oh yeah as proved by the many pics many folks on here have some GREAT paint skills. unfortunately most folks don't.. just saying.. but a crappy paint job or no paint would detract from the coolness of the game... now as it is the paint jobs are pretty good...

i started playing because I have 2 rules about miniatures games:

1. It cannot use a regular ruler to move units and perform attacks, etc. X-Wing uses a minimal preset set of templates.
2. Miniatures cannot be unpainted, they must be pre-painted. X-Wing minis are prepainted (much better than that other Heroclix-like game).

I have zero interest in painting my minis.

I suggest checking out Heroscape then.

Oh yes! For pre-paints X-wing models are really good, especially considering the price! Anyone who has had the dubious 'pleasure' of seeing a Wiz Kids heroklix model up close will know how bad it can be.

If you could get the newest releases a few months early but unpainted, I would buy them. Let's just say they aren't cheaper but they are easier to get because of lack of demand. It has to be easier to manufacture.

As for the comments about crappy paint jobs, there is nothing stopping that right now.

I think it'd be awesome if FFG offered unpainted/unassembled series, even if it were just limited edition. Throw in some alternate card art and some custom bits I could definitely justify picking some up.

Heck no!

I've always believed that games that are based off films should have pre-painted miniatures.

For me, half the enjoyment of this game is getting immersed in the universe while you play.

Seeing poor paint jobs/pink X-wings/outstanding paint jobs that look better than mine on the table would ruin that immersion for me.

The standardization of ships across collections is such a welcoming notion.

Keep the custom paint jobs for games that aren't based on popular films (40k).

(you can tell I'm that type of guy who avoids weapon skins while I play video games online haha)