I have spent over $1500 on every piece, expansion and other for this collection. It's my favorite game ever. But it's too big for new players to join. It's overwhelming. Slow down. Make the App!!!!! Sell pre-made sets for skirmish. I live near SF, and No one plays. Stop making new expansions and focus on getting new players into the best game ever made. I can't find anyone to play with and so I hope the app might get me going again. I'd show you a picture of the 211 miniatures I have but it won't upload. Please!!

They're doing their part by releasing new toys and ironing out the kinks that were around since the start. And the app can't be rushed if you want quality.

Maybe you should be asking why you don't focus on getting new players in? Engage with your friends? Engage with the community? Take it with to board game events and offer to teach folk how to play it.

There's enough components now that you can easily build multiple armies with simply one collection, so you can offer to let them use yours, that would get interest better than waiting for players to get their own, especially like you said, it might be daunting to get into it.

yea I get what you're saying mate and I obviously don't know what you've tried at the moment however offering to demo and push the game to locals and you may well get a group, once you've got 2-3 players it's easier to attract more and before you know it people will be much more likely to jump in.

I did demo's for 3 weeks at my local club and didn't really enjoy doing it at all to be honest, I just wanted to play proper games, however it attracted 3-4 new players and we've got a really healthy skirmish community going now with 8 of us playing on Wednesday night and another similar number on a Thursday up the road

"Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country." — John F. Kennedy,

Get active, start a facebook group, start a meetup.com group, do demos at your local game stores, get your friends and family involved. It took me some time but a got a small community together that really enjoys the game.

If you have every expansion, you should have more than enough to play with your friends.

Okay, you can send me all your stuff since you don't want it anymore.

BTW, do you think the people who sculpt the miniatures are the ones who would write the app but they're too busy sculpting knew stuff?

They have a Career opening for an App Developer right now.

1 hour ago, Union said:

Okay, you can send me all your stuff since you don't want it anymore.

BTW, do you think the people who sculpt the miniatures are the ones who would write the app but they're too busy sculpting knew stuff?

No, but the people who develop new figure and mission content for the game are also NOT the people who design the app. Different skill sets, different departments, unrelated to eachother.

Thanks for stopping in to tell us bye...

do you buy your stuff from a local store? assume there are other people buying, can you perhaps put up posters asking for players?

I was wondering how you spent so much, cause I've almost bought 2-3 of everything, but there's no way I've spent even half of what you claim. I agree that this is one of the funnest games I've played, and I even share some of your sentiment. There is a "built-in" stumbling block if you will, to playing the game, partly because its a hybrid, 2 in1 game set and by most accounts that makes it harder to sell, or market to a divergent type of purchaser. There seems to be some difficulty in it picking up steam for some reason. Just looking at the forum post # it is even less popular than Armada (did they come out at the same time?) and I've seen less games of Armada at our local store than Imperial Assault. Of course, most Imperial Assault is played in someone's house behind closed doors so its hard to get the local folks interested in something they haven't seen before. The maps also present a problem, and the mousepads don't help, because they add to the cost exponentially. I think one way around this would be to have the maps printed on a small poster sheet or 2 sheets of paper and then include them instead of the component sheet in a pack, then you could play the game or some of the games without buying the giant, almost out-dated core set. A quick or cheaper buy-in is something that helped make X-wing popular.

28 minutes ago, buckero0 said:

I was wondering how you spent so much, cause I've almost bought 2-3 of everything, but there's no way I've spent even half of what you claim. I agree that this is one of the funnest games I've played, and I even share some of your sentiment. There is a "built-in" stumbling block if you will, to playing the game, partly because its a hybrid, 2 in1 game set and by most accounts that makes it harder to sell, or market to a divergent type of purchaser. There seems to be some difficulty in it picking up steam for some reason. Just looking at the forum post # it is even less popular than Armada (did they come out at the same time?) and I've seen less games of Armada at our local store than Imperial Assault. Of course, most Imperial Assault is played in someone's house behind closed doors so its hard to get the local folks interested in something they haven't seen before. The maps also present a problem, and the mousepads don't help, because they add to the cost exponentially. I think one way around this would be to have the maps printed on a small poster sheet or 2 sheets of paper and then include them instead of the component sheet in a pack, then you could play the game or some of the games without buying the giant, almost out-dated core set. A quick or cheaper buy-in is something that helped make X-wing popular.

That's pretty smart. The core box when it was first released, was obviously very pandered to the campaign. Skirnish is all about building your teams.

If all units were sold in their own figure packs that weren't tied to anything other than the core box (or maybe an updated, smaller core, as you suggest) skirmish might really take off. That's the strength of X-Wing (or, as a mostly non player, how I perceive it). Once you've got the core box with X-Wing, I believe that you're free to buy and play whatever you want. Want to run Poe Dameron v Prince Xixior? Go ahead. Want to run Slave I v a U-Wing squadron? Done.

With IA, you've got some really iconic figures, but all but a few are locked behind additional (and expensive) expansions. Want Boba Fett? Prepare to shell out for Twin Shadows. Want Bossk? Leia? Jedi Luke? Core game isn't helping you out with those guys.

I think IA would be wise to release more smaller expansions (like the one coming soon with Vader's droids, Hera, and jawas). Campaigns are a ton of fun, but maybe whatever campaign is next should be the last big boxed set- instead giving campaign booklets for future sessions, alongside releases of more figure packs.

In my limited experience, the Campaign crew and the Skirmish crew don't mix or crossover very well (different personality types) I've seen some try but you could tell they weren't enjoying themselves as much. The Skirmish aspect needs to be playable anywhere and on the cheap which if you got rid of the map/puzzle building part of it and just had a mat or sheet of poster to play on would fix a lot of that. You could still sell fancy mouse pads and have select tournament pads, but for pickup games, or pull the game off the shelf and play, a folded up poster would be easier. Then when you're sucked into the game, you invest in the fancy stuff and the command card collecting.

X-wing can be played with a $20 starter box. The game sucks like that, but it gets you started, next thing you know, you have 100 ships and have invested $500 in mats, special dice, etc. Make IA easier to get into. Skirmish can do it, campaign can't.

Lots of good points in this thread. This is a common topic that seems to come up every once and a while, it hasn't been discussed for a while though.

IA is a great game, it is well designed and is very entertaining. I've played it with experienced table top players and newbs and never had anyone that didn't like it. But everyone says the same thing.. very expensive buy in. There is no cheap gate way drug for IA like there is for X-Wing or the LCG, or more recently the very popular Destiny (this is really frustrating for me as I've been trying to grow skirmish in my community for just about a year now struggling to get 2-3 people together to play and Destiny comes along and already has tournaments and a 40 member facebook group in my area!).

So what do you do? The deeper the game gets and the more expansions that come out, the harder it is to get people interested. I ran a demo last summer and everyone asked "Well how many expansions/packs are there right now?" Uhmm... at the time? Geez countless. I am running another demo day soon and I really don't know what to say to people when they ask what the buy in is.. well the core is $130.. and that gets you about 20% of what is out there? You also need to buy these 4 expansions and these X blister packs to be able to support the proper maps, or go drop another $120 on pre made maps that will rotate out every 3 months.. it is a REALLY tough sell.

I am interested to get input on this from other players actually. How did you sell the game?

I am not sure how things go with X-Wing, but the frustrating part with IA is that you are building faction lists, but also trait lists. So you might be able to get away with a Rebel list that doesn't need Jabba's realm, but there might be command cards in those scum blister packs you want for your hunter or spy cards in the Imperial packs for your spy Rebels. This obviously isn't an accident, they want you to have to buy everything, it is clever marketing (anyone seen the premium episode of South Park? I can't help but think of that every time I pick up a blister pack). So I can't even tell people Well if you love Scum and want to run Scum, just grab these 5 packs and you can build a great list. Instead it is Ok well you need these 2 expansions and these 8 packs even though you don't want the figures because the one command card is very important to your list.. IF they are still standing there listening to me they are probably about to call me an idiot for being part of such a stupid system and donating my money to it lol

27 minutes ago, FrogTrigger said:

The deeper the game gets and the more expansions that come out, the harder it is to get people interested. I ran a demo last summer and everyone asked "Well how many expansions/packs are there right now?" Uhmm... at the time? Geez countless. I am running another demo day soon and I really don't know what to say to people when they ask what the buy in is.. well the core is $130.. and that gets you about 20% of what is out there? You also need to buy these 4 expansions and these X blister packs to be able to support the proper maps, or go drop another $120 on pre made maps that will rotate out every 3 months.. it is a REALLY tough sell.

I am interested to get input on this from other players actually. How did you sell the game?

Same way as I sell people on Armada:

Sell them on what it takes to play the game .

Not to play in a tournament, or do well in a tournament, or be competitive in a tournament, or do anything other than what it takes to play the game .

Match them up with people who share the same temperment and ideal.

This fosters and encourages a way of playing that game that is just playing to have fun ...

Then you will find, as people enjoy the game, then they will slowly build and take on expansions themselves, which will get them to that full-skirmish-tournament level, if they enjoy doing that...

I just got my local store to host its first IA tourney, and as a result I got several of my friends to play who wouldn't have normally played. The key for me was I have one other friend who has bought all in like I have, and then I have two other friends with the core box. Essentially, though, we just used stuff from my and my friend's sets, and we provided the materials for six lists. They weren't all optimal, but they were all fun. We were the ones running it, so we allowed proxies for negation and so there wasn't that problem of disparity because of limited components. And because we were playing at the store, one person came in to buy an IA figure pack and I roped him in to play next time we have a tournament.

So, things that can help are to try to gather enough people to play at the store and to convince the store to support it with prize support (we're paying $5 for the tournament, and then we have one of the old tourney kits to share the spoils). Second, relax the rules and allow proxies. Third, if you can print off large maps like ibish's for cheap so you can get games going quickly. And fourth, try to draw other people in by being present and promoting the game (just set that sweet rancor up on top of your box to face the rest of the store).

I'm sure you've done some of those things, but if you haven't tried them all give it a shot.

As for FFG, if they could release a skirmish kit, which included a host of command cards from the expansions and then maybe another that included select development cards and figures, that might help people jump in. That way they could just spring for the figure packs as needed and pick up the maps.

But yeah, it's a lot of $$$.

-ryanjamal

19 hours ago, Chicobrew said:

I have spent over $1500 on every piece, expansion and other for this collection. It's my favorite game ever. But it's too big for new players to join. It's overwhelming. Slow down. Make the App!!!!! Sell pre-made sets for skirmish. I live near SF, and No one plays. Stop making new expansions and focus on getting new players into the best game ever made. I can't find anyone to play with and so I hope the app might get me going again. I'd show you a picture of the 211 miniatures I have but it won't upload. Please!!

People don't realize that the app is a legal issue. Much in the same way that Imperial Assault itself crossed into "Star Wars board game" territory (the deal they have with hasbro and the other powers that be in order to allow them to even make IA in the first place is the reason why they can't sell the product from their site directly), the app is stepping on toes in the Star Wars video game department (or the mobile device game department or both). FFG WANTS to do the app, but it is much more complicated with Star Wars than descent. Maybe it will work out, maybe not.

That being said, $1500 and 211 figs seems like a lot. You make it sound like you had a gun to your head. But aside from that, just start up a compaign with friends or other gamers you meet up for other stuff with, and they will get on board with the game in terms of skirmish/buying their own stuff. It's addictive. A year and a half ago, it was really only a friend of mine and myself that played around here, but after converting many of the xwing players (some were even new to that game in the last year), we just attended what may have been the biggest regional (28-30ish players) this game has seen yet 2 hours down the road. Much of that growth in orlando can even be traced back to us promoting the game at xwing store championships/regionals around the state in the recent past. It may have helped that I have had the level of success I have had on the big stages in this game at world's and gen con to get people excited, but not necessarily. This game is too good to give up on.

1 hour ago, ryanjamal said:

I just got my local store to host its first IA tourney, and as a result I got several of my friends to play who wouldn't have normally played. The key for me was I have one other friend who has bought all in like I have, and then I have two other friends with the core box. Essentially, though, we just used stuff from my and my friend's sets, and we provided the materials for six lists. They weren't all optimal, but they were all fun. We were the ones running it, so we allowed proxies for negation and so there wasn't that problem of disparity because of limited components. And because we were playing at the store, one person came in to buy an IA figure pack and I roped him in to play next time we have a tournament.

So, things that can help are to try to gather enough people to play at the store and to convince the store to support it with prize support (we're paying $5 for the tournament, and then we have one of the old tourney kits to share the spoils). Second, relax the rules and allow proxies. Third, if you can print off large maps like ibish's for cheap so you can get games going quickly. And fourth, try to draw other people in by being present and promoting the game (just set that sweet rancor up on top of your box to face the rest of the store).

I'm sure you've done some of those things, but if you haven't tried them all give it a shot.

As for FFG, if they could release a skirmish kit, which included a host of command cards from the expansions and then maybe another that included select development cards and figures, that might help people jump in. That way they could just spring for the figure packs as needed and pick up the maps.

But yeah, it's a lot of $$$.

-ryanjamal

Totally agree! Check with your local game stores and see about hosting an Imperial Assault campaign or skirmish at the store. A lot of times, local stores will do game nights for groups over the weekend or even weeknights. It seems there is always someone out there wanting to play. Who knows - there might be others in your area who are wishing the same thing!

Can I have your Vader?

I just received my boxed set today. My son and I are new players and we are stoked! It doesn't feel too big to me. Expensive maybe but not too big. We are thrilled!

Stuffed in the wine was a great idea - Skirmish sets. Have 4 Sku's with viable skirmish builds and some kind of mat with a skirmish map. Allows people with very little down instant access to the skirmish game. Not everyone is a campaigner.

I think we need to be careful not to get too negative as we all seem to be slamming the OP for his opinion and choice. Granted it probably came across poorly but I'd prefer to see the discussion not go hostile!

The Skirmish box idea is a great idea that I've seen before and I do hope at some point it comes in, it would really help the game take off in my opinion. I have a friend who uses my kit at the moment but when he's looking at buying in it's a case of £300 even second hand to catch up so he's just not bought anything atm (Barring a dice set and a Lando)

If they had a Skirmish box which just included maybe 10 figures with Rebel vs Imperials, and came with maybe 10-12 command cards people could just build from there.

Thinking out loud you could demo 25pt (ish) lists with 7 command cards from something like the below to try out the game, then let players buy a core set if they wanted to expand and they'd be able to hit 40pts with reasonable command decks from there.

I might try similar next time I demo and try and prove the point you can get in and play some smaller games at a cheap price point before deciding whether to invest further in the Core.

The idea being that the new player can demo the game using the below lists and then buy them then and there for £30 if they like the game.

eStorms w. VF
eISB
Blaise
Zillo

Collect Intel
Collect Intel
Data Theft
Comm Disruption
Espionage Mastery
Strategic Shift
Intelligence Leak

25pts
7pts // 7 cards

£30 approx

eRangers
rWookie
Obi Wan

Call the Vanguard
I must go alone
Heightened Reflexes
Improvised Weapons
Mitigate
Wild Fury
Force Surge

27pts
10pts // 7 cards

£30 approx

The skrimish box would be a great idea. While I can afford the high cost the moment, it's kinda odd to just take a huge stack of cards each time I buy a big box expansion, and just put those away. It's like half the box I just put away right out of the gate. This would be severely prohibitive for someone with a tighter economy.

15 hours ago, bobbywhiskey said:

People don't realize that the app is a legal issue. Much in the same way that Imperial Assault itself crossed into "Star Wars board game" territory (the deal they have with hasbro and the other powers that be in order to allow them to even make IA in the first place is the reason why they can't sell the product from their site directly), the app is stepping on toes in the Star Wars video game department (or the mobile device game department or both). FFG WANTS to do the app, but it is much more complicated with Star Wars than descent. Maybe it will work out, maybe not.

We have never once heard or seen anything from FFG about a legal issue. We have been told multiple times though that an app is coming and they are working on it.

15 hours ago, ryanjamal said:

I just got my local store to host its first IA tourney, and as a result I got several of my friends to play who wouldn't have normally played. The key for me was I have one other friend who has bought all in like I have, and then I have two other friends with the core box. Essentially, though, we just used stuff from my and my friend's sets, and we provided the materials for six lists. They weren't all optimal, but they were all fun. We were the ones running it, so we allowed proxies for negation and so there wasn't that problem of disparity because of limited components. And because we were playing at the store, one person came in to buy an IA figure pack and I roped him in to play next time we have a tournament.

So, things that can help are to try to gather enough people to play at the store and to convince the store to support it with prize support (we're paying $5 for the tournament, and then we have one of the old tourney kits to share the spoils). Second, relax the rules and allow proxies. Third, if you can print off large maps like ibish's for cheap so you can get games going quickly. And fourth, try to draw other people in by being present and promoting the game (just set that sweet rancor up on top of your box to face the rest of the store).

I'm sure you've done some of those things, but if you haven't tried them all give it a shot.

So the last demo we did this, we had smaller lists without command cards for the skirmish and I had the campaign set up on the other side of the table to show that side as well. Everyone was interested in the campaign, nobody really looked twice at the skirmish unfortunately. We had I think one person actually try the skirmish out. But, when I started playing the game I also never even looked at the skirmish, so getting people hooked on the campaign could and probably will eventually lead to more skirmish players. Just going to be a long process. The deal I made with the store is that I would demo this again but in return I want to do a tournament, even if it is just me and one other person, with a seasonal kit he has from last year. Buy in will be 5 bucks, we will promote it, who ever shows up we play. I am thinking I might promote it as either a wave 1 and 2 tourney only, or just make proxies available.. however if you haven't bought the other expansions yet it is hard to know what you even need to proxy! And we can't be making people lists right there on the spot..

I guess that is the difference between demoing IA and X-Wing, at least you know with X-Wing the people you sell to are going to want to play with you.. with IA they can see the campaign, love it, take it home and never come back to the store again if they don't want to lol. Like last time we sold 4 core copies and a slew of expansions/blisters, but not one of the guys who bought any of it have come out to play skirmish in almost a year. We made a facebook group, they joined, but have no interest in the skirmish still :/ And it all comes back to the same thing we always hear, it is just way to difficult/expensive to get into the game. And this problem grows every day. PLEASE FFG give us some type of skirmish support/core pack.

I also think that for any tournament we do, since I will be in charge, it will be core box only maps.