I'll take Republic, as they're my favourite faction:

1. I wouldn't bother with boosters unless you find them super-cheap. It's generally better to get them individually - trollandtoad or coolstuffinc are good - or get a big lot on ebay.

2. The best Republic grunts are:
Jedi Weapon Master
Rodian Diplomat
Spaarti Clone Trooper Demolitionist (v-set)
Naboo Trooper (v-set)
Naboo Pilot (v-set)

You also need these Fringe pieces:
Ugnaught Demolitionists
Rodian Brutes
Lobot
R7 Astromech Droid

3. What are the best uniques for each of my factions
R2-D2 Astromech Droid
Mas Amedda
Yoda on Kybuck
General Skywalker
Captain Panaka
Captain Rex
Dash Rendar, Renegade Smuggler (fringe, but works really well in Republic squads)
General Obi-Wan Kenobi
Mon Mothma
Admiral Yularen
Ferus Olin (Rebel with Republic affinity)
Queen Amidala
a Mace Windu as proxy for the v-set Mace Windu
Commander Ahsoka is a good piece to have too - rolling cleave works well with pieces like Yoda on Kybuck, the new Mace, and the v-set Wookiee Jedi.

4. Are there any must have pieces in those factions
R2-D2 Astromech Droid and Mas Amedda are essential for a lot of Republic builds.

There's a discussion here about the best Republic pieces too - it's reasonably recent: http://www.bloomilk.com/Forums/default.aspx?g=posts&t=10287

I'll take my seps

1. At this point ordering individuals is probably cheaper and Easier to aquire pieces, approx 12 dollars is a decent price

2.
IG lancer droid
Chameleon Droid
Battle Droid
Destroyer Droid
Super battle Droid
Commando Droid
Bodyguard Droid
Geonosian drones
IG 86

3. In order of most important to least:
Grievous Droid Army commander
Sideous (clone strike)
Wat Tambor (both)
San hill
Asajj Ventress, separatist assassin
Durge Jedi Hunter
Count Dooku of serrano
Darth Tyranous, legacy of the dark side
Nute Gunray

4. General Grievous Droid Army Commander
Battle Droid officer
San Hill
Darth Sideous (clone strike)
Wat Tambor (both)
IG Lancer Droid
Destroyer Droid/Commando Droid (for the Virtual sets)

if you can get cases dependign on the set you should get most of the rares. If it is in any of the 40 PC sets you will get all of the rares, but only 4 Very rares. plus 2 of each uncommon, and 4 of each common.

Wow guys, thanks this helps a lot. I was not expecting so many replies so quickly.

I'll take the Rebs!

1. Would it be better for me to order the minis I want or to get booster packs, if I can find any, and what is a decent price for a booster
I would have to echo everyone else and say only buy boosters if you find them for super cheap. $5 or less. Sets focused on Rebs are Rebel Storm, Alliance & Empire, The Force Unleashed and Imperial Entanglements


2. What are the best grunt pieces for each faction I want to play
Elite Rebel Commando
R7 (Fringe)
Mouse Droids (Fringe)
Ugnaught Demolitionist (Fringe)
Wookiee Freedom Fighter
Wookiee Commando (Fringe)
Bothan Noble
Camaasi Noble
Rebels really focus more on the Uniques

3. What are the best uniques for each of my factions
Han Solo Smuggler
Luke Rebel Commando
Princess Leia
Ferus Olin
Luke's Landspeeder
Luke's Snowspeeder
General Crix Madine
General Dodonna
General Rieekan
Juno Eclipse
Deena Shan
Obi Wan Force Spirit
Anakin Force Spirit
Leia Organa, Senator
Lobot (Fringe)

Also fun:
Luke and Yoda
Han Solo, Scoundrel
Princess Leia, Senator
Shaak-Ti, Jedi Master
Yoda of Dagobah
Vader's Apprentice Redeemed
Luke Skywalker, Hoth Pilot Unleashed
Luke Skywalker, Hero of Yavin

4. Are there any must have pieces in those factions

The listed non-uniques and the first list of Uniques belong in most competitive Rebel Squads.



I cannot think of any other questions at this time but I'm sure I will later, thanks in advance[/quote]

I would say your best bet is to start your focus on the later sets (Clone Wars, Imperial Entanglements, Galaxy At War, Jedi Academy, Dark Times, & Masters of the Force). The main reasons are that the figures are easier to find, are cheaper, and due to power creep, tend to be more powerful than the earlier minis.

Also, you'll want maps, lots of maps. Having a bunch of different battlefields helps keep the game alive as the map massively changes how the battle plays out. Start with Attack on Endor and the 2nd and 3rd Clone Wars map packs (Showdown at Teth & Crystal Caves of Ilum) as they contain some really good maps and some decent minis.

As for the older sets, it's still worth getting them as a few have stood the test of time and also because some V-set minis bring the older stuff back into the spotlight. Though, you want to put a higher priority on some figures.

What to get first in the older sets:

Rebel Storm:
Princess Leia, Senator - Still a decent shot, with a great CE (Commander Effect)
General Veers - Another character with an excellent CE
4-Lom - Even with all the power creep, he's still good at hitting a target
Quarren Assassin - A solid mobile attacker

Clone Strike:
General Kenobi - A decent fighter with a great CE
Battle Droid Officer - A must for any droid army (was reprinted in Masters of the Force, so easier to obtain that one, but the CS one has a better sculpt)
Darth Sidious - Pawn of the Dark Side makes for good 1-2 combos
Durge - Good, durable fighter with a nice CE
Aurra Sing - While nowhere near the powerhouse she was, she still packs a good punch, especially when teamed up with commanders that grant extra attacks.

Revenge of the Sith:
Captain Antilles - While not a good fighter, he makes a great choice for Reserves and Reinforcements due to his CE.
Mon Mothma - Her CE is excellent for squads with large activations
R2-D2, Astromech Droid - Probably one of the best figures in the game. Override, Flight, and Tow Cable for a mere 9 points. He has truly earned the name Doombot.
Bodyguard Droid - If you run a droid army, these make better guards than the ones of the flesh-based variety. Also they make for good Reserves/Reinforcements
San Hill - A Tempo control character: His CE makes it so you only activate one character at a time, forcing your opponent to burn out his activations first, allowing you to hit him with everything you've got afterwards.
Boba Fett, Young Mercenary - Nothing flashy, but he's quite good at picking off grunts and weakened units
Emperor Palpatine, Sith Lord - An average fighter, but he allows you to bring clones into an Imperial squad. He is also an opposing clone squad's worst nightmare.

Universe:
Lando Calrissian, Hero of Tanaab - While a bit obsolete as a fighter, he still has a great CE
Lobot - Door Control + Reinforcements makes him a top-tier mini, but his is quite fragile.
Rodian Black Sun Vigo - A decent CE that helps prevent your back line units from getting sniped.
Grand Admiral Thrawn - While his IE version is just about as good, this version has Ysalamiri, which helps take care of those pesky force users.
Nightsister Sith Witch - Decent fighter with a good, damaging force power.
Stormtrooper Commander - A pretty good shot for his cost, but he's got a great CE.
Chewbacca, Rebel Hero - Even after 7 years, he's still the best bodyguard in the game.
Han Solo, Rebel Hero - A good shot with a good CE.
Nom Anor - He lets you have a squad of Superstealthed suicide bombers, enough said

Champions of the Force:
Exar Kun - A strong, mobile beatstick that makes savage characters quite deadly.
Clone Commander Bacara - Gives your clones superstealth.
Clone Commander Gree - Good mobile attacker with several good CEs.
Jedi Weapon Master - Good, solid, versatile melee piece.
Mas Amedda - Nearly essential for any CE-based Republic or Imperial squad because of Booming Voice. NOTE: Try to learn to play without him (or Mouse Droids) first to help learn the importance of unit placements, as this guy can easily become a crutch for a player.
Queen Amidala - Rapport combined with a good CE makes her a strong choice for any Republic squad focused around non-uniques.
Qui-Gon Jinn, Jedi Master - A decent fighter, but where he shines is Force Spirit, allowing you to buff up another Force user heavily when he bites it.
Crab Droid - A farly beefy unit that can slam into enemies hard.
Darth Vader, Champion of the Sith - A solid fighter with an interesting CE for those punks who feel lucky.
Jacen Solo - Rather fragile, put can dish out major damage in certain situations
Jaina Solo - More durable than her brother, but her big draw is bringing Han into the New Republic
Ugnaught Demolitionist - Nearly essential. These guys blow up doors and pad your activations for a mere 3 points. You'll want at least 3 of them.
Varactyl Wrangler - If you use savage characters, you'll need to keep them under control until it's time to strike. Malakili is a better choice if your squad revolves around savages though.

Bounty Hunters:
Han Solo, Smuggler - One of the main Rebel cannons. He can churn out damage really fast.
Princess Leia Hoth Commander - A risky CE that can frustrate your opponent to no end if it pays off.
Lord Vader - A Vader that believes a good offense is a good defense.
Aqualish Assassin - A cheap grunt that can dish out some good damage.
Bith Black Sun Vigo - Decent fighter (poor attack at a distance though) with a good CE.
Bossk, Bounty Hunter - Good at tearing into things or setting them ablaze
Dark Hellion Marauder on Swoop Bike - Because of his speed, he's great for early gambit points or swap squads (Though he can only swap with another large unit)
4-LOM, Bounty Hunter - Stronger than his RS version in every way, but more pricy.
Garindan - His Spotter allows you to hit a target hard.
Mistryl Shadow Guard - A good choice if you want a bodyguard that can fight.
Rodian Hunt Master - A really good CE
Weequay Leader - A good CE like the Hunt Master's but with more limited use. They can be used together though and make your melee units quite deadly, but rather immobile.
Zuckuss - Intuition + Accurate Shot makes it easy to line up the perfect shot.
Mandalorian Supercommando - He deals some good damage, especially when boosted by the various Mandalorian Commanders.

Alliance & Empire:
Han Solo in Stormtrooper Armor - If you want to charge into combat, hes your mini. Too bad he has one of the ugliest sculpts in the game (Think Sloth from the Goonies)
Ithorian Commander - An excellent CE that really buffs up some of the weaker melee units.
Obi-Wan Kenobi, Jedi Spirit - A good buff to a Force User. Anakin is the better choice though if you have multiple force users or need to get to the front lines quickly.
Princess Leia - A must have Commander if you want to turn a character into a Gatling cannon.
Wookiee Freedom Fighter - They charge in and tear everything up
Admiral Piett - A commander you'll want to use if you're using troopers and not IE Thrawn.
Darth Vader, Imperial Commander - A big buff to Imperial Trooper squads.
Imperial Governor Tarkin - A commander who buffs commanders. Makes for some very interesting squads.
Storm Commando - Deadly, but fragile.
Mara Jade, Jedi - A strong fighter who can unleash a massive burst of pain.
Boba Fett, Enforcer - Probably the most versatile of the Fetts. He's got a little something for every occasion.
Jabba, Crime Lord - An excellent CE for your Fringe grunts
Wicket - A great decoy character. Your opponent either focuses on him, or suffers a massive defense penalty.
Yomin Carr - A great commander for any Vong army.

Force Unleashed:
Shaak Ti, Jedi Master - A good fighter for engaging other melee beatsticks.
Juno Eclipse - A good grunt killer that can also disrupt enemy commander effects.
Luke Skywalker, Hoth Pilot Unleashed - A decent shooter with a really strong Force Power
Luke's Snowspeeder - Strong and incredibly agile. Do not leave it parked next to enemy jedi though.
Obi-Wan Kenobi Unleashed - A fairly decent fighter with a good variety of force powers, including Force Spirit
Vader's Apprentice Redeemed - Similar to Luke, HPU but more melee oriented.
Admiral Ozzel - Tempo Control for the Imperials
Darth Vader, Unleashed - The Vader to use if you want to kill things at a distance.
Evo Trooper - A solid, durable trooper.
Felucian Stormtrooper Officer - A good defensive boost for your troopers if you don't want to use Vader, IC (Though both together will aggravate any shooter-based opponent).
Vader's Apprentice Unleashed - Zaps anything and everything. Best when teamed up with RS or IE Palpatine.
Boba Fett, Mercenary - Double Attack, Cunning Attack, Accurate Shot, and Intuition altogether makes for an excellent assassin.
Caamassi Noble - Diplomat makes this guy a bit of a pain to kill. Great for swap squads or getting Gambit points.
Muun Tactics Broker - Kill an ally every round to always win initiative. Great, as long as you have fodder to kill off or a way to take out the broker yourself.

Legacy of the Force:
Darth Krayt - A good fighter with an excellent CE.
Darth Talon - A solid beatstick who frustrates any enemy with a single attack.
Darth Tyranus, Legacy of the Dark Side - A good mix of offense and defense in a beatstick.
Bothan Noble - A poor man's Princess Leia, with a weaker version of the same CE, but you can have more than one in a squad.
Elite Rebel Commando - Durable for his cost, and has Door Control. Really Good against droids, especially when teamed up with Crix Madine.
General Dodonna - Tempo Control for the Rebels and New Republic. However, his CE is better as you have the choice to use it or not, which is quite handy once the action starts.
Moff Nyna Calixte - Superstealth for Imperials
Han Solo, Galactic Hero - Costly, but packs a punch and really hurts people who rely on abilities like Master Tactician.
Kyle Katarn, Jedi Battlemaster - A strong fighter who can mess up entire squads with the presence of his beard.
Luke Skywalker, Force Spirit - Like the other spirits, but for the New Republic.
Shado Vao - A good melee combatant with an arsenal of force powers.
Human Bodyguard - A solid bodyguard.
Kel-Dor Bounty Hunter - While having low damage, is an excellent shot, and Self Destruct 40 makes for a nasty experience for enemy melee units.
Boba Fett, Mercenary Commander - The strongest version of Boba. Also one of the best Mandalorian Commanders.
Yuuzhan Vong Jedi Hunter - These guys hate Jedi and it shows,

Knights of the Old Republic:
Atton Rand - If he gets the first shot, enemy force users will feel it.
Juggernaut War Droid - He blows up doors at range
Wookiee Elite Warrior - They charge, and they smash.
Darth Malak, Dark Lord of the Sith - A good, solid fighter with a simple, yet effective Commander Effect.
Captain Panaka - Allows you to swap units, very handy when combined with a strong beatstick.
Captain Tarpals - Allows you to use replaces attacks abilities/force powers twice per turn. Not top tier, but quite fun.
Gungan Artillerist - Missiles that activate. Nightmareish when combined with Tarpals.
Jar Jar Binks - The bane of sanity. Bombad Gungan turns any battlefield into a disaster.
Han Solo Smuggler - Unlike the rest of the Hans, he has Opportunist. A good choice for a cannon squad.
Leia Organa, Senator - A diplomat that can fight
Darth Vader, Scourge of the Jedi - The best Vader overall for melee combat.
General Wedge Antilles - An incredible CE for the New Republic.
Czerka Scientist - Very fragile, but a massive boost for shooters.
Echani Handmaiden - Fragile, but gets a lot of attacks in.
Genoharadan Assassin - Good low priced melee unit.
Jarael - Fast and hard to kill, with good chances of stunning opponents.
Jolee Bindo - For when you want to give your units a little boost, but don't want an expensive commander.
Rakghoul - Get these to your opponent's fodder and watch the fun begin.
Mandalorian Captain - A strong CE for the Mandalorians
Mandalorian Quartermaster - Commander that buffs attack.
Mandalorian Scout - Deadly and hard to kill for a very reasonable cost.

I'll give you some minis, if you cover postage

Oh and CIS is the Confederacy of Independant Systems (or the separatists but CIS is easier to write)