This game is great. My favorite. I feel part of the reason it hasn't blown up to be as big as it could be is excuse many people dont like the colorless figures. Others refuse to paint. Leaving the game looking drab. You do it with Xwing, can you please do it for this one. Xwing would not have the same allure if the ships were unpainted. The same goes for this one. Collectors will buy. Kids will feel better connected to the characters. New players will be wowed. Outside onlookers will be more inquisitive.

Just release a series of pre-made packs of painted figures. Packs that could compete in skirmish. Sell singles with new, never seen player and skirmish cards. I'll pay a premium. Just give this community options. Keep doing what you're doing but add the painted figures to the available items to buy.

... And speed up the App. This game will blow up with the app and painted figures.

Thank you. I speak solely for the love of this game. I want more people to play. I need more people to play.

I honestly don't think they could make prepainted IA minis that would look any good. The techniques they use for X-wing work great on inanimate objects made of geometric shapes, but on faces and clothing and fur their stencils are gonna look pretty bad. I don't disagree that unpainted minis are a barrier to entry, but I don't think there's any way around the quality issue - pretty sure I wouldn't play if IA's models looked as awful as WizKids/WotC.

As far as I am aware, there are no restrictions to painted models for skirmish games.

Unlike some miniature games, FFG doesn't force anyone to pain them at all. Sure, they look better painted, but it's not a requirement.

I'm pretty sure I have seen unpainted minis at official tourneys.

I honestly don't think they could make prepainted IA minis that would look any good. The techniques they use for X-wing work great on inanimate objects made of geometric shapes, but on faces and clothing and fur their stencils are gonna look pretty bad. I don't disagree that unpainted minis are a barrier to entry, but I don't think there's any way around the quality issue - pretty sure I wouldn't play if IA's models looked as awful as WizKids/WotC.

I'm pretty sure a lot more would play if IA's models looked as "awful" as WotC's... which BTW is better than the average painter's, even if you discount the VAST majority that never get painted at all.

And if you don't like their paintjob, you can paint over it. So I can't comprehend your argument that you wouldn't play.

I believe they are unpainted for a reason, due to Descent heritage and licensing agreement with Hasbro (or whoever it is) about Star Wars board games, etc.

Unpainted minis is not due to Hasbro or licensing in general. The game was "out" before Hasbro and negotiations became involved.

But imagine the cost. Painted miniatures would be a barrier of entry much more than unpainted miniatures are.

Unpainted minis is not due to Hasbro or licensing in general. The game was "out" before Hasbro and negotiations became involved.

But imagine the cost. Painted miniatures would be a barrier of entry much more than unpainted miniatures are.

This. The sculpts are great quality and extremely detailed, and new releases already difficult for me to fit into my budget, so I'm all for not increasing costs. :-P There are excellent painting tutorials for those who want to learn, and I imagine commission painters for those that don't. A while back, there was someone on the forums who batch spray painted his minis in gold, chrome, and bronze to make them look like classy chess pieces. I can't find his pics now, but something like that would be super quick and easy (and cheap!), plus looked really great. Just an alternative thought.

But I agree on the app, as it sounds like great fun. Hopefully it's in the pipeline!

I honestly don't think they could make prepainted IA minis that would look any good. The techniques they use for X-wing work great on inanimate objects made of geometric shapes, but on faces and clothing and fur their stencils are gonna look pretty bad. I don't disagree that unpainted minis are a barrier to entry, but I don't think there's any way around the quality issue - pretty sure I wouldn't play if IA's models looked as awful as WizKids/WotC.

I'm pretty sure a lot more would play if IA's models looked as "awful" as WotC's... which BTW is better than the average painter's, even if you discount the VAST majority that never get painted at all.

And if you don't like their paintjob, you can paint over it. So I can't comprehend your argument that you wouldn't play.

Doesn't one have to discount unpainted minis in this case since you're talking about quality of painted minis? Do we have an example of average painting to compare with the old painted ones? Couldn't you have just said you like the WotC paints and been finished?

I think it has more to do with the cost and the material. these are essentially the same as the Reaper Bones figures. Keeping the cost down is important as well. There are only 2 developers running the skirmish part of the game at the moment. That's just one more thing for them to do, slowing down or diluting our content. You could also say that the popularity of X-wing also stymies the IA and Armada boom. I've seen 2 games of Armada. I know lots of people that bought into it at the beginning, but there are too many playing x-wing that also play armada. Starting a new system or making time for another system is hard on people for one reason or another. I know dozens of people that have IA but I've never seen them play. Usually people can only stand playing one game in a certain "universe" at a time apparently.

A while back, there was someone on the forums who batch spray painted his minis in gold, chrome, and bronze to make them look like classy chess pieces.

My friend did this. It looks pretty good. Gold for Rebel Uniques, Bronze for Elites, and a darker Copper for Regulars. Imperials went Black, Silver, White. Mercenaries went Purple, Dark Green, and Light Green. Makes for an interesting looking set.

Personally, I'm glad they're unpainted- I had a blast, as a newbie, painting mine.

Maybe we'll get something like the anniversary edition of War of the Ring, where a special edition of hand-painted painted minis will get a limited release for premium pricing. I wouldn't count on it, but it's still your best bet.

I'm glad they're unpainted. I've repainted the pre-painted WOTC and WizKids stuff and it's hard to work with given that the initial paint job has hidden a majority of the details.

If IA came pre-painted the cost would skyrocket. WizKids makes pre-painted minis for D&D that sell in blind boxes of four minis for $12. And Heroclix boosters have about the same cost. FFG couldn't offer single minis packs and a lot of material would have to be larger sets with better profit margins.

I agree that X-Wing gets away with being pre-painted because any ship looks fine with gray paint, a black wash, and small secondary colors. The same is not so true with human/alien minis.

I want to get into painting, but I currently have a 4 year old running around, but I too am glad they are unpainted. It allows you to really appreciate the detail of the sculpts. I have some experience from years ago painting metal D&D figures, so I won't be a total noob, but I like that I can make some color decisions for myself as well. In most cases, some base colors are going to look fine. There are a couple artists who actually charge a reasonable amount for painted figures, given how detailed the finished work is, that you can purchase from if you really don't want to paint. WOTC figures, and I have probably 1000 separate figures, are just not as good a quality, and only in a few cases are they painted to with shadowing detail, and never like a Sorestro would do on his basic painting guides. Also, as time went on, the WOTC quality got lower and lower. The late series figures are a mess.

I think more people would play this game if they could buy pre-painted minis. Also, get rid of the ridiculous puzzle-piece map building.

FFG has sold 'premium' pre painted minis before, in the Arkham games. Though I'm not sure whether both pre and unpainted were sold as a seperate options, or they were packed unpainted and then you had to buy a second painted copy.

Honestly though, it seems that pre painted figures are generally of fairly low quality (From what I've seen, the Arkham ones are pretty bad, though the base minis are terrible anyway). I'm assuming that's largely because of price, and they could do better quality figures but at higher prices. Considering the game is already expensive, I'm not sure there's the massive group of people who would be willing to buy into it. I'd also assume that if there was, FFG probably would have done it by now. While I'm sure that it would sell to a certain group of people, I doubt it would be worth the time and effort to do it, particularly when those resources could be spent on other things.

Yea, pre painted are expensive for simple paint schemes. The old sw minis had single color paint schemes, few had washes for details, etc. Most teens could paint like that. Many had errors where skin paint was bobbed over their neck and onto their clothes, etc.

Now duat tactics premium, well that's different. Still not show quality, missing painted eyes, etc, but pretty detailed, washed, shaded, highlighted, etc. However It Is $50-$60 For a simple squad and $35-$50 for each character. The base IA set comes with many characters and several squads... it would be several hundred to a thousand for the set!

I remember seeing a used set of x wing minis on ebay recently for several hundred. I have less than that invested and own one of everything made for IA... and many times the amount of minis with more oprions qnd playability.

Nah, I prefer mine unpainted. I'll paint mine someday after I get all my 40k armies caught up.

Also, get rid of the ridiculous puzzle-piece map building.

-ryanjamal

I think more people would play this game if they could buy pre-painted minis. Also, get rid of the ridiculous puzzle-piece map building.

Are you sure you're playing the right game?

Sell singles with new, never seen player and skirmish cards.

If they made pre painted minis and included special command cards in there that were only available in those specific packs the community would riot and/or the skirmish scene would die a horrible death. It is already expensive enough to get started, that would be like tying a weight to a guy treading water... maybe swimming as the scene seems to be growing a bit.. but you get the point.

What they need to do is go the other direction and introduce an easier way to get people into the game, X-Wing has such a cheap buy in (I know I know you can't show up to a tournament with a starter pack, but you can at least experience the game), emulate that.

If you are interested in having painted minis, you should check out Sorastro Many people in this community never thought they would have the time or skill to paint, he solves both of that with very detailed videos that tell you exactly what to use, where and how. And money obviously isn't a barrier for you so that part shouldn't be a problem.

I like the puzzle piece maps. I mean, I love maps in general. How else can you get such a large quantity of great maps for varied stories? Ingenious really.

I think FF realized the maps were a mistake too and we've seen in Jabba's Realm many large pieces, which I think was the way they should have gone in the first place.

I think FF realized the maps were a mistake too and we've seen in Jabba's Realm many large pieces, which I think was the way they should have gone in the first place.

Small pieces should mainly be used for patching.

We played Bossk's Gunrunner mission last night, and huge sections of the map were just lines of smaller patch pieces. That is NOT the way to use the configurable map system. Glad to hear the bigger pieces are being put to better use.

I like the puzzle piece maps. I mean, I love maps in general. How else can you get such a large quantity of great maps for varied stories? Ingenious really.

Dudes and Dudettes. The puzzle piece board system is one of the more ingenious ideas used in this game. I can't believe people seriously complain about it. Small snarky comments acceptable, but serious complaining? Let's look at other options shall we?

A. A puzzle based map system that allows for a huge number of various maps.

B. A single board where, using both sides, we get to play every single mission on up to two maps. Every one.

C. The above, but now your expansion pack options also include map packs. Yours for only $12-$15. Each.

D. Downloadable versions of the above for only $8-$10. Each.

C'mon peeps. The puzzle board is fantastic. The Core box comes with, what, 20 different game boards that way? One of the best things about this game is not only the replayability, but the variety of those replays being across multiple multiple maps.

Apologies, I want to speak up like this every time I hear someone carry on that gripe for longer than a phrase or two, usually at my FLGS. Humor note: Sending a six year old over to help set up their board for them works great. "I can do it. Want me to help?" (Aside on Humor Note: Many do, and the six year old loves it.) Sure I acknowledge that many have a more difficult time setting up the pieces than others, especially if they have a disability, but the flexibility it allows is phenomenal.

Thanks FFG designers. Good call.