This is something that I thought the other day: What if they introduced a new damage deck that was split in 3 colors: red, blue, black. Each color corresponds to the die color that made the crit/damage (2 blue hits, 1 red hit + 1 red crit = 2 facedown blues, 1 face down red and 1 face up red) and this way you could bring new life to crit effects, especially for blue die.

Blue crits could be devastating stuff, like shut down engines, weapons failure, etc, making them a much bigger threat than they currently are (and fitting lore-wise to the "ion cannon" part of their nature), while black crits could have a higher chance of giving structural damage and whatnot.

Or, how about a standard, face down deck, and colored face-ups decks?

Anyway, like mentionned in the title, food for thought!

As a thought exercise, I like the idea. It's not really doable without repricing a lot of upgrades. For example, if APT were always going to be a structural damage, no one would take ACM.

If this was a digital game or the birth of the game, I'd like to try it.

Since it is a board game with cards in everyone's hands, I think there's enough going on with the game already, so the extra work and book keeping of having 3 damage decks (and potential imbalance) is more than the pay off.

The issue I see is how to deal out damage. An ISD-I has all 3 colors. If it rolls a crit on each one, do I get 3 face ups? And how many cards are in each deck?

It's a neat idea, but I don't think it will work because the game already has alternate crit effects built into the upgrades.

You'd probably choose the deck you want to draw from, just like you choose which crit effect you want.

This is an interesting idea, I don't think it will ever happen, but its a solid concept.

You'd probably choose the deck you want to draw from, just like you choose which crit effect you want.

exactly. You keep the same ruling for how crit works, but if you get a blue and a red crit, you get to choose which one you want.

As a thought exercise, I like the idea. It's not really doable without repricing a lot of upgrades. For example, if APT were always going to be a structural damage, no one would take ACM.

If this was a digital game or the birth of the game, I'd like to try it.

Since it is a board game with cards in everyone's hands, I think there's enough going on with the game already, so the extra work and book keeping of having 3 damage decks (and potential imbalance) is more than the pay off.

well, concerning ACM vs APTs, the black crit doesn't guarantee a structural dmg, but it can appear more often on said cards! I'd create a "hull breach" crit that creates a vaccum that sucks out an officier out of the ship xD (for hilarity's sake)

Besides, ACM on a ship with 0 shield still deals 3 damage.

It would feel odd with the MC30 Torpedo Frigate.

Having a Turbolaser Slot, but Blue Dice.

Its what we have to show that Red = Turbo, Blue = Ion, and Black = Ordnance isn't something that's set in stone.

It would feel odd with the MC30 Torpedo Frigate.

Having a Turbolaser Slot, but Blue Dice.

Its what we have to show that Red = Turbo, Blue = Ion, and Black = Ordnance isn't something that's set in stone.

I know I know, FFG already made all of this invalid with these kind of designs decisions. Unfortunate, dare I say.

Honestly, with command tokens, command dials, damage cards, defence tokens, objective markers/tokens and upgrades, there's already MORE than enough going on each turn. Adding two more damage decks wouldn't add to the feel of the game IMO, and would actively detract from the experience.

I agree that armada can be a touch busy (i tend to like to play with few, if any, upgrades) but think it is a very fun idea, and would add a level of depth and gameplay that would be easy to manage and incorporate automatically. Would be fun to think of what should do what! Turbolaser a somewhat generic deck, ions a big focus on knocking out systems and upgrades, blacks with a lot of crew and structure as the ship is torn apart by missiles... I think it has fun potential.

I always lumped laser cannons and Ion cannons together for Blue.

I always lumped laser cannons and Ion cannons together for Blue.

Given that starfighters and ships mostly use blue for their anti-squadron, it makes sense.

The issue I see is how to deal out damage. An ISD-I has all 3 colors. If it rolls a crit on each one, do I get 3 face ups? And how many cards are in each deck?

When you roll the dice you will see witch dice have a crit. If multiple crits and may only apply one crit. Attacker may choose witch one to use. The Idea about this is great and will make the game very alive and more realistic. It is also easy for FFG to make this cards as an expansion.

People who want use them in a game may then purchase them.

It could be interesting... I would play the black deck every time, wait! No as I play with ACM all the time

FCT+ACM makes for happy fun time. I would love this idea and could see it making players choose between standard and alternate crit effects, however, I don't think we'll see it outside homebrews or something. I'd buy it though.

I like it. They can sell the 3 decks as a blister pack.

I think it could be. Players could choose to use the 3-colour deck or the one in the box. It would be relatively easy to make some advantage to the new deck and some advantage to the old one.

Oh, I don't think he is suggesting that they add it now or anything... The game couldn't be changed like that. But it is an interesting concept to consider, you know? If they had included if from the start, it feels like a simple enough concept to incorporate carefully yet intuitively.