Hey guys, so I was thinking about a flotilla-less fleet and was wondering what was the minimum number of activations recommended nowadays. Is it 3, 4? Feels like 2 is definitely not enough.

Personally wouldn't go less than 4 unless I had Liberties/ISDs with GT and specifically built to reach out and pop flotillas fast to even up the activations. Even so you're opening yourself up for some nasty punches to the face, but I think it could be workable.

I think you can get away with 2 if your fleet doesn't rely on activations. Just understand that if you're going second, almost every opponent will be going first/last. if that's ok for your fleet then you're fine.

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4-5 minimum.

Not to Hijack this thread, but what would you guys say is the minimum number of squads you can have unactivated? Do you need ships to activate all of your non rogue squads each turn?

Not to Hijack this thread, but what would you guys say is the minimum number of squads you can have unactivated? Do you need ships to activate all of your non rogue squads each turn?

No, but as has been said, if that's what you're going to do you need to have a plan for it and keep that in mind with your positioning in preceding turns.

As long as you can mitigate activation disadvantage in some way (bid to go first, Konstantine tarpit etc), you can easily go as low as 2.

Norm won GenCon with 2 (before flotillas but I didn't think it was possible).

By my experience, in a game of 400 points, getting at least 4 activations will help alot.

Even more if you play as second player, to avoid double tap by a ship that you didn't have a shot on yet.

Positionning is the key but your activation can make a really big difference between life and death too

Norm won GenCon with 2 (before flotillas but I didn't think it was possible).

This is true, but flotillas are the reason average activation counts have increased so much, so I don't think you can dismiss them as a factor. Two activations in W2 is very different from two activations in W3/4.

Not that it can't be done, but you do really need a good plan for how to deal with a significant activation disadvantage if you're going to do it.

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8

With at least 12 deployments.

/rollseyes

I'd need to have a very clear plan with a fleet to consider anything less than 4.

Norm won GenCon with 2 (before flotillas but I didn't think it was possible).

This is true, but flotillas are the reason average activation counts have increased so much, so I don't think you can dismiss them as a factor. Two activations in W2 is very different from two activations in W3/4.

Not that it can't be done, but you do really need a good plan for how to deal with a significant activation disadvantage if you're going to do it.

Norm played a 2 activation list recently at Toronto Regionals and did well, even against another great player (Yik, using I think 5 activations). You can see this match on YouTube (search for 401games armada regionals or something close to that), I believe it's the second match in a ... 7(?) hour video. It's worth watching how to properly play a 2-activation list.

Honestly it depends on your play style. If you like big ships, 3-4 is good for Imps, 4-5 for Rebels. If you like MSU, 6-7 for both sides. When I play Rebels, it typically involves a Liberty and I play with 5 activations, sometimes 4. The list I just played at regionals had 3 activations in a dual Vic Rhymerball.

There is no minimum amount of activations because there is so much variety in the game. You can see the diversity in this thread because we all play differently. You can get away with 2 so long as you have a plan.

I think the better question would be "I like to play X fleet archetype, can someone give me some input with the number of activations I should have?" Or "I like playing with X ship (Demo/Yavaris) how should I build a fleet that allows me to get a last/first activation with it?"

Personally, I think 1 flotilla should be included in a list because there is so much utility you can do with it, from chariot to Comms Net to BCC. Flotillas are really good, but you shouldn't go overboard with it and run 3-4 just to pad your activations.

Im my mind, 4, or 3 with a strong bid to go first.

I'd say it highly depends on your local meta and play style.

By the end of the game - more than the other guy.

Considering the current playstyle I would say the very-very minimum is 3.. But only if you have a good number of squadrons. And you'll have to know exactly what you wanna do with those 3 ships. But ideally a fleet should nowadays consist at least 4 ships (of which one is usually a flotilla.)