Well here's a possibility for a third faction that's not really a full faction.

Campaign mode. Just like in Empire at War there sounds like there will be neutral systems that have to be conquered. Why not include objectives that involve clearing out pirates? Maybe they have a space station or a few that are decently armed along with several squadrons of fighters and maybe a corvette. In these missions either a DM (if that group is running a DM) or someone from the other team controls the pirates.

So maybe in a future campaign, if they ever do one, they could do the outer rim conflict. Instead of new titles we get maybe two corvette models and six squadrons along with everything else you get in a campaign. So pirate bases are included stuff like that. Set the cost at $50 to accommodate the models.

How about letting Rebel players play with generic Imperial ships because they defected?

Of the 3rd faction being pirates who defected from Imperials and where kicked out of the Rebels?

*waits for hate mail*

Every thread that gets brought up I always remind people that Hapes and the CSA are also a thing.

I don't even know what those are.

Every thread that gets brought up I always remind people that Hapes and the CSA are also a thing.

Where? What's the source?

How about letting Rebel players play with generic Imperial ships because they defected?

Of the 3rd faction being pirates who defected from Imperials and where kicked out of the Rebels?

*waits for hate mail*

A friend of mine has Imperial ship models with Rebel symbols painted on them. She uses Imperial rules, but talks as if she's playing the Rebels. I wonder if we might get some (or already have?) custom rules to accommodate that casually.

The nice thing about Armada is that it doesn't need to adhere to canon.

They can effectively create a small multi system faction just capable of fielding a competent fleet.

They can divert from canon a little bit, I think, but not enough to anger the Mouse.

Well here's a possibility for a third faction that's not really a full faction.

Campaign mode. Just like in Empire at War there sounds like there will be neutral systems that have to be conquered. Why not include objectives that involve clearing out pirates? Maybe they have a space station or a few that are decently armed along with several squadrons of fighters and maybe a corvette. In these missions either a DM (if that group is running a DM) or someone from the other team controls the pirates.

So maybe in a future campaign, if they ever do one, they could do the outer rim conflict. Instead of new titles we get maybe two corvette models and six squadrons along with everything else you get in a campaign. So pirate bases are included stuff like that. Set the cost at $50 to accommodate the models.

I'd like that very much. A campaign system that I've been brainstorming (brainstorm on hold, waiting CC), would involve locally-governed systems, which must build their small local fleets with older commonly-available ships (Victories, CR90s, Nebs).

It would be awesome if FFG produced some neutral ships, like the Marauder (or whatever the Mouse would sanction).

Every thread that gets brought up I always remind people that Hapes and the CSA are also a thing.

I don't even know what those are.

They're obscure old EU factions, which I am pretty sure will be permanently dustbinned.

Every thread that gets brought up I always remind people that Hapes and the CSA are also a thing.

I don't even know what those are.

They're obscure old EU factions, which I am pretty sure will be permanently dustbinned.

Every thread that gets brought up I always remind people that Hapes and the CSA are also a thing.

Where? What's the source?

The Hapes Cluster (which always sounded like an STD to me) originally came from The Courtship of Princess Leia (1994) by Dave Wolverton.

The Corporate Sector Authority has, apparently, been mentioned in canon (in Before the Awakening (2015) by Greg Rucka), but came out in the The Han Solo Adventures (1979-1980) by Brian Daley.

Every thread that gets brought up I always remind people that Hapes and the CSA are also a thing.

Where? What's the source?

The Hapes Cluster (which always sounded like an STD to me) originally came from The Courtship of Princess Leia (1994) by Dave Wolverton.

The Corporate Sector Authority has, apparently, been mentioned in canon (in Before the Awakening (2015) by Greg Rucka), but came out in the The Han Solo Adventures (1979-1980) by Brian Daley.

I've read those, but was trying to find a canon source.

The closest is the nightsisters as they came out in Courtship as well, but as far as I know that link no longer is canon either.

the hapes cluster and the CSA are indeed no longer Canon, however i don't think Canon status is an entire roadblock. i think that FFG would be okay with bringing them in anyways, or Disney might, too. they've already started bringing back a lot of the legend into the fold as it is. is it likely? no. is it possible? yes.

But if you have enough material from canon sources, why branch heavily into the non-canon? With Star Wars barrelling forward with new material on the big screen, why would you not mirror the new things in the movies? It makes too much business sense. Plus, Disney is clearly happy to give us some of the old EU stuff back as canon. The coming Imperial Light Cruiser is a perfect example. Rebels is featuring them regularly, they're part of the old EU, and now FFG is making them. That's a win for everyone. It makes more sense for FFG to stick mostly to canon.

That ultimately depends on what they want to do. Say they DO want to expand into minor factions, for the sake of variety or whatever gameplay/mechanical reasons, then they have the option to grab the CSA, Hapes, Zann, etc.

It's probably a good thing we don't have Hapes, doesn't sound like something you want to catch...

I don't see how they could do away with Hapes. The way I understand it Hapes is forever.

We do know the Black Sun is a Crime Syndicate, and we know they're somewhat "dangerous", in the fact that Ketsu is a member, and Sabine was trying to become a member at some point.

Of what is canon, they're the most likely - but even that being said, the largest "Black Sun" ship we've been told about so far is the Shadowcaster itself, and we're getting that as its Rebel Incarnation in Wave 5.

also, the mining guild is canon, and big enough that cloud city fell beneath their radar

Mostly, I'm convinced FFG is just super-reluctant in investing in a 3rd Colour Dye for Armada Plastics.

I hope that House of Mouse redoes the Prequels and does it in a way that the Clone Wars are interesting to see on the tables. Same the Resistance/First order.

Ideally at some point you do have 6 factions. Separatist, Republic, Galactic Empire, Rebel, Resistance, First Order.

the hapes cluster and the CSA are indeed no longer Canon, however i don't think Canon status is an entire roadblock. i think that FFG would be okay with bringing them in anyways, or Disney might, too. they've already started bringing back a lot of the legend into the fold as it is. is it likely? no. is it possible? yes.

Of all the third factionny stuff that FFG might produce, why on Earth would they want to choose the Hapes Cluster or the CSA? Those are really obscure. I think people would have a lot more interest in Scum (Black Sun, Pirates, Hutts, etc.).