Star Wars Armada Regionals Roundup 2018

Star Wars Armada Regionals Roundup 2018

Aka - Why Armada is the best competitive game going right now... 

One of the only advantages of slowly becoming an old fart is the advantage of hindsight. As someone whose been playing competitive tabletop games for over 20 years I’ve got a fair bit of that and it’s a big part of the reason why I love Armada so much.

              You see to me a quality competitive environment is really defined by 2 things. The first is absolutely that you want a tight rules set. Nothing worse than a system with obscure rules or endless issues with LOS and movement. With Armada’s custom movement tools and some really intuitive LOS systems I could count on one hand how many times I’ve needed a TO for help but I’d have to take my shoes off to tell you how many comps I went in just last year.

      The second factor, arguably more important is that when I turn up to a weekend worth of games what I really want to see is some variety in the lists. This harkens all the way back to 3rd edition 40k which I really enjoyed except for the fact that at any given event I would inevitably find that ¾ of the players were running marines… If you wanted to include Chaos marines and Necrons it was more like 80% of everyone was running around with a 3+ save and a bolt gun (or equivalent), while it was still fun killing the same lists over and again the novelty does wear off.

      In the age of netlisting that we live now its ever more difficult to ensure the balance of unit options essential to getting a varied meta. We see it time and again in X-wing where a solid build appears and dominates for a while before FFG errata’s it into oblivion. Imperial assault seems to fall into the same trap time and again where it really only takes a month or so after a wave is released before  people have worked out the latest awesomeness which replaces the previous awesomeness… Anyone who follows IA will be overly familiar with the 4x2 which copped the nerf stick, followed by the Imperial trooper spam which went the same way, then it was scum hunters for a year where if it wasn’t double Weequay it was IG and probably some Weequays…  Currently the trending podium finishers are basically some combination of Emperor/Darth/E-Jets/1-2 officers and an ATDP to flavour… Its fun for a while but I must admit the last regionals where every game I played was against Vader/Palp/Jets/Officers + one extra something left me feeling a bit lacklustre about the game.

      This brings me to why I feel Armada is just brilliant. See I’ve been following the regionals data as it is collected and published by the amazingly engaged Armada community and the proof really is in the product. Don’t take my word for it just check out what I’ve collected below, it won’t take you long to work out what I’ve noticed:

2018 Regional Season Lists

1st place in the NJ regional goes to y-wings – 4 Activation Bomber Horde led by Garm Bel Ibis, not a list I could imagine doing well with but here it is…

Fleet 280 (397/400)
==================
Assault Frigate Mk.II B (72 + 42)
    + Garm Bel Iblis (25)
    + Flight Controllers (6)
    + Boosted Comms (4)
    + Electronic Countermeasures (7)

Assault Frigate Mk.II B (72 + 19)
    + Ahsoka Tano (2)
    + Flight Controllers (6)
    + Boosted Comms (4)
    + Electronic Countermeasures (7)

GR-75 Medium Transports (18 + 17)
    + Toryn Farr (7)
    + Bomber Command Center (8)
    + Bright Hope (2)

GR-75 Medium Transports (18 + 5)
    + Leia Organa (3)
    + Comms Net (2)

2 x VCX-100 Freighter (2 x 15)
Gold Squadron (12)
2 x A-wing Squadron (2 x 11)
7 x Y-wing Squadron (7 x 10)

Next up we have  3 activation ISD led Imps clearly using the Wave 7 tricks and a full toolbox of tricks.

Faction: Galactic Empire
Points: 398/400

Commander: Moff Jerjerrod

Assault Objective: Advanced Gunnery
Defense Objective: Planetary Ion Cannon
Navigation Objective: Superior Positions

[ flagship ] Imperial Star Destroyer Kuat Refit (112 points)
- Moff Jerjerrod ( 23 points)
- Devastator ( 10 points)
- Governor Pryce ( 7 points)
- Darth Vader ( 3 points)
- Electronic Countermeasures ( 7 points)
- Leading Shots ( 4 points)
- External Racks ( 3 points)
= 169 total ship cost

Raider-II Class Corvette (48 points)
- Hondo Ohnaka ( 2 points)
- Veteran Gunners ( 5 points)
- Disposable Capacitors ( 3 points)
- Heavy Ion Emplcements ( 9 points)
= 67 total ship cost

Gozanti-class Cruisers (23 points)
- Minister Tua ( 2 points)
- Electronic Countermeasures ( 7 points)
- Slicer Tools ( 7 points)
= 39 total ship cost

1 Morna Kee ( 27 points)
1 Gar Saxon ( 23 points)
1 Colonel Jendon ( 20 points)
1 "Mauler" Mithel ( 15 points)
1 Saber Squadron ( 12 points)
1 Boba Fett ( 26 points) 

At Liverpool we have a Darth led double ISD build with 2 activations and a huge bid for first place. All of these events took place over the span of only a few weeks in different parts of the world. Can you see the awesome variety I’m talking about yet? Armada might only have 2 sides but far from stifling variety I’d argue that it makes it much easier for the designers to balance the options available.

Faction: Imperial
Commander: Darth Vader

Assault: Most Wanted
Defense: Capture the VIP
Navigation: Intel Sweep

ISD Kuat Refit (112)
• Governor Pryce (7)
• Boarding Troopers (3)
• Early Warning System (7)
• External Racks (3)
• Avenger (5)
= 137 Points

ISD Cymoon 1 Refit (112)
• Darth Vader (36)
• Strategic Adviser (4)
• Gunnery Team (7)
• Quad Turbolaser Cannons (10)
• H9 Turbolasers (8)
• Devastator (10)
= 187 Points

Gozanti Cruisers (23)
= 23 Points

Squadrons:
• Ciena Ree (17)
• Lambda Shuttle (15)
= 32 Points

Total Points: 379

  

Next it’s Sloan with a build focussing on high activations and squadron advantage rather than worrying about going first at all costs like the some of the previous builds.

Name: Ryan Rhodes    Points: 26
Faction: Imperial
Commander: Admiral Sloane

Assault: Most Wanted
Defense: Contested Outpost
Navigation: Superior Positions

Imperial II (120)
• Admiral Sloane (24)
• Strategic Adviser (4)
• Gunnery Team (7)
• Electronic Countermeasures (7)
• Leading Shots (4)
• Avenger (5)
= 171 Points

Gozanti Cruisers (23)
• Comms Net (2)
= 25 Points

Gozanti Cruisers (23)
= 23 Points

Gozanti Cruisers (23)
= 23 Points

Gozanti Cruisers (23)
= 23 Points

Squadrons:
• Dengar (20)
• Howlrunner (16)
• Maarek Stele (21)
• Mauler Mithel (15)
• Saber Squadron (12)
• Soontir Fel (18)
• TIE Interceptor Squadron (11)
• Colonel Jendon (20)
= 133 Points

Total Points: 398

And another double ISD Darth build but this time there’s huge investment in those ISDs and no real attempt to include squadrons at all. It’s so cool in the current wave seeing so many big ships going around.

Faction: Galactic Empire

Points: 399/400  

Assault Objective: Most Wanted
Defense Objective: Contested Outpost
Navigation Objective: Solar Corona

 [ flagship ] Imperial II-Class Star Destroyer (120 points)
-  Darth Vader  ( 36  points)
-  Devastator  ( 10  points)
-  Intel Officer  ( 7  points)
-  Gunnery Team  ( 7  points)
-  Early Warning System  ( 7  points)
-  Quad Battery Turrets  ( 5  points)
-  Heavy Ion Emplacements   ( 9 points)
= 201 total ship cost

 Imperial Star Destroyer Kuat Refit(112 points)
-  Avenger  ( 5  points)
-  Strategic Adviser  ( 4  points)
-  Boarding Troopers  ( 3  points)
-  Electronic Countermeasures  ( 7  points)
-  External Racks  ( 3  points)
= 134 total ship cost

 Gozanti-class Cruisers (23 points)
-  Comms Net  ( 2  points)
= 25 total ship cost

 Gozanti-class Cruisers (23 points)
= 23 total ship cost

 2 TIE Fighter Squadrons ( 16 points) 

Another really unusual build and one that I’ve never considered. Who would have thought that a horde of Z-95s and Pelta of all things would take out a regionals but there it is.

Name: Untitled Fleet Faction: Rebel
Commander: General Dodonna
Objectives - Assault: Precision Strike Defense: Contested Outpost Navigation: Solar Corona

Pelta Command Ship (60)

General Dodonna (20)

Toryn Farr (7)
Engine Techs (8)
All fighters, Follow Me! (5)

Rapid Launch Bays (6)
Phoenix Home (3)
Flight Commander (3)
= 112 Points

Nebulon-B Escort Frigate (57) • Yavaris (5)
= 62 Points

GR-75 Medium Transports (18) • Bomber Command Center (8) = 26 Points
GR-75 Medium Transports (18) • Comms Net (2) = 20 Points
GR-75 Medium Transports (18) • Comms Net (2) = 20 Points
GR-75 Medium Transports (18) = 18 Points

Squadrons:
Gold Squadron (12)
Dagger Squadron (15)
Ten Numb (19)
B-wing Squadron (14)
2 x VCX-100 Freighter (30)
2 x HWK-290 (24)
Z-95 Headhunter Squadron (7) = 121 Points
Total Points: 379

Squadrons? Who needs squadrons when you’ve got the fattest of fat triangles, interestingly though this guy missed the memo about how good Wave 7 stuff is, using almost entirely old tech to take out his regionals.

Motti ISD 2 and isd1 (390/400)
=================================
Imperial II-class Star Destroyer (120 + 58)
    + Admiral Motti (24)
    + Agent Kallus (3)
    + Gunnery Team (7)
    + Quad Laser Turrets (5)
    + Reinforced Blast Doors (5)
    + Leading Shots (4)
    + Quad Battery Turrets (5)
    + Avenger (5)

Imperial I-class Star Destroyer (110 + 24)
    + Strategic Adviser (4)
    + Ordnance Experts (4)
    + High-Capacity Ion Turbines (8)
    + H9 Turbolasers (8)

Raider I-class Corvette (44 + 7)
    + Ordnance Experts (4)
    + External Racks (3)

Gozanti-class Cruisers (23 + 4)
    + Hondo Ohnaka (2)
    + Comms Net (2)

Contested Outpost
Solar Corona
Station Assault

Dodonna strikes again, this time it’s a 4 activation build with a good ol wave 2 space whale in the middle.

Faction: Rebel Alliance
Points: 400/400  

Assault Objective: Precision Strike
Defense Objective: Fighter Ambush
Navigation Objective: Superior Positions

[ flagship ] Assault Frigate Mark II B (72 points)
-  General Dodonna  ( 20  points)
-  Gallant Haven  ( 8  points)
-  Raymus Antilles  ( 7  points)
-  Flight Controllers  ( 6  points)
-  Expanded Hangar Bay  ( 5  points)
-  Electronic Countermeasures  ( 7  points)
-  XX-9 Turbolasers  ( 5  points)
= 130 total ship cost

Nebulon-B Escort Frigate (57 points)

-  Yavaris  ( 5  points)
-  Flight Commander  ( 3  points)
-  Fighter Coordination Team  ( 3  points)
= 68 total ship cost

GR-75 Medium Transports (18 points)
-  Bright Hope  ( 2  points)
-  Adar Tallon  ( 10  points)
-  Boosted Comms  ( 4  points)
-  Bomber Command Center  ( 8  points)
= 42 total ship cost

GR-75 Medium Transports (18 points)
-  Ahsoka Tano  ( 2  points)
-  Boosted Comms  ( 4  points)
-  Comms Net  ( 2  points)
= 26 total ship cost

1 Keyan Farlander ( 20 points)
1 "Dutch" Vander ( 16 points)
1 Wedge Antilles ( 19 points)
1 Jan Ors ( 19 points)
2 B-Wing Squadrons ( 28 points)
1 Luke Skywalker ( 20 points)
1 Gold Squadron ( 12 points) 

And again with Dodonna, clearly the cheapest commander in the game must be broken AF! With no bid for first and some clear objective synergy with the strategic ships you can see the flexibility of this build.

Faction: Rebel Alliance
Points: 400/400  

Assault Objective: Advanced Gunnery
Defense Objective: Fire Lanes
Navigation Objective: Intel Sweep

[ flagship ] MC80 Battle Cruiser (103 points)
-  General Dodonna  ( 20  points)
-  Mon Karren  ( 8  points)
-  Intel Officer  ( 7  points)
-  Caitken and Shollan  ( 6  points)
-  Engine Techs  ( 8  points)
-  X17 Turbolasers  ( 6  points)
-  Spinal Armament  ( 9  points)
-  SW 7 Ion Batteries  ( 5  points)
= 172 total ship cost

GR-75 Medium Transports (18 points)
-  Leia Organa  ( 3  points)
-  Comms Net  ( 2  points)
= 23 total ship cost

 GR-75 Medium Transports (18 points)
-  Ahsoka Tano  ( 2  points)
= 20 total ship cost

 GR-75 Medium Transports (18 points)
= 18 total ship cost

 GR-75 Medium Transports (18 points)
= 18 total ship cost

 GR-75 Medium Transports (18 points)
-  Bright Hope  ( 2  points)
-  Toryn Farr  ( 7  points)
= 27 total ship cost

  GR-75 Medium Transports (18 points)
= 18 total ship cost

2 VCX-100 Freighters ( 30 points)
1 Jan Ors ( 19 points)
5 A-Wing Squadrons ( 55 points) 

Back to imperials, 4 activations, huge bid for first and so many black dice it’s crazy…

++ Standard (Imperial Navy) [386pts] ++

+ Objectives +
Assault Objective: Advanced Gunnery
Defense Objective: Contested Outpost
Navigation Objective: Solar Corona

Imperial I-class Star Destroyer [162pts]:

·         Admiral Sloane [24pts],

·         Governor Pryce [7pts]

·         Boarding Troopers [3pts]

·         Leading Shots [4pts]

·         Spinal Armament [9pts]

·         Avenger [5pts

Gladiator I-class Star Destroyer [80pts]

·        Assault Proton Torpedoes [5pts],

·        Ordnance Experts [4pts],

·        Captain Brunson [5pts],

·        Demolisher [10pts]

                 Gozanti-class Cruisers [25pts]

·         Comms Net [2pts]

Gozanti-class Cruisers [23pts]

Squadrons

·         Lambda-class Shuttle [20pts]:

·         Colonel Jendon [20pts]

·         2x TIE Defender Squadron [32pts]

·         Maarek Stele [21pts]

·         TIE Fighter Squadron [8pts]

·         "Mauler" Mithel [15pts]

Now I know most people will look at this one and go he’s done well because of the squadrons… but hell, anyone who can win a regionals with an interdictor as their flagship has my vote no matter what they back it up with. Literally thought I would never see the day. It was a 5 game regional with a top cut too if anyone wants to think it was a fluke…

Fleet 300 (379/400)
==================
Most Wanted
Contested Outpost
Superior Positions

Interdictor Suppression Refit (90 + 59)
    + Admiral Sloane (24)
    + Captain Brunson (5)
    + Disposable Capacitors (3)
    + G7-X Grav Well Projector (2)
    + Targeting Scrambler (5)
    + Heavy Ion Emplacements (9)
    + Engine Techs (8)
    + Interdictor (3)

Gozanti-class Cruisers (23 + 23)
    + Minister Tua (2)
    + Slicer Tools (7)
    + Expanded Hangar Bay (5)
    + Vector (2)
    + Electronic Countermeasures (7)

Gozanti-class Cruisers (23 + 4)
    + Repair Crews (4)

Gozanti-class Cruisers (23 + 2)
    + Comms Net (2)

Maarek Stele (21)
Colonel Jendon (20)
Dengar (20)
Howlrunner (16)
Mauler Mithel (15)
Zertik Strom (15)
Valen Rudor (13)
Saber Squadron (12)

Guess who! Dodonna, whale and squads, again, it’s amazing how a few tweaks to the original wave stuff keep it going and going.

1st Regional Dortmund 2018 
Author: Tlist

Faction: Rebel Alliance
Points: 400/400  

Commander: General Dodonna

Assault Objective: Precision Strike
Defense Objective: Fire Lanes
Navigation Objective: Sensor Net

Assault Frigate Mark II B (72 points)
-  Gallant Haven  ( 8  points)
-  Toryn Farr  ( 7  points)
= 87 total ship cost

[ flagship ] Nebulon-B Escort Frigate (57 points)
-  General Dodonna  ( 20  points)
-  Yavaris  ( 5  points)
-  Flight Commander  ( 3  points)
-  Fighter Coordination Team  ( 3  points)
= 88 total ship cost

GR-75 Medium Transports (18 points)
-  Adar Tallon  ( 10  points)
= 28 total ship cost

GR-75 Medium Transports (18 points)
-  Bomber Command Center  ( 8  points)
= 26 total ship cost

GR-75 Medium Transports (18 points)
-  Comms Net  ( 2  points)
= 20 total ship cost

GR-75 Medium Transports (18 points)
= 18 total ship cost

1 B-Wing Squadron ( 14 points)

1 Ten Numb ( 19 points)
1 Corran Horn ( 22 points)
2 VCX-100 Freighters ( 30 points)
1 Luke Skywalker ( 20 points)
1 Gold Squadron ( 12 points)
1 "Dutch" Vander ( 16 points)
= 133 total squadron cost

Well if you survived through that giant pile of lists I hope you see what I’m excited about. Almost every ship is represented to some extent including ships that are from the original waves but are still competitive in a way that contradicts claims of power creep. I’ve even been amazed that ships I frankly consider write offs are doing well in some metas with large player bases. Nebulon’s and Corvettes come from the starter pack and though we don’t see hordes of them they still punch well in their respective categories. Hammerhead corvettes that I personally don’t rate just contributed to winning this year’s vassal world cup due to an interesting amalgamation of old tech with new ideas as Raddus/Profundity pop out a hammerhead for some surprise death. Even the Pelta and the interdictor feature though clearly not as much as Imperial Star Destroyers which are totally dominating the tables in many places right now… I’d have to ask though, is that a bad thing? We’ve seen enough waves of small ships nobody has ever heard of (looking at you Demolisher…) taking down everything. Seeing the big boys dominate really does just illustrate the active efforts of Armada’s brilliant design team.

Come to think of it the only thing they haven’t managed to fix is the victory, the good ol space brick isn’t represented anywhere here… Many who read my previous opinions on it decried my hate for the Vic offering overwhelming piles of anecdotal and ‘in a vacuum ‘examples to support their positions claiming that the Vic is still great. I put it to you that even Trump himself couldn’t make the Vic great again, it’s about as useful as a hat full of assholes.