Hi all

I'm going to introduce my friends to the game. Right now I own

Core set

Mc30

2xgr75

Mc75

Starhawk

2xhammerhead

Onager

Any advice for 2 balanced list(1 imp 1 reb) at 200pt?

My next buy will be a Isd(standard or chimera)

Regards

I think the problem you’re going to have is that the Imperial list can pretty much only be Romodi, a Testbed Onager, a Victory I, and 11 points of upgrades.

However, the rebels can fit Dodonna in an MC75, two flotillas, and 4 y-wings. That might be an okay matchup.

Personally, I’d just stick with the core set until your friends have got the mechanics of the game sorted. Below are example lists using the core only (I think) that should provide an interesting game: -

Faction: Imperial

Commander: Grand Moff Tarkin

Victory I (73)

• Grand Moff Tarkin (38)

• Wulff Yularen (7)

• Gunnery Team (7)

• Enhanced Armament (10)

• Assault Concussion Missiles (7)

= 142 Points

Squadrons:

• Howlrunner (16)

• 5 x TIE Fighter Squadron (40)

= 56 Points

Total Points: 198

Faction: Rebel

Commander: General Dodonna

CR90 Corvette A (44)

• General Dodonna (20)

• Leia Organa (3)

= 67 Points

Nebulon-B Escort Frigate (57)

• Weapons Liaison (3)

• H9 Turbolasers (8)

= 68 Points

Squadrons:

• Luke Skywalker (20)

• 3 x X-wing Squadron (39)

= 59 Points

Total Points: 194

The Core game will remain interesting for only as long as it takes your group to realize that all you have to do is get behind the VSD.

The ISD is a very fine next purchase, but to make use of what you’ve got at that point, you’ll probably want to expand to 400 points.

The UNfortunate news is that there are basically four varieties of ISD: The ISD-I & ISD-II cards come with the ISD expansion, while the ISD-Kuat Refit and ISD-Cymoon 1 Refit come in the Chimaera expansion. The two most useful ISDs are (in my opinion) the ISD-II and the Kuat Refit.

The ISD-II is sort of the gold standard for large based warships; it holds all the best upgrades, has strong firepower at any range, and commands fighters very well. The Kuat is sort of the dirty close-in fighting specialist, but sacrifices squadron power for it.

The other two haven’t aged well; the Cymoon used to be the best long-ranged sniper in the game, but a well-built VSD-II can actually throw more fire at long range for a lot cheaper, and with the advent of the Onager as well, the Cymoon lost a little more real estate. It is unique in that it can carry double Turbolaser upgrades, though, and there are some nasty (if expensive) things you can do with those.

Then there’s the old ISD-I. It seems to be having a minor resurgence of sorts, but I think it’s pretty weak. Basically, it’s got the carrier capacity of the ISD-II (or the much cheaper and more efficient Quasar Fire Carrier), and the dice of a Kuat Refit Destroyer, but without the upgrade slots to be really good at mixing it up at close range. In very rare cases, you might want a highly versatile second carrier in a list, and not want to spring 10 points for an ISD-II, and you’ll try the ISD-I, but it’s a very narrow role.

Considering all of that, I think I’d recommend the ISD expansion over Chimaera. You’ll get a better mix of cards, more Commanders, and the ISD-II is probably the best of the four varieties, pound-for-pound. But eventually you’ll probably want Chimaera as well.