First Star Wars Armada game

On the last Sunday in July I took my new Star Wars Armada game to the Conwy Wargames Club to try it  out for the first time.

I couldn't find my black cloth so I had to make do with the bare table tops. The scenario I selected was straight from the book using the figures out of the box and specifically designed to help you learn the rules.

The game was a meeting engagement without using any of the special cards you can take to enhance your ships.

The Rebels advanced on the flanks with Chris commanding the frigate and Dave the corvette

Tony took command of the Imperials and set a course straight up the table but focusing all his fire power on the Rebel corvette.

It took a few goes to get the placing orders in advance right but as a mechanism is worked well.

Firing and the impact on shields worked very well. I liked the dials on the stands showing the weakening shields. 

Once the squadrons got in to range the fighting was brutal. It took a couple of goes to get this right. The rule book and glossary book had to be used. I'm sure these 2 books could have been made in to 1.

By the time this picture had been taken the corvette was gone as were most of the squadrons on both sides.

End game. Imperial victory. They had destroyed more points of rebels and the Imperials had learnt they could repair their weakened shields.

Definitely not as easy as X wing but it was still good fun with a lot more nuanced play e.g. X wing relies on spatial awareness to get your ship where you need it, Armada requires the same skill but with more tactical planning to take in to account condition of shields,  and making repairs.

We all enjoyed it and agreed we'd love to play it again.

I certainly enjoyed the game and it convinced me to shell out for additional ships!

New wargame room progress

Progress has been slow on the new wargame rooms. The figures and the majority of the terrain are now on the floor they will live on, but not yet in the right rooms.

This room will eventually be the big board room. For now it is the haven for the armies.

This will be the study, and is actually being used now as the home office. In the corner is the majority of my buildings. The terrain boards are at my Mum's still. 

Conwy Wargames Club WW1 Air combat Game 3

The 3rd game of the day saw us graduate to the advanced rules and a scenario game.

The advanced rules were additions to the free rules added by Chris. These were rules for height which in summary were:

In the command phase you set which altitude you are at by playing a climbing card - max move 2 out of 4 altitudes, diving and flying level.

Collisions now mean planes crash during movement.

During the firing phase if you were diving you had a shortened range and less dice.

The Scenario

A British squadron is patrolling in no ones land specifically to catch the Red Baron alone and shoot him down.

The British have 4 planes (Dave, Dickey, Pete and Pete)

The Red Baron (me), and Tony with 2 German planes that can come to the Barons rescue.

The Red Baron starts the game behind the German lines and air defences (the British don't know about the air defences)

The Game

The British squadron ready for the revenge

Squadron leader Dave reduces his flight by 50% by colliding with Dickey. Words were said. 

The Red Baron flies away from the British drawing them forward.

Pete flies in to flack and takes 3 hits

The Brits close in 

The Red Baron strikes and the British are down to 1 plane

Pete the last hope for the British chases the Baron over German air defenses and doesn't make it out!
Victory to the Red Baron!! My smugness at winning 3 games in a row was becoming a physical presence in the room.