I've just ordered two core sets and another tie fighter expansion. Will this be enough to get in some intro games before I buy more fighter expansions? What would be a good point value to start with before I start playing 100pt squads? I can't wait to start playing, this looks like such a great game.

Five TIE Fighters is a bit light. I'm not sure if you can make 100 points with five TIE Fighters or with two X-Wings. One more TIE Fighter at least will bring you up, though at 100 points I like to run 8 TIE Fighters.

When I first started all I had was the Core set and a TIE and Falcon expansion. You really just need one core to start and learn the game. I used a 50pt system when I first started and I think its a great starting point.

I hope you enjoy this game as much as I have and Welcome!

I agree that 50-60 points is a good start for what you have. The issue is that even using top named pilots and upgrades on your 2 x-wings, you will max out around 70 points. 50-60 Lets you use both x-wings, with some upgrades or named pilots. And it lets you use 4-5 of your ties. I think that gets you the best use of the ships you currently have.

Have fun

"Five TIE Fighters is a bit light. I'm not sure if you can make 100 points with five TIE Fighters "

It doesn't. It comes out to around 88 points, and that's with using all the named pilots and tricking them out.

6 ties will easily get you to 100 points though.

As for X-wings Well making 100 points all you need are 3. The rebels are always 2 to 1 underdogs in numbers.

I just got started with a core set, and one each of the X-Wing, Tie Fighter, Tie Advanced, and Y-Wing expansions. It made for really good 80-some point games actually. 2 X-Wings and a Y-Wing vs. 3 Ties and Darth + missiles was a lot of fun and you can play around with the different tie combos. So I'd say just pick up a Y-Wing and a Tie Advanced and you'll be able to make some good 100 point squads. The Vader mini-swarm is good for learning how to use all those different named Tie pilots. I say this all as a total beginner, but I immediately got hooked and ordered some wave 2 stuff too.

Two X-Wing, but not all the pilots, against five TIEs should give you a good starting point although you may be a little light when it comes to upgrade options. Using all the TIEs at once is 60 points minimum and maxed out at just over 80. The two X-Wings are a minimum of 42 points (two Rookies) while the maximum you can put out is about 70 points using both named pilots in loaded ships. I wonder if Luke and Biggs with an R2s and torpedoes against Howlrunner and four Acadamy Pilots wouldn't be a pretty good place to start; the points here may favor the Rebels but the Empire could use Black Squadron Pilots and not change how things play. If you use four TIEs you can also cut down the points while still using both X-Wings.

To get to 100 points I'd be looking at a TIE Advanced for Darth Vader to lead the swarm of TIE Fighters although it is still a light swarm by some standards. Slave 1 would give you a big and powerful ship but would also mean a change in style. For the Rebels adding any other ship could get you to 100 points when using the top of the line stuff although the Falcon plus two X-Wings are at the core the popular "Han Shoots First" lists.

For the Rebels adding any other ship could get you to 100 points when using the top of the line stuff although the Falcon plus two X-Wings are at the core the popular "Han Shoots First" lists.

You should get a YT-1300 anyway. It's just such a beautiful ship. I only play Imperials but I bought one just in the desperate hope that someday the Empire will get to use one.

My "start" was the Core plus Falcon although I added the Advanced with the TIE-Fighter and X-Wing expansions following. I've got another Core ordered plus the Firespray, A-Wing, and one each of the wave 3 stuff but right now I can just manage a 100 points of Imperials but with the Core, X-Wing, and Falcon feel I could run a decent Rebel list at 100 points.

A problem with the Empire is that except for the Firespray and a less extent the Advanced their ships really don't have much for options except elite pilot stuff and the ship modifications you find with the large ships in wave 2.

thats a good start. id get one more x-wing for now. thats if u want to play 100pt games immediately.

id have as a priority 1-2 more tie-fighters as well as a 3rd X-Wing. Next on ur list would likely be one tie-advanced and one y-wing. these will set u up nicely for 100pt squad battles right away.

quite nice squads on a budget that perform pretty well are:

Luke + Wedge + Biggs

5x Ties + Vader

imo u dont need 8 ties immediately, 6 ties is plenty to give u variations with a tie advanced in the mix with some name pilots.

getting a 4th x-wing will allow u to run multiple rookies with wedge and/or luke

there are also some nice builds that use 2 X-Wings + a Y-Wing or even 3 X-Wings supported with a Y-Wing, depending on the pilots and upgrades you want to use.

i highly recommend investing time playing the basic ships (Ties and X-Wings) before you go too crazy with additional ships. Grow ur ship selection slowly at first until u know what u like playing.

When u r ready for more variations get hold of some wave2 ships starting with the fighters (A-Wing and Intercepter)... only one or two to start (if i was going to only get 3 wave2 ships id get one A-Wing and 2 Intercepters).

I have two core sets, one xwing expansion, one YT1300,pne Firespray, one Tie Advance, two tie interceptors, 2awings and three ywings. I should pick up a tie expansion for the additional pilots. Do I need all those ships? Probably not. But I like to experiment.

u have 5 ties get 1 advanced and you're set for the empire side

I managed to play some fun games early on with 2 core sets, 50-60 points (as has already been suggested) is the sweet spot for letting you use all of the ships but still having to make tough choices when it comes to pilot/upgrade selection.

Hopefully you'll have a blast and then your only problem will be deciding what to buy next!

I think the main thing to note here for any new player is to start with 2 core sets. That should be the foundation for anyone starting out this game. Then when you are ready to start expanding, get 1 x-wing expansion and 1 tie fighter expansion for the new pilots and upgrade cards. From there a y-wing and tie advanced would be my next choices. With 2 core sets and 1 of each of the wave 1 expansions you can easilly make 100 point lists for either side.

I disagree. I eventually got two core sets. But when you're starting off with small battles it's much more fun to have the variety of cards that the expansion packs give you. When you're ready to add more ships (read "Tie fighters and X-wings") then it makes sense to buy the second Core Set. If you have the money for 2 Core Sets and expansions up front, then by all means do it! I have a rather slow and steady income for my hobbies, so I chose not to get 2 Core Sets right at the start.

i have not regretted going the 2 core sets first path. it gives u extra dice and manouvre templates which were handy. its totally dependent on how much cash you have up front or if u r on a budget tho. if i was strapped for cash id probbaly go with one of each expansion b4 getn the 2nd core set

Yeah, but fooling around with Darth Vader and a Y-Wing with the ion turret made learning the game a lot more fun for me. So maybe it's a little less in terms of swarm efficiency, but for some people that's kind of less important when starting.

Thanks for all the replies guys! I'm looking to play through a few small games with my gaming group to gather interest before I buy much more. I have a feeling they will all love it so next paycheck I'm hoping to grab a couple more of the expansions. I plan on bringing my stuff to Gencon if anyone wants to help some noobs learn to fly.

I have both empire and rebellion full sets.

4 X-Wings

4 A-Wing

1 Y-Wing (want 1 more)

Millennium Falcon

4 Tie Interceptors

2 Tie Advanced

8 Tie Fighters

Slave 1

This setup besides my missing Y-Wing can do everything I want within reason. I cant imagine needing any more of the other ships.

I've been able to get in some pretty decent 40-60 point games (including a 3-player free-for-all that was good stupid fun!) with just 2 base sets, the Falcon, Slave 1, a Y-wing, and an A-wing. We've been relaxed on squadbuilding and occasionally allowed mixed Rebel/Imperial squads.

Now, of course I want more, and have since added a TIE expansion, two more A-wings, a TIE Advanced, and 3 Interceptors... it's more fun and definitely more flexible. I'm just saying you don't need all that to enjoy the game for a while!