Mark's post about having a SG2 platoon and my own start at buying official FT
figures got me thinking about something. One of the problems with getting into
a new miniatures game is trying to come up with what constitutes the base
number of figures needed for a good game. Maybe not a fantastic,
be-all-and-end-all game, but just a good game.
What I think is needed is a suggestion for new players of FT, SG2, and DS2 as
to what they should buy as their first miniatures purchases. How many and what
type of ships do you need for FT? How many figures, and in what mix, do you
need for SG2 or DS2? That is, what do you need to get you started and still
have an enjoyable game.
Granted, this kind of question is full of personal preferences. Someone may
not like fighters in FT, so telling them to buy a carrier or battledreadnought
might not be what they would like the best.
Still, I think we could come up with a general list that would give people a
good set of guidelines.
So, anyone have any suggestions?
For SG2, I found that about thirty figures a side (or there abouts) gives a
good starting battle. This gives 4 full squads of 6, plus a command squad.
You'll want 4 troopers, a leader, and a support weapon per squad. Build up two
of these, and you're on your way to a good game.
FT is a bit more problematic. You'll want a number of escort vessels, at least
a couple of cruisers, and a capital ship or two.
Anyone care to comment? Either on my SG2 suggestion, or one of their own?
I'm not sure if boxing them individually would be of use to KR or Jon...
perhaps just throwing a rubber band around them and selling them at a slightly
reduced "starter kit" price might not be a bad idea. At the very least, new
players will have an idea of what they really need before they can have a
pretty reasonable battle.
> Mark's post about having a SG2 platoon and my own start at buying
> So, anyone have any suggestions?
I tend to start folks out small, however, they often want to expand so the
idea of buying a complete platoon sounds fair to me. Don't GZG already do
squad packs of the SG figs? If I remember they are a pack of eight figs
nominally comprising a squad. A couple, or three packs of these plus SG II
would make a nice starter set. One thing which may be slightly more appealing
would be a card stock 'Squad Card' included with the squad. Then if the
beginner buys two different packs they get troops and instant info for gaming
rather than wading through the entire book to find individual info. After the
first couple of games they may then be more inclined to
make up thier own stats/background etc.
Ther are already starter packs for FT arn't there? I think there is a pack
with the rules and ships plus two with ships only (I think I bought one when I
started).
Ther used to be several DS II starter packs but they were the old Copeland
stuff so may no longer exist.
> Mark's post about having a SG2 platoon and my own start at buying
[snip]
> Ther are already starter packs for FT arn't there ? I think there is a
For the UK, we do starter packs for FT - the rules, plus two 6-ship
fleets (a CH, CL, 2x DD and 2xFF each) for twenty quid. While we don't
actually list an SG starter kit, we do platoon packs of figs (24) at a price
saving (17.50) and a couple of these plus the rules will give an excellent
start. Now that we've got the 6mm infantry out, we may start offering starter
deals on DS as well.
> agoodall@sympatico.ca (Allan Goodall) wrote:
[snip]
> Still, I think we could come up with a general list that would give
Actually, the fleet packs (FT PAK 1 if you don't have the rules, or FT PAK
3 if you do) have a good starting mix - without begging the question of
what a good beginner's mix actually is.
All you really need, if you'd like to be even more minimalistic, is one
capital, two cruisers, and about four escorts. You should be able to put that
together for under 14UK or 30US.
> All you really need, if you'd like to be even more minimalistic, is
Slightly over half that if you buy them from us (1xBB, 1xCA, 1xCL,
2xDD, 2xFF = £7.10 + postage), although you would have to join the
SFSFW first....
(end of commercial break)