I come from another company that layers its announcements, something like Legion would have some articles, a battle report and painting guides over the space of 4-6 weeks, for smaller units, you may have an "in store now" or coming in 2 weeks. (Flames of War for anyone interested.) I find that hearing about a game coming out 6 months in advance, I just get to the point where rather than rushing down to the FLGS and ordering this new shiny I end up seeing it on the shelf and have completely lost interest. As such I am not too sure that the problems with distribution and delays in Armada is unique to Armada.

I would have been far more happier is we had learned about Legion 8 weeks ago, and 4-6 weeks later we had it in our hands. That way we would have been playing the game for 2-3 weeks at this time and having far more fun as a community, finding opponents, building armies, having huge life changing rules arguments and otherwise having far more fun that wondering if this will get on a boat for Christmas, or be delayed until Q2. Work the hype of the game to be an impulse purchase, rather than people pondering about even buying into the game in the first place. I think, for me at least, I am now not too worried one way or the other. I live through Armada Wave 3, where it traveled at about 6km/hour from China to USA, while wave 4 managed to catch up and arrive in shops t the same time more or less.

If this game was not the game it is, which for me scratches so many itches: Star Wars, Miniatures, Painting, Modelling, Terrain Building and a great game too. I probably wouldn't even both posting my opinion on the matter.

12 hours ago, Amanal said:

I come from another company that layers its announcements, something like Legion would have some articles, a battle report and painting guides over the space of 4-6 weeks, for smaller units, you may have an "in store now" or coming in 2 weeks. (Flames of War for anyone interested.) I find that hearing about a game coming out 6 months in advance, I just get to the point where rather than rushing down to the FLGS and ordering this new shiny I end up seeing it on the shelf and have completely lost interest. As such I am not too sure that the problems with distribution and delays in Armada is unique to Armada.

I would have been far more happier is we had learned about Legion 8 weeks ago, and 4-6 weeks later we had it in our hands. That way we would have been playing the game for 2-3 weeks at this time and having far more fun as a community, finding opponents, building armies, having huge life changing rules arguments and otherwise having far more fun that wondering if this will get on a boat for Christmas, or be delayed until Q2. Work the hype of the game to be an impulse purchase, rather than people pondering about even buying into the game in the first place. I think, for me at least, I am now not too worried one way or the other. I live through Armada Wave 3, where it traveled at about 6km/hour from China to USA, while wave 4 managed to catch up and arrive in shops t the same time more or less.

If this game was not the game it is, which for me scratches so many itches: Star Wars, Miniatures, Painting, Modelling, Terrain Building and a great game too. I probably wouldn't even both posting my opinion on the matter.

I agree with you. It is 2017 the internet and social media are a thing. You don't have to announce everything at Gencon just cause that's what we've done for decades.

Full disclosure here: I'm not any kind of marketing genius, at all. However I would think that a modestly priced Christmas gift (core set), and money left over (from Grandma) for wave one items in January would be a better marketing strategy than waiting and having everything come out at once.

I need STORMIES for Christmas....

11 hours ago, JudgeShamgar said:

Full disclosure here: I'm not any kind of marketing genius, at all. However I would think that a modestly priced Christmas gift (core set), and money left over (from Grandma) for wave one items in January would be a better marketing strategy than waiting and having everything come out at once.

FFG has done this before I think. And I suspect they wanted to do this, but there are some realities of production in China, and I think one of the recent Chinese holidays that last for a week may have derailed those plans.

12 hours ago, JudgeShamgar said:

Full disclosure here: I'm not any kind of marketing genius, at all. However I would think that a modestly priced Christmas gift (core set), and money left over (from Grandma) for wave one items in January would be a better marketing strategy than waiting and having everything come out at once.

They've done things like this in the past and it was to the detriment of the game

When it comes to miniatures games I have a rule I break just rarely.

Only buy what you'll paint and don't buy more until the paint in on what you have previously bought.

8 hours ago, Amanal said:

When it comes to miniatures games I have a rule I break just rarely.

Only buy what you'll paint and don't buy more until the paint in on what you have previously bought.

Sounds like a great rule. A little extra incentive to finish painting what you’ve got. My wife and I were discussing when we’d buy expansions and she was suggesting we wait until we’ve played the game. She’ll dig your rule, though I may suggest we get one for each army at a time (for playability, of course). Thanks for sharing!

10 hours ago, Tirion said:

They've done things like this in the past and it was to the detriment of the game

(puts soap box down) I feel the HUGE time lag getting supplies from China hurts FFG to some extent. I for one would pay more if things were made in the US and didn't have an 8 week shipping time. (soap box away) I get the "I want to play 800 points right now!" crowd, but having the core game in peoples hands, playing, getting excited, may generate more sales in the long run. Like I said before, not a marketing guru, just an opinion.

41 minutes ago, JudgeShamgar said:

(puts soap box down) I feel the HUGE time lag getting supplies from China hurts FFG to some extent. I for one would pay more if things were made in the US and didn't have an 8 week shipping time. (soap box away) I get the "I want to play 800 points right now!" crowd, but having the core game in peoples hands, playing, getting excited, may generate more sales in the long run. Like I said before, not a marketing guru, just an opinion.

I get that but in the oddest the last was to big and excitement died.