Star Wars Miniatures



Star Wars Miniatures is a fast-paced RPG-style game by Wizards of the Coast featuring miniature 34mm scale models of characters and vehicles from across the Star Wars saga.

Collecting
For collectors, the underside of each model's base contains information on the set, rarity, and the model's unique number in the set. The models can be used to represent created characters or non-playable characters (NPCs) in the Star Wars Roleplaying Game.

For help with all the Characters (unique and non-unique, special abilities, Force powers, and commander effects), a resource has been created at SWMGamers under the Archives of the Jedi. This resource was developed by players and fans for assistance with rules of the game.

Gaming
The primary use, however, is with the special Star Wars Miniatures rules. This game pits two or more squads against each other in a quick and heated death-match scenario. Players will agree on a point total (100, 150 and 200 being the official standards) and create a squad that does not exceed the chosen point total for one of the following formats:


 * Free-for-all: Each player makes a single faction(and Fringe) squad for the battle. Factions may battle factions of different eras or even the same faction. This is the format used for sanctioned tournaments.
 * Era Play: Players will choose an era then choose one player to be a light side faction and one to be a dark side faction from that era. Fringe characters may mix with either player's squad.
 * Light Side vs. Dark Side: Players make a multi-faction squad with one player representing the light side (Old Republic, Republic, Rebel Alliance, New Republic) and the other representing the dark side (Sith, Separatists, Empire, Mandalorians, Yuuzhan Vong). Fringe may belong to either side.
 * No Faction: Players make a squad using any combination of characters.
 * Sealed: Players will open a predetermined amount of Starters and Boosters and make a No Faction squad with the miniatures contained inside.

Once all players' squads are ready, the units are deployed on to a gridded map--typically on opposite sides. The map can be customized with terrain tiles that come with some sets and books. The units are "activated" two at a time during each "phase" of play. Players can choose to move a unit six grid spaces and attack (in either order), or move twelve grid spaces but not attack. In order to attack, players roll a twenty-sided dice (known as a d20) and add on their unit's attack bonus. If the combined total is greater than or equal to the defending unit's defense, the attack hits its mark and damage is dealt. The player/team that completely defeats all of their opponents, score enough victory points, or forces their opponents to forfeit, is declared the victor.

In the game, the vast majority of characters have Special Abilities, which give unique gameplay options to the player in addition to both offensive and defensive resources. Special Abilities come in all different levels of effectiveness, some being game-breaking (or even game-ending) while others are rarely utilized at all.

Also, Force-sensitive characters (Jedi, Sith, etc.) can have Force Powers. These powers are drawn on from the Force (represented in the game by spending Force points) and are usually more powerful than Special Abilities. However, like Special Abilities, some Force Powers are much more effective than others. These statistics and abilities are recorded on the unit's corresponding stat card. The card details a unit's faction, hit points (HP), defense, attack, special abilities, force powers, and other advanced information. The other side features a reference sketch used in the creation of the model.

Miniatures sets
Sixteen sets of miniatures have been released, though there is talk of another company buying the rights to the game and continuing the line. Each of the first ten sets contains sixty figures of varying rarity. Later sets, beginning with Clone Wars, contain forty figures:
 * Rebel Storm: Classic trilogy Era
 * Clone Strike: Prequel trilogy Era: Introduced the Republic and Separatist factions.
 * Revenge of the Sith: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
 * Universe: Prequel Trilogy through New Jedi Order Era, introduction of the first "Huge" models, and introduction to the factions: New Republic and Yuuzhan Vong.
 * Champions of the Force: All eras, including Knights of the Old Republic models. Introducing the Old Republic and Sith factions.
 * Bounty Hunters: All eras, and introduces Mandalorians.
 * Alliance and Empire: Utilizes Original Trilogy characters to celebrate thirty years of Star Wars. This set is notable for the unique design of its figures, being the only set in the series with square bases.
 * The Force Unleashed: The set includes characters from its namesake game and the expanded universe. The game also has new force powers and puts a focus back on force using melee characters in the game.
 * Legacy of the Force: A set released March 28, 2008. Focuses on Star Wars: Legacy, Star Wars:Legacy of the Force, as well as other Expanded Universe sources.
 * Knights of the Old Republic: Released August 7, 2008. Based on the award-winning RPG series, Knights of the Old Republic.
 * The Clone Wars: A set released October 31, 2008 based primarily on the Clone Wars, including content from the original Clone Wars cartoon, and the new CG The Clone Wars film and television series.
 * Imperial Entanglements: A set released March 17, 2009, with content based on Galactic Civil War Era characters with a few exceptions, such as Kyp Durron and Mith'raw'nuruodo.
 * Jedi Academy:Released June 30,2009, The set is comprised of force users from all eras, including several from the Legacy era.
 * Galaxy at War Released October 23,2009, this set focuses on the second season of The Clone Wars animated series
 * Dark Times Released January 2010, this set focuses on the comic series of its namesake, as well as other expanded universe sources of that era in addition to movie characters
 * Masters of the Force Released April 2010. This is the final set of Star Wars Miniatures released by Wizards of the Coast.
 * Han Solo vs. the Death Star and Talnar's Tatooine Traitor: They are scenarios for the game, written by Sterling Hershey. The pair adapts a scene from A New Hope for the miniature game format and a scene for Tatooine, respectively.

The community of players has continued to release "virtual" sets. These sets consist of new cards/statistics that can be used with the existing miniatures from WotC. These community-developed cards can be used in tournaments sponsored by the player community. (As of June, 2011, the most active online communities for Star Wars Miniatures players are at www.bloomilk.com and www.swmgamers.com. Information about tournaments and the virtual sets can be found there.)  Here are the virtual sets:


 * Destiny of the Force Released December 2010. This is the first "V-set" of Star Wars Miniatures, created by a committee formed from the Star Wars Miniatures player community.
 * Renegade sand Rogues Released August 2011. In competitive play, several factions were considered "weaker" factions.  The first two V-sets include more pieces for those weaker factions, with the goal of creating a more level playing field among factions.

Apart from the standard sets, several non-random themed packs have been released:


 * Galaxy Tiles: Released in January 2008, it contains tiles for use with the RPG Game.
 * AT-AT Imperial Walker Colossal Pack: Packaged with an AT-AT, a special scenario/rulebook, and Hoth maps.
 * Attack on Endor: A reposed AT-ST with several assorted Imperial troopers, a special scenario/rulebook, and several maps including Endor.
 * Hoth Battle Pack: This set includes two exclusive figures (General Veers Hologram and Blizzard One AT-ST) with some reprints of several characters. The set also includes a rulebook and a new Hoth Map.
 * Clone Wars Battles: This set consists of ten miniatures (including five exclusive figures), 2-sided map sheet and rules booklet.
 *  Map Packs: Each pack contains two nonrandom figures (Including one exclusive) released with a two sided map. Based on the Clone Wars 2003 and 2008 series. Three Map packs were released throughout 2009: The Attack on Teth, Showdown at Teth Palace, and The Crystal Caves of Ilum. These featured unique versions of Anakin Skywalker, Asajj Ventress, and Luminara Unduli, respectively.

Ultimate Missions
The Ultimate Missions book series is a supplement for Star Wars Miniatures. One book is released for each expansion (including one that covers all eras) and includes scenarios, gameplay ideas, full maps, and terrain tiles to further expand the game's playability. However, due to poor sales, the Ultimate Missions series was discontinued shortly after the Revenge of the Sith set came out. Many online scenarios also utilize the maps and tiles found in these books. The three books are, Ultimate Missions: Clone Strike, Ultimate Missions: Rebel Storm, Ultimate Missions: Revenge of the Sith.

Star Wars Miniatures: Starship Battles
In 2006, Wizards of the Coast released a "space battle" version of Star Wars Miniatures. It is not backward-compatible with Star Wars Miniatures.