I am a big fan of the Galactic Civil War era of
Star Wars and I am a stickler for my preferred aesthetics.
Over the last few months I have been culling my growing FFG Star Wars miniatures herd, weeding out those ships which annoyed me in one way or another.
It all started on the X-Wing side, I would say, with my purchase of the VCX-100,
Ghost. It was so big! And so different. I have always thought that ship looks like a crude flying brick (and that's being generous). I like Hera a lot. I am OK with Kanan. The rest of the crew (especially Chopper) annoy me. The show started to bug me, too. I quit watching after season 2. I like Darth Maul...but he was cut in half. I don't care for retconned stories about B-wing origins, etc. Don't get me started with Wedge Antilles. Or the size of the A-wing. Or which capital ships Vader might be able to kill single-handedly.
At any rate, this humongous, lumpy brute of a ship never felt like one of the gang, sitting on my shelf beside the
Falcon and
Outrider. So I sold it. While I was at it, I also sold the Agent Kallus crew card that came with the otherwise awesome Imperial
Gozanti-class Assault Carrier. For a clean sweep of
Rebels material, I also sent the Inquisitor packing in his TIE Advanced Prototype. The solar panels are on the insides of the wings, for cripe's sake.
Then I turned my attention to the K-wing (a vessel of dubious heritage from 16 years after the Civil War period). Gone. Along with it went the Imperial monstrosity the TIE Punisher. Too weird looking.
My purge went to not buying some expansions, as well as selling those I mention. I am not interested in the Quad Jumper, the Protectorate Starfighter, the
Upsilon-class shuttle (Kylo fleeping Ren doesn't actually fly his own shuttle, does he?), the
Shadowcaster, the E-wing, or Sabine's TIE. Reasons:
Rebels, Episode VII, or anachronisms (the E-wing is a New Republic era starfighter; also of dubious design lineage, in my mind). While I skip the ships, I use eBay extensively to get the cards and components I like from the sets I avoid, like the stuff from
The Force Awakens core set (damage decks, upgrades, even maneuver templates, etc), astromechs, Smuggling Compartment, Rigged Cargo Chute, Burnout SLAM, BoShek, etc. The rest of my fleet cannot be expected to miss out on goodies packaged with some odious vessels, can it?
I am open to the Auzituck Gunship (who doesn't like Wookiees?) and the TIE Aggressor when they come out. Not the Scurrg H-6.
I have been similarly active on the Armada side, as well. Ships I have sold after owning for awhile (both due to "look and feel" issues) are the Rebel Assault Frigate Mk. II and the Imperial
Gladiator-class Star Destroyer (from the 1980's cartoon
Droids, no less!). What's next, FFG, Itchy, Lumpy, and Bea Arthur singing about Life Day?
I have not purchased (and will not) the flotillas. I don't like the idea of having a single mini represent the
Falcon by itself, but a group of
Gozanti-class cruisers has to stick together for some awful reason. Add in the incessant complaints people have about their rules and I say "No, thank you."
I wanted to get the
Pelta-class frigate, in theory, but I don't care for both the strong
Rebels tie-in and the strange rules wherein a small fry of a ship like that gets some kind of unique bonus ability to command a fleet. What? The admirals riding on the largest ships can't pull off the tricks of the low-lifes on a converted medical frigate from the Clone Wars? No.
Also not interested in
Rebel Fighter Squadrons II, with E-wings,
Ghosts, and
Shadowcasters.
I have not purchased
The Corellian Conflict campaign expansion yet, either. Not sure about that one. Almost wanted it just for the Rogue Squadron X-wing squadron card...but then I realized that most of the good pilots from Rogue Squadron already have their own squadron cards. Odd.
I am eagerly awaiting the upcoming Hammerhead Corvette two-pack and the Imperial Light Carrier. Even though the Light Carrier has a strong
Rebels vibe, I like the theoretical ability to carry more non-hyperdrive-equipped squadrons into combat. I am working on home brew rules for Carriers. It seems too thematic to not worry about where the TIEs come from when the fighting begins.
I very much expect to see, and soon (and will definitely purchase), Admiral Raddus and his MC-75,
Profundity. I hope they do the right thing and mount it on a large base.
