Future box sets- APP driven or IP driven?

By VadersMarchKazoo, in Star Wars: Imperial Assault

So......assuming that more box sets are in our future. Do you think that they will be app-driven, or IP-driven or both? Certainly, we'll be getting more app campaigns in the future (as stated by FFGs previous articles). Also, each of these app-campaigns will take a good amount of investment to develop on the part of FFG. I suppose they may charge for future app-campaign downloads but I'd rather see that they remain free and then sell physical products along with them (i.e. box sets or blisters). Part of me would be a little sad if we don't ever get another IP-driven box set, but the expectation that they would produce each future box with both options may be a little bit too much to hope for. Also, I really like the app-campaign and would be really happy for more!

What do you expect/prefer?

I'd expect box campaigns to still have an imperial player. They may have an app option, but I wouldn't expect new physical content to require the app.

I guess one of the questions is: How much effort does it take to create both the app and the IP driven campaigns. In some respects, the same maps and deployment cards, item cards and reward cards could be somewhat shared between the two systems but they would still need to develop an IP-class deck and some other things that wouldn't be shared. Plus, the app maps are structured somewhat differently than the book maps with a lot more adaptability (e.g. this door opens and so this appears). So it seems that this isn't as easily shared. So back to the question- does producing both take 150% more time than producing one or does it take 200% more time and effort. I'm sure these are questions that FFG had to ask themselves at some point.

I guess what I'm thinking is that it'll just be app-driven. They have already invested in the app, stated that more is to come and will want to sell more product. I would doubt that they'd invest in doing both...of course I wouldn't complain. Either that or the model will start to look different all together, i.e. no more big boxes and maybe the contents will be somewhat different from what we've seen in the past. Or maybe just apps and blisters.

I imagine for app content they will go the same road as Descent (pun intended) and release campaigns that are built around existing physical expansions like hoth, Jabba, hote..

as far as future physical content well IA is competitive with skirmish so they will need to keep driving that so at the very least we should see some more blister pack waves. I imagine they also plan to keep fixing existing characters like Boba Fett through these packs as well which furthers the skirmish scene even more.

I don't think we are done for box expansions but I do feel like it's going to be a while before we see another. Might not be one at all this year. I expect at least two blister waves though, one announced soonish for spring/summer and another announced in the summer for fall/winter.

https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/news/2017/12/1/a-new-legend-begins/

What about traditional campaigns and the skirmish game?

Legends of the Alliance was not designed to replace the traditional campaign or the skirmish game for Imperial Assault . Instead, all three variants will continue to exist side-by-side, providing separate play experiences for players to enjoy.

22 minutes ago, a1bert said:

https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/news/2017/12/1/a-new-legend-begins/

What about traditional campaigns and the skirmish game?

Legends of the Alliance was not designed to replace the traditional campaign or the skirmish game for Imperial Assault . Instead, all three variants will continue to exist side-by-side, providing separate play experiences for players to enjoy.

I like to be optimistic and think that means specifically that we will be getting more physical releases, but I think it could also be interpreted as "you can still play the book campaigns or skirmish". I mean, that's an obvious statement, but sometimes the internet needs that spelled out.

1 hour ago, FrogTrigger said:

I imagine for app content they will go the same road as Descent (pun intended) and release campaigns that are built around existing physical expansions like hoth, Jabba, hote..

I think you're spot on with a lot of this. I totally agree that the most likely next app campaign will be twin shadows themed. From an product standpoint it definitely makes sense to bring renewed interest in existing products giving a second chance to move these products. So from that perspective, it might make sense that we don't see a new box....for a while? It's hard for me to imagine that they are co-developing all of these app campaigns in addition to full boxed expansions simultaneously. Unless the newly acquired video game developer is really handling the Nexu-share of the app workload (but they'd probably still need some of the FFG/IA developers)?

I certainly wouldn't mind if each of the app releases were accompanied by new optional or required blisters. Along those lines, I'd love if they could actually work the Bantha rider into the TS-themed app. One problem with this approach is that if you need the core set, plus the appropriate expansion, it's hard to then also require Joe Newguy to also buy a handful of blisters just to play the next app.

Edited by VadersMarchKazoo
49 minutes ago, VadersMarchKazoo said:

I certainly wouldn't mind if each of the app releases were accompanied by new optional or required blisters.

I wouldn't mind that. Or something similar to Descent's Hero and Monster packs- give us some new heroes and some new Imperial units to play with without needing any new missions (outside of the ones needed for the new heroes).

Maybe something like two new heroes and maybe 6-10 minis for 30 bucks apiece. I'd be down for that.

Quote

Along those lines, I'd love if they could actually work the Bantha rider into the TS-themed app. One problem with this approach is that if you need the core set, plus the appropriate expansion, it's hard to then also require Joe Newguy to also buy a handful of blisters just to play the next app.

I wonder if they could just have the random open groups favor certain types. For instance, if you're in a desert on the Twin Shadows themed campaign, Banthas/Jawasmight be more likely to show up as open groups, while Tusken Raiders can spawn as set groups. Or, in the inverse- some units could be less likely or prevented from spawning in certain situations, like Nexus on snow maps.

1 hour ago, VadersMarchKazoo said:

So from that perspective, it might make sense that we don't see a new box....for a while? It's hard for me to imagine that they are co-developing all of these app campaigns in addition to full boxed expansions simultaneously.

My bet is that they’re doing exactly that. First of all, they had a whiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiile to develop the app, and so it’s quite possible that much of the groundwork for the upcoming app releases is started on or already completed (though maybe that’s optimistic).

But mainly I think their boxed sets are their primary earners since working on apps for something like Twin Shadows might increase sales some, but mostly they’re catering to a crowd whose majority or at least significant percentage has already purchased this box.

New content keeps the game fresh and relevant. New app campaigns are icing on the cake that will increase sales for new players and some old, but nothing like a new wave.

My two cents (American, so rounded to two cents, so also worthless ?).

-ryanjamal

15 hours ago, ryanjamal said:

New content keeps the game fresh and relevant. New app campaigns are icing on the cake that will increase sales for new players and some old, but nothing like a new wave.

I hope you're right.

I love that the app has all Imperial groups in it now. The potential to see all these different groups come together is one of my favorite parts of Imperial Assault, so I'd always be down for more content to add to this growing list.