Tomorrow, I am playing the game with my son-in-law for the first time. While I am an experienced wargamer for more that 35 years, he is a beginning gamer.

What side should I pick for him and for me for our first game?

Empire is good to start with. it is building lots of units and feeling powerful. the objective is to find the base, pretty straight forward. i start all newcomers with empire

rebels are a bit harder to play. they are a bit more sneaky, and you have to think of multiple objectives and plans

I'd have him play a different game.

Honestly, this game is not kind to novice gamers, nor is it fair when it's new vs experienced.

My wife isn't into games as much as I am, but she can provide me with a pretty good challenge more often than not, and there are a few games where she just stomps me time and time again. However the first game of Rebellion was a bit of a train wreck for her as she picked the Rebels.

I'd say start him with shorter, easier to learn games and work towards rebellion.

But, assuming you are both in and actually want a direct answer to your question. Stick him with the Imperials.

The Imps have a much more straight forward, easier to understand gameplay. Spread and conquer the galaxy, find the base, destroy it. They have a lot of military units to maneuver, and a lot of options to play. The missions are fairly straight forward and easy to understand.

The rebels have a lot more conditional rules to track, and are at a severe disadvantage in units. They'll just see a huge wall of advancing Imperial units and panic. When you beat them by round 5 or 6 with no objectives completed, they won't have a clue what happened or why.

As an Imp player, they'll be able to see you completing objectives, and understand how to use limited forces effectively. They'll see you do something, understand why you did it, see how it affects the pacing of the game, and be able to realize what they could have done to prevent it.

As the Rebels, they'll just see you crushing them without any idea how their missions could change anything or how they could complete any objectives when you outnumber them 4 to 1.

It depends on the player really.

The Empire seems straight forward, but HOW to play the Empire is not. This can be frustrating for a new player. They will often find themselves asking "what am I suppose to be doing?"

While the Rebels SEEM more complex, HOW to play them is much more straight forward. You have mission cards that you need to use to complete objective cards. At no point will a new Rebel player wounder what they are suppose to be doing. The way to win (even if it seems very hard early on) is always on display for them.

A new player is more than likely NOT going to win their first game. As someone teaching a new player, help them every round. Give them advice that will help them even if it means sabotaging your own missions. There are a lot of moving parts to this game and it take a few round of hand holding before the game fully reveals itself to a new player.

For these reasons, I generally suggest that new players start with the Rebels. The only time I defer from this is with younger players. The Empire has less moving parts and you can give the player objective guidance and strategies each round. While this is fine for a younger player, adults don't find it fun when others play the game for them.

It depends on the player really.

The Empire seems straight forward, but HOW to play the Empire is not. This can be frustrating for a new player. They will often find themselves asking "what am I suppose to be doing?"

While the Rebels SEEM more complex, HOW to play them is much more straight forward. You have mission cards that you need to use to complete objective cards. At no point will a new Rebel player wounder what they are suppose to be doing. The way to win (even if it seems very hard early on) is always on display for them.

A new player is more than likely NOT going to win their first game. As someone teaching a new player, help them every round. Give them advice that will help them even if it means sabotaging your own missions. There are a lot of moving parts to this game and it take a few round of hand holding before the game fully reveals itself to a new player.

For these reasons, I generally suggest that new players start with the Rebels. The only time I defer from this is with younger players. The Empire has less moving parts and you can give the player objective guidance and strategies each round. While this is fine for a younger player, adults don't find it fun when others play the game for them.

This, I can't like this post more than once

It depends on the player really.

The Empire seems straight forward, but HOW to play the Empire is not. This can be frustrating for a new player. They will often find themselves asking "what am I suppose to be doing?"

While the Rebels SEEM more complex, HOW to play them is much more straight forward. You have mission cards that you need to use to complete objective cards. At no point will a new Rebel player wounder what they are suppose to be doing. The way to win (even if it seems very hard early on) is always on display for them.

A new player is more than likely NOT going to win their first game. As someone teaching a new player, help them every round. Give them advice that will help them even if it means sabotaging your own missions. There are a lot of moving parts to this game and it take a few round of hand holding before the game fully reveals itself to a new player.

For these reasons, I generally suggest that new players start with the Rebels. The only time I defer from this is with younger players. The Empire has less moving parts and you can give the player objective guidance and strategies each round. While this is fine for a younger player, adults don't find it fun when others play the game for them.

interesting points.

I will try it out when showing someone new the game

My 1.82 cents, (I think, haven't checked the exchange recently). I find, for new players, the Imps are easier to play, but, the Rebels are easier to win with. The Imp game is very straight forward, but, it is VERY easy to misplay them and lose. For the Rebels, their game is more... demanding(?) and disheartening, but, also much more forgiving. I know my daughter, (who likes to play good guys in EVERY game we play), almost gave up when she saw the opening board in the first game. Then she soundly thrashed me in the first two games. Of course, that might be because she is smarter than me, but, I am not admitting it.

My 1.82 cents, (I think, haven't checked the exchange recently). I find, for new players, the Imps are easier to play, but, the Rebels are easier to win with. The Imp game is very straight forward, but, it is VERY easy to misplay them and lose. For the Rebels, their game is more... demanding(?) and disheartening, but, also much more forgiving. I know my daughter, (who likes to play good guys in EVERY game we play), almost gave up when she saw the opening board in the first game. Then she soundly thrashed me in the first two games. Of course, that might be because she is smarter than me, but, I am not admitting it.

Were her first two games also your first two games?

My 1.82 cents, (I think, haven't checked the exchange recently). I find, for new players, the Imps are easier to play, but, the Rebels are easier to win with. The Imp game is very straight forward, but, it is VERY easy to misplay them and lose. For the Rebels, their game is more... demanding(?) and disheartening, but, also much more forgiving. I know my daughter, (who likes to play good guys in EVERY game we play), almost gave up when she saw the opening board in the first game. Then she soundly thrashed me in the first two games. Of course, that might be because she is smarter than me, but, I am not admitting it.

Were her first two games also your first two games?

Yup