Hey everybody,

As a miniature/board game player who loves Star Wars and grew up with it from 4th grade on I have somehow managed to resist getting into X-Wing. That time is long overdue.

Imperial Assault has sparked my desire for Star Wars miniature games (used to play SWM). I blame Heroclix for the delay. I was into that for awhile and didn't make room for other games. Now I rarely play clix and play all the other games I neglected.

So I plan on starting small with X-Wing so my daughter and I can play some basic games. I'm thinking two core sets. Then I'll expand into the other ships. Okay, I'll be honest - it'll probably be 2 core sets and the Falcon & Slave 1 because, well, they're the Falcon & Slave 1. But we'll learn the game with the core sets.

Playstyle - casual. I used to do tournaments with MonsterPocalypse and Heroclix. Clix tournaments burnt me out because there were too many asshats. And I prefer to play theme rather than min/max. This will be fun for my kids & I and my friends at my FLGS.

So, sound like a reasonable plan (unless I find a good deal on a collection but I'm guessing that's doubtful). My holy grail is finding somebody into clix and getting out of X-Wing. Right... but hey, it could happen.

So summary: Is 2 cores still the best way to get into the game with a casual play focus?

Thanks.

Sounds like a good approach to me. Look at Barnes and Noble for the Falcon and Slave-1. They're tough to find these days. Fly casual, and welcome to the addiction.

I caution against two core sets. While it is nice to get more dice, templates and ships, I personally found that buing some of the expansions over a second core gave me more options in the long run.

Plus, with episode VII on the horizon, a new core set (or expanded and updated box set) may be on the horizon.

But if you don't have a money issue, like some of us do, go nuts.

I started on three core sets, if you want a tie swarm cores are the most economical way to get them. The extra templates and rulers and dice are gravy.

Remember there are pilots in the tie and xwing expansion you can't get with the core set, but if you play casual with friends you can proxy them.

After that buy what looks like fun, Slave 1 and the Falcon are good if you can find them, the aces packs are also a good buy. Two ships good pilots, fun paint jobs.

If you are in the US and need a discount I get most of my stuff from miniature market, generally 2/3 of the price at B&N or a FLGS.

Welcome to the game, it's one of my favorite things.

Welcome welcome! And yes far too late-tut tut

There have been many discussions on 2 core sets vs 1 core and as many different expansions as poss and to be honest there's great validity to both arguments. If you are going to be sole provider for your core group (the family-lucky you) then I'd go down the 2 core set route definitely (2 of everything is really useful and bang for buck you do get more from a core set). If/when you expand further I'd recommend buying ships that you like the look of/have fond memories of rather than chasing the "meta" ships and no more than 2 of any type of expansion ship (except tie's/x-wings-the more the merrier for these-especially tie's) when you do. For the large ships a falcon and a slave should definately be the first on you list, subject to availability (I'm UK based so no real help on US sources).

Two core sets is really the only way to get started wether for casual or compedative play. The core set only comes with 3 dice each for Attack and defense you will soon learn that is not enough even for the ships that come with the core set. The dice purchased alone will cost you $7. With every thing that comes with a core set that you'll want two sets of that can't be purchased like Astroids, movement templates and damage deck you get the best value. 3 ships that alone would cost $45 retail plus the Dice $52 for the low price of $40 is a steal. Yes, you will want to pick up the stand alone expansions for the pilots and upgrades that come with these expansions .

Mostly what I have to say to the OP, Welcome to a whole new world.

I do casual X-wing where I provide all the ships for my friends and family, and a second core set is invaluable. For strictly casual play it's super handy, but for competitive stuff you'd generally be better off going with a single core set and then choosing expansions based on specific list needs (though a TIE swarm benefits from multiple core sets for efficient mutli-TIE model acquisition).

Given that you say you're going friends-and-family casual more than anything else, and that you're providing ships and such for at least some of the people you'll be playing with, a second core set is a great buy.

My first purchase was actually the Slave 1 (I bought my brother a core set and some expansions for his birthday, and myself a Slave 1 to run for myself while we learned the game together). I enjoyed it enough that I bought myself a core set and a few expansions the next day. I got a second core set a few months later.

Great way to start, and the falcon and slave (once they are re-supplied) will provide enough for full 100 point games.

Thanks everybody, I appreciate the feedback.

I imagine I'll be the source for the game (I seem to get that role for most games I play...) with my family and gaming group. So 2 sets seemed to be the way to go. I've been watching the game for awhile and that seems to meet the needs. Also - I love swarm armies. My collection of generics in Heroclix is, well, let's just say SHIELD and (Hail) Hydra can fight it out for loooong time. So a swarm of TIE fighters is okay by me.

I won't rule out tournaments but I found that getting heavy into Clix tournaments was work. And I play to relax, have fun, and NOT work. I did well, and I enjoyed winning tournaments (and losing) but I really wanted to have fun, thematic games. I can play meta, and enjoy studying it, I just enjoy a more relaxed environment.

So is it likely they'll reprint the Falcon & Slave 1? Or are they considered out of print?

I caution against two core sets. While it is nice to get more dice, templates and ships, I personally found that buing some of the expansions over a second core gave me more options in the long run.

Plus, with episode VII on the horizon, a new core set (or expanded and updated box set) may be on the horizon.

But if you don't have a money issue, like some of us do, go nuts.

I won't say I don't have a money issue, but I can get stuff. Also I'm liquidating my heroclix so that will turn into X-Wing money.

So is it likely they'll reprint the Falcon & Slave 1? Or are they considered out of print?

FFG has been repeatedly reprinting all the previous wave ships, but sometimes it takes a while for the reprints to get over here from their production site, and they tend to sell out pretty fast (especially those two packs).

There is, as yet, no out of print. There is no indication that they would ever do such a thing. Just need the model making folks to make more, or the shipping folks to ship more.

The YT-2400 and Decimator can be had, and are both fun to play as well. So perhaps get those instead. Both do well right out if the box, though Rebel captive shines on the Deci but doesn't come with it.

I'll put money they'll re-print them, they're far too popular not to. In fact my local online retailer has posted they're getting an xwing re-stock (including both falcon and slave) mid-week next week, although this is UK based so probably little use to you...

One thing I would say is don't pay over the odds for ships online like eBay etc-seen some frankly ridiculous prices on there...

I caution against two core sets. While it is nice to get more dice, templates and ships, I personally found that buing some of the expansions over a second core gave me more options in the long run.

Plus, with episode VII on the horizon, a new core set (or expanded and updated box set) may be on the horizon.

But if you don't have a money issue, like some of us do, go nuts.

Can't agree there, two core is the best plan. It's a very efficient way to get more X-wings and TIEs, you need the extra asteroids for Epic if you ever get that far and the extra dice are a godsend. They don't have nearly enough dice in one core. I hope that's not deliberate.

The hard-to-find stuff is definitely coming back, and soon. Check the Upcoming page on this site.

There has been no indication of a new core set to coincide with the release of The Force Awakens. Rumors like that are not helpful.

I recommend getting two core sets, then pick up whatever else looks fun. The single X-Wing and TIE Fighter expansions should not be missed since they include unique pilots that make those ships great. The Rebel Aces and Imperial Aces packs are pretty easy to find right now and contain a lot of fun stuff that will add great variety to your collection.

Welcome!

2 core sets is a great way to go, for the reasons listed above, and 1 more: the Core Sets are designed to store the 3 ships they come with- and up to 4 small ship expansions. Eventually you'll outgrow the core sets as a storage solution, but starting out, they're a good idea.

I also want to reiterate a point made above: the standalone Tie Fighter and X-Wing expansions each come with pilots found nowhere else. If you're building a Tie Swarm, you will want Howlrunner. Gotta get a standalone Tie for that.

If you're doing the thematic thing, my advice (after 2 core sets + 1 X-Wing + 1 tie fighter), is to expand your fleet by buying the ships you love most. The ships are pretty well balanced against one another (with a couple notable exceptions). Ships don't go out of print in this game, so just wait for your favorites to be back in stock.

Good luck and happy flying!

PS: in a nice reversal, you can get your daughters Ties for their birthdays!

You've got a good plan to start with even if there are other ways you could go. Picking up the X-Wing and TIE Fighter expansions will give more options that will also work with the ships in the core set. Those and the two old large ships can give you a few ways to play 100 point games.

As mentioned nothing in the game is officially "retired" although it does see stock levels drop very low at times and it may seem like restocking takes forever. At those times prices can sometimes go crazy but don't fall for it unless you are DESPERATE for a piece that will offer some kind of payout once you get it.

Barnes and noble online is a good place to check for falcon and slave. I got a falcon from them last week

Don't start with 2 core sets. See if you need one later. Buy a core and a few ships to start. You'll get a better feel for the game this way.

At the moment, most online stores have sold out of everything BUT core sets and Epic ships. I would advise to grab 2 core sets as there are currently no other options online. For me, the nearest stockist is 1.5 hours by bullet train away, so online is the only option.

Having said that, if your LFGS stocks some ships, I'd grab 1 core and at least an X-wing and Tie expansion. After that, grab what you want to play with .. and if you see a B-Wing, can you grab one for me too.

I love the Original Trilogy and never intend to play competitively so I only buy ships from those films.

The plan has begun.

My wife had a Barnes & Noble giftcard so I took a look and they had the Falcon in stock. It's on the way!

Now I need to sell my heroclix and pick up the core sets, tie fighters and x-wings.

Thanks again for all of the great feedback everybody.

The new phonebook's here! The new phonebook's here! I'm somebody now!

And by this I mean my Core Sets arrived. And my Falcon arrived last week. I'm now ready to save the Galaxy from the bad guys. The bad guys being whichever side I'm in the mood to play.

I was showing my friend the Falcon last night before we played an Imperial Assault skirmish. His response:

" I hate you. I guess I'm going by Barnes & Noble on the way home. I hate you."

So I have that going for me, which is nice.

Thanks again for all of the feedback & advice.

I supply the stuff for our games and yes, two cores sets are the way to go.

You'll need more dice anyway. The extra rules and templates are great.

Of course you'll end up getting and X-Wing and TIE expansion. You'll want the unique pilots; Howlrunner is awesome and you'll not want to fly a swarm without her.

But for the money I'd start with two cores, best overall value.

Hold the phone here people. He is a fan of the movies, and not just in this for an awesome game. We as a community have failed him.

You really should get the TIE Advanced expansion. I mean, c'mon DARTH freaking VADER. With him, and the two large ships you mentioned, you will have the most famous good guys and bad guys in the Star Wars universe.

Funny you should mention that...

I was look at stuff on Miniature Market and noticed they had the following in stock:

2 core sets

X-Wings

TIE Fighters

TIE Advanced

and....

Slave I !!!! (but they only showed 1 of those.)

Three guesses what's on the way to my house. First two guesses don't count.

My friend asked me to pick him up the cores and one each of the X-Wing, TIE & TIE advanced.

Okay, NOW I'm set. No more purchases. I'm good for awhile. No, really I am. Seriously.

****. This game is a bad thing...