I would like to see a Designer stream. Like 30 minutes of answering some questions of the sorts.

Guest articles have been said. Gather some of the community contributors and have them send in some articles for review and such. Would be nice.

I may be forgetting details but usually the article writers work on FFG HQ right?

I'd like to amend my wishlist, even though the specific request may seem self serving. I'd like a member of FFG to post some sort of acknowledgement in this thread. Even a "we've scheduled an internal meeting to assess the concerns of the community"

I would like to see ffg representatives in these forums directly address the issues with real answers. Why can’t they pay a person to get on here and calm the community down.

I would also like to know the actual reason the wave is delayed. I’d be far less upset if I knew why it was delayed (unless the reason is x-wing or or legion in which case my anger would grow ten fold.)

It would take only one thing to make me happy:

Prompt.

FAQs.

Everything else is nice-to-have stuff to keep the game alive and fresh, and there are some great ideas here for ways to improve what we already have, but explaining functionality of things that they're already selling? That's a very basic expectation. I wouldn't buy a board game that promised rules would be published online in 3-6 months, and it is just mind-blowing to me that FFG would sell expansion packs for an existing game and then leave customers guessing on how they're supposed to be used. Particularly when they have high-profile OP events like Regionals and Worlds scheduled in the interim. This is the kind of thing that I would expect from, like, a Kickstarted game, not a professional game publisher.

The justification that was given for this schedule in the past is that they want to see how the upgrade balance shakes out in practice before making the ruling official. But that's a sorry excuse. What actually happens is that nobody uses unclear cards. How often do you see nuLeia? How often did you see RLB before the FAQ? Yes, I know there are a few who use them, but in practice, these unclear cards just miss the excitement of the new wave when people are trying all sorts of new things and finding good ways to use the new cards, because nobody knows how they will be ruled. By the time the FAQ finally rolls around, people already have set ways of using the stuff, and don't bother (often) to go back and test the now-FAQ'd cards, so they end up as dead cards.

Expansions should release with FAQs to basic functionality questions. You can make balance tweaks like XI7 vs AP in a quarterly or semi-annual scheduled FAQ, but when functionality questions are raised in the Rules Forum and from there sent to that customer service form within days of the previews being released (not to mention during playtesting), there is no excuse not to have an on-release FAQ ready clarifying those kinds of questions.

Communication has to be fixed above all else. I don't know about the rest of you but I've supported more than a few games that have gone under and one of the first things that stops is that article/slash forum interaction with the customer base. Without it you run into exactly what happening in these forums. Negative speculation.

Now pretend you are a new player coming to the forums to learn about the game your interested in. You read about no communication companywise and even long time players lamenting the lack of product and articles. This might give you serious 2nd thoughts into plunking down the 100 for the base set. Never mind the expansions.

Now while I don't believe that armada is in trouble yet based on the strength of these forums I do believe that if this trend continues getting new serious players will be an increasing issue that only more communication can solve.

Sorry for the rant folks but at this point any communication would be good.

System Open like Xwing ?

14 minutes ago, Irokenics said:

System Open like Xwing ?

Edit: I'm choosing to modify my tone. Apologies.

In the interest of collaboration and being constructive, Is there any way you can expand on that instead of giving what feels like an "I Want X" single-sentence response to this particular topic?

I would divide my requests in half (by thoughts, not by mass or importance). First half is my wants. I want non-preview articles. One or two a quarter would be very nice. Dev blogs, detailed looks at ships from a dev PoV, custom op-eds from the community or notable players. Wouldn't hurt my feelings to have a fleet building contest like Wave Thor every year, but that's icing for the cake.

The other half are basically requirements. I don't want to use that word, since I have no real enforcement power and I won't walk away yet, but these are serious requests. Basically, maintain the game and the community. When a Wave is delayed, say something, don't reply to a tweet. When a Wave is released, don't leave TOs in awkward places making calls on new cards and causing tension in the community. Release FAQs. Reply to Rules emails. Prove that you care about this game more than just moving my money.

23 minutes ago, FoaS said:

Edit: I'm choosing to modify my tone. Apologies.

In the interest of collaboration and being constructive, Is there any way you can expand on that instead of giving what feels like an "I Want X" single-sentence response to this particular topic?

It sums up what i said previously.

But i will expand.

Star Wars Xwing just got three articles today covering their global OP event 'System Open'.

This indicates:

1. Existence of a design/project team

2. Communication with the community

3. OP data collection (from the event stages)

This what i wish Armada was right now.

As a starting point, some decent streaming at worlds!!

Thanks @FoaS for this constructive thread. I'll try to Stay on Target and be brief:

- FFG have made a great game in Armada but it really feels like the fairytale stereotype of an ugly stepchild in terms of care and attention in between waves. This is the main thing I would like to see changed please.

- Specifically, I would like to see regular FAQs (within weeks not months of a new wave release please), proper communication about wave status (there are good behavioural psychology studies on how an informed crowd is less disappointed/irritated by delays than their uninformed counterparts), alt-art cards that cover errata'd cards (BCC is a great start!), streaming of major contests like Worlds (not just the Finals please), a developers blog (big ask, but would be so cool) and more articles by top players (for instance, the previous world champions' articles on the cards they designed a la X Wing).

- In fact, to cut a long story short, if we could have half the love that Other Star Wars Game gets in terms of non-product care and attention we would quickly go from feeling like the fairytale's ugly stepchild to... the frog that was... kissed and turned into... oh god. I've lost this one. Urgh...

...

Anyway! Publish an FAQ regularly, talk to us and give us some articles please!

(Ah. That's better.)

Thank you!

4 hours ago, Ophion said:

As a starting point, some decent streaming at worlds!!

What was wrong with worlds?

I only watched the final game (maybe that's your issue, did they not stream earlier games?), but I thought it was a fine stream. And they had Alex on to cast, so you can't ask for much better insight than that.

Timely FAQs

Articles on a variety of issues, from developers to game testers to tournament winning and otherwise merited veterans from the player base talking about tactics or reviewing their tournament? (sure, I can go to the great blogs around for that). Not weekly, but maybe one every three weeks, next to announcements and previews?

Allow us to wish for one card per year, per some kind of vote here on the Forums and do the best to integrate (even with no binding)? (sorry to casual players for excluding you, there, but I think any majority decision here from a certain pool to chose from would be a good addition to the game)

47 minutes ago, svelok said:

What was wrong with worlds?

I only watched the final game (maybe that's your issue, did they not stream earlier games?), but I thought it was a fine stream. And they had Alex on to cast, so you can't ask for much better insight than that.

Stay on target. This is not the thread to refute valid arguments. If you feel that the point is invalid or impractical, then say so, but contribute to the primary thread while you're at it, or take the discussion into another thread or PMs.

2 hours ago, NebulonB said:

Allow us to wish for one card per year, per some kind of vote here on the Forums and do the best to integrate (even with no binding)? (sorry to casual players for excluding you, there, but I think any majority decision here from a certain pool to chose from would be a good addition to the game)

No, I don't think having the community design cards is either healthy for the game or healthy for FFG and their product. That's a step too far I think.

6 minutes ago, geek19 said:

No, I don't think having the community design cards is either healthy for the game or healthy for FFG and their product. That's a step too far I think.

What'd I just say?

its funny. people are invited to air their ideas, explicitly so. and not to air why they think said ideas are invalid.

i know its common in every brainstorming sessions that ideas are immediately invalidated, but at least in this one thread can we simply state?

20 minutes ago, FoaS said:

What'd I just say?

I AM saying the point is both invalid and unpractical, and it's not a valid argument. If we can't discuss what is or isn't valid community involvement, then it's mainly just us shouting into a void for FFG to read. I can want them to give me five articles a week for Armada and a pony, but that's not practical or good (for us or them, I have nowhere to keep the pony).

I'm all for staying on target in a fashion, and I'm not disagreeing with his point about timely FAQs and more articles, but we have to be allowed to comment on what is or isn't practical to gain a consensus view of what we'd like from FFG. Right now it seems like we all mainly want FAQs and occasionally other articles so we don't feel forgotten about.

Fair enough.

Apologies to all for locking down unfairly.

It was my intent to have folks go for more of a "This won't work, but how about this" instead of "That simply won't do", but I'll admit I got overzealous.

Carry on?

1 hour ago, geek19 said:

I AM saying the point is both invalid and unpractical, and it's not a valid argument. If we can't discuss what is or isn't valid community involvement, then it's mainly just us shouting into a void for FFG to read. I can want them to give me five articles a week for Armada and a pony, but that's not practical or good (for us or them, I have nowhere to keep the pony).

I'm all for staying on target in a fashion, and I'm not disagreeing with his point about timely FAQs and more articles, but we have to be allowed to comment on what is or isn't practical to gain a consensus view of what we'd like from FFG. Right now it seems like we all mainly want FAQs and occasionally other articles so we don't feel forgotten about.

i think whats practical and good is for FFG to say. but ok, something def has been proven to me.

side point to @Lord Preyer(apologies) Armada is the smart and beautiful protagonist who overcomes neglect and disrespect to live a long, fulfilling, and happy life; not an ugly stepchild

FFG should spotlight community based content such as Cannot Get Your Ship Out and the Fire When Ready podcast (just two of many great examples) periodically. It would require minimal effort from FFG while showing they are aware the game exists, would help newer players with excellent resources, and acknowledge how good our community is.

9 hours ago, svelok said:

What was wrong with worlds?

I only watched the final game (maybe that's your issue, did they not stream earlier games?), but I thought it was a fine stream. And they had Alex on to cast, so you can't ask for much better insight than that.

What i would like is more streaming is what i was trying to say. Ideally there would be dedicated streams for each game covering the top tables, cut and final. A lot of the store run tournaments do a really good job streaming these days, try to pick up from their approach.

16 hours ago, NebulonB said:

Timely FAQs

Articles on a variety of issues, from developers to game testers to tournament winning and otherwise merited veterans from the player base talking about tactics or reviewing their tournament? (sure, I can go to the great blogs around for that). Not weekly, but maybe one every three weeks, next to announcements and previews?

Allow us to wish for one card per year, per some kind of vote here on the Forums and do the best to integrate (even with no binding)? (sorry to casual players for excluding you, there, but I think any majority decision here from a certain pool to chose from would be a good addition to the game)

I wanted to say I think the community making a card here and there would be a really cool thing. As it stands, this is in place, but only if you win worlds, which is cost prohibitive for a lot of people to get to, especially those out of the country. Offering three cards and letting the community vote is a cheap and easy way for the community to be involved, and not just tournament players or players with means to get to Worlds. Great suggestion.

I think I want more campaigns. CC is still the best and most fun way to play, so additional campaigns, and ones that tie in with new movies, perhaps, and offering alternative commander/ship cards would be great.

My $0.02

I agree with much that has already been said. I think the community (i.e. this forum) is already good at discussing the state of the game, which is pretty much what guest article writers would do. I think it's ok if official guest articles were a thing for Armada, but I want FFG to do things the community CAN'T really do well:

1. Official clarifications when new content is released. Others have said this better in this thread than I can -RLB is a great example. If FFG wants players to invest in the game enough (both interest, time, and $), they have to provide for players to know how the game is played - especially for tournament players. We need official answers in a timely release!

2. Obviously ship/squadron models are awesome but that doesn't have to be every wave. More releases like CC where it's cardboard + some scenario rules. Why not a Battle of Scarif with a cardboard shield gate plus squadrons/ship titles/crew? Campaigns or specific scenarios, etc. If the release didn't have any plastic in it, wouldn't development cycles be quicker so there could be more product releases?

3. Have standard kits that players can order through their FLGS to use however they want, sort of like the CC kit, so everything is just a participation prize to commemorate the event. Something like the objectives but printed with a Rebel logo / Imperial logo - collect them all! Or existing unique squadrons but with a dozen checkboxes on the card so players could color in a box every time that squadron took down an enemy unit (no in game benefit, just for funsies). So many simple things could be a one time design for FFG, but printed in their on demand system for players to use in any store/home events...

4. Leverage one of Armada's strengths which is that objectives are baked into each game. Make an article template for a monthly challenge where they just have to fill in the blanks with the allowed cards, and league organizers can advertise events as running under the challenge for that month. Maybe challenges where exactly 2 each of only 2 different types of objectives. New objectives would also be good for the game, especially if they were a to make a "deathmatch" list more risky (i.e. list building where it is designed to really just kill stuff regardless of the objective being played). Many existing objectives give flavor to the game - more of that! Have cardboard tokens for small freighters and do a raid objective, escort objective, and "Hera tries to steal the Imperial cargo" objective. Or objectives that mark a unit as a "prototype unit" (ship/squadron) so now it's a moving target (not just an objective token) and the side trying to get the intel can't shoot at it. Etc.

Let some players blog their build up to national tournaments.... so we get comments on why they are building X list, the feedback and why they are dropping Z etc etc