| Jemima Fawr | 04 Jun 2016 3:05 a.m. PST |
I seem to have developed a pre-painted plastic dependency… There I was, enjoying a pub-crawl around London, when I noticed a Waterstone's bookshop next door to the pub we were drinking in. I still had about £5.00 GBP to spend on my Christmas Waterstone's gift card, so went in to see what they had. The military history section was pants, but there, sitting at the side of the stairwell, was 'X-Wing: The Miniatures Game'… The rules were read through an alcoholic haze on the train back to Chippenham and my mate and I played through our hangovers. Within an hour, we'd got a grip on the rules and played two highly enjoyable games! Wow! Before the day was out, I'd ordered a starfield mat, another X-Wing, another TIE-Fighter and the Falcon from Firestorm Games in Cardiff (decent discount, free postage and wormhole-tech used for delivery)… I also discovered that a mate of mine had had the flippin game all along, but not played it! So I borrowed his set and a spare X-Wing to beef up my forces… I then introduced it to my teenage cadet Minions and in five hours we'd played six games and the Minions were already picking squads and modifying their ships. One 13 year-old girl (now known as 'Cadet Vader') was bullseyeing Womp-Rats from the outset and used every card in the box to shoot seven shades of Bantha-Poo out of her CO in each and every game… No Corporal stripes for her until she 'lets the Wookie win'… The Minions are also now buying ships and we're looking to start a campaign based on Yarkshiregamer's superb X-Wing campaign. Two weeks on and another order has gone in… So that'll be two Y-Wings, an A-Wing, a B-Wing, an E-Wing, a TIE-Advanced, a TIE-Interceptor, a TIE-Bomber, two TIE-Fighters, feckin Slave-1 and a Domestic Incident once the Memsahib sees the credit card bill… |
| repaint | 04 Jun 2016 4:15 a.m. PST |
look at it this way, before it reaches the cost of a motorbike it will take a few years, and if you have a significant other, you can tell her it is eventually much safer than exposing yourself to the risk of a traffic accident. |
| 45thdiv | 04 Jun 2016 4:28 a.m. PST |
Wait! You got the base game for 5 pounds? That is a great price. The B wing is my favorite ship. Everything is still in boxes since the game came out. My wife wants to play, big star wars fan. We have had no time to play. |
| Jemima Fawr | 04 Jun 2016 4:45 a.m. PST |
I expose myself to the risk of a serious traffic accident every time I let the Memsahib drive… ;) To clarify: The game was discounted to £23.00 GBP and I then spent the £5.00 GBP remaining on my gift card, plus some Waterstone's loyalty card points to get it down to £13.00 GBP, which I was very happy with. :) |
 Doms Decals  | 04 Jun 2016 6:23 a.m. PST |
I'm not sure they have a UK helpline unfortunately. The US one is probably 1-800-ITSATRAP |
| Jamesonsafari | 04 Jun 2016 8:10 a.m. PST |
Well done you!
I find myself about to take command of some air cadets and was thinking along the same lines. |
| Jemima Fawr | 04 Jun 2016 8:31 a.m. PST |
Congratulations James! You've come on! :) I already do a fair bit of 'Check Your Six' with my Minions. As well as history, it teaches them a fair bit about basic air combat manoeuvres and the conversion of speed energy into manoeuvres and vice versa. Which squadron? An emigre friend of mine has a son in the RCAC at Kenora. |
 Herkybird  | 04 Jun 2016 10:58 a.m. PST |
Glad to see you are sticking to the basic trilogy types, in my humble opinion, the odd types they are releasing now are a little…silly! |
| Jamesonsafari | 04 Jun 2016 1:52 p.m. PST |
I am pleased to be assuming command of 19 Stratford RCAC Squadron. I'm from the army side but they need staff and it's a 5 minute commute so it was a no brainer. 70- 80% of the programme is common to all three elements anyway. |
| Jemima Fawr | 05 Jun 2016 5:26 a.m. PST |
Herkybird, Give me time… Give me time… ;) James, Congratulations! That seems eminently sensible (provided my colleagues in blue don't mind the smell…) ;) |
| Greyalexis | 06 Jun 2016 9:46 a.m. PST |
I think this is the link you are looking for which will explain everything about xwing: link |
| Jemima Fawr | 06 Jun 2016 1:06 p.m. PST |
Oh dear… I only went in to the shop for a few fighters and came out with a corvette… To paraphrase a well-known UK 'Don't do drugs, kids' ad of the 1980s… "So what? I know what I'm doing… I can handle it… Can't I…?" |
| Paint it Pink | 09 Jun 2016 6:59 a.m. PST |
Yeah, it was the Rebel Blockade Runner that did it for me. I had to have it as it was my favourite ship of the series. From there it was one small step after another to my own collection. |
| Jemima Fawr | 12 Jun 2016 2:24 a.m. PST |
Oh no… I'm being sent on a course on Wednesday, within 200 yards of Firestorm Games… I don't think I'll be able to resist the Force… :( |
| Jemima Fawr | 05 Jul 2016 6:41 a.m. PST |
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| Bearserker | 10 Jul 2016 11:06 a.m. PST |
I fully understand your dilemma. We have been using pre-painted miniatures for over 15 years now, starting with Heroclix, Mechwarrior and others and now using Star Wars X-Wing and Star Trek Attack Wing. The standing joke in our group is that these figures are coated with an addictive chemical. Thus we refer to pre-painted miniatures as "Plastic Crack". It does not help that I have been a miniature wargamer for over 40 years now and after painting thousands of figures I am quite burned out on painting any more. (Even though I do find myself occasionally touching up and modifying a few). Good luck with kicking your habit. You are not alone. |
