I'm new here, and while I have looked around a bit I didn't see much pertaining to anyone's shopping list for the initial release. Do you guys view this as another 2 core game, or is it going to be better to get one core and more of the expansions? I would like multiples of every ship, and be playable for two people but I'm not made of money. Any thoughts?

I strongly feel 1 core + expansions will be more cost effective this time round. You get the extra cards, and the core is a lot higher cost than the X-Wing one.

That being said, i did order 2 when they were super cheap on Amazon....but that was a random event. Otherwise core + expansions all the way!

Is this game going to require a damage deck for each player? I may be stuck with 2 cores

I think if you are going to collect both factions, 2 core sets is probably the way to go. If you are going with 1 faction, I don't think you'll get good bang for your buck with 2 cores. However, I'm sure FFG is going to throw upgrades into Rebel ships you'll want to use as an Imperial and vice versa.

I'm sure you'll need 2 damage decks if you plan on doing 300 point battles.

Aside from what packs to buy, what do you guys think is the playable cap number for each ship? Do you think 3 Victories will be playable?

Yes. They seem to have designed it around that. Three Vic-Is will certainly be a viable build, in terms of points at least. Though I think the real economy is getting more fighters and rebel ships which are fairly cheaper in terms of points.

That said unless you're getting it at discount I still think one core will be enough.

Similar to X-Wing, 3 of each seems to be about the max. Otherwise, you run the risk of ending up with a one-trick fleet. 3 Vics is going to have tons of fire-power, but not a lot of maneuverability.

That said, the smart money at present seems to be on one of everything, At least until we have a chance to really play a few games -- and see where the meta shakes out. If you want to double up on anything, double up on the fighter packs.

I myself have done 2 core and one of everything else. I am building for both sides though so if you just want to do one or another 1 core would be enough.

Because I have to collect both factions... I'm currently looking at the list below.

2x Core

1x Victory Class Star Destroyer

2x Gladiator Class Star Destroyer

2x Imperial Fighter Squadron

1x Nebulon-B Frigate

1x CR90 Corvette

2x Assault Frigate Mk II

2x Rebel Fighter Squadron

I'm getting a nice discount on the core sets which is how I'm justifying to myself buying so much. I do think because of the points and scale of this game, you can get away with buying just one core set along with an expansion of fighters and a additional ship or two will do you just fine for a while.

With the prices I've been seeing, it is cheaper to go 2 core if you want two of each ship, I'm just curious how upgrade cards will shake out.

I think if you are going to collect both factions, 2 core sets is probably the way to go. If you are going with 1 faction, I don't think you'll get good bang for your buck with 2 cores. However, I'm sure FFG is going to throw upgrades into Rebel ships you'll want to use as an Imperial and vice versa.

I'm sure you'll need 2 damage decks if you plan on doing 300 point battles.

Not sure if you really get best bang for the buck getting two core sets over those models in expansions.

For example, with current available discounts, a core set gives you a Star Destroyer and the two rebel ships for $61.74. Buying those same ships separately is $50.81. So the extra $11 gets you the fighters, which is cool, but you don't really need that many considering you will be taking max 100 points of them in the typical game. For an extra buck, you could get a fighter expansion for the faction of your choice and have more variety. The fighter packs are definitely something you probably want to double up on. Yes, core set and 2x imperial fighter expansions only nets you 10 basic Tie Squadrons when you could potentially field 12, but I think I'd always rather field 8 basic squadrons + howlrunner + mauler instead.

You do get an extra set of dice, rulers, cards, etc., but I'm not sure if you really need two sets of those considering each expansion comes with all the dials and tokens you need. A second ruler would be nice, but I'm waiting for the modular one before getting a second one.

The biggest deciding factor is whether the expansion version of the ship has different upgrades, as is suggested by the blurb on the VSD page: "Available in both the Core Set and the Victory -class Star Destroyer Expansion Pack, the Victory -class Star Destroyer can be fielded as either of two subclasses. These ships are the same in the expansion pack as they are in the Core Set, but the upgrades differ." So if you want every possible upgrade, you NEED at least one of each expansion regardless of how many capital ships you got from your core set.

My basket currently has one of everything and two packs of fighters for each faction for a pleasing $222, and I'm hemming and hawing if I want to double up on the Frigate and Gladiator (for another $45). I like them both (especially Frigates, even though I am overwhelmingly Imperial), but don't want to get too ahead of myself with more potentially cooler ships coming down the line.

I really wish FFG sold damage decks as a separate item

Ahh, my friend withershadow, basically the same boat I'm in.

At first I started out with:

1 x Core Set

Then I was reading the forums some more and was overcome by corruptness and picked up:

1 x Imperial Starfighter Pack

1 x Rebel Starfighter Pack (So my Imps would have something to shoot at! Hehehe!)

Then about a week or so later....the forums got me some more and in a moment of weakness I picked up:

1 x VSD Expansion Pack

Followed by:

1 x GSD Expansion Pack

1 x Dice Pack

AND I thought I was safe! Content, you know - happy with what was waiting for me...THEN...

Couple of weeks later -after another moment of weakness after someone posted about Miniature Market discounting their Armada merchandise:

1 x CR90 Expansion Pack

1 x Neb-B Expansion Pack

1 x Imperial Starfighter Pack

1 x Rebel Starfighter Pack (More guys for my Imps to shoot at! Lol)

...and after a close brush with the afterlife because I went to apologise to my Lady Vader I have fully convinced myself to STOP!

Until Wave 2 comes out! :lol:

Man...FFG has cleaned me out good.

Because I have to collect both factions... I'm currently looking at the list below.

2x Core

1x Victory Class Star Destroyer

2x Gladiator Class Star Destroyer

2x Imperial Fighter Squadron

1x Nebulon-B Frigate

1x CR90 Corvette

2x Assault Frigate Mk II

2x Rebel Fighter Squadron

I'm getting a nice discount on the core sets which is how I'm justifying to myself buying so much. I do think because of the points and scale of this game, you can get away with buying just one core set along with an expansion of fighters and a additional ship or two will do you just fine for a while.

This is basically what I'm doing. Also ran some numbers for a separate thread :

Armada Core+Wave 1 Costs (realistic)

Core set-$50; Thank you Amazon! Still easy to find for $60-65 if you you want this to be easy to duplicate later

1ea Fighters-$30 (2x$15);

VSD+MkII-$55 (2x$27.50);

Gladiator-$20;

CR90+NebulonB-$30 (2x$15);

One of each strategy: $185. This gets you a more than 300 point list per side.

Two Core strategy: $177.50 (took off the three individual ships in the Core) WHAT?!? It's still cheaper to buy two Cores?!?!? Um, yes, actually... Still more than 300 points per side.

If you want to use current prices for Cores, Walmart still lists it at $60, so prices go up to $195 and $197.50 respectively.

End quote

There's been a lot of discussion on this and I think it depends on what you want to spend. $200 is enough to build both sides, and 2 core sets makes it easier to get other players into the game which is a plus. Since we're talking $60-70 instead of $100 per core set the costs comes out pretty much the same either way. What decided me on numbers to purchase was that there will be 3 title cards for the VSD, CR90, and Nebulon-B, so I will end up with three of each, and 2 titles for the MK-II and Gladiator, so I will get two of each. Depending on how strategies and upgrade cards work out I may end up with one more MK-II, Gladiator, and each fighter pack down the road. If you're not going that crazy then see my math above, which is based on prices you can still get today from Walmart, Miniature Market, or a few other places.

Two of each fighter expansion is definitely the way to go. (at least until they come out with a different set of fighters.)

This gives you the option to have more than a token bomber wing.

Two of each fighter expansion is definitely the way to go. (at least until they come out with a different set of fighters.)

This gives you the option to have more than a token bomber wing.

Agreed. Too bad I can't modify my preorder... Oh well, guess I'll have to get more stuff ^^

Two of each fighter expansion is definitely the way to go. (at least until they come out with a different set of fighters.)

This gives you the option to have more than a token bomber wing.

Yep, if you want to max out your fighter support, it gives you the option of doing all sorts of combos.

Drown Them in Eyeballs! = 8 TIE Squadrons + Howlrunner + Mauler = 95 points: Self-explanatory, just drown them in dudes. Mauler could be replaced for 2 more Squadrons, but I really like his auto-damage ability and his presence takes the heat off the arguably more important Howlrunner. Between the auto-damage and his defensive abilities, he should cause more trouble than two vanilla Squadrons.

Swarm Attack! = 4 Interceptors + 5 TIE Squadrons (or 3 + Mauler) + Howlrunner = 100 points: The faster Interceptors can engage the enemy to threaten Counter, while the Ties follow up with Swarm re-rolls. Ensuing turn, everyone gets swarm and Howlrunner bonus and kills all the things!

Empire's Finest! = 4 Advanced + 3 Interceptors + Soontir Fel = 99 points: Fel and Advanced engage, Interceptors attack with Swarm bonus. Next turn enemy must spend time shooting at Escorts, suffering auto-damage from Fel for every attack. Then once they chew through those guys and can finally turn their attention on the Interceptors, they are eating counter fire for every attack.

Don't have any ideas for bombers yet, will depend greatly on what upgrade cards are available to make them better. Same goes for the above, of course, but they already seem very usable just on their own.

Also, is it me, or is Vader kinda bleh? 9 more points for an extra black die and 2 hull points, and okay abilities, when 8 points buys you an extra TIE squadron for 3 blue dice (plus swarm re-roll) and 3 hull points for. I'm not overly upset, since the PT ruined his character for me anyway. Maybe once the Executor shows up, they will make him an Admiral upgrade that detracts from his ship's performance because he keeps choking out senior officers and replacing them with random novices.

I plan on Core and anything that says Armada Imperial initially.

I still think its funny that people still think we will see an Executor-SSD in this game.

One of everything, plus maybe two sets of Fighters (TIE/In and TIE/sa look awesome).

I still think its funny that people still think we will see an Executor-SSD in this game.

They are really screwing up if they don't.

Anyway, after playing around with the beta fleet generator, I think I will forego buying any rebel stuff beyond the Assault Frigate. That and the core set, plus some upgrades, can easily reach 300 points, and I only really want the Rebel side for demo games for new players. Plus, if the bug does bite me to buy more Rebel stuff, I will buy it at the LGS to support the store. The Imperial stuff, though, gots to have it all, and gots to have it nao.

Just like X-wing needs an ISD!

This isn't even close to being in scale.

X-Wing didn't need a Corvette, yet it got one. I am about 90% sure that FFG will release an SSD (maybe around Wave 3-4) as part of an 'epic' version of play. It would be about the same size as the X-Wing Corvette is. It would be popular just for the model (come on, a giant SSD would have to go on every Star Wars fan's desk).

Perhaps... Even a scaled down SSD would be massive and you would have to do something like a 6 foot by 12 foot table to even use it correctly... I love the Executor, just not sure it is a viable ship to use with Armada.

I think the ISD are already big enough to be "huge" ships that require new mechanics