[Faithful Reader]

Here is a rundown of sets that are in the pipeline.

Project Justice
What is it: With each set, cards that are created but not in the final product, for whatever reason, they go into a cut file that designers have access to it. It is not uncommon for a designer to look at it when a set is being initially developed and see what cards can be salvaged but Project Justice takes these cards and gets them into presentable shape. This is a rainbow set with a good mix of cards, eighteen thus far.
Progress: This is going through testing and is in Rules and Creative review.
When will it come out: Mid 2023

Project Shackleton
What is it: A set that is all about the missions with a focus on things that have not gotten a focus for a while such as Cadets or MACO. Right now, the set consists entirely of missions but some supporting personnel for those missions are not out of the realm of possibilities. There are thirty-five cards in the file currently.
Progress: Design is ongoing, and playtesting has been going through the set.
When will it come out: Late 2023

Project Galen
What is it: The Vidiians will be first new affiliation added to the game since Starfleet was added by Decipher in 2006. There are a couple ideas how to work out the affiliation and we will go with the best one. Expect between 54 and 72 cards in the final product.
Progress: Very early with the design team formed.
When will it come out: 2024.

Project Hamlet
What is it: There are several cards bearing the Original Series and Earth icons. This project will focus on separating the two but making sure that there is a good environment to do so. Paranoia cards will be impacted giving them a boost along with skills that will be lost for TOS cards. Other affiliations will get some material to fill in skill holes. Expect 27 cards.
Progress: A design team has been assembled.
When will it come out: 2024. Depending on how things go with Galen, this might come out before that set.

Project TBD
What is it: A ship and commanders rainbow set. Think along the lines of missing captains for ships such as the Mirror Defiant and missing ships for existing commanders.
Progress: This is in the proposal stage; a team has not been selected.
When will it come out: Pending approval, 2024. If this moves quickly enough and there are problems with Galen, this might come out after Hamlet but before Galen.

[Fritzinger]

I really appreciate this. Ross is doing great work pealing back the curtain.

[TyKajada]

....

Project Ashur
In: Development/Playtesting
What's going on? Playtesting is going along well. It happened to be testing the fourth iteration as of this exact date, in case you are interested.
Anticipated release: Fall 2017 with an emphasis on not mucking up Worlds.

....

This time title sheet of the Zero Hour pdf didn't have a teaser for the next expansion....
Any hints on what the next expansion is about ...?
Thanks for the update..

[KillerB]

Any hints on what the next expansion is about ...?

With Phase II winding down... instead of a theme coming from the top, then a lead and team being assigned to it. The designers pitch ideas, then the teams are selected.

Charlie is trying new things and designers gets to flex their brain muscles.

[Faithful Reader]

With Phase II winding down... instead of a theme coming from the top, then a lead and team being assigned to it. The designers pitch ideas, then the teams are selected.

There's not a whole lot I'll be able to say publicly on this until November, at the earliest. Let's just say that there are some changes going on behind the scenes with design, but there is no danger, certainly nothing to worry about.

[Danny]

This is a rundown of where things are on the Second Edition side in terms of upcoming sets. It will be updated as things happen.

Project Ashur
Anticipated release: Fall 2017 with an emphasis on not mucking up Worlds.

How many days/weeks before Worlds is enough time to ensure the release of the product doesn't cause any muck?

[monty42]

This is a rundown of where things are on the Second Edition side in terms of upcoming sets. It will be updated as things happen.

Project Ashur
Anticipated release: Fall 2017 with an emphasis on not mucking up Worlds.

How many days/weeks before Worlds is enough time to ensure the release of the product doesn't cause any muck?

I'm just guessing but I think it's actually supposed to mean that it's gonna release after worlds.

[Faithful Reader]

This is a rundown of where things are on the Second Edition side in terms of upcoming sets. It will be updated as things happen.

Project Ashur
Anticipated release: Fall 2017 with an emphasis on not mucking up Worlds.

How many days/weeks before Worlds is enough time to ensure the release of the product doesn't cause any muck?

We'll, if it's legal for the week if Worlds, that's a problem. If it releases but is not legal, not so much. We've already played the set-releases-at-Worlds-or-so-help-me situation, and it won't happen again. It just so happens that we have a train/expansion and another train/worlds that might be arriving at the same time and it's my job to make sure there is no explosion. If that means exchanging PMs with OP to take care of, so be it.

Don't worry though, staff has... politely suggested a target date and it is doable.

[Danny]

So, the plan is to have the next set released after Worlds wraps up (or released the week Worlds starts, meaning it's legal for when Worlds wraps up), and then to have another set afterwards, before time is called on 2017?

Worlds events kick off on the 5th October. So we'll have Ashur released in the next 3.5 months, and then another one released in the 2.5 months after that? Given the problems that have recently been experienced (be they technical, transitional, or miscellaneous) causing the delay for Zero Hour, is this release schedule optimistic or realistic?

[Faithful Reader]

So we'll have Ashur released in the next 3.5 months, and then another one released in the 2.5 months after that?

It's not something I'm worried about at this point except yes, Post Ashur might be pushed into early 2018 if it needs to be. But it is way too premature to make that determination. I'm not worried and there's no reason for anyone else to be, other than the fact that 2017 may end up being the year of two expansions (but not two products).

I am meeting with staff to discuss this. I can give an update shortly thereafter.

[Danny]

I'm not worried and there's no reason for anyone else to be, other than the fact that 2017 may end up being the year of two expansions (but not two products).

Oh, so there's potentially something else (boutiquey?) in the pipeline too? I didn't realise that. If that's the case, then two products for the remainder of 2017 (Ashur and the boutique) is understandable and, in my mind, acceptable.

Carry on. As you were.

[Jono]

It would be cool to have the next set release Worlds weekend - maybe we could get a couple of the cards as foils for prizes?

[Peers]

Two years ago, Day One of Worlds had 37 people for 2E on Day One.

Last year, 20.

This year, it'll be somewhere in the teens.

God forbid we cause our huge population of upper-tier players to have to -prove- their skills by dealing with some brand-new cards in the months or weeks leading up to Worlds. Far better to keep the rest of the playerbase, who just went through the longest period in the game's existence without a new set, sitting around twiddling their thumbs.

This, right here, is what I've been saying is wrong here. The CC doesn't service thousands of players. Hell, if the numbers are right, last year's Worlds accounted for 10% of the 2E-playing population. And yet every decision seems to be made as if it came from Wizards of the freakin' Coast.

Stop being so freakin' serious and let the majority of the playerbase have their fun. If they're still here.

[monty42]

Two years ago, Day One of Worlds had 37 people for 2E on Day One.

Last year, 20.

This year, it'll be somewhere in the teens.

God forbid we cause our huge population of upper-tier players to have to -prove- their skills by dealing with some brand-new cards in the months or weeks leading up to Worlds. Far better to keep the rest of the playerbase, who just went through the longest period in the game's existence without a new set, sitting around twiddling their thumbs.

This, right here, is what I've been saying is wrong here. The CC doesn't service thousands of players. Hell, if the numbers are right, last year's Worlds accounted for 10% of the 2E-playing population. And yet every decision seems to be made as if it came from Wizards of the freakin' Coast.

Stop being so freakin' serious and let the majority of the playerbase have their fun. If they're still here.

The majority of the playerbase isn't who's travelling to the majority of events.
Worlds two years ago means bullshit. Of those 37 at least half were one offs or people who rarely play.
Last year's worlds was a gathering of 20 highly competitive players, each one of which could've made it into day 2. It was an incredible showing of quality and dedication to the game and I expect this year's worlds to be no less.
These are the people who keep this game going and it's only fair that they are the ones who determine where this game is going!

[Faithful Reader]

God forbid we cause our huge population of upper-tier players to have to -prove- their skills by dealing with some brand-new cards in the months or weeks leading up to Worlds.

Point the first, I said Worlds not All Worlds Events.

Point the second, I'll work with other departments.

Point the third, during this 'longest period ever between sets,' I've had plenty of people on my tail, including the week that I'm getting things in order.

Point the third and a half, two of them were my bosses.

Point the fourth, things are preceding apace.