So Star Wars Armada is not even out and there are at least 3 other threads talking about reskinning the game with other Sci Fi universes. This amuses me a little I guess its true what they say: imitation is the greatest form of flattery.

I'm not begrudging anyone having/wanting games set in those universes, but I think its better to give each one its own set of rules designed for their ships. For instance, I love BSG but it lacks the variety of ships to allow for different fleet builds etc. In Star Trek I don't ever recall seeing squadrons of fighters (most battles just seemed to be two ships slugging it out).

I think the best license for an Armada style game would be Babylon 5 (I am a huge fan) but I wouldn't want a carbon copy of Armada. Heck, whilst we're on the subject, Firefly could also be a another good one (set pre-series during the civil war).

From what I've read of Armada (basically every article released, several times), the rules and models bring the feel of SW battles to the game. I don't think that will necessarily be true for other universes if it was simply reskinned - each one deserves the full design treatment, lets just hope that one day they do.

I've been using "armada" as a loose term for tabletop gaming system. Basically a well thought out, simplified ruleset with table ready pre-painted miniatures. Much different than say Firestorm Armada or the pending Halo fleet game by the same company. Nothing against either of them. These FFG systems just seem more accessable. Is regards to startrek battles, there are plenty of examples of very large fleet engagements with fighter wings to boot. Though it is true most episodic examples are only between two and a small handful of ships.

Jurassic Park Armada!

But seriously, ST is better represented by the Xwing system, IMO.

My choice would also be Babylon 5. Indeed, I almost started a topic about it this morning.

I would love to see something in Honor Harrington universe, but I don't think this system would work to well for many reasons. Most of the battles consist of extreme ranges, with missile engagements. Also all ships really only had 2 shield facings and rolling your ships was a huge tactical deal. The ships themselves, also all look similar and very phalic-ey.

There is the Saginami Island Tactical Simulator game for the Honorverse, by all accounts it supposed to be the best representation of 3d space combat ever, also knowing triganometey and astropysics is almost a must. It's supposedly a VERY complicated and I depth rule set.

Not sure if I would be up for the task of doing some sort of Honorverse Armada, as stated above this is a SW game with a SW feel. The Honor Harrington books nearly ruined SW space battles for me. I have been tempted to write some short fiction SW battles with a bit of the Honorverse physics, tactics and feel to it, it would be the greates Si Fi love child ever! Not my writings, just the mere merging of the two!

Babylon 5 would be my choice.

I have been confused by so those threads because well, Star wars is already the best universe...

I would probably spend even more money on a Babylon 5 Armada game than Star Wars Armada (and I'm pretty excited about Star Wars Armada).

Good to see there is still some B5 love out there. If done right that would be an awesome game: small ships spinning round to change fire arc whilst maintaining their original vector. A good example of how the SW Armada system would not really work in that universe.

Good to see there is still some B5 love out there. If done right that would be an awesome game: small ships spinning round to change fire arc whilst maintaining their original vector. A good example of how the SW Armada system would not really work in that universe.

The only ship I ever recall seeing pulling off a maneuver like that (aside from the fighters) were the White Stars. Maybe they could be abstracted as a single-unit fighter squadron, or at least move like fighters do.

Yeah I think it was mainly fighters and White Stars. Its been I while since I've watched it but thought some other small ships could do that too?

How has no one suggested home world armada? That game is almost custom fit to work in this system, couldn't do the building part, but would make for a great campaign system.

I was just going to suggest Homeworld! Bab5 would also rock.

Honestly, as much as it pains me to write this, the only viable XXX Armada is Star Wars (with an honourable mention of BFG cause 40k players have more money than brains).

Star Wars is the only active space Sci fi show out there. B5 ended what 16 years ago? Voyager ended 12? BSG ended 5 years ago? We may as well be talking about Space Above and Beyond Armada. It is sad, but there just isn't any Current space Sci fi beyond Star Wars right now.

Note: there are good book series out there, but the market is limited for those miniatures.

Yeah I think it was mainly fighters and White Stars. Its been I while since I've watched it but thought some other small ships could do that too?

I'm sure they could all move like that, but you generally don't see maneuvers like that with larger ships. It's certainly possible other smaller ships did maneuvers like that, and I'm just not recalling it.

Honestly, as much as it pains me to write this, the only viable XXX Armada is Star Wars (with an honourable mention of BFG cause 40k players have more money than brains).

Star Wars is the only active space Sci fi show out there. B5 ended what 16 years ago? Voyager ended 12? BSG ended 5 years ago? We may as well be talking about Space Above and Beyond Armada. It is sad, but there just isn't any Current space Sci fi beyond Star Wars right now.

Note: there are good book series out there, but the market is limited for those miniatures.

That just means the license should be that much cheaper to acquire :-)

I will grant that there is probably not enough interest in a B5 licensed version of Armada for it to make sense financially. That doesn't mean I wouldn't like to see one though. I think the Armada system would be an excellent match for a B5 capital ship combat game.

I agree megamen, it is a sad and unfortunate truth. I think most people posting here know that, its more of a "would be nice if..." scenario for our inner-geek coming to dream about

I think the point is that Armada looks like a pretty good capital ship simulation engine... far better than adapting the X-Wing engine, for simulating capital ship battles. The defensive system alone makes more sense than rolling dice based on how nimble a ship is, and split-second deicisions implied as stacked commands over simple movement also makes better thematic sense.

Would love to see FFG attempt at least a trial run of a game like this for Babylon 5, it desperately needs to return to the tabletop in all honesty regarding reskins, basically all three of FFG's star wars minis games could provide solid foundations, though I agree Armada's clearly the place to start. You know what'd be perfect? if all the ships were to scale with the old Revell Station model, even restarted production thereof.

Now that I think about it, all this talk about BSG, couldn't you even do a game merging the mechanics of that board game and Armada, accurately incorporating the politics and intrigue with a space wargame?

I'd preorder

Also, with regard to whatever a "current" space series is..

A: They're coming back in force, I think I count 8 new shows en route across the next year or two

B: many existing ones are getting reboots/continuations: Farscape, BSG (supposedly), Stargate, Trek obviously already has (and is beyond current enough, case and point Attack Wing), and as of last august-septemberish, Babylon 5.

Actually now that I think about it, you know what would make an AMAZING Armada game? Firefly.

That seen at the end of Serenity where the Alliance Fleet takes on the Reaver Fleet!

Ummm yes, Homeworld is incredibly deserving of a tabletop game...I still wonder why it has not happened yet!!!

(I would post a picture but the website is not letting me D=)

You want ships? I'll give you ships! With four factions, each having small fighters, corvettes, cruisers, and other large ships!

I give you FREELANCER!!!!

Gothic Armada would make my geeky heart suuper happy. Most likely just a fever dream, but whatevs.

Guess I just have to hope that A - forbidden stars is fun and B - i can get someone to play it with me.

Fighters have a presence in the Star Trek universe through "Starfleet Battles" and the subsequent Starfleet Command PC games, I think people's desire to see Star Trek: Armada on the tabletop is due to their not being any decent Star Trek themed games out there, except for SFB. I've heard a bunch of complaints about Attack Wing, crappy paint jobs and severe balance issues.

I think people (myself included) want a good Star Trek fleet game that is:

1. Not on a PC or console

and

2. Not Starfleet Battles (it's a wee bit complex)

I love Starfleet Battles but, *phew* it can be an exercise in memorization and using an index. Teaching it to new players can be a task as well.

Star Trek with an Armada type ruleset would be a great thing.

Fighters have a presence in the Star Trek universe through "Starfleet Battles" and the subsequent Starfleet Command PC games, I think people's desire to see Star Trek: Armada on the tabletop is due to their not being any decent Star Trek themed games out there, except for SFB. I've heard a bunch of complaints about Attack Wing, crappy paint jobs and severe balance issues.

I think people (myself included) want a good Star Trek fleet game that is:

1. Not on a PC or console

and

2. Not Starfleet Battles (it's a wee bit complex)

I love Starfleet Battles but, *phew* it can be an exercise in memorization and using an index. Teaching it to new players can be a task as well.

Star Trek with an Armada type ruleset would be a great thing.

Have you checked out Federation Commander? It's basically a streamlined version of SFB, though it is still much more complex than the FlightPath/Armada game systems.

Fighters have a presence in the Star Trek universe through "Starfleet Battles" and the subsequent Starfleet Command PC games, I think people's desire to see Star Trek: Armada on the tabletop is due to their not being any decent Star Trek themed games out there, except for SFB. I've heard a bunch of complaints about Attack Wing, crappy paint jobs and severe balance issues.

I think people (myself included) want a good Star Trek fleet game that is:

1. Not on a PC or console

and

2. Not Starfleet Battles (it's a wee bit complex)

I love Starfleet Battles but, *phew* it can be an exercise in memorization and using an index. Teaching it to new players can be a task as well.

Star Trek with an Armada type ruleset would be a great thing.

Have you checked out Federation Commander? It's basically a streamlined version of SFB, though it is still much more complex than the FlightPath/Armada game systems.

I have! FC is great from what I've hears and seen. I did neglect to mention it in my post though. My mind lumps them together when comparing them to games like this. As you said, still more complex than this game system.

I've toyed with the idea of getting into FC, but I'm really deeply invested in SFB.