Fans of Fantasy Flight’s capital ship combat game Star Wars: Armada are well aware of the flaws of playing the Imperial side. Just like the movies, the bad guys have the most eye-catching ships, and also the most terrifying weapons. The Imperial Light Carrier expansion for Armada contains one Quasar Fire-class cruiser-carrier.
For those of you who didn’t get your Star Wars ships spotting badge, that’s the very triangular looking grey ship with the hangar that poops out TIE Fighters. So far it’s only been seen in Star Wars Rebels, but it’s almost certainly going to turn up in the movies at some point. It’s a giant floating hangar which looks visually striking. Most Imperial ships look amazing on the table but this giant grey Trivial Pursuit wedge just begs to be modified with lights and the like. It’s a lovely piece.
Rules-wise, it’s a mid-range ship specialising in squadron support. For a carrier, it’s pretty nippy and you have to be utterly rubbish at Armada to accidentally fly it off the table. Like all of the Armada models, it’s statted with two modes. One if slightly more defensive, focusing on hitting things at long range, and the other is marginally better as closer ranges. Both modes underline the fact that this isn’t a frontline fighter, but a support ship. We get three title cards that make it more interesting. Pursuant means you always have the option of controlling TIEs and other small craft, regardless of whatever manoeuvre you planned. Stronghold turns your ship into a defendable point on the board, surrounded by TIE fighters that swarm and confound key Rebel tactics.
Alternately, the Squall configuration turns your TIEs into fast, cohesive hunter killers. This will leave your ship vulnerable and it doesn’t really have the hull to go toe-to-toe with the bigger Rebel ships, but played right and this is potentially an X-Wing squadron killer and a lovely way to take out the likes of Luke Skywalker in a swarm of TIE fighters. Combined with the Grand Inquisitor as a commander and you can be really mean with this tough little ship, as the creepy Inquisitor lets you trade speed for survivability.
The expansion also comes with boarding options, which is fun and fits the theme of a big ship that shoots out smaller ships. It’s potentially tactic changing for Armada, and a lovely looking thing. You’re still going to get more ‘bang’ with the bigger ships in the game though. Fun, but at the moment, not essential.
STAR WARS: ARMADA – IMPERIAL LIGHT CARRIER / DESIGNER JAMES KNIFFEN, CHRISTIAN T. PETERSEN / PUBLISHER FANTASY FLIGHT GAMES / RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW
