Warlords have traditionally been numbered first in the expansion packs, and Sathariel the Invokator is #08 of the expansion... Is it fair to assume that there isnt a warlord in the first pack?

How will that affect the placement of other warlords throughout the remaining packs? assuming every faction gets a warlord, that leaves 9 warlords included in 5 packs.

Based on the numbering of Vezuel (#21) and Maksim (#43), and the fact that single warlord packs span 22 card designations, it doesnt appear that there are double warlords in the Unforgiven pack... which would leave 8 warlords for the remaining 4 packs... nice and balanced. (other than the necrons, which will still be a warlord down, barring something unforseen)

Well, keep in mind that when multiples appear in a signature squad, they usually have the same card number, even though they have different "XX/09" squad numbers. So you really only need numbers 1-5 for a warlord and his signature squad. Sathariel at #8 doesn't automatically mean "no warlord."

That said, with a brand new mechanic in the cycle, I don't think it's a safe assumption that each faction (9 now) will get a warlord in this cycle. There may not be a warlord in the first expansion of the new cycle if they decide to maximize the introduction of Deep Strike, and they won't necessarily "make up" for it's lack by putting 2 warlords into 4 or the remaining packs instead of 3. It's not like FFG ever promised a new warlord for every faction in every cycle.

We'll know soon enough since we've seen announcements for 4 of the 6, they could certainly put 6 warlords between the last 2 packs if they wanted. Having access to more non signature cards earlier in a cycle is nice either way.

they stated the first warpack would focus on elites as will most of this cycle coming up. but the first pack has a new elite maybe more they havent said