By my count you get 169 pieces in the starter set (including 12 plastic pieces that make up the 3 ships -- ship, base, pegs; 51 cards; 1 high quality rule book; and 103 cardboard tokens/dials/maneuver templates/range ruler). That's everything you need to play a few slightly different 31-32 point squads. Seems very reasonable to me for $26. And it's very inexpensive to add between 2 and 4 boosters which will give you lots of fun options to play. 

Monopoly and Clue and Apples to Apples $20-25 on Amazon.  Those games aren't nearly as fun for the price. The first two don't have expansions, but Apples to Apples does.

El_Tonio said:

But Monopoly leads to so much violence when the negotiating starts.  Can you really put a price on that?!

qwertyuiop said:

Aww, thanks!

 The only thing I find stingy in the core set is the 3 dice per color. You routinely need 4 for commonly used pilots/upgrades/range situations. 4 per color would have not been too difficult for them to include.

magadizer said:

I agree, but then there would be no, or less incentive to buy another core set / dice expansion pack / their completely useless phone app lol

Harleequin said:

Too true! I bought two core sets because I felt I needed the extra dice, but I haven't opened the second one because once I got it, I realized that's $25 I could have spent toward wave 2. I'm still undecided on whether to open the second core set or not but I'm not sure I could find anyone to sell it to.

Budgernaut said:

Open it I would say, you would spend 5 bucks on a dice pack anyway. So it's like spending 20 bucks on 2 TIE's, 1 X wing, and bonus pieces in case you lose any. Totally worth it.

Harleequin said:

Good point!

Currently I have 3 starter sets…I like having enough dice, tokens, ships, and range rules that I never really have to look for one.

Usually I don't buy 2nd core sets/same game and I hate it when a game forces you to do it if you want to play "as intended".  But after paying less than 30CAD for my first core set (a FGS had a promotion: At the cashier you roll 1D20+1D12 and the result is your % off the retail price, I rolled 21!!!) and seeing I could buy one for 36CAD new at a LGS I couldn't resist.  For a few bucks more than 2 expansions you get 3 ships, more templates, 1 more ruler, more tokens and 6 more invaluable die.

But like many already said, 1 core set to start with is enough to have tremendous fun.  The simple mechanics and complex strategy make this game almost perfect!

Add a black sheet/fabric on your playing table and you're good to go! You don't have to double the core set and buy every expansions right away, just get 1 core set, setup your first game, start moving your ships and roll some dice and you'll see!  Add some Star Wars soundtrack as a bonus for the mood and BAM! you'll wake up the next morning with a geek boner thinking about your last evening lol!

SolennelBern said:

First of all, I have to ask; did the store give a bonus discount if you rolled a critical hit/natural 20?

Anyways, I totally agree on the sense of dread about having to buy a second Core Set to get the more "complete" experience, as there comes with it, a lot of extra material that you simply won't use.  For X-Wing, though, it was almost a no-brainer to get a second one, as the value was insane.  The only things I don't really need the extra copies of (but COULD use, theoretically), are the ship number tokens, target locks, and unique cards.

I welcome extra asteroid tokens and the second shuttle, because I can easily craft a scenario around them.  The extra ships are obviously entirely playable.  The 3-of-each dice are a boon.  While I can't see myself practically needing more than 4 on any given roll, it's a lot better than only getting 3, which was just stupid.

As well, the duplicate damage deck and movement templates go to your opponent, and you don't need to be reaching around for stuff all the time.

I so want to get a second Core Set for Lord of the Rings, to get more copies of insanely useful cards like Unexpected Courage, but the amount of dead weight that goes along with it just gets in my way every time.  Every single Encounter deck card, of which there are many, are total trash, because you don't use them for anything else.  The hero cards are likewise useless, because their uniqueness transcends YOUR deck, and applies to all players.

The extra tokens and threat trackers are nice, and obviously the extra cards that come in handy, but I don't think the value is there.

So on one extreme, X-Wing's second Core Set is almost a must-have in terms of value, I find Lord of the Rings on the opposite end of the spectrum.  Netrunner is sort of in the middle.  Some dead weight, sure, but there are enough useful copies of cards that can be of use, and even having two copies of the player aids for spending your clicks are great, as you can handily keep track of your opponent's options while you plan your turn.

The only thing I found to be useless in buying 2 Cores is 5 Pilot cards and 2 Upgrade cards. 

Duplicate numbers are no problem as you can then run white and black versions of them to differentiate between players running the same faction in multiplayer games.  And since Target locks have different letters on opposite sides make two copies useable too.  I probably won't use the the second damage deck very often, but could easily use it to give both players their own deck.

Now a third Core set would pretty much just be used for the movement templates and models.  Thus, I don't plan to purchase another one.

-DavicusPrime

 Do you think having two damage decks might skew the game? Like, making it too possible to get the really nasty ones on critical hits?

Just wondering, haven't played yet…

I. J. Thompson said:

Can't use 2 decks in tournament, but for common play, just let your opponent know you have an altered deck, if he allows it, or helps make the altered deck, have fun!

I've played all 3 scenarios with the core set, and with 100 pt setups. I have to say, both are fun. If all I had was the core set, I'd be having a blast with this game. Don't knock just two TIEs and an X-Wing. With the components of the core set, you have many different combinations to play with pilots and points. And getting it through a discounter, $30 or less, it has great value. Considering I spend a good $50 for a 'game', this is a deal.

-shnar