Squadron Formations

By kinnison, in Star Wars: Armada

I tried to get all of my Imperial squadrons in formations of Abrest, or echelon. While the Rebels are in VIc formations. But sadly two of my Imperial squadrons couldn't avoid being in a VIc formations

Anyone notice this? or have different results?

be nice to have some squadrons in "Formations" that would allow maybe an extra hit point against a certain type of attack. maybe even an additional dice for certain attacks. be an equipment card "squadron only" that would be 1-3 points and have to be expended to use

Vic, or Finger 4, expend to ignore any 1 damage when being attacked against squadrons who attack as the result of a squadron command or expend to get +1 red when attacking squadrons with ESCORT

Line back or Trail expend to ignore any 1 damage when being attacked by ships, or expend to get 1 less damage against Fighters that have Counter or expend to get +1 Black when attacking ships

Line abrest Expend to get +1l red when attacking squadrons with Heavy

Card formation expend to prevent the ability of one commander

Edited by kinnison

Uh, what? What exactly does this have to do with Armada? Am i missing something?

While formations look pretty on the table, they frequently server no purpose in this game.

I think he is talking about the base stands that the fighters come on, there are 3 different variations.

What he is proposing is that the peg being used denoting a formation strategy which would then impact on the squadron some how, i.e. it might give them an extra hit point, or a reroll (like swarm does).

An interesting idea but not one I personally think is viable, purely for the reason that if we are going with the aircraft analogy, aircraft are not "fixed" to a formation, they can change at any time - and to carry this across to the game would be incredibly fiddly (and require taking off the fighters and replacing them each time you changed (and having enough spare stands/fighters, preferably already made up to do so), not to mention time consuming.

I tried to get all of my Imperial squadrons in formations of Abrest, or echelon. While the Rebels are in VIc formations. But sadly two of my Imperial squadrons couldn't avoid being in a VIc formations

I just put them on at random and didn't think too much about it.

I am sure there are various reasons for flying in formation. In some regards though, doesn't the various card texts maybe account for the different roles, and perhaps the different formations that would be used to improve the crafts performance in that role? The X-Wing as a Bomber/Escort has rules that already improve its ability to perform as a Bomber/Escort.

I think in terms of game design you are adding a layer of complexity that may not give a return in terms of benefit to game play.

The pegs are purely aesthetics. And i am a bit OCD in having the Rebels be in Vic formations, while the IMperials are Abrest. I do not think based on what pegs your are using that should translate to something in the game... gah.. that would be horrid

But BESIDES That

My late night ramblings had the other idea of equipment cards for squadrons.. or even tokens. To denote a type of formation the Squadron was in, and some minor effects it would have in the game. Short term, expend to use, low point.

Edited by kinnison

why dont you ask somebody who also has a core set if he wants to trade some fo those trees. its 4 to 6 so for him it would fit the other way around then.

Haha, I'm an aesthetics freak myself, so I tried my best setting the core set fighters on the base pegs that'd make them consistent with each other on the table. I think that some bonuses for keeping formation between several squadron would be cool, although it threatens with bloating the game with unnecessary rules, especially that each fighter on the base basically equals four ships, so they're formations in themselves. Giving every single base a bonus based on it's peg is not the best idea in my opinion, though.

I wouldn't mind a trade... I am keeping all of my x wings on the stand with the two in front elevated, one behind slightly lower, except for Luke. But I don't have enough of them! The TIEs I am doing in scattered, random formations.... Sort of to simulate the big swarms in the movie.

But sadly two of my Imperial squadrons couldn't avoid being in a VIc formations

I'd recommend using an inverse V for those two Imperial squadrons, with the center ship in the rear. Maybe even turn it a little askew. I think that orientation works really well to add to the 'swarm' look.

When I first read this, I thought about flying squadron groups in formation types that could potentially maximise their effectiveness. For example, putting a pair of X-wing squadrons about range 1 in front of slower moving B-wing squadrons to take advantage of the Escort keyword. In that case, the formation of squadron stands would be an inverted V.

Just a thought...