I have been working on documenting my growing X-Wing collection in an Excel spreadsheet.

One of the patterns I have noticed has to do with Target Lock tokens.

The Base game comes with 12 such tokens, (A, B) through (K, L). Starting with the X-Wing Expansion Pack, new tokens were added (M, N) and (O, P), specifically.

The Y-Wing brought (Q, R) and the TIE Advanced brought (S, T) and (U, V).

The A-Wing brought (W, X) and the HWK-290 (Y, Z).

What I find interesting is the recent cases where new ships are supplied with Target Locks that already exist.

The Lambda Shuttle was released with (M, N) which doubles up an X-Wing set.

The TIE Bomber had (O, P), doubling up with the other X-Wing Expansion set.

The B-Wing Expansion came with (S, T)...skipping the chance to double up with the next available set of Target Locks (Q, R).

My hypothesis is the following: when Target Lock tokens need to double up, FFG prefers to have one set be Rebel and one set be Imperial. Also, no double ups have been released which double the tokens found in the Base Game.

Thus, I predict that the next ships in Wave 4+ that need Target Lock tokens will follow this pattern:

(Q, R) - Imperial

(U, V) - Rebel

and maybe

(W, X) - Imperial

(Y, Z) - Imperial

Of course, this is a weak pattern, so to speak. They might also follow the trend set by the Millennium Falcon and Slave-I: no Target Lock tokens supplied.

We get our first chance to test this pattern with the release of Imperial Aces. I can't tell from the photos which target lock pair that product contains.

I guess I hope it is (Q, R).

An interesting hypothesis. It'll be interesting to see if your predictions bear out.

Also: YAY SCIENCE.

Another two guesses are we will see an asymmetric Wave 4 in terms of ship sizes by affiliation and that the release date will be Feb 2014.

I think the Rebels will be the only faction getting a Large ship this next time, and I think it will be YT-2400 "Outrider".

I wouldn't be surprised to see the Imperials get a smallish vessel that still has the option of crew members aboard (a la HWK-290; a $14.95 small ship).

The smallish Imperial vessel might be something like the Delta-class DX-9 stormtrooper transport or the Spacetrooper deploying Gamma-class assault shuttle.

The DX-9 would be a good vessel for fans of the video games, and could add a lot in terms of Missions, etc. It would be terrible in a dogfight.

The Gamma-class could potentially deploy spacetroopers...that could be cool, but also not quite in the realm of dogfighting.

I would also guess that the TIE Defender will be the other Imperial ship, as it looks so cool and would fit thematically.

The other (small) Rebel ship would almost have to be the Z-95 Headhunter, I guess.

Rebel:

YT-2400 (Large) - $29.95

Z-95 Headhunter (Small) - $14.95

Imperial:

TIE Defender (Small) - $14.95

something else (Small) - $14.95

Released:

Feb 2014

Actually I don't even know if a Feb 2014 release is possible. I don't recall how far in advance we heard of each wave being released. Thus far, however, this game has gotten expansions every August and February.

Assault gunboat? anyone?

I think another bounty hunter ship could be in order for the Imperials.

Bossk's ship, the Hound's Tooth , is far too big at 62m in length.

Dengar's Punishing One is a much better fit, at 20m (and listed as a starfighter). No extra crew possible, but still a decent idea.

IG88's IG-2000 is also 20m long.

Zuckuss & 4-Lom's Mist Hunter is 15m long and could have an extra crew member. This is probably the best choice for an analog to the HWK-290.

Four pilots for the G-1A starfighter would be a problem:

Zuckuss

4-Lom

Random Bounty Hunter 1

Random Bounty Hunter 2

4-Lom also could show up as a crew card (just like Chewie in the Falcon; pilot and crew)

Title: Mist Hunter

Modification: Tractor Beam

JumpMaster 5000

pilots: Dengar, Manaroo, two other generics

Title: Punishing One

Astromech slot (a first for Imperials?)

Ion Cannon comes standard?

The Assault Gunboat would seem to fit the bill; but it looks almost exactly like the Lambda-class shuttle.

It seems likely that Wave 4 will introduce Tractor Beams in some way. That would continue a trend toward new tidbits of rules coming out with each wave.

The Assault Gunboat and Mist Hunter would both make use of this technology.

As much as I hate all these multiple prediction pages seeing they just repeat themselves every time(TIE defender blah blah blah, Z-95 or E-Wing blah blah blah) but just because I haven't seen anyone mention this;

TIE Scout and TIE Vanguard, both of which were in the movies if I recall. No clue what they would do.

I hope not the JumpMaster, I really don't like the look of that thing... The Ansel version of the Assault Gunboat is really nice though so a thumbs up for that.

http://www.modelermagic.com/?p=8603

The Assault Gunboat idea is growing on me, especially since it would be small and it is said to have access to a tractor beam.

I would venture that the tractor beam tie-in to Mist Hunter might be enough for those two to get the nod.

Best guess:


Rebels:

YT-2400 Outrider $29.95

Z-95 Headhunter $14.95

(really the last two iconic ships I can think of easily)

Imperials:

Assault Gunboat $14.95

G1-A Mist Hunter $14.95

New Rules Card: Tractor Beams

As much as I hate all these multiple prediction pages seeing they just repeat themselves every time(TIE defender blah blah blah, Z-95 or E-Wing blah blah blah) but just because I haven't seen anyone mention this;

TIE Scout and TIE Vanguard, both of which were in the movies if I recall. No clue what they would do.

A forum like this is almost 100% about speculation. Don't read the posts if they upset you.

I have no recollection of a TIE Scout or TIE Vanguard in the movies.

As to release dates, I suspect Wave 2 was announced in May at FFG and released in August at GenCon.

The Falcon and Slave-I were announced in September and released in Feb release.

So, unfortunately, we likely need a 5 month lead time between the announcement and delivery. So I suppose Wave 4 will be revealed in May and released at GenCon in August.

As much as I hate all these multiple prediction pages seeing they just repeat themselves every time(TIE defender blah blah blah, Z-95 or E-Wing blah blah blah) but just because I haven't seen anyone mention this;

TIE Scout and TIE Vanguard, both of which were in the movies if I recall. No clue what they would do.

A forum like this is almost 100% about speculation. Don't read the posts if they upset you.

I have no recollection of a TIE Scout or TIE Vanguard in the movies.

More that I don't like how they just repeat themselves over and over again and act like it is brand new. I'm all for interesting ideas but this thread is recreated every few weeks with the same thoughts usually. This one at least started unique.

But further thought on this, the TIE Scout could have a copilot slot and be a small ship like the HWK.

As to release dates, I suspect Wave 2 was announced in May at FFG and released in August at GenCon.

The Falcon and Slave-I were announced in September and released in Feb release.

So, unfortunately, we likely need a 5 month lead time between the announcement and delivery. So I suppose Wave 4 will be revealed in May and released at GenCon in August.

Actually, Wave 2 was announced at Gencon, in August, with a predicted release of Dec. But, the release got pushed back to Feb, even though we got the Kessel Run tournaments.

I would imagine that we would get an announcement 3 months prior to the original release plan. I still hope there is a chance for Wave 4 to be a spring release, depending on how reprints, Aces, and the release plan for the Corvette and Transport mess up with the factory time.

Assault gunboat? anyone?

I'm all for it! I'd take the Gunboat over the TIE Defender anytime. And the Gamma class shuttle would be nice too, I'd like to see a couple of Gammas with Gunboat escort boarding a Rebel Corvette...

I really like the sound of an outrider, still being somewhat new to this. Still, cool looking ship.

I think as the whole "cinematic" play is coming out, FFG will be focusing on a specific time in the movies that all of the fighters they have currently exist. I think the theme/time period they are going with will be The Empire Strikes Back and basically everything 3 ABY.

I began to read a little bit further into the GR-75 Transport that is coming out (along with the X-wing repaint with Wes Jansen and Jek Porkins as pilots) and I think that having The Mist Hunter (Zuckuss and 4-LOM's G-1A fighter) would be a perfect match for a wave 4 Imperial release, especially with the new "cinematic" play.

In the book Tales of the Bounty Hunters Zuckuss helps disable the GR-75 Bright Hope which princess Leia was supposed to ride out in covered by half of Rogue Squadron. The Bright Hope held the distinction of being escorted by six T-65 X-wing starfighters as it made its desperate run through the blockading line of Star Destroyers , including fighters piloted by Wedge Antilles , Derek Klivian , Wes Janson , ^[2] and Lieutenant Tarn Mison .

What we know about the transport, aside from barely anything, are the names of the two X-wing pilots. I think that the transport crew itself may consist of a couple no named ship captains and some special crew members i.e. Toryn Farr and Colonel Ledick Firest. The possibilities also include Carlist Rieekan and the transport he escaped on as well, but considering that we are getting Wes Jansen, I think the GR-75 coming out will be the Bright Hope.

Zuckuss and the Bright Hope go hand in hand so I think as wave 4 comes out, the Imperials will see another bounty hunter ship revealed.

The Outrider, and mainly Dash Rendar, also play a huge role in the whole 3 ABY era and I expect to see a 2400 freighter coming to the Rebellion. Kind of like a second Falcon with another kick ass, less expensive, Han Solo with a jerk robot side-kick instead of Chewie.

Starfighters? Why not the StarViper class fighter ( Virago) for the Imps? and maybe the Rebels get an Aces Expansion or Z-95? I am not giving up hope for the Z-95, but I feel that ship is doomed to be a constant *fill in the blank* ship for every *next* Rebel wave.

just my random strange guesses for the strange guess thread.

What InstantAequitas states makes perfect sense.

Although I'd more like to see the TIE Defender coming out instead of bounty hunter ships I have never herar od nor seen before, sporting a Star Wats-unlikely design ... it just makes sense.

Now, I'm sure FFG's game designers WANT to make ships that would fit perfectly. BUT ... gues what - its the sales figures that count in the end. And I think that the decision-makers of FFG think it would be best to release a more popular ship instead.

For the HWK ... maybe this was like kind of an experiment. Its a ship most players havn't seen before. So I guess some love it, some hate it and the majority still is unsure about it. Now the sales figures count. "Can we dare to release mostly unknown EU ships?" This is question FFG is pounding about. And HWK's sales figures will give them the answer.

I would like the idea having different bountyhunter ships, so at the end you could thread them like kind a third party fraction if you want to. We got the firespeay and there were the other bountyhunters instructed by Vader in Episode V - so why don't get them all! Even the Hounds' Tooth would fit into the new epic scale! Yeah, the bountyhunters could get their own capital ship! This would be awesome!

The Z-95 I think is a given, just a matter of if, not when. I'd throw in a question about the Cloakshape fighter as well.... But I wouldn't know which current faction it would fit under, as it is primarily a pirate/mercenary vessel.

I'd like to see the YT-2400, and perhaps the TIE Defender. At this point, until the big ships are closer to being released, we may not newer much about what's coming up for wave 4.