As much as I don't want to paint minis, I will say they're actually pretty great for parent-child bonding if you end up with femme daughters or, ah, flamboyant sons, as the skills used to paint a space marine transfer pretty well to painting nails.

I would not pay $15 a mini for unpainted. I would still play the game, but realistically an unpainted mini is worth about $3-5 off the price of the unit to me.

As much as I don't want to paint minis, I will say they're actually pretty great for parent-child bonding if you end up with femme daughters or, ah, flamboyant sons, as the skills used to paint a space marine transfer pretty well to painting nails.

No, I would not have gotten into this game if the minis were unpainted.

Now... if the game were completely "two-dimensional", where the ships were just cardstock chits, and you got a lot to the starter box, I'd consider it. I loved Car Wars back in the day (still do, but it is hard to find players). If the game is going to be a budget game, then go all the way. No minis. Colored cardstock ship counters (or b/w outline so you can color them in yourself). Lots of ships, obstacles, scenarios, etc in a box. I'd play that. (Think Car Wars, Star Fleet Battles, Talon, etc.)

Sidenote: I even love Armada. I don't mind the unpainted squadrons; they are so small that on the 6'x3' table you hardly notice when compared to the gorgeous capital ships.

I think after 30+ years in the hobby of gaming, I am done assembling and painting minis. Maybe the occasional re-paint for X-Wing (esp. for HotAC).

As much as I don't want to paint minis, I will say they're actually pretty great for parent-child bonding if you end up with femme daughters or, ah, flamboyant sons, as the skills used to paint a space marine transfer pretty well to painting nails.

And you get to teach your kids that nails can be colors other than black!

"Today, son, we're going to paint your nails to match colors of the Emperor's Own."

My understanding is that these ships are already incredibly easy to paint over. So people who want to do that have their option. But those of us who would rather spend our time elsewhere don't have to bother.

No.

My days of Warhammer, 40k, w

WarmaHordes, etc. Are behind me.

I started this game BECAUSE it was less time and money intensive than others.

Nah, not at all. I always found painting daunting, and the repainting I do is pretty unambitious and only because of the sake of variety, or are just minor additions or changes. I'm lazy, and the paintjobs are GOOD which is why the game felt so much more accessible and approachable when I first started.

I'd still buy it and play it, but I would be less happy.

I like being able to play instantly and have it look good. And if I want to repaint something, I can do it on my own time.

Probably not. The painted miniatures are just such a plus, it is difficult to imagine the game being successful without it.

Only the if the cost was significantly lower. From the "game" standpoint I'd be happier getting all of the other stuff without the model if the price were low enough and the model threshold would be removed from the game.

Only the if the cost was significantly lower. From the "game" standpoint I'd be happier getting all of the other stuff without the model if the price were low enough and the model threshold would be removed from the game.

I'd guess the model is the money source for FFG. Development of the rules probably costs a lot more (work hours) than to develop a model today. While the cardboard the rules are printed on is pretty cheap. So in order to get your invested money back as a company, you pack it with a model. As people wont pay a lot of money for just some paper/cardboard (if not a highly successful Ccg/Lcg). The model is perceived worth a lot money by the costumers - but once CAD-ed, molds done and mass produced in China the actual cost per model is quite low. Esp. if you then can sell different paint schemes.

As somebody who repaints all his ships I would say no. Why? Because if the ships were unpainted none of my friends would play.

Also I know I would have to play against unpainted, half painted and lazily painted squadrons. Which is something that always annoys me in other miniature games.

With my current situation now I can't even play X-wing. But when I got into it probably not.

I didn't get into Warhammer 40K until I had a lot of down time. However when I got into X-wing I didn't have the time to keep painting and updating my army, plus I wasn't making as much money and cost of living was going up. So the pre-painted X-wing models that were cheaper than 40K definitely help me make the switch.

Think of it this way, how much better and more popular would imperial assault be if those mini's were painted?

Painting is one hobby, gaming is a completely different hobby. They aren't exclusive of course, but people interested in painting are far far fewer than those interested in gaming.

Not a chance.

Played a lot of WhB and Blood Bowl in my young years, when I had plenty of time for painting, but now that I'm a dad, I like that the little time I have left can be used for actually playing the game I'm currently into.

Absolutely not. I have some requirements for a minis game: no painting and no ballpark movements with measuring tape. I also don't want to spend hundreds of dollars on rulebooks and I don't want my games to be endlessly looking up tables in a book. I don't care about the modeling hobby like 40k, there is nothing in that game that interests me.

When I saw the tutorial video back in 2012, I knew I was already addicted.

Nope.

I paint on commission for other games (and sometimes X-wing too), I play other games as well... but it is nice to have a few games where I don't have to put in the extra creative effort.

So, sure I might have played X-wing if it was unpainted, but not for the price point it is at (Maybe at $9.99 a small based mini).

However, I prefer it the way it is now.

Most likely no.

I've painted my Blood Angel Army for 20+ years and have absolutely zero interest in more painting. Exact reason I don't play Imperial Assault.

I also echo the sentiment of folks about playing against non-painted armies. The sea of grey after painting and painting and painting that **** red always left me with a sour aftertaste.

I'd be interested to see what people would think if they were concurrently on the Shelves, with Unpainted being Discounted as a Comparison point.

Nope. It was the paint that caught my eye and showed the detailed quality of the miniatures which led to consideration, budgeting, and initial purchase. Now I'm hooked.

No, but pretty much solely as a result of how people voted in this thread. One of the biggest draws for me is how popular X Wing is; any hobby store is likely to have a handful of players or dedicated night, and any sufficiently large 'geek group' is likely to harbor a few players or a few willing to give it a shot. Anything that cuts into that massive player base cuts into why I eventually steered towards X Wing over more obscure but also excellently designed games like Dystopian Wars, etc.

I don't mind painting (but I'm terrible at it) and don't even mind playing with bland grey minis, but I do mind having no one on the other end of the table to point wee plastic spaceships at.

No, I am terrible at painting and the one thing that attracted me to this game is the amazing paint jobs as well as how relatively cheap things are. Yes prices are going up, but that's the economy at work. I wouldn't have got into this amazing game if I had to paint ships because I don't want to invest all that time and effort and have them coming out looking like some cheap knockoff.

I wouldn't have given this game a second look if the models hadn't been painted to start with.