Right!

With (an imaginary) $18US and only using a site like Troll&Toad or CoolStuffInc., make the best 150pt army you can. (Squad restrictions apply)

Go.

Zuckass Bounty Hunter -2.49-35pts
Captain Tarpals -1.99- 20pts
Queen Amidala - 4.99- 16 pts
Gungan Artillerist x4 -1.96- 40pts
Gungan Shield Bearer -3.49-17pts
Arf Trooper -.69- 10pts
R4 -2.29- 8pts

Total 147 pts, Cost $17.90

Mobile Gungans with double cestas, SHield Bearer, Accurate shot, Force Sense (Anti-Stealth) and snare rifle to pin down characters, Recon and stealth with arf trooper, Overide with R4.

Lando's got no Mercy:

Lando Calrissian, Rebel Leader - 1.50
Red Hand Trooper x5 - 7.50
Elite Rebel Commando - 1.25
Czerka Scientist - 0.20
Duros Scoundrel - 0.15

9 activations, total cost: $10.60

Simply enough, the Red Hands make a blood bath of someone once their first half of HP is whittled away. An alternative for those worried about hitting would be an R7 and R4/Wicket over the ERC which would still come in under cost.

And on another thought, this building on a budget idea would make for a good vassal league: Players start out with a set amount of money which they use to purchase minis for their squads and receive an allowance each week which they can either use to buy more minis or save for the more expensive ones.

I dont know the prices
but
Vigosx4 thats like 4 dollars
Czerka like 50 or something
Kyle IC like 2-3 dollars
R7 like 2 dollars
Dod like a 1.50
you should have some money for some uggies/brutes
I think that can be close to a tier 2 squad.

One has $18 to buy 150 points with. For every 10 points one must pay no more than $1.20 on average then. Pay more for some points and you'll have to pay less somewhere else.

First thing one notice is how both Mouse Droids and Mas Amedda are way too expensive. This of course will place some restrictions on what command effects to include. One will have to select command effects which are useful even with the range 6 restriction or stick to command effects with no range restrictions.

Consequently, few if any mobility breakers can be included. With the range 6 restriction, swap figures like Thrawn and K-3P0 seems questionable choices. They would have to be exposed and with weak defensive capabilities for their cost they'd be inviting targets. R2 Astromech and the two figures with levitation, Ganner and Commando Luke are all much too $$$-demanding. Captain Panaka would seem perhaps the only cost effective choice for a mobility breaker.

Also it's apparent that, while not as costly as the Mouse Droids and Mas, door control is still very expensive. While door control is a necessity it might be prudent not to include any beyond the bare minimum. It might even be better to include a bodyguard for that gold plated Ugnaught instead of another Ugnaught.

Activation control would appear semi-viable but all 3 point figures are fairly expensive. Rodian Brutes are the cheapest and still cost $1,96 for 10 points or about 64% more than the cost limit average. Also it would without movement breakers not be as simple to translate out-activation into offensive potential. One could at the end of the round move the big threat forward and hope for an init win. Which is ok but not reliable.

One way to deal with this would be an emphasis on tough, durable squads. Lacking in activations and mobility one must expect to be hit first. To stand a chance it would then be helpful to be able to survive those first attacks.


"One"
55 Grand Master Yoda 5.99
52 Jedi Weapons Master 2.49 x2
21 Houjix 0.69
16 Republic Commando Sev 1.29
6 Ugnaught Demolitionist 1.49 x2

Total: $15.93

High defense makes this squad difficult to hit. The Houjix can keep the Ugnaughts alive.


"Two"
45 Mara Jade, Jedi 7.99
26 Yuuzhan Vong Ossus Guardian 1.49
26 Kyp Durron 2.49
23 General Wedge Antilles 1.49
21 Houjix 0.69
6 Ugnaught Demolitionist 1.49 x2
3 Rodian Brute 0.59

Total: $17.72

Evade should help this squad stay alive. The Ossus Guardian is the main tank and should stick around for a while, especially with the Houjix bodyguarding it.


"Three"
35 Anakin on Stap 5.99
26 Jedi Weapons Master 2.49
24 Qui-Gon Jin, Jedi Trainer 2.49
23 Captain Panaka 1.89
22 Jedi Instructor 1.29
13 Gamorrean Bodyguard 0.49
6 Ugnaught Demolitionist 1.49 x2

Total: 17.62

With Anakin on Stap and Panaka this squad is more mobile and attack oriented than the first two but not as beefy. Anakin can do respectable damage and with the JWM/Jedi Instructor soaking up most of the enemy attacks he should hopefully get close enough to attack.

Prices from Troll & Toad used.

The Human Engineer is cheap in terms of $. On the other hand 13 points seems expensive. Lobot is not very costly, agreed. Though the Universe one is not as useful when you can't adapt your reinforcements to the opposition. The new Lobot is good if you happen to roll that "11". If not, he's Override at almost twice the point cost of an R7. Also it seems a challenge to have override but no satchel charge when out-activated. If the enemy immediately overrides your override and you can't destroy the door, then there might be a problem.

Activation control seems not impossible but may present some difficulties. There will be a price to pay, one way or another. The Rebel Mon Calamari Tech is at $0.25 - $0.49 an affordable 4 points piece. But to spend 4 or 5 points instead of 3 points when all you want is an activation may also be less than ideal. And at $2.49 for 9 points, the cost of General Dodonna must also be taken into account.

All true, but the concept is not top-tier, but affordability and availability.