I'm buying my first X-wing set today, and want to pick up a few expansions too.

We are planning on playing 1 vs 1, and want a fair setup for both players.

Is three Ties vs two X-wings ok?

4 TIEs vs two X-Wings is closer to being balanced imho.

^assuming we're talking Academy Pilots vs Rookie Pilots.

Thanks Keffisch. I have to add that no one in my board game group has played the game before. So it's all about getting it as close to balanced as possible, and learning the rules without one team getting steamrolled.

Just get two core sets, then you can do 2x vs 4tie, and you want the extra dice, rangerulers etc anyway.

Just get two core sets, then you can do 2x vs 4tie, and you want the extra dice, rangerulers etc anyway.

Yep, this.

I've been working on balancing my collection for a while (since I started it). I think the 2x core set approach is the easiest way to do that (and relatively economical). Core set + 2x TIE Fighter expansion + X-Wing expansion would work too.

Other options:

Core set + X-Wing expansion + TIE Advanced expansion (this may not feel balanced and some may argue)

Core set + TIE Fighter expansion + (upcoming) Z-95 expansion

Core set + TIE Interceptor + A-Wing (this may not be very well balanced)

Core set + TIE Bomber + B-Wing (this will be two very different playstyles but could be close to balanced)

Core set + Millennium Falcon + Slave I

The game is best when it's not just 1 vs 1. When you get an X-Wing or TIE Fighter expansion, you'll get some new cards that aren't included in the core set also. The A-Wing and the TIE Interceptor offer some new options too.

Get a TIE Advanced, 'cos you've GOT to have Darth Vader. It's just not Star Wars without him.

Good Luck.

If you keep the points even, once you've squashed the PS down, its generally fair.

At minimum, your 2 X-Wings will be a total of 42 points. That's even with 3 Black Squadron Pilots (14 each), which would get squashed down into Obsidians, keeping the same pilot-skill order (PS 3 and PS 4 both shoot before the PS 2 Rookies, and so are functionally identical for our services). At that point, you could re-upgrade one of those to Dark Curse, and it would come out fairly even.

That is to say, Rookie + Rookie, vs Obsidian + Obsidian + Dark Curse.

Going with XX vs 4 TIEs means that the X-Wings now have the point defecit. 4 TIEs is, at minimum, 48 points. I'll let you do the math that way.