I'd like to join my comrades above and advertise the TIE Interceptor + Imperial Aces pack first.

The INT has IMHO the best Imperial pilot ever, Baron Soontir Fel (with the Countess following close second), IA pack will give him two Push the Limit cards which are always great, the Firespray will give 2 copies of Stealth Device, which work great on INTs. With two TIE FOs, three TIE INTs and the Firespray, he can make various list combinations too, for fun.

I believe fun is the most important factor for a rookiee, and INTs in general (the Baron especially) is a heck of a fun to fly.

If he wants to stay First Order thematic, one pack of TIE/Fo plus a TIE/Sf aren't a bad combo either.

I think this is some good advice, as the cards match up nicely. At his stage in the game, you guys can probably share (or proxy depending on your thoughts on it) the cards he might need that come in other expansions (like autothrusters). The addition of a Tie-FO expansion would give him 3 ties, which are always great support to a large ship as blockers or can be run as a mini-swarm. It would also give him the full compliment of FO pilots, and Omega Leader. So my vote, in order, is:

Slave 1

Imp Aces

Tie-Int

Tie-FO

That's a nice handful of squads you can run. Option number 2 would be to just buy all of the ships. Which is the advice everyone really wants to give. = )

Agreed, that's where I was think aswell. I always love to get a full set of pilots, because you never know when you maybe need to swing or switch 2-4 points for swarms or support.

If you look to mix boxed sets and expansions then TIE Interceptor plus Imperial Aces is GREAT as you get three ships that are interchangeable and all the pilots to go in them although there are a couple mixes that don't work due to base tiles or pilot cards in the case of the low PS Interceptors. If you get Imperial Veterans instead the expansion to match with that is the TIE Defender as that gives you two Defenders which is what the box's fixes support. IVet also supports the TIE Bomber but still doesn't turn it into a leading fighter without even greater numbers.

I can't really add to the suggestions given regarding Imperial or Scum additions to the Firespray. However, I would argue against getting a second large ship. You need to fly small ships in order to learn how to play against them. Two large ships can be frustrating to maneuver. Get aces, as has already been suggested, because they are a little more forgiving and having that first shot can be encouraging when first starting out.

And proxy cards.

If he wants to fly Vader, get the TIE Advanced. Don't worry about getting the extra cards for it from the Raider, just print out copies.

As a rule of thumb it's nice to ask if you use proxy cards even in friendly games.

And proxy cards.

If he wants to fly Vader, get the TIE Advanced. Don't worry about getting the extra cards for it from the Raider, just print out copies.

As a rule of thumb it's nice to ask if you use proxy cards even in friendly games.

Furthermore if you're just learning it is probably a good idea to use the cards you ACTUALLY own. It'll make referencing easier and helps avoid possible mistakes in your card source. Besides, if you're just starting out why should you know about other cards unless you're advancing beyond the beginner stage.

And proxy cards.

If he wants to fly Vader, get the TIE Advanced. Don't worry about getting the extra cards for it from the Raider, just print out copies.

As a rule of thumb it's nice to ask if you use proxy cards even in friendly games.

Furthermore if you're just learning it is probably a good idea to use the cards you ACTUALLY own. It'll make referencing easier and helps avoid possible mistakes in your card source. Besides, if you're just starting out why should you know about other cards unless you're advancing beyond the beginner stage.

Very true, to much can overwhelm

No one suggested TIE Interceptor for Soontir Fel? Shame. That's an ace that a new player can fly and feel like they are awesome with. Good feels keep you coming back, and it will help teach them advanced movement strategies while being a bit more forgiving.

And proxy cards.

If he wants to fly Vader, get the TIE Advanced. Don't worry about getting the extra cards for it from the Raider, just print out copies.

As a rule of thumb it's nice to ask if you use proxy cards even in friendly games.

Furthermore if you're just learning it is probably a good idea to use the cards you ACTUALLY own. It'll make referencing easier and helps avoid possible mistakes in your card source. Besides, if you're just starting out why should you know about other cards unless you're advancing beyond the beginner stage.

Very true, to much can overwhelm

On the other hands several commentaries in this were automatically assuming that the player should buy only with tournament legality in mind, e.g. suggestion of a Hound's Tooth just for 1-2 cards in that pack. That's totally over the top for a beginner. A beginner should also be able to proxy some things, before buying heavily and then realising (s)he does like that way to play. (Consider testing SnapCrackPop or 4 small ship mindlinks, would you really require someone still testing in casual environment to buy all that stuff necessary for testing a concept?)

...stuff...

Granted, the numbed of options now available is staggering.

On the other hands several commentaries in this were automatically assuming that the player should buy only with tournament legality in mind, e.g. suggestion of a Hound's Tooth just for 1-2 cards in that pack. That's totally over the top for a beginner. A beginner should also be able to proxy some things, before buying heavily and then realising (s)he does like that way to play. (Consider testing SnapCrackPop or 4 small ship mindlinks, would you really require someone still testing in casual environment to buy all that stuff necessary for testing a concept?)

The "advice" that a newbie should buy something just for the upgrades is really a symptom of serious player projection where someone who knows the game and wants to win in pushing things onto someone else. I know there are some issue with FFG seeming to put fixes/upgrades in ship packages other than where they would do the most good but telling someone they should get a ship just for a couple upgrades in it is wrong. Maybe pointing out that something exists which may help down the road is one things but saying someone should buy a ship just for an upgrade is wrong.

How many times do we see the Interceptor fan told then need to get a StarViper for the Autothruster upgrade? While the Star Vipers isn't a very popular tournament ship by any means I'm actually afraid that the AT may not do a newbie a lot of good depending on what they are flying against. If turrets are a big thing, although some seem to HATE the idea of using them when teaching someone the game, then AT may seem overpowered but if turrets are rarely used then you're just looking at that R3 advantage which may not justify the cost of using the upgrade much less acquiring the StarViper to get it.

*UPDATE*

After playing a few starter kit games, and letting him fly my Firespray and a few other ships, Hes more than likely to go with

1 - Firespray

and

1- Most Wanted

To start, maybe a Hwk or something extra after a few more games. Leaning more towards building a Scum crew. I'll update again soon. but thank you all again for so much help and feedback. I look forward to posting some battle pics and info on whats to come for me and my friend.

*UPDATE*

After playing a few starter kit games, and letting him fly my Firespray and a few other ships, Hes more than likely to go with

1 - Firespray

and

1- Most Wanted

To start, maybe a Hwk or something extra after a few more games. Leaning more towards building a Scum crew. I'll update again soon. but thank you all again for so much help and feedback. I look forward to posting some battle pics and info on whats to come for me and my friend.

That sounds like a pretty sound decision there. Strangely that may also lead to another Y-Wing.

*UPDATE*

After playing a few starter kit games, and letting him fly my Firespray and a few other ships, Hes more than likely to go with

1 - Firespray

and

1- Most Wanted

To start, maybe a Hwk or something extra after a few more games. Leaning more towards building a Scum crew. I'll update again soon. but thank you all again for so much help and feedback. I look forward to posting some battle pics and info on whats to come for me and my friend.

That sounds like a pretty sound decision there. Strangely that may also lead to another Y-Wing.

I told him he could use one of mine for a while if need be