Hey everybody! Sorry, just flew back last night (and work seems like a good time to write this...)

For our newer members... my thoughts from GenCon 2015... haha... I think I said, "squadrons suck."

https://community.fantasyflightgames.com/topic/183984-gencon-2015-thoughts-from-the-top-table/

US Nationals 2016...

https://community.fantasyflightgames.com/topic/222920-the-road-to-nationals-thoughts-from-the-final-match/

1. Exactly four years ago, I was laying in Intensive Care literally watching my brains fall out of my head (well, it was actually brain fluid in a bag - it's yellowish like pee... LOL)... I just had brain surgery and survived(!) and wasn't a "vegetable" (double win)! Which is a natural lead in to... the worldwide Armada community is awesome and I'm really glad to be a part of it! We fight hard, but, in the end, it really is about meeting cool peeps! In particular, I wasn't sure how much of a "World Championship" (How big is Armada in China? The Pacific Rim?) it would be, but I'm glad I met fine folks (and strong players) from outside the US and I hope to meet more of you in the future! "Continue to Stay Hothy everyone!"

2. These are the meta archtypes I considered...

Note: I'm writing this from a before Worlds perspective.

a) Jousting Builds - Line up the biggest guns, push forward, and see what's left standing. I'm not a fan of this because I feel it comes down to dice and somebody can always bring a bigger gun than you (e.g. 200+ Devastator).

b) "Arc-dodging" multiple small ships - I feel that navigating is the best command in the game and the best defense is not getting hit. By dodging, you can mitigate dice to an extent. (e.g, TRC Swarm)

c) Carrier Builds - May be turtle lists but can't really force "tempo." (e.g., Rieekan Aces) They are consistent but could not really win big, especially if somebody just cuts and run.)

3. Wave 3/4

a) Interdictor - I tried it at a local tourney and did not do too well. 25% for support/control just hampers your offensive capability. You need to kill ships to win big. Perhaps, the Coreilian Conflict objectives will change this.

b) Liberty - the Rebel ISD.

c) Flotillas(!) - Cheap ship activations but no combat potential.

In short, I didn't think Wave 3 and 4 would be that game-changing.

At a very small tourney (4 peeps)... I tried a 3x Glad, 1x Gozanti... Tie/Adv (8?) RhymerBall.

I won but the list didn't feel "right." I don't think Tie/Adv can do enough ship damage.

Additionally, Imps were doing well in Germany, Canada, and GenCon 2016 so I was expecting a heavy Imp representation (75%) so...

I started with my National Base... I've always said that any list can win and a list that you are comfortable with is better than one that you net deck (netdecking is fine to but I stand by this statement.)

Move Like a Butterfly.... Sting Like a Bee...

Corvette A - TRC, Jaina's Light + Mon Mothma

Corvette A - TRC

Corvette A - TRC

Mc30 Torpedo - APT, Ordnance Experts, Lando, Admonition

8x YT-2400

I got my buddy Treb, a carrier specialist, to be my sparring partner. For Weeks 1-3, leading to Worlds... it was standing up to various builds, including Home One + 4x Flotilla + X/Bs. Then I heard about Tokra's 8 Gonzanti Build so we tested against a Demo + 4 Goz + Rhymerball and I had a slight disadvantage, which prompted...

Week 4:

The Newest Hope

[ REBEL FLEET (398 points)
1 • MC30c Torpedo Frigate - Lando Calrissian - Ordnance Experts - Assault Proton Torpedoes - H9 Turbolasers - Admonition (92)
2 • CR90 Corellian Corvette A - Turbolaser Reroute Circuits - Jaina's Light (53)
3 • CR90 Corellian Corvette A - Turbolaser Reroute Circuits (51)
4 • GR-75 Medium Transports - Bright Hope (20)
5 • GR-75 Medium Transports - Mon Mothma (48)
6 • A-wing Squadron (11)
7 • A-wing Squadron (11)
8 • YT-2400 (16)
9 • YT-2400 (16)
10 • YT-2400 (16)
11 • YT-2400 (16)
12 • YT-2400 (16)
13 • YT-2400 (16)
14 • YT-2400 (16)

In Flight 1A: I took the Bye, Tokra (German Nat'l) took the Bye and Luke "Hunter's Spider" K. (Aussie Nat'l) was given his Bye because there were 41 players.

Bye: At US Nationals, I took the Bye. However, I was fortunate that the two 10-0s (the scoring was different back then) drew in Round 2 which opened the door for me. Talking to Luke, in hindsight, we agreed that NOT taking the bye was the better decision since our max score was 38 vs. 40 for those not having a bye. Furthermore, in Round 2, there would be a greater likelihood of more National Champions playing each other.

Note: I think everyone wants to test their skills against the best competition but, of course, you want it to be when you are playing for nicer swag! Furthermore, I think we all agreed that making the cut would be more difficult than playing elimination matches. Hey, everyone wants to control their destiny! Also, we felt that a Top 4 Cut each day would have been better (just adding one more round on Day 2).

My goal was to get Top Third to get those Objective Tokens. With some good playing and some luck, hopefully I could make the Cut. I didn't really care about the swag in-between.

Tale of the Tape:

Tokra - 8x Goz Build

The H9s were tech against him... but the probabilities were that we would not match up so I needed that 3rd TRC for the rest of the field. His list is really innovative... Tarkin is a super force-multiplier. He has plenty of Squadron Commands and it's very hard to score against him! There is a stereotype that the Germans are very pragmatic and efficient people - I would agree. Tokra has a super efficient build.

Lesson: Flotillas (they have a high point to points needed to take them out ratio). They are the ultimate tarpit unit. Do you really want your 150 pt ship with Gunnery Team killing 40 points in one turn. Not an efficient trade off...

WWPD - Skyshuffler

We're friends IRL... as can be seen through Twitch, he flys a Corvette Swarm like an X-Wing Tie Swarm. He's very precise. The Shrimp is really the biggest difference in our builds. His list is more consistent but I felt that my list had a greater chance to exert pressure and win big.

Jon R - 2015 World Champion

We heard of Clonisher or DeMSU builds... well, what about a Super Big+MSU build. I think he had Jan + 3X, Ackbar Defiance, + flotillas. Line up a big shot and destroy things.

Luke - I think he was some combo of Guppy/Flotillas/Y/As.

UPDATE: In Flight 1B... I just wanted to point out... I think in Round 4 at Tables 3 and 4... the Canadians from Toronto were pitted against each other. Norm, Kristian, Carlo and Victor... looks like a strong local meta.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Round 1 - BYE... I stress until the dice drop... as such, I felt "cage rust" onsetting... too much rest!

Note: There were 4x 10-1s so I was in chase mode so I needed to win big.

Round 2 -

vs. Jon... Screed, 4x Goz, Raider, Demo, 5x Tie/Adv, Rhymer, 2x Bomber, Dengar, Mauler

Screed Raider Goz Goz Goz Demo

Squadrons

Rocks

Squadrons

TRC TRC TRC Admo

Mothma

Jon chose 1st and picked Most Wanted (my Mothma vs Demo). I felt that I was at a slight disadvantage but Most Wanted gave me a chance to win big. Jon had more deployments so he got to put Demo down last. His Goz were moving left to right. His Demo was rolling at Speed 2 with Open Space so he had a lot of board control.

My gameplan was to fly in aggressively and threaten the Goz to bait the Demo in or perhaps his Demo would just run away to take him out of the fight. I used Squadron commands to try to pin and take out Mauler. The Raider takes out a TRC on the left and I slowed down Admo (perhaps a mistake) because I wanted Demo to hit Admo wide enough (losing two more TRC would be game over if I couldn't catch Demo).

MISTAKE: I took one crit from Demo's APTs. As soon as I flipped the card, I remembered that I had Admo Title!

I did take out Demo and squeaked to a 6-5 Win. Jon was smart to just keep bombing my TRCs and ignoring my YTs. With so many Escorts if was hard to take out Mauler and then Dengar. Usually, if peeps bomb me, I win out because my YT kill more squadrons than losing a TRC. Also, Admo died via ramming... *sigh*

Round 3 - Mike V. (Motti, ISD2, Goz, Demo, small Fireball)

Mike went 1st and chose Intel Sweep.

Goz Demo ISD

Sq x x

x x Sq x

Mothma TRC TRC TRC Admo

I felt confident with this more traditional matchup because I have never lost Intel Sweep and I felt it would play out like US Nationals Final. I had more deployments but Mike putting Demo in the middle threw me off my game. Mike threw me off again by making the ISD the objective ship. People usually use a small ship as their objective ship and Demo usually crashes wider. Normally, I would have put Mothma at center going right to left but his ISD was a front killing machine with Gunnery, Leading Shots, X17.

In Round 5, this game was very exciting... Motti was on 9 damage + 1 shield... 7 YTs went with Hit-Hit-Hit-Hit-Miss-Hit.... drum roll... Miss! Comms Net by sending repairs was difference maker. My Admo never got a big shot because the ISD was going too fast. I thought about sending a TRC to roadblock the ISD but I don't think it would have survived the shot and the ISD would have plowed on.

We agreed that if we reached Round 6, I would have won 7-4 but I lost 4-7.

I think Mike V. (a super chill dude) was my first lost in a premier event!

Lesson: I lost 1 out of 3 challenges for fire arcs (they were super close). When running an arc-dodge list, you not only need to get out of the way... but judge's calls take time from the clock. I miscalculated that Goz allow for cheap ship activation while allowing more points to supe up an ISD.

I think I've said this in my GenCon thread... you need to win (or lose) fast to stay rested. Don't let it go to time and judge's scorecard for decision! LOL

Round 3 vs "Reinholt" (my buddy Austin)

4x GR Combat, Shrimp, TRC, Defiance, Cracken

I chose to go 2nd and he chose Contested Outpost. Austin was ahead in Round 5. While I could have bombed the TRC to keep the score respectable (why do coaches kick FGs when they need TDs to win late in the game)... I decided to keep pounding Defiance (I figured he was just repairing) but I needed to kill it to win. I asked Austin if he wanted me to rush to get to Round 6. He wanted to go to Round 6... I obliged because he deserved a chance at a bigger win.

In Round 6... I had 7 YT... 6 hits to kill Definace... Hit-Hit-Hit-Hit-Miss-Hit! I won 7-4.

I finished with 25 and in the Top Third. Tell you what, I don't know if I'll win or lose, but I make exciting fights!

Lesson: 8xYT is a lot better than 7x YT!

Guys, sorry, I'm still tired... if you have questions... I'll clarify by putting updates in my thread!

Hope folks that I talk about can talk more about their perspectives and their lists...

Final Four Analysis:

Biggs thought that 32 was good enough for the Cut. In 1A, Juggernaught and WWPDSteven got 34!

In 1B, Nathan and Justin got 34 and 32 (not sure who was who). I think there was a gap in their scores (maybe there was a 31 in 1B) from the next tier so they were definitely deserving!

Note: While a valid strategy, I was praying for exciting matches instead

Nathan - Rieekan Aces, Guppy, Flotillas, Yavaris

I didn't really see Nathan play so I'll make general comments later.

WWPD Steven -

You heard my thoughts on his list.

WWPD Steven vs. Justin (see it on Twitch)

At the end of Round 2, I thought Steven was in a strong position. I thought elimination rounds were supposed to be 3 hours? Since Steven has an arc-dodge list, I wonder if Round 6 had played out... sorry, I haven't watched the Twitch yet.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FINALS -----------------------------

Justin.. 3x Flotilla, Guppy, Rieekan Aces, Yavaris

In the short history, we've had names of fleets... I feel Justin has deserved the naming of a maneuver!

If you net deck Justin's list, you will think it's just OK... or you/I could have come up with it.

Justin's move shall be called the "Flotilla Cage." (Blood Bowl fans will get that reference). It's worth watching the Twitch for this.

Analysis:

Flotillas are the ultimate tarpit in Armada. I cannot think of a combo that costs less than double a flotilla cost or maybe even triple cost that can kill a flotilla in one turn.

JJ's Guppy, Admo, 8xY, 2xHWK, 2xYT-1300

Tech: 2x YT-1300(!)... If you read my Road to Nationals, I had played Y Spam to a draw. The YTs give enough time to protect the HWKs and BCCs x2 gives you a 58% chance of crit. Wow!

Lessons:

1. With 8x YT, I always thought I'd eventually kill the bombers if they chose to kill my TRCs. I thought that you needed air superiority first, then bombing. Ys can survive long enough to do the work.

2. Flotillas with bombers are the next evolution of the game. They trade up against my TRC and are more durable and have better damage output. Haha... they are piranhas (bombers) killing sharks (TRC) killing whales (bigs)!

Going to Worlds, I thought... if I make the cut, I will win each individual match and claim the title. Tell you what, while it was possible, I don't think it was likely that I'd beat JJ or Justin this year.

I'm super happy that there was no super controversy. I think the Final Four was clearly deserved.

Haha... I remember JJ interviewing me after GenCon (I never FBed him cause I couldn't remember how to spell his surname)... feels like Cris Carter and Larry Fitzgerald thing... LOL.

Can't wait for the posts about "Y-Wings being OPed." Again, you learn more when you lose... I'm glad I had exciting games... and after a night of drinking with him, I told JJ to sleep well because tomorrow morning... that Armada is the People's Game and we'll all be gunning to take him down! :-)

PS Dr. Strange is really good (Inception on crack) and The Baker's Wife will be on my donut blog (www.thedonutquest.com) at some point.

PS Squared... While not perfect, the scoring format in Armada... I think it keeps everyone chill... in that, we know that matchups matter and it lets people "still be in it" in tourneys.

Excited to read this Q.

[Reserved for praising this thread]

[Reserved for unrelated pun]

Right, about Dr Strange.

Did anyone else notice the Yo Momma pun in there?

Dr Strange is talking to the Librarian he has been trying to make laugh, the Librarian suggests that there are things in the Universe that he isnt aware of, terrible things. "like Yo Momma?"

Now I know that what he actually said was, "like Domomma?", but you will forgive my mishearing under those circumstances. I couldnt take the film seriously beyond that point.

(Hopefully derailed the thread)

[Reserved to blame Gink for taking the thread off course] Gink, please stop derailing this thread.

I agree with you Q about Justin's patented "Flotilla-Cage-Express" move. It worked beautifully versus Steven, but JJs Ys+Intel squads were set up perfectly to absorb it.

If you were not there, you will probably hear all of us go on and on and on and on about the camaraderie and fun that we had this weekend, especially during the Armada World Cup Final Four. This was quite an amazing scene which was about as much fun as I've ever had NOT playing Armada. (You people local to the FFG mothership are lucky as $%#*) Biggs gallery photo says it all.

My smart move was to pay a little more attention to the Nathan/JJ match, since I figured I'd watch the other one on replay. Next smartest move was to try the beer at FFG. Score.

On taking the BYE: I'm in the take the 8 points and run camp. I just think getting on the board and being fresh in the second round is worth it. I totally understand the thinking NOT to take it however.

About your PS Squared comment: The #1 factor in the Armada in tournaments of course is how you fly your #$%^. However the #1.5 factor in Armada tournaments in my opinion is your matchups. That will always force folks to prepare for the unexpected and the expected. It is quite delightful.

[Reserved to express reservations regarding the reservations on this thread]

[Reserved for snark]

[Table Reserved for 19:30]

[Reserved to express my reservations regarding express reservations...]

[Reserving to place a reservation for a reservation reservation]

LOL - I'm done! Let me know and I'll try to fill it the blanks.

Also, you guys are funny! Love y'all!

Q it was awesome hanging and talking Armada with you.

I'm fully adopting this new moniker that you've given me, and in the spirit of JJ adding a ridiculous signature.

Hopefully I'll be back next year.

[Reserved for getting over jetlag]

See you in May (and possibly February)!

Several really good reads here.

I really appreciate all of your posts.

There's definitely something to cheap activation spam and squadron synergy in the current meta, and I think you pinpoint the problem in that most lists don't lose much utility when they lose a flotilla and then it takes quite a point investment to reap a small return in flotillas. Of course, the meta is likely to change again in two months when the next wave hits.

Awesome write up! Thanks for posting.

I think Arquitens is a good chance at disrupting the flotilla/bomber ascendancy. If you give it H9 turbos or use captain jonus, you have a cheap (50 point?) ship that can kill flotillas at long range without overcommitting.

Nice synopsis of your games and experience! I hope to make it out for the next one.

One thing I find interesting is your description of calling flotillas tar-pits. I assume you mean a shot on a flotilla is wasted if you also have a shot on a non-flotilla? If so, I actually find it beneficial to pick off flotillas, if I know I can do it in 1 shot. They lose an activation, likely Comms Net or BCC, and I bag some points. I am certainly biased since I run a lot of GT tanks that are designed to 1 shot small ships.

How would you suggest dealing with fleets that run 2-3 flotillas like JJ? Kill the AF or kill the flotillas if you have a clear shot to both?

On a side note, hos FORCE FLYING in the team game was phenomenal.

On a side note, hos FORCE FLYING in the team game was phenomenal.

We'll except the liberty... setting up a quad tap was impressive.

For discussion, Speed 3 Y-Wings give at least Medium threat range. So let's assume RED range attacks.

3 RED dice... are Corvette+TRC+Conc Fire Command, Neb-B, Guppy side arc. To make the math easier, assume you do roll an accuracy. So now you're down to 2 RED dice. Say you get a double on one... it gets evaded for a net damage of 1.

Let's go with a Big (ISD-2 or Liberty) with CF...

5 RED dice... Accuracy for one... so 4 RED = 3 damage on average. Evade drops it to 2 damage. Flotilla lives.

Absolutely, when you get in blue range, you're gonna destroy two flotillas with a big. Or a Sensor Team/H9 gunboat. However, you will take a round or two of bombing and then you are down on the trade.

@Undead, as for specific question...

With gunnery team, all else being equal, 2x Flotilla + 1 Guppy... if both Flotillas have BCC then the flotillas... but usually Guppy + Flotilla would be my targets.

Without gunnery, I would prolly go for BCC first but I'm a huge fan of killing bigger things to win big.

@Wonderbread

Dude, are you from Schmitty and Lyraneous' Region? ****, I wish I knew so we could chat more.

FORCE FLYING is where I click the maneuver tool and then slam it down for executing maneuvers. It speeds up the game immensely. I was flying Admo and Foresight and I think I arc-dodged and escaped black range on Gladiators a few times! Only got hit by Demo because it was the shot after moving!

"Use the Force, Luke..." LOL

@anothermorat

Well, Sean wanted to see how far the Liberty could go with Engine Techs!

As Tokyo Drift as taught us... you aren't in control until you are out of control!