I've got 4-5 friends coming over for a weekend of board gaming, beer and pizza in a few weeks.

While I imagine Power Grid, TTR and Descent will be the focus, I thought about having a couple of games of X-wing (maybe a 4 player knock out tournament?)

I'd like to get some simple 60pt squads on the table with only a few upgrades to make them interesting and/ or thematic.

Complex interactions between cards and pilot abilities doesn't seem like the way to go.

A couple of the guys have played once or twice before but no more than that.

I was thinking of putting one named pilot from either the original Trilogy or TFA into squad. Scum are probably less iconic than Rebels/ Imps so I planed to avoid them.

Any suggestions for squads that are fun to fly and would hit the right spot? (Doesn't have to be exactly 60 either. A few points either side will not imbalance it badly)

Boba Fett can be a decent choice for Scum as he is pretty iconic! I would also try and keep it relative;y simple:

Luke and Wedge have to be involved. Five tie swarm. Maybe a pair of tricked out interceptors or the Falcon?

This could be fun I think. Wanted to slip Biggs in to be more Iconic, but it felt like I had to make both a little too naked.

Luke 60pt (59)

Luke Skywalker (36) - X-Wing

Expertise (4), R2-D2 (4), Integrated Astromech (0)

Green Squadron Pilot (23) - A-Wing

Juke (2), Chardaan Refit (-2), A-Wing Test Pilot (0), Autothrusters (2), Snap Shot (2)

Just realized, that might not be as "SIMPLE" as you were looking for, Sorry

Squad A - 60 pts - Vader and escort

Vader, Title, adv targeting

2x Black crack tie fighters

Squad B - 60pts - Interceptor pair

2x Royal gaurd, PTL, title, auto thrusters, stealth device

Squad C - 60pts - XX

Wedge, crack shot, int astro, R2

Biggs, R2-D2, int astro

Squad D - 60 pts - BAA

B wing blue, FCS, Ex munitions, proton torps, GC's

2x A wing prototype, chardan refit.

All ships and pilots from the OT, nothing too complicated.

If your a Star Wars rebels fan, you could do Hera in the Ghost and Ezra in the shuttle (no titles) with no upgrades flying together. Hera could be fun for a new/inexperienced player since you get to change your dial on a red or green.

Thanks for the advice all.

I threw together a few squads. Again the emphasis was on simplicity and theme as opposed to raw efficiency/ power.

Storgar - your Squad A was exactly the first squad I put together. Squad B was in there too except I dropped Autothrusters (another rule interaction) for hull upgrade (comes out at 62 points if you give it to both/ 59 if you upgrade one of them). I figured it was a lot simpler to understand and eliminated a slightly more complex card.

I took list C and swapped droids (since Wedge should actually survive right!)

I really like the Boba Fett squad list. Might see if anyone wants to run it. I considered avoiding auxiliary firing arcs or PWT (I dropped my idea for a Gold Squadron with Ion Turrets/ TLT because I want the game to stripped back to fundamentals of prediction and positioning) but the Falcon and Firespray as so iconic I might have to include them as a choice.

Might use a Finn/ Rey Falcon rather than Han. It would be a little bit more complex but would still emphasis getting your firing arc right.

I added a Howlrunner mini-swarm (does 4 Tie's count as a swarm of any description?) with a Black Sq Swarm Leader (SL strikes me as an interesting mechanic). I really like Crack shot (for Howl) in this format as it gives the players an interesting decision to make (when to spend it).

Added in Raging Tycho and the As.

I created six thematic lists based around who I figure are the six most iconic pilots for those who have only seen the movies. I'm not really sure of the balance between them, though. Some ideas are obviously similar to others'.

Luke Skywalker (Expertise, R2-D2, Integrated Astromech) (36)

Blue Squadron Pilot (Fire-Control System) (24)

Han Solo ( Millenium Falcon , Outmaneuver, Chewbacca, Engine Upgrade) (58)

Darth Vader (TIE/x1, Juke, Advanced Targeting Computer, Engine Upgrade) (36)

Academy Pilot (12)

Academy Pilot (12)

Boba Fett ( Slave 1 , Lone Wolf, Recon Specialist, Engine Upgrade) (48)

Binayre Pirate (12)

Rey ( Millenium Falcon [TFA], Expertise, Finn, Engine Upgrade) (59)

Poe Dameron (PS 8) (Push the Limit, BB-8, Integrated Astromech) (36)

Blue Squadron Novice (24)

No, that's really interesting and, after Estarriol suggested the Falcon I put together a list with Rey. Like you I took C3P0 out for the same reasoning. I don't mind EU being there a lot. I think it introduces the repositioning mechanic which is such a big part of the game.

Actually I think I prefer your version of Fun Rey to mine

I wouldn't use upgrades at all. Just named pilots in the mix, otherwise it can be a bit overwhelming at first if they haven't played a single game, you are going to be more time explaining upgrades and potential plays from then, than actually playing the game, and that's bad imo.

1 - Boba + something

2 - Han + something

3 - Luke + wedge

4 - Darth vader + Ties

5 - Poe + something