I can't wait to start playing this game!
I prefer painted minis so I expect that I'll use my WotC minis as proxies for the FFG ones, and it looks like most of them are right to scale with our WotC minis. And hey, anything that allows me to get more use out of my beloved SWM collection is worthwhile.
There will be some size differences, though: some of the FFG minis are 1-square skinnier than their WotC counterparts:
--AT-ST (3x2)
--Probe Droid (1x1)
--E-Web trooper (2x1)
For simplicity's sake I guess that I'll just have to use the FFG minis for those ones.
Imperial Assault has 2 game modes:
1.
Campaign-mode, very similar to Descent 2E, for those of you who are familiar with it. With 30+ encounters, your heroes gain more experience and abilities and gear by successfully completing missions. You can team up with "the" heroes like Han and Luke occasionally, but your characters are different (there's a smuggler, a wookiee, a bothan, etc). I expect that this game will in many ways replace the SW:Campaign Edition that some of us have been playing. Maybe I'm jumping the gun with that assumption though. Regardless, my kids love Descent and they've often commented that
"It would be SO cool if they made a Star Wars version of it!" Yes, my kids are gaming geniuses...it must be in the genes. lol j/k ;)
2.
Skirmish-mode, which I am most excited for. Weeks and Dennis and I were speaking with the game's main designer at GenCon, and I've been completely nerdy about it ever since. It seems to have a very similar concept to SWM (build your squad, try to outmaneuver and/or eliminate your opponent's squad in order to score the point total), separate factions (currently Rebel, Imperial, and Mercenary), doors (but NO door locking!!).
But there are also some added features like variable maps which are built using the game's interlocking map pieces (rather than a maplist) and a Command Deck (single-use cards which allow you to do extra stuff on your turn). There are also variable Victory Conditions or Missions that you can work toward which seem to work like Gambit, only better; they give victory points toward the point total, but will require you to focus on them, rather than just camping in a hidden spot while waiting for your opponent to come to you.
Oh, and one other thing: with X-Wing FFG has already proven their dedication to supporting organized play of their games: Regionals, Store Championships, World Championship, event prizes, etc. Well, at GenCon they already stated that they've got the same thing planned for the skirmish mode of Imperial Assault! So we'll finally have an officially structured and supported tournament scene again! And if X-Wing is anything to go by, it'll leave WotC's attempt in the dust.
We don't know a lot of the Skirmish rules yet, but from what I have seen, it looks really exciting. When it comes out, you can bet that I'll be making a Vassal mod for the Skirmish game. :)
The game is due to release before January, but we don't have an exact release date yet. Expansions are already planned (and previewed) over at the FFG website. I'll have more grounds for my recommendation once I actually get my hands on a copy of the game, but for now I want to encourage all SWM players to check it out.
Imperial Assault Core Game listingImperial Assault Expansion Pack listings