I have been playing a good bit with my kids- daughters age 13 and 10- and I have to say I really love letting their heros scrape by with victories every time. There were plenty of times I probably could have slaughtered them, but I look at it this way... if I want to play competitively I will go to the shop or have my buddies over and skirmish against them. In the campaign, the heros are meant to experience some dark, dreadful times, but ultimately they should prevail.

This, of course, means that my wonderful Imperial troops get killed every game, but I'm fine with that. Ultimately there will be 2 more Star Wars gaming fans in the world and I think that is worth some dead stormies.

I just wish I could find a way to let my younger daughter find and use the TaunTaun or Bantha she wants soo badly...

I agree with your daughter, I'd also like taun tauns!

There will be a Bantha Rider as a small expansion pack available probably just before christmas (it's listed as "on the boat" right now). Maybe Santa can grab one for your daughter?

She'll have to play skirmish (sister on sister combat) to use it.

With hoth being the next expansion I'd be very surprised if there wasn't a taun taun unit pack released shortly afterwards.

There will be a Bantha Rider as a small expansion pack available probably just before christmas (it's listed as "on the boat" right now). Maybe Santa can grab one for your daughter?

Santa already snatched her up a couple of TaunTauns and Banthas from the WOTC line- and will certainly be getting her whatever FFG puts out! The question becomes how can she take her Jedi Character and ride that beastie... I have to convert the model for one thing and make an upgrade or item or reward card or something... I guess I can yse the Tusken raider from Twin Suns to cross-reference with the Bantha rider and figure out the delta that would be added in to any character riding the thing...

Guess I'm gonna get more Stormies crushed and gored to death...

I agree, along with it being overall more thematic, it really helps to keep the rebels engaged when they surpass these crazy odds stacked against them (although there's nothing wrong with crushing the filthy rebels once in a while lol).

As an Imperial player, I think I enjoy and am rooting for the rebels more. I would much rather see them get a good new weapon at the end of each round, then me get extra influence.

As the imperial player I have tried to let my son win some. I have ended up winning all missions so far, but I find myself rooting for him to win. I really wanted him to get the lightsaber. Alas, time ran out on him. Next mission he has Han's help so the rebels may win one soon.

I've let he rebels win a couple, when it seemed the Empire had it too easy and we're looking at winning two in a row, but I don't even why the rebels should succeed in every mission.

I like making my rebels struggle, and freak out and be really really worried that they'll lose. Only to win it in the end. We one time played with 6 heroes vs just me with no changed rules and they walked through my units like paper. I felt I was no challenge to them and it felt bad.

I run a game with 4 other guys and I always end up helping them try to win. I'm ruthless with my attacks but my main focus is making sure we are having fun. If I see something they can do i will offer suggestions even if it means that I will lose the round. I just love everything about this game and I'm just happy that we all feel the same way.

I've played through 2 complete campaigns and started 3 others (that will probably never get finished). I've found it's better balanced to help the Rebels in the first missions as they're getting their feet wet, unless they've played before. By the time we're playing the second side mission, they should have a good grasp on the situation. I don't mind losing in the beginning. But my hope is that the game play level is even between Rebels and Imperial by the time you get 1/3 the way through.

I play with my little girls and it's interesting to watch them learn how to manage their emotions. Board games are good for kids, because they can learn how to win or lose correctly - there are many adults who still haven't learned how to do that.

I remember one time my 7 year old was trapped by an elite Nexu, and the darn thing kept dodging her attacks and it drove her to tears. I told her she could stop playing and that would be okay, but that if she was going to keep playing she'd have to stop crying and accept whatever was going to happen. She pulled herself together, chose to keep playing, slayed the Nexu, and won the mission. I was proud of her, it was definitely a growing moment.

Yes, we've had lots of good learning moments too. Both with Descent 2.0 and with IA.

And in response to the original question, yes: I certainly do enjoy losing as the Imperial player sometimes...but other times I don't have a choice, because my boys are learning quite well how to work together and maximize their turns.

I even lost on purpose one time in skirmish. Earlier in the day, my 10-yr-old boy had clown-stomped my 6-yr-old daughter in skirmish. So I told her that I was the NJ Regional winner, and that I'd give her a chance to play vs me. Her squad was 72pts, while mine was 40. I was destroying her squad left and right, but then in the end I made some intentionally sub-par moves. I had just Weiss and Vader left alive vs about 3 of her characters; but I killed my own 2 Health Vader with Weiss' Blast ability, and Weiss fell to my daughter's next attack. She was OVERJOYED to win! Definitely worth it.

Yes, we've had lots of good learning moments too. Both with Descent 2.0 and with IA.

And in response to the original question, yes: I certainly do enjoy losing as the Imperial player sometimes...but other times I don't have a choice, because my boys are learning quite well how to work together and maximize their turns.

I even lost on purpose one time in skirmish. Earlier in the day, my 10-yr-old boy had clown-stomped my 6-yr-old daughter in skirmish. So I told her that I was the NJ Regional winner, and that I'd give her a chance to play vs me. Her squad was 72pts, while mine was 40. I was destroying her squad left and right, but then in the end I made some intentionally sub-par moves. I had just Weiss and Vader left alive vs about 3 of her characters; but I killed my own 2 Health Vader with Weiss' Blast ability, and Weiss fell to my daughter's next attack. She was OVERJOYED to win! Definitely worth it.

40 points versus 72? I've wondered about doing something like that with my kids. Basically a handicap.

Yes, we've had lots of good learning moments too. Both with Descent 2.0 and with IA.

And in response to the original question, yes: I certainly do enjoy losing as the Imperial player sometimes...but other times I don't have a choice, because my boys are learning quite well how to work together and maximize their turns.

I even lost on purpose one time in skirmish. Earlier in the day, my 10-yr-old boy had clown-stomped my 6-yr-old daughter in skirmish. So I told her that I was the NJ Regional winner, and that I'd give her a chance to play vs me. Her squad was 72pts, while mine was 40. I was destroying her squad left and right, but then in the end I made some intentionally sub-par moves. I had just Weiss and Vader left alive vs about 3 of her characters; but I killed my own 2 Health Vader with Weiss' Blast ability, and Weiss fell to my daughter's next attack. She was OVERJOYED to win! Definitely worth it.

40 points versus 72? I've wondered about doing something like that with my kids. Basically a handicap.

Yeah, I just let her use all her favorite Rebel characters (which is pretty much all of them), and then I put Vader and RGC and Weiss (and an elite officer I think) on the table...I think my squad was a little over 40pts, but it was still far less than hers. Basically, I think you can create some interesting handicaps simply by allowing your opponent a certain amount of extra points for his squad.