I'm heading to my first tournament this Saturday. It is a casual seasonal tournament at a store I've never been too. I'm taking a list I'm familiar with and I really enjoy playing it. I read through the FFG tournament paperwork and I know what I need to bring, but I'm sure I'm missing something. Anyone have any advice for a first time tournament player?
First Tournament
Enjoy the Game.
Enjoy playing against different people.
Don't sweat the small things. TIE fighters, for example.
Tournaments are a great learning experience for getting into competitive play. Like Dras said, enjoy the game and playing new people. Almost all of my tournament opponents have been very pleasant, and I had a great time at all three I attended.
Drink water. Otherwise, you will have a massive headache by the end of the day.
1. Relax, there are no real lives on the line.
2. If you have a question, don't be afraid to ask it.
3. Be ready: have your fleet assembled, have a print out of it (highly recommend Armada Warlords and two copies)
4. You only need to bring your fleet and the tools, tokens, etc. What I'm trying to say is you don't need to bring your ENTIRE Armada collection unless it's just that easy to bring.
5. Bring snacks and/or drinks. They will likely have something there but it'll be sodas and candy bars.
6. Look over the rules, FAQ and tournament stuff (sounds like you already have) and if you have a rules question, don't be afraid to ask for a TO
7. HAVE FUN!!!
Didn't think about food or drinks. Good idea. Thanks.
I'd second on the hydration.
Enjoy the day. And most people are nice, and if you get a guy who rubs you the wrong way, just try and shake it off.
Echoing the above:
Water.
Fun.
That's it. If you focus on having fun the games will be no less compelling and I promise you that you will play better.
Your list should be printed twice, but the one you hand to your opponent before the game begins probably shouldn't have the missions on it.
The one you hand to the TO should have the missions.
Both should have your name on them. Seriously who here hasn't been a TO and had some one hand in a list with no name?
Don't beat yourself up over mistakes too much and remember it's just a game. I've seen a lot of players (myself included) make a few mistakes in their first or second game and get tilted for the entire tournament
First tournament advice is pretty easy:
Prepare to have fun.
Even if you lose.
Because you'll lose. And that's OK.
Additionally, prepare to learn you've been doing things wrong. This is also OK, just take it as an opportunity to learn things about the game you may have overlooked previously or not fully understood. If you have a question about how a ship works any decent player will explain it. If a player can't (or worse, won't) explain how a unit works at least during deployment, ask a TO over to make sure you both understand.
Sound effects!!!
Make pew-pew noises when you shoot, and shout "KABOOM!!!" when your own ships blow up. It's awesome. 
You sound prepared. Food water sleep.
Sounds like you practiced so. No need to rush either.
****. Look at this magnificent mofo.
3. Be ready: have your fleet assembled, have a print out of it (highly recommend Armada Warlords and two copies)
I however suggest double checking your stuff with a different builder then warlords since it has been kinda glitchy in the past. I think they fixed most of the issues but make sure to double check so you don't end up leaving Something out
this is a great point!
3. Be ready: have your fleet assembled, have a print out of it (highly recommend Armada Warlords and two copies)
I however suggest double checking your stuff with a different builder then warlords since it has been kinda glitchy in the past. I think they fixed most of the issues but make sure to double check so you don't end up leaving Something out
Anything regarding points has been fixed, but not on lists created previous to this fix (you can anyway fix any list by opening it in edit mode and save it again to fix). And it's not 'they', I'm no bicephalous 
this is a great point!3. Be ready: have your fleet assembled, have a print out of it (highly recommend Armada Warlords and two copies)
I however suggest double checking your stuff with a different builder then warlords since it has been kinda glitchy in the past. I think they fixed most of the issues but make sure to double check so you don't end up leaving Something out
Anything regarding points has been fixed, but not on lists created previous to this fix (you can anyway fix any list by opening it in edit mode and save it again to fix). And it's not 'they', I'm no bicephalous
Anyway warlords has the best format for printouts etc so I still recommend using it, there have been a couple issues with point totals and titles in the past so I would double check the fleet on Fabs or something
Btw Nevets great Job on warlords! It is really a well done fleetbuilder
Well, young whippersnapper, I shall give you the same advice I give to many of the aspiring gentlemen who ask me about replicating my success in business:
Don't cheat, ever. Especially if you can get caught! It takes but one day to ruin a reputation you have worked a lifetime to build.
Also, failing to prepare is preparing to fail. You have to know what your strengths are, and how your opposition in the market... ahem... on the tabletop will attempt to defeat you. As my former tea time companion Sun Tzu said, if you know yourself and you know your enemy, you'll lay a licking on him.
And whatever you do, don't listen to those upstart rapscallions from that Intensify Forward Firepower telegram dispatch! Their nincompoop scheming can bring only doom and gloom upon your house.
Oh! And don't let your ships unionize. Hardly needs to be said, I assume.
Well, young whippersnapper, I shall give you the same advice I give to many of the aspiring gentlemen who ask me about replicating my success in business:
Don't cheat, ever. Especially if you can get caught! It takes but one day to ruin a reputation you have worked a lifetime to build.
Also, failing to prepare is preparing to fail. You have to know what your strengths are, and how your opposition in the market... ahem... on the tabletop will attempt to defeat you. As my former tea time companion Sun Tzu said, if you know yourself and you know your enemy, you'll lay a licking on him.
And whatever you do, don't listen to those upstart rapscallions from that Intensify Forward Firepower telegram dispatch! Their nincompoop scheming can bring only doom and gloom upon your house.
Oh! And don't let your ships unionize. Hardly needs to be said, I assume.
This user name is epic. Just need to say that.
Worthington had arrived!
Sadly these days as much as I love tournaments 3 long rounds of bending over a table kills my back so one of the first things to always go in my tournament bag now is ibuprofen so by the end of the night I'm able to cope with getting home. I would advice only take the models and bits you need as it's easy to take to much and loss bits and that will put a downer on the experience. Don't rush yourself when playing take time to think, when you roll to attack or are defending take the time to work out your best options as simple mistakes can make a game salty. If your not sure about something ask your opponent as most people are happy to talk thing through if your unsure about a rule as we are all unsure of things from time to time. And never ever be worried about calling a TO over if you think something is not right.. they are there to support everyone
There's been solid advice throughout this thread. I would just like to repeat to show up with all the tools you need (and the list printout, that helps a lot) and to take it easy. Don't get your heart set on winning, just come to play some fun games and get some cool stuff and maybe you'll be able to get some of the even cooler stuff if you do well enough. Don't be afraid to call over a TO or ask for clarification (it's very easy to do so politely, don't worry about it).
May I ask where you are going for the tournament?
Worthington! He's here! He listened to the podcast and decided to respond!
All of my dreams are coming true.
May I ask where you are going for the tournament?
I'm heading down to Bel Air Games in Maryland. It's about a hour from me, but since getting the game in December I have been itching to play a tournament. This is the first one that actually works with my schedule.
Thanks for all the quality advice. I really look forward to just playing games and meeting people. Hopefully Worthington will be there.
Hey, good luck!
I mostly asked because I'm going to a local tournament tomorrow and if we happened to be going to the same one (very unlikely, I know) then I would've invited you to brunch with me and the Armadabros before the tournament so we could meet you and make you feel at home.
...sadly this was not the case, but it can't hurt to ask.
Hey, good luck!
I mostly asked because I'm going to a local tournament tomorrow and if we happened to be going to the same one (very unlikely, I know) then I would've invited you to brunch with me and the Armadabros before the tournament so we could meet you and make you feel at home.
...sadly this was not the case, but it can't hurt to ask.
Thanks for thinking of it.
This right here is what I hear and read about Armada players and it is one of the main reasons I want enter into the tournament scene. This is a community that tends to treat each other excellently, which is awesome. After all we are just of "kids" playing with plastic spaceships.
I shall seethe jealously at all of those going to compete this weekend
Instead, I shall do more painting. Although I'm almost done... >.>