Basic purchases for starting the game

By D503, in Star Wars: Imperial Assault

Hi all!

A few quick questions. I was thinking of buying into Imperial assault. I play armada and love the way the game plays, and I want to try a more intimate setting.

1) Apart from the core set, which 2 or 3 extra purchases would be the first ones to get? I would be mostly a campaign player, but maybe some skirmish.

2) Do the expansions have extra floor tiles in them?

3) What is the likelihood of clone wars or new movie content in future? I think the clone wars would be great for this game. (Maybe except Jar-Jar Binks).

Thanks. I also paint, so if I do buy into this game you will see some more painted minis around here. Check out my sig if you want to see some Armada ships ;)

Edited by D503

Well, for Campaign I think the best bang-for your-buck is going to be "Twin Shadows" and "Return to Hoth". The Core will give you around 25 or more minis, floor tiles and a full campaign as well as all the necessary doors and need tokens. They will also give you cards and cardboard tokens for the "Heroes" and "villains" that are in extended figure packs, so you can just have tokens instead of figures for a bit.
Twin shadows will get you another 10 minis (Two Heroes) , few more floor panels, a whole new mini-campaign and more tokens/cards for that.
Finally, Return to Hoth will get you a whole 16 or so more minis (3 Heroes), a whole new campaign, and a whole whack of new Hoth related snow tiles that are awesome to play on and get my little geek heart pumping. They also have the tokens as the other ones do.

If you aren't ready to pay into the story expansions though because they are a bit of cash, I'd say buy the core and look at the cards you only have tokens for. Play with friends a mission or two, and then see what figures you as an imperial might want to get to add as a big-bad to bring out as a villain for your rebels to face and struggle against. OR let your Rebs figure out who they want to play with (Hero). Because each figure pack contains a figure, cards to add to the campaign that are missions specific to allocating the usage of that figure, as well as skirmish cards.

I think Clone Wars is unlikely due to Fantasy Flight not seeming to own much from that as well as Disney's direction for the Star Wars brand to move away from the Clone Wars/prequel era. Maybe you'll see a Battledroid or something from then because we have seen a "HK-47" from the old republic, so anything is possible.

Thank you, that is very helpful. I hadn't considered buying the 'expansions' and not the hero and villain packs etc, but it seems like a goos idea as you say, as they are very content-packed.

If I buy one of those hero and villain packs, say IG-88, does it have a floor section in it?

Edited by D503

No floor files in small blister expansion packs like IG88

Biggest bang for your buck is by far the expansions, Twin Shadows and Return to Hoth.

The problem is, once you start playing you'll see that even though you've overdosed on plastic, you'll want more. Han Solo, Chewbacca, IG-88, Leia, Boba Fett, and many other really cool guys are represented by a cardboard token. To get the real thing you have to buy the ally/villain blister packs. They give you usually 1-3 figures and some pretty sweet cards, but they are still not nearly as cost efficient as the expansions.

Lastly, if you're a completionist like me, you may want to get the core and all the figures for the core. Then play the campaign (it will take you awhile), then get Twin Shadows and do the same. If you're still into the game, then get Return to Hoth and all the packs for it. I say this because personally I loathe playing with figure tokens, but I understand that buying everything all at once would be quite expensive.

Yeah... now I find myself wanting to buy a second Return to Hoth for more tiles and another Repulsor Tank. This payday its two ATST's first! Woot.

Do you think they will make a Repulsor Tank expansions pack or vehicle expansion pack for epic style play?

Yeah... now I find myself wanting to buy a second Return to Hoth for more tiles and another Repulsor Tank. This payday its two ATST's first! Woot.

Do you think they will make a Repulsor Tank expansions pack or vehicle expansion pack for epic style play?

I'm in the same boat, I have a lot invested into IA the one thing I haven't bit the bullet on is a second Twin Shadows and Return to Hoth:

-2x Cores

-1x Each Wave 1 Packs + Bonus Han, Chewy, Rebel Troopers, 2x Saboteurs

-Twin Shadows

-1x Each Twin Shadows Ally/Villain Pack

-2x Wookiee Warriors, 1x Stormtroopers, 3x Hired Guns ally packs

-Return to Hoth

-1x Each RoH Ally Pack + Bonuse Echo Base Troopers

A second Return to Hoth seems really useful even if just for the Wampas and Tank.

I really wish we got two neutral and one elite Wampa card. I don't want to buy 4 copies of RoH to field 4 regular Wampas.

Yeah... now I find myself wanting to buy a second Return to Hoth for more tiles and another Repulsor Tank. This payday its two ATST's first! Woot.

Do you think they will make a Repulsor Tank expansions pack or vehicle expansion pack for epic style play?

I'm in the same boat, I have a lot invested into IA the one thing I haven't bit the bullet on is a second Twin Shadows and Return to Hoth:

-2x Cores

-1x Each Wave 1 Packs + Bonus Han, Chewy, Rebel Troopers, 2x Saboteurs

-Twin Shadows

-1x Each Twin Shadows Ally/Villain Pack

-2x Wookiee Warriors, 1x Stormtroopers, 3x Hired Guns ally packs

-Return to Hoth

-1x Each RoH Ally Pack + Bonuse Echo Base Troopers

A second Return to Hoth seems really useful even if just for the Wampas and Tank.

I really wish we got two neutral and one elite Wampa card. I don't want to buy 4 copies of RoH to field 4 regular Wampas.

Whoa! Do you sell the extra stuff to help pay for this?

Honestly, the core has enough in it for you to love the game and buy it all or be happy with that. I got just the core, played for a week, and have been wanting more and more since. I wouldn't recommend going all out, because it's not for everyone, but it's an incredibly fun game.

Yeah... now I find myself wanting to buy a second Return to Hoth for more tiles and another Repulsor Tank. This payday its two ATST's first! Woot.

Do you think they will make a Repulsor Tank expansions pack or vehicle expansion pack for epic style play?

I'm in the same boat, I have a lot invested into IA the one thing I haven't bit the bullet on is a second Twin Shadows and Return to Hoth:

-2x Cores

-1x Each Wave 1 Packs + Bonus Han, Chewy, Rebel Troopers, 2x Saboteurs

-Twin Shadows

-1x Each Twin Shadows Ally/Villain Pack

-2x Wookiee Warriors, 1x Stormtroopers, 3x Hired Guns ally packs

-Return to Hoth

-1x Each RoH Ally Pack + Bonuse Echo Base Troopers

A second Return to Hoth seems really useful even if just for the Wampas and Tank.

I really wish we got two neutral and one elite Wampa card. I don't want to buy 4 copies of RoH to field 4 regular Wampas.

Whoa! Do you sell the extra stuff to help pay for this?

Nah bought it over the past year all on sale or discount. I've kept everything and am almost dont painting it all (10 figures left I think). My wife and I both play in Skirmish tournaments sometimes so we wanted to have enough tiles and figures for that.

Honestly, the core has enough in it for you to love the game and buy it all or be happy with that. I got just the core, played for a week, and have been wanting more and more since. I wouldn't recommend going all out, because it's not for everyone, but it's an incredibly fun game.

The best advice so far. Get the core and go from there.

Yeah... now I find myself wanting to buy a second Return to Hoth for more tiles and another Repulsor Tank. This payday its two ATST's first! Woot.

Do you think they will make a Repulsor Tank expansions pack or vehicle expansion pack for epic style play?

I'm in the same boat, I have a lot invested into IA the one thing I haven't bit the bullet on is a second Twin Shadows and Return to Hoth:

-2x Cores

-1x Each Wave 1 Packs + Bonus Han, Chewy, Rebel Troopers, 2x Saboteurs

-Twin Shadows

-1x Each Twin Shadows Ally/Villain Pack

-2x Wookiee Warriors, 1x Stormtroopers, 3x Hired Guns ally packs

-Return to Hoth

-1x Each RoH Ally Pack + Bonuse Echo Base Troopers

A second Return to Hoth seems really useful even if just for the Wampas and Tank.

I really wish we got two neutral and one elite Wampa card. I don't want to buy 4 copies of RoH to field 4 regular Wampas.

Lol, now you're just bragging!

I bought the IA Core set, then promptly ordered Han, Leia, R2-D2, C-3PO, Rebel Troopers, RG Champion.

I will soon order (Out of stock )Chewbacca, Bobba Fet, Sabatuers, and go from there.

I do want to paint them all, btw. I'll try to put off ordering until I get my back log painted.

I play skirmish casual home games and I really wanted the main characters. I'm not concerned with meta play.

Later on, I'll probably get the expansions... of course, I will buy too much because that's what I do.

But I have to have the main characters!

Where the heck is Obi-wan??????

Where the heck is Obi-wan??????

All the campaign stories happen after the events of "A New Hope." Unless they go back in time; I don't see Obi-Wan happening.

I don't have a problem going back in time.

It is a fictional universe anyway.

Besides, many historical games do that all the time. You just play the era that interests you most. Mix and match if that what you want. Obviously, tournament settings are a completely different situation.

I don't think it would be a huge stretch to bring in Obi-wan at some point. He's such a character!

Who wouldn't want him on the table?

Edited by Lord Vapor

1) Apart from the core set, which 2 or 3 extra purchases would be the first ones to get? I would be mostly a campaign player, but maybe some skirmish.

We have a pretty comprehensive review of all the ally and villain packs and what you can expect them to add to your campaign or skirmish game.

http://boardwars.eu/ally-and-villain-packs-for-star-wars-imperial-assault/

It includes some very rough rating to get you started on what packs to consider first.

I don't have a problem going back in time.

It is a fictional universe anyway.

Besides, many historical games do that all the time. You just play the era that interests you most. Mix and match if that what you want. Obviously, tournament settings are a completely different situation.

I don't think it would be a huge stretch to bring in Obi-wan at some point. He's such a character!

Who wouldn't want him on the table?

Youre going to burn at the stake for those heretic ideas... youll see... :D

Dont say that I didnt warned (give some time for the Inquisitors to show up here).

Edited by Kentares

I also think Obi Wan Kenobi from the prequels and clone wars is the awesome bomb-diggity-dong.

*runs for cover*

I started with the core set a few weeks ago and it is more than enough to get you going. It will take a full campaign to figure out all the rules and constant message board searching, so I wouldn't rush out to get all of the figures as you will definitely want to play more than once. If you are dead set on spending money then yes TS/Hoth is the way to go for the most bang for your buck, but the ally/villain packs are also a great option. Playing with Han Solo as a figure is much better than a token.

I have started picking off the figure packs, I don't plan to buy all of them but I do want at least a few of the main characters from each side. So far I have been using the board wars guide posted above, the Hired Guns were a great recommendation.

After my team has played a few campaigns of the core game I will pick up TS and we will try out that mini campaign then go from there.

No floor files in small blister expansion packs like IG88

What about the big blister expansions?

No floor files in small blister expansion packs like IG88

What about the big blister expansions?

Floor tiles are only included in box expansion (like Twin Shadows and Return to Hoth). Blisters only contain a combination of:

  • Model(s) (all blisters contain this)
  • Deployment Card(s) (all blisters contain this)
  • Skirmish Upgrade Card (so far no pack includes more than 1)
  • Command Cards (all blisters contain this)
  • Reward Card
  • Agenda Card Set (3 cards)
  • Insert with one skimish map (2 missions) and one campaign side mission (all blisters contain this)
  • ID marker token and sticker
  • Condition cards (if he figure(s) can inflict it ... like Boba Fett)

Note the skirmish map and the campaign side mission might (!) require tiles from a box expansion if the blister was released alongside one of the box expansions. I mentioned such dependencies in my review artilcles for each pack.

/edit: Thanks TylerT for the correction

Edited by jacenat

The larger unit boosters also contain a few ID tokens and a matching sticker set. and models that can use a new condition include a condition card.

The larger unit boosters also contain a few ID tokens and a matching sticker set. and models that can use a new condition include a condition card.

Thanks! Added the stuff I did miss.

I don't have a problem going back in time.

It is a fictional universe anyway.

Besides, many historical games do that all the time. You just play the era that interests you most. Mix and match if that what you want. Obviously, tournament settings are a completely different situation.

I don't think it would be a huge stretch to bring in Obi-wan at some point. He's such a character!

Who wouldn't want him on the table?

Basically the objection to having Obi-Wan is that he spent his entire time between episodes III and IV in exile/guarding Luke on Tatooine; there's not a lot of opportunity for him to aid the alliance in that.

If they did clone wars content (which I don't think they intend to) then Obi-Wan would be a shoo-in.

That is the basic 'Why is there no Obi-Wan' answer, I'd rather not have a large another argument about the details of it.

I want General Grievous.