Are the ally/villain expansion packs usable if you don't have the box expansion they pair with?

If I were to buy a core set and say, bossk and boba fett to start, are bossk/fett usable in campaign/skirmish before I eventually pick up the box sets?

Also.. do I need any of the boxed expansions to enter a tournament for the maps?

Skirmish you can use anything, they all mesh. Campaign may have a few more stipulations, as you have to earn or purchase in-game based on performance. There's timelines associated with some characters as well apparently. I don't know as much about the campaign,Mao maybe someone else can chime in.

In an official IA tournament, you are supposed to have all the required pieces to participate, some tournaments are more casual though and some of your friends may help out with spare components, so ask around. Right now with the official maps you would need the core set and the Hoth set

IF you follow the rules to a T. Then certain allies/villians aren't usable because the tiles for their side missions (to unlock them) require tiles from the expansions. However, you can easily just house rule that the villian's are always available to deploy. Or that buying the side mission unlocks them automatically. So you don't have to do the missions. Again, this is bending the rules.

Ok was looking into getting core set very soon then hoth, so that's good if I hit a tourney. If the packs come with what's needed to play in campaign I am ok with skipping side missions until I get the boxes. Thanks.

Are the ally/villain expansion packs usable if you don't have the box expansion they pair with?

Depends. Check out our Buyers Guide to see which packs can be used in just the core box campaign and which requires tiles from box expansions:

http://avpacks.boardwars.eu/

Skirmish you can use anything, they all mesh.

To be more exact: in skirmish you can always use the figures themselves and command cards, but the skirmish missions (and campaign missions) that come with the figure expansion can require tiles from the corresponding boxed expansion. However, not all of them do. In some the skirmish mission requires the tiles, while campaign mission doesn't, and vice versa.

Yes. For example C-3PO and R2-D2 pack, in Skirmish you just use those cards in your army. In campaign, your heroes need to put their side mission in the side mission deck, hope its drawn, pick it, and then win it. That side mission requires Twin Shadow tiles. While Boba Fett's side mission for the Imperial player to win and use, does not, requires only Core tiles.

Make sense?

~D

I will second that question. I even haven't read the rules yet and am mostly interested in the skirmish mode. Do I really need the boxed set or can I go with Ally packs?

You always need the core set.

Then, it depends on if you are going into sanctioned tournaments. If so, and then technically you'll need the tile sets of each of the 3 maps in the rotation, so probably need at least a few of the boxed expansions. Unless, of course, you'll get the FFG's new playmat-maps ($25 each), or the organizer allows or provides other kinds of maps.

For casual skismish, you'll need the core set, then any expansions you like.