As a preface, I think the observation made in a few places about a change of release pacing by FFG seems likely. With three factions out there, reducing new waves from 4 to 3 ships just seems to make sense. It gives players a breather in purchasing to buy more FFG products (catching up on all the many waves of X-Wing releases for new players, buying into the new 'Imperial Assault' or 'Armada' games, starting to buy into the 'Epic'-scale X-Wing game, etc), it slows down the need to dig into the EU for more content to use, reduces the amount of new 'X-Wing' content to playtest...

3-ship waves from this point on just makes sense. So my predictions will be for three entries...one from each faction.

• Imperial: TIE (Scimitar-class) Assault Bomber
  
  Reason: Alex Davy's quote that 'if you like the TIE Bomber, you'll love wave 7'. And what is the TIE Assault Bomber but the B-Wing to the TIE Bomber's Y-Wing? Combined with the comment that wave 7 would include some new options for bombs/ordnance...well, you need a bomber, don't you?
  Expectation: Take the TIE Bomber, reduce agility, add hull and shields, add expansion slots, increase price. TIE Assault Bomber is the Y-Wing -> B-Wing progression, with the TIE Bomber as Y-Wing, basically.
  
• Scum: YT-2000 (Otana)
  
  Reason: FFG's recent preview art (right above). FFG has fairly consistently commissioned art projects in batches, and often re-used ships or characters across games. So the RPG release above is...telling. Moreover, the Rebels have a primary-360-turret ship, the Empire has a primary-360-turret ship...the Scum faction does not. The only named YT-2000 we have is the Otana, which was flown by Ace Azzameen...oh, yeah, the guy whose brother is already in the Scum faction. And he never flew the Otana on 'Rebel' missions, just third-faction (sorry, "independent") missions, so...
  Expectation: Nothing really special, here. Probably a mix of the YT-1300 and YT-2400 (arguably fitting, given its model number). Say, the upgrade slots of the YT-2400 with the YT-1300's dial, and no particularly unusual title?
  
• Rebels: Uhhhhhh...K-Wing?
  
  Reason: Okay, I'm really reaching here, but the number of 'obvious' Rebel releases is getting pretty thin. Given a reference to wave 7 as a wave that fixes/improves ordnance, we'll want at least one more heavy-ordnance carrier to get more upgrade cards in the mix. Yeah, I've picked the Lego proposal of it, as, honestly, that's the least HIDEOUS version of the craft I've seen, and most 'consistent with Star Ware lore'. Sure, it breaks pretty hard from a lot of the EU material, but, heck, FFG created the 'Imperial Raider' whole-cloth, tweaked the Z-95 to borderline non-recognition, and even modified the TIE Defender from some of its representations. Sooooo...if they pick up this guy, I'm assuming they'll "fix" it.
  Expectation: If you were to type fighters into 'swarm', 'superiority', and 'assault' - with the Z-95, X-Wing, and Y-Wing being the Rebel's first pass at those ideas...the K-Wing would be the 'assault' fighter to the E-Wing's 'superiority' fighter. IE., expensive, but arguably worth it. (And really pushing the boundary between 'small base' and 'large base' craft in a way that even the B-Wing/E2 doesn't quite manage, yet)

...although as a side note, while I'd dearly love to see the XG-1 Assault Gunboat in this wave...or the last wave...or wave 1, basically...

I don't see it happening, given the revelation around bombers/ordnance being a big deal in this wave. That comment seemed to kick the TIE Assault Bomber just SO MUCH HIGHER in priority. So...I'm crossing my fingers for wave 8 to see the XG-1, I guess.

I miss that dang ship...

I would much prefer to see that ship looks much nicer than that ugly bomber. looks like someone taped solar panels to a cucumber.

I would much prefer to see that ship looks much nicer than that ugly bomber. looks like someone taped solar panels to a cucumber.

You eat some...very oddly shaped cucumbers.

But, yeah, the TIE Assault Bomber isn't really my first choice, either. Still, it's an absolutely ubiquitous EU reference (more than even the XG-1 Gunboat), and given a statement that wave 7 will be loved by people who 'love the TIE Bomber'...and would deliver ordnance for new options in fixing those upgrades...does anything jump to mind more than the TIE Assault Bomber?

Yeah if the Scimitar Bomber comes out I'm not buying one unless they give me a really good reason to purchase such a horrendously designed piece of bantha fodder-looking of a ship.

K-Wing is almost as bad. Almost...

Assault Gunboat is WAY more likely than the Scimitar.

Consider: if the Scimitar is added it will occupy almost precisely the same design space as the Bomber. If its pilot abilities bring really good bomb/ordnance stuff to the table, the Bomber is basically shoved sideways out of the game via barrel roll to board edge.

The K-wing can load bombs/missiles/torps in pretty much any combination. To fix ordnance and improve bombs across more than just the new ships, WITHOUT overlapping the Bomber, upgrade cards are necessary. The K-wing is the platform that can best deliver those upgrades without stepping on the Bomber's toes.

The Assault Gunboat suddenly becomes a very viable choice for Imps. It has a loadout different enough from the Bomber to not overlap, can load missiles which allows either a different part of the fix or else card duplication across the wave, and looks far less like a space turd than the Scimitar.

(also, the K-wing is the A-10 of Star Wars - it doesn't have to pretty, just deadly)

Assault Gunboat is WAY more likely than the Scimitar.

Consider: if the Scimitar is added it will occupy almost precisely the same design space as the Bomber. If its pilot abilities bring really good bomb/ordnance stuff to the table, the Bomber is basically shoved sideways out of the game via barrel roll to board edge.

I disagree, for the reason noted in the OP. I see the TIE Bomber as comparable (thematically) to the Y-Wing, and TIE Assault Bomber comparable to the B-Wing.

Did the B-Wing completely replace the Y-Wing? Ehhh...sort of, but the Y-Wing always held on its role as the cheaper fighter to bring ions and torpedoes to the mix. And the 'Scum' wave is rebalancing the Y-Wing considerably by delivering it a new (extremely useful) title and ordnance options.

I think FFG's intent was for the Y-Wing and B-Wing to exist in parallel, but they slightly goofed on the balance of the B-Wing. I don't think they'll make that same mistake twice, and hit the TIE Assault Bomber vs TIE Bomber balance better.

Both would still have a role, question is just 'what does your list need?'

So what you're saying here is that we're bound for another wave of large ships? Or could it be "medium" ships, say 1.5 bases? That would shake things up a bit...

Assault Gunboat is WAY more likely than the Scimitar.

Consider: if the Scimitar is added it will occupy almost precisely the same design space as the Bomber. If its pilot abilities bring really good bomb/ordnance stuff to the table, the Bomber is basically shoved sideways out of the game via barrel roll to board edge.

I disagree, for the reason noted in the OP. I see the TIE Bomber as comparable (thematically) to the Y-Wing, and TIE Assault Bomber comparable to the B-Wing.

Did the B-Wing completely replace the Y-Wing? Ehhh...sort of, but the Y-Wing always held on its role as the cheaper fighter to bring ions and torpedoes to the mix. And the 'Scum' wave is rebalancing the Y-Wing considerably by delivering it a new (extremely useful) title and ordnance options.

I think FFG's intent was for the Y-Wing and B-Wing to exist in parallel, but they slightly goofed on the balance of the B-Wing. I don't think they'll make that same mistake twice, and hit the TIE Assault Bomber vs TIE Bomber balance better.

Both would still have a role, question is just 'what does your list need?'

Assault Gunboat is FAR more comparable to the B-wing, though.

Assault Gunboat is WAY more likely than the Scimitar.

Consider: if the Scimitar is added it will occupy almost precisely the same design space as the Bomber. If its pilot abilities bring really good bomb/ordnance stuff to the table, the Bomber is basically shoved sideways out of the game via barrel roll to board edge.

I disagree, for the reason noted in the OP. I see the TIE Bomber as comparable (thematically) to the Y-Wing, and TIE Assault Bomber comparable to the B-Wing.

Did the B-Wing completely replace the Y-Wing? Ehhh...sort of, but the Y-Wing always held on its role as the cheaper fighter to bring ions and torpedoes to the mix. And the 'Scum' wave is rebalancing the Y-Wing considerably by delivering it a new (extremely useful) title and ordnance options.

I think FFG's intent was for the Y-Wing and B-Wing to exist in parallel, but they slightly goofed on the balance of the B-Wing. I don't think they'll make that same mistake twice, and hit the TIE Assault Bomber vs TIE Bomber balance better.

Both would still have a role, question is just 'what does your list need?'

Assault Gunboat is FAR more comparable to the B-wing, though.

Oh, no, not at all.

I mean, I'm a HUGE fan of that ship - I enjoyed fighting it, I *loved* flying it...

But it was pretty clearly, all along, an X-Wing wannabe. Rather than leaning in the direction of "heavy assault" from the TIE Bomber's starting point (thematically), it instead leans far more heavily towards "superiority fighter". Surely, you got that feel from play in the games, right? When the Empire wanted just a 'dumb bomber', they tossed TIE Bombers at a target. When they wanted a 'lighter bomber, but one that could fight like hell through a fighter screen to REACH its target'...that's the Assault Gunboat.

Sure, it's still an assault ship...but in this game's terms, I'd imagine it as something trying to split the difference between the X-Wing and Y-Wing. On the other hand, the TIE Assault Bomber leans the other way entirely. It's there to drop ordnance, period. If you shoot at it...you are going to hit it. It won't care, though (initially) - wrecking ball.

Id rather the assault gunboat or the skipray before the scimitar to be honest.

As for scum i think we'll see ships like mist hunter or punishing one before we get the yt-2000 (It will probably be wave 8). That said there are -a lot- of possible ships for scum and people seeing scum will want their fat tank class of ship for them.

For the rebels were pretty much though the bottom of the barrel with these guys unless FFG starts inventing their own rebel ships or chasing the more obscure.

We may see ships like the H-wing, or an M-class star-fighter the only other rebel ships i know of are things like:

V-wing
T-wing
K-wing
R-41 Starchaser
YV929

X4 Gunship
YKL-37R Nova Courier

There may be a few more suitable rebel ships but you also have to consider the games design space for these ships. Like if they include a T-wing that is a slightly cheaper A-wing will that make the A-wing disappear from play?

When Alex says "If you love flying bombers you'll love wave 7" He could just be talking about one upgrade card not a whole new ship.

The Otana is coming...

Sure seems that way will it be wave seven or wave eight though? I think the next couple of waves will be more Scum focused just to give the faction a few more ships to fly to bring them up in line with the Rebels and Imps.

When Alex says "If you love flying bombers you'll love wave 7" He could just be talking about one upgrade card not a whole new ship.

Indeed. Didn't they say something similar about Interceptor pilots when talking about S&V? That was basically just a reference to the Autothrusters card...

The Otana is coming...

Oh yes, baby. Oh yes.

Seven or eight is fine, but THIS Year sez I and we!

If they go bomber-ordnance fixing crazy ASAP (& it looks like it is going down like that) Otana will be in Wave Eight prolly...

Sure seems that way will it be wave seven or wave eight though? I think the next couple of waves will be more Scum focused just to give the faction a few more ships to fly to bring them up in line with the Rebels and Imps.

I can live with that all day... I might even dance around a lil bit.

Seven or eight is fine, but THIS Year sez I and we!

If they go bomber-ordnance fixing crazy ASAP (& it looks like it is going down like that) Otana will be in Wave Eight prolly...

No way we see 8 earlier than 2016. Could maybe see 7 announced in a month or two since we're running slightly earlier than last year, but if 8's announced at Gen Con like 6 was, HAH.

I know lots of people seem to love the Gunship, but not having played the game that it featured in I don't really have any attachment to it.

To me it's just a scaled down shuttle and nothing particularly exciting

Imagine if a bunch of designers at Lockheed made a presentation to the board of directors for their latest design ideas for a state-of-the-art new fighter and started with:

"As a starting point for the design, Well we decided to take the basic outline of the C-130 and scale it down by 50%"

Quite a few people would find their desks had been cleared when they returned to work the following morning

The Otana really? must all Rebel large ships be some derivative of a CEC flying saucer? Give me either version of the Baudo, please, over another turret-carrying flapjack. Show some originality for once!

You guys are underestimating Scum and Villainy. Since they are out-numbered by the other factions, whats to say Wave 7 won't be wasted on an entire wave of scum? Even if that's not the case how are you going to divide a future wave 7 to allow for all factions to get ships? Even if it's down to one ship for a faction each, what do you suppose that one ship will be?

I really hope we aren't given any of the Dud TIEs like the horribly kitbashed TIE Interdictor or the third grader drawing TIE Oppressor. Common sense and hope points to popular fighters like the TIE Avenger and Assault Gunboat but what if we don't get it? It took several sourcebooks for FFG to finally acknowledge the XG-1 in Edge of the Empire. Even the hotshot ace pilot book for Age of Rebellion, which should include popular fighter adversaries from the empire, completely ignored the XG-1 and TIE Avenger in favor of the kitbashes.

I know I'm being pessimistic, and I apologize for it. But I wasn't expecting or wanting Scum and Villainy (or the Decimator) to show up and now that it's here, what else does this mean for the direction the game is taking? Based on these trends Galaxies seems the way of the future. The only TIE Fighter contribution is the TIE Defender and a few other select weapons that don't even behave like they were supposed to... Advanced Protons certainly reach further than range 1. And paired Proton Rockets are supposed to snap CR-90s in half.

For whatever it's worth I'm in full agreement with the need for the XG-1. Right now the Empire has very little in the way of a reliable middle-weight fighter. While that's true to their character, it means list building options are kind of hamstrung by being forced to pick some degree of either extreme (being expensive specialist fighters or swarms of expendable extras). Really the only good middleweight fighter for the Empire is, in my opinion, the modified TIE Advanced. It has enough resiliency to survive for a while, shoot back, and with the upgrade its capabilities now match its cost. This is more than we can say for the TIE Defender.

A cannon-carrying Assault Gunboat optimally has the staying power with the flexibility of said cannon slot. It could hang around in battle like a TIE Advanced and provide some steady cheaper firepower from a small platform the empire doesn't have access to now. It'll have attack 2 but that doesn't matter with some cannon options to increase its firepower. Additionally it should have missile slots (for the day missiles become viable) and a systems upgrade slot wouldn't go amiss on this one actually. It would counter the B-Wing by being a cannon and system slot carrier, but have less resilience, less natural firepower, but cheaper on cost. Aces would probably add some great options for this one given their weapons load-out.

Ideally you would take two of these to escort a heavyweight, or two cannon carrying generics escorted by a modest group of TIEs, maybe with howlrunner. Unlike Phantoms they don't live and die by a gimmick (or end up overpowered because of it), and unlike Defenders there would be some points leftover to give them some modifications. Also unlike Defenders they would have a reasonable dial to slow-roll with, which right now only the Shuttle can do. Imagine that thematic match-up actually, XG-1s escorting a Lambda!

So I think XG-1s are a good idea, and the Empire could use them. They'd be a nice change up from the steady supply of TIE variants (Which are only going to get stranger after the Avenger is used), and the Gunboat is already an attractive fighter.

I don't think any of us doubted that Scum would get a YT2000 and soon.

Scimitar bomber... eh. I'd bet on the XG-1 myself. K-wing... Eh. I'd bet on the T-wing first.

I disagree with the OP. I think W7 will showcase three ships, one of which being the Dunelizard which I expect will contain the "bomb love". This all assuming that they don't start releasing Star Wars Rebels or EPVII content. I can "almost" see the YT-2000 being an option for S&V but it seems a stretch. Scimitar, K-Wing, and gunboat? I'd put money on not a chance

Time will tell.

-Cal

The T-Wing has the uncomfortable problem of being too much like the A-Wing. Then again in Scum hands you could give it the illicit upgrade and do a few things to it to make it a not-A-Wing, but close to it. If it happened I imagined it, honestly, at 1/2 but with the best dial in the game. Just don't screw up.

I had hopes for a Rebel R-41 but now that Scum exist that's probably going to be a pirate only thing too. Grr.

Again, if the YT-2000 happens it'll follow the format of "Flying saucers with 360 guns" that seems kind of tired at this point, and feeding the already iffy issue of turrets being everywhere in the game. I'd go with one of the Baudo designs again here, or a Skipray.

That's a good point about scum not having a turret. Hadn't considered that.

I'm hoping for another newly-created FFG ship for empire. Have you guys seen the TIE shuttle concept art from episode 7? I want an XG-1 made that way.

Rebels have the YT 1300 and 2400

Imperials have the decimator and shuttle

Scum have the aggressor and taken over the firespray.

A large balance of large ships, plus wouldn't it be weird to see one YT outside the rebel fleet? isn't the Ghost an YT-2000 too?

Shouldn't Scum get more defining ships of it's Own?

So, i am not counting on a large ship just yet.

In wave 6, there is the most wanted pack with two repaints. Similair constructions can be done for other ships and factions too.

So why not a wave with a nice bomber repaint? Combined with two red-striped tie fighters?

Several ships have had their re-paints, so why not the bomber itself?

(Be glad if it will in wave 7! It would mean it is not in bl**dy epic expansion, like the advanced and the x wing)

Months back at an interview, at gencon, Alex Davy mentioned something about 'the other neglected wave 1 fighter, besides the advanced. The Y wing got its treatment in most wanted, he had talked about the advanced, and now in his recent interview mentioned the x wing should get something, apparently in a way we don't have to expect it in wave 7. So the only wave 1 fighter left is....

The TIE....

So my predictions?

A bomber + TIE repaint, the Rhixyrhk, and something small for the Rebels.

(Why not go back into OT-lore and dig out a Cloucar? sure, atmospheric and such. But.., don't you want one?)

I dont really see the need for a TIE repaint/rework.

For a start its still incredibly good and can hold its own against all the new stuff.

My pal Rob won a local tounry with a Howl/BSP/BSP/BSP/BSP/ACAD tie swarm last week.

and *thematically*... ten kill bloodstripes on a TIE/LN? I've never seen one live that long!

In the lore it used to be that if you got three kills and were still alive you were and 'ace' and moved on to better craft IIRC

What i can see is a white paint scheme tie bomber coming out as a bomber rework as before the 'scimitar assault bomber' the 'scimitar wing' was around which was a ground attack formation with white bombers (to be harder to see in an amospheric sky) called the 'white death'.

That would make more sense, less cost to produce as its just a repaint but you can add some new cards to improve the performance

Personally i'd like to see a missile boat/gunboat. That would be fun and also appeal to those who 'love bombers'