I am sure this issue has been addressed before, but I couldn't find as much as I was looking for. Or I wanted to hear it again for myself. Looking to get into X-Wing, have been drooling and holding off from afar for years. Basically know how to play, but have withheld because I know once I start collecting. Well, lets just say Star Wars + Dogfight + Table top + FFG and it all spells trouble that I don't really want but need.

Yet years have passed and the Senior Cardinal has been prudent, and saved some gelt. And the Emperor provides the patient, (the other Emperor of course, *makes sign of aquila, curses the heretic whom worships false idols*) and long story I have been blessed with an excuse to buy minis with the coming of age of a Star Wars rabid nephew turning eight whom is already showing gaming tendencies. That said I was hoping to see what everyone on the wonderful forums, and I do love these forums, thought of a starting purchase into X-Wing? What would they start off with? I was thinking the starting box, two additional small craft and two large craft? Unless of course others have better ideas ?

Depends on what faction you'd like to play!

Always the core set, naturally. Doesn't really matter which one. For rebels, I'd go with original Millenium Falcon and Rebel Aces off the bat. For Imperials, probably Upsilon once it comes out and a TIE interceptor. For scum, you'll need Most Wanted, then maybe invest in a Firespray, because it works for Imps too. You'll also probably want an A-Wing for Push The Limit, unless you splurge on Imperial Aces. If you were going for all three eventually, I would suggest: Core Set, then Millenium Falcon, then Firespray, then Rebel Aces, then TIE Interceptor, then A-Wing, then Upsilon, then Most Wanted.

But honestly, you really can't go wrong when starting out! Just pick the ships you want and work with them, and have loads of fun

Get anything you like visually except Imperial Veterans, Jumpmaster, HWK, Tie Phantom or Tie Punisher.

The first two expansions will likely be too strong to casual play with a nephew and will make game a lot less enjoyable.

Rebel HWK and Punisher are weaker ships and harder to figure out how to play well than the rest.

Tie Phantom is too complex for start and amount of failures phantom player is going to make is going to be disastrous.

My favorite way to start out would be 2x Most Wanted, 2x Y-Wing and 2x K-Wing (or buy four Twin Laser Turrets) + a core set of your choice. You can play Scum or Rebels at your leisure with a fairly competitive (though quite old and well-known) and easy to fly list. If you're not really into turrets or want to play as the Imperials, I would suggest:

Rebels: One of the easiest ways to start would be 1x Force Awakens Core, 1x Original Core, 1x Heroes of the Resistance. A 3 X-Wing list is a great way to learn the game when starting out, and you get ReyFinn for later.

Imperials: Most of their ships are harder to play than the other factions', so I'd either go for x7 Defenders or a Decimator + escort style list to start off. The former requires 2x Imperial Veterans, 1-2x TIE Defender and any core set, while netting you two TIE Bombers as well. The latter calls for the VT-49 Decimator Expansion, an Original Core Set and any ship you want to escort the Decimator. As an example, you can go for the TIE fighter expansion and use it along with the TIE fighters from the core set. It is possible to squeeze in a TIE Advanced, TIE Interceptor, TIE Phantom etc. into a Decimator list but those ships are quite difficult to handle for beginners.

Scum: 2x Punishing One would be a good start, but 2x IG-2000 works too. You can also go for things like the Protectorate Starfighter, Shadow Caster or Hound's Tooth.

Once you figure out the ships, you'll want to invest in upgrades. You can buy upgrade cards online or get them from appropriate expansions.

2 core sets (one of each) and then whatever ships you like the look of.

Decimator, Falcon, any scum large. Slave 1 is iconic but both hard to fly well and weaker than the other large ships.

And then you'll realise that you really do need all of the ships...

Okay, here is my suggestion for an Imperial start (honestly who wants to play scum or those pesky rebels anyway, right?):

Imperium

--------------------------
The Force Awakens Core set,

Tie/FO box

Imperial Veterans

--------------------------

That should give you a basic start, you'll have everything you need for your First Order ties and two other small ships to play around with.
Large base ship: buy what is cool. Honestly, I think thats the best way to go about it anyway, you'll want the cool stuff, even if it's not the best game stuff.

I'm going to go against the grain, and suggest no Imperial Veterans. While everyone else is saying to get it, and I agree, eventually you should, I don't think that's a good introduction. It's very high powered, can can be discouraging if someone is flying against it again and again.

Personally, were I buying in again, I'd do something thematic. So maybe:

Original Core Set

X-Wing (or y-wing)

U-wing

Tie Fighter

Tie Striker

Lambda (or another of the above fighters)

Should give you a very thematic Rogue One list. Or, change the Uwing and Tie Striker for the Falcon and Tie Advanced, and get a Death Star thematic list.

Either one should give your nephew a good chance to learn the game and it's various and sundry mechanics without being overwhelmed all at once.

And once he's comfortable with the game, that's when you throw the Imperial Veterans at him.

2 hours ago, despotic said:

My favorite way to start out would be 2x Most Wanted, 2x Y-Wing and 2x K-Wing (or buy four Twin Laser Turrets) + a core set of your choice. You can play Scum or Rebels at your leisure with a fairly competitive (though quite old and well-known) and easy to fly list. If you're not really into turrets or want to play as the Imperials, I would suggest:

Rebels: One of the easiest ways to start would be 1x Force Awakens Core, 1x Original Core, 1x Heroes of the Resistance. A 3 X-Wing list is a great way to learn the game when starting out, and you get ReyFinn for later.

Imperials: Most of their ships are harder to play than the other factions', so I'd either go for x7 Defenders or a Decimator + escort style list to start off. The former requires 2x Imperial Veterans, 1-2x TIE Defender and any core set, while netting you two TIE Bombers as well. The latter calls for the VT-49 Decimator Expansion, an Original Core Set and any ship you want to escort the Decimator. As an example, you can go for the TIE fighter expansion and use it along with the TIE fighters from the core set. It is possible to squeeze in a TIE Advanced, TIE Interceptor, TIE Phantom etc. into a Decimator list but those ships are quite difficult to handle for beginners.

Scum: 2x Punishing One would be a good start, but 2x IG-2000 works too. You can also go for things like the Protectorate Starfighter, Shadow Caster or Hound's Tooth.

Once you figure out the ships, you'll want to invest in upgrades. You can buy upgrade cards online or get them from appropriate expansions.

This is about playing with nephew, not making him cry with tlt or x7.

26 minutes ago, Zura said:

This is about playing with nephew, not making him cry with tlt or x7.

I have seen grown men sit down across from double Defenders and have their spirit break. I have then started the game and they learned it was /d Defenders; they had hope before tractor beams cast them into rocks and into despair once more.

Imperial Veterans is not a teaching friendly expansion.

If it's about your young nephew, then I say go thematic. It will be a lot more fun in the long run too. Here's a few different options:

If he's an Original Trilogy fan:

Original Core Set x2

Tie Fighter

Tie Advanced

Slave-1

X-wing

Y-wing

Millenium Falcon

This would have all kinds of options for flavor. You could fly Luke Biggs and Wedge in the trench run against Darth Vader and his infamous Black Squadron. You get Han Solo and Boba Fett with special mention to Chewbacca and the option for farm boy Luke on the falcon guns.

If he's more into TFA:

New Core Set x2

First Order TIE

T70 X-wing

Special Forces TIE

Upsilon Shuttle

Heroes of the Resistance

Lots of the cool new ships to play with here and all the familiar faces from TFA. Could reenact the escape scene with Rey piloting the Falcon. Could fly the battle of star killer base. Not to mention I feel that the TFA ships are more user friendly to new players, more forgiving dials and stats, room to grow with tech slots after you are used to the rules, a lot to consider there.

Have fun with the game though, and I agree with the above statements, stay away from Imperial Veterans to start. Also if you and your nephew aren't interested in it, I would advocate staying away from the entire scum Faction to start. Also no k-wings, Twin laser turrets can be fun killers if you don't expressly know how to deal with then.

I'd say get one of each the old core set and one new core set, but two new core sets are not bad,but I do recommend at least one of each. Then get one expansion for each ships in those (ti fo, t70,t65,tie figher)

After that get one big ship for each my recommendation is

Falcon, decimator

(Although hero's and decimator is good too)

Then any other single expansions you want, just keep it even.

....but I warn you...if you like it, your going to just buy everything lol

What do you want to do with your ships? Casual play with just you nephew? Casual at a local store? Competitive at a local store? Competitive at regional competitions. Here's my recommendation for each.

1. Casual with the Young One
Thematic is the best possible way to go. I'd stay away from the Falcon (Engine Upgrade makes it very strong). Perhaps 1 Original core Set, 1 X-wing, 1 Y-wing, 1 Rebel Aces for Rebels. For Imperial; 1 TIE Interceptor, 1 TIE Advanced, 1 Firespray. That should give you balance to both sides that enables quite a few interesting and varied builds.

2. Casual at a Local Store (You'll end up at one eventually, provided there's one in the area)
You're going to run into stronger lists in local communities than you do at home. Collecting one of everything will get you there, but there are some additional purchases to (1) to beef up the ships.

1 Starviper gives you 2 sets of autothrusters (an amazing card and utterly crucial for imperials and scum alike).
1 Imperial Veterans gives you the Defender, which is currently the Imperial kingpin, plus a number of other great cards (crack shot, tractor beam).
1 Heroes of the resistance gives you Fey+Finn (a great out-of-the-box combination), plus the better poe and a bunch of X-wing related goodies.
You'll also probably want Most Wanted to start on a scum collection, as that box contains its own goodies for Scum.

3. Competitive at a Local Store (Be ready)
Any competitive scene is going to involve internet lists, and for a good while you'll straight up lose against them (there's a skill threshold above which they become beatable, but not easy). That said, there are more tactical purchases to get you ready for the competitive scene.

1 Shadowcaster gives you a strong scum ship with a lot of good options, without resorting to Dengar/Manaroo internet lists.
1 Ghost gives the Rebels all their best crew, and brings Rey+Finn to their peak performance.
1 Raider, plus a Lambda shuttle. It's expensive, but it gives you Vader (the best version) and a PalpShuttle, which is near-essential for Imperials.

4. Competitive at Regional Events (The Hard One)
One of everything is a good place to start, and four of everything is a good place to finish. More options are always better.