So as a returning player, starting over with nothing, where do you go after 1 of each core set as far as purchases go? Are there any expansions that are obsolete/not worth buying? What ships do you think you need to purchase multiple of?

Depends if you want to be a tournament ace, or you just like flying Star Wars ships.

Personally I'd say just buy the ships you think are cool or that you love from the movies and games. But if you want to win tournaments then you'll be approaching the problem from a totally different angle, so that's up to you.

First, determine what kind of player you are.

If you are a collector, go for one of each.

If you are a faction player, go for one of each from your chosen faction, plus duplicates for those ships that you want to run multiples of. If you want to have all the cards you need to run a given build but don't want non-faction ships, try e-bay and other alternative solutions.

If you are a tournament player, consider playing around with a list creation tool, observing the local tournament player base in action (and discussing things with said players), and buying only those packs that include ships needed to create your specific list, again with possible specific cards acquired by means of e-bay and other alternative sources (for that matter, maybe borrowed/bought from local players).

If you are a casual player, especially if you supply ships and cards for some or all of your fellow players, you pretty much have to get at least one of everything with some duplicates based on what you and your fellows want to fly, though there's a lot less need to pay full price for new releases or preorders (it's a lot easier to wait for sales when you don't need to have everything immediately and you're trying to stretch your X-Wing budget as far as it will go).

eBay is your friend! You can typically find reasonable prices on large collections of ships on there. If you are anything like me you will end up with everything sooner or later so you might as well save some money in the process.

Buy 4 sea cows. 4 sea cows with title is obese.

Buy 4 sea cows. 4 sea cows with title is obese.

Whoops title is unique. List broken. #jokes

If you're going imperials I've been having a blast with the TIE Defender from Imperial Veterans, the TIE/SF and the TIE Adv Prototype. As a standalone pack the TIE/FO expansion is excellent as you can do a good ship build around Omega Leader with just cards from the pack. If you're going to swarm Howlrunner is in the TIE Fighter pack. The new TIE Striker looks like a fun ship. It has the Swarm Leader card and Light Weight Frame cards.

I wouldn't get the TIE Advanced as (unless you are going to proxy cards) you'll need a Raider to get the TIE/x1 title card to make it more competitive (even then I find it a pretty boring ship unfortunately). The Punisher is also lacking I find but includes the TIE MkII upgrade card.

There is also a 2nd hand Facebook group where you can pick up entire collections cheaply.

It's all about Defenders on the Imperial side right now. So if you want to fly Imps, Go for Imperial Veterans, Defender Expansion, and F/O expansion. Can get by pretty good with just that without dipping into other factions or buying obsolete ships.

Colonel Vessery (35)
Crack Shot (1)
Ion Cannon (3)
TIE/D (0)

Countess Ryad (34)
Predator (3)
TIE/x7 (-2)

"Omega Leader" (21)
Juke (2)
Comm Relay (3)

Total: 100

View in Yet Another Squad Builder


To stick straight with scum without dipping into other factions (too much), get Shadow Caster (awesome ship), Punishing One (awesome ship with MANDATORY Dengar crew), Hounds Tooth (great ship with superb upgrades like crack shot, engines), Mist Hunter for the crew!!!, and then an A-Wing for PTL,clusters missiles, homing missile. Then you can run all kinds of cool stuff and never had to buy into imperials and such. Something like this:

Ketsu Onyo (38)
Push the Limit (3)
Dengar (3)
Black Market Slicer Tools (1)
Rigged Cargo Chute (1)
Engine Upgrade (4)
Shadow Caster (3)

Bossk (35)
Crack Shot (1)
Cluster Missiles (4)
K4 Security Droid (3)
Zuckuss (1)
4-LOM (1)
Feedback Array (2)
Guidance Chips (0)

Total: 100

View in Yet Another Squad Builder

BUY ALL THE SHIPS!!!!!

seriously buy what you want to. I'm a rebel through and through and haven't deviated from that (yet)

get some pre owned stuff cheaply from Facebook ETC. and just Fly whatever you want. you will soon come across ships and flying style that suits you (mine is fast, small, squishy ships so A wings and E Wings)

on a similar note

I wouldn't worry too much about the cards - even if you play tournaments you can probably borrow cards like the TIE advanced title. When playing casually, it's more convenient to use a printout from some squadbuilding site anyway (they usually contain the rules of the cards). It's a shame to leave an iconic ship like the TIE advanced on the shelf just because you don't want to spend money on a raider.

I wouldn't worry too much about the cards - even if you play tournaments you can probably borrow cards like the TIE advanced title. When playing casually, it's more convenient to use a printout from some squadbuilding site anyway (they usually contain the rules of the cards). It's a shame to leave an iconic ship like the TIE advanced on the shelf just because you don't want to spend money on a raider.

I leave the Advanced on the shelf because I, unfortunately, find it boring in play. Which is a shame since I have the Raider and love the Advanced model design which, as you say, is iconic. So for me boring to play plus potential cost of Raider means I wouldn't recommend to a newer player. Much better ships out there, in my opinion.

I leave the Advanced on the shelf because I suck really, really badly with it and always manage to get it killed in the first or second exchange of fire.

On topic, I would suggest two of each starter rather than one of each but only because it gets you some fun and iconic ships as a reasonable price.

Always have at least one HWK-290.

You probably won't ever need it, but it needs you.

Ask not what the HWK can do for you...

1st off, thank you all for the input.

Right now it's extremely casual play. I'm teaching my 11 year old son the game and keeping it basic. No upgrades, just the ship cards. I think that way it will get him used to the basics of the game. Eventually we'll mix in upgrades, and maybe at some point go to some ga,etc kit events. I have also decided to just pick up Rebel and Imperial ships for now.

As a side note, my son flew Darth Vader and playing with no upgrades, it's really a good ship. So I don't see what the TIE Advance hate is all about.

So far I've got

1 of each starter

Heroes of the Resistance

TIE Advance

Imperial Veterans

Inquisitor TIE

Imperial Shuttle

ARC-170

everything that makes a 100 point squad..round up if odd number...

As a side note, my son flew Darth Vader and playing with no upgrades, it's really a good ship. So I don't see what the TIE Advance hate is all about.

So far I've got

1 of each starter

Heroes of the Resistance

TIE Advance

Imperial Veterans

Inquisitor TIE

Imperial Shuttle

ARC-170

The hate is all about tournament play. There are a lot of vocal people out here who complain about ships simply because they are not uber cutting-edge in competitive play. I like the TIE Advanced x1 for fun.

Since most people have discussed Imperials (my fave), and since you have no Scum ships listed, might I recommend:

Slave I--better as a Scum ship, but could be used as Imperial too

The Hound's Tooth--my favorite for the "party bus" build

The Protectorate Fighter--a very fun jousting fighter

The Scyk--another fighter everyone hates but I think is a hoot to play.

For Rebels, everyone likes the K-Wing, and the Y-Wing is a great turreted fighter both for Rebels and Scum.

K wing is Brilliant!! If you want to bring bombs into it then you will also need the Ghost expansion for Sabine (plus the ghost is a fun ship to fly)

If you want some more stuff i would go for Rebel Aces to get an A and a B wing. (did i say i love A Wings??)

All of the ships fly way differently to each other, the k wing is a plodder, but has a boots to get it out of trouble (Slam) the b wing has a 2k so useful in knife fighting (along with the hard turns) The ghost has the attack shuttle so Turrets get even more love (with the attack shuttle docked you can shoot your turret in the end phase) and the a wing is very quick and slippery.

Also go for Imperial Aces as who can say no to 2 tie interceptors!!

Depends on the factions you want to play. With an 11 year old I might pass on the scum since they are all minor characters and EU so he can enjoy the iconic tie vs Xwing sort of thing.

Play whatever seems fun to fly - my lists aren't hyper competitive (though some can be by coincidence). I always play test with printouts and only buy expansions for the models or if I am sold on a particular list that I want to take somewhere semi official.

Depends on the factions you want to play. With an 11 year old I might pass on the scum since they are all minor characters and EU so he can enjoy the iconic tie vs Xwing sort of thing.

Play whatever seems fun to fly - my lists aren't hyper competitive (though some can be by coincidence). I always play test with printouts and only buy expansions for the models or if I am sold on a particular list that I want to take somewhere semi official.

Like I said, we're skipping Scum for now. I was thinking of grabbing Rebel Aces and Imperial Aces next.

Depends on the factions you want to play. With an 11 year old I might pass on the scum since they are all minor characters and EU so he can enjoy the iconic tie vs Xwing sort of thing.

Play whatever seems fun to fly - my lists aren't hyper competitive (though some can be by coincidence). I always play test with printouts and only buy expansions for the models or if I am sold on a particular list that I want to take somewhere semi official.

Like I said, we're skipping Scum for now. I was thinking of grabbing Rebel Aces and Imperial Aces next.

Good Choice! both open the possibilities for builds. For A Wings if you do enjoy flying them you'll need the A wing expansion (has Tycho and Push the limit in it) and also Autothrusters (found in Star Viper expansion) to really get the most out of it!

Although playing casually has its advantages in that you dont need to buy the cards for casual play, only if you want to use it in a tournament.

Also for Casual stuff, have you seen heroes of the aturi cluster?

Either Aces package is a great option.

Good Choice! both open the possibilities for builds. For A Wings if you do enjoy flying them you'll need the A wing expansion (has Tycho and Push the limit in it) and also Autothrusters (found in Star Viper expansion) to really get the most out of it!

Although playing casually has its advantages in that you dont need to buy the cards for casual play, only if you want to use it in a tournament.

Also for Casual stuff, have you seen heroes of the aturi cluster?

No I haven't. What is that?

http://dockingbay416.com/campaign/

It's a rebel Co op campaign (you start as a y or x wing) with pilot progression against an enemy ai (you will need more imperial stuff) is really good fun but you will need printed materials