Is the minis game any good?
- Thread starter phil500
- Start date
Lalato
Adventurer
Hi Phil, I've been playing the minis game in tournaments pretty much since the game first came out. I think the new 2.0 rules are great. They are definitely different and offer a preview of what 4e combat is like.
The game is fairly balanced. There are a lot of good tier one warbands to choose from and many of them don't require rare figures. In fact, there are a few that only need common and uncommon figures.
That said, some figures are better than others so don't expect to just throw together any 10 figures for a warband and expect to take on all comers. Just as in other collectible games, looking for hidden synergies is generally the path to victory.
There are two types of Constructed play. One is Vintage: This includes all of the figures ever produced by WotC that have 2.0 stats. The other is Standard: This is a more fluid format with sets that rotate in and out. Currently all the figures that have 2.0 stats are legal in Standard. Nothing will rotate out until 2009.
There are two types of Limited play. One is Sealed: In this format, you build a warband from two boosters. There are no faction restrictions. The other is Draft: In this format, you open a booster dump it out and draft one figure from it. The next player then chooses. This continues until all figures are taken. Then the next player opens the next booster. It's similar to Draft formats found in other collectible games.
You can get full rules for all formats on the DCI website. If you have specific questions about the game, I suggest going over to http://www.hordelings.com. It's probably the best D&D Minis forum around.
Enjoy...
--sam
The game is fairly balanced. There are a lot of good tier one warbands to choose from and many of them don't require rare figures. In fact, there are a few that only need common and uncommon figures.
That said, some figures are better than others so don't expect to just throw together any 10 figures for a warband and expect to take on all comers. Just as in other collectible games, looking for hidden synergies is generally the path to victory.
There are two types of Constructed play. One is Vintage: This includes all of the figures ever produced by WotC that have 2.0 stats. The other is Standard: This is a more fluid format with sets that rotate in and out. Currently all the figures that have 2.0 stats are legal in Standard. Nothing will rotate out until 2009.
There are two types of Limited play. One is Sealed: In this format, you build a warband from two boosters. There are no faction restrictions. The other is Draft: In this format, you open a booster dump it out and draft one figure from it. The next player then chooses. This continues until all figures are taken. Then the next player opens the next booster. It's similar to Draft formats found in other collectible games.
You can get full rules for all formats on the DCI website. If you have specific questions about the game, I suggest going over to http://www.hordelings.com. It's probably the best D&D Minis forum around.
Enjoy...
--sam
I don't know much about the game, as I only collect for RPG purposes; however, I will point you here: www.hordelings.com.
With 4E, also came a new edition of the minis game, so it hasn't quite shaken out yet. But the nice people at Hordelings should be able to answer all your questions regarding tournaments.
With 4E, also came a new edition of the minis game, so it hasn't quite shaken out yet. But the nice people at Hordelings should be able to answer all your questions regarding tournaments.
I've played a few games with the new rules and I've really enjoyed them. The rules are very simple, but since every different creature has at least one ability or special attack, the games have a remarkable amount of strategy to them. For example:
Gnolls have a better attack if they are the highest level creature within 5 squares. (so surround your gnoll with lower level models)
Kobold Archers have +5 damage UNTIL they attacked the first time. (so keep them away enemies)
Dire Wolves can immobilize enemies and get addition damage against immobilized foes (get 2 dire wolves so one can immobilize on it's turn and the other can get additional damage)
If anyone's played the OLD miniatures game, gone are the horrible leadership rules. There's no more making morale/leadership checks. No more models running off the board. No more having to keep all your models within a radius of your leader, etc. You can get "champion" models, but they just give you an advantage rolling initiative and give you some special options you can use during the battle.
And the best thing is? From what I've seen and play tested, the miniature battle rules are VERY similar to 4e combat rules. It looks like 4e just has more options for the characters and monsters and damage is rounded to the nearest 5 (like it is in the minis game).
Gnolls have a better attack if they are the highest level creature within 5 squares. (so surround your gnoll with lower level models)
Kobold Archers have +5 damage UNTIL they attacked the first time. (so keep them away enemies)
Dire Wolves can immobilize enemies and get addition damage against immobilized foes (get 2 dire wolves so one can immobilize on it's turn and the other can get additional damage)
If anyone's played the OLD miniatures game, gone are the horrible leadership rules. There's no more making morale/leadership checks. No more models running off the board. No more having to keep all your models within a radius of your leader, etc. You can get "champion" models, but they just give you an advantage rolling initiative and give you some special options you can use during the battle.
And the best thing is? From what I've seen and play tested, the miniature battle rules are VERY similar to 4e combat rules. It looks like 4e just has more options for the characters and monsters and damage is rounded to the nearest 5 (like it is in the minis game).
I have been playing DDM since wardrums or so. I don't play in tourneys just with my buddies and they are pretty hooked. the 1.0-2.0 change was a bit of a bummer, I like the 2.0 rules better but I have more figs to play with than they do so they prefer to use the old rules so they have a better chance of building a good band.
I see two possible downsides in the future, because 4.0 dnd seems to be closer to the minis game we have been playing dnd more recently than we ever did so I think we might play minis less. The random/collectible nature of the game will always be a sore spot. I buy singles of most of what I want from a set but even with that I usually drop 50-100$ on a set. You don't have to do that to make a good band (and with the edition change there are less 'gotta have' pieces) but if you want to mix things up a lot you end up getting more and more of em.
I see two possible downsides in the future, because 4.0 dnd seems to be closer to the minis game we have been playing dnd more recently than we ever did so I think we might play minis less. The random/collectible nature of the game will always be a sore spot. I buy singles of most of what I want from a set but even with that I usually drop 50-100$ on a set. You don't have to do that to make a good band (and with the edition change there are less 'gotta have' pieces) but if you want to mix things up a lot you end up getting more and more of em.
Spinachcat
First Post
I play lots of minis games - Warhammer, Clix, AT-43, DDM, etc - and I rank DDM as a good game. I do not like the DDM cardboard "rooms" that were laid out on the map. It looked cheesy. However, the one map battlefields were nice. I would have prefered more 3D terrain like Warhammer's Mordheim or AT-43.
Mordheim is still my fav fantasy skirmish game because the terrain, minis and campaign play are greatly evocative. Plus, it's Warhammer! DDM is not as tactically challenging as AT-43, but there's lots of cool stuff to do with even a randomly selected bunch of minis.
However, DDM rocks for easy play out of the box. It makes a great side-event when you are waiting for Bob the Late Guy to show up to your weekly D&D game. If you collect the minis for your RPG, definitely download the free 2.0 DDM rules.
Mordheim is still my fav fantasy skirmish game because the terrain, minis and campaign play are greatly evocative. Plus, it's Warhammer! DDM is not as tactically challenging as AT-43, but there's lots of cool stuff to do with even a randomly selected bunch of minis.
However, DDM rocks for easy play out of the box. It makes a great side-event when you are waiting for Bob the Late Guy to show up to your weekly D&D game. If you collect the minis for your RPG, definitely download the free 2.0 DDM rules.
JVisgaitis
Explorer
It depends what you mean by good. If you want something that is a very close approximation of the 4e combat rules its great. Personally, I don't like it for that reason. If I want to play D&D combat, I'd rather just play D&D.
JVisgaitis
Explorer
Spinachcat said:
Amen brother. What Warbands do you play?
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