3'x9' play area, 38" ship. I want it.
I really want FFG to push the asymmetrical nature of rebels and Empire. Give gigantic menaces to the imperials, like SSD and Death Star campaigns, while the rebels gain the rest of their rag tag band with Hammerhead Corvettes, MC75s, Brahtok gunships, etc.
Agree. I'd like to see lots of rebel ships trying to swarm a SSD etc.
Just so long as I can spend my money on a nice looking SSD model.
I want one for... reasons.
I'd be willing to drop $100 for this. The WotC AT-AT was $100 and that was well worth it.
^^^ The AT-AT Model rules. Large models rule.
Now if FFG wants to really generate buzz, they announce the SSD expansion and it's companion rebel expansion (probably 2 more small and medium ships) at the same time. Then they announce an internet campaign similar to GWs "Eye of Terror" from back in the day. If the rebels win, the construction of the SSD is "delayed" and the Rebels release comes out first, with the SSD released a month later. If the Imperials win, the SSD comes out first and fear keeps the local systems in line, and the Rebel ships get delayed. Real world consequences of the campaign.
Meta as hell
Now if FFG wants to really generate buzz, they announce the SSD expansion and it's companion rebel expansion (probably 2 more small and medium ships) at the same time. Then they announce an internet campaign similar to GWs "Eye of Terror" from back in the day. If the rebels win, the construction of the SSD is "delayed" and the Rebels release comes out first, with the SSD released a month later. If the Imperials win, the SSD comes out first and fear keeps the local systems in line, and the Rebel ships get delayed. Real world consequences of the campaign.
Meta as hell
That would be awesome - but I doubt it's possible with the distribution problems FFG has had lately - it would be WAY too risky to promise Rebels ahead of time, and then turns out they get delayed due to manufacturing or distribution problems.
What about a combined game with X-Wing and IA objectives?
I envision an unfinished SSD having a massive super structure that fighters can fly through much like the Death Star 2. So X-Wing can get involved by sending pilots into the SSD to knockout key components, like power supply running to a section of the ship. If the run is successful, that hull zone is severally weakened. If it fails, all named pilots are destroyed for the rest of the battle.
Same with IA. Boarding parties can be launched on the SSD to destroy shield generators, engines, and power to the guns. Same deal, if it fails, those characters are gone. This could also be expanded into taking planets. An Imperial research base, weapons depot or ship yard can be raided if the space battle is won. The Rebels can either orbital bombard the base to destroy it, or capture it by winning an IA mission, gaining additional resources.
This would also allow named characters to be essential to each teams strategy. Does Vader command the fleet or kill the Rebels attacking the base?
Generic characters could also gain experience based on the amount of wins they have, becoming veterans and improving their stats.
I've also thought about starting the SSD at a bare minimum. 2 hull all around with next to no weapons. The Imps will have 3 base types: Offensive, Defensive and Support. Offensive provides the SSD with more dice, offensive retrofit turbolaser, ion cannon and ordnance upgrades. Defensive will grant more hull and shield,as well as defensive retrofit upgrades. Support will be the crew stationed on the SSD. Things like GT, SFO and so on. Each round, the Imps get to 3 bonuses to pick from, based on the bases they control. This will allow a customize-able SSD. So they could invest all 3 points into hull, weapons, or mix and match.
I haven't thought about how to initiate the final battle. I don't want it to be turn based, but more about connecting all the dots. Figuring out a SSD is being built and then finding where it is.
I ran a game like this already only I used a battle star 
I ran a game like this already only I used a battle star
Is that 6 large bases? How was the balance of it? Looks like 8 dice per hull zone.
Its a custom base made from plastic about 6 big bases. 3 dice or each color 6 shields each hull zone. ran it with 2 full activations per turn speed 1, 2 brace 2 redirect 25 hull 
no points. The player that did the most damage minus damage taken won the game. Sadly the players charged right in close and in one case took all 9 dice from two hull zones 
some of them still make the same mistake and charged in close with ships that have good long range weapon sets.
My SSD in action...
The ship above follows all the standard FFG rules and has 4 firing arcs and anti-squadron, hull etc just like any other ship. Naked, she weighs in at 305 points, which is pretty spot on after play testing her.
I have a picture of her card somewhere. I'll post that at some point. She is set up more like an ISD-I in her dice distribution, just more of them on each arc. She still has only 2 anti-squadron dice though.
Undeadguy the SSD from Mel's Miniatures isn't as crazy expensive as you might think.
I bought mine for $242.00 which is not that expensive but it all depends on what folks can afford.
I know that I have one and I'm pleased to have it for my Armada Fleet.
Michael
Undeadguy the SSD from Mel's Miniatures isn't as crazy expensive as you might think.
I bought mine for $242.00 which is not that expensive but it all depends on what folks can afford.
I know that I have one and I'm pleased to have it for my Armada Fleet.
Michael
I'd love to pick one up, but that is certainly over my price range right now. Maybe I can get one by Xmas if FFG hasn't picked up this campaign first.
Mine came from Sithplanet and was a bit of a pig to assemble and does need careful handling as it has some delicate edges.
@ouzel
where did you obtain the Battlestar from. I have an idea to take the launch bays of and make a dreadnaught to oppose my SSD.
@ouzel
where did you obtain the Battlestar from. I have an idea to take the launch bays of and make a dreadnaught to oppose my SSD.
Model kit on Amazon the price has jumped a lot from the $24.99 I payed for mine
This is a great idea as it doesn't require there to be a giant model and also opens the flood gates to campaigns like the Death Star, star killer base etc which I'm sure are already being considered.
Although the mels SSD looks fantastic and could somehow be incorporated into the game at that size officially, I think the resurgent class would be better to model. Sure it's twice as big as a ISD but perhaps scale it to be as big to the ISD as it is to the VSD. It wouldn't really matter.
One trend i notice is how adverse some people are to large models in Armada.
A game about capital ships mind you.
Meanwhile X-wing: a game about star fighters has models that dwarf our ISD's.
Why is everything and everyone so contrarian these days?
One trend i notice is how adverse some people are to large models in Armada.
A game about capital ships mind you.
Meanwhile X-wing: a game about star fighters has models that dwarf our ISD's.
Why is everything and everyone so contrarian these days?
What do you mean adverse? As in not liking the large models? Not wanting to use a large base due to point cost? Or do no want larger models/bases?
What do you mean adverse? As in not liking the large models? Not wanting to use a large base due to point cost? Or do no want larger models/bases?One trend i notice is how adverse some people are to large models in Armada.
A game about capital ships mind you.
Meanwhile X-wing: a game about star fighters has models that dwarf our ISD's.
Why is everything and everyone so contrarian these days?
I interpreted the comment to be regarding ships much larger than those currently available, ships large enough to represent a SSD.
What do you mean adverse? As in not liking the large models? Not wanting to use a large base due to point cost? Or do no want larger models/bases?One trend i notice is how adverse some people are to large models in Armada.
A game about capital ships mind you.
Meanwhile X-wing: a game about star fighters has models that dwarf our ISD's.
Why is everything and everyone so contrarian these days?
I read is at people don't want to use large ships in their lists. Likely a response due to the amount of MSU people are playing.
One trend i notice is how adverse some people are to large models in Armada.
A game about capital ships mind you.
Meanwhile X-wing: a game about star fighters has models that dwarf our ISD's.
Why is everything and everyone so contrarian these days?
Well I'm not sure exactly what you are getting at, but my personal issue with the SSD is scale and play area. In canon, the Executor is over 11 times the length of an ISD. At "proper" scale, that would mean a model that is close to seven and a half feet long. Now, Armada's sliding scale does lead to some weird scaling issues (I'm looking at you, Gladiator) but most of the time ships are in the right ballpark comparatively (and within their own size class). But I just can't see any way to scale the SSD back enough to make it properly intimidating. Even if you scale it down to half its "correct" scale, you end up with a miniature longer than the standard play surface is across. Going smaller than that just robs the ship of its majesty (in my opinion).
Granted, I don't work in this business, so the fact that I can't figure out how to do it means nothing. I have faith that if an SSD is implemented, it will be done well. I just would never hold my breath waiting for it.
The AT-AT walker for SWMiniatures gives a good example, I think, of how to do such a ridiculous model. It's massive, expensive, and really only functional as a map- or scenario-feature.
But it's awesome.
Mine lives in my kitchen, on top of our cabinets.
I would love to have an SSD living up there with it.
I'd still rather have an SSD as a big playmat/terrain piece tied to objectives (if you wanted to make it compatible with regular play) and campaigns.