Assuming this is like X-Wing and Armada, for OP you will need a physical copy of each card you're using. For example, it looks like the Rebel Troopers expansion comes with a single upgrade card for each (both grenades, grappling hook, scopes, extra trooper, Ion and Z). I'm not sure how many of each card come in the Core (and no Impact Grenades), but I'm hoping it's at least two (enough to cover the two units included).

Does that mean that you can only officially equip Impact Grenades on as many units as you have purchased expansions? No wonder they're so good...

1 hour ago, Big Easy said:

Assuming this is like X-Wing and Armada, for OP you will need a physical copy of each card you're using. For example, it looks like the Rebel Troopers expansion comes with a single upgrade card for each (both grenades, grappling hook, scopes, extra trooper, Ion and Z). I'm not sure how many of each card come in the Core (and no Impact Grenades), but I'm hoping it's at least two (enough to cover the two units included).

Does that mean that you can only officially equip Impact Grenades on as many units as you have purchased expansions? No wonder they're so good...

First, here's a count of how many copies of each card come in each expansion (Not counting personel and hardpoint ugprades)

-There are 4 copies each of Targeting Scopes and Concussion Grenades, as well as two copies of long range comlink and each of the neutral force powers (Battle Meditation, Force Push, Saber Throw, and Force Reflex*), plus one copy of Jedi Mind Trick and Force Choke.

-The corps units come with one climbing hooks and one impact grenades each

-The Heavy units come with one long range comlink and one comms jammer, as does the AT-RT

-The speeder bikes come with two comms jammers and one long range comlink

-Leia and Veers each come with one copy of the command upgrades Commanding Presence and Esteemed Leader, as well as an unrevealed tech upgrade.

As far as whether or not you need multiple copies of an upgrade card to run it on multiple units... The Rules reference Guide does not provide a definitive answer as to whether two units can share the physical copy of an upgrade card, so I suspect we'll have to wait for the Organized Play document. That being said, given previous games, it does seem likely that you will need one copy of an upgrade for each time it appears in your list.

*In case you haven't been following unboxing videos, Force Reflex is 15 points, and you can exhaust it as a free action to gain one dodge token. It is going to be incredibly annoying on Vader.

As with X-Wing and Armada, I fully expect there to be a fairly robust secondary market for upgrade cards from expansion packs. As the upgrades such as grenades, comms, and utility items are repeated in multiple expansions (so far all the vehicle expansion packs have Comms Jammers, all the infantry expansion packs have Impact Grenades + Grappling Hooks) the supply should be much higher than say Armada's Reinforced Blast Doors which are only a single expansion, probably keeping the prices reasonable and significantly cheaper than the price of purchasing the entire expansion.

As to how many of each you need, I expect it will be a case of needing a physical copy of each instance for organized events, but you can easily proxy for casual games so long as your opponent is aware of what each unit is equipped with, and the pertinent rules.