There is no mention in either the announcement or each of the individual product pages whether a copy of the base game is required. Usually with FFG games this question is answered explicitly e.g. with " The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game " standalone scenarios. The intro decks do not seem to include rules or the tokens.

No, they don't. The sheet inside recommend you to download the rules from their site and use some substitute for the tokens. So you don't need the core, but beware that you need at least another pack to be able to play.

You Also need core if you want to play multiplayer variant, or Also proxy those...

i would say that one core definitely would be usefull. It gives tokens, rules, and rolecards and Also an option to modify those house intro decks. But at first I would say that it would be wisest to play with pure intro decks and tinker later to give variant if needed. You could Also try to buy/get core box with tokens, rules and role cards without playing cards...

Thank you to both @USAK and @Hannibal_pjv . It's good to know there are instructions with the intro decks on how to play without the core set. Also I realise I will need 2 decks ... but which to choose? Perhaps something different from what is included in the core set?

Every intro deck includes cards found in the core set. Buy four, or buy Stark v Lannister...then buy two more.

7 hours ago, matthewawebster said:

Thank you to both @USAK and @Hannibal_pjv . It's good to know there are instructions with the intro decks on how to play without the core set. Also I realise I will need 2 decks ... but which to choose? Perhaps something different from what is included in the core set?

Core set doesn't have any full decks in them so you can do whatever you want. What Intro Deck did you buy? That can inform what you want to buy next.

I agree with Qwertyuiop above. Stark and Lannister Are a good pair. If you wan to go for multiplayer add two more based on what houses you like. If you don`t have preferences then maybe Martell and Greyjoy because They Are different. Or go for better known Targaryen and Baratheon. But best would be to pick a house that Sounds interesting!

For multiplayer see the Small Counsil from this article!

https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/news/2015/5/26/on-the-tourney-ground/

I've posted in another thread that the articles FFG released to preview the deck lists give you a good idea as to what groups to buy based on how they play against each other within the two subgroups.

Stark/Lanni/Bara/Greyjoy and Night's Watch/Martell/Targ/Tyrell. Each group has decks geared for aggro and control, IIRC. I remember Stark V Lanni and Bara V Greyjoy as being a lot of fun back when 2nd ed first dropped.