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

Just for fun, that's your price tag Hastatior for only your ship, the core set and two playmate :

I put the price from FFG list :

Core set -- 1 x 100 = 100$ Map -- 2 x 40 = 80$ Neb-B -- 4 x 20 = 80$ CR90 -- 6 x 20 = 120$ VSD -- 3 x 40 = 120$ AFM2 -- 4 x 40 = 160$ Gladiator 5 x 30 = 150$ Rebel squadron pack -- 4 x 20 = 80$

Imperial squadron pack -- 5 x 20 = 100$ Interdictor -- 2 x 40 = 80$ Liberty -- 2 x 40 = 80$ Gozanti -- 3 x 20 = 60$ GR-75 -- 3 x 20 = 60$ ISD -- 3 x 50 = 150$ MC30 -- 4 x 30 = 120$

Home One -- 3 x 40 = 120$ Raider -- 5 x 20 = 100$ Total before taxes : 1760$

As I said, if you are new to the game, don't get impress by those numbers, yes that's alot of money but you maybe don't need all those. You can divide the two clan between you and your friend to split the total cost. I think Hastatior and me are what we can call real fan of that game. Take it easy Brettdavis, and enjoy the game.

This is much different than X-wing gameplay wise and fleet building wise. As mentioned far less of the need a meh scum ship so you can get autothursters when you only play rebels. And you can always choose just not to play the whole netlist thing. There some stuff that seems to always go together but those things tend to come in their expansion.

There is also much less of the complicated interactions that require a flow chart to follow and tend to sort of feel like they've broken the rules of the game.

The other big difference is that ships shoot and then move. Also the ships might take their activation in any order. There isn't the pilot skill thing which each turn the only question of what goes when is when you have identical pilot skills. You need much more of a plan at the outset and some contingencies as well. I feel as though Armada provides many more interesting in game decisions than X-wing. It also rewards the tactical thing a bit more because a ship isn't going to do this crazy pile of things.

I would second buying a core and playing a game or three. Honestly you can have a good time with a core and another $100 of stuff.

I normally would recommend buying local, but for the cost, I'd consider buying a cheap online core. If you don't like it, you'll probably be able to unload it with minimal loss vs full retail.

Regarding rules, you can download the rules reference and learn to play booklets from FFG website, have a read to understand the game. You could also look through the rules forum here. There are a lot of folks who will gladly answer any questions you might have, so you can freely post too. The rules may seem a bit confusing at the beginning but once you get the flow it is actually really smooth. Agree that you should not treat it like X-wing although there are similarities. There are many key differences, like shooting before moving which will cause you to approach your game planing differently. Watch some online matches also, on 2x speed if you like, to see the gameplay and flow.

Cores should not cost 100, keep searching as many places do have sales and you can get for cheaper. If you are splitting the core with your friend, get another maneuver tool from ffg. Then since you only get one range ruler you could buy from third-party sources or make your own with balsa wood and these range ruler images.

https://boardgamegeek.com/filepage/118288/range-ruler-pnp

I imagine you are only playing with your friend and not going to tournaments so I advise proxies for cards you don't yet have so you can try out their abilities first. Armada however does not yet have any bad ships with good upgrades, so you will rarely go wrong with a purchase.

Miscellaneous costs for keeping your fleets may also add up. Here I recommend Sirwillibald's paper boxes to store your fleet.

https://community.fantasyflightgames.com/topic/175355-sirwillis-workshop-armada-stuff/

IMO, essential add-ons after your core set:

Rebel: squad pack, Assault Frigate

Imperial: squad pack, Gladiator, ISD

but honestly, check fleet builds and games for more ideas. List-making is really quite open-ended as of now.

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

Just for fun, that's your price tag Hastatior for only your ship, the core set and two playmate :

I put the price from FFG list :

Core set -- 1 x 100 = 100$ Map -- 2 x 40 = 80$ Neb-B -- 4 x 20 = 80$ CR90 -- 6 x 20 = 120$ VSD -- 3 x 40 = 120$ AFM2 -- 4 x 40 = 160$ Gladiator 5 x 30 = 150$ Rebel squadron pack -- 4 x 20 = 80$

Imperial squadron pack -- 5 x 20 = 100$ Interdictor -- 2 x 40 = 80$ Liberty -- 2 x 40 = 80$ Gozanti -- 3 x 20 = 60$ GR-75 -- 3 x 20 = 60$ ISD -- 3 x 50 = 150$ MC30 -- 4 x 30 = 120$

Home One -- 3 x 40 = 120$ Raider -- 5 x 20 = 100$ Total before taxes : 1760$

As I said, if you are new to the game, don't get impress by those numbers, yes that's alot of money but you maybe don't need all those. You can divide the two clan between you and your friend to split the total cost. I think Hastatior and me are what we can call real fan of that game. Take it easy Brettdavis, and enjoy the game.

My price tag is in Canadian dollars too. I'm in Ontario.

Mine is hard to calculate due to being fortunate enough to have received some items for free or reduced cost

I won my first ISD at massing at Sullust tournament for free, I bought my second ISD at half price out of pocket because I used tournament prize for the rest, I got a whole R&V pack as a door prize to a tournament. I got my wave 3/4 stuff discounted quite aggressively.

on the flip side I spent 130$ on acrylic defense tokens, probably $100 on custom rulers, a bunch of money on acrylic command tokens, I have 2 fancy tackle boxes to store the stuff, probably a couple hundred on paints and brushes.

Counting just the game and expansions minus discounts and free stuff I'm probably at around $1500 CND, adding in all the extra stuff probably edging into the $2000 CND range.

Having a good relationship with your FLGS store owner goes a long way to getting a good price. When you walk in on Wave 3/4 launch day and pick up 2 of each big ship and 3 of each flotilla you can negotiate a bit on the final bill

I've spent around $450 and I have at least one of everything multiples of a lot of rebel stuff

I've spent close to $800 so far and haven't regretted it in the slightest. Time to get some fancy trays and range rulers next.

I don't want to scare new people with high price tag. Cause yes... this could happen.

But I only want to give a warning about the fact that, if you choose this game, prepare yourself to be addict quickly and maybe to put some money on it.

Yes, you can buy just the minimum, but not sure you be able to restrain that frenzy that will get you

And if you really want to submerge yourself in the game, put some paint on your squadrons. It don't take long and it put some realism and it's more easy to locate your unique squadron on the map.

Join the Force or fell for the Dark Side!

it depends if you're buying for both factions, and you have an eye for competitive play or not. (Even that's iffy. There's not a lot of 'must have' upgrades, and it's better to accustomize yourselves to the ships as that will have a far greater impact than a few measly upgrades). You both have experience with X-wing, so which do you ideally find more enjoyable: highly upgraded ships and elite pilots, or a number of effective generic fighters? Opinion is still split and there is no 'answer' to what or how to best play Armada.

Both factions essentially have the same answer in the most general sense: split the core, requisition in one warship and one additional ship (or alternatively, split an R&V set 'twixt players) and add in a squadron set. The ISD is Iconic and the model is great, so my preference tends to meander towards that for an Imperial player. Of course, that's all just a guideline, not some golden rule.

Armada's rule complications usually have to do with just internalizing the somewhat picky language regarding timing of certain effects. Otherwise it's not that difficult unless you're going into it assuming it works like other games.

DOMSwat... You just had to go and mention total cost, eh? I got curious and tallied my collection up, and yeah it's in that range too. Brought a twitch to me eye, it did. Still slightly less than my Vostroyan army, but that's like saying 'at least it's lighter than lead'.

Christ, my collection adds up to about $700.

Theres a reason I call it Prack (Plastic Crack)

Man you guys make me feel good about myself.

Yet I paint and have fun with my plastic and resin collection. So who's laughing now!? Who's laughing now?! Me! Madly and gladly! -cackles as lightning flashes, silhouetting the nefarious shape of a not-ugly Assault frigate on the experimentation tables. Though still not explaining the glowing jars lining the walls-

It really is plastic crack.

I just got into Armada a couple months ago when a local shop was selling some on sale. Unfortunately it was the boxes for everything in the Core Set (but not the core itself) so I ended up with duplicates of everything in there.

After that I grabbed Fighter sets for both, Rogues and Villains, an actual Core Set, Interdictor, and Medium Transports and I am really very happy with the options I have available to me at the moment for running a fleet of Rebels or Imperials (so I can get other friends addicted). I need to play nearly all the ships I own for either faction to run a full list, but the number of different upgrade cards you get with just the core set, and two or three additional ships is pretty staggering. I came as a very casual x-wing player and was really surprised by the difference in the number of upgrade cards in each kit, and how applicable they are to different ships.

So I would, as a fellow new player, advise really just getting a core set and then whatever one or two ships you look at and think "That is something I need to play this game with," your chosen faction's fighter pack, and go from there.