Hi you all,

since I only play about one game in a week, I'm thinking about playing bigger games. The backside of my gameboard is now also painted, and it has a size of 4' * 3'.

So, my question is: How many obstacles should on use? (I have the six asteroids from the core as well as the six debris fields from the YT2400/Decimator).

And, how many points can one fly, without the game board being too crowded? Is 200 too much? Or is it better to impose a limit on the number of ships? (So 200 points of TIE Fighters might be too much, but 200 points of fully upgraded aces is okay).

What are your thoughts?

Use them all!!!

You can math it out by board area though personally i don't mind a cluttered game.

Length Width L*W Points Asteroids

3 3 9 100 6

3 4 12 166.66 8

3 6 18 300 12

I've played 200pt matches on a 3x3. It's fun, and the alpha pass for both sides is always amusing. But yeah, the 8 obstacles on a 4x3 seems a fair balance for a consistent experience.

I'd mix it up. Load the board with as many as you can legally fit. Play a couple of games with only 3 or 4. Make an alley of 12 that runs the long way across the board or diagonally. The advantage of playing casual you can do pretty much as you wish.

I'm working on rules to use a derelict transport that moves across the board in a straight line but speed and rotation varies. Using 2 four sided dice. One will determine speed (1 or 2) and the other to determine direction of rotation, left or right. Just something to add a little different variety to the game.

Well, when determining asteroid count, keep in mind you're not placing them in a 3x3. You have the R2 restriction from the edge. So, on a 3x3, it's 28.125'' x 28.125'' placement area, for 791in ^2. On a 3x4, its 1128 in ^2. So, proportionally, you'd be using 11.4 obstacles to keep the same density in the placement area. I'd round up to 12 personally.

Pinp pong table. 5'X9'

48 obstacles

600 vs 600 pts team epic (When is that blasted Raider getting here?)

ST-321 can hand out TL's to an entire wing of Bombers for a massive alpha strike. Lay down a 24-mine wall to let your Raiders snipe from behind with thier long range guns. Then The bombers let the torps and missiles fly to take out the enemy big ships in the first salvo. Should just be a mop up action after that.

Muhahaha.

Sorry, kinda got lost there for a second. 8-10 obstacles seems about right, just throw them down on the empty table before you start to see what looks right and adjust from there. Also 150-200 points a side should fit just fine and opens up a lot of synergies.

Well, when determining asteroid count, keep in mind you're not placing them in a 3x3. You have the R2 restriction from the edge. So, on a 3x3, it's 28.125'' x 28.125'' placement area, for 791in ^2. On a 3x4, its 1128 in ^2. So, proportionally, you'd be using 11.4 obstacles to keep the same density in the placement area. I'd round up to 12 personally.

I was hoping someone else would point this out so I didn't have to provide the math.

And if anybody points out that Epic (3x6) also uses 12 asteroids, remember: Epic requires them to be placed in pairs. It's not the same density model.

Use them all!!!

Well, if I would play only the lowest cost generics without upgrades, that would be 357 points/18 ships for the rebels (although I could use Chardaan Refits for six points less) against 358 points/18 ships for the imperial side...

I'd mix it up. Load the board with as many as you can legally fit. Play a couple of games with only 3 or 4. Make an alley of 12 that runs the long way across the board or diagonally. The advantage of playing casual you can do pretty much as you wish.

I'm working on rules to use a derelict transport that moves across the board in a straight line but speed and rotation varies. Using 2 four sided dice. One will determine speed (1 or 2) and the other to determine direction of rotation, left or right. Just something to add a little different variety to the game.

The idea with the transport seems like fun, I might try that, if my brother is okay with it.

Thanks to all the others for your input, I'll keep it in mind.

I meant all the obstacles 12 asteroids would be a pretty dense field but going with 6 rocks and 6 debris would make an interesting set up.

How about NO obstacles?

... this is SPACE after all!

Wy does every fight have to take place in the rubble of Alderaan or asteroid belt of Hoth (which has to be the densest asteroid field in the entire universe.

If you MUST have obstacles, how about using ships? Could represent the debris from some battle or perhaps the parking orbit of a major spaceport.

Use your imagination

I was referring to obstacles also. Also consider using the asteroids a little differently. Place two or more so they are touching, in effect making a bigger death rock. Rules stay the same except now if you land on one chances are much better you'll have to roll for damage a second time. Just another variation.

You might also consider crippling a squad. The idea being a squad is returning to base after a battle, damaged and gets intercepted. Randomly assign both hits and crits to one squad to simulate damage from the previous encounter. Some with shield and/or hull damage and some with crits. I'll leave the number and distribution to you but squadron make up for both sides should provide a challenge to both sides. Not saying the match up has to be fair or equal just that both sides have a chance to win. That can be done by establishing a specific number of turns or by spelling out the conditions of victory for each side. For instance the intercepting squad only has "x" number of turns before they run low on fuel and have to disengage or the damaged squad gets reinforcements after so many turns. You're limited only by the playing surface and your imagination.

You could always mark off 6 inches on each side for cards.

You could always mark off 6 inches on each side for cards.

Thats what I did on the other side of the board. But for Armada I needed more space, and why not use that board for bigger X-Wing battles?