hey there, so i've been playing a lot of x-wing with a friend of mine but i'm starting to feel like we need something to break it up before we get burnt out on it. Both of us have wanted to get into armada but neither of us have been willing to drop the $100 on the core set. Other than getting the core set what do you need to get started with this game?

X-wing has this problem where you have to buy a lot of ships you don't care about because of upgrades and title cards, does armada fall into the same trap where you end up having to buy everything or are the expansions self contained enough so that you can be a little more progressive about it?

Also how complicated is this game compared to X-wing? One thing I love about X-wing is that the rules are pretty light when compared to other miniature games so not much time is spent referencing rules. Would love it if I could expect more of that with armada.

I'm not the most knowledgeable person on the topic at hand, but you absolutely need the core set to play the game, as it gives the necessary navigate tools, measurement tool, obstacles tokens, damage deck and objective cards.

I've never played X-Wing, but I think Armada does a decent job of giving its expansions the required cards for it. It won't let you do the best of the best build, but competent flying and strategic thinking are better in Armada than having the best of cards. For example, the MC30 pack give you pretty much all you need to pilot a dangerous MC30, but for a CR-90 to shine the most, an upgrade from the Neb-B pack helps a lot.

As for the rules, I believe Armada is more complicated to X-Wing, but in a good way?

The card trap is there to a lesser degree. There are currently only two highly sought upgrades that are like what you describe: TRCs (shine on CR90s, are in the MC30 pack) and APTs (everything with black dice want them, they're only in the MC30 pack). There's a healthy trading community and FFG has been excellent of late providing alt art cards in tourney packs for the rarer upgrades, such as Leading Shots and XI7s. I play mostly Rebels and I've had little trouble finding the upgrades I want.

The game play is more complex than X-Wing, but not by much. The rules are still tight and straightforward. The single maneuver tool and the defense token system I find to be far superior to X-Wing's five hundred movement tools and green dice. What gets complicated is getting used to thinking and anticipating 2 or 3 turns ahead of time.

The card trap is definitely not near as bad as X-Wing and so far everything is useful in the game. To get into this game first step is to buy the core set the pick your preferred faction if desired then plan your fleets to pick up the extra ships you want.

I've no experience with X-Wing but others have already elucidated on that.

In my opinion, the game has reached a really nice state now, where there are more ships and squadrons than you can fit into a list together and any ship can be viable I. The right list. That means that you can buy a core set and then just follow the 'rule of cool' and buy what ships you like the look of.

Netlisting doesn't play as bug a part of this game as I understand it does in X-Wing because success is dependent more in skill than the list you bring. That means you can just add ships as you like and gradually build up your fleet and everything is playable.

On the imperial side I would definitely buy an ISD early as they are such great all-rounder. Rebels are pretty wide open.

Grab a squadron pack for each side, and follow that with a Rogues and Villains squadron pack when you want some more variety. From there you'll be able to work out what you like.

Welcome! And have fun, it's a great game. Just start small and simple and scale up from there.

Oh, and make sure that you start playing the game with objectives once you've got the hang of the base rules. They're what really set it apart from X-Wing (apparently) and they're a great mechanic to add diversity to each battle.

The gameplay is not even close to Xwing, and just plays in a totally different way. Just think 6 rounds and the game is over. And objectives! I would encourage you get a friend with enough ships to show you the ropes first, because a core set will not get you close to a 'real' game. Diving in not knowing what your getting could be very costly.

Get another Dice pack to start. And depending on where you want to go you want either (Imperial Star Destroyer, Imperial Fighter Pack, Gladiator Star Destroyer, and Gozanti Flotilla) or (Assault Frigate Mk2, Home One Expansion, Rebel Fighter Pack, GR75 Transports) Should get you plenty of options to start off with currently in the game.

A second maneuver tool helps too.

This is the best game that I've ever play. I've try X-Wing but after Armada, and I prefer Armada a lot more for the balance of the game and the use of strategic and tatics minding in the same game.

But... If you want to start that game, keep in mind that you will have maybe to put at least 300$ to get something really fun. Like said before, if you want to restrein your fee, you can choose one side and your friend the other but you should minimaly take the Core set. After this, you can take a look of your possibility to choose your next item. The squadron expension pack (both side) and R&V are something really usefull to have (even more for a X-Wing player).

For me, I'm around 1700$ of stuff but I bougth both side. You can see the list in my signature beneath. This way I'm sure to be able to play with friend who don't have the game.

As far as buying for upgrades goes - I only play Rebel for Armada and do not buy Imperial - there are a few cards that would be nice for certain lists but I just use my friends if needed. Unlike X-wing where I buy pretty much 1 of everything for cards.

So no, buying everything for cards is not required. - 1 of each of your factions ships is nice because you will get 1 of each different Admiral then.

I'll also throw out there that, if you're just playing casually with the one friend and looking to get in as cheaply as possible, you guys can get by with splitting a core set, at least for quite a while.

The core set comes with one distance/range ruler and a damage deck, neither of which is available separately apart from eBay. You'll be sharing these components between the two of you until and unless you spring for a second core set, but it's really not all that onerous to do so. The second set is more of a quality of life issue than anything game-impacting.

My only advise on purchasing is buy what you want and not what other people tell you you need. Especially anyone that tells you you need 3 of any given squadron pack.

No idea why this played twice

This is the best game that I've ever play. I've try X-Wing but after Armada, and I prefer Armada a lot more for the balance of the game and the use of strategic and tatics minding in the same game.

But... If you want to start that game, keep in mind that you will have maybe to put at least 300$ to get something really fun. Like said before, if you want to restrein your fee, you can choose one side and your friend the other but you should minimaly take the Core set. After this, you can take a look of your possibility to choose your next item. The squadron expension pack (both side) and R&V are something really usefull to have (even more for a X-Wing player).

For me, I'm around 1700$ of stuff but I bougth both side. You can see the list in my signature beneath. This way I'm sure to be able to play with friend who don't have the game.

I could not disagree with this more.... You will never need to spend $1700 on this game. So don't let that dis way you guys from getting in. You also do not need to put in $300 to really get into it. If you share a core set you could pay as low as $120 (and that is retail so could easily be cheaper) and that would give you an mc80 an ISD and a squadron pack for each side. That will give you enough to get going and see what you like. Will you eventually want more yes, but you don't need more right away. Take it slow see what interests you. To put the above post in perspective you could pay retail for everything currently out, rebels and imperials, and it would be under $600. So don't worry about having to spend $1700.

If you share a core set you could pay as low as $120 (and that is retail so could easily be cheaper) and that would give you an mc80 an ISD and a squadron pack for each side. That will give you enough to get going and see what you like.

No damage deck, maneuver template, ruler, or corners will make playing with this difficult indeed... You definitely need at least the core set.

If you share a core set you could pay as low as $120 (and that is retail so could easily be cheaper) and that would give you an mc80 an ISD and a squadron pack for each side. That will give you enough to get going and see what you like.

No damage deck, maneuver template, ruler, or corners will make playing with this difficult indeed... You definitely need at least the core set.

That was under the premise of sharing it.

If you share a core set you could pay as low as $120 (and that is retail so could easily be cheaper) and that would give you an mc80 an ISD and a squadron pack for each side. That will give you enough to get going and see what you like.

No damage deck, maneuver template, ruler, or corners will make playing with this difficult indeed... You definitely need at least the core set.

That was under the premise of sharing it.

Oh, you were saying $120 each.

Got it.

Yeah, that works. Adding is hard, sorry.

You could check out various Star Wars game trading groups on Facebook, can generally get some good deals on there and can cut down the price a bit or wait until Black Friday if you are thinking of money

The card trap is definitely not near as bad as X-Wing and so far everything is useful in the game. To get into this game first step is to buy the core set the pick your preferred faction if desired then plan your fleets to pick up the extra ships you want.

do you get both rebel and imperial or do you generally stick to one?

The card trap is definitely not near as bad as X-Wing and so far everything is useful in the game. To get into this game first step is to buy the core set the pick your preferred faction if desired then plan your fleets to pick up the extra ships you want.

do you get both rebel and imperial or do you generally stick to one?

The card trap is definitely not near as bad as X-Wing and so far everything is useful in the game. To get into this game first step is to buy the core set the pick your preferred faction if desired then plan your fleets to pick up the extra ships you want.

do you get both rebel and imperial or do you generally stick to one?

This is the best game that I've ever play. I've try X-Wing but after Armada, and I prefer Armada a lot more for the balance of the game and the use of strategic and tatics minding in the same game.

But... If you want to start that game, keep in mind that you will have maybe to put at least 300$ to get something really fun. Like said before, if you want to restrein your fee, you can choose one side and your friend the other but you should minimaly take the Core set. After this, you can take a look of your possibility to choose your next item. The squadron expension pack (both side) and R&V are something really usefull to have (even more for a X-Wing player).

For me, I'm around 1700$ of stuff but I bougth both side. You can see the list in my signature beneath. This way I'm sure to be able to play with friend who don't have the game.

Jesus dude, where are you buying your stuff?? I don't think I've spent that much and take a look at my sig...

I have spent probably that much when i count in all my amazing third party rulers, command tokens, defense tokens line lasers etc

The card trap is definitely not near as bad as X-Wing and so far everything is useful in the game. To get into this game first step is to buy the core set the pick your preferred faction if desired then plan your fleets to pick up the extra ships you want.

do you get both rebel and imperial or do you generally stick to one?

I get both because I supply a friend that plays, but I also like having the option to play rebel every now and then. I think I am up to like 9 times playing rebel versus like 50 times Imperial though.

To answer your question Tirion and Hastatior, this is where the price tag is coming from :

Core set -- 2 x 120 = 240$ Map -- 2 x 57 = 115$ Neb-B -- 1 x 23 = 23$ CR90 -- 2 x 23 = 46$ VSD -- 1 x 46 = 46$ AFM2 -- 2 x 46 = 105$ Gladiator 3 x 35 = 105$ Rebel squadron pack -- 2 x 23 = 46$

Imperial squadron pack -- 2 x 23 = 46$ Interdictor -- 1 x 46 = 46$ Liberty -- 2 x 46 = 105$ Gozanti -- 2 x 23 = 46$ GR-75 -- 2 x 23 = 46$ ISD -- 2 x 59 = 118$ MC30 -- 2 x 35 = 70$

Home One -- 2 x 46 = 105$ Raider -- 3 x 23 = 69$ A box of asteroides for 3D realisme -- 1 x 53 = 53$ Total before taxes : 1430$

I bougth all my stuff from my game shop (did not want to go on second handed or online). Total of all this : 1644,50$ (In Canada we have 2 taxes to a total amount of 15 % when bying stuff). I was a little bit to high when I said 1700$ cause I never put it down on paper but you have to say that I'm really neer my estimation of 1700$. I'm not counting the paint and all the accessories.

Like I said before, it's my decision to buy all the stuff for myself, I had the money and knew that not all my friends could be ok with that price tag for playing once in a while (that's the reason why I initiate many of my friend to the game cause with my schedule, girlfriend, family, etc... it's not always easy to play). I dont play in store so I have to get everything by myself and having 2 Core set was a good idea.

That was my choice, I was not saying to Brettdavis1991 to do the same but this is where it threw me and I have no problem to deal with that amount of money. Every dollar spent in this game is for pure joy. Best game ever! And with the Corellian Conflict on the way, it will be awsome.

The core set is around $70 on Amazon although the price does fluctuate. Buy one and see first if you enjoy the game before investing heavily though.

Armada is exploding with tons of new content to add to the plethora of ships and squadrons we have now. We have 32 new squadrons ( Eight of which are new squadron classes with the remaining 24 heroes and generic unique squadrons that are to be considered an upgrade of a standard squadron ). Two new ships are coming out. The Campaign. This game has a long future ahead of it. The thing is however even if the next expansions were the last I would still suggest getting into Armada. The ships we have and will have soon are diverse enough in play style and stats that the game has a lot of longevity to it.

The models are fantastic the best physical versions of Star Wars capital ships you can get on the market right now and probably ever.