Timewaster's Guide Archive
Games => Table-Top Games => Topic started by: Spriggan on September 14, 2004, 09:39:13 PM
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My review this week is going to be for the SW minature game, was playing today at gameden with JT and some others. I was incredably surprised on how easy, simple and fast it is. Tag line for the review is going to be: "Star Wars minatures are not only fun and simple but manage to have the feel of the movies as well."
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I submitted a star wars mini article already...
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check your work email, Jeffe. Should ahve something from me.
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I got some of these in the mail (hooray for Wizards!) and they're great. The game is a highly streamlined version of WotC's nasty D&D minis game, which is a streamlined version of the d20 RPG. D&D was still too complex to bother with, and SW still has needlessly complex line of sight rules, but the cuts and tweaks to the game make it fast and fun and very easy to understand. I'm not in love with the idea of Very Rare characters, since it makes some of the key figures ridiculously hard to get, but I was impressed by the spread of commons, and the idea of multiple sculpts especially--unlike D&D, which made it very hard to collect bad guys in any great number (for use in the RPG), SW is brimming with Stormtroopers, and even with only a starter and a couple of boosters I have plenty of Stormtroopers to sate my needs. The very nature of the game, and of Stormtroopers, means that despite this commonness you're never sorry to pull another one (unlike other collectible minis games, which drive you to madness when you pull your twentieth stupid nobody from a booster pack).
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The LOS rules aren't realy that cumbersom, try actualy playing the game. They're about the same as Heroclix but instead of mesureing from the center if the base you measure from any corner of your choice.
The only thing that I don't realy like is you, unless your han solo, can only shoot the closest person with cover to you if you want to attack someone with cover.
Also I've got a spare Emperor, and C-3PO. The Emperor is way powerful since he can regen forcepoints and let others spend his. Him and the Vader from the starterset is a very tough combo to beat.
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reference: http://www.timewastersguide.com/view.php?id=850
so the review is up. finally.
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My rares so far are Han, Chewie, Lando and Mara Jade (plus the two from the starter). I'd like to collect more Bespin Guards (I only have one) just because they go well with Lando.
And I have played the game, and I still find the LOS rules silly. Why bother counting all those corners and drawing all those lines? Mustard and I just eyeballed it, but then again we've been playing minis games for years, and this game is aimed more at neophytes than veterans.
One thing you didn't mention in your review, which I thought was crazy, is that every figure in the game, by default, is considered to have a gun with unlimited range. It works really well, and it makes the game easier, and I'm really glad they did it, but wow! It takes a lot of nerve, I think, to go against decades of tabletop convention and just throw out the concept of range. And it takes a lot of cleverness to keep such a game balanced (though the crowded map helps a lot).
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I love the lack of range. Considering the small size of the maps, adding any range modifiers would just be complicated for the sake of it. Even in larger scale games like 40k, the range system is pretty silly.
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good point, I think I'll be adding that.
I've got a Lando too and several Bespin gaurds. Both Han and Chewie are realy nice Figs. I get paid this friday and am going to by 2-3 more boosters in my vain attempt to get Baba Fett.
Also I want a Greedo, I must have all the bounty hunters to go with my Jabba.
I'll trade you bespin gaurds for ewoks, 1for1, I want to make an Ewok swarm army. :)
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Actually, there a few figures that have the Melee ability which means they can only attack in melee range ;)
The twi'lek stripp...ah, bodyguard and the Imperial guards have it.
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That's why I said (or intended to say) that the "default" is to have a gun. It's really very backwards of most tabletop games to call out the fact that a figure can't shoot, rather than the fact that it can.
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Okay, all of you stop talking about this game like its good.
Just say it sucks.
Because I really can't support another game right now and you're making it actually sound fun.
So stop it.
Seriously.
:P
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Personally, I hated the game, Dr. P.
I abhor games with well-sculpted AND well-painted models; that accurately capture the feel of one of the best licenses in history; that have simple yet fun rules. Honestly, they make me violently ill.
But, then again, if that's your kind of thing... go for it.
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Lucky for HomSar the internet can't convey images of whether or not he kept a straight face typing that.
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Mustard hasn't had a straight face since the "accident" in '87. I hear he does keep one, though, in a jar.
By the way, Sprig, I have four ewoks that I will gladly trade for Bespin Guards.
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Ok, I'm getting fedup with these minnis. Last firday I went out and bought 6 more boosters and what do I get? A lando, C-3P0, slave Leigha, Bossack which I allready had, plus a scout on a speeder and stormtrooper on a Dewback.
So here's what I got repeat wise.
2 Emperors (Very rare, ie 1 in every 3 cases of boosters)
2 Slave Leighas (very rare)
2 Landos (rare)
3 Bossacks (rare)
3 C-3POs (rare)
And in all those boosters no Ewoks even (a common)! I'm sad I didn't get a Greedo or Fett, but I'm not going to spend anymore on these figures.
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I've got five ewoks for you. I'll trade one each for those five figs you just listed :)
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Well you're welcome to a C-3PO, maybe I'll send my 3rd one to Mr. P just to taunt him, and I'll trade for the bossack (he's acutaly a decent figure). How you want to do this then?
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I am untauntable.
I have satiated my urge of buying something I don't need...by buying something I need even less!
HA! Take that!
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wow, you sure showed us. So what'd you get?
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An autographed lithograph of Gemm?
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A supplement for the dearly departed WHFRP?
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A 12 volume set of the Wisest sayings of TWG newbies?
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I'd be more than happy to sign a lithograph of myself for Dr. P. He's my favorite one.
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I think he bought a Special Edition Star Wars DVD from 1997--no one needs those anymore, neither purists nor reformists.
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there are FACTIONS of Star Wars fans then?
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Oh, certainly, and plenty of subfactions within them. I wouldn't be surprised, actually, if a splinter group broke off and proclaimed the '97 Special Editions to be the True version of the movie. Mark my words: one hundred years from now the great Star Wars jihad will be a plague upon the earth, as the purists battle the reformists for domination, and both sides work together to wipe the Christmas Specialists from the Earth.
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I don't think there are ANY Christmas Specialists alive.
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Well, not yet, but a subgroup of Star Wars fundamentalists will eventually decide that all original material created by Lucas is considered canonical (this following the Timothy Zahn battles of 2042), thus creating a huge rift in the purist movement that all but destroys it. Many lose faith and flee to the Reformists, while others retreat entirely to the underground Trekkie conclaves. Only the subsequent heresy of the ultra-reformists, who say that the spirit of Lucas speaks to them and that no Star Wars can be considered True unless it is changed weekly, serves to rebalance the power base and save the reformists from utter annihilation.
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... you frighten me man. You truly do. You and your apocalyptic star wars future.
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Meanwhile the Cult of the Moon of Endor, a sect which accepts the Ewok specials as doctrine, is secretly growing its power base in the off-world colonies by recruiting expatriate Christmas Specialists.
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ok, i take it back. Fell no longer frightens me in the face of the terror you represent, Kije.
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I actually bought the to-scale WOTC Death Star Replica. I have no idea how I'm going to get it back home, though.
Your Ewok cult is about to be space dust, man.
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as your carry-on.
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Well, Qantas does have lots of overhead room...
hmmmm...
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Sigh. Once you start down the dark path...
I found a good deal on ebay and got a good solid start to my collection for cheap. After playing Star Wars: Battlefront I was just in the mood.
My plan is to collect a bunch of ST and Rebel soldiers and stat out armies with Savage Worlds for some larger scale destruction. Should be fun.
I'll take that C-3PO anytime, Sprig :)
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NP, e-mail me your address. I've got 3 of them.
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First Magic, then Warcraft, now Star Wars--I'm beginning to suspect that you spend more on games than you do on student loans, Dr. P, and that's saying a lot.
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I'm a game-a-holic. I'm notorious for getting really interested in a game and then immediately getting interested in something else. A lot of times I'm looking for a new game but just don't know what I want...so I sample a lot (much to my wallet's grief). I was in and out of Magic within two weeks, I'm still not sure about Warcraft though.
I actually don't spend that much on gaming though. I usually sell off some stuff I don't use and buy new stuff. So I spend very little net money.
Right now, I'm not collecting/playing anything. My Warmachine stuff is just sitting here and I'll probably sell it soon. The only gaming interest on the agenda is roleplaying.
So I'm going to start a new minis game, Star Wars. To replace Warmachine. I also slowly buy D&D minis. I can use them for RPG or use Savage Worlds for mini game fun.
All that said, there are a few things I stick with... Deadlands, Savage Worlds, Buffy/Angel, and some form of mini gaming.
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If your selling Im buying,... especially if painted....
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Not painted but the majority is assembled and a good portion is primed.
Got a small Cygnar army...all jacks.
Got a big Cryx army. I'll quote you a price if you like.
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sure, send it to my email.