I go through competitive and casual variations. Some individuals in our communities are competitive. Others are casual. A good mix is healthy. We benefit from 10-15 people in Austin and 30+ in San Antonio.

21 minutes ago, Vergilius said:

I go through competitive and casual variations. Some individuals in our communities are competitive. Others are casual. A good mix is healthy. We benefit from 10-15 people in Austin and 30+ in San Antonio.

Yea. I just play things. I play silly things (6 Nebulon-Bs anyone?) and I think that is casual but the stupid things win more than you think they should... Stupid Nebs... You were supposed to be weak!

I try out as many idea's as I can casually, changing stuff from game to game.
That being said, if I am planning to attend a tournament, I might use the build I want to take, several times consecutively to try iron out the kinks.

right now it's rebel squadrons, flotillas, and some form of admiral to abuse the combo (I'm thinking sato with torp frigates.)

Can anyone post the winning list? I'm really curious to know what dominated the Armada scene as I never get to play a tournament (as far as I know there are no tournaments in my country, not even found many people that plays Armada)

Norm Weir's 2017 World Championship List

Faction: Rebel Alliance
Points: 399/400

Commander: General Rieekan

Assault Objective: ???
Defense Objective: ???
Navigation Objective: Superior Positions

Assault Frigate Mark II B (72 points)
- Gallant Haven ( 8 points)
- Toryn Farr ( 7 points)
= 87 total ship cost

Nebulon-B Escort Frigate (57 points)
- Yavaris ( 5 points)
- Flight Commander ( 3 points)
- Fighter Coordination Team ( 3 points)
= 68 total ship cost

[ flagship ] GR-75 Medium Transports (18 points)
- General Rieekan ( 30 points)
- Adar Tallon ( 10 points)
= 58 total ship cost

GR-75 Combat Retrofits (24 points)
- Comms Net ( 2 points)
= 26 total ship cost

GR-75 Medium Transports (18 points)
- Bomber Command Center ( 8 points)
= 26 total ship cost

1 Dagger Squadron ( 15 points)
1 Ten Numb ( 19 points)
1 Corran Horn ( 22 points)
2 VCX-100 Freighters ( 30 points)
1 Luke Skywalker ( 20 points)
1 Gold Squadron ( 12 points)
1 "Dutch" Vander ( 16 points)

Curious why he went for the Combat Retrofit.

Also why no Jan and no Biggs... Thought those were an integral part to this whole thing.

52 minutes ago, Valca said:

Curious why he went for the Combat Retrofit.

Longer Ranged Anti-Squadron, and taking the odd-potshot for Superior Positions.

53 minutes ago, IronNerd said:

Also why no Jan and no Biggs... Thought those were an integral part to this whole thing.

So integral that he left them home and Los... Oh wait

Also no Norra.

And only one BCC.

16 hours ago, NebulonB said:

I am troubled for a long time now by a sinking feeling that my beloved Cr90a and Admo swarm with Dodonna wont stand any chance.

Sounds like my D+O list... Which I just designed a new version which has me excited again.

4 hours ago, Lyraeus said:

So integral that he left them home and Los... Oh wait

Biggs/jan or Haven, you don't really need both was the conclusion it was a bit much in sunk points v efficacy.

14 hours ago, Lyraeus said:

Breathe, breathe try something new. Focus on that list. I think I will be tabled a lot as well

I've come to the conclusion that it's a futile effort to try beating it, and the only way to do so is jump away from rolling dice and moving ships and just ask, "How can I win with points?", bid low, and sit on whichever defensive objective he selects where I can do something to just rack up tons of points. Usually something passive strategic carriers can cause problems with (Fire Lanes, Station assault, Sensor Net).

Really though? I miss deciding games with my massive ship batteries. If I fly an ISD, now I have to prepare to face massive fighter screens that shred my shields off and put a two-turn timer on my ISD, if not killing it at the end of the turn when it started fresh at the top of the round. I can't take a kitted VSD pair with an ISD-II because I need to free up points to have a dedicated fighter squadron to do more than just crumple when faced with a decent fighter showing.

So with respect to playing the game how I wish the game was played... where I get my thrills, with what ships I want to run, and what I want to do with them... I haven't had that feeling since Ackbar destroyed every Imperial heavy ship list within wave 2. I resented the rise of DeMSU, I don't like TR-90s punishing non-evade ships easily, and I don't like that competitive value rests with the Rebellion having cheaper and better fighters and MSUs for all situations. I would have easily traded Rhymer away to eliminate intel and force the Rebels to overcome my fighter screens before using their bombers.

But the core of the game is still good. I've been practicing with those three Arquitens I asked about in another thread for a satisfying list. It's not the crushing ISD-II and VSD escort I crave, but it will do for now.

37 minutes ago, Norsehound said:

I've come to the conclusion that it's a futile effort to try beating it, and the only way to do so is jump away from rolling dice and moving ships and just ask, "How can I win with points?", bid low, and sit on whichever defensive objective he selects where I can do something to just rack up tons of points. Usually something passive strategic carriers can cause problems with (Fire Lanes, Station assault, Sensor Net).

Really though? I miss deciding games with my massive ship batteries. If I fly an ISD, now I have to prepare to face massive fighter screens that shred my shields off and put a two-turn timer on my ISD, if not killing it at the end of the turn when it started fresh at the top of the round. I can't take a kitted VSD pair with an ISD-II because I need to free up points to have a dedicated fighter squadron to do more than just crumple when faced with a decent fighter showing.

So with respect to playing the game how I wish the game was played... where I get my thrills, with what ships I want to run, and what I want to do with them... I haven't had that feeling since Ackbar destroyed every Imperial heavy ship list within wave 2. I resented the rise of DeMSU, I don't like TR-90s punishing non-evade ships easily, and I don't like that competitive value rests with the Rebellion having cheaper and better fighters and MSUs for all situations. I would have easily traded Rhymer away to eliminate intel and force the Rebels to overcome my fighter screens before using their bombers.

But the core of the game is still good. I've been practicing with those three Arquitens I asked about in another thread for a satisfying list. It's not the crushing ISD-II and VSD escort I crave, but it will do for now.

I was able to play someone tonight running a Pelta, Yavaris, and trip flotis. Was fun but I still hate Rieekan. While strong his ability changes a game Dynamic which I think is bad or well, too good.

15 hours ago, WuFame said:

Honest question, do you guys' communities just always bring their hardcore lists to weekly Armada?

I'm all for iron sharpening iron, but we give that a rest in our community pretty often. Some weeks the name of the game is just fun ideas, not competitiveness.

This just isnt seen in the uk. I think thats why it annoys me so much. Its just culturally incomprehensible to me.

10 minutes ago, Ginkapo said:

This just isnt seen in the uk. I think thats why it annoys me so much. Its just culturally incomprehensible to me.

Which part?

5 minutes ago, Lyraeus said:

Which part?

Players bringing the same list to Armada nights for months on end. Or even turning up to tournaments with a belief that winning is everything.

Winning isnt everything here. I want to say its an American thing but I cannot say that with any certainty. The UK is a very small island(s) really, were happy not winning.

Seeing the new Imperal Assault previews just dropped.... I think the game that's left us all in the dust is not Armada!

I know the style of game is different, but man I wish Armada got a big scale release like the heart of the empire wave....

Or was that Wave 5/Corellian Conflict?

3 hours ago, Ginkapo said:

Players bringing the same list to Armada nights for months on end. Or even turning up to tournaments with a belief that winning is everything.

Winning isnt everything here. I want to say its an American thing but I cannot say that with any certainty. The UK is a very small island(s) really, were happy not winning.

Apparently it is a very Canadian thing

seriously though as soon as the interview with Norm happened and he confirmed that they all brought the same list...I didn't know what to think.

It is strangely brilliant and also a bit eerie at the same time. I'd rather everyone brought diverse, fun lists, but it is a competition. I can't fault them for their prep.

Maybe chess started out as miniatures game and then everyone started bringing the same list. It all started with 2-3 pawns for activation padding, now there are 8

Still a good game

5 hours ago, Ginkapo said:

Players bringing the same list to Armada nights for months on end. Or even turning up to tournaments with a belief that winning is everything.

Winning isnt everything here. I want to say its an American thing but I cannot say that with any certainty. The UK is a very small island(s) really, were happy not winning.

I will test a list several times but I tend to always try new things. Others like being consistent and take the same list week in and week out.

1 hour ago, Xeletor said:

Maybe chess started out as miniatures game and then everyone started bringing the same list. It all started with 2-3 pawns for activation padding, now there are 8

Still a good game

Nah, chess is OP as all get out. That Queen movement pattern just isn't fair to my 4 knights list.

Although THAT'S an idea. Take the basic chess point scoring and build lists with the same total points. I don't play chess (not enough spaceships or explosions) but if anyone does, lemme know how crazy the idea is. Probably too much, as it's just a race to 3 queens I bet.

18 hours ago, Drasnighta said:

Longer Ranged Anti-Squadron, and taking the odd-potshot for Superior Positions.

I think I may have the answer and it is Fire lanes. I recently played someone practicing with the variation of this list on Vassal (in retrospect I think it was someone from Toronto crew). I was able to trade my flagship ISD for essentially yavaris and gallant haven while flotillas were being threatened with a flanking flechette raider. Once both combat ships were gone there was no way to get points from fire lanes anymore.

Next time I saw this person playing on Vassal one flotilla was upgraded to a combat retrofit.

That's another possibility. I didn't see what else was in the list for Objectives.