So I just got the game today and have had a few games with a mate and we are already looking forward to proper 300 point battles. We have both agreed to share the cost of expansions (I focus on Imps, he on Rebels), and we're debating which of the expansions we should purchase first. Any thoughts from more experienced players? Do we focus on getting more ships first rather than squadrons or vice-versa? Many thanks in advance!

Imperials can probably just get the ships. Rebels will want some squadrons, me thinks.

Bottom line, it'll be dependent on how you want to play. Current meta seems to favor no-squadron builds, but playing with squadrons can be fun!

I originally was only going to buy things that were not in the starter pack.... But then I wanted all the upgrade cards....

Skip the squads to get more ships initially. GSD and AFmkII should be the priority. That will give you a taste of the available ships for wave 1.

Rebels love 2 Assault Frigates, Imperials love Gladiators. Through in some squadron packs and have fun.

you will want to get at least one of everything but start with the 2 ships not in the starter box Assault Frigates,and Gladiators and a pack of each sides fighter.. Fighters are fun no matter what the tournament players say about them. you will want the expansion copies of the starter ships to get the up grade cards that only come with them later.

With whom do you plan to play? Just your friends at the dinner/gameroom table, or do you plan to come out and challenge your local Armada-playing community?

If the former, then spy on your friend's ship-purchasing intentions and always try to stay one expansion ahead of him. Read up on the strategies of arms races.

If the latter, then you're probably going to want to get two of everything between you. You're going to need the versatility of being able to tailor your lists to meet what's being played in your community.

What Intys Rule is saying is correct for the time being, but 'the meta' (what people feel is effective and bring to the table) is in flux and by the time you're in up to your ears, squadrons might be very popular.

do you plan to come out and challenge your local Armada-playing community?

I'm fairly positive that my friend and I ARE the local Armada playing community haha.

Get one of each ship but do get squadrons. For their price, you suddenly get a lot of variety.

Ok thanks for the replies guys... am loving this game so far!

What Intys Rule is saying is correct for the time being, but 'the meta' (what people feel is effective and bring to the table) is in flux and by the time you're in up to your ears, squadrons might be very popular.

Since Wave 2 isn't due out until October now, the current meta stands for a while longer. Then again, the "tournament meta" might be very different from his local area's "meta." Hence the point of playing with what you find fun.

do you plan to come out and challenge your local Armada-playing community?

I'm fairly positive that my friend and I ARE the local Armada playing community haha.

*Looks at profile and checks map*

Ah, yes. You're quite a distance from places. Do you have no gaming stores other than your local gaming Hades Games Workshop?

Still, there should be thriving communities in Middleborough and Newcastle, right?

*Looks at profile and checks map*

Ah, yes. You're quite a distance from places. Do you have no gaming stores other than your local gaming Hades Games Workshop?

Still, there should be thriving communities in Middleborough and Newcastle, right?

Sadly no not in Middlesbrough.. maybe in Newcastle but that's a little far to travel on a regular basis for me. With the exception of everything Games Workshop, table top gaming isn't big over here. Infact I would say it's downright frowned upon by a lot of folk... my parents and workmates included. Also, even though my wife enjoys this kind of stuff, she would never admit it to any of her friends on fear of being ostracised and labelled a geek lol. I personally don't give a **** what people think... I like what I like and that's that but I do find it frustrating how this kind of thing is sneered at. Not sure if this is the same in the U.S. but I'm not gonna lie sometimes I do wish I lived over there haha.

2 cents

What is important to you, playing for fun (squads) or competitively (ships) it will make the diffence. Its not a terrible thought to get one of each exp vs dups, find what you like and go from there. I focused on ships first and thats what I have been most happy with.

My rule for buying is the following based on exp from playing a ton of different minis games to end up with is the following.

Retail cost 0.00-19.99 buy 3 of each (Squads CR-90s, Nebs)

20.00-39.99 buy 2 of each (Glads, VSD)

40.00 and up 1 of each (Core)

Now if your crazy and want to do movie battles buy 20 squads for each side 5 VSD, 10 Nebs and 10 Frig .

*Looks at profile and checks map*

Ah, yes. You're quite a distance from places. Do you have no gaming stores other than your local gaming Hades Games Workshop?

Still, there should be thriving communities in Middleborough and Newcastle, right?

Sadly no not in Middlesbrough.. maybe in Newcastle but that's a little far to travel on a regular basis for me. With the exception of everything Games Workshop, table top gaming isn't big over here. Infact I would say it's downright frowned upon by a lot of folk... my parents and workmates included. Also, even though my wife enjoys this kind of stuff, she would never admit it to any of her friends on fear of being ostracised and labelled a geek lol. I personally don't give a **** what people think... I like what I like and that's that but I do find it frustrating how this kind of thing is sneered at. Not sure if this is the same in the U.S. but I'm not gonna lie sometimes I do wish I lived over there haha.

If I had Rebel sympathies, I would say that you might need to start an underground movement.

Hang out in a dark corner near the local GW shop with Armada/X-Wing expansion packs hidden under a shady-looking trench coat. Show the impressionable (especially the young) how much cheaper and more balanced FFG's products are compared to GW. Give them a free sample game so that they can get just that initial taste that will keep 'em coming back for more, and more, and MORE.

But I don't have Rebel sympathies. I'm true black-white Imperial, me.

2 cents

What is important to you, playing for fun (squads) or competitively (ships) it will make the diffence. Its not a terrible thought to get one of each exp vs dups, find what you like and go from there. I focused on ships first and thats what I have been most happy with.

My rule for buying is the following based on exp from playing a ton of different minis games to end up with is the following.

Retail cost 0.00-19.99 buy 3 of each (Squads CR-90s, Nebs)

20.00-39.99 buy 2 of each (Glads, VSD)

40.00 and up 1 of each (Core)

Thanks for the advice! I would say that fun is the main goal but we definitely get competitive. Having said that, I do love my big ships while my friend loves his squadrons lol.

I would recommend picking up a Rebel Nebulon B because it has no unique upgrades (aside from titles). The CR90 does have Raymus, but the Neb might be a better buy. Then one assault frigate to parade your little squadron around, pick up a fighter pack for those A-wings and Y-wings, and then maybe an extra AF2 or CR90.

For imperials, VSD, GSD, TIE pack. Take Warlord+H9 for a spin, turning single hits into accuracies into double hits, and I have heard that the GSD is effective against people who don't know how to deal with it.

Then you probably want to save for the next wave

*Looks at profile and checks map*

Ah, yes. You're quite a distance from places. Do you have no gaming stores other than your local gaming Hades Games Workshop?

Still, there should be thriving communities in Middleborough and Newcastle, right?

Sadly no not in Middlesbrough.. maybe in Newcastle but that's a little far to travel on a regular basis for me. With the exception of everything Games Workshop, table top gaming isn't big over here. Infact I would say it's downright frowned upon by a lot of folk... my parents and workmates included. Also, even though my wife enjoys this kind of stuff, she would never admit it to any of her friends on fear of being ostracised and labelled a geek lol. I personally don't give a **** what people think... I like what I like and that's that but I do find it frustrating how this kind of thing is sneered at. Not sure if this is the same in the U.S. but I'm not gonna lie sometimes I do wish I lived over there haha.

If I had Rebel sympathies, I would say that you might need to start an underground movement.

Hang out in a dark corner near the local GW shop with Armada/X-Wing expansion packs hidden under a shady-looking trench coat. Show the impressionable (especially the young) how much cheaper and more balanced FFG's products are compared to GW. Give them a free sample game so that they can get just that initial taste that will keep 'em coming back for more, and more, and MORE.

But I don't have Rebel sympathies. I'm true black-white Imperial, me.

More players potentially means more rebels, and that could be a problem for imperial domination.

If I had Rebel sympathies, I would say that you might need to start an underground movement.

Hang out in a dark corner near the local GW shop with Armada/X-Wing expansion packs hidden under a shady-looking trench coat. Show the impressionable (especially the young) how much cheaper and more balanced FFG's products are compared to GW. Give them a free sample game so that they can get just that initial taste that will keep 'em coming back for more, and more, and MORE.

But I don't have Rebel sympathies. I'm true black-white Imperial, me.

Haha! Doing that will most certainly get me stabbed in my hometown lol. Especially since in the UK we treat every adult male as a suspect paedophile, thanks to the media convincing everyone that they lurk around every street corner wearing trench coats...

If I had Rebel sympathies, I would say that you might need to start an underground movement.

Hang out in a dark corner near the local GW shop with Armada/X-Wing expansion packs hidden under a shady-looking trench coat. Show the impressionable (especially the young) how much cheaper and more balanced FFG's products are compared to GW. Give them a free sample game so that they can get just that initial taste that will keep 'em coming back for more, and more, and MORE.

But I don't have Rebel sympathies. I'm true black-white Imperial, me.

Haha! Doing that will most certainly get me stabbed in my hometown lol. Especially since in the UK we treat every adult male as a suspect paedophile, thanks to the media convincing everyone that they lurk around every street corner wearing trench coats...

Does not Homes wear said Trench coat.........

PS welcome to Armada.

PS welcome to Armada.

Thanks... Just got my Assault frigate and GSD today and am bursting for another game

Oh and Buy extra DICE.

@bolly: Send me a PM with your location. I feel a disturbance in the Force.

@bolly: Send me a PM with your location. I feel a disturbance in the Force.

Hey Intys can't PM for some reason but my location is Darlington UK (North East England)