Time for a point cap increase!

By Crabbok, in Star Wars: Armada

Since we've got 2 more waves on their way to our local stores, I think it's right about time for the standard game point cap to bump up to 600 points!!!

My main reason for wanting this, is these powerhouse ships like the ISD and the MC80 - It's just SO HARD to create a strong list that has more than 1 large ship in it and is also "Good". And now we've got 2 more expensive ships coming and the flotillas while cheap, will also lead to use wanting to have 12 activations per army!

I mean come on, who doesn't want to have TONS of GR-75's in their re-creation of the Battle of Endor?!?!?

I plan on doing some 1000 point battles, that's for sure. Should tournament games get an increase though? Time is obviously a consideration and you really don't want to have to run 3 hour rounds....

So what do you think? Should tourney games stay at 400 points? Should there be more casual games at higher point values? What is your favorite sweet spot of points when factoring in all this new goodness?

400.

I expect it to change as part of the Campaign system, within the campaign system.

But at the end of the day.

Tournaments. 400.

I did notice that at Worlds they had a 600 point Armada tournament as an aside to the World Championship, but I am not sure if increasing the points is necessary. You'll always want more points.

Not to start something, but X-Wing has never increased points, if I understand correctly, other than for epic games, so at least we got our cap raised from 180!

I think that tournament should stay at 400pts for 2 reasons: Time and accessibility.

Time because I don't think that a game should take longer than 2h15, and the more ship and squadron there is on the table, higher is the risk that the game will take longer.

Accessibilty because I don't want to discourage new players with a higher entry cost to be able to participate in a tournament.

In casual game though, do whatever you want.

Stay at 400 for tourneys

No. I don't want a 3 hour round and I would really not enjoy playing against a squadron heavy player who are slow

Imagine a 1000-point tournament! Just do 1 round. Everyone plays a 5 hour game. At the end, biggest margin of victory wins.

Since we've got 2 more waves on their way to our local stores, I think it's right about time for the standard game point cap to bump up to 600 points!!!

Nope, cannot see it ever happening.

Points on the cards are all based on 400 points. Some commanders (i'm sure as do other cards) would greatly benefit to more ships being in a fleet.

The one that comes to mind is Akbar. A lot of other commanders do not really 'ADD', most only ENHANCE. The bigger you make the point camp the more cost efficient these commanders like Akbar become, and then thier point value becomes unbalanced.

What commander is going to compete with 12 CR90's and 24 EXTRA red dice? Do you still think Akbar is only worth 38 points in a 600 point game?

See what I mean? Darth Vader you get a reroll. You are not adding anything. Motti maybe similar to Akbar, but even still.

nothing stops you from playing 600 though. Just not in tournaments.

Edited by KAGE13

Imagine a 1000-point tournament! Just do 1 round. Everyone plays a 5 hour game. At the end, biggest margin of victory wins.

I mean as a one off event maybe. But like, what if I get stuck playing the LGS' version of Space Scipio while you are flying against Ned Newbrowski, who borrowed his fleet of Ozzel led VSD's from his buddy Sammy Shortbus. Sammy taught him everything he knows, which is why he looked so confident when he glanced across the table to find you didn't bring any of those dreaded cluster bombz. Bombz with a Z because they so OP!

Feels like there might be a flaw in the system.

More points would be awesome for sure to fit all the fleet !

Where it might not click with FFG's marketing strategy is that it might deter new players in terms of fixed cost :P 600 points is quite a hefty entry cost, considering the ISD 2 costs $49.95 for 120 points, you could most likely invest in 4 of them for the game, and that's a $200 buy in for a single list and that's without counting any squadron packs of which you're going to have to buy multiple packs. As soon as you want some variety, you're easily reaching the $600 pricetag.

600 points battles might be cool, but they're super prohibitive for a standard format for FFG and they'd be killing new players recruitment !

However, a 600 points Vassal league or mini tourney sounds promising... ;)

Locally we're going to be having a 200 pt 3 round evening tournament. (To which I can't wait for) [1]

Going north of 400, I understand all the mental jedi mind tricks one must master in order to be at one with a list considering the vast sea of options... but hey come on!

[1] There are some rules modifications which I think will make it pretty interesting. A) No admiral required B) No large ships C) no 1/3 pt limitation for squadrons D) 3x3 table E) Named Squadron hits a ship 1 victory token (10 pts) F) Attack against a named squadron in a non counter dmg from a squadron, 1 victory token (10 points)

I can completely see 500 points. 600 might be pushing it though..

No

Nope. 400 with so many different squadrons already takes the game to time at 2hours.

Also, I got plenty of 2 and 3 LARGE ship builds.

These are playtested, and are at least competitive in a casual game.

IIRR s2 b2

Fleet Summary Page (398 of 400 pts)

Faction: The Empire

Commander: Admiral Motti (24 pts)

Flagship: (121 pts)

Imperial I-class Star Destroyer (110 pts)

Intel Officer (7 pts)

Leading Shots (4 pts)

Fleet Ship 1: (51 pts)

Raider I-class Corvette (44 pts)

Agent Kallus (3 pts)

Ordnance Experts (4 pts)

Fleet Ship 2: (52 pts)

Raider I-class Corvette (44 pts)

Instigator (4 pts)

Ordnance Experts (4 pts)

Fleet Ship 3: (134 pts)

Imperial I-class Star Destroyer (110 pts)

Devastator (10 pts)

Intel Officer (7 pts)

Gunnery Team (7 pts)

Squadrons (16 of 134 pts):

2x Tie Fighter Squadron (16 pts)

Objectives: Advanced Gunnery , Contested Outpost , Intel Sweep

Or Avenger and APT on Raider

HLLT Garm Smash list s0 b1 v2

Fleet Summary Page (399 of 400 pts)

Faction: Rebel Alliance

Commander: Garm Bel Iblis (25 pts)

Flagship: (118 pts)

MC80 Command Cruiser (106 pts)

Home One (7 pts)

Skilled First Officer (1 pts)

Leading Shots (4 pts)

Fleet Ship 1: (116 pts)

MC80 Battle Cruiser (103 pts)

Mon Karren (8 pts)

Skilled First Officer (1 pts)

Ordnance Experts (4 pts)

Fleet Ship 2: (118 pts)

MC80 Battle Cruiser (103 pts)

Skilled First Officer (1 pts)

Ordnance Experts (4 pts)

Quad Turbolaser Cannons (10 pts)

Fleet Ship 3: (22 pts)

GR-75 Medium Transports (18 pts)

Repair Crews (4 pts)

Squadrons (0 of 134 pts):

Objectives: Opening Salvo , Fire Lanes , Minefields

400 points for tournaments is fine. For casual games, 500 has been enjoyable on occasion. I need to try 600.

If they wanted to raise tournaments to 500 points, I'd only support it if they kept the current time limit the same (2 hours and 15 minutes per round) and used a deathclock to disincentivize slow play. That's been a contentious subject in the past, however, so I get the feeling it would go over like a lead balloon.

I've played some 600 pt games and I play squadron heavy. They seem to be about the same amount of time, the larger number of guns leads to things dying a LOT faster. It also looks like a battle from one of the movies as well

I play at 700 and it doesn't take much longer except for when we use a lot of squadrons. I'm just a casual player though.

400 points for tournaments is fine. For casual games, 500 has been enjoyable on occasion. I need to try 600.

If they wanted to raise tournaments to 500 points, I'd only support it if they kept the current time limit the same (2 hours and 15 minutes per round) and used a deathclock to disincentivize slow play. That's been a contentious subject in the past, however, so I get the feeling it would go over like a lead balloon.

Its just so against the grain of the game...

Nothing in the game is ever hinted to be 'fast paced action'... So introducing it, yes, definitely rubs me the wrong way, for one... I want to sip my Scotch, not Chug my Beer!

To be honest I think an extra 50 points would be great, 450 points would let you run three big boys and some fighters, or two big ships and some small ships with fighters.

You could keep the timing the same and it would not unbalance the leaders.

No. I don't want a 3 hour round and I would really not enjoy playing against a squadron heavy player who are slow

What he said.

I play at 700 and it doesn't take much longer except for when we use a lot of squadrons. I'm just a casual player though.

I build fleet starting with max Squadrons then add ships

Im the guy you dont want to see at a 600 point tournament with 200 pts of x and y wings

Thanks X-Wing Nut for the suggestion, I now want to try a Rebel Squadron heavy force with some Rogues and Villains thrown in the mix at 400 points :D

I enjoy the tough decisions i have to make in choosing upgrades in fleet building. Having a fully decked isd vs a decked out home 1, to me, doesnt seem much different than lightly upgraded ones going head too head. Its fun from time to time but i feel they just turn into clustered profanity.

I play at 700 and it doesn't take much longer except for when we use a lot of squadrons. I'm just a casual player though.

I build fleet starting with max Squadrons then add ships

Im the guy you dont want to see at a 600 point tournament with 200 pts of x and y wings

But what if the # of squadrons didn't go up, or rather, stayed at 25% or 30% of 500?

I find it very refreshing to have a wave release where we're not changing the numbers...