Star Wars: Armada
Lock S- foils, we’re going in…
Release Date: OUT NOW!
Two players | £ 80 Publisher: Fantasy Flight Games
In this tabletop
strategy game, two opposing players take charge of the battle fleets of the Empire and Rebel Alliance. One controls a Star Destroyer and six squadrons of TIE Fighters, while the other has a Corvette, Frigate and four squadrons of X- Wings.
Players are free to roam anywhere on a three- foot- square surface, with rules governing firing range and turning speed, but things still get cluttered, with multiple ships plus devices for measuring combat and manoeuvring. Attacks are managed using dice rolls to apportion damage, critical hits and their effects.
Armada does have some incongruities, such as fighters not being able to move and attack, contrary to Star Wars dogfights. Also, the weakness of the TIE Fighters means you’ll need to stick to the same overall strategy, attacking in swarms to knock out the X- Wings before they pick you off first.
No doubt it will appeal to strategy purists, and there’s fun to be had steering your lumbering warships around, trying to outwit your opponent while managing your dwindling shields. But if you want to recapture the twists and turns of dynamic space combat, this isn’t the game you’re looking for.
There’s also the niggling feeling that the core pack is just a gateway drug for the “fleet building ” expansion packs. With additional ships costing between £ 15 and £ 30, this could rapidly become a very expensive hobby. Steve Jarratt