For a new player who doesn't have too much money, can he buy everything he needs under $200 USD? I ask because miniature games seemed like a very expensive hobby, but this game has my interest due to Star Wars so I'm wondering about the cost of getting into this game.

Im sure there are cheaper lists than this but the first one that comes to my head is a list that can be had with three starters, which run about $30-50 ish, and a single tie fighter expansion, $15 ish.

So yes

I love miniature games. The reason I got into this is A. Star Wars. B. Its the cheapest way to get your crack, er, miniature fix. Yes you can get everything for quite a few squads with 200 dollars. I think I have spent a total of 600ish and have multiples (2-4 for most, 7 interceptors, don't ask) of every ship and 1 of each epic. So yeah, I would figure out which side you would lean towards and buy with that preference in mind. Though just realize some upgrade cards that you may want only come in the opposite faction.

You can start for way under $200 the trick is not to go nuts buying more ships than you need, most of us fail in that regard.

If you stick with one faction you'll be able to get plenty of stuff for €200. The starter gives you about ~25-30 points worth of ships for both Rebel and Empire.

You can use a squad builder (http://geordanr.github.io/xwing/) to plan out some lists. Dont worry about the cards yet, you can always print them or keep the squad builder on your phone next to your game if you want.

Best start is the ye old two starters and one tie fighter and one x-wing.

That gives the best start into this great mins game.

From there you can play test with a mate to find out what side you like to play.

A player only really -needs- to buy the starter to play and have fun the problem really is what the player -wants-. I know some players who buy enough of each ship so that they can build a whole squad of just that one ships generics but i think that's overkill. Just look into something called the two ship meta. I as much as I love tie swarm I rather have a variety of ships rather then lots of one. Just buy the ships you like the look of and try and make them work.

^{to get everything you NEED? no. to get everything you actually need, yes.}

^{What I was thinking is for you to find someone at a store that has at least one of every ship and try out running one of each ship per side or one of each ship they have as the lowest pilot skill for each, then switch. Points don't have to add up right, it's just to get a feel for how each ship moves and what ones you like. Once you find the ships you like the most, look at building a squad based on that ship. for Rebels a 3 ship build is not uncommon and may be very cheap if you like x-wings as one comes in the starter. so 26.99 for the starter. Another x-wing for 9.99 and an a-wing or e-wing for another 9.99 puts you at just $46.99 to get started from someplace like Miniature market(no affilation and not an endorsement). You may have trouble getting to an even 100 points, but 97 98 points isn't bad. But you know you don't want to join those rebel scum! Join the empire (we have cookies!) so in summary.}

^{1. Try out ships with someone who already owns a bunch.}

^{2. buy just the ones you like to start with.}

^{3. Profit have fun. In just casual play most won't care if you don't have the cards so you don't need to buy all the expansions just to get a card to try.}

^{And you are talking about spending $200 which is more than enough if you look for deals to get a good variety of ships.}

1. You need to shop online to find deals. I hate to say it, but if you are seriously on a budget, you need to do that instead of going to your FLGS.

2. Check Ebay - there are people who are selling off lots of items for 100 to 200

3. The catch with this game is that you almost need to get 1 of everything just so you have all the upgrade cards.

HINT: Get with someone who has a big collection and is willing to let you build squads to test out. Find out what you like and then only get those ships/packs

If you're happy to drop that 200 bucks in one go, try looking for someone selling their collection instead - you might be able to get a couple of reasonably sized fleets that way.

You can get started for as cheap as $70 retail (Core + 2 small expansions). So, you could stretch the $200 to get some okay variety in what you can build. If money is an issue, you probably want to start with sticking to one faction, Rebel or Imperial which is in the core.

If i was just starting out id just go for one core set and the imp and rebel aces expansions, plenty of fun to be had there maybe add on a falcon and a phantom flying those ships will teach you a lot about the big turret ships and arc dodging (the meat and bones of x-wing). Those would run you up about $100 usd. After that what you buy is up to you but those expansions and play abit you will have a much better idea of what ships to buy and what the different pilots and upgrades can do for you.

For All factions, I would get 2 core sets, about 39.99 which equals 80 dollars,

1 Tie Advanced (You Must have Vader), 1 B-Wing, 1 X-wing, 1 Y-wing, 1 Tie Interceptor (Assuming $15 dollars) = 75 dollars

Those equal 155 dollars.

finally for Scum and Villainy

One Most Wanted: 40 more dollars, (The Z95's and Y-wings can be used as rebels also) Not in tournaments, but in fun games for sure.

200 dollars well spent.

For All factions, I would get 2 core sets, about 39.99 which equals 80 dollars,

1 Tie Advanced (You Must have Vader), 1 B-Wing, 1 X-wing, 1 Y-wing, 1 Tie Interceptor (Assuming $15 dollars) = 75 dollars

Those equal 155 dollars.

finally for Scum and Villainy

One Most Wanted: 40 more dollars, (The Z95's and Y-wings can be used as rebels also) Not in tournaments, but in fun games for sure.

200 dollars well spent.

200 is plenty to be able to play the game, but you'll want to be deliberate about your choices.

For All factions, I would get 2 core sets, about 39.99 which equals 80 dollars,

1 Tie Advanced (You Must have Vader), 1 B-Wing, 1 X-wing, 1 Y-wing, 1 Tie Interceptor (Assuming $15 dollars) = 75 dollars

Those equal 155 dollars.

finally for Scum and Villainy

One Most Wanted: 40 more dollars, (The Z95's and Y-wings can be used as rebels also) Not in tournaments, but in fun games for sure.

200 dollars well spent.

Two core sets is definitely not necessary to start unless you want to play five TIEs in a list or are providing all the models for both sides. Let us know what faction you interested in or what your play style is (casual or competitive) because the answers will vary greatly based on those responses.

200 is plenty to be able to play the game, but you'll want to be deliberate about your choices.

I beg to differ. 2 Core sets are needed almost certainly. 2 People are needed as a minimum to play and each player should have his own dice, damage deck, movement templates to keep things organized. Plus everyone wants to play luke, especially when just learning how to play.

I think these days were so spoiled for ships and list options i think you can get by fine with one starter set when starting out. Id go with building up more of a variety of ships and get another starter if you feel you want more x's, ties, dice and templates.

I'm pretty sure that two beginners, if they are friends on top of that, can share a damage deck and a few dices.

I would only buy one core set and try to diversify my collection.

My two cents.

For All factions, I would get 2 core sets, about 39.99 which equals 80 dollars,

1 Tie Advanced (You Must have Vader), 1 B-Wing, 1 X-wing, 1 Y-wing, 1 Tie Interceptor (Assuming $15 dollars) = 75 dollars

Those equal 155 dollars.

finally for Scum and Villainy

One Most Wanted: 40 more dollars, (The Z95's and Y-wings can be used as rebels also) Not in tournaments, but in fun games for sure.

200 dollars well spent.

Two core sets is definitely not necessary to start unless you want to play five TIEs in a list or are providing all the models for both sides. Let us know what faction you interested in or what your play style is (casual or competitive) because the answers will vary greatly based on those responses.

200 is plenty to be able to play the game, but you'll want to be deliberate about your choices.

I beg to differ. 2 Core sets are needed almost certainly. 2 People are needed as a minimum to play and each player should have his own dice, damage deck, movement templates to keep things organized. Plus everyone wants to play luke, especially when just learning how to play.

It's certainly helpful but in no way necessary, but it's also why I asked if he is going to provide all the models or not among other clarifying questions. I just think the day when two core sets were "needed" is a bit past, especially when looking long term and/or focusing on one faction.

New players who are diversifying will want all the all X-wing and Tie pilots, too, so with a core set and purchase of an expansion of each, they have 2 X-Wings and 3 Ties and are $70 dollars in. A second core set gives them 5 TIes and 3Xs at $110, which is a lot of ships, but not a lot of variety.

I started with a $40 Core Set, four $30 boxes, and two $15 blister packs. That gave me plenty of ships and cards to field 100 point squads for both Rebels and Imperials and just enough to field two 150 point squads. Your mileage may vary depending on which expansions you get but $190 worth is definitely enough to start. Thanks to Amazon, I was able to save enough money on all that to throw in a $15 dice pack and still stay under $200. Of course, you could easily drop one box expansion and get a second core set for an even $200. You could also drop any number of boxes and replace them with two blister packs each.

It's been mentioned by a few people in this thread, but if there's a good local gaming group in your area, find out if you can borrow some ships/cards for some of your matches. It will give you a good way to test drive some ships and cards to figure out what you *need* against what you *want*.

I got pretty lucky here, my roommate is also into this game as well as my fiances brother and they both have a starter set as well so when we get together for glorious space combat, they let me use their x wings and I lend them my tie fighters.

For All factions, I would get 2 core sets, about 39.99 which equals 80 dollars,

1 Tie Advanced (You Must have Vader), 1 B-Wing, 1 X-wing, 1 Y-wing, 1 Tie Interceptor (Assuming $15 dollars) = 75 dollars

Those equal 155 dollars.

finally for Scum and Villainy

One Most Wanted: 40 more dollars, (The Z95's and Y-wings can be used as rebels also) Not in tournaments, but in fun games for sure.

200 dollars well spent.

Two core sets is definitely not necessary to start unless you want to play five TIEs in a list or are providing all the models for both sides. Let us know what faction you interested in or what your play style is (casual or competitive) because the answers will vary greatly based on those responses.

200 is plenty to be able to play the game, but you'll want to be deliberate about your choices.

I beg to differ. 2 Core sets are needed almost certainly. 2 People are needed as a minimum to play and each player should have his own dice, damage deck, movement templates to keep things organized. Plus everyone wants to play luke, especially when just learning how to play.

It's certainly helpful but in no way necessary, but it's also why I asked if he is going to provide all the models or not among other clarifying questions. I just think the day when two core sets were "needed" is a bit past, especially when looking long term and/or focusing on one faction.

New players who are diversifying will want all the all X-wing and Tie pilots, too, so with a core set and purchase of an expansion of each, they have 2 X-Wings and 3 Ties and are $70 dollars in. A second core set gives them 5 TIes and 3Xs at $110, which is a lot of ships, but not a lot of variety.

Yeah I have 3 Xs from core, expansion and transport and I have never had all three of them in play at one time. So I don't really find the 2nd core useful for the X-Wing. You will at some point want to have more dice and you may want a tie swarm, so if those are something you want right away you may want to consider the 2nd core. Then having the spare X-Wing, damage deck and templates is kind of just a bonus.

Thanks for all the help. Being that I'm a huge Han Solo fan, I rrally want to build a Fat Han crew with 2 Z-95s. Not sure about the Imperials though, so any suggestion is much appreciated. Btw, if I get into this game I won't mind spending as high as $200, but anything over will be difficult financially.

I hate to say this because I love supporting the local stores, but for your initial buy in, I would strongly suggest miniature market or a similar site. This is beause you can get a starter, a copy of rebel aces, and every single imperial and rebel ship (except epics or repeats of x-wing/tie fighter) that MM has in stock for under just under $215. So yes, you can absolutely build a great fleet for under $200, and then go to your local store to add on once you have your starting pieces.

I hate to say this because I love supporting the local stores, but for your initial buy in, I would strongly suggest miniature market or a similar site. This is beause you can get a starter, a copy of rebel aces, and every single imperial and rebel ship (except epics or repeats of x-wing/tie fighter) that MM has in stock for under just under $215. So yes, you can absolutely build a great fleet for under $200, and then go to your local store to add on once you have your starting pieces.

Thanks a lot. So I should buy 1 of every Rebel and Imperial ships, including the ships I probably won't play like Tentative IV and YT-2400 Freighter? I would like to know because if I want to build a playable fleet, I will need multiples of certain starfighters like Z-95, so that means I'll probably have to buy more afterward. Also, would I be able to share the ships and upgrades with another player so both of us can play?