While we wait "patiently" for any indication as to what the future holds, I figured I'd start a thread specifically focused on speculation of the contents of the next expansion. The ill-fated World's prize article posted pictures that could possibly point to upcoming IA releases:

Thrawn victory point dial, Thrawn & Deathtroopr plaque, Thrawn/Rex play mat

With this info, I figured we could all start tossing out what we'd expect to see based on those items.

Personally, I'd love another pre-ANH boxed expansion based on Lothal/Outer Rim campaign. Included deployments could be the Death troopers. After that, I'm kind of open to whatever makes sense.

Thrawn is the big baddie villain. Rex is one of the allies. Merc could be Hondo, Ketsu Onyo, or Vizago.

I'd really love to see an extra large blister wave associated with this one (5-6 blisters). Give us an opportunity to get more of the Ghost crew (Rex kind of puts a dampener on getting a lot more in a single wave, IMHO). I'd also like to see a Fulcrum attachment for skirmish that lets Rebels take a unique Imperial in their force (would have to be limited by cost to avoid taking Emperor or other figures that wouldn't make much sense) and open up for getting a Kallus too in that point range.

What is your *WILD* speculation?

Well, you did say "wild", didn't you?

I've been looking a lot at the Sea of Blood expansion for Descent (1st edition, unfortunately) and I think it could bring a wild new way to play Imperial Assault.

I don't know a ton about it yet, but it appears that the maps for the expansion are massive, and smaller tiles that represent ships are placed on these larger maps, representing ships in the ocean.

None of these pictures are mine (all taken from BGG) but here's an idea of what it could look like:

How incredible would this be, with capitol ship fights and boarding parties in Imperial Assault? I'd be so down for that!

Also, just want to point out the obvious- Thrawn would be a perfect character for this game type.

Now, for a more realistic (and slightly less exciting) suggestion, I predict a Lothal large box.

Death Troopers as an obvious Imperial unit

Thrawn and Rex as obvious villain/heroes

I think Hondo would make a good merc character, though I suspect in campaign he might not play as nicely with the Empire (or the Rebels, for that matter)

I still think it could be possible for Imperial recruits. Even though they're kids. Pretty sure we've seen them die on the show before, and IA has a more mature crowd than that.

I like the idea someone threw in another thread about the troop transport. Could be overpowered, though.

Finally, I'd like a new creature. Probably for the Mercs, though Loth Wolves would be neat for the Rebellion.

I wonder if the theories about the finale are true. Maybe this campaign takes place in the ashes of whatever the finale is about tonight, and it's not possible to even really describe what happens without giving it away.

Though, I kind of do expect Thrawn to die, or at least be totally ousted. I guess we'll find out soon enough!

10 minutes ago, subtrendy2 said:

Though, I kind of do expect Thrawn to die, or at least be totally ousted. I guess we'll find out soon enough!

I doubt Thrawn will die. I think he's too iconic to the Star Wars universe to be killed off so quickly after only recently having been re-canonized. Also, there is another canon Thrawn novel "Thrawn Alliances" being released in July.

It seems like the Rebels version of Thrawn picks up where the already released "Thrawn" novel leaves off. I am guessing that the coming "Thrawn: Alliances" novel will pick up shortly after the Rebels timeline.

Nope. Too much cartoony nonsense for me (and I liked Clone Wars and like Rebels).

Rogue One all the way for me. It will provide never seen before tiles (tropical), Death Troopers, Beach Troopers etc.

36 minutes ago, machfalcon said:

I doubt Thrawn will die. I think he's too iconic to the Star Wars universe to be killed off so quickly after only recently having been re-canonized. Also, there is another canon Thrawn novel "Thrawn Alliances" being released in July.

It seems like the Rebels version of Thrawn picks up where the already released "Thrawn" novel leaves off. I am guessing that the coming "Thrawn: Alliances" novel will pick up shortly after the Rebels timeline.

Yeah, I do wonder about the book. I know they mentioned Vader would be in it, which leaves me to believe that you may be right. It would be cool to see Thrawn and Anakin's first meeting, but I don't think they'd have labeled it as "Vader" in that case.

I'm also curious about Bendu's prediction, though. Even if it's not about Thrawn's actual death, I'd hope that whatever he's referring to actually happens on the show and isn't relegated to another form of media. Cross media productions are great, but setting up plot threads in one and ending it in another is the wrong way to handle them.

3 hours ago, subtrendy2 said:

I like the idea someone threw in another thread about the troop transport.

I really like this too. It would be cool if it could be used to add mobility to troopers or add some way to reinforce or redeploy them creatively...and thematically!

I'm on board with a Lothal box expansion. App driven of course! TBH- I really like rebels, but I wouldn't want a box that wants to rehash the show. I'd rather have a new story with some new hero's and meet some of these other folks along the way. Perhaps at the wrong end of a bowcaster. I'm a fan of the way that Heart of the Empire doesn't follow a particular movie or show and really tells a new story. I'd be equally happy if the next box or boxes feel equally fresh.

However, I'm sure we'll see familiar faces along the way so that being said I like seeing Thrawn and a retired clone trooper. I'm itching for Death Troopers. And I'd like to see some Rogue one stuff too. If they wanted to go even further off the rails- they could give me Black Krrrsatan for the Mercs. Based on story flashbacks, I think he was around for a while before we met him in the post-ANH timeline (in the comics). I could also handle some partisans like 2-tubes or a Gigoran (perhaps as mercs).

If I had to put my conical shaped tinfoil prediction hat on I'd say: App-driven small box expansion. Pre-Rogue one time period.

Wish list of minis included:

Villain: Thrawn

Imps: Death troopers X 4

Merc villian: Black Krrsatan

Merc figures: Gundarks X 2 (this is the hardest category to fill)

Rebel ally: (based on presumptive leaks) - retired clone trooper; (preferred) - K2S0

Hero 1: (preferred) Oversize (2 x 1) Male besalisk heavy

Hero 2: Female human thief (spy)...or retired clone trooper hero and K2S0 as an ally:)

My guess is a blister pack wave of some Rebels figures...I'd love to get a Kylo Ren and some Rogue One stuff though. I would love to start seeing app DLC being released alongside blister pack waves...we have more than enough tiles to make up some new mini app campaigns. So here is what I hope the future release schedule looks like:

Blister pack wave + app DLC

Small box expansion

Big box expansion

Repeat

2 hours ago, subtrendy2 said:

Thrawn's actual death, I'd hope that whatever he's referring to actually happens on the show and isn't relegated to another form of media. Cross media productions are great, but setting up plot threads in one and ending it in another is the wrong way to handle them.

I don't think this is a problem. The show is about Exra's story and to a lesser extent Lothal. I think there could be a number of open threads (Thrawn, Ahsoka) as long as they tie up the Ezra/Lothal story up. I mean Vader flies away into space alone at the end of ANH.

6 minutes ago, jconway2002 said:

MBlister pack wave + app DLC

Small box expansion

Big box expansion

Repeat

I'd prefer all future boxes are app-driven (at least as an option).

4 hours ago, subtrendy2 said:

Thrawn and Rex as obvious villain/heroes

We can be sure that Rex won't be a true hero in the IA sense, as all heros have been completely made up for the game.

2 hours ago, wannabepudge said:

We can be sure that Rex won't be a true hero in the IA sense, as all heros have been completely made up for the game.

Yeah, but the hero could be a retired clone trooper- not Rex. I mean the picture doesn’t really look that much like Rex:)

2 hours ago, VadersMarchKazoo said:

Yeah, but the hero could be a retired clone trooper- not Rex. I mean the picture doesn’t really look that much like Rex:)

The article mentions specifically that it is art of Rex and Thrawn.

41 minutes ago, Majushi said:

The article mentions specifically that it is art of Rex and Thrawn.

The article could very easily be wrong. No one thinks that art looks like any representation of Rex we’ve ever seen

15 hours ago, VadersMarchKazoo said:

I don't think this is a problem. The show is about Exra's story and to a lesser extent Lothal. I think there could be a number of open threads (Thrawn, Ahsoka) as long as they tie up the Ezra/Lothal story up. I mean Vader flies away into space alone at the end of ANH.

Rebels Finale Spoiler

We need a shipboard campaign, with Naval Troopers, TIE Fighter Pilots, Rebel Honour Guards and Rebel Pilots as possible units.

Also "Howlrunner" as a Villain pack. Because why not?

Just now, Indy_com said:

We need a shipboard campaign, with Naval Troopers, TIE Fighter Pilots, Rebel Honour Guards and Rebel Pilots as possible units.

Also "Howlrunner" as a Villain pack. Because why not?

That's what I'm thinking. That Sea of Blood thing has me really thinking this game has incredible potential.

28 minutes ago, subtrendy2 said:

Rebels Finale Spoiler

So I don't watch rebels, but this sentence really makes me wish that I did.

29 minutes ago, subtrendy2 said:

Rebels Finale Spoiler

I mean, I guess we didn't necessarily see him die, but he's alone with a force sensitive lightsaber wielder on the deck of a crashing star destroyer being pulled through hyperspace by a hundred space whales. Best of luck to him

Ugh, yeah, you're not wrong. I meant "ally" Most annoying terminology in this game (outside of "threat" and "threat level") is the fact that the opposite of a "villain" is an "ally", and a "hero" is a totally other thing.

Spoilers for Rebels (again)

It's starting to look a little more like how we see Rex in the finale. His blue pads are gone, and he's in more traditional Stormtrooper armor. I could see him getting those pads at some point.

Also, whenever a character makes the jump from exclusively animated to a more real life interpretation, they tend to look weird. A lot of people thought Hera looked odd when she was first announced, too.

MUST. NOT. CLICK. SPOILER.

7 minutes ago, ManateeX said:

So I don't watch rebels, but this sentence really makes me wish that I did.

I mean, I guess we didn't necessarily see him die, but he's alone with a force sensitive lightsaber wielder on the deck of a crashing star destroyer being pulled through hyperspace by a hundred space whales.

Not a single word of that is inaccurate, or even really hyperbolic. It's a pretty accurate description.

3 minutes ago, FSD said:

MUST. NOT. CLICK. SPOILER.

Don't do it, friend. It's far better to see it for yourself, if you haven't already!

So the rewards page is back up. Does anyone see any difference between what was pulled and what they just posted that might explain why it got pulled? The IA section looks pretty much the same.

If we don't get Endor next, then it'll be a Core Box 2.0 with Rebels tv show theme.

We should expect to get Thrawn, Tarkin, Kallus, Pryce, Inquisitors (6th Brother & 7th Sister since we already have TGI), and possibly Krennic & Deathtroopers for Imperials.

For Scum I'd expect Hondo, Rukh, Ketsu, & a slew of non-uniques.

Rebels we already have Hera, Chopper, & Ahsoka (Fulcrum). I'd expect the rest of the Ghost crew and possibly some Rebels like Mon Mothma, Wedge, & Bail Organa (possibly).

~D

10 minutes ago, HoodieDM said:

If we don't get Endor next, then it'll be a Core Box 2.0 with Rebels tv show theme.

We should expect to get Thrawn, Tarkin, Kallus, Pryce, Inquisitors (6th Brother & 7th Sister since we already have TGI), and possibly Krennic & Deathtroopers for Imperials.

For Scum I'd expect Hondo, Rukh, Ketsu, & a slew of non-uniques.

Rebels we already have Hera, Chopper, & Ahsoka (Fulcrum). I'd expect the rest of the Ghost crew and possibly some Rebels like Mon Mothma, Wedge, & Bail Organa (possibly).

~D

There's just no need for that, though. The Rebels and OT timeline are so closely intertwined, and we already have a ton of Rebels stuff already (Hera and Chop, Ahsoka, Maul, Sentry Droids, Grand Inquisitor, AT-DP, Jet Troopers, a campaign set well before the battle of Yavin... did I miss any?).

If we got a new core box, it would make far more sense to bring the game to an entirely new era- First Order Assault or Separatist Assault. Rebels is essentially part of the OT.

4 minutes ago, subtrendy2 said:

If we got a new core box, it would make far more sense to bring the game to an entirely new era- First Order Assault or Separatist Assault. Rebels is essentially part of the OT.

Yeah, but I expect those to come 3.0 & 4.0 hahaha. Good thing is we have unlimited material to keep IA going

~D

2 minutes ago, HoodieDM said:

Yeah, but I expect those to come 3.0 & 4.0 hahaha. Good thing is we have unlimited material to keep IA going

~D

I like your optimism, at least

I don't think we'd get a box that was explicitly "Rebels" themed, core or otherwise. I could see us getting an "Outer Rim" or "Unknown Territories" box. We've just seen the Heart of the Empire, now we can view the real edges of it. It does kind of tread the same material as TS or JR, but they already don't seem to have any reservations about going back to that well. Doing this would allow FFG to put together missions that deal with Thrawn, Scarif, Endor, Dagobah, Lothal, Korriban, Mandalore, and other places. Heck, come to think of it, the Outer Rim does seem to be where MOST things happen in Star Wars.

More WILD speculation (or at least WILD food for thought). So one of my older theories is that they would release an app for each previous box expansion. So presumably the next one would be for Twin shadows. If that were the case, could the twin shadows tiles be used for Lothal? Might need to also visit Tatooine too to make good use of Tuscans. I don't know...seems like a stretch.

If they went this direction, I'd rather see their app release of Twin Shadows make good use of Obi-Wan and the Bantha rider