[New Players]: On buying Armada cheaply

By Blail Blerg, in Star Wars: Armada

Hello,

I noticed when I got my wave2 that "WOW, you can get an amazing collection for very little money."

This seems to be a good time to get into Armada.

To buy cheaply:

You can get a collection with every single ship / card in the game for easily 300$ off of Miniature Market or CoolstuffInc.

(Hint new players, go to those websites.)

Anyway. Off of those online prices, you can get all of these bundles...

Proxying:

You can save a lot by not buying everything. Ships are the hardest to proxy, since each has different arc zones and size and etc.

For cards, you should just write them down or print them out. Borrow from a friend. Make a friend at the local store.

For squadrons you have, simply take the models off one base, and put one of the ones from the triple tree on top of it Put the dial to the correct place for HP. If its over by 1 or 2 you can probably just leave it past the last HP mark.

For squadrons you don't have, just put some model that's a close representative

1. Sticking with one faction.

- Especially good if you have a buddy doing the other faction.

Split a core and RV pack 68 + 13 = 80/2 = 40

Imps ISD, VSD, GSD, Raider, fighter pack = 30 + 25 + 20 + 13 + 13 = 120.

Rebs CR, Neb, AF, Shrimp, HomeOne = 10 + 10 + 25 + 20 + 27 = 92.

Total $160 For all the ships in the Imperial faction.

Into wave2 though, I don't see much need for two VSDs, so you can probably avoid that: 135.

Some of you might not need a raider or a GSD. These tend to be filler ships, and you get comfy with one, you might not need the other.

Others might just hold off on the ISD, and use your VSD instead. Great. So you could easily get a bunch of options for around $110.

Wow, Rebels have it good. You can get one of everything (two of the core set models). That makes for incredible list diversity. AF or HomeOne main pieces with tons and tons of options! 2 Nebs for punchy players. 2CRs and Shrimp for maneuvering players. AF and Homeone together for a punchy list. It goes on.

Total $132.

I would argue you don't even need all of that. If you like punchy, avoid the extra CR. If you're cheap like me, just avoid the Home One altogether! (and proxy Ackbar).

Don't like slow rolling? Pass on the extra Neb. Heck, trade them for something else.

If I'm a maneuvering freak, I'd pass Homeone and Neb thus: $95!!

2. Getting one of everything.

Will cost you $252.

3. Getting extras.

As of Wave2, I'd recommend these:

not a 2nd VSD. But a second Gladiator. They go well together. And they go well as a triple: Glad Glad Raider.

In the next few months we will find out of 2 ISD is a good idea or not. I'm hedging on not. Especially if you're on a budget.

not a 3rd AF. Probably not even a 2nd. You're usually fine with just 1.

AF goes well with the HomeOne on budget.

2nd Neb, if you like punchy power. Goes really well as 2 together. Salvation and Yavaris and 3B wings with Adar Tallon or Ray Antilles. Adding 1 AF and 1 CR makes a great list with squadrons.

3rd CR, if you're the swarmy type. Goes really well with AF and Shrimp.

So for $60 or so extra, you can have a serious dream fleet for great list building.

A lot of people like having a second RV pack. Time will tell on this one.

Supplies:

I stored my armada stuff in bags and the big box it came up. $0

Cut on the plastic shells the ships came in to provide extra protection. $0

I don't bother with a mat in Armada cuz the ships are heavier and don't tend to move much. otherwise, get a piece of cloth cut to 3x6. $0-10

Getting the upgrade sleeves from online is a good idea $6. Get Tarot size cards for the ship cards $4.

Store lesser used upgrade cards

Get 9pocket sheets for squadron cards $2

Get 4pocket "Commander" sheets for magic for the ship cards. $4

Get a 3ring binder $4 You might want a zippered binder, but my cards have always been loose. I just store it upright all the time.

$20.

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In comparison, a cheap magic deck will usually cost $100 for the non-land rares, and another $100 for the land rares. That's for ONE deck. This is for many many armada options, around 3 or 4.

Xwing, with 8 waves and upgrades everywhere is incredibly daunting. I'd put at $300 to get some of the ships with the most critical upgrades. There's a ton of threads for that.

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Happy Budget playing!

(Some prices are off by a few dollars. ^^)

Leave comments if you'd recommend different options or find I made an egregious math mistake. Thanks.

Another way to do it is to find people who are getting out of the game - which happens with any such game, no matter how good it is.

I'm about to buy a friend's collection ($440@MSRP) for about $200, which I will then sort through and repackage for people just wanting to get into the game.

Another way to do it is to find people who are getting out of the game - which happens with any such game, no matter how good it is.

I'm about to buy a friend's collection ($440@MSRP) for about $200, which I will then sort through and repackage for people just wanting to get into the game.

This is exactly what happened with me. My father plays X-Wing and got Wave 1 to try it out, hoping to get me a core set for my B-Day - He hated it and in true Imperial fashion I received it all through Nepotism.

Another way to do it is to find people who are getting out of the game - which happens with any such game, no matter how good it is.

I'm about to buy a friend's collection ($440@MSRP) for about $200, which I will then sort through and repackage for people just wanting to get into the game.

Agreed, a good part of my fleet came from a player who never even opened his haul. Also, Birthdays are nice :D

Don't underestimate borrowing either. A local player lent me his whole army so I could play in a tournament, allowed me to get a feel for what I liked (flanking) and where I could improve (pretty much everywhere).

I've gone for one faction only (rebels) and split the core set with a friend. Split R&V too. It really makes a difference if you're on a tight budget. We just printed off the cards we don't have - this is fine for casual play, but you will need proper cards for tournaments.

I've gone for one faction only (rebels) and split the core set with a friend. Split R&V too. It really makes a difference if you're on a tight budget. We just printed off the cards we don't have - this is fine for casual play, but you will need proper cards for tournaments.

Its so nicely cheap isnt it!

Rather than start a new thread on getting into Armada, I was wondering how playable is the game with just the core set. Comparing to X-wing (which I play a lot) I know the core set got rather repetitive rather quickly. So I just want to know how much milage I could get out of the core set to see if I like the game and play with friends (no one in my local area plays Armada) and then slowly build up expansions (price point higher than X-Wing). Cheers

Rather than start a new thread on getting into Armada, I was wondering how playable is the game with just the core set. Comparing to X-wing (which I play a lot) I know the core set got rather repetitive rather quickly. So I just want to know how much milage I could get out of the core set to see if I like the game and play with friends (no one in my local area plays Armada) and then slowly build up expansions (price point higher than X-Wing). Cheers

Not recommended. Especially if you actually have a few friends who are dedicated to playing this game, you're much better off getting 2 cores, or 1 core with expansions.

1core alone is really difficult to play as rebels and gets old fast.

I like these types of threads. Very helpful to the new folk and those on the verge of diving in.

/pep Blail Blerg

I went onto Facebook and had a look around on the Star Wars X-Wing / Armada sale groups, managed to get the starter and all of wave 1 for £100 + a bit of postage, chap had only used them a couple of times

I have a starter and a few extra wave one packs (opened of course). I also have a bag for the ships with some foam. I am definitely getting out of the game. I wouldn't mind selling it all for $100. I played Rebellion more, so there's 2 Assault Frigates, a few rebel fighter packs, and extra Neb and an extra Corvette. If anyone wants it, PM me. I live in the US...in Virginia.

I'd really like to get rid of this stuff soon too. I just don't play minis games much these days.

Where's the foaming at the mouth support your FLGS people?

I do buy some stuff locally and I'd like to buy more. But if it comes down to buying online or not playing at all, I'll give you one guess where my money goes.

Rather than start a new thread on getting into Armada, I was wondering how playable is the game with just the core set. Comparing to X-wing (which I play a lot) I know the core set got rather repetitive rather quickly. So I just want to know how much milage I could get out of the core set to see if I like the game and play with friends (no one in my local area plays Armada) and then slowly build up expansions (price point higher than X-Wing). Cheers

Playing with only the core set is really limiting. At 180 points, it makes the job of the Imperial player really easy - they go after the Neb-B, it usually dies, then the CR90 can't do enough damage to finally take out the VSD. It'll get repetitive after a few games, even adding in the cards instead of naked ships. You can play with those until you get bored, then pick up an extra ship or two (or even a squadron pack for each side) and see how that changes your game. There's no need to go straight to 400 points if you and your friends don't want to.

Where's the foaming at the mouth support your FLGS people?

I do buy some stuff locally and I'd like to buy more. But if it comes down to buying online or not playing at all, I'll give you one guess where my money goes.

Most of the LGSs here are missing the F. Anyway.

This is a thread about playing armada cheaply. Likely over the kitchen table or with friends or on a limited budget.

Thus. No LGS mention.

I am very into helping players get into this game more cost effectively. I scoop up a lot of Armada stuff and have access to a lot for sale, about half price, especially on the rebel side. Bigger discounts the more you buy. Even better if you are looking for everything to get you into at least wave 1 quickly. PM me if interested. Can't really help with wave 2 yet, but if someone is looking to get the core play aids and ships through wave 1, *that* I can help with.

Jon

on the other hand your option is to go completely overboard on everything

My friend and i went in on EVERYTHING. together we have

2 core sets+

2 heroes and villains packs

Emp:

3 ISD

2 VSD (total of 4)

2 Glad

3 squadron packs

Rebs

1 neb (total of 3)

1 cr90 (total 3)

4 Assault Frigates

4 MC30

2 MC80

I like options and 1000 point games :)

Also I would say look on the eBay people will often sell lots cheaper then retail.

Food for thought.

You can make this game work with one of every exp and go from there. Also squads are fun but optional. You can make the game work without them.

Edited by Cubanboy

Check this out on Fabs (http://armada.fabpsb.net/gindex.php#etiquette) I did 1 of each exp with the core minus the fighters.

The list can back with 2 CR-90, 1 Neb, 1 MC30 and 2 X-wings for 399. Which with upgrades does not sound Terrible at all.

1 of each Imp ship adds to 400 easy also so that's good. Everything would fit nicely in the core box and the price for everything on minture market is about 260.00 USD with 1 extra dice pack minus the squads and scum. You could still work in scum and squads for about 300.00 USD.

Again stick with 1 of each exp or better yet only play 1 side and sell the extra ships your not using from the core set.

Oh yeah. Add some $10 ish for another pack of dice. >< You will need those.