Thanks in advance!

When you start a campaign that's no linear by the book (IE If this happens, go to this mission) How do the campaigns work? Side Missions- can someone just dumb these down for me? Are they concurrent to story missions?

You follow the campaign schema at the back of the campaign book.

1. Start with Aftermath. It will tell which story mission becomes active. Build the side mission deck, draw two cards to become active side missions.

2. See that next slot is Side Mission. The rebels pick 1 of the 2 available to be played. After the mission draw a replacement from the side mission deck.

3. See that it's story mission now in the campaign schema. Play the active story mission. It will put the next story mission to play.

4. See the campaign schema again... Side mission..

.. etc.

If the imperial player purchases agenda side missions, they will be extra choices for the rebels to choose from when selecting a side mission. If they do not pick it, do what the card says.

If the imperial player purchases a forced agenda mission, it is played next and it doesn't take a mission slot. Use the Forced slot in the campaign schema. Do not perform an upgrade stage after a forced mission.

If a forced mission becomes active from a mission result, it is played immediately without upgrade stages, and play is returned to the upgrade stages after it.

More reading:

https://www.boardgamegeek.com/thread/1697045/campaign-mission-structure

https://www.boardgamegeek.com/thread/1644631/missions

https://www.boardgamegeek.com/thread/1644422/side-missions

https://www.boardgamegeek.com/thread/1618951/side-missions-campaigns

(Edit: or google "campaign structure imperial assault" and follow the links to boardgamegeek.)

Thanks! I left my Campaign Books at home, BGG is blocked for me here.

The campaign log and rules reference guide can be downloaded from https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/products/star-wars-imperial-assault/