I'm pretty excited that I managed to register for Worlds this year. I'm looking forward to meeting more of you internet strangers and hopefully playing against some of you!

I have a couple questions regarding this whole thing, though:

1)I have my flight booked already(No way I'm driving to Minneapolis). Not being an experienced flyer, I'm nervous about my fleet being destroyed/lost/damaged through check-in at the airport. Do you guys have advice and information for how I would go about safely transporting my fleet?

2) I'm trying to not spend a ton of money for this whole trip if I don't have too. Are there any like-minded people here who would want to split a hotel room? I don't expect any complete strangers to take up the offer, but I'm not looking to spend a couple hundred dollars more than I could be spending by splitting a room.

3)Any other words of wisdom for this experience? I've been playing tabletop games since childhood, but travelling for a game is something completely new to me. I really don't want to forget something important.

Thanks for your thoughts!

Did we play at the Indy 2-day tournament? I can't remember people's board names. I played a Akbar swarm list and had my ship trays that I designed.

Ohhh I want to know this for next year!

For x-wing last year I carried on my actually tournament list while checked the rest of what I brought. Armada is a bit bigger but not undoable to carefully pack one specific list in a backpack. That way if they lose your luggage (or delay it) you may miss a side event but not the main deal.

I ask because I also have a ticket for Worlds and would like to share a hotel room if I can with someone I've already met.

For x-wing last year I carried on my actually tournament list while checked the rest of what I brought. Armada is a bit bigger but not undoable to carefully pack one specific list in a backpack. That way if they lose your luggage (or delay it) you may miss a side event but not the main deal.

yeah I'd recommend having your fleet in your carry on. That'll keep things in your possession and from being crushed or whatever from baggage handlers that are trying to unload a plane quickly and might not handle your bag all that gently.

Battlefoam is another option, but pricey!

Best of luck and I guess see you there.

Do you guys have advice and information for how I would go about safely transporting my fleet?

Hi Quadro, congratulations on getting into Worlds!

I'm the guy who infamously needed to borrow a large base at GenCon, so before everything else take the following advice: double, then triple check that you have everything necessary to play your fleet packed. With new products potentially being debuted, you may need to wait for hours in line to buy even the most mundane things if you realize it at the game itself, potentially disqualifying you before you even begin. Don't be afraid to pack everyhing, then quickly set up everything as though you are about t play your first game, then repack it. I sure wish I had!

Second, pack everything you need to go into your carry-on baggage, along with perhaps your first days worth of clothes, and then everything else into either a personal carry-on (such as a backpack) or into checked baggage. When I went to GenCon, I packed my fleet into my carry-on and when they told me I'd need to check my carry-on at the plane door I quickly moved everything to my backpack. My specialized Battle Foam backpack case was checked baggage, and for the trip out contained all of my clothing items past the first day. This way, with my game being first thing in the morning, I'd have everything I needed ready to go on arrival even if all my bags were lost.

I packed everything into some plastic containers I purchased from a local plastics store, and packed only the bare minimum for tokens and cards plus 1-2 spares for each piece where possible.

I purchased two items that really helped with this:

A clear merchant case that can be easily inspected by airport security. The clear part is key, as they'll want to check your gaming stuff especially if you have metal items, lighting, or laser line tools inside that show up on X-Ray machines.

A molded box large enough to hold ship cards, hull pieces, upgrades, and damage cards (I used the Tap Plastics 1940 6 inch sized molded box for this).

The small sizes let me pack the molded box and all ships and bases into the merchant case, and the merchant case itself could be held in my backpack or carry-on. My friend put all of his stuff into a small fishing tackle box, but had to carry it everywhere separately. I just threw my case into my bag and took it straight onto and off of the plane with no hassle.

My extra baggage was willed with clothes and stuff on the trip in, and refilled with newly purchased stuff on the way out. I was never in danger of losing my fleet ahead of the game, and the checked baggage was insured by the airline on the way back.

Thanks, everyone, for the responses! This is exctly the kind of info I was looking for!

@thecactusman17: I have a platic container I use as my "tournament only" tub, but the ones you linked are definitely a much better option for flying.

Did we play at the Indy 2-day tournament? I can't remember people's board names. I played a Akbar swarm list and had my ship trays that I designed.

Yeah that was me, Nick. I was the Rieekan guy. Pm sent!

Two of us have a room reserved at the Radisson for the event. If one more would like to join and and save even more money, send me a PM for details!

Here is how I transport my fleet / collection - Pelican 1620c, 3 x Stanley organizer tray, a few organizers from the hobby shop. Fits snug and is very sturdy.

Here is how I transport my fleet / collection - Pelican 1620c, 3 x Stanley organizer tray, a few organizers from the hobby shop. Fits snug and is very sturdy. (pics)

Congratulations, your military style case was just opened a half dozen times by airport security and that's assuming it was carry-on. If it was checked, it was reopened multiple times to double check it wasn't carrying something that could be taken by a low-wage baggage handler or confiscated by the TSA,

The important and valuable stuff is always carry-on. Always.

As others have said, I made sure that all of my tournament lists were in my carry on.

One note though, Worlds is a much smaller event than Gencon, located in a dedicated retail space, so you never have to worry about hours long lines, even if they do have new releases for sale.

Still, it's better to double check your supplies beforehand so you don't have to worry about grabbing a Nebulon for that Intel Officer you forgot to pack.

I'll add another thing: bring a water bottle. There is a drinking fountain available to keep it refilled, and your body will be happy to stay hydrated as you game.

One note though, Worlds is a much smaller event than Gencon, located in a dedicated retail space, so you never have to worry about hours long lines, even if they do have new releases for sale.

Still, it's better to double check your supplies beforehand so you don't have to worry about grabbing a Nebulon for that Intel Officer you forgot to pack.

I'll add another thing: bring a water bottle. There is a drinking fountain available to keep it refilled, and your body will be happy to stay hydrated as you game.

Armada Worlds take place down the street from the FFG building. I don't know what retail support they'll have at the hotel.

Good point, I forgot it is at the Radisson this year. In that case, bringing water is even more important. The Game center isn't too far, but it's at least a five minute walk each way, with a short hill in between

My first experience with traveling with my Armada stuff was this years Gencon. I took all my stuff in large dice bags and placed them in my travel murse (satchel). I carried it on the plane so only I touched it. Only problem I had was set up at the Con. Putting everything in bags then dumping them out one table over sucked. This year at Worlds, I'll bring my Dice tray with my stuff. Now between games I can put the stuff in the tray and walk it around.

Naboobo2000

Chris Shaffer

Here is how I transport my fleet / collection - Pelican 1620c, 3 x Stanley organizer tray, a few organizers from the hobby shop. Fits snug and is very sturdy. (pics)

Congratulations, your military style case was just opened a half dozen times by airport security and that's assuming it was carry-on. If it was checked, it was reopened multiple times to double check it wasn't carrying something that could be taken by a low-wage baggage handler or confiscated by the TSA,

The important and valuable stuff is always carry-on. Always.

I would like to be up front that I have never flown with my stuff. Just threw it out there as a carrying method that is durable. There are a lot of carry on sized cases that could work also. I am just a fan of pelican cases because of this quality. I also enjoy the lockable aspect of the case.

As for TSA travel inspections, I have yet to have a negative experience with it. This is my experience alone. I would be comfortable checking this case into an airport and that it would be I damage if un disturbed during the process. It is by no means the best solution, just the one I like.

I'm also traveling to Worlds for the first time with my Armada stuff. I'm thinking I'll just put my normal target 3 tray bin in my carryon. Depends on my fleet if I will need more space to fit an ISD, Interdictor, VSD etc but any small based ship fits easy in the small bins.

I'm really looking forward to meeting some people on these forums. I have a room at the lower budget Key Inn across from the Radisson which I may regret looking at reviews. I fly in Wednesday and don't play until Friday. My flight doesn't leave until 5:45 Saturday so I'm hoping that will be late enough if I get lucky to be in the final 4 for Saturday.

Anyone else looking to share a room at the Radisson for Worlds? I'm planning on staying Thursday through Sunday...open to finding a roomie!

A word of warning though - I tend to snore a bit (have a mouthguard that helps) so bring your earplugs if you're a light sleeper....

Send me a PM if interested!

Gonna be there for Day 1A!

I'll be arriving early Thursday but my Armada event is Friday, 1B. Can one player compete is both the 1A and 1B Armada rounds? I'm only registered for 1B so this is probably moot as I don't think they are allowing registration on-site.

I'm also going to worlds for the first time and want to thank people for the great advice.

A couple more questions - taking extra ship cards/tokens/etc is easy, but what about taking extra ships (in case something breaks and the only alternative is to hope they have another one at the retail store)? Also, for the times when you're not playing in your event or in side events, is there space for pick up games just for fun? Or what else do people do if there isn't?

There won't be any space at the retail store at all. It's a pretty decent space, but obviously an event like Worlds even stretches that. The hotel might have space you can use, and I think they are renting out space in a nearby hotel for Armada - that room might also have extra space.