Morning all,

Experienced my first Armada tournament yesterday, it was the (Summer kit) tourney run out of Good Games Newcastle (Australia).

8 Players, over 3 rounds. 5 Imperials vs 3 Rebels. My list was:

AF MkIIa - Mon Mothma

Gunnery team

Intel Officer

XI7 Turbo Lasers

AF MkIIa

Gunnery team

XX9 Turbo Lasers

CR-90b

Dodonna's Pride

leading Shots

A-Wing Squadron x2

295pts -Opening Salvo, Fleet Ambush,Superior Positions

First game (superior positions) was against 2x Vics with a smattering of TIEs (various). We danced around for 6 rounds, with no ships destroyed for a draw.

Second game was (superior positions, again) against 2x Vic1s (again) and a heavy bomber force. I closed to close to his main force and didn't focus any fire on his squadrons. Frigate and corvette (Leroy Jenkins!) went boom for a heavy loss

Final game was (superior positions, for the trifecta!) against 1 Vic1 and 1 GSD1(shock horror I know!) and a heavy bomber list. I learnt my lesson from the last game and circled at long range, focusing on his bomber force before sneaking around to his flanks. Leroy scored a few rear critical shots on both before blowing up, and I got the Vic down to 1 hull point. It came down to a ram by my second AFmkII, but it was at speed 2 and therefore about 5mm shot of hitting him. Minor loss thanks to Victory points.

I did not place well, but had a blast, and still scored a dice bag and 2 Neb-B alternate cards.

Main lessons learnt:

Bomber swarms are painful, particularly for superior positions with the rear shot VPs

Even 3 ships and 2 A-wings focusing everything on squadrons struggle to take down a heavy bomber force, or any named squadrons. I was tempted to take anti-fighter reroute (crits count as hits at close range) and in hindsight I should have, noting the prevalence of bomber lists.

AFmkIIa's are great flankers, with their speed 3, but you need to know when to slow down, otherwise you can shoot past and not shoot for the last 2 turns. Once they loose their shields though they are made of paper.

CR-90bs take a lot of skill to be effective. Blue dice only requires them to take risks. They also have only 2 speeds, 4 or dead. Do not expect them to last the game. Dodona's Pride, whilst powerful, is not very supportive of the fleets efforts. Overload pulse would be a better option, which would then allow you you to take a different title.

Any who, I had a blast, and cant wait until nationals in August in Sydney.

Nationals in August in Sydney?! Tell me more. My frequent flyer points have been burning a hole in my pocket since I missed Cancon last year!

Shaun the organiser from the weekend said he will be running it. Info will be out shortly, I will hold off speculating until then.

Well if he would like to organise it on the 1^st/2^nd or 22^nd/23^rd then that would fit in really nicely with my work roster, that way he could have some WA representation and get as many states involved as possible J

Hmmmm you chose second every game . . . How do you think you would have fared if you went first?

Hmmm yes need to find out when these nationals are, so I can get too them.

Nationals for Armada has been bundled into a weekend with Call of Cthulu & Netrunner to be held on the 15th & 16th of August in Sydney. AFAIK, venue is tba, but the rest of the announcement is on the 'Australian Armada' facebook page. Numbers permitting, I believe the plan is to have the swiss on the first day and cut on the second.

Back on topic, nice read Funk! Love seeing my FLGS on the FFG forums! I was sad I couldn't make it, but from all accounts it sounds like it went well. If you were interested, we usually have a crew playing casual games of Armada and/or X-wing (since Armada's release it has been heavily favoured) on Tuesdays from around 4:30 onwards. Not sure if you know, but there is also an X-wing and Armada fb page for Newie to help organise casual games and to announce stuff.