Star Wars: Shatterpoint. There’s a bit of an elephant in the room at the moment with the game, namely Atomic Mass Games’ (AMG) announcement that they are turning the game into part of its ‘specialist’ range. After an outpouring by fans of the game, worrying that this was the end of the game, AMG clarified that it was not the end but a management of resources. Only time will tell if this is really the case, but I want to offer my opinion – and why I think this review is the place for it.
There have been a lot of releases for the game so far. Some down time after the already announced releases for the game I don’t actually think is a bad thing. For people – like myself – who have families or spend time on other games, I have to say, this is a welcome relief. A time to manage what is already out, to get familiar with all those units. I actually think there’s enough game play in the game to keep it going for several years as it is! Do I hope that AMG will then bring out more releases at a slower pace than they have done? Absolutely, and I think it would be one of those games that those releases then become very big. Players can get excited for a release here and there, rather than trying to keep on top of the mammoth amount that we have been having. In some ways, I think done right, this could help the longevity of the game.
There is another way to keep the game fresh, reasonably priced and still accessible for all: the mission packs. This would be why I feel it is worth mentioning here. These mission packs are a cheap and easy way to change the game just enough, to keep players on their toes, without having to develop unit packs that cost a lot more. One of these a year has been perfect for giving the game a breath of fresh air and if anything continues with the latest news, I hope it is these.
It seems right that the first release of the year is a mission pack. I have always been a fan of these. A few tokens, a few cards, it does not break the bank to buy it but changes the way you play, even with familiar lists, to keep you guessing what you need to do next. This latest release, Strategic Positions, promises to do what the other packs that have come before do.
On opening the box there is the sheer volume of cards that covers every language that you could need. I know why AMG does this, I know it keeps costs down and actually helps the environmental impact, but I don’t think I will ever get used to the number of cards that I end up throwing away. As well as the cards are the tokens. Unless this is your first mission pack, you probably don’t need these. Then there is the leaflet which unfolds to show the gorgeous artwork of the box. I say it every time, I just wish it wasn’t folded. I’m still waiting for AMG to do an artbook showcasing all the artwork they have done for their Star Wars games because it is stunning and I would love to have a book that I could gaze at! Kanan, Zeb, Sabine and Ezra on the front doing their thing. Having just finished Rebels with my daughter, this art made me smile a lot. Now while the characters have very little to do with the game play, I like that it was these characters that they had chosen.
Ultimately, this set is to change up the game play, so how is it doing it this time around? Well first thing is the set-up. The mission packs have always been a variety of set-ups, it’s what makes them interesting. That said, there are some that I prefer not to set-up (as they can be a bit finicky) whereas others are much easier. Strategic Positions looks to be the former, with all the different measures coming out to lay the objectives down. What is noticeable is that the map does look different but also the fact that the objectives are all fairly close together, this is going to have to be very thought out in terms of where you are placing your units as space is going to be at a premium. Equally, with certain units that you might keep directly out of the fight, there is going to be a fine line between just enough out to keep them out of harm’s way and too far out that they can’t actually do anything.
Each struggle card comes with a tactical advantage that is in effect during the course of the struggle. These struggles range from granting cover, to allowing units to dash, to refreshing force. The catch though, is that is if you are within two of an inactive objective. I can see why this mission pack has its name. This is going to be a very interesting pack to use. While of course, the main focus is securing those active objectives, the boost from inactive objectives could really help move units, keep them alive or just aid in your general game plan. You won’t be able to just send out units straight to the active objectives. The bonus for being next to inactive objectives could change the course of the game. While this is a relatively simple thing, it changes the game, the tactics, the game flow, enough to make the game feel newer.
The other addition to the game with the mission pack is that during the second and third struggles, you mark two objectives as priority objectives. If any player controls both objectives they move the struggle token one additional space toward their momentum tokens. The objective tokens then get removed and will be replaced in a new position. This means there are a few objectives – both active and inactive – that a player needs to consider. Which ones do they need to go for and with which units. It means there is even more tactical thinking within the game, which is never a bad thing.
Small changes that can have a big impact. That has always been what the mission packs have been about and I’m so glad that the year is starting with a fresh pack for Shatterpoint. Strategic Positions seems to be a pack for those who like to really think about strategy, and I think this is going to be more favoured by experienced players who really want to crack it up a notch. Any mission packs are welcome but with the news of Shatterpoint, I really hope AMG considers still releasing every year. They are a cheaper way to bring variety to the game while utilising all the units a player may or may not have. I think I’ve said this for every single mission pack; these should be a very easy buy for players who want to add more variety to their games without breaking the bank.
The post Gaming Review: Shatterpoint – Strategic Positions Mission Pack Review appeared first on Jedi News.
