Expansion pack suggestion for new players?

[Flux Cobalt 6]

I am just getting into X-Wing and I would like to get some suggestions on which expansion packs to get to start out with? For right now I would like to have 4 or 5 ships total for each side, including the 3 ships  that come with the core set. Thanks for any help.

 

Flux

Edited January 9, 2014 by Flux Cobalt

[IvlerIin 573]

Empire

TIE Expansion, TIE Advance

 

Rebels

X-Wing Expansion, A-Wing Expansion

 

Is a good start. I started out with 2x Core set + Advance + X-Wing.

[perniciousducks 711]

EVERYTHING!

Wait, no... I'm a terrible person to ask as the 3rd shuttle is looking better and better, but I'll give it a shot...

A second x-wing.

A falcon

B-wing

A-wing

A 3rd tie fighter

Slave 1

A tie adv

That should get you to 5 of each, but a problem with this philosophy is that the empire tends to need more ships than the rebels. It's a quantity vs quality thing

[aArendsvark 68]

Rebels:

-Falcon (iconic)

-Y-Wing (I just like 'em, and they're different from other ships.  B-Wings and A-Wings are great too, but my vote is the humble Y-wing)

-X-Wing (wedge, garvin)

 

Empire:

-Slave I (iconic, plus a lot of fun to fly)

-Tie Advanced (really only for Vader, but he's great to pit against the rebellion)

-TIE expansion (best TIE pilot, but needs multiple TIEs to be useful)

 

As others have said and will say, two core sets is really helpful if you're looking to play a fair amount, but you can have plenty o' fun with the core and an expansion or two. 

[SableGryphon 2,844]

Wait, no... I'm a terrible person to ask as the 3rd shuttle is looking better and better, but I'll give it a shot...

 

*looks innocent* I have no idea why you would think that.

 

As for the OP, here's my recommendation:

 

2 Basic Sets

Firespray

YT-1300

B-Wing

 

This will give you access to enough ships to play around with and to field several interesting squads.You'll be a bit weaker on the Imperial side, but 4 TIE Fighters + 1 Firespray isn't a bad squad to start learning formation flying with and you should get to play with a number of the named pilots.

 

The B-Wing is a great ship that you can swap out an X-Wing for  to get different capabilities.

Edited January 9, 2014 by SableGryphon

[Peregrine 24]

I asked the same thing a few weeks ago and after a couple weeks of playing I would recommend the following:

• 2 Starter Kits
• Falcon (YT1300)
• Slave I (Firespray).

 

To add to the Imperial side first get a Tie Fighter (this will give you the ability to play 5 tie fighters with Howlrunner).

I now have a Tie Advanced, Tie Interceptor and Tie Bomber but getting the Tie Fighter first would definitely be best in my opinion which I couldn't do due to availability.

 

To add to the Rebel side probably the X-wing or the B-wing depending on your tastes. The B-wing gives more variety where the X-wing will give your games a distinct Episode IV feel with just X-wings and Falcons on the rebel side.

IF you do not get two starters kits consider buying a second set of dice. The starter kit has 3 attack and 3 defense dice but straight away you find yourself wanting 4 of each. Slightly annoying and actually makes this aspect of the starter kit look like a penny saving short cut.

[StevenO 2,996]

Core Set + X-Wing Expansion + Falcon + any other *-Wing fighter = 4 rebel ships

 

Core Set + TIE Expansion + Firespray + Interceptor or Advanced = 5 imperial ships

 

Should be able to make a couple 100 point squads to fly against each other although the Rebels have a LOT more freedom there as the Empire typically needs more numbers.  Although it gets you so many of the same ships two cores, the X-Wing & TIE Expansions, plus the Falcon/Firespray isn't too bad although it does miss a lot of the various upgrade options.

[Flux Cobalt 6]

Just out of curiosity, although I have an idea but why 2 core sets?

[SableGryphon 2,844]

Just out of curiosity, although I have an idea but why 2 core sets?

First is cost. You get 3 ships for $40 (retail) instead of $45. Plus, you get extra dice, movement templates, damage deck, asteroids, and a host of other bits.

 

Next, it gives you a good core of ships. 2 X-Wings and 4 TIE Fighters are solid craft that will likely get used a lot, especially as you start out.

 

It also helps insulate you from losing a token or leaving a template somewhere. I haven't been playing long and players have left half a dozen movement templates behind, though i try to get them back to them.

 

Finally, it gives you a good storage space for a small fleet until you find a better option.

[Eltnot 690]

Just out of curiosity, although I have an idea but why 2 core sets?

It is a cost effective way to get three extra ships that you will use, plus an extra set of dice and movement templates so that you don't have to share when teaching someone that doesn't already have their own set.  I just put in an order that has my third starter set in it.  I bought it for the ships and will be giving the movement templates and dice to my friend who added into the order so that we could split the postage (shipping from the US to Australia is expensive, but still cheaper than buying locally when buying in bulk.)

[Audio Weasel 3,659]

 

Just out of curiosity, although I have an idea but why 2 core sets?

First is cost. You get 3 ships for $40 (retail) instead of $45. Plus, you get extra dice, movement templates, damage deck, asteroids, and a host of other bits.

 

Next, it gives you a good core of ships. 2 X-Wings and 4 TIE Fighters are solid craft that will likely get used a lot, especially as you start out.

 

It also helps insulate you from losing a token or leaving a template somewhere. I haven't been playing long and players have left half a dozen movement templates behind, though i try to get them back to them.

 

Finally, it gives you a good storage space for a small fleet until you find a better option.

 

 

Not to mention at Target right now, if you can find them, core sets have been spotted on clearance for $20

[Eltnot 690]

 

Not to mention at Target right now, if you can find them, core sets have been spotted on clearance for $20

 

You guys are so lucky with that.  In Australia, their priced at $52 to $60 AU and they're often not in stock in our gaming stores.

[MajorJuggler 7,752]

Just out of curiosity, although I have an idea but why 2 core sets?

 

Also, the Core Sets seem to be on clearance at Target for $20.

 

Edit: Oops. Yeah, sniped. That's what I get for not reading the whole thread. 

 

There's also miniature market and coolstuffinc for about 2/3 off msrp. 

Edited January 9, 2014 by MajorJuggler

[IvlerIin 573]

In addition to all the above reasons to get 2 Starters.. IF you use it to introduce a friend to the game and they want to play a Single Faction all that friend would be required to do is purchase the Expansions they want + Dice since you can sell them your extra cardboard Movement Rulers Templates and Rulebook for a fair price. And if you're fine with parting from them your extra Unique Cards.

 

Gifting also works if you're committed and purchasing Acrylic Templates..

[Flux Cobalt 6]

Thanks for all of the advice everyone. There are so many choices, so I decided to go with 2 Core sets, 1 Falcon, 1 B-Wing, 1 Slave and 2 Tie Interceptors. I hope these combos will balance out well. Again thanks for the advice. Of course I’m sure the addiction will set in and there will be more ships in the future.

Edited January 9, 2014 by Flux Cobalt

[VanorDM 11,599]

I hope these combos will balance out well.

Sounds like you got a great core set to work with there, lots of options for possible lists to build with what you have.

Speaking of which, I recommend the following sites...

http://xwing-builder.co.uk/build - List Builder

http://geordanr.github.io/xwing/ - Another List builder

http://teamcovenant.com/ - blogs about X-Wing and home to Vassal tourney's.

http://www.themetalbikini.com/ another blog site for X-Wing

[Eltnot 690]

Sounds like you've gone with some pretty solid choices.

[Flux Cobalt 6]

Sounds like you've gone with some pretty solid choices.

I think I did. The only problem now is I don't even have the game yet and I am already looking at new ships. I new this would get addicting but not this quick.

[Eltnot 690]

Aye, I only started playing in November and have dropped almost $500AU into the game.

[perniciousducks 711]

Sounds like you've gone with some pretty solid choices.

I think I did. The only problem now is I don't even have the game yet and I am already looking at new ships. I new this would get addicting but not this quick.

I'd really recommend the tie expansion soon for the unique pilots. They end up in more imperial lists than I can count.