Is it just me or are the deployment cards in the pack layout pictures the same cards that are in the core set?

It seems the only new cards we'll get are the Elite Troopers and Saboteurs.

Yes.

Yes.

My wife gets on me about answering either or questions with a yes/no. I usually tell her it's because I'm answering the first part. So by that logic I'm just seeing things.

Yes they're the same cards. Someone might buy those and not the core set.

Yes they're the same cards. Someone might buy those and not the core set.

But no core set means no game unless you're just playing with some one's map tiles, counter etc....

Yes they're the same cards. Someone might buy those and not the core set.

But no core set means no game unless you're just playing with some one's map tiles, counter etc....

Yeah. It is pretty easy to share that stuff since you only need one set.

There will be other items in the expansions I would imagine - especially for skirmish games?

There will be other items in the expansions I would imagine - especially for skirmish games?

Yes, new map, two new missions, and some command cards.

I for one am really looking forward to having more than 5 grey side missions to "shuffle" and pick 4 from as well as more than 4 green missions for the rebels to pick from when building a side mission deck.

I for one am really looking forward to having more than 5 grey side missions to "shuffle" and pick 4 from as well as more than 4 green missions for the rebels to pick from when building a side mission deck.

This is primarily what has me eagerly awaiting their arrival. Don't get me wrong, the models are better than tokens, and they'll totally get painted up like everything else, but having that variance in a campaign is what I loved about Descent so much.

Even with these packs, without another "official" campaign and expansion announced yet for us to speculate over, you should be able to get 2-3 campaign laps in before you've basically "seen it all" and run the risk of it becoming too "samey".

That's a lot of game time, and for your money, a great value in $:entertainment as ratios go. Still cheaper than a few nights at the movies, and here you can talk as loud as you want.

You need the deployment cards if you want to field more than one squad in skirmish, I am glad they include everything you need in a pack, it's one of FF's better habits.

Plus, and this is thinking waaay down the road, if they come out with a 2nd core set, or large expansion that includes tiles and things, that wouldn't include these cards that were already in the core set.

So if you only bought this hypothetical large expansion, you'd need that deployment card since you wouldn't have it yet.

Plus, and this is thinking waaay down the road, if they come out with a 2nd core set, or large expansion that includes tiles and things, that wouldn't include these cards that were already in the core set.

So if you only bought this hypothetical large expansion, you'd need that deployment card since you wouldn't have it yet.

Yes and no. In the base game, you have deployment cards for all the unique characters like Han, Chewie, Iggy Pop, etc. It's the elites of the Troopers and Saboteurs, and I want to say the regular ATST that aren't included in the base game. I don't have it handy right now so somebody can confirm or deny that point.

In any case, I feel confident that this will mirror Descent's release model, so when they produce the next expansion (small box or big box, then alternating between the other, on and on), it will only have deployment cards for the groups that are contained in the box, and providing tokens and deployment cards for the next wave of allies and villains, similar to the Descent Lieutenant packs.

The bonus of getting the individual packs instead of the box games per se is that with this games skirmish mode (that Descent is lacking) you could pick and choose some packs down the road as a late adopter if you wanted to get into skirmish pick up games. Assuming you knew how to play the game, a couple of packs and a dice pack would be all you'd need, at least until you wanted to go to a tournament, then you'd totally need the base game to get all the various tokens you'd be required to play with.

I don't see them making another "base game" in the near future, because the value to an early adopter would be diminished by having costs absorbed into making another batch of basic tokens, terminals, dials, etc. Not to mention another "base game" would need a similar mainstream hook like this one has; mobs of Stormtroopers, Luke, Vader, it's all very Star Warsy.

Look for potentially more "monster pack" type things similar to this;

http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/edge_minisite_sec.asp?eidm=176&esem=2&esum=244

But seriously, we've only scratched the surface, and this whole "time band" (as I've come to call it) trait on the mission cards has me gearing for these neat scenarios like a "Shadows of the Empire" type campaign that comes just after the current Han's mission is allowable, thus removing him from that campaign per the mythology it is referencing. Only after "Shadows" comes out do they release a "General Solo" type Han that starts one number band after "Shadows".

They can basically follow a smooth release pattern mirroring the movies' timeline in terms of what and when to introduce the big hitters, all gearing up for a big "Return of the Jedi" wave that gives us a Jedi Luke and Emperor Palpatine to use in the higher number bands. And that's just with the movies' characters specifically. We've got a whole Mercenaries faction that can always get cool stuff tossed in as we go.

Bottom line is box sets will have tokens for the uniques, which will be sold separately in packs with some extra content for those that want to go further.