Sorry for what probably is a noob question but I'm only just getting started in Armada.

What's been bothering me is when exactly do the players inform one another what their objective cards are? On one hand objective cards are an integral part of each player's list which I believe is open information. But on the other hand, according to tournament regulations first player only gets to look at second player's objective cards after initiative has been determined. I'm asking because objective cards might become a significant factor when choosing whether to go first or second.

You can see the enemy's Fleet - WITHOUT - Objective Cards, before you decide 1st or 2nd...

2. Gather Components : Each player places his ships, squadrons, and cards next to the play area and near his edge. Set each shield dial and squadron disk to its maximum shield and hull values.

Then set the activation slider of each squadron to display the blue end of the slider with the a icon.

Assign the appropriate defense tokens to each ship and unique squadron.

Gather enough command dials and speed dials for the fleet.

Assign ID tokens to ships and squadrons as necessary.

3. Determine Initiative : The player whose fleet has the lowest total fleet point cost chooses which player is the first player. The first player places the initiative token next to his edge with the a side faceup. If the players are tied in fleet points, flip a coin to decide which player makes the choice.

4. Choose Objective : The first player looks at all three of his opponent’s objective cards and chooses one to be the objective for the game.

Basically... You rock up to a game. You have a written list, but that's for you and the TO - not for your opponent.

You setup the game, and in doing so, you lay out all of your Ships, Squadrons, and Upgrade Cards next to the play area... An opponent can look over and see what you have in your fleet... And in the next step, know how many points your fleet is...

That is when you decide FIRST or SECOND.

And only then do you get to see Objective Cards of the Second Player...

THE OBJECTIVE CARDS OF THE FIRST PLAYER ARE NEVER REVEALED. THIS STOPS INFORMATION FILTERING AROUND IN A TOURNAMENT.

He means objective cards.

He means objective cards.

Man, you saw my initial "Type really quickly while getting the rulebook" screwup and posted, before I edited it.

He means objective cards.

Man, you saw my initial "Type really quickly while getting the rulebook" screwup and posted, before I edited it.

It's called surveillance

Did you misquote the Gather Components rule too? Your quote doesn't specify upgrade cards, just cards. How does this support your assertion that objective cards aren't part of that step?

Did you misquote the Gather Components rule too? Your quote doesn't specify upgrade cards, just cards. How does this support your assertion that objective cards aren't part of that step?

You can ask to see my objectives, but I'm not going to give them to you.

Did you misquote the Gather Components rule too? Your quote doesn't specify upgrade cards, just cards. How does this support your assertion that objective cards aren't part of that step?

I did not misquote.

I copy-pasted from the Rulebook.

What I should have done was copy-pasted from the Tournament Regulations:

Because that supports my assertion.

Game Setup The following steps must be performed before players can begin their game each tournament round.

1. Each player places their fleet outside of the 3’ by 6’ play area next to their assigned player edge and define the setup area by placing the setup area markers 1’ from the short edges of the play area.

2. Players reveal all of their ship and squadron components . Players set each shield dial and squadron disk to its maximum shield and hull values. Players also set the activation slider of each squadron to display the blue end of the slider with the a icon. Players assign the appropriate defense tokens to each ship and unique squadron. Players then assign flagship tokens and ID tokens to any duplicates of ships on the same team. If both players are fielding fleets from the same faction, they assign ID tokens to all ships and squadrons. One player must exclusively display the white side of his or her ID tokens; the other player must display only the black side. Prior to the first round of a tournament, the marshal may mandate that each player manually verify their opponent’s fleet point total.

3. Players determine initiative. The player with the lowest fleet point total decides which player has initiative. If both players are tied with the same fleet point total, players must use a method to determine a player at random, such as tossing a coin. The winner decides who has initiative and places the initiative token next to their edge with the blue side containing the a icon face up. The player with initiative is the first player.

4. The first player looks at all three of their opponent’s objective cards and chooses one to be the objective for the game.

Thank you Dras, I thought it might be something like that. I'm a n00b too so I haven't gone into the tournament rules yet.

No worries.

Its one of those tricky things - it is defined, its just been defined and redefined in different places.....

Friendly games, it is covered under the "does this really matter?" concept.

Where is does matter is the Tournament - and the Tournament is where its covered.