So, I'll be digging out my Armada pieces again, soon, and probably going over the rules a second time. But, I'm curious if anyone can answer me right off the top what the standard point value for a basic game of Armada is, and what would you recommend beyond fighter expansions to fill in what the core box doesn't cover to reach that minimum?
Thanks.
Heh, went through the same thing recently. Standard games these days are 400 points, but if you're not running around with ISDs and Mon Cal cruisers, the old standard of 300 points is easier to understand and get a feel for the game in.
What you probably want are:
1) The first fighter packs - both Rebel and Imperial - and the Rogues & Villains, which has stuff for both sides.
2) Imperials want a Light Cruiser (long-range ship with a couple of important defensive cards and a great commander), a Gladiator SD (Demolisher is probably the best title in the GAME, and the Glad is a strong ship), a Imperial Carrier flotilla (to push your fighters faster) as a base. The Imperial Star Destroyer is good, and the Raider is fun, but those three ships (Gozandi, Gladiator, Arquitens) are a solid base with the VSD that comes in the box.
3) Rebels want another Nebulon-B Frigate (for the titles therein, and they work well in pairs), a Phoenix Home (the Pelta has some great synergies), and a Rebel Transports pack (because flotillas are pretty good). After that, you might want the MC30 Frigate for Rieekan or a CR90 to create a little wolfpack, but those three expansions are a solid base with the core.
4) Look for some of the promo cards on eBay, especially Turbolaser Reroute Circuits. Leading Shots is also useful on a fair few ships, but TRCs turn Corellian Corvettes into pocket murder machines.
I'd say bare minimum for good 300 point games would be the first fighter packs with Rogues & Villains, the Imperial Light Cruiser, the Carriers, a second Nebulon-B, and Rebel Transports.
The weird thing is... I bought all that, and I've yet to play more than a handful of games. I just like them, they're great toys, but I probably should have spent money on Malifaux instead.