I'll be straightforward here... I play Armada. I never got into X-Wing. As someone who previously did advanced training to be a military pilot, and flushed out on Medical, I orginally avoided wanted to get into anything that even remotely started giving me flashbacks of it...

... But if I want to play with my friends, who are all picking it up, I have no choice but to dive...

So here's the deal... I am a swift learner, I run with a bunch of different miniatures games, and I'm familiar with the way you've got to look at how to build things with FFG games... But I have a very limited budget.

I've been Generously donated a Core Set minus Ships (and I presume, upgrade cards too) to get me settled with the manual, dice, movement templates, etc... So now I'm looking at buying into some Ships...

I'm looking at having, maybe $100 US to spend... But because of how far we are along with X-Wing, I look at the entire range and stare...

I'm also unable to get a bunch of games in to learn which way to go... THe way my brain works, I'd much rather set up with something that works, and spend my time -refining- the tactic... Losing perpetually until I 'get it right' does not intimidate me...

I also have no real preference to Scum, Imperial or Rebel at this point... Although the K-Wing with its Newness has caught my attention.
....

So, are some helpful people here able to come up with some Buy-Lists vs Squad-Lists that I should look at, keeping under my $100 (Roughly) Retail-Price Budget.

** Please note as well that I don't live in the US, I'm simply picking US Retail price as a basis, because showing me how I can get more on 'discount' from online stores doesn't help, unfortunately...

Four B-Wings and a Z-95 form a totally competitive list that doesn't require buying other ships just for the upgrades. That'll run you $75 US at retail, and you can probably do a little better with some shopping around. The K-Wing is flippin' sweet, for sure, but most of the uses I've seen for it are going to require a lot of extra upgrades from ships that you might not even fly.

The BBBBZ build is a skill-intensive list, like all swarmy builds: it can be tricky flying all those ships without bumping into each other. But it sounds like that might play to your strengths because there's lots of room to refine your flying and see better results.

Also, my heart goes out to you my friend: I come from a family of commercial pilots and always assumed I would take the next step and be our first military pilot. I didn't make it as far as you (I was about to sign on the dotted line and enter USAF officer training while at university and literally as I put pen to paper a staff sergeant walked up to the recruiting colonel and pointed out that I had been treated for asthma at age 13 - the cutoff was 12 for consideration for flight school at the time) but I know the heartbreak. For what it's worth, X-Wing doesn't make my chest tighten up the way that flight sims and military air shows still do.

1) coolstuffinc.com will save you 30% over retail, so now you have $130 to spend! Free shipping on orders above $100 and sales tax free unless your in Florida.

2) If you don't have a fondness for scum skip most wanted... For now.

3) get another core set. $27.49 on cool stuff. Your going to want the ships and cards and extra dice.

4) if you want a top tier list right now:

Imperial Aces $19.95

Tie Interceptor expansion $9.99

Decimator $27.49

That will get you most of the Deci Fel list that is killing the meta right now. Total that out it comes to $84.92 so maybe add

M3 expansion $10.49 to get stealth device for Soontir and a starviper expansion ($13.99) for autothrusters for Soontir. Now your a little over at $109.40.

The caveat here is that you may be able to build that top tier list, but you may not like playing it. You also may lose A LOT at first until you learn how to fly it. X-Wing is not just about the list, it's about how optimally you can fly that list.

1) coolstuffinc.com will save you 30% over retail, so now you have $130 to spend! Free shipping on orders above $100 and sales tax free unless your in Florida.

2) If you don't have a fondness for scum skip most wanted... For now.

3) get another core set. $27.49 on cool stuff. Your going to want the ships and cards and extra dice.

4) if you want a top tier list right now:

Imperial Aces $19.95

Tie Interceptor expansion $9.99

Decimator $27.49

That will get you most of the Deci Fel list that is killing the meta right now. Total that out it comes to $84.92 so maybe add

M3 expansion $10.49 to get stealth device for Soontir and a starviper expansion ($13.99) for autothrusters for Soontir. Now your a little over at $109.40.

The caveat here is that you may be able to build that top tier list, but you may not like playing it. You also may lose A LOT at first until you learn how to fly it. X-Wing is not just about the list, it's about how optimally you can fly that list.

This is an easier list to fly than the one I posted, if you can get them to ship to Canada so you don't have to pay retail for the components. I found it much easier to learn with this very list and have only recently graduated to lists with more ships and no turrets....and I lose a lot more!

I *think*.coolstuff goes to Canada as well, but if they don't depending on how far you are from the border the savings might be enough to get a PO box in the states. I'm in Seattle and I know guys from B.C. who have boxes in Blane for just that purpose.

I *think*.coolstuff goes to Canada as well, but if they don't depending on how far you are from the border the savings might be enough to get a PO box in the states. I'm in Seattle and I know guys from B.C. who have boxes in Blane for just that purpose.

I am in Canada, but my ability to Order Online is exceptionally limited - hence why I stated Retail Prices, because I can at least get that at an LGS... That, and it may be partially funded by people in Australia - hence why trying to work it out at retail because its easier to point out to them.

I'm looking for a list as a basis, and once I have the idea down - I intend to fly the hell out of it to nail it down... I guess I also need to know what the lists *do*...

I'm trying to do catch-up reading, of course, but its hard to nail things down on these forums, with so many people talking

I highly suggest buying another Core Set right off the bat. Having two sets of dice, movement templates, asteroids, damage decks, etc..., will come in VERY handy. It is also the cheapest way to get three ships. The X-Wing is not the most competitive choice right now, but TIEs are still effective. You may want to wait a week or so until the big reveal on September 4 rolls out. There may be a new core Set.

I echo FuturistiKen in that BBBBZ is a rock solid list. It has good hitting power, the ships are durable but not "defensive", the list does not have a lot of fancy combos that need to be kept track of so it is simple in that sense, but it may be tricky to fly due to the number of ships on the table. It is more forgiving than a TIE swarm. Later, if you like the game, you can ditch the Z for upgrades if you wish.

I almost forgot. This is an online squad builder that easily shows you what is available, what is coming down the pipe, where to fine upgrades, and what the upgrades do. It is helpful to plan your purchases if you are on a strict budget.

http://xwing-builder.co.uk

Enjoy

1) coolstuffinc.com will save you 30% over retail, so now you have $130 to spend! Free shipping on orders above $100 and sales tax free unless your in Florida.

2) If you don't have a fondness for scum skip most wanted... For now.

3) get another core set. $27.49 on cool stuff. Your going to want the ships and cards and extra dice.

4) if you want a top tier list right now:

Imperial Aces $19.95

Tie Interceptor expansion $9.99

Decimator $27.49

That will get you most of the Deci Fel list that is killing the meta right now. Total that out it comes to $84.92 so maybe add

M3 expansion $10.49 to get stealth device for Soontir and a starviper expansion ($13.99) for autothrusters for Soontir. Now your a little over at $109.40.

The caveat here is that you may be able to build that top tier list, but you may not like playing it. You also may lose A LOT at first until you learn how to fly it. X-Wing is not just about the list, it's about how optimally you can fly that list.

I would even just keep the hull on Soontir (included with Imperial Aces and StarViper expac) to save you from buying a scum ship w/o most wanted...You could replace it with an Imperial Shuttle for Rebel Captive and Darth Vader to give you some crew options on the Decimator.

I highly suggest buying another Core Set right off the bat. Having two sets of dice, movement templates, asteroids, damage decks, etc..., will come in VERY handy. It is also the cheapest way to get three ships. The X-Wing is not the most competitive choice right now, but TIEs are still effective. You may want to wait a week or so until the big reveal on September 4 rolls out. There may be a new core Set.

I echo FuturistiKen in that BBBBZ is a rock solid list. It has good hitting power, the ships are durable but not "defensive", the list does not have a lot of fancy combos that need to be kept track of so it is simple in that sense, but it may be tricky to fly due to the number of ships on the table. It is more forgiving than a TIE swarm. Later, if you like the game, you can ditch the Z for upgrades if you wish.

Lots of people are for a second core set, but I have been playing over a year and have yet to purchase a second set...I wouldn't consider it necessary. At most it would be good to have more dice, and you can do that with a dice pack.