Wow so much to post on, well better get started.
Armada and Privateer does work with 6.1. It runs for me with ram set to 64 (the max), ems off, xms on, and CPU cycles at 11000 (thats were privateer runs the best), and using loadfix -64.
DosBox has no 16-bit sound support so useing Soundblaster 16 is pointless and can mess things up, Soundblaster Pro seems to work the best.
Not Armada, nor privateer will work with VDMS (at least not on a windows NT based OS) because of the JEMM issues.
As for the garbled screen I get that too (also in privateer) just hit enter or click the mouse.
Now onto the big one Joysticks. I too have the problem with my joystick (does anyone not?) and its not just Armada it happens in both the Crusaders too; however it works fine in Privateer. Why this is I have no idea as there engines are relativly closely related, IIRC. I searched and found no mention of the problem on DosBox's forums so I posted about it. Hopefully I will get a response. If you get a chance pop ovewr there and reply to my thread about joystick problems saying that you have the problem too as that may get more attention from the devs and those in the know. I am also trying to get a friend to compile the latest CVS to see if that fixes it. If it does I'll through a post up here.
Ok I think thats it. Did I miss anything?