Gamers who love their Star Wars Miniatures will have something big to look forward to this fall with the Universe Expansion Set (complete with huge miniatures) due to be released in August, and the impressive AT-AT Imperial Walker Colossal Pack due out in November.
As previously reported, the April release of the Revenge of the Sith Miniatures added 60 new figures, including key Episode III characters, lightsaber-wielding Jedi and Sith, more Wookiees -- even General Grievous and his bodyguards. But this August, the game's Universe Expansion Set introduces 60 more figures from the original trilogy era and beyond, as well as introducing a big new aspect to the game which may be a contradictory of terms -- the huge miniature.
Each pack in the Universe Expansion Set contains six random miniatures and a random huge miniature. Some of the miniatures in the upcoming Universe Expansion Set include expanded universe characters such as the Force-immune Yuuzhan Vong Warrior from the New Jedi Order novels, the Nightsister Sith Witch from Dathomir, a New Republic Young Jedi Knight, and the X-1 Viper Droid from Star Wars: Dark Empire II. The set also features new versions of favorite characters including General Han Solo, Jedi Master Luke Skywalker, Darth Maul on his Sith Speeder, and others.
One of the huge miniatures gamers may come across in the Universe Expansion Set is the impressive Tusken Raider on Bantha. The Tusken Raider carries a powerful handcrafted slugthrower rifle, with his exceptional hunting skills represented by the Sniper ability. When charging, a bantha's mass is equally impressive, allowing it to ram its target using its Momentum ability. Even without moving, the bantha can rear up and inflict devastating crushing blows against adjacent foes with its Mighty Swing. Given this figure's size, the Tusken Raider on Bantha can completely dominate a environment while still having the ability to engage at range. As a Fringe character with a mid-range cost, this figure can find a place in almost any squad.
Another large figure to look for is the Clone Trooper on BARC Speeder as seen in Revenge of the Sith. Like the Commando on Speeder Bike and Scout Trooper on Speeder Bike in the Rebel Storm set, the Clone Trooper on BARC Speeder is best deployed against concentrations of enemy characters: Flight and Strafe Attack give it the ability to attack a frightening number of opponents in a single round without fear of facing attacks of opportunity. Its bigger size allows it to attack up to three characters abreast for a possible total of 27 attacks while moving in a straight line, seven more than the Rebel Storm speeder bikes.
Gamers who recently attended Celebration III or this year's Comic-Con may have noticed another upcoming offering from Wizards of the Coast, due out this November -- the AT-AT Imperial Walker Colossal Pack. With an actual AT-AT at 13 inches long and 16 inches tall some gamers might not consider this figure to be "miniature." This unique standalone allows players to pit the legendary AT-AT Imperial Walker against an opponent's Rebel army. The AT-AT Imperial Walker Colossal Pack contains an AT-AT colossal miniature with stat card, a 12-page scenario booklet, a two-sided battle grid map and damage counters.
Gamers eager to play using the new expansion set and AT-AT will get a chance to do just that at GenCon Indy in August, where Wizards be giving away 10 first-off-the-line AT-ATs.
For more information about Star Wars Miniatures, be sure to visit the official Wizards of the Coast site here. Add stay tuned to starwars.com for further sneak peaks and updates.