About to Dive In - Need Help

By ShadowTrooper7, in Star Wars: Armada

So, I've committed purchasing the Armada Core Set and getting into this game that looks so much cooler than X-Wing, which I have been playing since Fall 2015.

I want to purchase several expansions along with the Core Set so I can build 300-400 point fleets right away, and I have a tentative list of which ships I want and when I want them. Here we go. Feel free to tell me which ones are in the right place and which ones aren't.

1. Core Set, ISD, Home One , MC30c, Imperial Light Cruiser

2. AFM2, Gladiator, Imperial and Rebel Squadrons/Rogues and Villains

3. Pelta Frigate, Liberty , Imperial and Rebel Squadrons II

4. Imperial Raider, CR90, Nebulon-B, VSD

The Flotillas and the Interdictor can be placed somewhere in this list. I don't know much about them. The Liberty and Home One could be exchanged with each other as well. I placed Home One first because it seems like Ackbar would work very well with an MC30c.

4 minutes ago, ShadowTrooper7 said:

So, I've committed purchasing the Armada Core Set and getting into this game that looks so much cooler than X-Wing, which I have been playing since Fall 2015.

I want to purchase several expansions along with the Core Set so I can build 300-400 point fleets right away, and I have a tentative list of which ships I want and when I want them. Here we go. Feel free to tell me which ones are in the right place and which ones aren't.

1. Core Set, ISD, Home One , MC30c, Imperial Light Cruiser

2. AFM2, Gladiator, Imperial and Rebel Squadrons/Rogues and Villains

3. Pelta Frigate, Liberty , Imperial and Rebel Squadrons II

4. Imperial Raider, CR90, Nebulon-B, VSD

The Flotillas and the Interdictor can be placed somewhere in this list. I don't know much about them. The Liberty and Home One could be exchanged with each other as well. I placed Home One first because it seems like Ackbar would work very well with an MC30c.

A couple of flotillas may do you some good at stage 1-2, they provide a lot of support and have a good range of uses.

Just now, Darth Sanguis said:

A couple of flotillas may do you some good at stage 1-2, they provide a lot of support and have a good range of uses.

OK, I'll remember that. How many/which ones do you suggest?

I feel like rebel squadron pack 1 is far superior to 2. Imp squad packs, both are good to have.

21 minutes ago, ShadowTrooper7 said:

OK, I'll remember that. How many/which ones do you suggest?

I'd do one of each to start then go from the depending on your play style/ need for them.

48 minutes ago, ShadowTrooper7 said:

So, I've committed purchasing the Armada Core Set and getting into this game that looks so much cooler than X-Wing, which I have been playing since Fall 2015.

I want to purchase several expansions along with the Core Set so I can build 300-400 point fleets right away, and I have a tentative list of which ships I want and when I want them. Here we go. Feel free to tell me which ones are in the right place and which ones aren't.

1. Core Set, ISD, Home One , MC30c, Imperial Light Cruiser

2. AFM2, Gladiator, Imperial and Rebel Squadrons/Rogues and Villains

3. Pelta Frigate, Liberty , Imperial and Rebel Squadrons II

4. Imperial Raider, CR90, Nebulon-B, VSD

The Flotillas and the Interdictor can be placed somewhere in this list. I don't know much about them. The Liberty and Home One could be exchanged with each other as well. I placed Home One first because it seems like Ackbar would work very well with an MC30c.

1. you need 1 x each flotilla. so cheap in $ sense and invaluable for list building. then get the ships you like.

2. indeed these are excellent choices.

3. indeed you may swap the home 1 with the liberty. they are equal ships, but very different. buy whichever you like first. dont think about "ackbar + mc30" combo, because the mc30 is such a solid design that fits with almost all rebel admirals. wouldnt even say ackbar is the best admiral for it, he can make it deadli-er but its already deadly enough.

4. idk about that. all these ships are either really good or have awesome cards in them.

in terms of "competitive meta right now", the most used ships are: (rebels) "gr-75 flotilla,nebulon, assault frigate/mc30 then rebel squadrons I/rogues" and (imperials) "gozanti flotilla, ISD, GSD, Raider,Light Cruiser, then squadrons I/II/rogues." but reality is, the meta changes in armada like all games, and because it is a very tough/skill-demanding game , by the time you have learnt to play properly the meta will have changed. its best for you to buy "one flotilla each, plus ships that you like". take that into account for your first waves.

Edited by Kikaze

I think you need to move the squadron packs up in your priority lists. You need to have squadrons.

Dependent on how you'll be playing of course. At home with just your stuff, your priority list is fine. If you're going to go out and play in tourneys or with others, you need to move squadrons and a flotilla up in priority for whichever side you think you'll be playing.

1 minute ago, Frimmel said:

I think you need to move the squadron packs up in your priority lists. You need to have squadrons.

Dependent on how you'll be playing of course. At home with just your stuff, your priority list is fine. If you're going to go out and play in tourneys or with others, you need to move squadrons and a flotilla up in priority for whichever side you think you'll be playing.

his "wave 2" has very good amount of squadrons. thats ok. imho let him buy ships first to figure out the whole activation/dodging arcs etc thing. learning>tourneys for a new player.

Edited by Kikaze

If you want a good way to fill out a lot of squads, get the Core, Corellian Conflict, and Imp/Rebel 1 Squad Packs. You end up with 13 aces for each side and those aces cover most of what passes for the current squad meta. Later, get the Rogues and Villains and the Second faction squad packs

2 minutes ago, Kikaze said:

his "wave 2" has very good amount of squadrons. thats ok. imho let him buy ships first to figure out the whole activation/dodging arcs etc thing. learning>tourneys for a new player.

I don't disagree. I guess I'm suggesting more.

1-- Core Set, ISD, Home One , MC30c, Imperial Light Cruiser

2a -- Imp Squadrons; Flotilla; Gladiator

2b -- Reb Squadrons; Flotilla; Assault Frigate

Again presuming he isn't just going to play supplying both fleets.

34 minutes ago, Kikaze said:

indeed you may swap the home 1 with the liberty. they are equal ships, but very different. buy whichever you like first. dont think about "ackbar + mc30" combo, because the mc30 is such a solid design that fits with almost all rebel admirals. wouldnt even say ackbar is the best admiral for it, he can make it deadli-er but its already deadly enough.

I agree, and I think the MC30c does really well as a Liberty's little buddy too. Madine also helps their speed 4 manoeuvrability a lot, and lets them do some pretty bonkers turns at speed 3. Between the big rebel ships, you can definitely just pick whichever you like the most.

First, read this:

http://cannotgetyourshipout.blogspot.com/2017/02/armada-101-working-your-way-up-from.html

His other 101 blog tagged posts are also good if you're not sure how the game works fully.

I frankly suggest:

1) Core, Dice Pack, Squadron Pack 1 (Imp and Rebel), Rogues & Villains, Imperial Light Cruiser, Rebel Escort Frigate.

The core's obvious, and actually includes important cards like Expanded Hangar Bays. The Dice Pack is because 3 of each color simply isn't enough, even with the core set - X-Wings roll 4 blues! Squadron Packs 1 are to add more versatility to your fighter selection - the core fighters just aren't enough. Rogues & Villains gives you Intel ships (a vital thing to learn) and more firepower. The second Escort Frigate gives you better titles, Intel Officer, and they work good in pairs. The Light Cruiser gives you Moff Jerrjerrod (one of the best Imperial commanders for making the Victory playable!), a long-range ship to pair with the short-range Victory-I, and other upgrades that are necessary these days. It also comes out BARELY over $200 and gives you two 300-point fleets to teach with.

2) ISD, Phoenix One, 1x each Flotilla

At this point, you're just branching out to add more versatility, and trying to get iconic ships - the Phoenix One really helps Rebel fighter balls, and the ISD is just... well... It probably isn't a real Armada collection WITHOUT one. Flotillas are great in small doses.

3) Well, whatever you want

At this point, you've gotten enough to see what the game is actually like and what faction you prefer playing and how - and which commanders to pick up.

Another option, if you're able to, is to look for a lot that someone is selling. You could get just about everything you'd want for probably around 50% MSRP.

For example: http://www.ebay.com/itm/332260396833?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

Its a bit on the expansive side, but that is pretty much everything and then some of what you'd want to get. There are a couple of options like that you see pop up as well if you can take the plunge all at once.

Soon after posting this, I made the mistake of walking past the Imperial Assault wall at my local game store. That game looks better and better every time I look at it....

1 hour ago, ShadowTrooper7 said:

Soon after posting this, I made the mistake of walking past the Imperial Assault wall at my local game store. That game looks better and better every time I look at it....

Yeah, but you have to paint the pieces. . .

1 hour ago, ShadowTrooper7 said:

Soon after posting this, I made the mistake of walking past the Imperial Assault wall at my local game store. That game looks better and better every time I look at it....

Me too....

I just started Armada months ago, and dig the casual friends games; awesome games with iconic ships and fleets pounding it out with fighter/bomber support = fun!! However, the tourney prep games at my LGS are stale (Rieeken and his flotilla spam everywhere making capital ships unimportant, and fleet commanders don't have their command on bridges of the largest iconic flagships of the fleet, they're on dinky transports or something) and, for me, they are way, way less than fun; no, they are frustrating at best. The game is in a weird place; but I'm pretty sure flotilla fixes are on the way from FFG as it has bent the game down like freezing rain on tall pines. This is just my opinion, a novice; the guys advice above is spot on though.

1 hour ago, ShadowTrooper7 said:

Soon after posting this, I made the mistake of walking past the Imperial Assault wall at my local game store. That game looks better and better every time I look at it....

I know that I'm going to be buying teh Hera/chop box for my fiance, but for right now I'll stick with Armada - there are lots of small-unit scale mini-based wargames out there, but only ONE currently being produced that has fleets clashing and sending fighters at each other.

19 hours ago, GhostofNobodyInParticular said:

Yeah, but you have to paint the pieces. . .

You don't have to. I probably won't.

19 hours ago, clanofwolves said:

Me too....

I just started Armada months ago, and dig the casual friends games; awesome games with iconic ships and fleets pounding it out with fighter/bomber support = fun!! However, the tourney prep games at my LGS are stale (Rieeken and his flotilla spam everywhere making capital ships unimportant, and fleet commanders don't have their command on bridges of the largest iconic flagships of the fleet, they're on dinky transports or something) and, for me, they are way, way less than fun; no, they are frustrating at best. The game is in a weird place; but I'm pretty sure flotilla fixes are on the way from FFG as it has bent the game down like freezing rain on tall pines. This is just my opinion, a novice; the guys advice above is spot on though.

Yeah, I started to pick up on that as I researched the game and watched YT videos about various ships and strategies.

3 hours ago, ShadowTrooper7 said:

You don't have to. I probably won't.

Yeah, if I can afford it, I'll jump in regardless, and then try to paint them. But still, without paint it's all rather bland to look at (and that's half the fun!).

It's another reason why I also am not getting into Halo: Fleet Battles any time soon.

On 6/16/2017 at 4:55 PM, GhostofNobodyInParticular said:

Yeah, if I can afford it, I'll jump in regardless, and then try to paint them. But still, without paint it's all rather bland to look at (and that's half the fun!).

It's another reason why I also am not getting into Halo: Fleet Battles any time soon.

Yep. Some of the figures (Royal Guards, Stormtroopers) seem like they'd be easy to paint, but others (like the Wookiees, the Trandoshans, Vader, and Boba Fett) seem like they'd be a lot harder.

Get squadrons ASAP- it is a painful world playing with only the Core Set squadrons- especially if you play Imperial.