Star Wars: Imperial Assault

I have played a number games of Imperial Assault now and I am starting to like it. My original feeling was that I liked it because of the figures. I am a huge Star Wars fan and I think I was a fan before anyone else I knew. This was mainly due to seeing the Palitoy action figures in a shop window. So it really was the figures that really attracted me to the game. I didn't really want to buy it because it was too expensive but I guess I will get round to it, if only for the figures.

This was despite my first impression that this was just another "funky dice game". This is probably one of my core gaming prejudices with collectible card games being the other. What I don't like about it is the mechanics for moving between scenarios is a little complicated and time consuming. That said, now that is has been played a few times and the rules are becoming understood, the turn around time is becoming a little more fluid. There is a lot of admin as well. So much that it needs an app to handle it all. Sadly the apps need a little work doing to them and they don't cover all the expansions.

The tiles for the game are pretty good too. I like the idea of using these for role playing as well. I am not sure that I would buy the game purely for the tiles but if I did, I think I would scan them to make up the tiles as mats and keep the tiles for the board game. I could really see this being useful in a Titansgrave game and maybe even use the tiles from Imperial Assault's sister game, Descent  which should give a sci/fantasy/post-apocalypse vibe and I think the Doom game might be using the same format.

There are plenty of minis. All the main characters are there and enough NPC (rebels and imperials) to be the basis of an RPG which I think was the original plan for buying it. If you throw in a few more mainstream sci-fi RPG figures and you have the basis for a nice game. With all the expansion packs already available and several more potentially on their way, I  can see most of the characters from the films making their way in to a pack.

Jyn Odan has been "my" character whilst we have been playing this. A sly smuggler who seems to spend most of her time on her back, unconscious. The characters all are nicely different, each with a flair for something.