If X-wing wasn't painted nicely, would you collect?

By Davor, in X-Wing

One of the reasons why I started X-wing, was I herd about great rules, but also how well the fighters were painted.

I took a look at Star Trek Attack wing, and saw how poorly they were painted and looked, I said no thank you, I will just buy more X-wing ships.

So it got to me thinking, would X-wing be as popular if it wasn't so well painted. How about you guys and galls? Would you still keep playing X-wing if the fighters were painted at the same level of Attack wing?

IMO the problem with Attack Wing isn't just the painting, it's the model itself as well.

If X-Wing models were just as detailed as they are now, but not quite so well painted, I'd just clean the paint off and do it myself.

But even if they were WizKids quality I still think I'd play the game, the rules and such are good enough that the models are to a point icing on the cake.

I played WotC's old SWM game through the awesomely painted minis and the terribly painted minis. It isn't about the miniature for me, and while they look awesome sitting on a starfield, I'd play the same game on a 3x3 cardboard box using just the plastic bases and cardboard bits if I had to.

NOPE!

Oh is that bad? Sorry but I rarely if ever paint any more since I do such a terrible job. But I love gaming, especially miniature gaming. So when I saw the game (actually the figures) I loved the good detail and paint jobs. So I decided to get a couple of ships and ended up playing.

So I can say with certainty it was the detail plus the fact they are painted that got me into the game in the first place. Otherwise, I already have plenty of games and unpainted miniatures that I don't use.

I would not have been drawn in to play the demo at PAX East if X-Wing looked as bad as Attack Wing.

I would have missed a great game, but even if I painted my own fleet, but I'd still have to look at crap on the opposing side, just like in Warhammer or Warmachine. *sadface*

One of the deciding factors for me was the detailed pre-painted miniatures.

I'd love to paint them myself but don't have the time. It would be either paint or play. So the fact they come painted and look pretty awesome is why I have time to play.

Sure. X-wing is my favorite minis game hands down. It would still be a lot of fun if it were cardboard cut outs. That being said I a super glad that the minis are so great.

I guess I should say that I do play Attack Wing. I don't particulaly buy into the idea that my love for X-wing means I have to hate Attack Wing. That being said, I am more dissapointed in the model quality of the Attack Wing minis than in the pain job. Painting starships is easy. I plan on repainting at least my Klingons.

I would be only a little less likely to get into the game if the minis weren't painted.

I wouldn't say the paint job does it for me but rather the quality of the miniatures along with the rules. I mean the game is nice but you honestly could (and really do) just play it using the pieces of cardboard (supported by plastic in some cases) that come in the box and the miniatures add NOTHING to actual gameplay. The minis only addition to the game is to make it "look pretty."

IMHO The X-wing minis aren't that well painted. They're okay, but not spectacular. I repainted some of the ships myself.

The two features that actually sealed the deal for me were the consistent scale and good rules. If even one of those weren't present it would have been a deal breaker for me.

Even without good rules I would've gotten a couple for display and collection purposes. Consistent scale makes for a good diorama.

Most licensed games usually suck and it seems that companies often try to sell the game based purely on the license. It's a happy coincidence that that is not the case for X-wing.

NOPE

I like painting more than gaming, so I would actually prefer them to not be painted.

IMHO The X-wing minis aren't that well painted. They're okay, but not spectacular. I repainted some of the ships myself.

That's unfortunate but is it fair. I don't necessarily think your wrong from your perspective but are you comparing it to your quality of painting, a modelers quality or other miniature games. No offence but from the games I seen most come unpainted and many of the ones that do have basic painting and lower quality detail in the figure. I guess I'm trying to say is that for a prepainted $15 MSRP figures, way cool. I love them, just in my opinion.

I like painting more than gaming, so I would actually prefer them to not be painted.

A lot of people strip them and repaint. I only wish I had that skill. But I'm glad they are painted; and that some repaint. Some of the repainted figures are really really good.

Hey guys, I don't mean to defend FFG, which I guess I'm doing, just a different perspective and the figures is what got me into it.

IMO the problem with Attack Wing isn't just the painting, it's the model itself as well.

If X-Wing models were just as detailed as they are now, but not quite so well painted, I'd just clean the paint off and do it myself.

But even if they were WizKids quality I still think I'd play the game, the rules and such are good enough that the models are to a point icing on the cake.

I was initially excited about Attack Wing, until I saw the unforgivably wretched excuses for models Wizkids was shoving at us; nothin' can help those things.

Let's just be happy FFG's minis are both exquisitely detailed AND well-painted!

I would play even if the quality was worse. That being said the quality certainly makes the game experience more enjoyable. I'm a butcher when it comes to customs and most painting so I really like having this level of quality.

I certainly understand where others are coming from in their view of the quality as inferior given what they can create on their own. However if these ships were painted in that degree of detail the price point of this game would probably be effected significantly.

I wouldn't have looked twice at it.

I would have played the game no matter what the miniature quality. I'm a semi-pro painter and would rate the x-wing stuff at around a 7 on a scale of 1 to 10. High gaming style in my book. Not works of art but very nice. With some minor work they could maybe be an 8 or 9 and there fine detail is enough to make that happen.

Attack wing is an entirely different kettle of fish. For one they are not well detailed and I can except this as they are drastically different scale then X-wing and there paint jobs are around a 3.5 to 4. With highlighting, shading and washes they might make an acceptable 6. Which in my opinion is a good gaming quality. I do think the price point is to high on the Attack Wing stuff considering you could pay $4.00 for a Tactics ship of the same quality. (and Federation ships do come with registration markings which Attack Wing doesn't).

The funniest think I see happening is seeing the guys at the game store wining about the quality of the Attack Wing pieces compared to X-wing when they couldn't even come close to either ones quality on there own. Figuring the average gaming piece unpainted is in the $10 range per miniature and knowing what I charge to paint a miniature they should count themselves lucky.

The fact that I didn't get into the Star Wars Miniature Battles game and that I did go all in on X-Wing indicates the minis really did matter. I just couldn't get past parts of the models being droopy or warped. It really wasn't about the quality of the paint jobs, I didn't even get that far before saying no. The different scales for the different sized ships was also a huge turnoff, and made it easy to save my money.

I'd have to say no. If the models for X-Wing were as bad as Attack Wing I would not play the game. In fact that's what's keeping me away from Attack Wing. The models for that game look like a toy you'd get from a McDonalds Happy Meal, not for a proper miniature game.

I'd have to say no. If the models for X-Wing were as bad as Attack Wing I would not play the game. In fact that's what's keeping me away from Attack Wing. The models for that game look like a toy you'd get from a McDonalds Happy Meal, not for a proper miniature game.

I've never ever made this exact comparison on this board...

Probably not or would be repainting more of them.

I would never have given the game a second glance. The only reason I started playing in the first place is because I saw the great Moldy Crow model and wanted to have it just as a collectible. It was only after getting impatient for wave 3 that I decided to look into the game and actually starting buying it. Not only that, but having nicely painted models that I didn't have to alter myself gave the game overall a huge advantage over Warhammer, which I stopped collecting partially because I just got way too stressed out from painting.

The game itself is great, it's not that it wouldn't be worth playing if the models were sub-par, but it was only a coincidence and a connection to my gaming history that gave me a reason to pay attention.

As you know I really enjoy painting. Saying that if they weren't as well painted I doubt I would have got into it. Having striped the models it's really hard to see all the wonderful detail without the wash they put on. And secondly I don't feel any rush to paint everything, I can take my time as I don't mind putting the pre-paints on the board. Which makes it far less of a chore.

No, I wouldn't have bought into the game. I remember when pre-painted models were first released, and they were UGLY. Also, if the models were beautifully detailed but unpainted, I would not collect and play. I have a mess of Blood Bowl models to paint, and it's time-consuming.

So, in my eyes, FFG hit the center mark. Beautiful game, easy rules, expandable, and real fun to play.

Unlike most I think that the x-wing paint jobs are actually quite mediocre and looking, after all the reviews I was surprised to be so thoroughly unimpressed by the paint jobs. Saying that they are still a hundred times than I could ever do so am quite glad they are painted and are all far better than the Attack wing models which unfortunately look like a cheap rushed knock off.

Edited by Fiachra