Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)"Champions of the Force" is the fifth expansion set in the Star Wars Miniatures Universe, which started with the Rebel Storm Starter set back in September, 2004 (see more about the minis game itself in my addendum below). There are 60 different figures in this set. Each booster comes with seven durable, pre-painted minis (including one rare OR one very rare figure).
The first thing I look for in any expansion set are how many characters I recognize from the movies (vs. those that appeared only in the books). I am particularly interested in figures from the original trilogy. Unfortunately, there are only 9 figures from the original trilogy in this set. However, some of them are very good, and definitely worth getting (for example, Hoth Trooper with ATGAR Cannonn Luke Skywalker Young Jedi, Yoda of Dagobah, and Snowtrooper with E-Web Blaster). There are also a few great new common figures from the original trilogy in this set (most notably the Sandtrooper, R5 Astromech Droid, and Ugnaught Demolitionist)
Further, though I am not a big fan of the prequel, there are about 15 very good to excellent new figures from these movies as well (for example, General Windu, Queen Amidala, Qui-Gon Jinn, Darth Maul, and Darth Sidious). The rest are either from the books, or generic/minor characters that I have never seen or heard of before (however, some of the generic characters are also very good - especially for use in the Star Wars RPG).
In sum, this expansion set is only fair for those interested in the original trilogy, but is very good for those interested in the prequel. Also, by my count there are 25 figures with light sabers, making it among the best of the expansion sets in this regard (i.e., if that's the way you like to play this game, you will definitely like this set).
ADDENDUM: (Please note that I include this addendum at the end of all my Star Wars minis reviews, so if you've read it before, there is no need to read it again.) If you want to play the Star Wars minis game as it was designed to be played, it is best to have at least one starter (each starter comes with game instructions, a map, a D20, terrain tiles that are very helpful and add great variety to the game, and more). I like the Rebel Storm Starter the best because it's from the classic era/trilogy, but the Clone Strike and Revenge of the Sith starters from the newer movies will also work. If you don't want to invest in a starter, you can also get one of the three "Ultimate Missions" books, as each comes with a double sided map and a few smaller terrain tiles (again, I like the Rebel Strom Ultimate Missions book the best because it is also from the classic era/trilogy). Or, you can buy the "Attack on Endor" scenario pack, which comes with TWO double sided maps (in addition to a scaled AT-ST that is fully usable in play). The main point here is that you'll need some type of map/grid. If you don't want to buy a Star Wars one, generic ones are also available at most gaming stores (you can use your imagination to set the scene, or draw terrain with an erasable marker right on the grid). Of course, the minis are also useful for the roleplaying game (RPG) - in which case you may not need a starter or map, but will likely need the "Core Rulebook" instead. Finally, they are just fun to collect for those who like all things Star Wars!
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