So I got my mitts on Armada and this morning started pulling the box apart (Mmmmmmm, that new game smell....), and thought I would share my thoughts so far (so far being building the ships and assembling the dials)
First little thing I noticed was the shield dials are colored, a nice cool blue at full and fading as it goes down, maybe not worth a second thought but it's that little extra detail that makes you appreciate a big purchase like Armada. For almost three times what the X-Wing starter costs I'm looking for value!
The Movement snake was a bit sketchy to build and I was worried that I would apply to much pressure and break the little plastic kajiggers but they went in fine the numbers on the darned thing are card that you insert, those I had trouble getting in straight but if your a real stickler you can pop them out the back and try again.
As far as the detail of the ships if X-Wing was a 10 I would give these ones a 7. You would think that on a larger ship the increased surface area would tend to make it more drab but somehow that's not the case the destroyer looks great its' the scum I don't like. I hope my pics do it justice but the paint job on the Nebulon -B is drab (The front is begging for a wash to bring out all those bumps and contours).
The fighter squadrons come with a few choices for the bases, of course I gave the best ones to my TIE-Fighters. They do fit in there quite snug and again my clumsy paws made me worry about breaking a wing off the TIEs, they are gonna come out one more for painting and then never again (The flash on the TIE wings is pretty bad, and on the X-wing bodies)
This thing won't let me upload any more pictures!!! Gonna have some breakfast and try again after.