Since squad building will be done via the X-wing app in 2.0, trying out new content (upgrades, pilot abilities, actions?) could potentially be available to try out and smooth out any kinks before they might get included for real in an expansion. A larger pool to test in could garner so much more data than ever before.

That sounds like it would be win-win for the players and FFG to me.

Thoughts?

1 minute ago, Force Majeure said:

Since squad building will be done via the X-wing app in 2.0, trying out new content (upgrades, pilot abilities, actions?) could potentially be available to try out and smooth out any kinks before they might get included for real in an expansion. A larger pool to test in could garner so much more data than ever before.

That sounds like it would be win-win for the players and FFG to me.

Thoughts?

I would like it, but the commonly mentioned problems may still apply. would be worth a try however!

Yes. This would be the equivalent of a public test realm, or a beta, with closed testing or alpha the old equivalent. Not saying the old system should disappear, but it could be good to announce content at the same time that a public build is made available. Thousands of people will find more broken interactions faster, and it bypasses limited playtesters not disclosing broken combos in order to use them themselves. So, the two phases of testing: internal and limited to rough obvious edges, and public to rough fringe cases. It would definitely help the marketing department too, making people more excited to play with the new stuff.

To play the devil's advocate, wouldn't that give a head start to expert players who already dominate the X-Wing world? They would get to play with and perfect features to an upcoming expansion before it even comes out so that by the time it hits the market they're doing things nobody has seen before and don't have an answer to.

Well, they would have the same opportunity as the rest of us, no? Some people are just better at certain things. And if they find things that are overpowered early FFG can make the correction early. That's the dream, right? To minimize negative play experience and give as many players an opportunity to lose themselves in whatever aspect of the game they find their joy in as they can, be it list building, dog fighting, competitive level play, thematic play, etc., etc., etc.

The rising tide raises all ships.