Many, many years ago, when I first played Star Wars RPG tabletop, was the original edition published by West End Games, using the d6 system. At that time you could find pewter minatures for Star Wars, made by the best caster at the time, Ral Partha.

Jump ahead 15 years.

Now, WotC, have recently released thier 3rd edition of Star Wars RPG, known as the "Saga Edition". Which is based off the d20 system that was used before in the "Core" edition. (Version 1 and Revised. Anyone who played KOTOR and KOTOR2 are familar with this system, because the video games used it.) Well, Saga edition is a "streamlined" verson of d20 designed for quicker play and less rule hunting. (Kinda like 4th edition D&D, but not as badly assraped.) The ruleset itself, I don't have a problem with. I just made my own rule set using bits from Core and Saga.

My bitch is that you can't buy pewter Star Wars figs anymore for playing SW:RPG. You know why? Because of the Star Wars Miniatures Game! Not only are they a "Collectable miniature battle game", but they are also, according to WotC: "the offical miniatures for the Star Wars Roleplaying Game".

Here's the catch:
Let's say you want to play a Cathar Jedi character. You think, "hey for my fig, I'll just use Juhani from KOTOR! A perfect fit!"

You want to buy the Juhani fig? Well, you can buy it as a single from online or B&M gaming shops. For it's current value price of $22.00!

Why is it $22? Because, in the SW:Miniature game, she is a "Very Rare!" (Think Mythic Rare from M:TG)

What's the other option to get her? Buy the SW:M booster packs for the "Knights Of The Old Republic" expansion set and hope you get her, for $15 a booster pack. And, since she is an ultra rare, that means that the odds of getting her are not good. Every booster has 1 rare , 2 uncommon, and 4 common figures. About one out of 3 boosters, replace the Rare with a Very Rare. So you would need to spend at least $45 to get a good chance of getting an "Very Rare". And, then hope that you get Juhani, instead of the other 12 "Very Rares" that are in the set!

This is a fucking stupid way for WotC to try to suck more money outta the RPG players!

D&D as a minature game also. But, you still have other companies such as Reaper, who still make the pewter figs for Tabletop RPG use. Why can't Lucas or Wizards licence another company to make pewter figs for SW:RPG, and leave SW:M and SW:RPG seperate products!?!

My complaint is that I shouldn't have to pay $22 for something that should be $3.

If I want to play a Dwarf Fighter in D&D, I can go out an buy a Pewer Fig of a dwarf fighter for $3. I can also choose from about 50+ choices in style and design. AND, I can paint it myself, so I can make it even more personalized.

Now, If I want to play a Miraluka Jedi in SW:RPG, I have only one choice (The Visa Marr Miniature) and have to pay $20 for it.

I have no problem with WotC wanting to make money the collectable route with SW:M. But, why should SW:RPG players have to suffer because of it? I don't care that a figure is worth $20+ becasue it has some special stat for a game I don't play. I care that I shouldn't have to be forced to pay $20 for the fig for its other "offical" use where it doesn't have any stats and no special bonus for being what it is, other than a correct visual representation of my character.

I know this may seem like a silly rant to some. But, I have been a tabletop RPG player for 17 years. For 17 years I could buy RPG table top figs for $3-$5 each. Suddenly, WotC decides I shouldn't have that option anymore, because they want to try to milk more money out of me.

That's my complant.

Then license that shit out to Reaper or Iron Wind Metals (Who used to be Ral Partha Ent.)

Look at it from another view point, Jeebus.

Let's say that WotC decided there was another offical use for Magic cards for another game they made. A game you have no interest in. Suddenly, the players of this new game started buying up all the Rare magic cards, making it even harder for M:TG players to aquire the cards they need for thier constructed decks. Wouldn't this bother you?

Also, Wizards are the one that decide which figures are rare and powerful. They know that these figs are going to be expensive in the aftermarket. So, they may not see extra profit from these, but they are directly responsible for them being so expensive.

Well the original point was, up until now, I could have bought a RPG mini for $3, and got anything I wanted. Now, I have to pay 25 cents up to $40 for each fig.

How is that fair?

Okay, this is an argument I cannot win, as I am the only tabletopper here.

2nd arguement about SW:M:

Knights Of The Old Republic set. I am running a KOTOR campaign, so this should be perfect for figs right? Wrong.

Set list:

OLD REPUBLIC

1. Atton Rand VR
2. Bao-Dur R
3. Carth Onasi VR
4. Juggernaut War Droid C
5. Master Lucien Draay VR
6. Mira VR
7. Old Republic Captain UC
8. Old Republic Guard C
9. Squint VR
10. Visas Marr R
11. Wookiee Elite Warrior C
12. Wookiee Trooper C
SITH

13. Darth Malak, Dark Lord of the Sith VR
14. Darth Sion VR
15. Elite Sith Trooper UC
16. Sith Assassin UC
17. Sith Guard C
18. Sith Heavy Assault Droid UC
19. Sith Marauder UC
20. Sith Operative C
21. Sith Trooper Captain UC
REPUBLIC

22. Captain Panaka R
23. Captain Tarpals R
24. Gungan Artillerist C
25. Gungan Shieldbearer UC
26. Gungan Soldier C
27. Jar Jar Binks VR
28. Obi-Wan Kenobi, Padawan VR
29. Supreme Chancellor Palpatine R
REBEL

30. Han Solo, Smuggler R
31. Leia Organa, Senator VR
32. Luke Skywalker, Jedi R
IMPERIAL

33. Darth Vader, Scourge of the Jedi R
34. RA-7 Death Star Protocol Droid UC
NEW REPUBLIC

35. General Wedge Antilles R
FRINGE

36. ASN Assassin Droid UC
37. Boma UC
38. Czerka Scientist C
39. Echani Handmaiden C
40. GenoHaradan Assassin C
41. Jarael R
42. Jawa Scout C
43. Jolee Bindo VR
44. Juhani VR
45. Kreia VR
46. Massiff UC
47. Mission Vao R
48. Rakghoul UC
49. Shyrack UC
50. T1 Series Bulk Loader Droid UC
51. T3-M4 R
52. Tusken Raider Scout C
53. Zaalbar R
54. Zayne Carrick R
MANDALORIAN

55. Mandalore the Ultimate VR
56. Mandalorian Captain UC
57. Mandalorian Commando C
58. Mandalorian Marauder C
59. Mandalorian Quartermaster UC
60. Mandalorian Scout C

*****

Why are half of the figs in the set NOT Kotor era characters?

Obi-Wan, Leia, Luke, Vader, Gungans?

This is another reason that WotC new miniature sets piss me off.

I've noticed that Luke and Vader seem to be in every set, and that's fine.

But out of the set of 60 "KOTOR" figs:

5 are Gungans. (Not seen in KOTOR era, as they were not encountered until EP 1.)
Captain Panaka - Queen Amadala's bodyguard. (EP 1)
Obi-Wan Kenobi - Duh. (EP 1-6)
Supreme Chancellor Palpatine - (EP 2,3)
Han, Leia, Luke. - Core SW characters. I can forgive these.
Darth Vader - Same as above.
RA-7 Death Star Protocol Droid (???)
General Wedge Antilles (After Ep 6)
ASN Assassin Droid (???)

16 are definatley not KOTOR era. A few are more are questionable.

That's almost 1/3 the set.

And, if you are wondering where characters like Bastila Shan, Visa Marr, Darth Reven, Darth Treya, Darth Nihilus, HK-47, and Atris are? They are in other sets. Go figure.

Warhammer are $3-$4 a fig, and you can pick which ones you want.

That's part of my original beef.

Although, In my quest to get a least one fig that is holding a lightsaber, I bought a booster yesterday, and got a "Cade Skywalker" (Whovever the hell that is), and looked him up to discover he is worth $43. Now I just have to find people who collect these things, or a shop that sells singles, so I can trade him for the ones I want.