Armada

[Greyhart]

So, I recently picked up the two player starter box for Armada and was quite pleased. A friend of mine and I had played - and really enjoyed - Uncharted Seas so when Armada came along we both took a long hard look. Then we ended up jumping in with both feet. LoL!

I don't know if Mantic aquired Spartan Games Uncharted Seas IP, but the Armada ship models are REALLY close to the US ones in appearance. I'd say the sculpts are even better. There NOT highly precise and detailed minis, but they are quite nice, easy to clean up and assemble.

The rules are good, solid. Simple enough to make a game go quickly but with enough details to keep things interesting.

I just finished painting the four Orc ships from the starter box and if I can figure out how I'll post pics here. My next project is my Empire of Dust (undead) fleet which I'll start today.

 

[Greyhart]

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[Willnox]

These look fantastic. I've been eyeing on picking up a Dwarf Fleet. I really miss Spartan Games. Dystopian wars was my Jam...

 

[Greyhart]

Thanks for the complIment! have to say Uncharted Seas was my favorite, but Dystopian Wars was also good. I do rather miss my Prussians. Did you see that it's been re-worked and re-released by Warcradle Studios?

Dystopian Wars - An Epic Naval Wargame of Tabletop Sea Battles

The miniatures game taking naval wargaming by storm, Dystopian Wars! Find out more about the high-quality ship miniatures and building a battlefleet today.

www.dystopianwars.com

 

[Willnox]

Yes and I hate everything they've done to the game...it's not as cool model wise and the change to the setting. Just my opinion/taste though.

 

[Greyhart]

Yeah, I wasn't too happy about how they twisted the background to fit their universe. I think the models look good though, and the fact that they did plastics is cool. Even so, I'm not going to get back into it as I have my naval game in Armada.

Speaking of which.. I'm a tad bit miffed at Mantic for a couple reasons. First, in the starter box, I had one Basilean ship that had a broken part (broken off piece completely missing) and one totally missing parts. But hey, I got an extra hull so it evens out.. I guess?

Two words Mantic, "Quality Control". Take note.

I contacted customer service to get replacement parts and also asked if I could get parts to complete the extra hull, even offering to pay for them. "No. We can't do that. Sorry."

.. really?

You're already sending me parts to replace broken and missing ones and you can't send me the extras? Even if I pay?

I'd have thrown them in as a "Oh, here. Sorry for your trouble. Hope this makes it up to you."

Yesterday I opened up my Empire of Dust boxes (starter and booster) and half (4 out of 7) had broken pieces that I have to repair. They seriously need to pack better than throw the parts in a bubble wrap bag and chuck them in an unpadded box.

 

[Willnox]

Wow that is terrible quality service and is such a shame.

 

[Greyhart]

Well.. I got my replacement parts yesterday.. sort of. I got the broken part replacement, and one of the two missing parts. The other missing part was.. missing (not in the box). But hey, I got another part that I didn't ask for so I guess that counts?

Is this sounding familiar?

So yet again I sent an email to Mantic's customer service.

I'm not hopeful.

 

[Willnox]

Oh man....that is brutal, at that point they might as well just sent you a complete new model.

 

[Greyhart]

And the saga continues..

Three weeks (.. really) after I received my screwed up replacement parts shipment and sent - yet another - email to "customer service" I FINALLY got a reply.

.. the day AFTER I put in an order to them, including the ship that I needed parts for (I figured I might get enough parts to build one complete ship out of three models if I'm lucky).

"We're so sorry. We'll send the part as as soon as we can, but mail is backed up right now so it may take a while."

In all my many years of gaming (more than I'd like to admit some days.. I'm old) I've never had such terrible customer service from any othe game company. I was considering getting some if their miniatures to use for Stargrave, but now, not so much.

 

[Willnox]

Woooooow that is dreadful...

 

[Greyhart]

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Finally finished the Basileans from the starter box.

After I paint some of my Aeronautica Imperialis backlog I'll start on my Empire of Dust fleet.

 

[Willnox]

Beautiful!!!

 

[Greyhart]

The first of my Empire of Dust.
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[Willnox]

Dooooood! Killing it. Love those blues.

 

[Greyhart]

Thanks. It's actually "Hawk Turquoise", but the camera distorts the color a bit, or maybe it's my lighting. <shrugs>

I'll post the rest of the fleet as I complete it over the next month or so. I have 6 bigger ships (MUCH bigger in a couple cases) and 2 flyers to complete.

They honestly don't take long as I use a lot of washes and drybrushing. There's minimal highlighting picked out.

 

[Willnox]

Would be great to see them on the table.

 

[Greyhart]

Once I get the fleet done I'll take a picture of them on the Armada game mat for you.

 

[Greyhart]

Well.. I finally got (most of) my Aeronautica Imperialis done so I'm taking a break to get back to my Empire of Dust fleet. I'm hoping to get it all done by the end of the month if my painting muse will cooperate, but she is fickle.

The weekend before last a friend and I got two games in. I used my Basileans from the starter box and he used my orcs for the first game. The second game he played his brand new Salamanders fleet. Both games were a blast (literally) and we both managed to pull off some great maneuvers threading the needle and crossing the T.

Salamanders ships are TOUGH. Tanks on water. The amount of firepower I poured into just one of his ships to damage it was ridiculous. Fortunately they're not very maneuverable.

All in all a great day of gaming with one of my best friends.

As I get my EoD ships done over the next month or so I'll post pictures here.

 

[Willnox]

Can't wait!