woo! http://iff.podbean.com/

In Intensify Forward Firepower: Episode 3, Easy, Steve, Judson and Dano being the rules crunch like an orbital bombardment! Things start off with a quick review of what the commanders have been up to with their fleets recently before hurtling headlong into a breakdown on rules interpretations. Dano and Judson talk about their huge weekend of pure Armada gaming, where in their excitement they occasionally leave an opening for Easy and Steve to add an insight. Things wrap-up with a quick session on Steve's upcoming 180-point tournament where they talk about playing 180 and the possible pitfalls found in low point games.

Linda! Linda! Listen! Honey!

haha, that video is incredible. We need to get that kid on the show.

In the tournament rules it says both players use the 2nd players obstacles. so only 1 set.

Yep you're right! We found that out shortly after posting, and it also clearly states a player brings one full set (from the core set) of obstacles.

Mystery solved!

Some time, would you mind having one of your fireside conversations on the placement and strategic and tactical concerns of the placment of the obstacles?

I'll definitely present that to the dudes!

That's a great idea. I hope it makes next ep, 'cause I want to talk about it!

I'm listening to this now. Love your show so far :

Quick note, though. I'm absolutely positive that anything that adds to attack dice pool is added only before the initial attack is rolled . You can't add Dominator or Concentrate Fire's extra dice after the attack roll.

I really want you to be right cause that "feels" right... BUT everytime I try to prove it by the RAW I just can't. Help me, Infusco, you're my only hope!

Adding dice is always done in the modify dice step, which is after the attack roll is made.

Yeah, that's definitely the way we've been playing it. Just feels a little weird, right?

Someone prove it wrong! We want it to be wrong!

It's all in the RRG and is quite clear. I think it makes little difference overall, if anything it gives you a few more tactical options.

I think it is very neat from a design perspective to have one phase in the attack where the attacker can resolve effects.

I played a game, my first that wasn't a learn to play game. During the game I realised something that I really like about SW:Armada.

The game has you making a lot of small choices, the order of activation, the arcs to shoot with and what to shoot at, your command choices and on and on. Some times your choice will have to be what is the least optimal, do I move into range of that ship and shoot next turn and allow it a shot this turn. Some times the choice will be what is the most optimal, how do I best move my ships to shoot at my opponents ship without them getting in each others way.

Because of the shoot and move mechanic our opponents get a chance to diminish a good move with a better move.

As such there are far more decision points that matter, though perhaps in a smaller way, but having seen that, how much fun is this game going to be.

Actually, now I'm not sure so sure now.

Here's the thing ... only Step 2 ever mentions the words *attack pool*. It never shows up after that at all. But then, Concentrate Fire seems to indicate it's always during Step 3, but at first, I thought it only referred to the token reroll effect, but the Command section seems to point to both.

My earlier (and still maybe current, I'm on the fence) interpretation of the Modify Dice phrasing is that it only *modifies* (i.e change) the dice already rolled rather than adding another dice to roll. Again, due to the fact that the words Attack Pool only ever show up in Step 2.

My 'feeling' remains the same.

The rules reference guide specifically says that "adding dice" is done in the modify dice step. Page 7 of the RRG had a long list of what modifications can be done.

@Infusco- I don't have my RRG handy but I know on page 2 it defines the attack pool, and specifially says it's the dice before and after rolling. Seems like they wouldn't specify that rolled dice were still the attack pool otherwise ya know?

Yeah, I think DWRR has it. It only feels a bit weird since not many other games let you roll addiitonal dice AFTER rolling a pool when something adds dice to it. But I think that's how it is in Armada, plain and simple!

DDRW, good catch! Didn't see there was a Modifying Dice section in the RRG. Thanks, I stand corrected!

This makes add dice upgrades and CF command a good deal stronger. Glad to see actually as I felt CF was pretty weak compared to other commands.