Sunday, September 04, 2005
Axis & Allies Miniatures -- first glance
Thanks to Dave at Wyldstar in Oshawa, I had a chance to check out the starter kit for the upcoming Axis & Allies Miniatures game. He broke them out for me and I got to spend about 10 minutes taking a look.
A few comments (but a reminder that this is based on a quick glance at the minis)...
The miniatures themselves look pretty spiffy for a collectable game. The paint jobs are better than what I've become accustomed to (read: WizKids' Mage Knight and HeroClix games). The units all look fairly sturdy, although the tanks are hollow in the centre (you can tell this by turning them over and noting that there are no innards). So if you consider that, what you're getting is a shell, not a big hunk of plastic. Maybe this saved money?
The starter kit comes with a handful of tanks -- a Sherman or two and a Panzer or two. The kid in me really thinks the movable armaments are neat. I don't know my tank terminology, so I'll make it simple. The top with the big gun swivels. A small thing, but a neat thing.
The infantry units are mounted on flat, circular bases, as I expected. They look half-decent, as well, but there are no movable parts (also as expected).
The starter kit comes with both Axis and Allied forces, but I would say the number of units present isn't really enough to put together a good-sized force for either side. However, once Dave unfolded the maps, I realized that it might not matter. The maps are small ... tiny, even. The starter kit comes with three or four maps, but each of them are maybe a bit bigger than the SJG Ogre map (yes, seriously), and they don't appear to be made to easily fit together. So my guess is that each battle is meant to be a very small skirmish.
I have a feeling that some of the more hardcore minis gamers that get into this will discard the maps entirely and choose to go with some kind of measurement for movement. I know that's what I'm thinking I'll do. The maps are just too laughable.
I only took a quick glance at the rules, but they seem to have kept to the spirit of Axis & Allies. It's been quite a while since I played the game, but the combat mechanics looked to be about what I remember from the game (with some obvious modifications for movement and range).
Considering what's available in the starter kit, I'm thinking that to really get into the game, it will be almost necessary to buy two starter kits. This way, you could field a bigger force per side. I'm not sure what the price tag will be on the starters, though. If pricing from WizKids starters is comparable, I'm thinking each kit will likely be in the $25 to $30 range. But since it's actually Hasbro/Wizards of the Coast that's putting the game out, pricing could be higher or (if we're really lucky) lower.
A few comments (but a reminder that this is based on a quick glance at the minis)...
The miniatures themselves look pretty spiffy for a collectable game. The paint jobs are better than what I've become accustomed to (read: WizKids' Mage Knight and HeroClix games). The units all look fairly sturdy, although the tanks are hollow in the centre (you can tell this by turning them over and noting that there are no innards). So if you consider that, what you're getting is a shell, not a big hunk of plastic. Maybe this saved money?
The starter kit comes with a handful of tanks -- a Sherman or two and a Panzer or two. The kid in me really thinks the movable armaments are neat. I don't know my tank terminology, so I'll make it simple. The top with the big gun swivels. A small thing, but a neat thing.
The infantry units are mounted on flat, circular bases, as I expected. They look half-decent, as well, but there are no movable parts (also as expected).
The starter kit comes with both Axis and Allied forces, but I would say the number of units present isn't really enough to put together a good-sized force for either side. However, once Dave unfolded the maps, I realized that it might not matter. The maps are small ... tiny, even. The starter kit comes with three or four maps, but each of them are maybe a bit bigger than the SJG Ogre map (yes, seriously), and they don't appear to be made to easily fit together. So my guess is that each battle is meant to be a very small skirmish.
I have a feeling that some of the more hardcore minis gamers that get into this will discard the maps entirely and choose to go with some kind of measurement for movement. I know that's what I'm thinking I'll do. The maps are just too laughable.
I only took a quick glance at the rules, but they seem to have kept to the spirit of Axis & Allies. It's been quite a while since I played the game, but the combat mechanics looked to be about what I remember from the game (with some obvious modifications for movement and range).
Considering what's available in the starter kit, I'm thinking that to really get into the game, it will be almost necessary to buy two starter kits. This way, you could field a bigger force per side. I'm not sure what the price tag will be on the starters, though. If pricing from WizKids starters is comparable, I'm thinking each kit will likely be in the $25 to $30 range. But since it's actually Hasbro/Wizards of the Coast that's putting the game out, pricing could be higher or (if we're really lucky) lower.
// posted by Chris @ 4:50 PM 
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