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So nice I bought it twice. I can't remember now why, but it sounded like a good idea at the time...

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LONG LIVE STAR WARS MINIATURES!!!
Brev

Host of Minis Mayham

I bought it twice as well. When the new floor rules are released in January, 3 of the 4 maps will be tournament legal, for anyone into that scene. I plan on buying more of them at GenCon this summer as I heard they go for like 5$ there, to use them as giveaways to new players at my LGS. Definately a keeper.

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Team 'Thats what she said'

Being organized is for people who are too lazy to look for their stuff.

Grow the game.

On that thought, what do you think of the map packs? They cost the same, but have half the maps and minis. I don't have any yet, so I don't know what to think.

Personally, I like playing on the map pack maps for the most part. As far as gameplay issues, out of the map packs Rattatak Arena and Crystal Caves are fairly well balanced. (That's what I've heard about Crystal Caves although I haven't played that much on it.) The others can be abusive in tournament settings but for casual play they are fine. (Since they won't be tournment legal soon that point is moot.) My opinion for casual play is colored by the fact that the only maps I won't play on are any of the snow maps and Korriban, which is beautiful but nearly unplayable. If you are looking for an expert opinion, check out Nickname's map guide on his site. (www.the-holocron.com) Deri Morgan comments on each of the maps and there is no one better in the game. But...in keeping with the topic of this thread, the map packs are keepers in my opinion.

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Team 'Thats what she said'

Being organized is for people who are too lazy to look for their stuff.

Grow the game.

Don't know about you, but I'm not interisted in competitive play right now. Specially now that peices have been banned. He's updated those on the Holocron?

DCI: Crap 'r' Keeper?

HA!

Y'know, I have never played in an offical DCI game...ever, and I have been playing this game since it came out. Therefore, I might be the wrong person to answer this, but I say "Crap". Now, I realize by admiting this I will probably lose at least 10 subscribers to my show (which hurts when you have so few to begin with), but I will have to deal with it.

I have always stood beside these two mantras; I want to have fun and I want to play all the pieces. If I can't accomplish that, then what is the point?

Now, that being said, I am going to try my hardest to make it to GenCon this year and enter the minis tournement because I never have and think it would be fun.

I'm not saying DCI is crap or any of anybody at Wizards of the Coasts or anybody who works for them is crap, either. But I like to play the pieces.

I can see their point on pieces and maps that might be overpowering, but I think it also boils down to not seeing the same pieces played by everyone. GOWK is an excellent piece, but not unbeatable. It's a strategy/skirmish game for a reason...you have to use strategy.

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LONG LIVE STAR WARS MINIATURES!!!
Brev

Host of Minis Mayham

It is a popular misconception that GOWK was banned because he was unbeatable. You are right; GOWK is NOT unbeatable. GOWK was banned because he restricted the meta.

Competitive play and casual play are like apples and oranges in my opinion. I like both...if I had to choose, I'd take casual play. But I don't have to choose, so I will continue to play both. Competitive play offers the opportunity to test your skill in the game against like minded competitive players. I was thrilled to go to my first GenCon this past summer to test myself against the best in the game. Even though I finished a pedestrian 29th out of 84 in the championship with a 4-3 record, I did manage to beat a player nominated for the hall of fame this year. Just playing against accomplished players raised my game to a new level. What it did not do is diminish my love for the game itself. For example, tomorrow I am running an event at our LGS that is non-DCI and using figures that never see the table in competitive play. Even though I'll just be running it and not rolling a single d20, I am looking forward to this event just as much as a DCI event.

The reason some maps will not be legal for DCI is that they also restrict the meta. Certain maps make it difficult if not nearly impossible for melee pieces to compete on them. Thats why they're not legal...a competitive game should never come down to the map roll. It should be a test whose outcome is determined by the skill of the players and how well they build and play their squads. Another reason some maps are not legal is simply because WOTC did not choose to use them in their products. Brev, your new Exodus-class starship map is just such an example. Have you played on it? I have...and I can't say enough about it. I was fortunate to meet Chris at GenCon and bought it directly from him, even getting him to autograph it. It is my favorite map to play on, and it will never see DCI play. (I even lobbied to Dean Miller to make it legal but found out that it was a decision not in his hands, but WOTC's since they never bought it.) Matt Francella is another map designer and his maps won't see DCI play either. We are fortunate to have 2 great map designers doing Star Wars maps. I wish more were DCI but that is part of what makes casual play so attractive for me...playing all of those great maps. They are...fun!

Brev, I think you need to rethink your position on why GOWK was banned. Regardless of your position on it, I will continue to listen to your show because it is...fun. That is, after all, the heart of why we play games.

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Team 'Thats what she said'

Being organized is for people who are too lazy to look for their stuff.

Grow the game.

I think I agree. And maybe they banned too many maps. But Jim does make a good point. And Metagames are always beatable by another Meta. Right?

Brev, I'm glad you brought up the idea of playing all the pieces... some of the most enjoyable games our group has played have come out of us trying to get creative with the squad building and trying new ideas. We all know which pieces rule the board from a general standpoint, but what is really better than beating those pieces with a creative build devoid of the perinneal powerhouses? Not much imho...

Agreed.

AND I love proving that just because the piece isn't "awesome" doesn't mean it's a throw away. You have to get creative some times. I seriously doubt WotC made a mini with the intention of it sucking. Even Nute Gunray has his uses. You just have to figure it out.

I love playing in battles where its pieces we've never played. It makes things interesting...

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LONG LIVE STAR WARS MINIATURES!!!
Brev

Host of Minis Mayham

My collection is small enough that (in a game or two) I will have played ALL my pieces.

Back to the map packs, which ones are the best? I think the Anakin and Asaaj have the best figs, but which have the best maps?

Interesting is fun. One of my pieces in a running game is Gha Nachkt; A.K.A. 'Fatso'.

The T'surr from the the darktimes set seems to be a crap piece.

HP:20
Def: 14
Attack: 2 (if this an error?)
Dam: 30
Melee only

For 8 points, it seems like a wasted piece.

My initial thoughts were in line with yours until I thought about the new Talz Chieftain (CE - non-unique followers gain +4 Atk and +10 Dam when attacking a non-unique enemy), Durge (non-unique followers w/in 6 gain Momentum), General Skywalker + Mas Amedda give them Momentum board-wide...that means they'll have a 40 Damage! Sure the Attack is low, but with GS and the TC they'll have a +10 Atk and 50 Damage against a non-unique if they move. Ouch... That's worth 20 points to me.

With this piece...it's ALL in the Damage, but that's pretty decent...especially for 8 points!

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LONG LIVE STAR WARS MINIATURES!!!
Brev

Host of Minis Mayham

Crap or Keeper: Darth Revan (i know its my icon lol i want to hear other's opinions)

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Han shot first!

Tough one....Ilike the figure and the game so i am inclined to go with Keeper...but with stipulations. He is really only playable in a 200(or higher) point squad. I think the Jedi crusader did him a huge favor in opening up the Old Republic to Revan...but the crusader and revan together are 101 points, so 49-99 points of Revan support is needed.
What type of support you ask?
in the Old Republic: I would suggest another heavy hitter to start: Vodo for force spirit and force alter, Nomi for Mettle and sever force or even the good Malak. Then add in add in a battlemaster or watchmen and finish up with a few shooters/support depending on space.
In the Sith: I would suggest Ulic to bring in Mando Support(not much in a 200 point game though as reven-88 and Ulic-61 only leaves 51 for mandos but in a 250 to 300 point game that would be enough) again, the good malak or what ever mid-range darth you wanted to add. Add in Holo-sid to help the helpers and add in shooters/support to round out the squad.
Just a quick thought - remember his CE and move a fast moving figure up and then swap with sith master sid.
anyone else

KEEPERif done right

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"I am but a leaf blown by the winds of the Force. I trust my purpose in being anywhere will eventually be revealed to me."
―Zao