That said, let the vitriol start. Go ahead and say your worst. Are you offended? I don't care. You see, for me, its all about the game. I could care that its based on Star Wars. I love the mechanics. I love the fact that as a grown man with a real job and family obligations and responsibilities out the hoo-ha, I no longer had the time or the energy for long, involved RPG games. Miniatures cut to the chase. Its like the reader's digest version of gaming. All the good stuff without that tedious trekking to town to buy arrows and a new shield.
To be fair. I'm not a Star Wars hater. I have nothing at all against it. I've seen all the movies numerous times, enjoy The Clone Wars series, and have even read some of the books. I just don't revere it, you know. Leia in the slave outfit doesn't get mer particularly horny, I do not dream of being Luke Skywalker, and I don't hate Darth Vader or Governor Tarkin. (Hint: Their fictional. Let the whole Alderan thing go.) I am a fan, just not rabid, and I don't play the game because its Star Wars. I play the game because I love the mechanics, I like the rules, I enjoy the flexibility, and it happens to be Star Wars.
Perhaps that is why I was so disappointed with Imperial Entanglements and view Jedi Academy with such trepidation. As a gamer first, I look for sets that set new standards, offer new strategies, change the playing field and generally improve the experience. The Clone Wars set did just that, offering Republican and Separatist resources that made for all kinds of new and interesting combos. Then came Imperial Entanglements. Yawn. Now I look at the previews for Jedi Academy and think WTF!
You see, I expected Imperial Entanglements to do for the Empire and the Rebel factions what The Clone Wars did for The Republic and Separatist factions. It didn't. The pieces were lackluster, retreads and generally useless. Perhaps 2 or 3 standouts, a half dozen useful pieces and the rest Dross. The online spoilers indicate that Jedi Academy is not that bad, but its not a slam dunk either. The unofficial sneak peaks reveal a balanced set covering every faction with some very useful pieces. Take a look at these pics (apparently originating on E-Bay)...
front: Jedi Exile (?), Darth Maul Sith Apprentice(?) (since Sidious is Master), K'Kruhk, Vodo-Siosk Baas
back: Darth Plagueis, Dark Woman, Naga Sadow, Kol Skywalker
front: Cade Skywalker Padawan(?), Yoda ???, Darth Sidious Sith Master, Kyle Katarn Combat Instructor
back: Qui-Gon Jinn (strange get-up though), Anakin or Jacen Solo, Jaina Solo ???, Grand Master Luke Skywalker
front: Old Republic Jedi(?), Sith(?), female Farghul(?), female Jedi Padawan(?), Yuuzhan Vong ???
middle: Felucian, HK-50, Jedi Battlemaster, Sith Lord(?), Praetorite Vong Priest
back: Jensaarai ???, Imperial Sentinel
front: Clone Shocktrooper(?), Rocket Battle Droid(?), R4 Agromech, Jedi Youngling, Krath War Droid, Stormtrooper Officer(?)
middle: Yuuzhan Vong ???, Sith Cultist, male human ???, Death Watch ???
back: Antarian Ranger, Reborn
The best collection of stats for the set that I have found so far is on Bloo Milk. Select the characters toolbar, and then select the browse categories option.
The set to follow is called Galaxy At War, and my hope is that the set will be balanced across the factions like Jedi Academy is, but that the pieces will be more for gamers, and less like collector pieces. I'm also hoping that the title implies alot more military style figures and alot less jedi-centric. Especially those mid-cost jedis, which quite frankly, youn't swing a dead cat without hitting one.
So at the end I findthat I started saying one thing and wound up in another place. Originally I meant this piece to convey my disappointment with figures that pandered to the rabid fans, but offered little playability, and ended up doing a kind of pre-review of the new set. Once all the stats are out and I've had some time to explore the set, I'll be sure to do a proper review.












