So, I have a core set. If I want to play Skirmish in a tournament, what else would I need to purchase? I recognize my Core Set squad won't win against anyone, but what do I actually HAVE TO have in addition to the Core Set?
Let's say I randomly buy a Luke Skywalker, Jedi Knight expansion. If I want to add that figure to my squad, does it change the answer to the "What do I need?" question?
Currently you technically need:
Bantha Rider pack, Agent Blaise pack, Obi-Wan pack, and Bespin Gambit.
You could replace any of those packs with the neoprene FFG premade skirmish mats, although you only save money that way by buying the ISB headquarters map, which replaces Agent Blaise and Bespin Gambit.
Also if you were to buy Bespin you would at least get davith which goes great with luke and same with Obi Wan. Saboteurs, 3p0 and r2 pack would be useful.
Jedi Luke
Obi Wan
Davith
E Saboteurs
C3p0
Rebel high command
Leaving a point left for initiative or take out RHC for r2d2. Could always throw in another skirmish upgrade. Hope it helps
1 hour ago, Clutterbuck said:So, I have a core set. If I want to play Skirmish in a tournament, what else would I need to purchase? I recognize my Core Set squad won't win against anyone, but what do I actually HAVE TO have in addition to the Core Set?
Well, how competitive is your local scene, and what faction do you intend to play with? I'm assuming you want to sign up for FFG official tournaments (store/regional/national/world) and not just a casual game with some random stranger in your FLGS and they do not allow proxy figures/cards
You'll need Bantha, Obi-wan, Agent Blaise (pack) + Bespin (expansion) as the bare minimum for the instruction & map tiles to actually construct the 3 official skirmish maps in rotation
The rest depends on which faction do you actually want to play. Roughly speaking Rebels = big individual hitters, good synergy among figures. Imperial = raw firepower (ex. multi-figure eStorm), spies, flexible with movement (Imp Officer is still good even after nerf). Mercenary = dirty tricks, heavy melee/medium/long range shooters
Edited by ricopeUnless it's for Regionals, I would talk to your store first. I've brought people along to store tourneys who didn't have the maps and it was cool.
I'd say the cheapest list would be to get Jedi Luke, C3PO, sabs, and obiwan. If you can, I'd get the alliance smuggler too. But just getting C3PO and Jedi Luke would be a great way to start.
At your first tourney, talk to the other people there and let them show you what the different packs can get you and build your list from there. See if they'll let you borrow their stuff for a quick match to see how it plays first. We're a pretty welcoming community, so I think you'll find plenty who will want to help.
And welcome to skirmish!
-ryanjamal
Threepio/R2D2 is a must have blister. For Threepio if you want to play rebel or Scum, and for the command cards otherwise.
Keep in mind these figure packs will get you the required maps, but not the all of the essential command cards. Ask your store if you can proxy for the tourney, especially Negation:
This comes in Hoth, which is a big box expansion. Worth buying as it adds a ton of content to your pool, but also expensive.
Unfortunately right now there is no 'easy' way to get into skirmish, especially this late in the game, but with the right community they should welcome you and help you learn the most efficient way to grow your collection.
I understand at this point you just want to play and that is good, but after one tournament of people pulling out top end command cards and running the newest shiniest units, basically pummeling your list into the ground, you will either be so frustrated you don't go back, or forced to spend a lot of money to catch up :/
I get that stuff like Negation is big, and I'd certainly want it in my lists, but it's really not a massive deal.
It's certainly something long term you'd want but it's really not something that should stop you playing at anything below a Regional level and up at all
Thanks for your replies, everybody. I appreciate the advice on where to find "must have" commands like Negation (I hear Tough Luck is really good too). It is kind of a bummer that they put some of these in big box expansions. For that matter, it is a bummer that one might buy a 10 dollar Lando for a single card - but X-wing has you do the same thing. Are there any places online that sell single Command cards?
What I am gathering, though, is that competitive skirmish requires you to have the skirmish maps and tiles for a series of maps (is it three per rotation?). So the current three are in Bantha Rider, Agent Blaise, and Obi-Wan? Are the tiles for all three maps in the Bespin Gambit box, or do some of the tiles get found elsewhere? There are other maps available also, right, but they are not the current "Competitive" maps? And sooner or later the map selection will switch again? I've seen rumbling that Anchorhead will be coming in - where is that map found? Does it use Jabba's Realm tiles?
Unrelated question: are there any websites that compile squad lists from tournaments, kind of like how X-Wing has List Juggler?
Another unrelated question: Why is it that most players, if they post their list, tend to only post the figures they use? is it that command decks are obvious, super private, very personal, or some combination thereof? Or is it just a habit, like how X-Wing players often don't list their obstacles with their lists, even though obstacles are an important part of the game.
Apologies if my questions seem obvious or idiotic; I really am ignorant and am trying to figure things out. Thanks all!
http://www.bigorbitcards.co.uk/star-wars-imperial-assault
They sell separate cards but sell out quickly. I believe you only need Bespin and a core.
47 minutes ago, Clutterbuck said:Thanks for your replies, everybody. I appreciate the advice on where to find "must have" commands like Negation (I hear Tough Luck is really good too). It is kind of a bummer that they put some of these in big box expansions. For that matter, it is a bummer that one might buy a 10 dollar Lando for a single card - but X-wing has you do the same thing. Are there any places online that sell single Command cards?
What I am gathering, though, is that competitive skirmish requires you to have the skirmish maps and tiles for a series of maps (is it three per rotation?). So the current three are in Bantha Rider, Agent Blaise, and Obi-Wan? Are the tiles for all three maps in the Bespin Gambit box, or do some of the tiles get found elsewhere? There are other maps available also, right, but they are not the current "Competitive" maps? And sooner or later the map selection will switch again? I've seen rumbling that Anchorhead will be coming in - where is that map found? Does it use Jabba's Realm tiles?
Unrelated question: are there any websites that compile squad lists from tournaments, kind of like how X-Wing has List Juggler?
Another unrelated question: Why is it that most players, if they post their list, tend to only post the figures they use? is it that command decks are obvious, super private, very personal, or some combination thereof? Or is it just a habit, like how X-Wing players often don't list their obstacles with their lists, even though obstacles are an important part of the game.
Apologies if my questions seem obvious or idiotic; I really am ignorant and am trying to figure things out. Thanks all!
Blaise skirmish map requires Bespin. Bantha & Obi-Wan only require tiles from Core
Anchorhead is from Obi-wan pack
Correct, they rotate out the oldest map so (I think) it's the Bantha one
People usually don't post command cards because they're either 1) private info or 2) fairly obvious. For example if you have a Rebel Ranger list you'd start off with Negation, Element of surprise, Grenadier or Reinforcement, probably those 2 that gives you extra MP, maybe throw in Squad swarm, assassinate...that's like 7/15 cards right there
FWIW: every store tournament I've ever been to has many players been happy to share map tiles. Since you only need 1 map for every 2 players there's usually plenty to go round. Check with your store but it will probably be fine if you don't have all the maps.
Also you do not really need to buy Obi-Wan/Blaise/Bantha just because their associated maps are in rotation. All these come with is some rules and a picture of the map layout, which you can see online from Ibsh's images . If you can pull up one of these images on your phone to help build maps and read rules you should be set.
Finally, I'll recommend the BoardWars guide to all the figure packs , which includes skirmish rankings to help you figure out what you'd like to buy.
Edited by nickv2002I've provided the 3 sets of maps for all 3 tournies I've been to. Talk to your store, or the guy in charge, no one is going to turn you away. I've made lists for guys and passed out cards and figures just to get extra people to play. You may only need a couple of skirmish packs. You could get an expansion if you liked one faction.
You are not required to play Negation in your deck to enjoy or be competitive in the game either. Practice and knowing your list and what it does and doesn't do, makes you more competitive. Negation is nice, but not necessary. I've won many games without it in my deck and I've won many games with it in my deck, but never drew it and vice versa.
Depending on which faction you want to play, there are a few recommended blisters, depending on which type of list you want to run.
Imperial
Rebel
Mercenary
14 hours ago, Crabhand said:Uh... most of the good stuff is in boxed expansions, particularly Jabba's Realm
True but Mercs are going to like Jabba himself quite a lot, so get that blister pack.
14 hours ago, Crabhand said:Alliance Rangers
This would be one of the later packs I would buy. Has some good command cards (for Hunters & Troopers) but the Rangers themselves aren't great in my book. If you want Trooper lists check out the Rebel Trooper pack which comes with 2x Reinforcements and 1x Grenadier (all of which are great), and the Rebel Saboteur pack for a great rebel squad.
Really? How many games have you used them? All of the games I've played with the elite Rangers they shred. Especially against black die opponents. Built in pierce and accuracy, rolling 2 blues with 2 re rolls while attacking from 5 spaces away (your minimum distance), surging for 2 damage.. all sounds pretty good to me. Oh ya, and hidden when you kill. These guys aren't your generic trooper list, re enforcement doesn't work and they don't get close enough for grenadier. Instead you utilize cards like call the vanguard and camouflage with their hidden to keep your distance from opponents.
Btw, Elite Sniper is one reroll with 1 or 2 dice.
I can see how my wording might be slightly confusing, but that is what I meant. You get to re roll 2 die, if you want, it just has to happen at once, can't re roll one to see if you get that surge before re rolling the other.
@FrogTrigger , a discussion of Alliance Rangers is probably worth having in another thread. Here's a link to a post I wrote about them in one such thread.
In a thread where someone is asking what to buy for skirmish I believe a discussion about the pluses and minuses of a particular deployment card is on point. In the link you provided you only discuss the regular troopers, have you not tried the elites? You mention in the post how they are more powerful, but don't explain any of their downfalls. I agree with you that the Regular rangers are more limited in their punch, but the elites are top notch right now.
I'm not certain the Elite Rangers are worth the cost, but I've been wrecked by the gray Rangers many times.
8 hours ago, nickv2002 said:This would be one of the later packs I would buy. Has some good command cards (for Hunters & Troopers) but the Rangers themselves aren't great in my book. If you want Trooper lists check out the Rebel Trooper pack which comes with 2x Reinforcements and 1x Grenadier (all of which are great), and the Rebel Saboteur pack for a great rebel squad.
Sorry, but I will disagree with you until the end of time about Rangers, I would consider them **** near essential in any Rebel list that isn't trying to run Heroic Effort. The elite versions are one of the most effective long range units in the game. I've played a lot of games with and against them since that last thread, and they've been nothing short of incredible.
7 hours ago, Engine25 said:I'm not certain the Elite Rangers are worth the cost, but I've been wrecked by the gray Rangers many times.
Trust me, the elites are worth the cost. Focus them up and watch them annihilate anything in their line of sight.
