed. Rebels boarding Imperial ships is unlikely due to the enormous difference in crew complement with most ships.

I could see a boarding action being an Objective card, but not an actual rule, since boarding ships generally requires rendering it vulnerable enough that it could otherwise be destroyed.

Also a quick question:

In Team Covenants gaming demo of the game, did I hear the organizer say that cap-ship anti-fighter attacks, dismiss the first hit scored on squadrons?

Thanks.

Not that I am aware of, they just ignore critial hits. (likewise squadrons attacking capital ships ignore critical hits rolled unless they have the Bomber trait).

Yes, boarding actions in the Empire time period are uncommon, and also very one-sided. Imperial ships can "board" rebel ships, as seen at the beginning of Episode IV, but that occurred after the ship was already disabled and helpless, and could have been destroyed. Rebels boarding Imperial ships is unlikely due to the enormous difference in crew complement with most ships.

I could see a boarding action being an Objective card, but not an actual rule, since boarding ships generally requires rendering it vulnerable enough that it could otherwise be destroyed.

And to add to this train of thought I give you....

http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Zero-G_assault_stormtrooper

Zero-G Assault Stormtrooper

For those times when the Empire wanted to capture a enemy ship witch granted didn't seem that often but still would be fun to see in a scenario.

I'd imagine a boarding mechanic would be less of an equal option form of an attack than something that is part and parcel of a few specific ships/scenarios. If we ever get Lambda class shuttles to represent VIPs then capturing and boarding should be possible. Likewise if we ever see actual space platforms (which I think are completely doable for this game, akin to stationary ships) boarding becomes an option.

So it's scenario dependent. But for those scenarios it is dependent, it would be awesome. It's less about boarding ships than capturing individuals or ships for objectives. You wouldn't have boarding as an option in general. Or if you did it would be pointless, always ending with a failure somehow. But perhaps if you disable a ship or land on a station you can board. Boarding any sooner than disabling the ship causes the boarding party to immediately fail. If they are disabled it takes a turn to work and being in range 1 or touching. Done.

It'd be tricky to pull off, but I hope they introduce boarding actions with space troopers and Gamma-class assault shuttles.

That'd be boss.

I don't really think boarding is in the cards for Armada, except potentially as an objective. Not saying I wouldn't like it or they couldn't do it, just that I don't think they will.

boarding actions are not really part of the SW lore though, ships are too busy pounding each other with turbolasers.

(I don't count that Clone Wars episode where the droids swarmed a republic cruiser in atmosphere, I have never liked that star destroyers can just park themselves in atmosphere)

Ship-to-ship boarding is indeed rare in the SW universe, but If you´ve ever played the X-wing and Tie fighter computer games, half the missions usually included escorting shuttels and transports as they boarded enemy capital ships. One of the SW comics (Don´t recall which one), details Rogue squadron escorting assault shuttles led by Luke to board Imperial supply ships using special ops rebels.

Yes, boarding actions in the Empire time period are uncommon, and also very one-sided. Imperial ships can "board" rebel ships, as seen at the beginning of Episode IV, but that occurred after the ship was already disabled and helpless, and could have been destroyed. Rebels boarding Imperial ships is unlikely due to the enormous difference in crew complement with most ships.

I could see a boarding action being an Objective card, but not an actual rule, since boarding ships generally requires rendering it vulnerable enough that it could otherwise be destroyed.

A corvette crew against that of a star destroyer, would certainly be a fools errand. However, they would still be able to attack vulnerable parts of a star destroyer with hit-and-run tactics, to disturb operations and systems in that area.

How a shuttle would work as a game mechanic would be tricky I guess. Once it has accomplished it´s mission, what then? Will the shuttle be exhausted or discarded? Removed from the table either as a casualty, or be allowed to deploy to be used again until it is actually shot down?

Boarding operational ships isnt really seen even in the video games...they are pretty much always disabled for obvious reasons.

On top of that, Imperial ships have MASSIVE troop complements so i feel it would be a pretty brutal and short affair most of the time.

A Victory-1 for example carried over 2000 troops (not crew, actual Imperial Army, Marines or Stormtroopers).

A Gladiator carried 1200.

Assault Frigates (both Mk1 and Mk2) carried 100.

We have no numbers on the Gladiator

With the best will in the world, that isn't anyones idea of a fight.

Granted attacking Rebels might do some minor damage to a Destroyer, but really....they carry enough troops to hold every vital spot so heavily the Rebels wouldnt stand a chance. Against a heavily damaged or disabled ship....sure. But one still under power and fighting?

Hellllll no.

I don't really see it as being a viable in-game rule, but I can see individual scenarios where boarding actions are taking place while the ships fight it out.

Definitely. As a scenario objective, it's perfect!

About the only time you see boarding actions are if it's a cut and grab type operation. Usually a commando team sneaks or impersonates their way on board, grab the target, and break for it. So that's usually separate to a fleet engagement, not during... Unless Jedi are involved then WTF knows at that point.

Thrawn tried boarding actions in Heir to the Empire, but to do it he spent most of the book setting up the situation where it would even be possible.

Definitely. As a scenario objective, it's perfect!

For a mission I agree. Would make for an interesting mission.

Boarding operational ships isnt really seen even in the video games...they are pretty much always disabled for obvious reasons.

On top of that, Imperial ships have MASSIVE troop complements so i feel it would be a pretty brutal and short affair most of the time.

A Victory-1 for example carried over 2000 troops (not crew, actual Imperial Army, Marines or Stormtroopers).

A Gladiator carried 1200.

Assault Frigates (both Mk1 and Mk2) carried 100.

We have no numbers on the Gladiator

With the best will in the world, that isn't anyones idea of a fight.

Granted attacking Rebels might do some minor damage to a Destroyer, but really....they carry enough troops to hold every vital spot so heavily the Rebels wouldnt stand a chance. Against a heavily damaged or disabled ship....sure. But one still under power and fighting?

Hellllll no.

True, capital imperial capital ships have huge ammounts of troops on board, but I seriously doubt that all of these would be able to divert to any given part of a huge starship without taking their sweet time.

That´s why I stated that boarding for hit-and-runs and not for overtaking the ship itself, could be viable.

The SW fluff is filled with special boarding craft, and parties. This for instance:

http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Venom_assault_squad

"Venom squads were trained to operate in zero gravity and in tiny spaces and were efficient in close quarter combat, making them excellent for boarding parties".

Close quarters won´t fit 2000 stormtroopers at one time, I might add.

boarding actions are not really part of the SW lore though, ships are too busy pounding each other with turbolasers.

(I don't count that Clone Wars episode where the droids swarmed a republic cruiser in atmosphere, I have never liked that star destroyers can just park themselves in atmosphere)

Go and watch the opening scene for episode 4.

boarding actions are not really part of the SW lore though, ships are too busy pounding each other with turbolasers.

(I don't count that Clone Wars episode where the droids swarmed a republic cruiser in atmosphere, I have never liked that star destroyers can just park themselves in atmosphere)

Go and watch the opening scene for episode 4.

This was after the Tantive IV was disabled. Boarding an operational and fully crewed ship is a different matter.

boarding actions are not really part of the SW lore though, ships are too busy pounding each other with turbolasers.

(I don't count that Clone Wars episode where the droids swarmed a republic cruiser in atmosphere, I have never liked that star destroyers can just park themselves in atmosphere)

Go and watch the opening scene for episode 4.

At that point the fighting part of the scenario is over.

In Team Covenants gaming demo of the game, did I hear the organizer say that cap-ship anti-fighter attacks, dismiss the first hit scored on squadrons?

This part was about the CR90 shooting at the TIE fighter with the named character in it. That character had a defensive token which he could flip once per turn from green to red to negate one received hit.

boarding actions are not really part of the SW lore though, ships are too busy pounding each other with turbolasers.

(I don't count that Clone Wars episode where the droids swarmed a republic cruiser in atmosphere, I have never liked that star destroyers can just park themselves in atmosphere)

I'm not sure that boarding actions are not part of the lore - that may just be your own headcanon speaking.

There are more things in Star Wars, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your video games.

To wit, I present you the Gamma-class assault shuttle, for which boarding actions are its reason for being. It was part of the old WEG roleplaying game, and also showed up in some of the literature. You should also note it's being depicted on the following card:

(though that may be the ATR-6... same difference.)

It also seems to me that boarding actions are what stormtroopers are really for.

In Team Covenants gaming demo of the game, did I hear the organizer say that cap-ship anti-fighter attacks, dismiss the first hit scored on squadrons?

This part was about the CR90 shooting at the TIE fighter with the named character in it. That character had a defensive token which he could flip once per turn from green to red to negate one received hit.

No, It was during the Imperial players turn.

I think Maverick was right, that it pertained to the critical hits.

Thank you both.

boarding actions are not really part of the SW lore though, ships are too busy pounding each other with turbolasers.

(I don't count that Clone Wars episode where the droids swarmed a republic cruiser in atmosphere, I have never liked that star destroyers can just park themselves in atmosphere)

I'm not sure that boarding actions are not part of the lore - that may just be your own headcanon speaking.

There are more things in Star Wars, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your video games.

To wit, I present you the Gamma-class assault shuttle, for which boarding actions are its reason for being. It was part of the old WEG roleplaying game, and also showed up in some of the literature. You should also note it's being depicted on the following card:

(though that may be the ATR-6... same difference.)

It also seems to me that boarding actions are what stormtroopers are really for.

Holy crap, good eyesight. Those things were cool in the video games. When one of them popped up you genuinely had to deal with them because they were such a threat to whatever the mission critical craft was.

I still say you just have to get them touching --not just range 1-- of a ship and spend, say, a "boarding" token to attach. Starting the second turn it can either deal damage, exhaust tokens, or void a command. That would make them suitably dangerous and force a reaction. Likewise, allow starfighters to attack the attached boarding ships. Once it's destroyed, the negative effects cease.

As for the ship itself, make it sturdy so that it can take some fire on the way in but slow moving. Or make it fast and light but an easy kill.

boarding actions are not really part of the SW lore though, ships are too busy pounding each other with turbolasers.

(I don't count that Clone Wars episode where the droids swarmed a republic cruiser in atmosphere, I have never liked that star destroyers can just park themselves in atmosphere)

I'm not sure that boarding actions are not part of the lore - that may just be your own headcanon speaking.

There are more things in Star Wars, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your video games.

To wit, I present you the Gamma-class assault shuttle, for which boarding actions are its reason for being. It was part of the old WEG roleplaying game, and also showed up in some of the literature. You should also note it's being depicted on the following card:

(though that may be the ATR-6... same difference.)

It also seems to me that boarding actions are what stormtroopers are really for.

There are a lot of other boarding craft in the SW lore. In fact, the TIE bomber was initially developed as a model for episode IV, as a boarding craft, but never made it into the movie. It was then changed into a TIE bomber.