... not to FFG the company, but the employees who work there. If there's one impression I came away with today, it's that the people behind this great game are super passionate about it. They put in an immense amount of effort and thought, and all we see is the end result, seldom stopping to consider what went into all of it. Oftentimes we take it for granted, and voice our criticisms when FFG steers the game in a direction we don't like; that's not what this post is about. I just wanted to express my sincerest thanks to everyone on the team, from Steve Horvath and Steve Kimball, both of whom were gracious enough to let me bend their ears for way too long, to the humble and super nice staff members working the booth, who welcomed my constant presence as if I was one of their own, and finally the rest of the development team that I didn't get a chance to meet today. Frank, Alex, if you're reading this I'd like to thank you gentlemen as well for your own efforts at making this one of the very best miniatures games out there. I just thought it was high time you guys received a kudos instead of a finger wag for everything you do for us.

I'd like this, but I'm out of LIKES for the day... (seriously)

I'm in the same boat as Chad.

I'm sure the FFG staff would much rather have your own thanks than a like for my post.

Thank you to all that work at or for FFG! We wouldn't have this wonderful game, or any game really, without you!

Alright. I only didn't do it because I felt you said all that was needed. Lemme' go ahead then...
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Fantasy Flight Games.

You guys rock. Hard. You've given us an excellent miniatures game and have produced six waves in addition to auxiliary packs for the game. Every single time you make something new, it's a nod to something people know and love with reasonable respect to the source and those people. You do your research, you get pretty much everything right. You make sure that it's flavorful, and in a good way. You do what feels like the best you can, and it's good stuff. Even though I've less than ten games under my belt, I've enjoyed almost every single one in some form. I still haven't forgotten how stressed I was when Luke was running for his life, or how good it felt to watch my father fly his beloved Vader off the board like a fool.

The game is well structured, well put together, and when you guys do goof, you fix it. You pay attention to the meta, the forums, even though you don't have to. You have heart. Something so many game developers just completely and utterly lack. As a gamer of several types, I thank you. It's so refreshing to see someone love what they do, their fans, and making it right as often as they can. You'll always have my dollar so long as you keep it up like that- and I have complete faith that you will.

I want to personally thank you for arranging an errata to my most favorite starship in all of science fiction, The Moldy Crow. You solved an issue that needed solving, and fulfilled a desire of mine that I've had since I was a very, very young boy. Possibly even as young as six years old. You gave me the appropriately scaled, detailed, and outright cool model of The Moldy Crow I always wanted. It will always have a place on my desk and in my heart, and so will you, for fulfilling that for me.

You guys have done a great job and I expect nothing but the best from you, because I've seen nothing but the best in how you conduct your game. You make original card art, even though you could just rip it from movies or concept art. You check your sources fully and thoroughly, making sure every little detail is right. You love what you do.

And I love what you do.

Keep it up FFG. You've done an incredible job, and you're exactly the kind of people Star Wars needs right now.

-James

You have Steve Kimball to personally thank for the inclusion of the HWK-290.

You have Steve Kimball to personally thank for the inclusion of the HWK-290.

I may write him a thank you letter personally given the chance.

honestly Fantasy Flight Games has revitalized Star Wars gaming for me. From X-wing to Edge of the Empire/Age of Rebellion/Force and Destiny to Armada, they can do no wrong in my mind. Thanks guys for great games, great times and events you guys take care.

I may write him a thank you letter personally given the chance.

Let him know what psychographic profile you are, while you're at it. He and I had an interesting exchange regarding Magic analogues in X-Wing, and I was forced to admit that the HWK wasn't necessarily a failed ship simply because I'm a Spike.

I may write him a thank you letter personally given the chance.

Let him know what psychographic profile you are, while you're at it. He and I had an interesting exchange regarding Magic analogues in X-Wing, and I was forced to admit that the HWK wasn't necessarily a failed ship simply because I'm a Spike.

Turns out I'm a Timmy. Likely social/diversity.

I may write him a thank you letter personally given the chance.

Let him know what psychographic profile you are, while you're at it. He and I had an interesting exchange regarding Magic analogues in X-Wing, and I was forced to admit that the HWK wasn't necessarily a failed ship simply because I'm a Spike.

I'm a Spike for sure.

Nice post Waggies.

Who knew...?

Alright. I only didn't do it because I felt you said all that was needed. Lemme' go ahead then...

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Fantasy Flight Games.

You guys rock. Hard. You've given us an excellent miniatures game and have produced six waves in addition to auxiliary packs for the game. Every single time you make something new, it's a nod to something people know and love with reasonable respect to the source and those people. You do your research, you get pretty much everything right. You make sure that it's flavorful, and in a good way. You do what feels like the best you can, and it's good stuff. Even though I've less than ten games under my belt, I've enjoyed almost every single one in some form. I still haven't forgotten how stressed I was when Luke was running for his life, or how good it felt to watch my father fly his beloved Vader off the board like a fool.

The game is well structured, well put together, and when you guys do goof, you fix it. You pay attention to the meta, the forums, even though you don't have to. You have heart. Something so many game developers just completely and utterly lack. As a gamer of several types, I thank you. It's so refreshing to see someone love what they do, their fans, and making it right as often as they can. You'll always have my dollar so long as you keep it up like that- and I have complete faith that you will.

I want to personally thank you for arranging an errata to my most favorite starship in all of science fiction, The Moldy Crow. You solved an issue that needed solving, and fulfilled a desire of mine that I've had since I was a very, very young boy. Possibly even as young as six years old. You gave me the appropriately scaled, detailed, and outright cool model of The Moldy Crow I always wanted. It will always have a place on my desk and in my heart, and so will you, for fulfilling that for me.

You guys have done a great job and I expect nothing but the best from you, because I've seen nothing but the best in how you conduct your game. You make original card art, even though you could just rip it from movies or concept art. You check your sources fully and thoroughly, making sure every little detail is right. You love what you do.

And I love what you do.

Keep it up FFG. You've done an incredible job, and you're exactly the kind of people Star Wars needs right now.

-James

A big thanks to me to FFG as well.

From an excellent games design at the 'creative' sharp end through to outstanding production values and exceptional customer support... well its the reason its the only game i actually buy models and rules for these days. Sure i still play other games but I dont keep up to date with any other.

10 out of 10 across the board guys.

Thanks for making a great game and treating your customers so well.

I may write him a thank you letter personally given the chance.

Let him know what psychographic profile you are, while you're at it. He and I had an interesting exchange regarding Magic analogues in X-Wing, and I was forced to admit that the HWK wasn't necessarily a failed ship simply because I'm a Spike.

I'm a Spike for sure.

Har har.

Of course you're a Spike, you dirty prize-sniper!

I'll join you in putting out a big thank-you to FFG.

Not only have they produced a very cleanly functioning, interesting, and easy-to-learn-hard-to-master rule set, but they have practiced very responsible game design. The attention to community concerns and careful consideration, especially with respect to updating and re-balancing older ships, such as the TIE Advanced, Interceptor and A-Wing, is admirable. There are easier ways to make profit off of a popular board game; they could just as well have neglected older ships and produced incrementally more powerful new ships, driving players to buy the new releases by exploitatively introducing power creep.

But FFG and the designers of X-wing have clearly worked hard to balance all of the game elements against each other, while introducing new elements to the game - this is not easy. They've certainly made mistakes, but I think they were honest mistakes and they have continuously introduced carefully considered tweaks to fix the problems of the game.

So yeah, the new release is aesthetically controversial. But we have no real idea what it's introducing to the game, mechanically speaking. I'm happy to overlook one or two controversial model design choices, confident that careful work and attention to community concerns was a driving force behind this new wave. And let's be honest - these are the best Star Wars minis at this scale that have ever existed - at the very least, FFG deserves enormous credit for attention to detail and quality when it comes to their miniatures.