I am so not making any comment :-) apart from Amazon jumping the gun?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Imperial-Assault-Hired-Guns-Villain/dp/1633441970/ref=pd_bxgy_14_text_z

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Imperial-Assault-Wookie-Warriors-Ally/dp/1633441962/ref=pd_bxgy_14_img_y

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Imperial-Assault-Stormtroopers-Villain-Pack/dp/1633441954/ref=pd_bxgy_14_img_y

Just thought of a comment.......where's Leia?

I don’t want to be a pessimist… but no chance.

I’ve never seen Amazon launch dates be correct for Imperial Assault or Armada (couldn’t say about X-wing)

If Amazon have got their act together and the date is good then “Woohoo!!” but I’m taking it with a big heaping spoon of salt.

You just missed the point. It wasn't about release date for these. Amazon release dates are always "maybe so"

It's the fact that FFG haven't even given any information on the release and Amazon have them up already. FFG have just previewed wave 4 never mind 5.

These are wave 3.

Just searched through the news and found the release news for these. AGGH! Missed the release info back in April!!

Yeah they announced these at Star Wars Celebration and then didn't say too much else about them.

https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/news/2015/4/21/reinforcements-incoming/

What are the restrictions on Hired Guns in campaign? I think the rules says you can't any more groups of a type then there are deployment cards in the base game, right? Can i buy two packs of Hired Guns and use both as open groups?

What are the restrictions on Hired Guns in campaign? I think the rules says you can't any more groups of a type then there are deployment cards in the base game, right? Can i buy two packs of Hired Guns and use both as open groups?

Where does it state that rule exactly?

If that rule is real, it matters what the Hired Guns pack comes with. If it comes with just 1 deployment card, then you'd be limited to just that 1 group. If it comes with a regular and elite version, then you can deploy both those groups. Essentially you replace the words "base game" with "expansion".

What are the restrictions on Hired Guns in campaign? I think the rules says you can't any more groups of a type then there are deployment cards in the base game, right? Can i buy two packs of Hired Guns and use both as open groups?

Where does it state that rule exactly?

If that rule is real, it matters what the Hired Guns pack comes with. If it comes with just 1 deployment card, then you'd be limited to just that 1 group. If it comes with a regular and elite version, then you can deploy both those groups. Essentially you replace the words "base game" with "expansion".

RRG page 8, component limitations.

I see.

I'd rule that it matters what a single Hired Guns pack gives you. If it gives you a regular and elite deployment card then you can deploy either one or both if you bought 2 packs (gotta drive up sales!). However if you bought two packs, you can still only deploy 1 regular and 1 elite group.

This also means that if you buy the stormtrooper pack, you could deploy them as normal or elite (assuming it comes with both deployment cards.) But it has to be those specific figures.

I see.

I'd rule that it matters what a single Hired Guns pack gives you. If it gives you a regular and elite deployment card then you can deploy either one or both if you bought 2 packs (gotta drive up sales!). However if you bought two packs, you can still only deploy 1 regular and 1 elite group.

This also means that if you buy the stormtrooper pack, you could deploy them as normal or elite (assuming it comes with both deployment cards.) But it has to be those specific figures.

No need for a "ruling", you just play by the rules listed for allies/villains, specifically, using the correct agendas/side missions that allow their use as a reward. Given the fact that every villain and ally pack has come with a side mission / agenda to unlock them in the base game, there is no reason these would not follow suit.

I see.

I'd rule that it matters what a single Hired Guns pack gives you. If it gives you a regular and elite deployment card then you can deploy either one or both if you bought 2 packs (gotta drive up sales!). However if you bought two packs, you can still only deploy 1 regular and 1 elite group.

This also means that if you buy the stormtrooper pack, you could deploy them as normal or elite (assuming it comes with both deployment cards.) But it has to be those specific figures.

No need for a "ruling", you just play by the rules listed for allies/villains, specifically, using the correct agendas/side missions that allow their use as a reward. Given the fact that every villain and ally pack has come with a side mission / agenda to unlock them in the base game, there is no reason these would not follow suit.

Nope, that only applies to unique characters like Boba Fett and Darth Vader.

The hired guns agenda reward doesn't include the use of them. Meaning that they are always available (assuming the mission allows merc units.)

I see.

I'd rule that it matters what a single Hired Guns pack gives you. If it gives you a regular and elite deployment card then you can deploy either one or both if you bought 2 packs (gotta drive up sales!). However if you bought two packs, you can still only deploy 1 regular and 1 elite group.

This also means that if you buy the stormtrooper pack, you could deploy them as normal or elite (assuming it comes with both deployment cards.) But it has to be those specific figures.

Campaign play (under Component Limitations, pg. 8) says it is limited to the figures included in the Core, not the cards. It could be argued, then, that if an expansion only gives you two figures, you can only use two figures. So extra Hired Guns packs would only benefit skirmish play.

[e] (Which is great news for my wallet...)

I see.

I'd rule that it matters what a single Hired Guns pack gives you. If it gives you a regular and elite deployment card then you can deploy either one or both if you bought 2 packs (gotta drive up sales!). However if you bought two packs, you can still only deploy 1 regular and 1 elite group.

This also means that if you buy the stormtrooper pack, you could deploy them as normal or elite (assuming it comes with both deployment cards.) But it has to be those specific figures.

Campaign play (under Component Limitations, pg. 8) says it is limited to the figures included in the Core, not the cards. It could be argued, then, that if an expansion only gives you two figures, you can only use two figures. So extra Hired Guns packs would only benefit skirmish play.

[e] (Which is great news for my wallet...)

The way I see it, that mainly means you can't use a coin or something as a placeholder for the figure(s).

You're wrong. You must earn any allies or villains before you are allowed to use them in a campaign. This doesn't just apply to some of the figures with tokens or unique characters, it applies to anything classified as an ally or villain. You should also note that there are some side missions that grant rewards not listed on the side mission itself. The big example being Gideon's side mission, where the side mission card does not say that you unlock the Rebel Troopers as an ally, however it is noted under the mission rewards for a rebel victory.

Rules references:

RRG Page 4, "Allies":

Allies cannot be used in a mission until claimed as a reward or granted by another game effect.

RRG, Page 5, "Allies", >> "Villains"

Imperial allies are referred to as villains. They follow all of the same rules as allies, in addition to the following:

Once gained as a reward, villains (such as “Darth Vader”) can be brought into any mission as an open group

RRG, Page 5, "Allies", >> "Rebel Allies"

If an ally has both a regular and elite Deployment card, only the regular card can be used as an ally. If an ally is rewarded to the heroes and the heroes have already earned that ally, they can use either the elite or regular Deployment card.

However, there is one point I will concede:

RRG Page 4, "Allies":

All figures corresponding to Rebel Deployment cards are allies. All figures corresponding to unique Imperial Deployment cards (such as “Darth Vader”) are villains. Villains follow all general ally rules listed in this section.

However, at the time the rules were written, the only available villain packs were Unique ones. So you may be correct that for the imperial side there will be a change in how certain villain packs will be added to the base game. So one can assume one of two things:

1) Future villain packs that contain non-unique figures will get additional/clarified deployment rules in Twin Shadows (most likely due to the "Habitat" rules in Twin Shadows).

2) The current rule will be FAQ'ed to remove the Unique restriction.

Either way, it doesn't matter until they are released. But I trust the design team not to let us down.

However, there is one point I will concede:

RRG Page 4, "Allies":

All figures corresponding to Rebel Deployment cards are allies. All figures corresponding to unique Imperial Deployment cards (such as “Darth Vader”) are villains. Villains follow all general ally rules listed in this section.

However, at the time the rules were written, the only available villain packs were Unique ones. So you may be correct that for the imperial side there will be a change in how certain villain packs will be added to the base game. So one can assume one of two things:

1) Future villain packs that contain non-unique figures will get additional/clarified deployment rules in Twin Shadows (most likely due to the "Habitat" rules in Twin Shadows).

2) The current rule will be FAQ'ed to remove the Unique restriction.

Either way, it doesn't matter until they are released. But I trust the design team not to let us down.

See, this is the important aspect, you're making an unjustified assumption when you say that something is a villain if it comes in a villain pack (it's in fact provably false given stormtroopers). I'm confident that Hired guns and bantha riders won't be unlocked by their agendas but will be available as open groups all campaign.

However, there is one point I will concede:

RRG Page 4, "Allies":

All figures corresponding to Rebel Deployment cards are allies. All figures corresponding to unique Imperial Deployment cards (such as “Darth Vader”) are villains. Villains follow all general ally rules listed in this section.

However, at the time the rules were written, the only available villain packs were Unique ones. So you may be correct that for the imperial side there will be a change in how certain villain packs will be added to the base game. So one can assume one of two things:

1) Future villain packs that contain non-unique figures will get additional/clarified deployment rules in Twin Shadows (most likely due to the "Habitat" rules in Twin Shadows).

2) The current rule will be FAQ'ed to remove the Unique restriction.

Either way, it doesn't matter until they are released. But I trust the design team not to let us down.

So you basically talked around in a circle and proved my point?

The assumption is entirely justified. If it were not, then why bother calling Hired Guns, Stormtroopers or Bantha Riders a "Villain Pack"?

I am certain that this will be addressed in Twin Shadows.

However, there is one point I will concede:

RRG Page 4, "Allies":

All figures corresponding to Rebel Deployment cards are allies. All figures corresponding to unique Imperial Deployment cards (such as “Darth Vader”) are villains. Villains follow all general ally rules listed in this section.

However, at the time the rules were written, the only available villain packs were Unique ones. So you may be correct that for the imperial side there will be a change in how certain villain packs will be added to the base game. So one can assume one of two things:

1) Future villain packs that contain non-unique figures will get additional/clarified deployment rules in Twin Shadows (most likely due to the "Habitat" rules in Twin Shadows).

2) The current rule will be FAQ'ed to remove the Unique restriction.

Either way, it doesn't matter until they are released. But I trust the design team not to let us down.

So you basically talked around in a circle and proved my point?

Yes and no. When you stated that the rules only apply to likes of Boba Fett and Vader, were you not implying that the existing ally rules did not apply to things like Rebel Troopers and Saboteurs? That is how I read it, and the reason I gave the extended answer was for the sake of completeness and correctitude. (Yes, correctitude is a word I made up) Regardless of your intended meaning, my answer covers it completely.

Either way, it really doesn't matter until Twin Shadows is released, as all the existing Villains prior to that are Unique.

The assumption is entirely justified. If it were not, then why bother calling Hired Guns, Stormtroopers or Bantha Riders a "Villain Pack"?

I am certain that this will be addressed in Twin Shadows.

Marketing, "Villain Pack" is sexy, "Troop Pack," or whatever else they'd use instead, is not.

I expect there'll be a rules supplement card included with the Hired Guns (and/or an FAQ update coinciding with their release) detailing exactly how they can be used in Campaign. Until then, this is all pointless speculation.