I'm mainly concerned with stormtrooper classes that have similar/identical armor with different paint schemes.

Shock troopers are basically red stormtroopers with different weapons, so I don't want to paint my stormies red if we can reasonably expect shock troopers.

Shadow troopers are basically black stormtroopers with different weapons, so I don't want to paint my stormies black if we can reasonably expect shock troopers. Ditto for Dark troopers.

So are there paint schemes that are likely going to be seen as actual releases that I should avoid?

As has been mentioned, if any of these things come out, it won't be for a long while, so you shouldn't worry about it.

But...

It should be noted that, if the armor is the same and the only thing distinguishing the different types is the color you paint them, then what does it matter if you paint them now or later? Paint your Shock Troopers red now and if you feel the need when the unit is actually released, paint those figure like regular stormies. Then you'll get some variation in poses that most other people won't have.

I wouldn't exclude a new trooper in the VERY near future. The only movie trooper left is scout trooper, and if the next expansion (expected in 6-9 mos) is not endor... well they need SOME grunt for the imperials in the box, no?

I'm not concerned that they will be the exact same sculpt/appearance as regular stormtroopers, but that they will be similar. If a shock trooper is a stormtrooper with a rocket launcher, then I would still not want my normal stormies to look like shock troopers with blasters. I think the red armor is pretty cool looking, but if that denotes a shock trooper, and shock troopers are popular/canonical enough to be released, then I'll wait. I realize no one can answer this for certain at this point, I'm just looking for some informed guesses.

I wouldn't mind some alternate sculpts, considering the quality of the miniatures, but I don't think we need a huge run of new stormtrooper types. I don't want IA to go the way of SWM where we have too many characters that are just out of place and make the game convoluted.

Shock troopers are not storm troopers with rocket launchers.

In fact the only times we've seen them (RotS and Battlefront) they are clearly shown with standard blasters as well as other weapons in the case of Battlefront.

Furthermore, the shock trooper upgrade attachment already exists in IA as an Imperial class card you can attach to any trooper group, so I seriously doubt we'll see a shock trooper specific model. Maybe a skirmish attachment.

The idea of a specific trooper type wielding only one highly specialized heavy weapon is goofy, to me, and I'd want to mix in blaster rifles even if they were ubiquitously armed with launchers.

EDIT: Shock troopers ARE shown in Star Wars: Commander exclusively with launchers. However, that game also has heavy stormtroopers with Predator-style miniguns and numerous other wild departures from from established Star Wars lore, so it's not a good source of info.

I'm going to be honest, baring Shadow troopers, I'll probably paint all Stormtrooper types in uniform white because the uniformity appeals to me in the empire (even if it's a bore to paint).

If you have a desire to paint them with special paint-jobs, I support you every step of the way.

The one that might get awkward with paint jobs is how I painted one Trando to look like Bossk but then realized he might get his own figure one day.

While both of those would be cool figures, there is not a whole lot of reason for either of them to be operating on foot, away from their vehicle, and neither vehicle makes much sense given the size of this game. I'm surprised they included the at-st and bantha.

Barracks, man. Even guys on patrol have to head back to base every once in a while--and if you're under attack, you grab your gear and go. So, while there wouldn't be need for them in by the dozen, four or so wouldn't be (IMO) out of line.

But it would seem that I completely missed the point of the OP (I guess I focused on the Snow and Scouts and thought that the OP asked what kinds of troopers to expect in the future), so I'll not go further afield.

Why do people keep thinking TFA stuff will show up in IA? TFA takes place 30 years after IA and doesn't even have the rebels or imperials. You seriously think they'll put in First Order stormtroopers and other First Order units (we barely saw anything the First Order had in TFA) to be used alongside imperial units?.

I assume this question is directed at me since I don't see a post prior to mine mentioning TFA.

Lets first be clear that I never said that I believe TFA units will appear in the game, or even commented on the likelihood of such an occurrence. I only brought up TFA's release as a milestone, specifically as a point where FFG can start looking away from the old EU and prequels. Now that being said, I think the possibility/probability of TFA units appearing in IA can't be dismissed. However, I'm going to respect the OP's request to avoid further derailment, making this is a discussion for another time and another thread.

How about the Hazard Trooper from the Vjun Castle level in "Jedi Academy"?

I would love to see a Dark Forces expansion that introduces dark troopers and Kyle Katarn. Aside from that I would like to see...

-Naval troopers

-Army troopers

-scout trooper snipers and speeders

-Shock troopers with heavy weapons

-Imperial combat engineers

-501st elite stormtroopers

The new film, TFA, has revealed that, 30 years after Endor, FO stormtroopers also shovel sh*t.

Would a 'Sanitation Trooper' cut the mustard?