Federation Commander

I am starting to get back into F&E after a couple of decades away. I have bought the core set and the large laminated map. I will soon start buying the various expansions. As I recall it won't take long to start running out of counters for the most common ships.

What counters should I excpect to order more of?

All of the countersheets are available as spare parts (except, I think, Indigo which is scheduled for reprint next year). Running out depends on style of play. If you tend to preserve ships (cripple two of yours rather than give up one killed and then build extra repair systems) you're going to build a massive fleet and need lots of counters. If you tend to resolve casualties by kills first and cripples to make up the last points you'll be fine, but nobody plays that way.

You probably want to get more Alpha and Bravo sheets.