star wars and d&d mini skirmish games

[punkorange]

What are the pros and cons of the two games? How similar are they in rules? Which one is more indepth, etc.

I plan to get into one of the two, but would like it if you tell me what you think of the two games first?

 

[Steel_Wind]

We could talk about the rules... but I think that's a distraction from the real issue.

If you could afford to get into both - I'd recommend it. I think the Star Wars miniatures are excellent in quality and the SW skirmish game is fun.

However, there is a serious difference between the SW miniatures and the D&D Minis.

SW has ultra-rare miniatures in each set in addition to rares. They also have one less mini per booster than do the D&D minis.

Throwing the ultra-rares into the XP mix brings up the cost of collecting SW minis to a truly burdensome level. It may well be the licensing costs involved that dictate this approach. Whatever the reason, the effect is clear: SW minis don't simply cost more - they cost too much.

One of the mini collectors in our group had been attempting to collect both D&D and SW but has given up on the SW mines after the first two sets. He says it's just too expensive to complete each SW mini set.

It's a fun game and the rules are more or less equivalent. The model quality on the SW side is - if anything - a little higher then on the D&D side, IMO.

But the cost per expansion IS a significant factor.

Throw in the direct applicability to your weekend game - and if you are playing D&D - go D&D. If you are playing SWD20, then I suppose you have your answer.

 

[scourger]

I like the SW minis game. After buying a basic set and a few boosters of Rebel Storm, I took the plunge about 6 months ago and bought a complete set on eBay. My bargain with myself was that I would buy a complete set of Rebel Storm but not any others. I have stuck to it. Of course, it helps that I didn't want any of the droid or clone figures from Clone Strike. The jedi and sith figures from that range are pretty cool, though. The figs from Revenge of the Sith are less appealing to me, except some of the jedi & sith. I probably like Rebel Storm because I cut my teeth on those movies.

I also got the Ultimate Missions book for Rebel Storm as a gift. I played a couple of missions with a couple of friends. Mostly, it is a game for 2 players, so that is sort of limiting. It was hard to find a scenario in the book for 3 players, but there are a few. I like having a complete set with quite a few duplicates so that we can field the minis that the scenario lists. But, there are some for which I don't have them all. Victory conditions are very important, too; so watch those.

A real bonus for me is that I may use the figures in my own SW RPG one day. I thought it would be d20, but I may use Savage Worlds for it just to make it simpler for me to run. The wizards web site has quite a few d20 stat blocks posted for SW minis. That is a nice tool if you want to use the figs for RPGs. Of course, if I don't use them, I'll likely resell on eBay.

I have less experience with the D&D minis. I bought 3 boosters, but I have never played the game. Some of the figures are nice. My reservation with D&D minis is that I have a lot of metal & other plastic fantasy minis, and I would want to buy just the ones I need for a particular adventure. Then I got Counter Collection Digital, so I use cardstock paper minis now to cut down on transport weight, preparation time & effort, cost, etc. There are just too many D&D minis now, and I don't know anyone who plays.

 

[Nightfall]

I can't comment on SW, mostly because I don't buy them.

I do "collect" DDM. I like their minis and I play the Skirmish a lot too. However IF you use Minis for regular pen and paper game, I wouldn't necessarily recommend DDM first for that reason. The Skirmish games are nice and can be a nice break from character creation.

Mostly I like the fact you get dragons, beholders, death knights and aspects, and you can fight it out. Other than that, I consider only slightly higher than playing Magic: The addiction.

 

[Lalato]

The rules for skirmish are similar for both games. SW is probably a little bit simpler overall for a new player to learn as there are fewer saving throws and special ability checks. If, however, you are already familiar with the D&D 3.x combat rules, the D&D game can be more interesting to play.

An easy way to get started with either game is to see if any stores near you are running tournaments. Here's a link to the sanctioned tournament locator...

You can also check the WotC D&D Minis and Star Wars Minis messageboards for non-sanctioned events. Oh... and you'll definitely want to visit Maxminis.com to see if anyone is posting events there.

If you know someone that you can play with right away, I would suggest buying one starter and four boosters. You and your opponent open two boosters each and form a 200 point warband without any alignment restrictions. Open the starter and use the map and terrain tiles located inside to play a game. Basically, you'll be using the limited rules which can be found on the WotC site.

It's a quick and easy way to get into the game without spending a ton of money. Four boosters and a starter should be enough for you to build a decent tier 2 warband if you like competing in tournaments. If not, it should provide you with enough options that you'll be able to form two or three fun warbands in the 200 point range, and several more in the 100 point range.

Have fun...
--sam

 

[Gez]

Warning, there are several differences between D&D combat and Mini combat. AoO are one of the biggest, as it's unlimited in number, and only against adjacent opponents (in other words, you can charge giants and chainfighters without risking AoO). The other is the "nearest target" rule for ranged attacks and ranged spells. You do not chose which enemy or ally gets the boon or bane of a ranged spell, you have to target the nearest.

There's no AoO for spellcasting or using ranged attacks, instead, you can't use ranged attacks or spells when an enemy is adjacent to you (in the game's jargon, you are based).

 

[Kae'Yoss]

I cannot comment on SWM, either, because I stay the hell away from it. Not because it's bad, but because I cannot really afford to collect both, not with getting RPG books, too. And I know If I buy only one starter set or booster, I'll eventually feel compelled to complete all the sets. I know how I am.

The game itself is fun enough, as it's something D&D'ish to do when you're only a couple of guys and no DM (no DM required). The rules are mainly D&D combat rules, with many simplifications (level = saving throw bonus) and some changes from the normal game. The first one or two sets didn't look too good, but figure quality has steadily improved with every set (the latest set already released is Death Knell, which is set 6, and the figures are very neat).

Figures are a mix of traditional monsters, newer monsters (and some monsters that were introduced in the Miniatures Handbook, so you might say they're made especially for DDM), and "NPC's" (humanoids or the like with class levels). The races and classes of these NPC's are a mix from classical stuff from the core rules and from current rule books, just like the monsters.

All monsters have two-sided stat cards - one with skirmish stats, and one has an abbreviated stat-block for D&D RPG.

The game itself is fun, as is the fact that you get genuine D&D monstrousities: You get real D&D beholders, mind flayers, ogres, trolls, griffons, outsiders and dragons, not something that "can be used in a pinch". This black dragon isn't just a winged lizard with black paint, it has the typical shape and coloration of a D&D Black Dragon; same with the troll, which is green and has a long nose, it doesn't look like a LotR troll, or anything else.

Personally, I collect them (to the point that I want at least one from every set, but I'm not particularly out to get several of everything), use them for RPG, and make the occasional skirmish game (nothing professional, though.)

 

[Nightfall]

*isn't a professional either* But honestly Kaeyoss, I don't think you can afford to be a professional DDM player any more than you can Magic the Gathering. Now being a professional FPS gamer, you can probably make serious bank, especially if you go to the right places AND know the right people.

In any case, Gez is right in that while there are a FEW similiarities to D&D 3.5 combat, most of what DDM Skirmish does is kind of either dumbed down or dropped in favor of keeping things a little more simplified.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

*isn't a professional either* But honestly Kaeyoss, I don't think you can afford to be a professional DDM player any more than you can Magic the Gathering. Now being a professional FPS gamer, you can probably make serious bank, especially if you go to the right places AND know the right people.

In any case, Gez is right in that while there are a FEW similiarities to D&D 3.5 combat, most of what DDM Skirmish does is kind of either dumbed down or dropped in favor of keeping things a little more simplified.

You know what I mean

 

[Nightfall]

Good to know.