In an effort to take a proactive approach to building our little community I thought I would ask our player base. What is working in your community to recruit new players, assist current players to increase their skill, and have you received any kind of push back? For the push back responses, if you have been able to overcome the objections please share how you did it?

As people add their local successes I will make the effort to keep a running list here on this first post for ease of viewing.

- establishing a regular location and time

- spread the word through alternate game forums (FLGS store sites, FB groups, Forums)

- Pregenerate lists for the first game (mix core set with expansions and limited upgrades)

- limited if any use of objective cards

- Second game, allow the new player to build their own fleet

Consistency is key. Keep going and be willing to teach. Be open and friendly and not intimidating because you will be teaching and be the first impression people will have of the game. OH and ADVERTISE!!!!

That last one is the most important part I think. People need to know that you are there. If not they don't show.

Ly,

Do you use specific pre determined lists or do you pick the list for the new gamer? Do you limit the ships to the starter set or are you giving the new player a tast of the expansions, and which expansions do you see success with from an ease of use vs fun factor?

When I've taught my friends to play I've run ISD, VSD, Gladiator, Raider versus MC80, MC30, Nebulon, CR90. Deathmatch, no upgrades, no admirals. Let them pick which side they want. I add 100 points for squadrons to each side (and I let the other player pick their squadrons, this isn't too much for most people experienced with games in general).

Everyone always has fun! For the second game I let them make any list they want.

I do have 2x 200 point lists I use.

Assault Frigate Mark IIB

Ackbar

CR90

Turbolasers Reroute Circuits

2x YT2400's (this let's people get use to squadrons without pushing them super deep into that mini game)

VSD 1

Ozzel

GSD 1

Ordnance Experts

Aggressor

Firespray

TIE Advanced

This will change a bit when wave 3 and 4 comes out.

Do either of you use objective cards in the initial introduction

I bought all the ships and provide a place to play and whiskey. We have a small but dedicated group of functional alcoholics in Mad's Apartment

I was trying to grow the local scene, then my work life turned insane. Typically just demoing the game would get people interested. Tough part is a lot of people don't necessarily share the same work schedule around here. So while I'm on the more traditional 9 to 5 Monday through Friday, a lot of people work overnights or weekend or random days off.

Consistency is definitely the way to go to draw attention. But be realistic. Sometimes if you're in a lower population area or just a lower-income area in general, you may not be able to draw people in.

I am currently not using objectives but with the new o especially coming guys out. It is HIGHLY possible that Station Assault will be a thing

I bought all the ships and provide a place to play and whiskey. We have a small but dedicated group of functional alcoholics in Mad's Apartment

You could have been describing our group. I'm so glad that we are not alone.

Don't make the same mistakes clone made. If your going to go play at venues let people know you will be there.

On top of things already mentioned:

Advertise, Advertise, Advertise.

Find your place and your time.

Then pimp the everliving love out of it...

Find Facebook Groups for the Area. The Wider Area. Doesn't matter if they're focused or not, if they're gaming related, pimp your game... General Gaming Group? Pimp it twice...

Then, Show up. Be that guy. Understand that for the first times out, you might be the guy who sets up a table and plays a game entirely against himself because no-one else shows up... It doesn't matter... put that Goddamn ISD on the Table and throw some dice, even if its against yourself...

Routine, Routine, Routine. Be there, when you say you will. Always be happy about it, don't be frustrated with how few show up - always, always be welcoming and let someone push your stuff around if they want to try.

Yeah working with a local game store is pretty critical especially for spreading by word of mouth.

If you have a local community ed program (usually through your local school district) another option can be work with them to do it as a "class". Basically a sort of "come play star wars for a night" kind of thing. Then as part of that, let everyone know when/where regular games happen.

Contact your local newspaper / TV station. Slow news days do happen and they sometimes like to do sort of "off the wall" stories. Given the visual nature of Armada, that helps quite a bit.

Get ready to do something about the same time that Rogue One comes out. Table in the lobby of the theatre with info fliers!

If you have a major employer in town that might do a company newsletter that lists community activities, that's another great place to drop in a paragraph of what/where.

1. Demoing games on game nights (not exclusive for Armada).

2. Activity in the local tournament scene.

3. Integrate the X-Wing community.

The current example of 3. is:
https://community.fantasyflightgames.com/topic/225596-conflict-article/?p=2325059

And example for demoing the game here:
http://lkhero.blogspot.com/2016/01/armada-some-tips-for-demoing-game.html

Activity in the local gaming space is important because as long as you're passionate, you can spread that passion to keep your friends playing, hoping this will start a chain-reaction.

These are really great tips. I'm lucky enough to live in London where there is definately a scene already, but it's still a relatively small community. I tend to see a lot of the same people at each tournament, although I appreciate that tournaments are not indicative of all the players.

With the Correllian Conflict coming out, I'm keen to cement together a small gaming group to play. It seems that a FLGS in central London is going to be a central location and I'm excited about playing Armada where others can see.

I'm hoping that we'll be able to raise the profile,just a tiny bit, and maybe get others involved. I can't really commit to the regular days that many of you have (work, busy social life, blah, blah) but if we can do a bit to get others interested I'll be really pleased.

Thanks for posting your beginner fleets. I made a few fleets for both sides taking a newb through the first 3-4 games, but I think a lot of it is going to be playing it by ear and seeing what new players take to.

3. Integrate the X-Wing community.

The current example of 3. is:

https://community.fantasyflightgames.com/topic/225596-conflict-article/?p=2325059

Yes, I like this very much.

I'm an FFG-games facilitator at one of my local FLGSs. There's clearly a hunger for more campaign-like activities, and the X-Wing crowd is somewhat jealous of the Corellian Conflict announcement.

Previously, I ran an X-Wing only narrative campaign, which was little more than counting victories in different systems. I've been working on a campaign idea that is more involved and can integrate both Armada and X-Wing (and maybe even Imperial Assault someday) into a bigger struggle.

I think what might be key to minimizing some of the problems with campaigns (early victories creating systemic imbalances, discouraging players) is by introducing a greater fog of war.

Anyway, the ideas are far from complete, but I do think that it is a good idea to cross-pollinate between Armada and X-Wing.