Hello -

I'm a new player of the game, having just grabbed the Core Set last weekend. I am bringing the game to a weekend gaming party in a couple of weeks, and I'd like to get an add-on or two in order to ensure more people than just 2/3 can play at once.

Here's my problem - from watching the Wil Wheaton playthrough, I know that certain ships like the Millennium Falcon and Slave One have way more hull and shield strength than the snubfighters (and rightly so). Are there certain combinations of add-ons that would let us play a game with 4/5 players, without it being ridiculously unbalanced? Is buying Millennium Falcon & Slave One and calling it a day a good way to go?

Also, are there any places to pick up good mission sets for us to use?

Thank you for your guidance - I did a forums search for terms like "addon balance" but wasn't able to come up with anything tremendously useful.

The game isn't really designed with 4-5 players in mind. It's designed for 2 players, or at least 2 sides.

The way they did it on the Wil Wheaton video, wasn't really well done in the first place. But the idea of teams does work in this game.

The trick is making sure the points are balanced. Like giving everyone 50 points, and then having 2 people per team. The YT-1300 does have more hull and shields then a X-Wing, but it also costs more points, so that's where the balance comes in.

I'd recommend the following if you can swing it.

Get a 2nd core set, cheep if you can find one. Sometimes you can find one at Target for $12. Or else get one online. Having a 2nd core means 2 sets of templates, dice, damage deck, ect... Plus 3 more ships.

After that I'd say a YT-1300 and Slave one.

Then the teams can be something like Falcon and 2 X's vs Slave 1 and 4 Tie Fighters.

Excellent advice and exactly what I was after, thank you! I'll ponder getting a second core set - I'm not sure that a 2nd core set is doable budgetwise, if I do the YT-1300 and Slave One too - unless I happen to find it on sale for $12! Does that happen regularly?

Well, when you split the group into two teams you can give everybody a single ship to pilot of course. Then you only need as many ships as you've got players. It would be hard to coordinate actions though.

Getting a 2nd Core Set really is the best value if you're going to play with friends. Two lots of movement templates, two lots of range rulers, two lots of dice, two damage decks, plus all the tokens and dials etc... you would have one set of everything per side, or you could even have two games running at once if you want to get everyone involved. Plus, you WILL want that extra X-Wing and TIE fighters (and dice!) eventually. If you can find a second starter set reduced, great, if not, it STILL works out cheaper than buying the ships individually.

After that,it's entirely up to what's available in your area, what you can afford, and which ships you like the look of. Bear in mind that (typically speaking) Rebels will tend to have a have a smaller number of ships per side than Imperials will.

I'm afraid that with such limited ships you are also going to have limited options. If we're honest adding a Falcon and Firespray will greatly increase the "power" on each side as the named Falcons are about twice as expensive, in terms of points, as the X-Wing is and two TIE-Fighters will have a very hard time matching up against a single Firespray. Adding another Core Set to the picture can get you a pair of 100 point squadrons to face each other but for what you want I'd actually suggest going with small, but hopefully quick, engagements.

unless I happen to find it on sale for $12! Does that happen regularly?

A number of Targets have them for that price, but a number don't have them at all, or have them at full price. So you could check but there's no way of knowing.

Miniature Market has core sets for $26.