Off camera flash questions

[ThoughtfulPirate]

I really no almost nothing about off camera flashes but what I basically want to know is, if I were to pick one up, what exactly would I need, and how much would it cost me just to get a basic setup? I am saving for a digi SLR and this interests me as another thing to get, if it will cost me a ton I wont get it until I really feel I need it though.

[Ouvinen]

It won't be that expensive, I've been experimenting with a 10m sync cord and my Sigma 500 DG Super flash with nice results. I wouldn't try it with film though, as it's always a bit of a gamble and I usually take test exposures to get the flash power, aperture and ambient light right..

[macleanshaun]

I'm also just about to buy some stuff for skateboarding and skiing photos...
I'm gonna go with 2 cheaper vivitar flashes for off camera with slave flashes, and a Canon speedlite 420ex as a trigger. Maybe $300 Cdn for it all.

I'll pretty much just use it with my digi slr until I get all the odds and ends of exposure worked out so I know what I'm doing when using film.
ebay has tons of used flashes in good shape.