Are you interested in getting into Star Wars Miniatures, but aren't sure where to begin? Here are some tips...

The Basics:

What is the Star Wars Miniature game?
SW Minis is a miniatures battle game, usually for 2 people. You play using plastic figures. Each has various stats that determine how well they fight plus special abilities that give them special advantages over their opponents. Each mini has a point cost. You usually create a 100 point squad, so you pick and choose which minis to use in each battle. Ultimately, you use a 20 sided die to determine the outcome of attacks, modified by the character's stats. You play on a map grid with 1" squares.

If you want to try a demonstration, click below:
http://mi.wizards.com/swminis/demo/SW_MinisDemo.html

Where to begin?
Get a starter set....if you can. Unfortunately, none of these are currently in print, though you may find a copy at a store on occasion. However, a new starter set is due out soon, so keep an eye out for it. In the meantime, you can buy a few booster packs, then download the main rule book in PDF from the Wizards site. You'll still need a 20-sided die and maps, though. You can either pick up the Attack on Endor Scenario Pack or locate one or more Ultimate Missions books, or use the maps out of the new Saga Edition RPG rules. Many fan sites have custom maps you can dowload for free. Blank grids of 1" squares like a vinyl battlemat or flip map also work.

Typically, the starters give you the rules of the game, one or two maps, several pre-painted plastic miniatures with their stat cards, some counters and one 20 sided die. Two of the minis are the same for every starter and are main characters from the movies. Three starters were originally produced: Rebel Storm, Clone Strike and Revenge of the Sith. You can choose whichever you like to start with. RotS has a mounted board-game style board.

Want more miniatures?
Get a Booster Pack. Boosters come with several random minis and their stat cards. If you are just starting, you will want to buy booster packs with the same name as your starter set. Boosters give you access to a wide range of minis, including other main characters.

That's enough to get started.



Some In-depth details:

A collectible game, this is.
That means with few exceptions, you won't know exactly what miniatures are in the booster packs and some starter sets. For more on sets, see below.

Some game stores and online retailers sell individual minis, but it is best purchase a few boosters first, then resort to individual purchases if you haven't gotten a particular mini you really want or if you're trying to collect them all.

Each mini has a different rarity.
This means that you have a better chance of getting more of some minis than others. There are 4 levels of rarity/collectability: Common, Uncommon, Rare and Very Rare. Usually, there is only one Rare or Very rare in each booster.

Commons include Stormtroopers, Clonetroopers, Battle Droids, etc.
Uncommons include Elite versions of common minis, commanders, etc.
Rares include named characters, like Han Solo or Asajj Ventress
Very Rares also include named characters, like Emperor Palpatine.

Also, the more rare the mini, the more complex the sculpting and painting is. This is why some larger minis are more rare, even though they may not be as powerful as some of the main characters. For instance, The Sandtrooper on a Dewback is Very Rare and the Destroyer Droid is Rare.

Set Details:
Each full set has 60 minis and usually focuses on an era or theme (though not exclusively). New sets are planned through 2008, and probably beyond.

Rebel Storm: Classic/original trilogy, starter and boosters.

Clone Strike: Episodes I and II, plus the Clone Wars cartoons, starter and boosters.

Revenge of the Sith: Episode III, starter and boosters.

Universe: This set is different for several reasons: there is no starter set (boosters only), it spans the different eras (has various minis suitable for any of the previous sets), and it includes a HUGE mini in each box. Huge minis are very powerful, large characters or vehicles like the AT-ST or the Rancor. The eras covered in this set include the prequels, the original trilogy and expanded universe (including some from the New Jedi Order).

The AT-AT: A Colossal sized walker, released in Nov. 2005. This thing is a monster. It includes the AT-AT, battlemats and a specific rules booklet.

Attack on Endor Scenario Pack: This includes a re-posed AT-ST, various stormtroopers, 2 double sided maps and a scenario booklet written by yours truly. This includes maps and scenarios suitable for use with the Universe set and is not just Endor related material.

Champions of the Force: This set has more lightsabers than any other and features a lot of Expanded Universe characters.

Bounty Hunters: The latest 60 figure set, focusing on Bounty Hunters, but also has things like snowspeeders and Mandalorians. This is another Huge set.

Starship Battles: This is a stand alone game featuring large scale starship combat. The rules are different from the regular minis game. This is a 60 piece set featuring all the main ships from the movies and some EU craft. The set has a starter (featuring the Super Star Destroyer and Mon Cal Viscount) and boosters. Future starship sets are not planned at this time. Now available.

Alliance and Empire: A 60 figure set now available, focusing on the Rebels and Empire. It's a Star Wars 30th anniversary tie-in, so the first run features square bases that say Star Wars on them (reprints will be on round bases, as usual).

Force Unleashed: A 60 figure set, November 2007 release. Will include, obviously, characters from the video game, plus others.

Hoth Battle Pack: Details to be announced.

Imperial and Rebel 2-packs: Details to be announced.

Other products:
Ultimate Missions: There is an Ultimate Missions book for each of the first three sets. They have specific scenarios based on the movies, plus some additional/optional rules, a double sided map and usually some terrain tiles.

Additional scenarios, articles and rules clarifications can be found at the Wizards of the Coast website. You'll also find other notes about the game throughout my blog here on starwars.com.

Final note:
The SW minis are also great to use with the Star Wars Roleplaying Game. For more information on getting started with the RPG, see this blog entry.

Updated 06/03/07