6 minutes ago, RyonOlson said:

I live in a small town, nearly 2 hours from my LGS, so I was excited when I was able to get a few of my friends from my town to play Armada. This was good for a few months, but as of recently, my group has slowly quit on me. Since I was the designated provider of gaming supplies, I ended up with a huge investment in the game, which in turn ended up with hundreds of dollars worth of ships, and no one to play with. Having discussed it in depth with them, they have explained they don't enjoy the game due to not understanding it. I would have been fine with that, if they had actually tried to pay attention while I explained the game mechanics. The only player who understands the game refuses to play the game unless it is according to his rules, and he uses custom game components. Not a huge problem, except when I want to play a regular game, which causes him to start complaining about not being able to win. The instant he starts losing, he gets angry, and flies his ships off the board to quit early.

Since I can't make regular trips to my LGS, I only get in a game now once every few months. It's annoying, having such an expensive investment in a game, and then having everyone in the group quit...

That's tough man...

16 minutes ago, xanderf said:

Where did anyone say that?

Undead seemed to be more rallying at what Reinholt was saying - not you. With the:

" Well, something must be horribly wrong with you as a person, and it's not that the game itself has gotten stale and same-y with almost everyone bringing pretty similar 2 ship + 3 flotilla + squadron fleets, right?"

and then the second part could be fulfilled with the:

" I know that comes across as sarcastic and unhelpful, but seriously, the forums have gone balls to the wall in shouting down people who think the game is getting boring but then you are lamenting people being too bored to play the game after shouting at the people pointing that out?

Hard to be sympathetic."

So yes, you could see that. The unfortunate thing is, I don't think its warranted at all on either side. Even if there is a problem with the game, that's not something you can fix as an Organiser as such. Throwing Negativity at other people while disparaging on the negativity of the situation isn't helpful, either...

The core attributes for building games is there - Advertise, Advertise, Advertise. Show up, and Advertise. Provide opportunities for people to try, and people to test... If there's a 40k group, there's already people willing to put time and money into jumping into things... Sometimes they just need that guidance. Broaden the gaming horizon, find other stores and bring things to them ... Show them how it is... Depression can come and go... (Travelling 2 hours to the Sentry Box to sit down and wait for no-one to show for 6 hours, and then training it 2 hours home - I've been there...)

Always review what you've done, and what you are going to do forward... I dropped standard 3 round tournaments for Fleet Patrol 2 rounders, because it gets people in and out of the store in between Mealtimes, so there's no big break for food anywhere along the line... Simple little thoughts like that can make a big difference...

Keep pimping, keep showing, keep demonstrating.

And @Reinholt , I am really sorry you've lost the passion for the game. I truly am. But I'm sure in some of the past week's statements, you yourself said you would be stepping away because things were going to get, or already were, toxic - and my friend, I agree, they are toxic. So please, heed the advice you gave yourself. I don't think this is the time or place for a "Reap What You Sow!" moment... Especially in the light of wallowing in the mud you admittedly see the forum being mired in... Be better than that. Leave the hate and abuse be slung at people like me.

Unless of course, the break you were going to take was the Weekend , and you took it . Then, like... Game on, because you know me - being about the rules and all - and that qualifies as you keeping your word

6 minutes ago, Darth Sanguis said:

Oh so it was you! He sent pics, how cool!

I tell ya we really miss him up here, he's a good dude.

Not a lot of local interest, even at insanely good rates.... new players are very hesitant to make that jump especially when existing players don't show up... it's been frustrating...

Out of curiosity - you do know the Ohio Armada FB group?

https://www.facebook.com/groups/448040985360679/

...I've seen posts in that, off and on, of people looking for games. (I'm in the group as I'm from NE Ohio, originally, but...uhhh...not moving back, sorry.)

22 minutes ago, Undeadguy said:

Ok really? Turning a "I lost my group of players" into "Well clearly they hate flotillas and you're a sh*tty person for using them" discussion?

6 minutes ago, xanderf said:

Out of curiosity - you do know the Ohio Armada FB group?

https://www.facebook.com/groups/448040985360679/

...I've seen posts in that, off and on, of people looking for games. (I'm in the group as I'm from NE Ohio, originally, but...uhhh...not moving back, sorry.)

Yup, I'm one of the admins.... most of the people in that group are either in Cincinnati or Columbus but yeah, a few of our guys (the ones with FB) are there.

8 minutes ago, Drasnighta said:

The core attributes for building games is there - Advertise, Advertise, Advertise. Show up, and Advertise. Provide opportunities for people to try, and people to test... If there's a 40k group, there's already people willing to put time and money into jumping into things... Sometimes they just need that guidance. Broaden the gaming horizon, find other stores and bring things to them ... Show them how it is... Depression can come and go... (Travelling 2 hours to the Sentry Box to sit down and wait for no-one to show for 6 hours, and then training it 2 hours home - I've been there...)

Always review what you've done, and what you are going to do forward... I dropped standard 3 round tournaments for Fleet Patrol 2 rounders, because it gets people in and out of the store in between Mealtimes, so there's no big break for food anywhere along the line... Simple little thoughts like that can make a big difference...

Keep pimping, keep showing, keep demonstrating.

Thanks dras.

Maybe I'll have a couple of the CC posters printed and start a bi-weekly demo night or something... try to snag a few newbies...

The store we meet at is mostly MTG, but because they have so much room it's great for armada, very well lit too.

I'mma keep trying

34 minutes ago, xanderf said:

Where did anyone say that?

What we said is that if your game group fell apart because people aren't having fun with the game maybe there is a reason for that and you shouldn't automatically dismiss all suggestions to that effect, insisting that the game is perfect as-is . Because, for some people, it's obviously not. Who knows if it has anything to do with the flotillas - maybe it does, maybe it's something else. But casually dismissing any idea that the game isn't perfect for everyone means you'll never be able to actually solve the problem if that IS related.

You're assuming the issue you see in the game is the cause for these players to leave.

And you bolded: not one person in our group ever complained about flotillas

46 minutes ago, xanderf said:

Eh...except your group seems to have fallen apart, and you are having a hard time getting people interested in the game? There is a reason writing letters to politicians is generally encouraged, as it's largely held that for every one person who bothered to write a letter - there are 10 people that felt the same way, but didn't. MOST of the time, when people are just unhappy with something, they silently walk away instead of saying anything about it.

IE., a lot of that problem keeping a group going might well be because people don't like flotillas, and their impact on the game, but don't verbally say that, because:

Both you and Reinholt are making a correlation/causation fallacy. Implying flotillas made those players leave. Just because you are bored with the game, does not mean other people feel the same way.

And if those players never wanted to discuss the problems with the game, how do you know what the problem is? If I feel X, but never say so, how do you know I feel X?

We have 1 side of the story here. Who knows why they left. Who cares what they think about flotillas and activations.

Don't make assumptions.

Don't drag your baggage in here and dumping it on someone who is clearly asking for help rebuilding their community.

Just sending you a pat of solidarity @Darth Sanguis . Our gaming group died. It was reborn around Rogue One though. Sometimes things take time.

For myself, I found that I truly valued friends more than I valued random games, and my new goals are to play with people actually are my friends, or are very nice and could be my friends.

Sadly my fleet sits around on stationary patrol duty for months. (My transports need paint jobs anyway)

Move to.cincinnati. all of you. We'd play weekly. Lol

Darth. I understand the sadness. I just finally got a group together here that can play on my days off. But two of the guys are new ish. And one of the guys is my level, or higher (honestly he kicks my arse all the time lol) so. It'll be interesting.

In all honestly. Just grab random friends. Game with whatever. Then bring back armada when they caN Convince ppl not to sell. And play later.

Or.. Move down here. Lol

48 minutes ago, RyonOlson said:

I live in a small town, nearly 2 hours from my LGS, so I was excited when I was able to get a few of my friends from my town to play Armada. This was good for a few months, but as of recently, my group has slowly quit on me. Since I was the designated provider of gaming supplies, I ended up with a huge investment in the game, which in turn ended up with hundreds of dollars worth of ships, and no one to play with. Having discussed it in depth with them, they have explained they don't enjoy the game due to not understanding it. I would have been fine with that, if they had actually tried to pay attention while I explained the game mechanics. The only player who understands the game refuses to play the game unless it is according to his rules, and he uses custom game components. Not a huge problem, except when I want to play a regular game, which causes him to start complaining about not being able to win. The instant he starts losing, he gets angry, and flies his ships off the board to quit early.

Since I can't make regular trips to my LGS, I only get in a game now once every few months. It's annoying, having such an expensive investment in a game, and then having everyone in the group quit...

so, you basically bought everything for everyone, then people just left you and you're stuck with everything?

Sorry, but with friends like these...

And the quit early guy, well, he sounds like someone I know who does that when he loses in Cthulhu Wars. He just suicides his great old one so he's out of the game faster. So dumb and annoying.

I've actually really been considering picking up some tired old Wave2 person's expansion: I've really wanted a 2nd MC80 Home One for a while. Maybe 2 more MC30s for spam fleets, and 3-4 more CR90s for Rambo. But Imma wait and see if the FAQ they are testing is gonna errata double ram with ET. If so, I'mnot gonna want to play normal swarm Cr90s.

1 minute ago, Blail Blerg said:

I've actually really been considering picking up some tired old Wave2 person's expansion: I've really wanted a 2nd MC80 Home One for a while. Maybe 2 more MC30s for spam fleets, and 3-4 more CR90s for Rambo. But Imma wait and see if the FAQ they are testing is gonna errata double ram with ET. If so, I'mnot gonna want to play normal swarm Cr90s.

What would you do with 2 pickles?

2 minutes ago, Undeadguy said:

What would you do with 2 pickles?

Terrible terrible things.

--

Ackbar. Kit them out with upgrades meant to one shot small ships, and have a 25% chance of even one shooting a untouched AF. Engine Techs for anti block tech. 3 flotillas (commence whining), 6 fighters for cover.

Double sledgehammer list. It looks amazing on paper. Have yet to get a 2nd pickle for a threesome on the table.

1 hour ago, Darth Sanguis said:

I may have to. I've played a few games on it, but I struggle. Conceptualizing the battlefield is hard for me to do in 2D. The last few times I played on it I misdeployed and got rekt. I suppose practice will help in that area though.

Its actually easier on Vassal. Thats the issue, you have to be BETTER at deployment than normal because of it. It helps your overall game so dont be disheartened.

3 hours ago, Darth Sanguis said:

I hate to say it but I think I'm depressed.

Over Christmas the founding member of our gaming group in NE Ohio had to move back to California. He was a really charismatic fellow and did a great job inspiring people to come play. After he left the group has basically fallen apart. I tried to step into his shoes and encourage players to come out, even offered free pizza and soda, I can barely get 3 people to show up, and almost never on the same day.

Two of our members announced they're selling their ships last week and another told me Saturday he's stepping away from Armada...

I tried running tournaments, and organizing CC events, nothing seems to have worked....

Any of you guys feel like moving to NE Ohio, make it suck less here?

I'm about 40 minutes north of you, but want to get back down there for a game on a weekend sometime soon! The most recent kit tourney you organized was fun. Or if you ever feel like heading up to Critical Hit in Cleveland Heights, let me know.

49 minutes ago, Ginkapo said:

Its actually easier on Vassal. Thats the issue, you have to be BETTER at deployment than normal because of it. It helps your overall game so dont be disheartened.

I'll have to dive back in, I'm on the facebook vassal group, and GK has linked me to everything I need in the past.

8 minutes ago, Darth Sanguis said:

I'll have to dive back in, I'm on the facebook vassal group, and GK has linked me to everything I need in the past.

Do the big vassal tourny!

So, in an attempt to seem helpful, I have a few suggestions. I have a very fledgling group here in northern Nevada and we have to keep ourselves motivated. So here goes:

1. If you do not have it, start a Face Book group.
   1. If you do have it, post relentlessly. Bring up news and keep people interested. You will talk to yourself a lot and a few people will answer, but traction and visibility will go up.
2. Try to print and post flyers for your FLGS
   1. this has brought attention to the group and the stores have seen an increase in sales to, it is easy to get them to buy in.
3. Make events fun and easy to get into. Keep cost down and inveterate thoughts and ideas.
   1. it is trying to keep a group alive, but after awhile it will become a bit self sustaining.

Hopefully this helps a bit, you need a local champion some times to carry the flag for the group.

For a time there were three core players at our store location in Fremont, SF Bay area, myself included. Then we all attended a Sacramento Regionals which... none of us enjoyed. I ended up in last place even, put there by a bye and the most irritating, slow-paced first-round game of armada I have ever played, losing badly to Superior Positions on top of being a huge waste of my time.

Our second member quit the game. He hasn't been back since, he's too pissed about the random dice luck and prevalence of fighters I think.

The last member is Mythics, and he remains, until recently, my only reliable opponent. He's the guy that gave Blail and I PTSD about fighters... because mythics makes few mistakes. It's at the point I think where he can fly any list and win with it, because he's that good and practices on his own that much. While it's nice to have another Armada enthusiast like that... gaming with him can be draining because his skill is so high and winning is difficult (I have yet to win, best I've done is beaten him to a draw). I'm no slouch either, I was topping tournaments before he came to the scene.

And honestly it feels like pulling teeth to get players to commit to games in the SF East Bay. There's a group up near Oakland/Berkeley, there are other players in the south bay, but there's a huge hole in the middle that I'm stuck inside and can't seem to find many regular players to meet up with.

Fortunately there is a new player in the region I'm getting regular plays with, but with how well I can beat him, I don't want to run him out of Armada.

Norsehound, if you see this I think there is a good group in the SF area. They too have a Facebook group and seem to be active.

3 minutes ago, Mig1921 said:

Norsehound, if you see this I think there is a good group in the SF area. They too have a Facebook group and seem to be active.

Uh-huh. I'm the administrator of that group. Calls for players to come out and play in the East Bay to stores I can visit regularly often go without comment. Activity in the other areas is much more common.

1 hour ago, Norsehound said:

Uh-huh. I'm the administrator of that group. Calls for players to come out and play in the East Bay to stores I can visit regularly often go without comment. Activity in the other areas is much more common.

Ah snap. That is good to hear.

The lack of a faq kinda pushed me back from armada, there is serious issues that need to be looked at.

I know the feeling of seeing your group cave around you. In my local area (Northern Illinois) we had at one point 5-6 Armada players and it was a strong group. We would meet weekly, it was awesome. Then one of our guys moved an hour south and another guy graduated from college and could not find a job locally. So he moved to his hometown, and hasn't been heard from since. The group dropped to three players, the group limped on until one of our final guys graduated from collage and he too moved away. The group is now officially dead locally for me. The strange thing is that there is a massive group of miniature gamers, but they all always and seem to only play Warhammer 40000. It's a sad, sad time in a galaxy far, far away at my local shop. Maybe one day it will rise again, but 40k is king here... so I really doubt it.

8 minutes ago, Moore1980 said:

I know the feeling of seeing your group cave around you. In my local area (Northern Illinois) we had at one point 5-6 Armada players and it was a strong group. We would meet weekly, it was awesome. Then one of our guys moved an hour south and another guy graduated from college and could not find a job locally. So he moved to his hometown, and hasn't been heard from since. The group dropped to three players, the group limped on until one of our final guys graduated from collage and he too moved away. The group is now officially dead locally for me. The strange thing is that there is a massive group of miniature gamers, but they all always and seem to only play Warhammer 40000. It's a sad, sad time in a galaxy far, far away at my local shop. Maybe one day it will rise again, but 40k is king here... so I really doubt it.

Where you at in N Illinois? Out West or near the city? How far are you from Downer's Grove or Niles?