Ok kids after about 18 months of my wife saying nope to board games, she is hinting at being ready to play again. Now my question is seeing Armada is way to over her head, what are the rules people use for squads only, Thanks for you input in advance.

Its called X-Wing miniatures game.

Seriously, squadrons are only a component of this game and would not work on their own.

My wife has no interest in Armada as there is way too much thinking involved, but likes X-wing and regularly kicks my arse at it.

Armada is way effing complicated. At least, that's my opinion. I can provide examples if needed to contest.

Armada isn't that complicated when you add to x-wing the numerous upgrade cards that change the core game in my humble opinion. Once you know how to play armada it not that bad !

Armada is way effing complicated. At least, that's my opinion. I can provide examples if needed to contest.

Yeah, Armada is not even...no. Not remotely possibly an option. Put it out of your head in the same way you put...everything else out of the head.

ESPECIALLY if she's previously nixed boardgames in general for 18 months. I mean, at this point, you need to refocus (if gaming with her is important to you) on what she likes. She likes horses? Winner's Circle has enough depth to appeal to serious gamers while checking that box. Murder Mysteries? Mr. Jack Pocket is a reasonable entry choice with some decent depth while still being incredibly accessible. etc. Maybe, maybe, you'll someday get her up to X-Wing. MAYBE. But never anything Armada.

(Source: 20 years married. Seriously, DON'T PUSH IT.)

Lol. Yeah. Complicated just invites somewhat iffy involvement to becomes: ehh, this is over my head.

At least, that's what I feel. Considering a lot of people that forum goers discount tend to have the board game experience of playing monopoly, or catan.

Wife and games other than backgammon or basic board games.......not a chance..........

Maybe we should start a what games will your wife play with you thread.........

Have you considered a cooperative game to ease her back in? My girl friend refuses to play competitive games against me, unless it's part of some 6-player objective game like Twilight Imperium, or part of a Dicemasters Tournament (she won the very first rainbow draft she participated in). But she is always up for some co-operative gaming.

X-COM is an amazing co-operative board game that can scale up to 4 players or down to 2 depending on how many folks you have. It's an excellent game (and made by a company we all love tossing money at!) Note: Requires a computer / tablet / smart phone to play the game, as the aliens are controlled by an app.

Pandemic: Legacy is a spin on the traditional Pandemic rules, by adding an overarching narrative between games. And changing the board as games go on. It's crazy and fun - I cannot recommend this one enough.

Galaxy Trucker is not really a cooperative game, though the goal of the game is simply "to make money" and not to make the most money. So it's not so much a competition as a hilarious timed exercise in constructing horrible monstrosities of space ships, held together with duct-tape and spit, and then trying to fly them places they should not be. Half the fun is watching your friend's (or your own) ships fall apart when they depart dry-dock, or snap in two when they take an asteroid to the one section that is holding half the ship together.

"Squadrons Only" sounds like a game of Risk where nobody gets reinforcements. Not a whole lot of finesse involved, mostly just dice rolling.

Play smaller games. 150-200 points. Maybe just one or two capital ships and some squadrons. Light on upgrades. While the tactics part might be too much to grasp easily the rules are not too complicated. I play Armada with my 7yr old daughter sometimes.

I mean, if she's into Star Wars somewhat then why not? If she more of a Risk/Monopoly player then no.

You could try a carrier type game where you use 1 large ship per team (ISD/home 1) and have them move at only speed 1 while your squads try to secure an objective and/or destroy the other carrier. Playing this way you can play it using X-wing movement rules and even dice adjusted for armada. Having your carrier ships limited to 1 or even no upgrades put them on a fairly even footing. You could just forgo that and use the same ship (ISDvISD or home1 v home1) instead of having it Imps v rebs.

Watch Wil Weaton's Tabletop together and see what she likes and dislikes.

I am going to assume she could handle Armada, or you wouldn't be thinking of trying it, but many of the games on Tabletop will allow you to expose friends and older children to our hobby. Even though your kids may need to grow teeth and start eating solid foods they will before you know it be joining in on Dads games sessions if they want to.

My top 2 would be: