Gameplay tips on opening moves and research trees summarizes two sections of the official "Rebellion - Gameplay Tips" web page for Star Wars: Rebellion: a list of suggested first actions for each side, and lists of what each side starts with and what it can research. See LucasArts Rebellion website (2004 archive) for the site.

Suggested opening actions

The page offers a list of suggestions for the start of a game.

Both sides: use the GID to see which facilities exist and where, locate all characters, and protect the headquarters.

Alliance: the page names recruiting, diplomacy and ship research as the keys to success. Its suggestions:

• have Mon Mothma start recruiting characters;
• move characters off Yavin and send most of them on Diplomacy missions;
• have Wedge, and any other capable character, research Ship Design;
• build defenses (starfighters and army regiments);
• find a suitable planet for the main manufacturing centers (shipyards and training facilities);
• explore unknown planets as possible sites for Super Shipyards.

Empire: the suggestions are:

• use diplomacy on the Empire's own planets;
• recruit with the Emperor, and have Darth recruit or do diplomacy;
• find characters and assign them commands or diplomatic missions;
• send extra characters on sabotage missions against the Alliance's manufacturing facilities;
• give priority to training facilities, construction yards, shipyards and refineries, and build several construction yards;
• send fleets to Rebel planets to look for Alliance ships;
• find a suitable planet for the main manufacturing centers;
• begin taking over Sesswenna sector;
• build regiments for garrisons, build a fleet, and recruit.

Research trees

The page states that plain type marks items a side starts with, while bold marks items obtained by research, listed in the order they become available. The printed lists are reproduced below. Both sides begin with eight ship types, and the Alliance column on the page includes the Dauntless Cruiser and Bulwark Battlecruiser among its research items.

Ships

Side	Starting ships	Researched ships, in order
Alliance	Alliance Dreadnaught, Escort Carrier, Bulk Cruiser, Bulk Transport, Corellian Corvette, Medium Transport, X-wing, Y-wing	Nebulon-B Frigate, Mon Calamari Cruiser, A-wing, Corellian Gunboat, B-wing, CC-7700 Frigate, Assault Frigate, Liberator Cruiser, CC-9600 Frigate, Dauntless Cruiser, Bulwark Battlecruiser
Empire	Carrack Light Cruiser, Death Star, Galleon, Imperial Dreadnaught, Escort Carrier, Imperial Star Destroyer, TIE Fighter, Victory Destroyer	TIE Bomber, Lancer Frigate, TIE Interceptor, Star Galleon, Assault Transport, Interdictor Cruiser, Victory II Star Destroyer, TIE Defender, Strike Cruiser, Imperial Star Destroyer II, Super Star Destroyer

Troops

Both sides start with Army and Fleet regiments. The Alliance researches Sullustan, Mon Calamari and Wookiee troops, in that order; the Empire researches Stormtroopers, War Droids and Dark Troopers.

Facilities

Both sides start with a Construction Yard, GenCore I, Mine, LNR I, KDY v-150, Refinery, Shipyard and Training Center. Both research Advanced Training, Advanced Construction, LNR II, Advanced Shipyard and GenCore II. The Empire list also has the Death Star Shield, placed between Advanced Construction and LNR II.