On last week’s episode of This Week In Geek, guest Bryan Haven, the manager of Atlantis Games & Comics in Norfolk, VA invited us out to the Star Wars X-Wing Miniatures Game Kessel Run Preview Event sanctioned by the game’s manufacturer, Fantasy Flight Games.
The event seemed to continue Atlantis’ success with Fantasy Flight’s Star Wars-licensed products, including the Star Wars: Edge of the Empire Beginner’s Game, which arrived in stores Dec. 14 and sold out within hours. Fantasy Flight Games acquired the license in 2011.
At stake were four Expansion Packs for the miniatures game not due for official release until early 2013. The Millennium Falcon and Slave I sets, due to retail for $29.95, are more robust in size and scope than the already available TIE Advanced and Y-wing expansions, with larger bases and different maneuverability options than the smaller “snubfighters.” Also included are more mission scenarios, expanding the possible face-off scenarios between players’ Rebel and Imperial forces. Also up for grabs were the A-wing and TIE Interceptor sets, which follow a similar model as the earlier expansions and will be available for $14.95.
The X-Wing Miniatures Game core set retails for $39.95 (All photos by Meghan Ellis).
Though he earned a slot in the final game, James Kobyra had a previous engagement preventing him from continuing play. The other three finalists after two 70-minute rounds of play – Joshua Beasley, Nate Beem and Pat Doyle – playfully discussed their tournament performance and divided the winnings.
Instead of a final match, the four finalists agreed to their winnings, and third placeholder Joshua Beasley and first place winner Pat Doyle agreed on an exhibition match following the rules of what would have been the final. Kobyra temporarily gifted his Slave I to Beasley for the exhibition, while Doyle utilized his prized Millennium Falcon.
Designed to show off the capabilities of the new pieces, the final match pitted the Millennium Falcon and two A-wings, along with their custom pilots and upgrades, against the Slave I and two TIE Interceptors with their respective capabilities. The field included some asteroid debris to keep things interesting.
Joshua Beasley and Pat Doyle face off.
Both players had some trouble adapting to the larger pieces and their limited mobility compared to the snubfighter sets. With movement and relation to other fighters based on sight rather than hard measurement, the considerable base sizes resulted in a tangle of action in the center of the board.
After the destruction of one of the A-wings, Beasley’s Slave I pursues the Millennium Falcon, which was “destroyed” and removed from the board not long afterward.
Despite his strong performance earlier in the day, Doyle lost to Beasley, but retained his winnings.
Check out more pictures, of all four players, their winnings, and some visiting FireStorm Clan Mandorian Mercs here. (Many thanks to Bryan and Steve Matousek from Atlantis Games & Comics for their hospitality.)
A most excellent event! Thanks for the coverage. The visit from the Firestorm Clan was awesome =)