...any suggestions, hints, tips, things to remember or bear in mind?

We'll be playing the out-of-the box start game - not looking for strategies for either side or anything like that, just general advice on playing the game from the players with experience!

Especially bearing in mind I've skimmed the rulebook and my opponent will be completely new to the game!

Watch my videos?

Read Da Rules well.

My rules are at the link Armada Tactics News

Skip the starter and go for 180? Learn to play is good. But why learn part of the rules just to learn more later.

Also, check the faq as well. I would print it off and keep it with your rule book.

For the love all that's holy, use the proper shooting rules. There is absolutely no reason not to.

Advice would be to not go with many if any upgrade cards and no objectives. Also suggest just a few squadrons per side. We went with 4 ties and 2 xwings--both basic, not uniques like luke or howlrunner.

Keep it simple so you can concentrate on moving and shooting.

Don't bother with obstacles first couple games either. Get used to how the game flows and then layer in upgrade cards and then obstacles and finally objectives.

I found that this approach worked really well when I demoed armada about a month ago. People weren't overwhelmed by all the choices and could focus on the commands, tokens, moving and firing.

my advice?

Have fun! Don't worry if you mess something up, my first few games I did quite a few thing wrong (such as switching who has initiative every turn...darn you learn to play scenario!)

Also what the others have said as well

Skip the starter and go for 180? Learn to play is good. But why learn part of the rules just to learn more later.

Also, check the faq as well. I would print it off and keep it with your rule book.

I wouldn't just start building ship builds when players have no idea what they are doing at first. It will just confuse em.

My advice? Have fun. Learn the basics, then figure out the upgrades, objectives, etc.

Have fun and don't skip any part of the rules. Be aware that the starter game is not as exciting as a full game, but it's necessary. Think of it like you would a pilot to a TV series.

Thanks for the replies all!

Two posts have immediately grabbed my attention:

For the love all that's holy, use the proper shooting rules. There is absolutely no reason not to.

Have fun! Don't worry if you mess something up, my first few games I did quite a few thing wrong (such as switching who has initiative every turn...darn you learn to play scenario!)

I take it there are differences between the learn to play scenario and the full game then? (like the X-Wing learn to play game is a simplified version of the full game?)

Learn to play rules tell you to just use the arcs. It a bit more nuanced than that. You have to have arc, and LOS from yellow dot to yellow dot in order to fire.

Let the Rebel player go first every turn, and look at the LOS rules in Advanced rules section. Pg 19. Don't learn it separately, it'll save you trouble in the long run.


And always remember, shoot THEN move. Shoot then move. Repeat it like a mantra, 'cause I and everyone i know who plays Xwing messed that up constantly for about a week or more.

Check if you have the correct playing area for the number of points you're going to play.

Skip objectives for now to master the rules on attacking and moving. Understand how squadrons work and when they can attack and/or move.

Have fun and don't be afraid to make mistakes every now and then. You will have your frigate and corvette be utterly vaporized by that VSD. Consider it your baptism of fire.

Also, WATCH OUT FOR THAT ANTENNA.

My advice, Don't sweat the rules because everyone makes mistakes in the beginning, have some fun, crush your enemies, see him driven before you, and hear the Lamentations of the women!

But mostly just have fun.

Gods, I don't think there has been a player yet who did not make some mistakes. . . The shooting rules alone cause tons of issues

Gods, I don't think there has been a player yet who did not make some mistakes. . . The shooting rules alone cause tons of issues

Hey. I made absolutely no mistakes.......

Until I started playing. Lol

Learn to play rules tell you to just use the arcs. It a bit more nuanced than that. You have to have arc, and LOS from yellow dot to yellow dot in order to fire.

Let the Rebel player go first every turn, and look at the LOS rules in Advanced rules section. Pg 19. Don't learn it separately, it'll save you trouble in the long run.

And always remember, shoot THEN move. Shoot then move. Repeat it like a mantra, 'cause I and everyone i know who plays Xwing messed that up constantly for about a week or more.

Cool, thanks. I already clocked the shoot, then move part - looks like a very elegant design.

Also, WATCH OUT FOR THAT ANTENNA.

VSD or EF76?

Also, WATCH OUT FOR THAT ANTENNA.

VSD or EF76?

Stay away from the Gladiator. Oh wait....

Also, WATCH OUT FOR THAT ANTENNA.

Which one?

First time I played I got so excited I slammed my hand down on top of the Neb, breaking the antenna.

Fixed it with tons of epoxy

First games played!

1 victory for the Imperials, one for the Rebels.

The first game went quite slowly, checking the rules every couple of minutes for clarifications etc.

It also had a couple of hilarious opponents. with my opponent swinging the Nebulon B Frigate arond in a textbook X-Wing style blocking manuever in front of the VSD I. In X-Wing, the Star Destroyer would have lost it's actions and been unable to fire.

In Armada, it obliterated the Frigate with a range one volley with Concentrate Firepower into it's broadside. We won't be doing that again in a hurry.

Game two went much quicker, this time the VSDII (got it right this time around) quickly found out that little differences in maneuvering make a huge difference when it comes to attacking. And also that flying into a mob of X-Wings is no laughing matter. The Corvette went down, but the Nebulon B (taking a more cautious slow approach this time) managed to punch through the Star Destroyer's remaining shields and take it down.

Lots of fun, a lot of lessons learned, and an early insight into how it plays.Looking forwards to realising just how much we actually got wrong.

You mean like shoot then move, unlike we did for two games......

And someone warned you on the first post, what's the point in asking for advice if your not going to bloody listen....

Enjoyed it though, plastic crack Mark 2, oh god.

Shoot then move.

SHOOT THEN MOVE!

I'm going to go drown my sorrows. In cake.