I've started collecting MW and I'm considering buying a case. Which set would be the best to get?
I'm looking for recommendations pre-WolfStrike...

Thanks for any advice!

It'd be a three way for me...

It'd be between Counterassault, Firepower, and Vanguard...with Domination being very close behind that.

They seemed to the best balance in units as well as several very good pieces to use, IMO (Counterassault with the first batch of ATVs, Arrow IV's, Anats...Firepower for TTL's, Hellions and Jaguars as wells as some of the unis...Avalanches, Huey Tanks, GDS BAs, as most of the unis from Vanguard)

I would go with a case of Counter Assault myself, that set has some of the best pieces in it. If you're a ROTS player I would say buy Domination since the majority of commons are ROTS.

Vanguard hands down. it had some of the best stuff made to date.

either Domination or Vanguard. Vanguard had some of the best uniques and unique gear and domination had some of the best non-unique support units as well as a few mechs. The lokis, some of the scourges, jackalopes, and mjolnirs are better than the Thors and Annubi in Vanguard in IMHO.

I would 2nd Vanguard and Domination as the best.

The Davion Loki as a common is a good example.

I of course love Domination for my Bears.

I would say that it would also depend on which factions you want to collect (If Any). I collect Kurita, Steiner and Bannson's Raiders. My favourite sets were Firepower and Annihilation because they had some of the best units for my factions.

Overall I guess Domination is a pretty good set to buy. It has many gunslinger uniques, and very good support units and non-unique mechs.

yeah, quality wise, vanguard and dominiation are very excellent (except domination didn't have flight stands for some units), but it also comes down to what factions you will want to play. vanguard has a lot of Liao (buying a case of Vanguard means you might get the super rare Liao lance), and i think Davion/Steiner stuff. Domination has alot of Rasalhague and Wolf Hunters, Counterassault is Liao/Republic/Highlanders heavy.

Vanguard just edges out Domination for me, but then I'm a liao geek.

It'd have to be Vanguard for the slotted mechs. If we were still without pilots and gear, it'd be Counterassault hands down. The infantry in Vanguard isn't half bad either, actually.

If you want artillery, then CounterAssault is the way to go. If you are looking for mechs tht have pilots and gears then I would say either Domination or Vanguard (depending on if you are collecting any certain faction or not).

Off topic, but I would say find yourself a Kolchak with the forward observer card and Jack Nightstalker, a Seka's pride, individual pieces rather than a crate; which will just contain so much stuff you will never field.... Use the last world championship armies as a guide.....

If you are seriously interested in getting a case. I would recommend Domination. It has a lot of base pieces that you would learn a lot from. There are slyphs so you can learn vtol movements. There is a 3 capacity transport there are the new units with the cooling thanks. The mechs are fair, and you do have a chance to get some special units. If you're trying to get competitive quick I would suggest that you take what you've learned and play someone whom seems like a nice guy and experienced, and ask him perhaps what army fits your playstyle, and spend the money on the case for those pieces.

One other thing to consider is that we don't know which pieces will be 'world championship' legal for the next tournaments. If you want to play in the National tournaments you MIGHT be best off buying a very recent set, I get them all out of order now, what did come before Wolf Strike?

On the other hand one, most tournaments at local venues now are totally unrestricted. Nationals and Worlds might keep this format-or go to the Solaris game which makes buying everything moot for National/Worlds play.

So, what should you buy-My answer would be 'WHATEVER IS CHEAPEST'. I've seen cases of the earlier stuff and even Falcon's Preyon you know what bay going for very little money.

Buy a cheap case, or get two cheap cases instead of one expensive case. Almost every set had something useable. Hovercraft and Spirit Cat Clan Battle ARmor from Dark Age, Maxim transports, Sylphs and Kelswa from Falcon's Prey along with TTL artillery, etc...

But, then, after you buy the case-don't open it! Instead, get together with friends and practice playing sealed booster. Open three boosters each, make an army and try it out. Although the Sealed Booster format is probably going to disappear, it is good training for getting the most out of you have-and not surrendering just because the enemy army appears difficult to counter.

Best wishes....

Only do pre-AoD cases if you're doing them on the cheap. Pre-AoD sets have some (most) of the best vehicles in the game and a lot of excellent infantry, but virtually all of the 'Mechs are bunk in the modern game, which also happens to be largely 'Mech-centric. Counterassault and Falcon's Prey are probably your best bets for vehicles, though Dark Age has evil Dragon's Fury tanks in it. But yeah, what set you buy depends largely on what you want. Vanguard has some of the best gear in it and also has the ungodly-powerful Seka's Pride...but Domination, if I recall, has the Rasalhague Dominion lance and the unrealistically popular C3i equipment. As well as better non-Unique 'Mechs.

All up to what you want to get, really.