My friends want to go to Gencon this year, and I'm wondering if I'll be able to pick up any of Wave 3 or 4. I know FFG has done this before with other games, have they ever done it with X-Wing or Armada?

Any other Gencon tips? Is it easy to find a casual Armada game outside of the tournament?

Thanks guys.

I picked up wave 5 of x-wing at gencon several months before it was in stores. I'm pretty sure wave 3 was likewise available early (don't know for sure, I wasn't playing x-wing then).

Depends on a few things.

First it depends on when Wave 3 is released. There is a very strong possibility that wave 3 ships will be available in stores by GC. But of it isn't I'll expect them to be in the booth.

Wave 4 is of course more questionable. I think there will be a small possibility of some product being available. Hoeven, this is with the sole caveat that both ships are fully spoiled no later than early July.

The last two years X-Wing releases were available early. The wave last year was 2 or 3 weeks ahead of being available in stores. They also had Game of Thrones Version 2, and a partner vendor had the Imperial Assault expansions early. Fantasy Flight wasn't allowed to sell them themselves due to some licensing issues.

The year before, the Decimator and Y-2400 were available a couple of months before wide release.

Last year, none of the new (edited to clarify new) Armada stuff was available. I checked because I really wanted an Ackbar!

FFG will typically air freight over new product for GenCon. So, typically anything that is at the "On the boat" stage will be there for sale.

I have a strange feeling it will be like Wave 2. It will be on display but that will be it. It would be awesome if I'm totally wrong and they uncover a huge pallet of Wave 3 for sell.

I expect Wave 3 will be in stores by GenCon. That will make for a very interesting tournament.

The real question is will Wave 4 be there?

I expect Wave 3 will be in stores by GenCon. That will make for a very interesting tournament.

The real question is will Wave 4 be there?

And if it is, how many Interdictors will fit in my suitcase?

If the answer is not all of them then you have not tried hard enough.

Gencon has historically featured 'early release' X-Wing product (in limited quantities) generally one to four months before general release:

2013: Wave 3 (B-Wing, TIE Bomber, Shuttle, HWK)

2014: Wave 5 (Decimator, Outrider)
2015: Wave 7 and Imperial Raider

I believe it has also included 'early release' Imperial Assault product, at least last year.

Gencon has not yet featured any early release Armada, though. 2014 had Armada demos, but I don't think the game was available to purchase yet. And 2015 did not have any early release product, though the ISD and MC80 and R&V models were on display in the case.

I expect Wave 3 will be in stores by GenCon. That will make for a very interesting tournament.

The real question is will Wave 4 be there?

And if it is, how many Interdictors will fit in my suitcase?

FFG caps the number of each new product you can buy. IE, at Gencon last year, you received cards that could be redeemed at the cash register to buy the new X-Wing ships. One card for each new ship type, so you couldn't buy more than one unless you managed to get additional cards from others who had received them.

Huh, somehow I came home with 2 of each X-Wing ship.

Shmitty be robbin' folks