While we are still in the process of finishing the Campaign, I am really impressed by what the app has to offer towards our play sessions! The campaign finds new ways to engage with players in the form of encounters, special narrative events that aren't tied to combat missions. They add new flavor to the game outside of the traditional combat, allowing for more choices in the storytelling that allows your group to become more immersed in the world of Star Wars. I especially love the feel of the new missions, with the environment expanding when certain parameters are met. The new perils and health system offer an especially nice touch, encouraging more aggressive play on the part of the Rebels. Like in traditional Imperial Assault Campaigns, hidden events will trigger that will take the Rebels by surprise, prompting a re-evaluation to how you approach a new objective.
Another excellent addition is the Armory, Character, and Inventory Menus. They offer a great means of engaging and managing your equipment characters, with only a quick glance and simple input to reflect your growth as you complete missions and become stronger. It's so convenient that I wished that a similar system can be utilized for traditional campaigns, as it really makes record keeping a breeze.
I do have some criticisms, particularly in regards to the explanation of how Imperial/Scum Units operate in the app. As we are playing through the game, it feels like the AI has far more abilities at it's disposal to command the troops as opposed to what the units can do under a human player. As a for instance, a Storm-trooper will be directed to move and attack a hero, and then still have a second action where he can continue to move beyond his total speed. We have tried to strike a balance with house rules where the AI will more closely obey their physical descriptions, while still honoring the apps direction. And while more quibble than criticism, I have come to understand that the included "Flight of the Freedom Fighter" runs on the shorter side. This doesn't bother me as much, as right now it really feels like a great little microcosm of the Imperial Assault Campaign experience. But I do understand players who want a longer campaign, which I can only imagine will come in future updates.
Which brings us to the possible future for the platform. At launch, the Legends app only supports maps and components from the Core Set, although heroes from all of the expansions can be selected for each rebel player. Like most software, the experience will continue to change and become more refined with future updates and patches. What I am curious to see is how Fantasy Flight will go about with adding new campaigns to the experience, particularly with how they choose to charge (or not) players. With the players already owning the physical components for maps and figures, the possibilities of new co-op campaigns are tantalizing.
Legends of the Alliance offers a great new mode of play of for Imperial Assault that can stand alongside both the traditional Campaign and Skirmish Modes. I still think I will always prefer the traditional Campaign, as you are fully engaging with other people in the room and leads to more meaningful interactions and moments that a program can't replicate. It's such a unique, asymmetrical style of play where both factions are becoming powerful as the game progresses, that I feel would be very much lost if an app becomes the primary source of play (which I sincerely doubt will happen, as much as I have seen that concern whispered throughout these forums). With three new modes of play, Star Wars: Imperial Assault feels like a full, amazing package that will be able to transport players, both new and old, to that galaxy far, far away.
