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I've got the Star Wars: X-Wing miniatures base set. I've just about worked out which ships I want to go with for my first expansions. I'll either get another X-Wing, maybe an A-Wing for the Rebels, and a TIE Interceptor for the Empire. My main opponent is my son, and while he is very good tactically and could handle a challenge, I want to make sure it's still fairly balanced for either side. I'm fairly certain that two X-Wings or an X and A will annihilate two TIEs, but I'm not sure if the Interceptor and a TIE would be too much for the lone X-Wing.

That being said, should I expand the Empire first, or the Rebels?

It really depends on 2 things.
1) Are you going to be playing against other people that own this game when not playing against your son
2) Does your son like 1 of the factions over the other?

If you're going to be playing against people that already own the game and are expanding on their own, then just pick up whichever one you want to play, since you can play rebels vs rebels and imps vs imps.

If not, then I would suggest picking up another X-wing that way you can run 2 Rookie pilots vs a Obsidian pilot and a character (or 2 character TIEs)

If your son likes 1 faction over the other, expands towards that. Like my dad and I play, and he likes the Rebels so I've been picking up those pieces (I too like the Rebels ), but I've been playing the Imperials against him and play a few points down (okay it was 20 points down my last game ), but that way I play with the handicap so he can enjoy the game and I can try to get better with less

My son is pretty flexible, though he does love playing Luke. I think I'll just go ahead and do both simultaneously.

Having looked at some list builders, it seems that's the best way to keep it mostly balanced.

My decision now lies between an A-Wing or another X-Wing.

 Badger_Bhoy wrote:
My son is pretty flexible, though he does love playing Luke. I think I'll just go ahead and do both simultaneously.

Having looked at some list builders, it seems that's the best way to keep it mostly balanced.

My decision now lies between an A-Wing or another X-Wing.

I couldn't tell you on that one, as the A-Wing, the TIE expansion (comes with some additional things that aren't in the core box, just like the X-Wing pack), the TIE Interceptor and Firespray are the only models I'm missing. I would suggest just picking up what's in stock as not everything is easy to get a hold of.

OP, I definitely recommend an X-Wing booster (only one is needed) because you get Wedge. He's 100x better than Luke, and combined with Biggs, you may make your son sleep outside after the beating he'll give you. You can find X-Wing boosters best at Barnes&noble, or amazon, but if you don't find any, PM me-I have two extras I'm trying to get rid of at cost.

I was leaning to X-Wing for the same reason. My son votes A-Wing. I like the craft, but am not over the moon about the pilots, not compared to Wedge at any rate.

What would you guys pick between the TIE Advanced and Interceptor? I like the Interceptor more, it seems more different from a regular TIE, but man, Vader...

I already own an Advanced, because we only had that and the YT-1300 (Millennium Falcon), but I would probably pick up the Advanced, the Advanced has more upgrade cards, including the awesome Squad Leader and Swarm Tactics (this is seriously an awesome card), whereas the Interceptor only comes with Elusiveness (which comes in the Falcon's box) and Daredevil.

Which have you found to be more effective in-game? The Advanced's shields would certainly be nice.

 Badger_Bhoy wrote:
Which have you found to be more effective in-game? The Advanced's shields would certainly be nice.

My Advanced has yet to die (though last Friday I did kill Vader with a Rookie Pilot (Granted Han did take down 1 of his shields), and I like him more than the Interceptor. I think the ceptor's speed is nice, but I don't think you want just 1 of them on the board, all Imperials make use of swarms (with maybe the exception of the Firespray, though the 2 firespray list is harsh ).

Both... You want the unique cards that come with each ship. If you only do 1 faction you are actually handicapping yourself for upgrades vs most. In general, this is a game where most folks buy at least one of everything...

Alfndrate wrote:

 Badger_Bhoy wrote:
Which have you found to be more effective in-game? The Advanced's shields would certainly be nice.

My Advanced has yet to die (though last Friday I did kill Vader with a Rookie Pilot (Granted Han did take down 1 of his shields), and I like him more than the Interceptor. I think the ceptor's speed is nice, but I don't think you want just 1 of them on the board, all Imperials make use of swarms (with maybe the exception of the Firespray, though the 2 firespray list is harsh ).

I think I will go with the Advanced. I want Vader. Plus, the price is lower than the Interceptor.

MajorTom11 wrote:Both... You want the unique cards that come with each ship. If you only do 1 faction you are actually handicapping yourself for upgrades vs most. In general, this is a game where most folks buy at least one of everything...

Yeah, I'm going to do both. I think I'll pull rank on my son and get another X-Wing and wait on the A-Wing, and get the TIE Advanced. Wish I could find them locally, but at least I know where to go for the Falcon!

I've always expanded them roughly equally each purchase. I think the Rebels I have slightly more points of, because of how expensive their fighters are in points and upgrades available.

I'd expand Empire first. No game experience (although it does look fun, just not a purchase I want to make right now). I just think their ships are cooler, unless they've actually started scraping so far down in the barrel they're releasing a B wing mini, then I might actually buy that.

They are releasing a B-Wing...

I also wouldn't exactly call making a B-Wing scraping the barrel.

The Hawk is closer to scraping the barrel.

When they start making ships up, that's scraping the barrel. Not when ships from the movies appear. Hell I wouldn't be surprised if we start seeing ships from the Episode 1-3 sometime.

 TalonZahn wrote:
I also wouldn't exactly call making a B-Wing scraping the barrel.

The Hawk is closer to scraping the barrel.

When they start making ships up, that's scraping the barrel. Not when ships from the movies appear. Hell I wouldn't be surprised if we start seeing ships from the Episode 1-3 sometime.

I did say scraping down the barrel, the B wing certainly isn't anywhere near the bottom yet. It's just a sign that they've scraped all the good iconic stuff off the top and they're moving on to more specialized things that aren't so publicly recognizable.

I'd actually love to see "trade federation vs clone army" especially if the rules were kept the same and points costs were laid out so you could play messed up "old vs new" time travel games if you really wanted to. Anakin in a Jedi starfighter vs Darth Vader? It makes zero sense but it would be awesome!

I want ARC-170S.... considering they were actually used by both the rebels and the empire during the galactic civil war it makes sense...

also, I want K-Wings... now releasing THAT would be scraping the barrel since (iirc) they are only mentioned in a handful of books and the concept is absolutely ridiculous (its basically a superheavy starfighter with the firepower of a small capital ship... )