I'd strongly recommend deciding on your approach for proxying cards that come in other packs early on.

My group never discussed it, and now we have spent hundreds of pounds and have ships and cards that have never even seen the table.

I regret nothing, but the hobby could have been a lot cheaper for us.

I started with Most Wanted and a Hounds Tooth. We then got 2 TFA sets and 2 original between 4 of us. Rebels split the Rebels, Imperial Guy took most of the Ties. I got some dice and a damage deck. Hmmm....

proxing cards at the start is the easiest was to see what you need.

try using some of the online squad builders, use only the ships you have to start with and just use what ever cards you want
The more you play the better your list will get and then you will see what ships you want and need (as well as what cards you want and need)

I'd recommend getting a loan or a second job. Possibly a divorce if necessary to free up the play time

No kids is also advisable

Or having older kids (8+) to play the game with and buy ships "For them"?

That's a wise strategy. My kiddo is still 1 year old, but he already has "his" city carpet.

I can't wait for him to grow up so i have more excu... i mean, so i can buy him nice toys.

I'd recommend getting a loan or a second job. Possibly a divorce if necessary to free up the play time

No kids is also advisable

Or having older kids (8+) to play the game with and buy ships "For them"?

My son's X-wing collection is amazing. Where does a 10 year old get that kind of money?

Thanks for all the recommendations. Here what my friends are getting for Christmas (and myself):

• FA Core set. Dice templates ships etc...
• TIE/FO exp
• T-70 exp.

The total was under $50 with shipping. My thinking is if I play rebels and my friend plays empire, it gives me 4 ships and him 6 ships to build with.

That's a great start. Happy flying!

Thanks for all the recommendations. Here what my friends are getting for Christmas (and myself):

• FA Core set. Dice templates ships etc...
• TIE/FO exp
• T-70 exp.

The total was under $50 with shipping. My thinking is if I play rebels and my friend plays empire, it gives me 4 ships and him 6 ships to build with.

Excellent start. If you're playing Rebel I'd highly suggest prioritizing an Original Core Set for one of your next buys (Biggs and R2 being two Rebel linchpins in the meta).

buy both cores and a few scum ships that you like. now you will have 3 factions to choose from and if you buy the falcon expansion, you will get han,chewie and lando as pilots. if you remember, these 3 were smugglers before they joined the rebellion, so now you have 4 factions for a great 4-player free-for-all(imps,rebs,pirate/bounty hunters and smugglers). best of luck.

Thanks for all the recommendations. Here what my friends are getting for Christmas (and myself):

• FA Core set. Dice templates ships etc...
• TIE/FO exp
• T-70 exp.

The total was under $50 with shipping. My thinking is if I play rebels and my friend plays empire, it gives me 4 ships and him 6 ships to build with.

Nice setup.

Only thing I might have done differently is one FO expansion for one of you, and the /sf for the other. But, your version will be amply fun to start with.

4 T-70s is actually a pretty solid list when flown well. Gotta practice the formation flying. Check out slingpaint on youtube for how that list is done.

Imperial players should immediately purchase imperial veterans and either a Tie/FO or Tie Defender expansion pack

the x7 Defender is forgiving for newer players and also top tier competitive, so it'll be a good purchase regardless of what level you're playing at

I wish I could find a Tie/fo pack at retail.