Hi everyone,

I played for the 1st time 2 weeks ago (initial buy is 1 starter, 1 falcon, 1 firespray, and 1 A-wing) got hooked and recently bought a 2nd starter set (+ 1 tie fighter, 1 interceptor and 1 x-wing).

To all of you with a 2nd starter set, do you guys play with all the 66 damage cards combined? or just the ones from a single starter set?

Another thing, the 2nd starter I bought is in french (I wanted the rules in both language since I'm from Quebec, Canada and many of my friends will find it easier to play).

If there is a tournament, would cards in different language be acceptable?

I don't see why they could be refused since the effect is the same. Still, I wanted to have your input on this.

Thanks in advance!

Generally, each player has their own single damage deck. You don't mix them to make one big 66-card deck.

For cards in different languages, I think they should be fine. They're official, and on the approved list. Final word will lie with the TO, though.

As far as damage decks go: in a tournament setting each player has their own damage deck. Otherwise, for home games I just use 1 (sleeved)deck and have my other damage decks still sealed, just as backups in case something happens to the one I use all the time.

Language - it's generally no big deal to have non-English cards. To be on the safe side, if you're going to be in an English-only environment: have English wording available (just print off the text or image from a squad builder).

The cards are official, manufactured by FFG and distributed by them. They are legal as is, and if your opponent needs help translating that is on them.

As for combining decks, it does actually alter the distribution of critical effects. Card drawing is not truly random, since every card removed alters the "balance" of the deck. For example, if the first card you draw is a Blinded Pilot, the odds of your next card being a Blinded Pilot go down enormously (from about 1/16 to 1/32) because there is only 1 other Blinded Pilot card left in the deck. If you use two decks, the odds go from about 1/16 to about 1/20.

It is against the rules to combine decks in tournament play, for this reason.

Thanks for your quick answers. I appreciate it.

I think I'll play with both damage cards decks then... One for the rebels and one for the imps.

For tournaments as stated you should stick to one standard deck. However I have no problem with someone playing a with 2 or more decks mixed together. They still have the same chance of drawing a specific card, the deck is bigger, but the % of the specific card should be the same in the larger deck.

As I mentioned double, the first time you draw a card the damage distribution percentages change and the combined decks are no longer the same. Cards in decks are not the equivalent of dice rolling. Cards ensure that a particular result can only occur so many times, for example no matter how many crits you get once you have taken Blinded Pilot twice it is impossible to get another one even if there are 31 cards still left in the deck.

If I see my opponent has drawn a Blinded Pilot already, I have less incentive to trade fire with equal PS pilots because that is pretty much the only result where hitting first with initiative is helpful. If he has taken 3 or 4 crits and has yet to draw it, the odds are much better.