Just picked up my Wave 1 expansion packs, (Unboxing videos will be up tonight.)

But I'm curious why they felt the need to include the exact same deployment card that comes with the base game? We have no need for two. I just can't come up with some scenario in which anyone would need these duplicates. Even if you didn't have the base game.... I mean you wouldn't even be able to play in the first place, so what difference would it make?

What if you bought multiples of the packs for Skirmish and need extra deployment cards?

What if in the future you buy a big box expansion and some select booster packs for Skirmish but not the core set and so need the deployment cards?

What if you want separate storage for Skirmish and Campaign related stuff each with a duplicate deployment card?

I see no harm in including the deployment cards for these fringe cases.

Because FFG always includes everything you need for that expansion. Lord knows I don't need any more proton torpedoes, or focus tokens...

It's just easier if you say an expansion kit will include <list of items> and use that for every expansion pack. Rather than trying to figure out which packs need deployment cards and which don't.

What if you bought multiples of the packs for Skirmish and need extra deployment cards?

What if in the future you buy a big box expansion and some select booster packs for Skirmish but not the core set and so need the deployment cards?

What if you want separate storage for Skirmish and Campaign related stuff each with a duplicate deployment card?

I see no harm in including the deployment cards for these fringe cases.

1) Multiple Packs wouldn't work for the uniques right? IG-88, General Weiss? Han Solo? I can't recall exactly, but I'm pretty sure you can't include 2 Han Solos in a build. But for the generics... ok I get it. Makes complete sense if you buy 3 expansions, you'd still only have the base card so OBVIOUSLY you'd need more. Got it. Good point.

2) Any Big Box expansion would have to include the stuff from the Core Set otherwise I don't think you'd be elligible to play in a tournament - IE you'd need all the tiles to build a skirmish map for example. But maybe for casual play I suppose.

3) I don't think the separate storage case holds water - as you would need a whole separate core game - since you can't get extra Stormtroopers, Vader, Luke, The Core Allies, etc anywhere else.

Good examples though. I totally hadn't considered the obvious case of buying 2 or even 3 sets of rebel troopers, for example.

I suppose I was just hoping for an upgraded or advanced version of the deployment card. Or at least an alternate IG-88 or something compared to what came in the campaign. Like "IG-88 : Samurai Confirguation" as a skirmish option.

I would much rather have extras than missing items. Accidents happen.

The most likely explanation I can think of is that they might release another "core set" in the future -- tiles, full rules, full campaign, etc. -- but with different figures, or at least different uniques. Somebody buys Core Set 2 and either doesn't want to buy or can't find Core Set 1, but they can find the Wave 1 ally and villain packs. I don't know how likely that is, though.

Another possibility is that down the road when we have several waves of expansions, someone might want to play skirmish only. You can get your hands on a spare skirmish rulebook and tiles from someone who got two core sets for extra figures. Then you build your squad with ally and villain packs, medium expansions, and maybe secondhand figures from core sets. Why didn't you just get the duplicate cards from the person you bought the rulebook and tiles from? Maybe it didn't occur to you. I don't think FFG is doing it for this reason (secondhand market doesn't really help them), but it's one way it could be helpful.

I totally want an IG-88: Samurai Configuration deployment card now.

The most obvious reason is a buddy wants to play rebels in skirmish and wants only to use figures that are in the packs. If you're playing imperials you're buying the core set anyways. At least with wave one I can totally see this happening. You don't end up having to constantly loan out your deployment cards you'd use for allies in the campaign.

The most obvious reason is a buddy wants to play rebels in skirmish and wants only to use figures that are in the packs.

I thought about that, but the rebel player would have to borrow command cards to build a deck out of. How much difference is there in that and loaning out the deployment cards?

I suppose you don't need the command cards for the campaign, so you could just give the extras to the other person. At least I believe there's enough command cards for both sides in the core set.

Another point might be in a two player Skirmish you may both want a 'IG-88', 'Boba Fett' etc on your team.

Another point might be in a two player Skirmish you may both want a 'IG-88', 'Boba Fett' etc on your team.

Good point, it's not like every skirmish game is going to be Rebel vs Imperial.

Because FFG always includes everything you need for that expansion.

You know, I said almost the exact same thing in a different place, but then I realized, the Han and Chewie packs don't have the side mission to get them as allies. Those missions are in the base game box.

Obviously, you don't need multiples of those, either, but...? Frankly I'm out of logical explanations.

- H8

You know, I said almost the exact same thing in a different place, but then I realized, the Han and Chewie packs don't have the side mission to get them as allies.

Well those missions may not be considered part of the expansion pack. I'm basing this off of X-Wing, but it seems to fit for other FFG games. But they have a "everything you need is in the box" thing. That has caused me to nearly fill one of my X-Wing core boxes with extra focus, evade, stress and TL tokens.

But the question is, what's really considered to be part of the expansion.

The mission you mention that gets them as allies, that's only useful if you're playing through the campaign. So I guess they could consider that Core Box stuff, and not expansion stuff.

Because the ones in the base box are for the tokens and the ones in the expansion packs are for the figures. It is just easier to have an extra card put into the packs and that will give FFG more options in the future like for instance creating a skirmish only base set that only has tiles and the material for 2 small teams like x-wing base set and sell that for 50$ or something. Remember that Descent does not have skirmish in it so FFG does not know how things will turn out, it might be that the skirmish gets big like x-wing and in order for this to work out they need to release a cheaper version that lacks all the campaign stuff.

Ohh wait, also if they dont include them then what happens when I buy 5 troopers just as I did today and want to make a 4 trooper squad for 22 pts? I actually was pretty worried that they won't have the deployment cards and that would have ment I need to buy 4 core sets if I want to run a 4 trooper squad.

If they weren't in there then a handful of people will post in many different threads that they didn't include the card in the box.

Seriously though, my guess is it's just part of the manufacturing/assembly process.

Ohh wait, also if they dont include them then what happens when I buy 5 troopers just as I did today and want to make a 4 trooper squad for 22 pts? I actually was pretty worried that they won't have the deployment cards and that would have ment I need to buy 4 core sets if I want to run a 4 trooper squad.

5 Rebel Troopers? That sounds like a good objective zerg team!

Not everyone cares about the campaign.... I will never play it once ever, not my kind of game. For skirmish only people, cards for the minis have to come with the minis.... that is just common sense.

In the future, there will be enough blister pack stuff where many will never buy the core.

What if I split the core with a friend and then down the road I decide to play rebels too? Maybe I don't care about the made up heroes in the core box and so start by buying a bunch of troopers, Han and Chewie? Should I not be able to play with any of those models because I didn't buy the core? Because having 2 Han Solo cards bothers you that means I should get no card? What about if you lose a card?

See where I'm going here...

Again the core only comes with 1 trooper card, so if I need to play lets say 2 troopers in skirmish I will have to buy a second card, Also campaigns can go for weeks and you need to track your progress so this way you can built your team and you dont need to pull the card when you want to play skirmish in the meantime.

Not everyone cares about the campaign.... I will never play it once ever, not my kind of game. For skirmish only people, cards for the minis have to come with the minis.... that is just common sense.

In the future, there will be enough blister pack stuff where many will never buy the core.

What if I split the core with a friend and then down the road I decide to play rebels too? Maybe I don't care about the made up heroes in the core box and so start by buying a bunch of troopers, Han and Chewie? Should I not be able to play with any of those models because I didn't buy the core? Because having 2 Han Solo cards bothers you that means I should get no card? What about if you lose a card?

See where I'm going here...

Again if you want to play 2 troopers if the cards were not included you will need to buy a second core.

Also you will always need to have the core for the tiles. But that is not to say they will not release a skirmish only core which I do hope because a lot of the problems with the game right now is that they have this split personality thing where campaigners get tokens in minis game and the skirmishers don't get a rebel side and have to spend a lot more to play with the rebels.