So it's not really local, but its within 45 min...

New place in Kingston, PA opened called Tactical Advantage. Seems like a real relaxed place and they seem to big FFG fans. Took the time and paid for another AFmkII while I was there and was asked to bring my Armada kit down to demo it with the owner.

Excited to possibly grow a community, but sort of sucks my schedule is too hectic to really be the main guy. Even if I get down there for some gaming to draw attention, it's a start.

Any suggestions on how to demo the game at a store? Got invited down next week to do so alongside his X Wing demo day.

Maybe just do a Learn to Play game? No upgrade, no objective, maybe no obstacles. Just use a few of the ships, this will give people a basic idea of how the game works, and also it wont overload them with too much to worry about.

What Kami689 said. Do just the basics, but have a nice display of everything else for people to see ... you know, to help fuel the plastic crack addiction.

Just run the Learn to Play game. Enough of the basics to get a feel of the game mechanics. Unfortunately, it doesn't much highlight the synergies of abilities of the ship upgrades.

When I was introduced to the game, the presenter built two simple lists without upgrades but using more points (maybe 250) and then several participants each take 1-2 capital ships and a few squadrons to work as a team.

Although no objectives were used, I think we kept the same player one all match. It was fair enough that it didn't matter anyway for getting a feel for the game.

I'm down for the learn to play, but the rule changes... Haha

I'll have to re-read the booklet to play it. Depending on who gives it a shot maybe I'll just run a roughly 200 point skirmish with basic units.

I've not actually read the "Learn to Play", but yes -- if there are rules changes, I'd advise skipping that. I think smallish, simple lists make a better demo than half the rules.

Have people control a CR90, and have say 3-4 people try to defeat your star destroyer! If you sit at the contested outpost for too long, you win! If they blow you up, you win!

Oh, each player with a CR90 and a X-wing (or two). You are the imperials and have a VSDII and a bunch of TIE fighters and bombers and whatnot, but scattered away from the star destroyer. That way they can blast away at the Tie fighters with X-wings and charge the VSD with the corvettes.

Make yours a tanky star destroyer with wuff, and maybe have each CR90A have just veteran captain or something.

Neb-B's might be too tough to learn and fly right, and AFmrk2's would steal the show. CR90's are small, responsive, and maneuverable. Plus, they are Iconic and easily recognizable.

If you could showcase wave 1 stuff along with the core it would be nice. Just without upgrades. Maybe throw in a hero or two for each side. Keep points 180-240

I do own one of everything... They can gladly eyeball all of Wave 1's glory!

I'd try and keep it to OT ships as well (no Gladiator, AFmkII. I know the VSD isn't technically an OT ship but it still has the classic Death Wedge shape of a Star Destroyer) to improve the brand identity. Star Wars fans will instantly recognise the Neb Bs, CR90s and VSD, and you can have the AFmkII sitting on the side of the table along with the Gladiator so that people can see them and ask questions about them as well.

I'd also include some squadrons because people love the Star Wars snubfighters. Basically, just run the game out of the starter set, I guess.

Some tips, in no particular organisation, from a semi-professional games demo-er (I sometimes get paid to do it!).

The most important rule as a demo monkey is - Leave them with a good impression of the game, (and by extension the games store and FFG), and don't force the sales pitch. Be clean, be polite. Dont be disrespectful to other games or companies (The games store probably sells them as well)

It is not your job to teach them everything about the rules, so that they will be able to win the nationals next week.

Don't dance round their arcs so that they can't shoot, let them blow stuff up. If they are a degree out of arc, let them shoot anyway. If they get their command dials out of order, let them change. Being a **** at this point will give a bad image of the community, if not the game and store.

I would go core set only, though have the wave I ships about to show off. I'd play 180pts

If you can, take someone along with you to game against, people are more likely to look at a game underway, than someone standing around with some toys on the table. Once they are looking, talk to them, ask if they want to have a go, you or your friend (depending on which side they want to be) step out of the game.

Give them a 5 minute primer on the rules, show them the dice, the manouver tool and the command dial. Then let them get on with it.

Be prepared to run a 15 minute demo as a taster. Most people dropping into the shop on spec, weren't expecting to be there for an hour, so, if they don't have the time, put a couple of ships about 18 inchs apart as though you'd gone through the first couple of turns.

Once you've played whatever demo youve done, explain about the stuff you haven't used, the objectives, other upgrades, the wave I ships. Explain about wave II.

On the Sales Pitch - Don't try to push them into buying NOW. If they walk away today, and come back after payday or whatever, that's a win too.

Be respectful to the store you are in. Its a relatively expensive buy in for a core set, If the customer complains about the price, DONT tell them that they can get it cheaper on amazon or some other retailer.

If they didnt enjoy it, for whatever reason, don't sweat it. not all games are for all people.

Any suggestions on how to demo the game at a store? Got invited down next week to do so alongside his X Wing demo day.

Last weekend I and a friend did a demo day at the local game shop.

I talked with the owner the previous month and offered to do something to encourage more armada play (and of course said increased sales for him) and he put up a post on the business facebook page.

Both my friend and I each have enough ships to field 2 full 400 point fleets for each side, but of course it's a demo game so we came to the table with sample 300 point or less fleets.

What we generally did was to go with a small sampling of each side. Example: rebels-- 1 assault frigate, 1 neb, 1 cr 90, 3 xwings plus an admiral, usually dodonna and a couple upgrades that were easy to understand and/or explain. On the imperial side we would go with 1 victory, 1 gladiator and 6 ties, plus screed, and some upgrades.

This allowed players to pick a side and get the feel for long and short range ship combat. We did no obstacles and no objectives unless the player wanted a second game and then we would offer objectives.

During gameplay we did open commands so that each round I could explain choices for the player. I gave him what I thought were his best options of 2 commands and explained why. Asked him what he thought and let him choose. I then would suggest where to move each ship and squadron for the first couple of rounds or throughout game depending on how well he adjusted or seemed to want advice (most wanted and appreciated the advice). I would cheer on his good attacks, grumble at my own errors (most i forced for the show!) and always ended each game with a handshake.

After the game i'd go over price, what he could expect to pay if buying online and what I thought was a good base 'minimum' for fun (1 glad, 1 af2, base game, 1 of each squadron pack) to fill out a fleet. I would then let them know when I usually am there and offered to exchange numbers for play at any time.

We had 7-8 ppl play and 1 guy stayed, played like 3 games and even built his own fleet with upgrades and objectives for his final game. Most were pleased with the game while a couple loved it.

oh! I also did my best to lose every game =)

Hey Everybody!

Friendly reminder I'll be at Tactical Advantage in Kingston, PA from 3pm until 8 or 9 pm tonight demoing (or straight up playing) Armada! I was going to be there later because of work, but with the dogs getting skunked this morning, I ended up calling off work today.

I had a blast showing off the game. I got the store owner and his employee playing the learn to play with success on a 2.5'x3' table space (X Wing claimed the full size tables). But I'm pretty sure the employee will be buying in with Wave 2.

Hopefully it starts something. Would love a casual tournament once and a while. Even if there is no prize, it would be nice to have competition. I'm feeling good about the X Wingers watching after their games were over.