Our last Big Box expansion, Heart of the Empire, was released exactly one year ago from Saturday. Since then we've gotten 1 small box (Tyrants of Lothal) and 4 boosters.

Here's the summary of each year after release:

2015: Core, 1 big box, 1 small box, 17 boosters
2016: 1 big box, 1 small box, 13 boosters
2017: 1 big box, 6 boosters
2018: 1 small box, 4 boosters

Not only has the release schedule slowed considerably, but we had a 6 month gap between when Heart of the Empire was released and when Tyrants of Lothal was announced. The second longest gap was between boxes (release to announcement) was 4 months 7 days between Jabba's realm and Heart of the Empire, but that gap was filled with the Bt/000/chopper/hera/jawa wave, then tyrants came with its own boosters anyway. the 6 month gap between HotE and ToL had absolutely nothing. All the gaps between box announcements before JR were less than 2.5 months, and most were interspersed with small waves.

If FFG doesn't pick up the IA production schedule we shouldn't expect another announcement until around March, which would mean a July release. Our current gap is at 1 month and 18 days. If the production schedule slows down any more, who knows when we'll get more content.

I’d be happy with another app campaign

53 minutes ago, Entek said:

I’d be happy with another app campaign

I'd assume this is most likely the next news we will see.

How long until that I don't know. Probably sometime... pre Christmas maybe?

Imperial Assault App Announced 20th November 2017

Imperial Assault App Released 1st December 2017

Jabbas Realm App Announced 18th July 2018

Jabbas Realm App Released 8th August 2018

Looking at this it took them approximately 7 months between announcements. If we assume development of Jabbas started once Core was done, we could potentially assume a similar time difference to the next announcement (variance on time can be depending on lessons learned/setbacks)

Maybe we can estimate new app announcement in January/February next year?

I'm okay with a slower release schedule, just make the content count. Updating or releasing new maps would solve the competitive side of things. They could even "go back" and use maps that weren't previously released but would work in a competitive enviroment and then release campaign stuff through the app.

just keep releasing.

Or get the community to create content.

As much as I hate the slowed release, I get it. The game could be at an 11 forever.

As long as we actually continue getting content yearly, I'll be happy.

Physical content, by the way. The app is great, but it's not the end all be all for me.

As already stated, the slower production schedule is fine as long as physical content keeps coming.

Honestly, it's probably a good thing they slowed down to really ensure quality and balance of the game. They have also burned through quite a bit of content in three years. I'm not saying they've run out of material to work with, but we don't want IA turning into another X-Wing 1.0. Don't need obscure characters that were mentioned on one page of long forgotten comic books just to keep up production.

On 10/11/2018 at 4:18 PM, The Archangel said:

As already stated, the slower production schedule is fine as long as physical content keeps coming.

Honestly, it's probably a good thing they slowed down to really ensure quality and balance of the game. They have also burned through quite a bit of content in three years. I'm not saying they've run out of material to work with, but we don't want IA turning into another X-Wing 1.0. Don't need obscure characters that were mentioned on one page of long forgotten comic books just to keep up production.

I'm with you on this one. It's still a great game. I'm happy to wait a while for good content. In the meantime, I'm playing fun games with obscure figures using the new attachments and command cards. One of the reasons I got out of X was because of the dominance of obscure figures. I love IA because I can use iconic figures. I'm here to play Star Wars. Otherwise I could be playing other games that could even be better.

One thing with Heart of the Empire is that not only did we get a full big box campaign but we also saw fixes for multiple characters. So that has to count for something with extra content. Also we saw a IG fix in the blister wave before that.. so I will give FFG extra credit for that.

Basically that makes Heart a big box w/ blisters + a blister wave worth of fixes to bring older characters back into the meta. Now it's a catch 22 cause they should have to fix their own mistakes, I agree, but it still needs to count for something.

Lothal also had quite a bit of content with it for a small box. The extended campaign is actually 7 missions, which is only 1 short of HoTE (now i understand the mission variability isn't QUITE as high, but length is close.). Also, I believe one of those is the already existing Hera/Chop mission, but they still wove it into the campaign.

So while the speed of release might have changed, the actual amount of physical product has remained RELATIVELY similar. relatively, not the same. I won't try and pretend it has. All I am saying is that there is a bit more than meets the eye with the last few boxes (get it).

All that being said, it would be really nice to see some more news or at least an indication of what we can expect. You start to lose players the longer we go between updates. Even if it is app content, just give us a heads up, give us SOMETHING to look forward to.

Also, isn't it pretty normal for a board game to start slowing down in year 4? I would expect year 1 for sure and year 2 to be hot and heavy, then to have things slow down as they start to focus on newer and flashier games coming out. My understanding was that board games have an expiration date for competitive play. Especially one as small as IA.

1 hour ago, FrogTrigger said:

Also, I believe one of those is the already existing Hera/Chop mission, but they still wove it into the campaign.

There is no epilogue card in the Hera+Chopper pack (due to causality). You play both of the side missions from the wave 11 ally packs and one of the agenda side missions from the villain packs in the extended Tyrants of Lothal campaign.

hope that doesnt mean they are shutting it down . i mean they keep slowing down releases and 1 year without big box sounds like bad news..

We recently got a new campaign for the app and the front page showed off the latest map to be in the queue for Skirmish rotation.

I know a lot of people on here want their big Skirmish release news, but things are still happening, albeit slowly. I'm sure all the FFG resources are concentrated on that X-Wing/Legion Clone Wars production that's going on behind the scenes. I can't remember (or care) if Armada is getting in on that but either way, it's a lot to get worked through.

If only FFG had more capital while paradoxically producing and maintaining only their Star Wars IP lines and leaving all other brands on the back burner... ?‍♂️

But seriously, this is where having another engrossing game-like substance to get into pays off. It makes for a handy distraction while your "main" interest has to take the long way through our timeline and get to that future point where more news is revealed.

Well, except that a lot of people can’t afford two major money pits.

i like X-Wing, I really do. But Imperial assault was the money pit for me. I’m all in (campaign).

i don’t mind loads of news for other games. I just want a little regular news for my particular niche.

i get that FFG aren’t catering to me specifically, but they do seem to throw ranges by the wayside without so much as a whisper of information to the masses...

how about this; every week they should do a “state of the game” article. Just a paragraph about each range stating something to alleviate the nerves... is that too much to ask?

I don't necessarily think it's a good sign that the next map rotation is coming from an old wave (maul's villain pack). It is nice to get an article, but it's not exactly the answer we were looking for.

13 hours ago, cleardave said:

But seriously, this is where having another engrossing game-like substance to get into pays off. It makes for a handy distraction while your "main" interest has to take the long way through our timeline and get to that future point where more news is revealed.

For sure. If it wasn't for me starting Descent this year, I'd be incredibly frustrated.

I can sympathize with campaign players, as getting new content would be a necessity. I wouldn't really know this as I don't play campaign, yet. As for skirmish players, I can't relate. There's tons of stuff to play with. The game never repeats, so why would new stuff have to keep coming in fast? In fact, I like the idea of having to try all of the new toys and maybe see how the old toys can be used. Agreed, there are a lot of over-costed figures, but it doesn't mean you should never use them. Just git gud .

All-in-all, the IA negativity is lost on me. I'll play this game until it dies. Will I be upset when it dies? Yes. But all games die. Something always comes to take it's place. Whatever that is, I'll sink my money into that. For now, I have no regrets about making IA my #1 game. The other games don't give me the all around satisfaction that IA gives me. I've won Store Championships in X-wing in the toughest Canadian meta, but I can honestly say the gaming experience was nothing compared to the experience in IA tournaments where I didn't even make the cut. So, clearly for me it's not about winning, it's about playing with Star Wars toys for 6-8 hours and not regretting it.

Personally 1 wave ayear is ok. I say this as a camping player. I do wish we saw more app support.

On 10/11/2018 at 4:32 PM, Majushi said:

Maybe we can estimate new app announcement in January/February next year?

Huh, turns out I was right

16 minutes ago, Majushi said:

Huh, turns out I was right

Quick! Predict a new wave announcement in Feb or Mar!!! ; )

Also please predict it will come with Ewoks and a Boba Fett fix and Unkar Plutt and Rose Tico... nah, just kidding, at least about the last two...

On 10/13/2018 at 10:15 AM, FrogTrigger said:

One thing with Heart of the Empire is that not only did we get a full big box campaign but we also saw fixes for multiple characters. So that has to count for something with extra content. Also we saw a IG fix in the blister wave before that.. so I will give FFG extra credit for that.

Basically that makes Heart a big box w/ blisters + a blister wave worth of fixes to bring older characters back into the meta. Now it's a catch 22 cause they should have to fix their own mistakes, I agree, but it still needs to count for something.

Lothal also had quite a bit of content with it for a small box. The extended campaign is actually 7 missions, which is only 1 short of HoTE (now i understand the mission variability isn't QUITE as high, but length is close.). Also, I believe one of those is the already existing Hera/Chop mission, but they still wove it into the campaign.

So while the speed of release might have changed, the actual amount of physical product has remained RELATIVELY similar. relatively, not the same. I won't try and pretend it has. All I am saying is that there is a bit more than meets the eye with the last few boxes (get it).

All that being said, it would be really nice to see some more news or at least an indication of what we can expect. You start to lose players the longer we go between updates. Even if it is app content, just give us a heads up, give us SOMETHING to look forward to.

Also, isn't it pretty normal for a board game to start slowing down in year 4? I would expect year 1 for sure and year 2 to be hot and heavy, then to have things slow down as they start to focus on newer and flashier games coming out. My understanding was that board games have an expiration date for competitive play. Especially one as small as IA.

Oh sweet summer child, hoping beyond hope ..

14 hours ago, Mandelore of the Rings said:

Also please predict it will come with Ewoks and a Boba Fett fix and Unkar Plutt and Rose Tico... nah, just kidding, at least about the last two...

Rose being released would check a lot of boxes for me.

21 hours ago, KalEl814 said:

Rose being released would check a lot of boxes for me

Absolutely. If we got some Canto Bight tiles with her I could pretty much say my IA collection is complete.