Star Wars Miniatures Strategy Showcase 6

Knocking on Closed Doors

By Jack Irons and Michael Fryda

Welcome to the Star Wars Miniatures Strategy Showcase (S3). One of the best ways to become a better player in a strategy game is to practice and analyze different game situations. In each installment of this series, we'll offer a situation for you to analyze. What overall strategy or specific tactics should each side employ to achieve victory?

Zayne Carrick is the only survivor of a Jedi Padawan massacre. Four other Padawans are dead at the hands of their own teachers. Master Lucien Draay intended to attract the inept young Jedi into a deadly trap, but instead framed Zayne for the murders. It was only Zayne's luck that allowed him to escape and attempt to clear his name. As a custodian of Master Draay's dark secret, Zayne is pursued across the galaxy with a rag-tag group of friends.

Lucien Draay has brought a company of Wookiees with him to capture Zayne and force him to stand trial. Lucien underestimated Zayne once again and has found that capturing him will not be so easy. Zayne and his friends are vastly outnumbered, but they have one thing on their side: computer control of the doors of the building!

Override is one of the most powerful Special Abilities in the Star Wars Miniatures Game, and most squads include some way of dealing with it. But what should you do when you don't have a counter for Override?

Squad 1

All characters are at full Hit Points unless noted otherwise.

Zayne Carrick: 2 FP
Jarael: 2 FP
Atton Rand: 1 FP
T3-M4
T1 Series Bulk Loader Droid
Genoharadan Assassin
Czerka Scientist
Mynock

Squad 2

All characters are at full Hit Points unless noted otherwise.

Master Lucien Draay: 2 FP
Old Republic Captain
Wookiee Trooper (7)
Snivvian Fringer

Strategy Tips

If it helps you to solve the puzzle, you can set up the figures on the Throne Room map, available from Ultimate Missions: Revenge of the Sith or the 2007 Starter Pack. However, the blank side of a map and replacement figures work just as well. Setting up the figures might help you to make decisions about how they should move.

The door in front of Zayne is locked shut by Override. With no means of opening it, where does Master Lucien Draay's squad position its figures to get at Zayne and his squad? How should Zayne's forces set up to defend against the enemy squad? The coordinate letters and numbers can be used to help you describe the precise squares where you would put the figures.

Gambit rules are not used in this puzzle. A squad wins by defeating all enemy figures.

Feel free to post your thoughts or questions about this puzzle in this message board thread.

Star Wars Miniature Game Stat Cards: Squad 1

Zayne Carrick (from Knights of the Old Republic)

Faction: Fringe
Cost: 24
Hit Points: 70
Defense: 18
Attack: +7
Damage: 20
Special Abilities: Unique; Melee Attack; Double Attack; Cortosis Gauntlet 18; Karmic Luck; Karmic Mettle
Force Powers: Force 1; Force Renewal 1; Jedi Mind Trick; Lightsaber Block

Jarael (from Knights of the Old Republic)

Faction: Fringe
Cost: 23
Hit Points: 70
Defense: 19
Attack: +10
Damage: 10
Special Abilities: Unique; Speed 8; Melee Attack; Triple Attack; Evade; Parry; Shockstaff +10
Force Powers: Force 2

Atton Rand (from Knights of the Old Republic)

Faction: Old Republic
Cost: 26
Hit Points: 60
Defense: 16
Attack: +8
Damage: 10
Special Abilities: Unique; Cunning Attack +20; Door Gimmick; Double Attack; Jedi Hunter
Force Powers: Force 1

T3-M4 (from Knights of the Old Republic)

Faction: Fringe
Cost: 17
Hit Points: 30
Defense: 17
Attack: +5
Damage: 10
Special Abilities: Unique; Droid; Flamethrower 20; Override

T1 Series Bulk Loader Droid (from Knights of the Old Republic)

Faction: Fringe
Cost: 21
Hit Points: 140
Defense: 15
Attack: +8
Damage: 40
Special Abilities: Droid; Melee Attack; Heavy Lift; Heavy Weapon; Melee Reach 2

Genoharadan Assassin (from Knights of the Old Republic)

Faction: Fringe
Cost: 21
Hit Points: 60
Defense: 20
Attack: +8
Damage: 10
Special Abilities: Cloaked; Cunning Attack; Loner; Mobile Attack; Poisoned Blade

Czerka Scientist (from Knights of the Old Republic)

Faction: Fringe
Cost: 13
Hit Points: 10
Defense: 13
Attack: +1
Damage: 10
Special Abilities: Melee Attack; Blaster Rifle Upgrade; Blaster Upgrade

Mynock (from The Force Unleashed)

Faction: Fringe
Cost: 5
Hit Points: 10
Defense: 13
Attack: +0
Damage: 10
Special Abilities: Flight; Absorb Minerals; Demolish; Melee Attack; Swarm +1

Star Wars Miniature Game Stat Cards: Squad 2

Master Lucien Draay (from Knights of the Old Republic)

Faction: Old Republic
Cost: 48
Hit Points: 130
Defense: 20
Attack: +15
Damage: 20
Special Abilities: Unique; Melee Attack; Double Attack; Lightsaber Duelist
Force Powers: Force 1: Force Renewal 1; Lightsaber Block; Lightsaber Deflect; Lightsaber Riposte; Master of the Force 2

Old Republic Captain (from Knights of the Old Republic)

Faction: Old Republic
Cost: 19
Hit Points: 40
Defense: 16
Attack: +8
Damage: 20
Special Abilities: Double Attack
Commander Effect: Old Republic followers within 6 squares get +3 Defense and gain Squad Assault.

Wookiee Trooper (from Knights of the Old Republic)

Faction: Old Republic
Cost: 11
Hit Points: 30
Defense: 15
Attack: +7
Damage: 20
Special Abilities: Melee Attack; Cleave; Melee Reach 2; Mighty Swing

Snivvian Fringer (from Alliance and Empire)

Faction: Fringe
Cost: 6
Hit Points: 10
Defense: 15
Attack: +4
Damage: 10
Special Abilities: Bounty Hunter +4

About the Authors

Jack Irons is an artist and graphic designer. He has been a fan of Star Wars since he was four, when his dad took him and his sister to a matinee on the second day of its release. He posts regularly on the Star Wars Miniatures Game boards under the name "ironlightsaber" and often works with other board members on projects such as the Lost Twenty fan set. Jack lives in the middle of the United States with his wife Ruth and their son.

Michael Fryda is an energetic high school science teacher. He sponsors a club at his school to help students to think critically through games. He has written strategy articles and offered advice and opinions on the Star Wars Miniatures Game message boards under the name "klecser" for over three years. Michael lives in southeastern Nebraska with his wonderful wife, two cats, two lizards, and two snakes.