Brett

Great article. At the rate games are released these days, I don’t think that minis are hurting the hobby as there are so many coming out with traditional components. While I do agree that they can make a game more marketable, I certainly don’t see them as a necessity.

I hadn’t really seen minis as a huge asset to my games until very recently when I decided to jump in and learn to paint them. What I found (besides exercising another part of my brain) was that I found enjoyment in the process and loved having enhanced minis when we played the game with the customized pieces. Now my games truly feel more “mine”.

While I don’t think that all games “need” minis, I certainly see it as a benefit to the hobby. They give the game a 3d feel and can enhance the immersion while you are moving them around the map or play area.

Black Orchestra and Champions of Midgard Expansions are both going to get my money.

Love Blood Rage…hoping that despite their differences, that Rising Sun doesn’t push it to the back of the play pile!

I’ve found that when teaching others how to play this, ask them to name their winery. Most people get quite excited by this and then they take “ownership” of their player board to the next level and really get invested in the theme of the game and the process of selling their wine. Fun!