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What I’d Like to See From the Battle of Geonosis Beat in 2026

Posted by Bret on 09/03/25 at 07:05 AM Category: Vintage Collection

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Click HERE to back the Vintage Collection LAAT/i Gunship HasLab campaign

All eyes are on the final 5+ days of the LAAT/i Haslab campaign. As I sit to write this around 2am ET, the total backer count is 4298. According to Mr. Miko, as of midnight, the daily count was 102. So the Red Five event wasn't just a blip; it appears that momentum is carrying forward into the week. This is a good sign as we head into the last weekend.

So I got to thinking about the Battle of Geonosis beat that Hasbro has announced as the TVC focus for 2026, and what I'd like to see. As a general rule (there are always exceptions) I prefer newness/debuts to redos/updates. I want to expand my collection, not just make incremental changes. This has been my main gripe about the LAAT/i. As I've explained multiple times in editorials or in the comments, I am a big supporter of this Haslab campaign (I'm backing 3 so far), but it doesn't change the fact that I died a little inside when it was the first TVC Haslab to be an update to something we already have. I'm not minimizing the spectacular nature of this work of art, but for me, there's no escaping that I have perfectly cromulent Gunships (8 total) in my collection already. The Khetanna, The Razor Crest, The Ghost, and The Cantina are all debut items that elevate my displays in a way that a resculpt cannot. And don't argue with me that the POTF2 cardboard set is a legitimate Cantina making the Haslab a "redo." That's utter nonsense. And also, for clarity, I am not against redos and updates in TVC (although I definitely prefer debut items almost every time), I simply didn't want this for a Haslab campaign.

But anyway, I am excited about this LAAT/i funding, even it isn't my dream product. So what about the Battle of Geonosis? We've already been told that we're getting a new Padmé and Shaak Ti. While I think both characters are due for updates, this still doesn't thrill me. The helmeted P1 Clone is also nice to have, but I'm not dreaming about it. And based on that sketch that was released a few weeks ago, it's been strongly hinted (not confirmed) that we could also be getting some updated droid figures. So far everything that's been revealed and rumored is an updated to something I already have in my collection. I can honestly say that while everything that I have seen so far from the Return to Tatooine is nice, but lacks any debuts. I can forgive this a bit, because at least the Cantina and Tonnika Sisters are debuts, and I have high hopes for the rumored alien 4-pack. But it's overwhelmingly about the updates.

But I want newness, dammit! I've been collecting long enough that I should be rewarded with new stuff once in a while, or else I might get bored of it all. So here's what I would like to see for the Battle of Geonosis to make me feel better about the rescuptapalooza that is the Gunship campaign.

Republic Forward Command Center

Forward Command Center

This is a no brainer to me, and it's specifically the place that Yoda commands his LAAT/i him to take. It even lands right next to the command center. Of course, we'd need a Clone Commander to go with it.

Sheathipede

Sheathipede

The mini-rig that came with the Ghost doesn't cut it - and doesn't even really count, since is tiny stature was specifically meant to accommodate it's scale relative to the Ghost. We need one that is to scale (or close enough to it).

Orray w/Cart

Orray

Orray with Cart

The Orray may be my most wanted beast. Its omission from the line has been puzzling since 2002. We need an Orray with the cart, and a Geonosian rider/picador.

Geonosian LR1K Sonic Cannon

Geonosis Cannon

The LR1K Cannon is also conspicuously absent from the arena battle. Let's get one, along with a Geonosian cannoneer.

Separatists

Separatist Council

We are missing Rune "Rune Haako" Haako, Tikkes, and Wogra Rodrata. Need 'em now.

Solar Sailer

Solar Sailer

This one is a stretch for me. While I think Dooku needs his ride, the scale and design of the ship don't really make sense in 3.75 scale. The sail is just too large and ridiculous. I'm already not interested in overly wingy updates to things like the Imperial Shuttle and U-Wing, so it's hard to support a giant solar parachute thing with a tiny pod as a ship. But at least its never been done before, so that counts for something.

Updates

There are, of course, some updates that I believe are absolutely necessary for the BoG. We need an Obi-Wan, Mace Windu, Yoda, Ki-Adi Mundi, P1 Clone Commander (yellow), Kid Boba, and Poggle the Lesser - along with rumored Geonosians, B1's and B2's (and Droideka's that roll up??). I would like a new Balcony (even though we technically have a laughably tiny one from the Melted Chocolate Arena set) to accommodate all the VIPs, and have room for Windu, the SBD's, etc. I'd even take an all new Arena playset - but I'm not sure how that could be executed well outside of Haslab. I'd also like an updated Geonsian War Room table, and even a council table where the CIS is founded. We really should get an all new Nute Gunray (especially with a debut AOTC Rune Haako mentioned above). And we need Hasbro to use this opportunity to finish updating the B1 Battle Droid and finally give us a deserving and definitive TVC effort. I'll take any and all of the above. But I need some debut love from Hasbro, for sure.

So what do you want to see for BoG?



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