We've got DA making a bunch of custom unofficial ships for his design projects, and I've come up with a few things for Trek/classic BSG, but I was just curious if these things are actually played with, or if they're just products of us designers who like making things for Armada that don't go anywhere.
You use customs? What do you think of them?
My game group uses them and enjoys them greatly. Between two gifted model makers, we have a constant 1/7000 fleet with several custom ships. In fact, we are about to field Type I Assault Frigates.
I've just started to build up a collection of customs to the degree that they're playable and the more I get, the more malleable some of the players are around here about working with customs. -smirks- and the straw that finally broke the camel's back for at least one of them, the Defender..
It had no natural 'proxy' so while my Z-95's pull duty as X-wings and I've planned out some R-41's for Y-wings, my Assault Gunboats are Firesprays, and Avengers are supplanting the Tie Ad while they escort some Lambda class shuttle Jumpmaster 5000's... The Defender is there, and my opponents want to use it. And maybe my modified Frigate as some sort of 'Imperial Nebulon B -esque thing'. Then the Gozanti... maybe some G-75's. How cool would it be to use an Interdictor? Etc.
Yes, it's a slow process but I'm finally starting to use some custom content and having it gain traction! The plan is working as my master has forseen. Needless to say, I love 'em. Just sorta waiting for that Defender and the rest of my TIE fighter era stuff to arrive (I'm not a Clone War person in the least, but I know I might be able to push one or two gamers into that era to accept some custom content).
About a third of my collection is custom ships, and my sons and I use them constantly. I also have a couple of local players who have expressed interest in mixing in some of the custom ships and squadrons.
Now, thanks to Kuat Drive Yards, I can make my own custom cards to mix some personal story elements.
Besides, custom creations communities like these are what keep games alive long after the company that created them is lost to obscurity. Armada now has all the hallmarks of a game that would continue to grow, even if Wave 3... 4... 5... never happens.
My constant worry is that as soon as I get a custom, FFG will announce the next wave featuring whatever I just got...
Maybe after Wave 3 is revealed? But to be honest, I haven't got everything out of the game yet with just the official ships, so why do I need more?
Every time 
I haven't played a game without a custom since I got a Pelta Frigate from Mel(thanks Mel!). There's just so much to the universe that I find playing only with official stuff to be a bit limiting. Took a few games for my girlfriend to come around to them, but she's loving her arquitens Cruiser now. Now, where's that piggy bank, there's a liberty Mon Cal Cruiser calling my name from shapeways...
I use a Mel Shapeways 2 x Rebel Transport models in place of the HWK-290 Squadron models, and 2 x Lambda Shuttles in place of the Jumpmaster 5000 Squadron models.
It Rebel Transport appeals to me most. Escorted by Xwings and the synergy with Intel tickles the nostalgia trigger everytime...Hoth, Xwings escorting Shuttles off planet past the Imperials. /sigh There it goes again! /pewpew
Not as much as I would like, but I'm getting there - granted, like Mel, I am a bit biased 
.
yes. I have a custom home built space platform,4 Lambda Shuttles and 4 gun boats 3 Bulk freighters, and 2 home customized interdiction cruisers. Another player has a Big Deep space 9 station. Used it in our last game, as a space dock for ISD repair. and I killed it by flying through it firing double broadsides. the other side set up expecting me to turn and fly around it. 
I only shot at one of their ships and ripped up their fighters on the way in. lost one CR-90
we don't play tournament rule games here except to teach the rules to new players or even care about the points balance and the 1/3 fighter rule. its all about the mission and getting it done or stopping it
Edited by ouzelI figure the people who do use the custom-made stuff are going to be over-represented here (as they'll flock to the topic due to the title) so it's only fair to have the "no" responses factored in too, and the "no" is me. And everyone I play with at my local game store (so up to about 8 people). And to my knowledge nobody who's ever come in for a tournament or posts in the Chicagoland Armada facebook group uses custom models either.
It's a cool idea don't get me wrong (and good on you guys who find enjoyment from it, it does no harm to me), but there's just not a lot of interest locally. We're either experienced players practicing for tournaments and the like or new players coming to grips with everything and neither of those communities really cares as they've got enough on their plate as it is.
I'm a no too.
I think they look killer and I can see why people would want to play with them. But myself I can't see any point in spending money on a ship I can't use at a store championship. That goes for Armada, X-Wing or Imperial Assault.
I spend too much money as it is, I'm not going to spend more on something I may not even be able to use.
I have been toying with throwing the 1/3rd squadron max out the window for home games. My latest orders took me up to 6 R&Vs, and 4 of both Rebel & Imperial squadrons, and another 2 dozen rebel & Imperial customs. The Idea of a lone capital ship spitting out tons of squadrons just feels too much like Star Wars, to always limit myself to 1/3.
I have been toying with throwing the 1/3rd squadron max out the window for home games. My latest orders took me up to 6 R&Vs, and 4 of both Rebel & Imperial squadrons, and another 2 dozen rebel & Imperial customs. The Idea of a lone capital ship spitting out tons of squadrons just feels too much like Star Wars, to always limit myself to 1/3.
For my campaign rules I've thought about using something along the lines of "You may have as many squadrons in a battle equal to the sum of your ships' Command and Squadron ratings"
I'll join Snipafist in the "no" camp.
And it's certainly not because I don't want to. I have a 418 Immobilizer ready to go. Beyond custom models with custom rules, I also developed an alternative ruleset to the picking of missions (I posted it on these forums), but that too is collecting electronic dust.
The problem is that people seem to want to play the standard game with tournaments on their mind - that, or people (including myself) are hesitant to convince others to step away from standard play.
Maybe once we get through Store Championship/Regionals season, I'll put forward an effort locally. But right now it seems like people are too focused on the style of play that is relevant for tournaments.
Only Kath.
I just handed out custom stuff to my group and said get used to it lol. Our group does not play tournaments at all really so bending for fun is easy.
I've been on a job hunt for over a year now, which finally looks like it's about to pay off, so my gaming addiction has been on the back burner for many moons now.
But, as soon as the new job goes from theoretical to actual, I plan on getting a nice custom Assault Frigate mk1 and a Space Guppy, so I can finally join the rest of the Rebel Alliance in fielding an Assault Frigate on the table, while keeping my strict "no butt ugly miniatures" stance firmly in place.
As for custom ships as opposed to custom models, not really my scene. I just want an Assault Frigate with looks I can love, instead of loathe.
No, but my group has done it for X-wing, so that could change.
When DA releases Imperial V-wings, Vader Eta 2, ARC-170 Imperial and the new Imperial Venator comes out....the Venator I own (soon my precious...soon you shall be here) will stop being a pimped out carrier ISD 1.
Outside of that the only thing I could see as a good custom thing to use would be the Lamda shuttle (that rule is cool as frak!) and the assault frigate mk 1.
I'm currently a 'no' but probably not for much longer. Rebel transports, imperial shuttles ... sigh, the draw is just so very strong.
I've ordered the cards and have them already. They are really well done. There aren't however cards for everything and not knowing the situation very well I get the sense that there is play testing going on yet. Kinda haven't caught up on that so as an average tourist that's something I worry about, am I potentially introducing a problem to the game balance?
I figure I'll be putting in an order for some ships soon and just give it a try.
But, as soon as the new job goes from theoretical to actual, I plan on getting a nice custom Assault Frigate mk1 and a Space Guppy, so I can finally join the rest of the Rebel Alliance in fielding an Assault Frigate on the table, while keeping my strict "no butt ugly miniatures" stance firmly in place.
I like the look of the Mk1, of course, but it's basically just a heavy-duty Nebulon-B. So it wouldn't make much sense having it play as a AFMKII in Armada, with strong broadsides and a front arc weaker than a Nebulon-B's. A lot of crafty and clever folks on these boards have put pictures of things they've done to modify the MKII, such as removing the bottom strut and building out the rear of the ship. For many who dislike the look of the MKII, this seems to make it much more palatable to them. Plus, it helps your future collection if FFG releases an official MK1.
Either way, good luck on the job hunt!