• Registered: 2018-11-02
  • Posts: 1

Topic: Tips and advisory for a new player

Hello fellow Starmada players! I'm just getting into this and a few other space games to experiment with rules and see what I like.

I'm curious if you had any recommendations on do's and dont's- as well as what you'd recommend getting to run games of Starmada *(such as tokens- what sort of battle mat you'd recommend, or what size of ships work best for the game vis a vie scale- 1/4000, 1/7000 etc.).
What manufacturers stand out for you as far as models appropriate for the Hex map *(notably some manufacturers make super long or large ships that can be difficult to rationalize on a hex map)

What secondary terrain or pieces would you say are essential?

Lastly- What is your experience with time scale in terms of running A) a demo game B) a standard size game C) a large scale game?
Cheers,

Kristoph09Tailz
*(Host of the everything games podcast)

  • Registered: 2006-01-17
  • Posts: 740

Re: Tips and advisory for a new player

Hello and Welcome to Starmada.
I use Micromachine minis and other 1/2400 to 1/3000 minis for spaceships.  I also use 1/2400 naval minis that I turned into starships, inspired by Starblazers. 
There are so many options in the game.  Remember to have fun and laugh at the dice whether they roll well or don't.
As for terrain, a planet to defend or fight over can be fun to use.  It can block line of sight and assist movement. 
Cheers

  • Registered: 2007-10-09
  • Posts: 33

Re: Tips and advisory for a new player

If you like Star Trek there is the Romulan and Klingon Armada Unity products.  You can buy miniatures from Amarillo Design Bureau (ADB) and their shapeways store.

I would also look at Brigade Models for miniatures.

For a mat/map, I just use hex maps from other products I have (Silent Death, Federation Commander, etc).  I do have a mat from Hotz Mats but it was a bad shopping experience for me.  There are probably others out there.  You can even buy map boards from ADB that would work.

I have asteroids and that is about the only terrain I use, outside of other ships or bases.

I could not give accurate time estimates for game lengths.  I would say they are going to be long in the beginning until you know the rules and are also able to explain them clearly to other players.

Hope that helps.  Let us know how it goes.

  • Registered: 2018-05-27
  • Posts: 129

Re: Tips and advisory for a new player

If you are an SFU (Star Fleet Universe) player, there are many sources for ships from the various incarnations of Star Trek, many fully assembled and painted. But keep in mind that most of the SFU ships are designs that have never graced the screen, so the only source for accurate models of these ships would be the ADB Shapeways store referenced above. Also, the ADB Shapeways store is a great source of info on these ships and their imagined history, something I find fascinating.