Star Wars Epic Duel Game

[mmadsen]

I was at Target today, and I couldn't help but swing by the toy section. (I can say that here.) Anyway, I found myself drawn in by the Episode II action figures (even though I don't have strong feelings about either the movie or action figures in general) -- and then I saw the Star Wars Epic Duel Game.

I may have to pick up a copy. It's $18, and it comes with 31 painted plastic figures from different era (with multiples of Stormtroopers and Clones), four "battle venues" (two double-sided maps), stats for, I think, 19 different characters, and a huge deck of cards.

I'd love to hear if anyone's played it, because it sure looked cool.

 

[Falcon]

Are you some kind of market analyst?

 

[Pramas]

I played Epic Duels a couple of weeks ago. It's not a bad little game. You play 2 or 3 characters facing off at different locations from assorted Star Wars movie. Each group of characters has a small deck of cards, which you use for attack, defense, and special actions. So the Emperor has cards like Force Lightning and Boba Fett has stuff like Rocket Retreat. The Boba mini is pretty decent but many of them suck (especially the storm troopers). For less than $20, it's worth getting.

I played two games. In the first, I play the Emperor and two of his elite guards vs. Han and Chewie. Although Chewie did hellacious damage to the Emperor, Han Solo was toasted by my Force Lightning. In the second game, it was Oedipus city, with my Boba Fett and Greedo vs. daddy Jango Fett and some other Ep. 2 character. Both minor characters got waxed then it was father vs. son. Jango did indeed show who was daddy, soundly whupping Boba.

Playing the game made me wish that anyone at WotC would have listened to me when I proposed a Star Wars minis game. Ah well.

 

[mmadsen]

I played Epic Duels a couple of weeks ago. It's not a bad little game. You play 2 or 3 characters facing off at different locations from assorted Star Wars movie. Each group of characters has a small deck of cards, which you use for attack, defense, and special actions. So the Emperor has cards like Force Lightning and Boba Fett has stuff like Rocket Retreat. The Boba mini is pretty decent but many of them suck (especially the storm troopers). For less than $20, it's worth getting.

OK, it sounds like I have to get it. Well, after I see Episode II. I have to decide whether I can endorse it.

Playing the game made me wish that anyone at WotC would have listened to me when I proposed a Star Wars minis game. Ah well.

Would there have been licensing issues (extra expenses) to making Star Wars miniatures? I'd think they'd sell well, but would you be allowed to move in on the action-figure guys' turf?

 

[Pramas]

Would there have been licensing issues (extra expenses) to making Star Wars miniatures? I'd think they'd sell well, but would you be allowed to move in on the action-figure guys' turf?

WotC's license already includes miniatures rights. That was part of the original deal. It's possible that the Hasbro action figure guys might have had something to say if it got to that stage. That would have certainly put all the "being a good corporate partner" rhetoric to the test.

 

[mmadsen]

WotC's license already includes miniatures rights. That was part of the original deal.

How on earth did they not move forward with that?

It's possible that the Hasbro action figure guys might have had something to say if it got to that stage. That would have certainly put all the "being a good corporate partner" rhetoric to the test.

Hehehe.

Anyway, now that Hasbro has molds for cranking out plastic Star Wars miniatures, it seems like WotC should put out a new Star Wars Adventure Game that incorporates them.

 

[mmadsen]

So no one else has seen this game? It looks pretty cool for a light little boardgame, and it seems like a nice segue into roleplaying.

 

[reapersaurus]

I've seen the game, as well as the Star Wars Stratego game that looks cool.
It looks like a good buy for the PAINTED minis alone, and a review on my favorite boardgame site is here: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/viewitem.php3?gameid=3284

 

[mmadsen]

About.com also has an article about Attack of the Clones games:

http://boardgames.about.com/library/news/bl020211a.htm

An excerpt:

Epic Duels

Of all the games announced on this page, this one has my attention the most. Here's a summary from a Hasbro press release:

"The Star Wars movies are filled with classic one-on-one duels and now fans can relive these movie moments...and even create never-before-seen battles. The Star Wars Epic Duels game allows fans to pit almost any Star Wars character against another. Game play takes place on one of four battle venues and players chose their character from one of 30-plus painted figures. Each character comes with its own card deck and strategy."

The game allows players to pit a wide variety of Star Wars characters against each other. So you could have Boba Fett face off against Darth Maul. Or Darth Maul vs. Darth Vader. Luke Skywalker vs. Yoda. Yoda vs. the Emperor. Han Solo vs. Luke Sywalker. My mind reels.

The four battle venues include the carbon-freezing room on Bespin, the Emperor's Throne Room, plus two from Attack of the Clones.

Epic Duels should sell for about $20; ages 8 and up; 2 or 4 players. Due in April 2002.