FFG has a few challenges the current product types don't meet.

1. A mass market compatable sku other than the starter sets.

The current line of products is too large and too interdependent to make a good mass market product. While it's great for players and tolerable for specialty stores. target is not going to want to re order specific ships when they run out and they are never going to give so much shelf space to this game until it reaches Pokemon and MTG levels of popularity.

2. An obvious "seccond purchase" for new players.

While aces packs are not bad they are not great. A good seccond purchase product would guide players to the 100 point game and make it a fun and interesting transition.

3. A good format for character themed paint jobs

The current products are all designed to be purchased multiple times. However there is a demand for character specific paint jobs that players will only ever need a single copy of. Thus there is something different needed to make this work.

So I think there will be ship bundles that function more like a board game expansion rather than the miniatures structured products we have now. Featuring Unique painted ships and pre built 100 point scenarios when combined with the base set ships.

There will be a TFA set that features Kylo's shuttle and Poe's black X-wing and perhaps something else. This product is explicitly designed to pair with the base set so it won't need the Poe cards from the base set and the ship it's self will get a title card. But it will include more named pilots for the x-wing and many unique character upgrade cards and maybe a new card for the falcon so Rey can pilot it.

I imagine there will be one focused on the rouge one movie. That pairs with the original core set.

These will be the first cross faction expansion packs. So while each player may buy only a single copy they are safer in assuming most players will want one.

An obvious second purchase exists and her name is Miranda.

Targets did so poorly moving Original Coresets that they sold many of them for $19 (red tag). This game will always be niche. Them's the breaks.

An obvious second purchase exists and her name is Miranda.

I think OP is talking about the more casual players and new players here. The ones who just bought a new core set because of the new movie. These people would never look at the K wing and say "I need that!" But more new ships from the movie they waited 2 years in anticipation for? Those would be an auto-buy for anyone.

Targets did so poorly moving Original Coresets that they sold many of them for $19 (red tag). This game will always be niche. Them's the breaks.

They look to have done much better with the TFA core set.

Don't underestimate the power of the force. Or Star Wars merchandise.

Let's wait and see. Target is going to wait and see if the TFA Starter has more sustained sales than the original core set.

*crosses fingers that new starter gets clearanced sometime in February*

Though without Juke and Comm Relay I'm not sure it's that great.

An obvious second purchase exists and her name is Miranda.

I think OP is talking about the more casual players and new players here. The ones who just bought a new core set because of the new movie. These people would never look at the K wing and say "I need that!" But more new ships from the movie they waited 2 years in anticipation for? Those would be an auto-buy for anyone.

The only ships that I would outright avoid for new players are the Scyk and TIE Advanced. Everything else is still really fun, even if you can't run them at optimal levels.

And even the Scyk is still playable. It's just not super great.

Basically, buy what looks fun.

Sure - if Target demands it and is willing to put down a bulk order, GO for it!

1) Make the exclusive a set of minis with special paint jobs for a set of 4 small starfighters eg

Rebels could have a (Green A-Wing, Blade Squadron B-Wing, Red Y-Wing, Blue X-wing)

Empire could have a (TIE Fighter, TIE Bomber, TIE Advanced, TIE Interceptor with ace's kill markings)

Scum isn't Iconic enough yet.

2) Include 2-4 pilots for each ship (these just need to NOT be the ones in the starter - maybe one non-unique and one non-unique with EPT).

3) Include useful, competitive upgrades cards to be shared by the squadron (eg. PTL, Crackshot, VI, Predator, Expert Handling, VI, Engine Upgrade, TLT, Flechette Torpedoes, Cluster Missiles, FCS, etc). There should be just enough upgrade to fill the enitre squadron up. Make sure upgrades that are too new do not get included, nor are the ones in Imperial/Rebel Aces. (Empirre may have more spares - they are less upgrade dependant without their uber and large ships.)

4) Include other necessary cardboard tokens, bases, etc.

5) Sell a large buch to mass market sellers and also to what ever specialist game store that wants em. For maybe US$49.95 or US$59.95 (if there are lots of say cards or tokens)

This appeals to:

1) Collectors who will but it for the alt paintjob (This can in fact be a limited ed run - as nothing in here gamewise isn't available elsewhere.)

2) Beginner players just off the starter set. (This has a bunch of valuable models, tokens & upgrades to expand the game)

3) Mass market outlets who prefer to keep lower inventory counts and larger retail displays.

An obvious second purchase exists and her name is Miranda.

I think OP is talking about the more casual players and new players here. The ones who just bought a new core set because of the new movie. These people would never look at the K wing and say "I need that!" But more new ships from the movie they waited 2 years in anticipation for? Those would be an auto-buy for anyone.

The only ships that I would outright avoid for new players are the Scyk and TIE Advanced. Everything else is still really fun, even if you can't run them at optimal levels.

And even the Scyk is still playable. It's just not super great.

Basically, buy what looks fun.

I'll disagree on the advanced.. Vader is a must buy for even casual players.. It's iconic to the franchise and Vader is an auto include if you wanna relive the trench run boogie..

There will be

What is it with people and phrasing speculation as fact?

Let's wait and see. Target is going to wait and see if the TFA Starter has more sustained sales than the original core set.

I think the number of sales will rely heavily on our Asmodee Over-Lords making an in-store $40 purchase be viable when compared to the online prices.

I keep puutting this out there:

Force Awakens Reissue of the Millennium Falcon.

Includes scum and resistance pilots and dials.

Notable pilots:

Rey pilot skill 9; resistance. Ability: when you execute a green maneouvre, you may instead treat it as red and remove a face down damage card.

Unkar Plutt pilot skill 3; scum. Ability/. When you revesl a manoeuvre, you may instead perform a red 0 manoeuvre.

Crew:

Finn when you perform a red manoeuvre, roll one additional attack die.

Millennium Falcon Title v2

You recieve an illicit upgrade slot

Illicit upgrade:

Slam drive: action; perform a slam action, then roll a red die. On a hit or crit, discard this upgrade.

Let's wait and see. Target is going to wait and see if the TFA Starter has more sustained sales than the original core set.

I think the number of sales will rely heavily on our Asmodee Over-Lords making an in-store $40 purchase be viable when compared to the online prices.

This is just going to infest the entire forum, isn't it.

Let's be clear. Outside the brief exclusive period, the only ones that will be buying X-wing products are those that are unlikely to be aware of the major online retailers.

I'd buy them if they put a copy of Maarek Stele in every TIE variant.

I would also pre order the marek stele expansion.

There will be

What is it with people and phrasing speculation as fact?

I gave that phrasing some thought. I like the dramatic quality of it (I said speculation in the thread title so I felt OK about it)

If Target wants a follow up to the Core Set I have a feeling it would be paired adversaries. Things like a T65 X Wing and a Tie/LN or a Tie Advance (Hopefully with the Title) and a YWing. Doubt they would put out another 3 ship set we have been told Most Wanted was a one off product specifically to make Scum viable. The lack of another MW sized box by now should speak volumes.

I would be very surprised if Target or Walmart actually restock the Core sets much less add more. Their sales seem more like 1 time movie release promotions. Sales around here were very slack at Target and Walmart from what I could see. Last time I was in both stores locally the core sets were piled up but many other star wars games around were gone. Of course my area may not be indicative of whole country but I really don't think Asmodee has their golden ticket punched for Big Box stores and X wing.