I'm going to be playing a game of Armada in a gaming cafe for the first time (normally I keep my dirty hobby strictly private). Obviously I'd like to make a reasonable attempt at not losing but I also see it as an opportunity to show off the game and perhaps suck in a potential new player or two. (I won't mention the fact that FFG loves its product so much it won't let it leave the warehouses so people can buy ships).

I'm playing Empire and this is what I've come up with:

Name: Yo check out my fleet
Faction: Imperial
Commander: Admiral Motti

Assault:
Defense:
Navigation:

Imperial II (120)
• Admiral Motti (24)
• Strategic Adviser (4)
• Flight Controllers (6)
• Boosted Comms (4)
• Electronic Countermeasures (7)
• Leading Shots (4)
• Quad Battery Turrets (5)
• Relentless (3)
= 177 Points

Gladiator I (56)
• Minister Tua (2)
• Ordnance Experts (4)
• Engine Techs (8)
• External Racks (3)
• Demolisher (10)
• Electronic Countermeasures (7)
= 90 Points

Gozanti Cruisers (23)
• Bomber Command Center (8)
• Reserve Hangar Deck (3)
= 34 Points

Squadrons:
• Howlrunner (16)
• Zertik Strom (15)
• 3 x TIE Interceptor Squadron (33)
• 2 x TIE Bomber Squadron (18)
• Major Rhymer (16)
= 98 Points

Total Points: 399

Sexy enough?

Just needs an SSD

SSDs are impressive and eye catching, but I do want to enjoy the game. (I don't own one either).

For just pure looks, I would ditch the flotilla and bombers. Replace with another fightin’ ship, just have TIE fighters as a fighter screen.

When I’ve played exhibition games, I like to use iconic characters. Get Vader in there, as Admiral or Squadron, preferably. Maybe Officer, people like his ability’s mechanic.

Also, if you want to get people interested, use fewer squadrons. They’re cool, and I love them and almost never fly squadronless, but 8 of them will bog the game down, both in time and complexity. The biggest barrier to entry in Armada is that it takes 2-4 hours to play a game.

Yeah, plus one to bringing in iconic characters. I played once with my then-five-year-old in the local shop, against a Vader commander. Luke was on his X-wing and made a bombing run against the flagship. He needed a hit/crit to finish it off... and my son rolled it!

Everyone around the table cheered. And now my son is reallllly into Armada. (Insert dark premonitions of my family’s fate here.)