I haven't played using ANY objectives so far in all the games I've played with friends. We've just played to the death.
Is that nuts?
We've also avoid ANY upgrades. It is just a lot to think about.
Oh, and no admirals either.
This is crazytime, right? I just feel like the base game is fine the way it is? Am I just sort of crazy? Or totally crazy?
I haven't played using ANY objectives so far in all the games I've played with friends. We've just played to the death.
Is that nuts?
We've also avoid ANY upgrades. It is just a lot to think about.
Oh, and no admirals either.
This is crazytime, right? I just feel like the base game is fine the way it is? Am I just sort of crazy? Or totally crazy?
well its fine as it is but.... all those things make it lke 9000% better!!
plus this means you have never used Demolisher!!! you are deprived 
Being first player is so good that not using objectives makes the game a lot worse for the second player.
Playing to the death also changes the balancing for less durable and less maneuverable ships as well.
You're welcome to play however makes you happy, but I think it's generally unwise to get too acclimated to house rules that go against the way the game is designed. This is especially true if you're ever planning on playing outside your current group.
When i was just learning that's how I played my first game. But the objectives and fleet building really do change the game a lot and give it a lot of strategical depth. I suspect you might get tired of the game as is and dip into the upgrades and objectives soon.
Space Brawl is fun for a change of pace, but I think younare shortchanging yourselves if you never give the things like objectives, admirals and upgrades a go. They are a huge portion of the balancing in this game.
I think a lot of people start off playing this way. I know my first few games were like that.
Then we added in upgrades, and at first, half the time we forgot what upgrades were on what and did what, that took a while to sink in.
And then we started thinking about tournaments and had to dig objectives out of the box and that was the oooohhhhhhhh moment when we realized we hadn't really been playing Armada at the same time we realized what a great game it was!
I haven't played using ANY objectives so far in all the games I've played with friends. We've just played to the death.
Is that nuts?
We've also avoid ANY upgrades. It is just a lot to think about.
Oh, and no admirals either.
This is crazytime, right? I just feel like the base game is fine the way it is? Am I just sort of crazy? Or totally crazy?
It's an excellent way to start, but not something that's really sustainable. First player has a big advantage, which the obejctives are meant to counteract. Upgrades and commanders also significantly alter how you play the game. They are the main reason this game hasn't gotten old for me. If I find myself feeling stale, I can not only mix up my ships, but I can mix up the commanders and upgrades.
As long as it is fun, play how you want. When it starts getting stale, mix in new things. It's your game time, play what you like.
The above posters are not trying to belittle you, consider it more as an attempt to bring you into the competitive community, to help it grow, and an attempt to encourage the same enjoyment they have found in the full game.
I also, highly recommend the objectives, especially the non-point ones to start out. I would suggest Minefields, as that just adds a more challenging terrain to the game you are already playing. Just have fun.
Oh yeah, I don't take it as belittlement! But we are only... maybe ten games in? And there is a lot to handle, especially for some of the guys who aren't traditional gamers like me.
And honestly, I think right now we are more interested in using all the points for bigger and less complicated fleets:) Is that nuts?
But I know we'll get to including upgrades soon.
BTW, I should add, that isn't ENTIRELY true, we HAVE used them sometimes, but just not often... been keeping it very simple.
Start with a really simple objective, such as contested outpost. Objectives really make a game!
It may seem complicated but you are running a very real risk, especially with new to board game players, of creating an artificial impression on how the game is supposed to be played.
Once you play the game the way it is supposed to be played, they might have a dislike for it, simply because it is not as "fun" as the simple version was, which will be a barrier to overcome.
As others have stated, objectives are player two's bonus, to counteract not being player one, they make a huge difference for player two, as having to go second means a lot of difficult maneuvering, that being player one is largely negated by being able to activate first in a round.
Imperials especially suffer from this if you are just playing core set, VSD's have a nightmare getting the Rebel ships into their front arcs, trying to get something into your front arc when they can move before you shoot is almost impossible without objectives to force the faster more maneuverable Rebel ships to be some where.
A lot of the objectives are very straight forwards, Most Wanted / Opening Salvo (red) Contested outpost / fire lanes (yellow) Dangerous Territory / Superior Positions (Blue).
Same for the Admirals, use Mon Mothma for the Rebels, use Admiral Motti for the Imperials, they are very simple and do not change the game in a confusing manner (one lets you use Evades at closer range, one adds hp's to ships based on their size +1/+2/+3).
Upgrade cards can be confusing, but they add such depth to the game, you really should start doing some basic upgrades, say one per ship, then up it to two, once you have done that and got the hang of them, try building a fleet complete with Admiral, upgrades and objectives.
Listen, not using upgrades is not only OK to start out, it is OK period. It is completely within the bounds of the game to play with no upgrades, and therefor have larger fleets and more ships to activate (this can be considered a fleet building strategy). I think as you sprinkle the upgrades in, you will find that they enhance your ships so much that the loss of one small ship so you can toss a few upgrades on the others is well worth it, but ultimately that's up to you. Technically, you are required to at least have an admiral in your fleet, but as long as both players agree I don't see it as a big deal not using them.
I will echo what others have been saying about Objectives though. They are an integral part of the game. If you aren't using them, you should, at the very least, but alternating who has initiative each turn. If not, then player 1 has a distinct advantage with nothing to help player 2 compensate for it. Leaving them out, and not alternating initiative each turn is akin to saying, "We don't use squadron commands... cuz." It is integral to the game being balanced, and leaving it out is leaving out a fundamental part of the rules.
That said, if everyone has fun, and no one feels the burn of the 2nd player disadvantage, more power to ya!
Edited by XindellIf you're not using the objectives and admirals you're just playing X-wing.
Which is fine of course. As mentioned your game, your time, your fun. But you're leaving a big aspect of this game "in the box."
Every time I go to the forum page and browse the titles today, I read this one;
"I know this is crazy, but..."
and I think
"So post here maybe?"
And now that stupid song is stuck in my head. I'm sharing because like all infectious diseases, it seeks new hosts.
Five Years ago, just after I'd moved to Canada... My best friend in Australia called up my home phone at (what was my) 3am, and left a message on my answering machine...
I, in my tired delusion, attempted to listen to the message...
The message began:
"Down at an English Fair, One Evening I was there..."
It went on for some time...
Since then, I have been immune to Earworms, as nothing has dislodged that.
What happened at the fair?
Oh yeah, I don't take it as belittlement! But we are only... maybe ten games in? And there is a lot to handle, especially for some of the guys who aren't traditional gamers like me.
And honestly, I think right now we are more interested in using all the points for bigger and less complicated fleets:) Is that nuts?
But I know we'll get to including upgrades soon.
BTW, I should add, that isn't ENTIRELY true, we HAVE used them sometimes, but just not often... been keeping it very simple.
Do my 200 point 3x3 format? Its much easier to manage for new players.
Do my 200 point 3x3 format? Its much easier to manage for new players.
Its an option. Even a good option.
But to a lot of people I know, official options are always preferred. 
Well, it is the full rules, all objectives, commanders required, squadrons the whole shebang. But smaller.
And hey, think of it as a stepping stone to full 400. Sounds like he has people who are not normal wargamers.
(I prefer this nowadays, its just faster and let's me play with more people).
Look guys. Am I the ONLY one here who read this and thought of that terrible "Call Me Maybe?" song?
You arent even the only one to post about it.
Well crap. I'm as unoriginal as....... ummmm.....
You know I think it's the A-wing
The rest of us don't have this problem but you felles with an A-wing man sucks to constantly think of "Call me Maybe" and not "Imperial March"
Edited by clontroper5