he Star Wars universe has not only dominated the science-fiction film industry, but literature, computer and tabletop games. The latest in this stream of domination is Wizards of the Coasts' Star Wars Miniatures. Although no stranger to domination or even Star Wars miniatures, this latest release from Wizards of the Coast is its first science-fiction entry into the pre-painted miniatures rage that was started by Jordan Wiesman and the folks at Whiz Kids, and it has been taking the country by storm.
Oh, yeah, did I also mention that—as you would expect—these are not only pre-painted, but collectible, miniatures that Wizards of the Coast plans to release in several sets? Rebel Storm is the first set, and it ships in two flavors: the starter set and a booster pack. Gee, does this sound like most other Wizards products? The starter set comes with 10 miniatures—including two exclusives, their stat cards, a double-sided map, terrain tiles and one 20-sided die (d20). The booster throws an additional six miniatures on your table, nothing more.
The models represent figures from the Star Wars mythology—some famous and some not—and have accompanying cards describing their attributes (hit points, defense, attack, damage and Force powers). Players alternate impulse moving and fighting across a two-sided map. One side portrays a section of the Death Star, the other is blank—useful for gamers to build their own terrain with the terrain tiles included in the starter pack. There are lightsabers, blasters and Force powers, all regulated by a simple version of Wizard's d20 system.
Out-of-the-box fun
Let's get something straight right up front, right here in the first sentence: Star Wars Miniatures is a fun game. It's a game players can pull out of the box, slap on the table, scan through the rules and be rolling bones before they finish the first soda and bag of chips. It's easy to play with decent-sized squads (eight to 12 men, women, beasts and aliens) and captures enough of the Star Wars universe to pull you out of your humdrum life and throw you onto the deck of the Death Star, desperately squeezing off blaster bolts at the onrushing stormtroopers. The game isn't, however, a detailed simulation of combat in the galaxies that George Lucas created.
And that's OK.
There are too many high-detail, low-fun games on the market already. Here is something that players may not only enjoy with their friends, but also with their sons and daughters. Movement and combat are simple—roll a d20, add it to your attack factor and compare it to the target's defense—but they are not simplistic. It's still critical to seek cover, place leaders where they may help subordinates, mass fire and use unique models' special abilities. In-depth tactics without mind-numbingly in-depth rules ... wow, what a concept!
The miniatures look as good as they play. No, they don't give the impression that they just fell off the pages of Game Workshop's White Dwarf magazine, but they do look better than most of the HeroClix stuff, and the rare to very-rare models, such as Princess Leia (Senator), look scrumptious.
A fine effort by Wizards of the Coast, Star Wars Miniatures marries a very playable system with miniatures that are durable and easy on the eyes to boot. This may be the Star Wars game we've been waiting for since that galaxy first appeared so long ago and far away.
Super fun. This is a game I stay up late to play with my kids.
— Mark
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