I've been playing Armada Campaign for a little longer than a year. I always play imperial, LOVE imperial, in fact painted them all. I have at least one of everything on the imperial side. I just haven't really figured out squadrons in a competitive environment. I've played a handful of games and have worked my way down to this list based on ships and configurations I actually like to fly:

Faction: Imperial
Commander: Darth Vader

ISD Cymoon 1 Refit (112)
• Darth Vader (36)
• Strategic Adviser (4)
• Gunnery Team (7)
• Spinal Armament (9)
= 168 Points

Victory I (73)
• Agent Kallus (3)
• Quad Laser Turrets (5)
• External Racks (3)
• Harrow (3)
• Engine Techs (8)
= 95 Points

Gladiator I (56)
• Captain Brunson (5)
• Assault Proton Torpedoes (5)
• Demolisher (10)
= 76 Points

Arquitens Light Cruiser (54)
• Skilled First Officer (1)
• Slaved Turrets (6)
= 61 Points

Squadrons:
= 0 Points

Total Points: 400

Objectives I think might work best for this fleet:
Advanced Gunnery, Hyperspace Assault, Salvage Run
I was thinking of changing my list with the following: Take out Skilled FO and Gunnery team and put H9's on the Cymoon.

I honestly don't think anyone would pick advanced gunnery (main reason for above change), and the other two I can kind of figure out what my strategy will be with my fleet. Other than losing to a squadron based fleet (where my strategy would be to get in and hit hard/fast on the capital ship/enablers), should I reconsider any of the objectives, or ships? I don't think that taking out any single ship and replacing with squadrons (even rogue ones) would help much. One of the earlier renditions had a couple rogue squadrons and a gozanti in place of the Arquitens, but a couple squadrons doesn't seem to help much. I've only won 1 game so far, but it was against a 6 activation rebel 0 squadron list someone else had for tournaments (and he's pretty good). I made the change to Kallus and Quad Laser's thinking I might not horribly lose to a squadron fleet. I know wins aren't going to come easy, but I would like to feel like I have a chance!

2nd question because I haven't found much about it: The shield dial indicators on ships... does anyone care in official tournaments if those are acrylic? Are there any rules against it? They would be the same size of course. And easily readable.

I would change QLTs into QBTs. Counter 1 would be useless as the enemy probably want to bomb Demolisher or the flagship and it takes a lot to kill even an X-Wing with only Flak. Drop Kallus too for Needa/TRC on the Arquitens.

Ditch advanced gunnery as the Cymoon can't benefit from it due to the word "cannot" on the GT upgrade. This can't be overridden by anything, even the scenario. Opening salvo, station Assault or Surprise attack are good alternatives.