The starter packs are not balanced well against each other, so you will struggle to figure out how to balance the lists to practice rules. Some thoughts: * Yu Jing ISS starter box models are not likely to be models you'll use a lot. The general consensus is that the Imperial Agent: Pheasant Rank is overpriced. The Hsien is better for its price, but is still really expensive points-wise. The Wu Ming is good. If you want non-Japanese models for your Yu Jing list, look at the Shang-ji, Tiger Soldiers, Yan Huo and Zu Yong. There is a new Yu Jing Invincible Sectorial in the works, and these are probably going to form the core of it. Also, they're bloody sexy. So with the ISS starter box you're paying $40 for a Wu Ming, 3 Celestials, and 2 really sexy paperweights. * Both of your lists are Sectorials. Just getting started with the game, I'd advise to go for a Vanilla list, Sectorials limit what you can play with, and so expanding those lists will be harder. * Your goal is to have repeatable and engaging two player games, however as stated previously these boxes aren't balanced against each other. * The average cost for a competitive list is < $150, unless you're going to get a TAG in which case it might push to $200. * The community is generally quite small in the U.S. - you might have to drive to find games. Some communities don't actively play at the FLGS but have FB groups set up, so ask at your FLGS if they know of any group, there probably is one around. * For painting, take a look at this recent post to our subreddit: https://i.imgur.com/cexIvpw.jpg Otherwise, generally people follow the paint schemes of the armies, but you definitely don't have to.
My Recommendation: Get the Operation Icestorm box; it is an insanely good value. It comes with PanO, a Nomad army balanced against it, both armies are actual armies where every model has a role and not just a random collection of models like the starter boxes, and it also comes with 5 scenarios to learn the rules, terrain, and 2 unique models you can only get in the Icestorm box for each faction. Also, where PanO and Yu Jing play very similarly (HI focus), Nomads and PanO do not, so as you expand the lists you'll get new things for each.
