So I am working on some battle report ideas for Armada Tactics News which is my YouTube channel and you can see it in my signature

Here is one idea.

I am thinking pictures step by step with me narrating each picture with things like arrows for movement and explosions and damage being added in. . . The but of all this is that I am doing this from my smartphone. . .

What other styles could I do?

What do you want to see?

Does anyone have some photoshop skills and can send me some good arrows I can use to show movement on the pictures or such?

Is it for your blog or your videos ?

Because if it's a video format, check out www.miniwargaming.com. I feel that they have a pretty good format going on, and for X-Wing/Armada the videos shouls be quite short.

For the YouTube channel. I know we don't get many battle reports so yea. I have to be careful because it is all done via smartphone

Not sure if you know the evil empire White Dwarf magazine in the old times (around WH40K 2nd edition) but I loved the way they did battle reports (photo at the end of each turn with arrows showing from where the units came in from the previous turn with comments about what was going on in each phase from each player). Dont know if they still do that...

Not sure if you know the evil empire White Dwarf magazine in the old times (around WH40K 2nd edition) but I loved the way they did battle reports (photo at the end of each turn with arrows showing from where the units came in from the previous turn with comments about what was going on in each phase from each player). Dont know if they still do that...

I want to do something like that but would also like more ideas to do so. It would be nice to have multiple ideas.

Is it for your blog or your videos ?

Because if it's a video format, check out www.miniwargaming.com. I feel that they have a pretty good format going on, and for X-Wing/Armada the videos shouls be quite short.

How would you break down their battle reports? Do they have a method they use?

I will watch their videos when I have time but I am at work atm and am looking to jot down some ideas.

Okay, so basically after a player has decided what to do with a unit/model, they film the action. Then they cut to the attack dice rolls after telling the targets, and they film the results (dropping shields/assigning cards).

At the beginning of a battle, they go over the lists relatively quickly, as well as after both factions are deployed (especially in an alternating deployment like we have in Armada). Each shot is only a couple of seconds long and very focused on a single model/unit. All of the camera work is handheld so a Smartphone would work well. While they do the actions they also capture live commentary so you really feel you're in the battle.

They also film overviews at the end of each turn and at the end of the battle.

So, for Armada you could break it down like this :

1) Showcase both players list (one full shot for all the army), telling which upgrades and the general logic. Tell who has initiative. Tell what scenario (and explain the general principle) is going to be played.

2) Show an overview of the battlefield after the fleets have deployed.

3) Turns (for each ship/squadron activation) :

a) Show the reveal of the order and tell what the player is going to do with it (keep the dial ? store a token). If it's a squadron command, show the activation of the squadrons (moving, then shooting). Cut after each squadron. If it's an Engineering, show which repair action the player has picked.

b) Show the attacks (measuring range, angle), declare targets. (cut) Film each dice roll and record the opposing player's reaction (along with what defensive measure he takes). Show exhausting upgrade cards or tokens that modify the attacks or anything of note. Show the player turning his shields dials to show damage has been taken along with any card they draw.

c) Show the move (after the player has settled on a move to avoid 5 minutes of reel where the player fiddles with the maneuver tool). Tell if it's using a Nav command or not.

d) If the player has acheived an objective don't forget to mention it along the way depending on how it occurs.

4) Squadron Phase : show each pair of squadron moving or attacking.

5) End of turn recap, comment on objective points scored, comment on what were the key moments (and be enthusiastic about the awesome stuff or epic fails), repeat turn sequence.

6) End of game recap.

. . . WOW. . . I will need a 32gb card for something like that. . . And much time of editing. . .

Hmmm will need to test that out Friday. . .

An old White Dwarf battle report staple was to sum up the battle plan of each player before play started, and then they would critique how well they felt the plan worked at the end. Really helped the reader understand why they made the choices they did. Could work for you as well.

Indeed, I would recommend that you get two other people to help and you just report the results.

Indeed, I would recommend that you get two other people to help and you just report the results.

Hmmmmmm that works. I can be the third party that watches and asks questions at the end of each "round"

An old White Dwarf battle report staple was to sum up the battle plan of each player before play started, and then they would critique how well they felt the plan worked at the end. Really helped the reader understand why they made the choices they did. Could work for you as well.

I will work on this. . .

I will work on a outline of what I will be doing. Keep the info coming. It helps fill in the puzzle that is in my head

Watch an episode of Tabletop, they do the end of round survivor style.

Just keep in mind that watching the game as it goes, dice roll by dice roll, would have many of us bored to death.

If you scripted 1-2 minutes to highlight the key events of each turn and then 1-2 minutes for the player comments then each turn is about 5 minutes and for that you may keep my attention.

It may also be nice to have your players be anonymous, so you could call them Admiral Screen and Guam Bel Iblis etc....

I can. One will be Mikael when he returns from the depths of space he has gone too. . .

A time lapse film showing each activation as single frame would be cool, you could edit in some lasers and explosions as well and captions with the command dials etc.

A time lapse film showing each activation as single frame would be cool, you could edit in some lasers and explosions as well and captions with the command dials etc.

As mentioned earlier a top down overview is really good. Where is the starting positions and where is the ships pointed... Preferably as a graphics file (done easily in X-wing by using the Mission Control editor to make a drawing of the battlefield - but alas no such thing for Armada), but a good top down(ish ) picture of the whole gamearea would also do the job.. Pics: Mix situational pictures (That squadron skirmish where Howlie and soontier takes out Wedgie) withoverview pics so we can see where that skirmsh takes place and why it matters.

I think the main problem of trying to make a battle report whilst playing is being able to hold the camera whilst doing all the finnickey stuff you need to do with two hands like use the maneuver tool and change shield dials.Normally can be solved by getting the other player to film but in this game they need to be active to change their shield dials, flip dmg cards and defense tokens and actions.

Have camera located at a fixed point, high angle

Film each alternating action for a short time, 5/10 seconds (experiment to get the right time ) don't show any people measurement tools range get finding etc or maybe use the range ruler to indicate an attack (may need fine tuning, or you could use the voiceover to comment on who is attacking what)

Show setup each obstacle appearing as they are laid and objectives

Show ship setup as each ship is placed.

Then each ship activation in turn. You could have a graphic which says the current speed and dial chosen tokens etc

If there is an attack you could have an inserted widow showing the dice roll (may not be practical )

Stitch the whole thing together as a stop motion movie

A lot of work!! Good luck, we need some decent Armada gameplay videos;)

I think the main problem of trying to make a battle report whilst playing is being able to hold the camera whilst doing all the finnickey stuff you need to do with two hands like use the maneuver tool and change shield dials.Normally can be solved by getting the other player to film in this game they need to be active to change their shield dials, flip dmg cards and defense tokens and actions.

i think you lose the immersion really quickly if you use the tripod. Thats why MWG reports are so engaging.

You could do a lighter version of the report. After turn reports except for critical rolls that could be fun and engaging to watch.

I think doing an overview of the squadrons engagements is better than getting in every dice roll. . .

Now ship on ship, I think the larger more damaging and critical rolls of a turn are good.

At least for the first dozen times or so. In the end I have a feeling I will own it and make it quick after a time

Yeah, start small but well and build up on that