Spleenrippa

In between getting distracted by finding the left overs of my Basilisk conversion and falling ill, I managed to slap some paint on this model from the other week. It's the not Spleenrippa from Ramshackle.

Oh, and the left-overs? I'm now halfway through building another Blood Pact tank!

Magic 8-ball

One of the pieces we had commissioned and cast - a lovely ball droid, painted up here as BB-8 from the Force Awakens.

Starwars - More WIPs

From the new novels (New Dawn) work on a Count Vidian model (using a Skitarii model base).

Armada TIE Inteceptors - PIP

Duros Rebel - PIP

Starwars - Gank Commander

Another rapid paint for this week's game. The armour is meant to look like it's made from a stone like material - part of the plot.

Starwars - Skin-suited Assassin

Super fast paint job to get him done for this week's game. He'll be pulling duty as an extra Gank this time.

Deff Dread

Another of the models I finished a long time ago, but never photographed.

Trollforged Gigantic Chaos Spawn WIP

After 4+  years I've finally started on this kit. Looks horrid, isn't great to build (a lot of GS work needed). Still much painting to do. I originally intended to use it as a giant Warp Beast for my DE army when playing Apocalypse, but I might just use it as a Khornate Gigantic Spawn.

Grot Tank - WIP

This is a lovely little model from Maxmini - in just two parts (main body and the plow).

Spleenrippa - WIP

This is from Ramshackle Games, and I finally got it assembled. Hope to get some paint on it soon.

Imperial Assault, my thoughts on what's coming for 2017

This is the third and final part of my thoughts on FFG's Starwars miniatures games' possible releases in 2017, and covers Imperial Assault.

The usual format for these releases in a boxed addon with four blisters with additional troops or characters, and I can't see that changing this year. Following on from their timeline progression releases, I expect we'll have sets themed from Return of the Jedi and then possibly Rogue One. I'd expect the RoTJ set to have reversible board pieces for Deathstar/Imperial base and base Endor/Forest. Rogue One could fill several expansions but I'd expect the tiles in the first to represent Jedha and possibly rocky terrain like Eadu or an Imperial prison world , like the one in which Jyn is being held.

As for which miniatures that we're likely to see, FFG tends to use characters whose fate is already known, i.e. either the character is canonically dead, or the version of the character only represents how they were in a particular era. For example, we only got the Grand Inquisitor once he'd been killed in the Rebels series, and Luke is being released with different stats based on how far down the Jedi path he was. Here's what I think we may see this year:

Jyn Erso, Cassian Andor, K-2SO, Baze Malbus, Chirrut Imwe and Bohdi Rook

Definitely likely if we see a Rogue One set - some these will be blister pack addon heroes.

Death Troopers

Possibly as a troops pack, or in the boxed addon. If they are in the latter, then we might see a commander type as a blister.

Scarif Troopers

As above, and given the R1 information book claims these guys are all sergeant grade, then we'd get some interesting mechanics from them as well.

Rebels from the Scariff Assault

Same scenario as the above 2 thoughts, and again with enough named characters (including a non human), we could also see a blister pack commander from these guys.

Orson Krennic

Ideal blister pack solo figure.

Ewoks

If we have an Endor set, they're likely to be included. With some named ones like Wicket or the Shaman, we have some potential blister pack solo figures too.

Scout Troopers (Jetbikes)

Several of the boxes feature vehicles or larger monsters and the jetbike could easily fit that role for the RoTJ one. Failing that, scout troopers in the same addon could easily provide the Imperial in-box troops additions.

Ghost Crew (Rebels)

While I think these would fit well into IA, I don't think we'll see them while their story is still being told in the TV series, well unless they suffer a demise, or like Luke have some sort of story-line progression in their powers, which Ezra does.

Thrawn

He makes an excellent anti-hero, and he'd fit in well with the game too. I think we may see him simply because he's iconic in the old EU and he'd sell well.

"Numbered" Inquisitors

The ones we saw in Rebels before Maul cut them down. I think these could work in a pack like R2 and Threepio, but I get the feeling we won't, as we already have Vader and the Grand Inquisitor, but I remain hopeful!

Maul

He's making a comeback in Rebels, so he's a candidate in my view, and also I suspect Obi-Wan will kill him at the end of Season 3, so he fits the original criteria of having a known fate.

Saw and his Partisans

Plenty of odd-ball heroes in this gang from Rogue One, plus Saw is now in Rebels too. I think Saw is likely to feature even if none of the others.

Mandalorian Jet Troopers

These troops have been seen serving the Empire, but are probably  too similar to the rebel jet troopers from the latest IA release.

Armada, my thoughts on what's coming for 2017

Following on from yesterday's X-Wing post (which I updated this morning due to my poor memory), this is my thoughts on Armada's arrivals in 2017.

Hammerhead Corvette

They've been in Rebels and Rogue One (albeit different designs) so it's almost a dead certainty we'll get them for Armada - I'd expect them in the next wave. Probably a small base ship with the two configurations representing the variant designs from both sources.

Quasar Fire Carrier

From Rebels, owned by the Empire stolen by the Rebels. I like the chances of this appearing giving us more rules for carrier type ships. Technically it's an Imperial ship, so I think we'll see it issued as that, however perhaps we could see a Rebels version in a campaign pack or similar.

MC-75 (Profundity)

Almost a dead cert, with a Raddus card, as they'll want to capitalise on Rogue One's popularity. If it's not in the next wave, I'd stake money on the one after. Given the lead time FFG need to produce a new ship they may not have had that from even an early screening of the new film, hence the why I think they might wait until the wave due next Christmas.

Braha'tok Gunship

Another one from Rogue One, and also from RoTJ. This would make an ideal ship to release in the next wave as there's nothing to be gained by waiting for the film to get details - also I think we might see something like this as a flotilla on a larger base. the rules don't preclude that idea, and I think FFG will ultimately use that mechanic somewhere.

U-Wing + K-Wing 

Likely in the next Rebels fighter pack, but we're well stocked for squadrons at the moment - probably next year.

TIE Punisher + TIE Striker

As above, but in the next Imperial fighter pack.

Carrion Spike

It's been in the new canon novels, so it could make an appearance, given we've just had a small base Imperial ship, it's another thing I think will fall into 2018.

X-Wing, my thoughts on what's coming for 2017

I've been playing mostly Starwars games of late, and all of those are from FFG's stable. I just wanted to put down my thoughts, in a series blog articles, on what I think we're likely to see on the tabletop, given all the recent additions to canon. First off I want to take a look at what ships might make it to X-Wing.

Mining Guild TIE

This has now been seen in two series of Rebels, so I expect it to make an entrance in X-Wing very soon, probably the next wave. It's relatively cheap to tool since it's just new solar panels on the existing TIE body, plus it makes some of the cards from Sabine's TIE more useful across all factions.

RZ-1 A-Wing

With both Ashoka and Hera having custom paint job A-Wings, these are potential fodder for inclusion in a future aces style pack. Given we've also seen a 2 seat trainer version of the A-wing in Rebels, it'd give the option for a refit giving a crew slot. There's also all the new pilots from Phoenix squadron to add, so there's some mileage there too for some named and generic pilots. That all said, I don't think we'll see these too soon though as we've already had an aces pack with an A-Wing, but who knows what may happen should they need to fill out a wave?

X-Wing (T-65)

I suspect an aces pack including one or two of these will be along shortly,  as people are calling for a fix for the aging starfighter to bring it up to spec on the current tournament circuit. With Rogue One we now have options for the Partisan paint scheme as well as Green and Blue wings. General Merrick would be a likely ace pilot, as would some named Partisans. Generics would be very easy to add for any of these schemes too.

Y-Wing

I'm unsure if we'll see one of these soon, a Blue Wing example could easily join a T-65 in an aces pack (we haven't seen a Rebel Y-Wing in an aces pack yet), and there are certainly suitable pilots from Rogue One. I'm 50% on this, I think chances are definitely higher if we see the combine X/Y-wing pack as "Heroes of Scarif" or similar.

B-Wing

The prototype B-Wing has featured in Rebels armed with a special weapon so this would give some scope to add it to the game. Like the A-Wing, it's been seen as an Aces example already, so personally I doubt we'll see this version released any time soon - but who knows, we've seen a one off TIE scheme.

Scum Epic Ship

Surely one of these must be on the way soon, could this be the missing SKU from the last release? An Action series transport or the Crusader corvette would be suitable size wise, and with the former, background is available in the EU with the Wilde Kaarde.

Scum Aces Pack

I think these will be a bit more difficult to produce given most of the S+V ships seem to come with the most well known pilots. Obviously it's not beyond FFG to create new pilots, but working from established materials tends to be their preference where they can. Darth Maul's Fang fighter would make an alternate scheme for one S+V ship (Protectorate starfighter) so we could see that, or maybe Black Sun versions of the M3 etc. I'm on the fence over whether we'll see these in 2017 though, just because this faction tends to get more ships each release as it is.

Delta Class Shuttle

I very much think this will make X-Wing at some point, but I doubt it'll be in the next couple of waves. We're about to get Kylo Ren's shuttle, and we already have the Lambda one, so I don't think this would be a good addition for Imperials at the moment.

Sentinel Landing Craft

These have made appearances in Rebels, and Hondo now flies one, so I think odds of one appearing are quite good. Given the comments on the Delta, I don't think they would add much to the Imperials at the moment, but Hondo's repainted example could easily slot into the S+V offerings.

Imperial Cargo Shuttle

Pretty much the same thoughts as for the Delta.

Death Trooper Transport

Again, cool but we're swamped with Imperial shuttles, but then again see my thoughts on the Striker.

TIE Striker

We didn't see this in the movie, but some of the books published since suggest this craft has a room for extra armaments, and a 2 man crew. This could give options for some title cards that represent variants, and these would open the possibility of an Aces pack TIE Striker plus the Death Trooper Transport since that mirrors the movie scene. Personally I don't think we'll see this in 2017.

Sheathipede Shuttle

This is the shuttle the Rebels acquired to replace the Phantom, and is of course an old Clone Wars design. I expect we'll see this added to the Rebels in the next few waves since they seem keen to add the Ghost crew piloting as many things as possible. It may get held back if they want to use it to add pilots from the later Rebels series.

Resistance Transport

While I personally have little interest in this ship, given we've had Kylo's shuttle I expect it to appear in 2017.

Edit 12/01/17

I realised there are a few ships from my scribbled notes I never added to this post - thanks to the guys on Facebook for jogging my memory.

Scurrg H6

Nym's bomber from Armada. Most fighters from  Armada have the 1/270 scale versions in X-Wing, but this is the one that doesn't. It'll come, I'm sure of it, but with the number of large base ships that the S+V faction has, I'd not expect it soon. (Nym being a pirate rather than a rebel)

Naboo N1

Leia flies one of these in the new canon comics, albeit only with 2 other named pilots. Given what we've seen from the ARC-170, this would work in much the same way, with maybe a single generic to fill in the reverse on the ship base card. I'm sort of 50/50 on this one appearing since the prequels are divisive in the fanbase, but it is a cool looking ship with some interesting options (lightweight fighter with a droid  slot).