Do you guys think that X-Wing is just inherently more popular than Armada or do you think that Armada could have the same popularity as X-Wing if it was first and got the same attention from FFG that X-Wing is getting?

I can see that X-Wings and Ties are very iconic but to me those ginormous capital ships are just WAY cooler. I think in all of science fiction it is hard to find something cooler than an Imperial class Star Destroyer so it is kind of difficult for me to understand why so many more people would rather play with some small star fighter.

X-Wing is faster and cheaper.

Armada is better.

Just now, Bakura83 said:

cheaper

Hmmmmmmm.

What Bakura said. It comes down to speed and low cost of entry. A 30 minute game that a seven year old (according to FFG) can learn? I know I'm investing in X-Wing once my kids gets to be that age.

6 minutes ago, The Jabbawookie said:

Hmmmmmmm.

Back in the heady days of wave 4 I got no less than three people into x-Wing buy selling them the same list - 3 TIE defenders. £30, just under 100pts, limitless fun

Can’t get a 400pt fleet brand new for £30.

10 minutes ago, Bakura83 said:

X-Wing is faster and seems* cheaper.

Armada is better.

/thread

10 hours ago, LordCola said:

Do you guys think that X-Wing is just inherently more popular than Armada or do you think that Armada could have the same popularity as X-Wing if it was first and got the same attention from FFG that X-Wing is getting?

I can see that X-Wings and Ties are very iconic but to me those ginormous capital ships are just WAY cooler. I think in all of science fiction it is hard to find something cooler than an Imperial class Star Destroyer so it is kind of difficult for me to understand why so many more people would rather play with some small star fighter.

X-wing is faaar more accessible than Armada.

The rules are simple, and easy to learn.

You play with a limited number of variables, so the complexity (and learning curve) isn't too bad.

You don't need many figures, which is good for cost, and they can be easily transported.

You play on a small surface, which is good for space (both at home and for venues)

You spend about an hour, which is pretty quick however you look at it.

Armada is a deeper, more complex (and IMO ultimately more rewarding) game. But it takes a LOT to get into and only a REALLY dedicated gamer would even consider doing a 3 (or more) round tournament!

16 minutes ago, Darth Sanguis said:

/thread

Cool. Where can I get my brand new 400pt Armada fleet for less than £30?

There is so much easier to get into x wing, that's the key.

Pick Up the game, play a few matchens. Bam you are hooked and can buy small cheap expansions of your favorite ships and learn in small Steps like a new action or rule.

Armada requires more rules and time om twice the Space. There is no margin of error, a single mistake and boom. Then after a few games you still get tabled by guys that have great cards and use good strategies. A lucky die roll dosen't change games in the same way as in x-wing and you feel overwhelmed. This is true for most wargames.

This is where x wing shines. It's a minature board game hybrid. It works for hardcore games, kids and casual players.

Armada is popular with people who like wargames and not so much with casual players or kids. It's the wargame curse. You will be stuck playing with 8-16 other beckbeard men and that's okay. X Wing however can get Huge amounts People to a tournament and even players who started the Night before can Win a round or two.

I havent spent money on Armada plastic in at least 12 months.

5 minutes ago, Ginkapo said:

I havent spent money on Armada plastic in at least 12 months.

I wonder why? ??

Armada would not be more popular if it had come first. This has already been hit on but X-wing is simply more accessible with the lower cost of the core and the lower cost of adding more options to it. It plays faster in less space. It has the very neat and affordable model of the Falcon.

Armada is a far more difficult game as well.

Xwing has a much lower cost of entry, been around for 3 more years, faster games and easier to understand rules are all reasons why xwing has more players. To say it is inherently more popular is a difficult question answer as so many different variables go into this.

32 minutes ago, Bakura83 said:

Cool. Where can I get my brand new 400pt Armada fleet for less than £30?

"/thread"

Means "end of thread" as in everything has been said that needs to be said.

You summed it up just about right. I only disagree about cost because x-wing has much more stuff and therefore is much more expensive to own one of everything. initial buy in may be cheaper, but to get grossly involved, you're gonna spend a pretty penny.

I mean, all in, one of everything, including the SSD for Armada will top out at about $1050 not including mats extra dice or tools (msrp rounded up the .05 so lets say ±$5)

For X-Wing 1.0 I topped out at $1775 for one of everything at msrp not including mats extra dice or accessories... (again rounded up .05 so let's say ± $10)

1 hour ago, Bakura83 said:

X-Wing is faster and cheaper.

Armada is better.

Faster and cheaper the dark is. Leads to sadness and death(of the wallet). Always thinking of the next meta breaking ship X-wing is.

2 hours ago, Bakura83 said:

Cool. Where can I get my brand new 400pt Armada fleet for less than £30?

Where can you get an Xwing list for that price?

I agree with just about everything said with one caveat...

For hardcore/completionists Armada is far cheaper. Cost of entry X-Wing is much cheaper.

With soon to be 7 factions staying current and complete with X-Wing is becoming impossible for most.

After entry I would argue that Armada is the cheaper choice, mostly because there just is nothing new to buy most of the time. Thats a double edged sword for the game however.

As someone that got into X-Wing with 2.0 after trading for a second hand collection I honestly am not sold. It just isn't as satisfying to to play for me. Armada is more complicated to learn but I find it infinitely more fun and engaging to play.

2 hours ago, Darth Sanguis said:

"/thread"

Means "end of thread" as in everything has been said that needs to be said.

You summed it up just about right. I only disagree about cost because x-wing has much more stuff and therefore is much more expensive to own one of everything. initial buy in may be cheaper, but to get grossly involved, you're gonna spend a pretty penny.

I mean, all in, one of everything, including the SSD for Armada will top out at about $1050 not including mats extra dice or tools (msrp rounded up the .05 so lets say ±$5)

For X-Wing 1.0 I topped out at $1775 for one of everything at msrp not including mats extra dice or accessories... (again rounded up .05 so let's say ± $10)

Ok I see what you mean.

14 minutes ago, TallGiraffe said:

Where can you get an Xwing list for that price?

See above post.

I mean you gotta buy a core box. Plus the ships.

5 hours ago, Bakura83 said:

X-Wing is faster and cheaper.

Armada is better.

It's this, coupled with the fact that even in the healthiest of Armada communities it's still probably easier to find opponents and events for X-Wing than it is for Armada. The X-Wing Community is just much, much larger than Armada, and since it's faster a big group can get together on a set night and play multiple pick-up games each, where Armada's length generally requires scheduling a game with a particular opponent. The online community and resources for X-Wing are also much, much greater. You can go to Twitch or YouTube and find hundreds of X-Wing games with excellent commentators and graphics. It's very hard to find a streamed game of Armada, and when you do, it's typically not edited and has no (or terrible commentary), meaning it's a 2 hour ordeal that's about as fun as watching paint dry while you piss glass, even if you deeply understand and love the game of Armada.

Now, if Armada had been first and if Armada had the current support that X-Wing had and vice versa, would Armada be more popular than X-Wing? Hmm, dunno. Maybe not.

X-Wig has many merits over Armada that don't make it better but more popular.

The game itself is cheaper, easier to learn and play, much faster paced, needs far less place to play or store, and takes 1-1,5 hours per match tops, while an Armada game can easily take 3 hours.

Moreover, you don't need every expansion to play or tonplay competitively. I think every expansion in Armada has a ship or a card that worth taking to a competitive level.

And finally the psychological touch. Just ask yourself, who is more cool? Maverick from Top Gun who files fighter jets and blows up stuff, or say Captain Ramius from Hunt for the Red October who sits on far more destructive power but mostly only sits on them.

Same thing for Star Wars. Who is cooler? Anakin, Luke, Wedge, Han who are flying superfast fightes (and Falcon!) Or people like Ackbar, Raddus, Piett, or Jerjerrod (who does next to nothing in the movie)? An X-Wing game can very well be decided by an ace pilot. But your ace will never decide an Armada battle by himself.

These are the main factors supporting X-Wing. It is a great game, but Armada is far superior in complexity.

56 minutes ago, Norell said:

X-Wig has many merits over Armada that don't make it better but more popular.

The game itself is cheaper, easier to learn and play, much faster paced, needs far less place to play or store, and takes 1-1,5 hours per match tops, while an Armada game can easily take 3 hours.

Moreover, you don't need every expansion to play or tonplay competitively. I think every expansion in Armada has a ship or a card that worth taking to a competitive level.

And finally the psychological touch. Just ask yourself, who is more cool? Maverick from Top Gun who files fighter jets and blows up stuff, or say Captain Ramius from Hunt for the Red October who sits on far more destructive power but mostly only sits on them.

Same thing for Star Wars. Who is cooler? Anakin, Luke, Wedge, Han who are flying superfast fightes (and Falcon!) Or people like Ackbar, Raddus, Piett, or Jerjerrod (who does next to nothing in the movie)? An X-Wing game can very well be decided by an ace pilot. But your ace will never decide an Armada battle by himself.

These are the main factors supporting X-Wing. It is a great game, but Armada is far superior in complexity.

Its the Methodical Complexity that I like about armada over X-wing it is far more satisfying when it all goes right for you. As a lot more effort has gone into the Strategy in playing Armada. And as far as cost Armada is far cheaper as there is no stock in stores to buy there for you cant spend money on it. ?

11 hours ago, LordCola said:

Do you guys think that X-Wing is just inherently more popular than Armada or do you think that Armada could have the same popularity as X-Wing if it was first and got the same attention from FFG that X-Wing is getting?

No, no. No.

Quicker, easier, more seductive.

2 hours ago, Norell said:

X-Wig has many merits over Armada that don't make it better but more popular.

The game itself is cheaper, easier to learn and play, much faster paced, needs far less place to play or store, and takes 1-1,5 hours per match tops, while an Armada game can easily take 3 hours.

Moreover, you don't need every expansion to play or tonplay competitively. I think every expansion in Armada has a ship or a card that worth taking to a competitive level.

And finally the psychological touch. Just ask yourself, who is more cool? Maverick from Top Gun who files fighter jets and blows up stuff, or say Captain Ramius from Hunt for the Red October who sits on far more destructive power but mostly only sits on them.

Same thing for Star Wars. Who is cooler? Anakin, Luke, Wedge, Han who are flying superfast fightes (and Falcon!) Or people like Ackbar, Raddus, Piett, or Jerjerrod (who does next to nothing in the movie)? An X-Wing game can very well be decided by an ace pilot. But your ace will never decide an Armada battle by himself.

These are the main factors supporting X-Wing. It is a great game, but Armada is far superior in complexity.

I agree with the first part of this, but I definitely feel more badass visualizing myself as an Imperial admiral doing the Tagge Power Pose (tm) than an ace pilot shooting down X-wings. Maybe that’s weird.

2 hours ago, Norell said:

Just ask yourself, who is more cool?

Nearly all that has been said is true. But Armada is the cooler and more impressive game!

Maybe it's just me. But for me the coolest thing in Star Wars has always been an Imperial-class Star Destroyer. Or lots of them.

Darth Vader is way more cooler at the bridge of his Super Star Destroyer, than in his TIE Advanced. In my eyes at least.

http://agaunews.com/star-wars-ships-imperial-star-destroyer/