Well, there's two concepts I want to build thematic lists off, one canon based and one Legends based.

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Novel Thrawn's Imperial Task Group (the one Thrawn was part of and the one he led before his promotion to Grand Admiral) which was one ISD, 3 imperial light cruisers, 2 raider corvettes, and unknown frigates (class or number)

So starting a build off that would have an ISD I, 3 Arquitens-class Light Cruisers, 2 x Raider I, and 6 TIE Fighter Squadrons (ISD wing)....for 408 pts before upgrade, crew, and objective cards, not considering other TIE starfighter types and light ships.... yeah not for your typical tournament match XD

So can the concept be used by smaller ships like say...a VSD or Gladiator in place of ISD?

Or Gladiator II, 3x Raider I, and 2x VT-49 for 238 pts before fighter squadrons, upgrade, crew, and objective cards? (Is this really looking an MSU type list?)

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The Legends' Roving Battle Line, devised by Ackbar. It consists of cruisers being the backbone of the line.

The next element is the close support, consisting of frigates and corvettes, that surrounds the cruisers and mainly serves to keep other frigates and corvettes away from the cruisers. As situations changes, they can also strike out at targets of opportunity.

The next element further out from the cruiser element is the picket, consisting of fast-attack patrol ships and other picket ships which can include light freighters (Armada 'freighters' do have okay anti squadron armament ), it is used to force the enemy to react. Basically, making your opponents to commit his ships' movement early.

Then starfighters, split into one element defending the line from other starfighters and the other element attacking the OpFor.

Hmmm. MC80 Star Cruiser, 2x CR90As, 1 Nebulon B Escort Frigate, 1x GR75 Transport, 1 VCX Freighter, and 1 YT-2400 before squadrons and other cards for 290 pts.

Yeah, I'm seeing Thematic lists are hard to put together.

Commander: General Dodonna

Assault Objective: Precision Strike
Defense Objective: Fighter Ambush
Navigation Objective: Superior Positions

Modified Pelta-class Command Ship (60 points)
- Raymus Antilles ( 7 points)
- Fighter Coordination Team ( 3 points)
- Expanded Hangar Bay ( 5 points)
- All Fighters, Follow Me! ( 5 points)
= 80 total ship cost

CR90 Corvette A (44 points)
- Turbolaser Reroute Circuits ( 7 points)
= 51 total ship cost

CR90 Corvette A (44 points)
- Turbolaser Reroute Circuits ( 7 points)
= 51 total ship cost

CR90 Corvette A (44 points)
- Jainas Light ( 2 points)
- Turbolaser Reroute Circuits ( 7 points)
= 53 total ship cost

[ flagship ] GR-75 Medium Transports (18 points)
- General Dodonna ( 20 points)
- Bright Hope ( 2 points)
- Bomber Command Center ( 8 points)
= 48 total ship cost

1 Hera Syndulla ( 28 points)
2 A-Wing Squadrons ( 22 points)
4 B-Wing Squadrons ( 56 points)

Based on Phoenix Squadron

1 hour ago, Alexhurlbut said:

Well, there's two concepts I want to build thematic lists off, one canon based and one Legends based.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Novel Thrawn's Imperial Task Group (the one Thrawn was part of and the one he led before his promotion to Grand Admiral) which was one ISD, 3 imperial light cruisers, 2 raider corvettes, and unknown frigates (class or number)

So starting a build off that would have an ISD I, 3 Arquitens-class Light Cruisers, 2 x Raider I, and 6 TIE Fighter Squadrons (ISD wing)....for 408 pts before upgrade, crew, and objective cards, not considering other TIE starfighter types and light ships.... yeah not for your typical tournament match XD

So can the concept be used by smaller ships like say...a VSD or Gladiator in place of ISD?

Or Gladiator II, 3x Raider I, and 2x VT-49 for 238 pts before fighter squadrons, upgrade, crew, and objective cards? (Is this really looking an MSU type list?)

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The Legends' Roving Battle Line, devised by Ackbar. It consists of cruisers being the backbone of the line.

The next element is the close support, consisting of frigates and corvettes, that surrounds the cruisers and mainly serves to keep other frigates and corvettes away from the cruisers. As situations changes, they can also strike out at targets of opportunity.

The next element further out from the cruiser element is the picket, consisting of fast-attack patrol ships and other picket ships which can include light freighters (Armada 'freighters' do have okay anti squadron armament ), it is used to force the enemy to react. Basically, making your opponents to commit his ships' movement early.

Then starfighters, split into one element defending the line from other starfighters and the other element attacking the OpFor.

Hmmm. MC80 Star Cruiser, 2x CR90As, 1 Nebulon B Escort Frigate, 1x GR75 Transport, 1 VCX Freighter, and 1 YT-2400 before squadrons and other cards for 290 pts.

Yeah, I'm seeing Thematic lists are hard to put together.

Thematic play is my cup of tea, and I can tell you that putting together lists drawn from Canon and Legends is very doable once you get into the hang of it. Building thematic lists can find inspiration from tournament orientated lists, but they are also very different. I've been working on a reference guide for players who are interested in thematic play, and I hope to have it posted on the forums within a couple of weeks. In the meantime, feel free to message me if you have specific questions.

Some things to think about:

Outside of the Armada world I enjoy model railroading. We have a term in that hobby called "selective compression." Basically, it means that you scale down the prototype to fit your available space. In this case, taking the Thrawn build as an example, you would keep the ISD, but only use 2 Arquitens, and 1 Raider. This gives you the impression of Thrawn's fleet without having to account for all of the ships. Plus, now you have more room for upgrades, etc. A quick calculation puts this fleet, with 6 Tie fighters at about 310.

What you describe for Ackbar is a typical modern navel battle group both in composition and in its organization. Again, utilize selective compression to give yourself a fair representation of the ships and squadrons with room for upgrades.

You can stick with the thematic theme when choosing upgrades as well. (I'll have info on this as part of my reference.) I always use titles...every ship has a name. And where possible, pair commanders with their ship, Raymus Antilles with Tantive IV, for example.

For an ISD I you'll want XX9's, NK-7's and Q7 tractor beams. All other upgrades can be freelanced, if you want to run with a full slate. Arq's and Raider are more freelanced.

FFG has not released the XV9 turbolaser which would be standard on a MC80. Use H9's on your C90's and X17's on your Nebulon B. Freelance the rest.

If your Rebel Fleet contains far less points than your Imperial, remember that is thematic too. This is where choosing the right objective cards and strategy matter. Imperials like to mow the lawn...cut everything down. Rebels are hit and run. Plan accordingly and have fun.

PS. I've posted an article for Biggs's April Challenge on Asteroids. It's orientated thematically. You might want to check it out.

Heh, thanks for chiming in. One alternative I came up with is what you saw in my OP; gladiator, 3 raider I (in place of Imperial Light Cruiser), and 2 VT49 (in place of Raider I from the full concept).

Your guy from Legends who would be at home in a Gladiator would be Screed, with the Demolisher title. Legends suggests that the Gladiators were meant to be escorts for the VSDs. Screed also has an association with those ships, specifically the VSD I. You could take it that way, or you could use Screed with a build constructed around the Gladiator. There is nothing in Legends and Canon concerning a GSD, Raider, VT49 combo, so you're doing a bit of freelancing here. The choice is yours. I haven't done my build yet for Screed. He spent a lot of time in the outer rim, so a small 180pt "local enforcer" build might work for him. I'm kind of waiting on the release of Quasars in wave 6 before I decide since Canon definitely has them doing local work in the outer rim. If they seem better for that task, I might use the Gladiators with the VSD's as a larger force.

In terms of types of builds, there is no wrong way when it comes to following theme. We've seen everything from single ships to huge fleets. I think a MSU list is fine.