Here's some data aggregation for the 2 weeks of ratings so far. I've covered 39 of 1280 possible pieces (ignoring epics and reprints) so far, so it's maybe heading towards a reasonable sample size (is anyone here a statistics professor?):



Average rating for a v-set piece: 7.23
Average rating for a WOTC piece: 4.73

Here's a box and whiskers plot of the same data. We probably need to get more data in there (there are definitely some v-set 11s out there, they just haven't come up on random yet). But so far the WOTC median is the same as the lowest v-set rating. Basically, the v-set power level looks pretty similar to what WOTC would look like if the 50% of WOTC pieces that are unplayably bad through WOTC powercreep or were useless straight out of the box were to be removed:



From Wikipedia:
"Box and whisker plots are uniform in their use of the box: the bottom and top of the box are always the first and third quartiles, and the band inside the box is always the second quartile (the median). But the ends of the whiskers ... represent ... the minimum and maximum of all of the data."

Breakdown by Faction (these samples are way too small to draw conclusions from for the averages, it's just interesting):
Fringe: 11, average rating 5.0
Imperial: 4, average rating 3.8
Mandalorian: 3, average rating 9.0
New Republic: 1, average rating 7.0
Old Republic: 2, average rating 6.5
Rebel: 3, average rating 7.3
Republic: 6, average rating 6.0
Separatist: 5, average rating 4.0
Sith: 3, average rating 3.7
Yuuzhan Vong: 2, average rating 7.0

Keep the reviews coming TheHutts! I always read them even if I don't comment. I usaully am in complete agreement with your ratings and I appreciate the charts.

I have to laugh as I'm one of those N00bs that use the Rodian Trader and Squib Trader. (I have never really used CLObot outside of reserves squads though, and I don't play much of those either) I have since learned my lesson. I did make one decently interesting squad with the Squib Trader though Tater Tott Lets Zam Ride A Drexl

IMO, the Squib Trader is a completely different kettle of fish, as it gives out MUCH better abilities - I think at least it's a very valid reinforcement option if you're playing against a Lancer or Yobuck, and you want to give your big pieces satchel charge to prevent a lockout, and there are probably other things you can do with it as well.

I am interested in quantifying the power level of v-sets vs WOTC - I guess that's what's driving me now, even if it wasn't to start with. My thinking is that if I put up a number for each piece, with some info justifying it, that people can correct me about, it makes the final result fair. I have altered at least a couple of ratings so far after being convinced by people that I'd underrated pieces.

I think I had one R-7 (or maybe R-2 Extended) in the base squad, and planned on Lobot for extra door control. By putting two Traders in I'd get at least one who could hand out door control. My opponent opted to bring in three uggies of his own instead of one not so good trader.

Taxes do that. Time for bed.

Thanks for the compliments. I do enjoy writing these - I try and do one on my morning break, lunchtime, and afternoon break each day. I really don't think I'm going to get through all 1,280 unique minis though... there are only so many mediocre minis you can cover without getting bored. Case in point...


Toydarian Soldier, from Masters of the Force





The Toydarian Soldier is a 5 point fringe shooter, but since there aren't many ways to boost it ahead of say a Bespin Guard, it ends up very bland. I guess the Toydarian might have a use as an Ugnaught swapper with Flight in an Imperial build, but it's too marginal of a use to justify a space in my reinforcements box. Enough to save it from getting a 1 though, and I recommend buying one to use as a proxy for Salacious Crumb and Watto, 2/10.


That hardly counts as a Mini of the Day, since it's so boring. Let's look at something else more interesting. Here's a doozy - thanks randomiser!

IG Lancer Droid, from Clone Wars Battles





In my opinion, the Lancer is up there with General Dodonna as the single most ridiculous mini ever created. With Speed 12, flight, and strafe, it can rip through an opponent's squad without taking any damage in return, creating a huge negative play experience. To boot, it was released in the same set as an amazing commander - General Grievous Droid Army Commander gives these puppies +4 attack, +4 defense, and twin attack. Plus it's in the same faction and has great synergy as another power piece, Clone Strike Darth Sidious, whose Pawn of the Dark Side can allow a Lancer to activate twice per round, allowing it to clean out entire squads. And don't forget the Battle Droid Officer, who gives the Lancer an extra +4 attack. And Whorm's also helpful if you don't want to build your entire squad around a Lancer - they're so strong that they can function in quite different roles, either as one run fodder clearers or as juiced up primary attackers.

To quote Weeks "If you don't know how your team will handle lancer/if your opponent knows how to handle lancer, then look out. He will be rolling a bunch of dice and you'll be walking around the store looking at comics while everyone else finishes."

To be fair, the Lancer have weaknesses; with 50 hit points, if anything catches up with it it's in trouble, and since it's melee it's vulnerable to Djem So and Riposte from Jedi. But overall, it's in a faction with enough tech to keep it safe, and it's one of the biggest gatekeepers in the game - if your squad doesn't have a plan for how to deal with the Lancer, it's probably not tournament ready.

The Lancer has received some hate in the most recent v-set, with a couple of potential reinforcement pieces (Buzz Droid and LIN Demolitionech) providing squads more options to counter the Lancer. I'm interested to see if they limit the play time of Lancers or not; we also have the emergence of Daala swarms that the Lancer will undoubtedly enjoy decimating.....

11/10

Someone who can actually win tournament games with Separatists should take this question.... but it does look like the vast majority of successful builds use Sidious with the Lancer. I guess there is a continuum from completely Lancer focused builds (GGDAC with two Lancers) to builds with one Lancer supplemented by a variety of different attackers.


Imperial Governor Tarkin, from Alliance and Empire





Imperial Governor Tarkin boasts just about the only CE in the game that specifically boosts other commanders, and it's very effective in Imperials, who have some commanders who are potent attackers. With a decent number of hit points and a creative special ability that's not to be underestimated - I've lost a tournament game due to Tarkin's Doctrine of Fear - he's still a very viable piece for some specific builds. Spryguy took him to a Regional win in 2012 with http://www.bloomilk.com/Squad/117511/-weir-thering-the-storm--pa-regional-winner. Tarkin's also an option for Imperial Twi'lek Black Sun Vigo squads, which enjoyed some popularity back in 2009-10: to quote Darth_Reignir: "there really are some pretty broken vanilla teams (We played one game where we had Twi'Lek Vigo's shooting at a 17 attack for 40! FOUR shots WITH greater mobile!!)"

Based on what we've seen already in this thread, Alliance and Empire has a lot, of pieces that stand up really well - arguably it's where WOTC powercreep really started to kick in in earnest; in a faction full of great commanders, Imperial Governor Tarkin is still one of their best. 9/10.

If you don't have room for Sidious (POTD), one option is to build your squad to outactivate and use Lobot to bring in an MTB. That way you can do an end of round strafe and bring it back at the beginning of next round. Just don't roll a 1 on init otherwise you're toast if you lose the following init roll. :-)

In general though, it is much better to have Sidious in your squad.

Mmmmm. Music to my ears.

I think I've done that once or twice

Mara Jade, Jedi, from Alliance and Empire





Mara Jade Jedi's been the New Republic's premier spearhead since her release in 2007. With her non-melee, Cunning, Lightsaber Assaults, she can drop 120 damage on most pieces, and the traditional melee defenses of Riposte, Block, and Djem So all don't work against her, making her devastating against a lot of pieces. Jaded Galaxy was a major squad during the 150 pt era, featuring Mara, Han GH, Dodonna, Ugnaughts, and Lobot, while the release of Ganner Rhysode and his Levitation in Masters of the Force made her even more frightening, giving her a huge range to terrorise the board.

Since Mara is reliant on her Force Power, she can struggle in some metas; Ysalamari shuts her down, as does Force Absorb and Defense. But she's dominated other metas; Solo Charge (http://www.bloomilk.com/Squad/82551/solo-charge) was hugely successful and popular during 2010 and 2011. When there's nothing cramping her style, Mara Jade Jedi is absolutely deadly, and she's easily one of the best and scariest Jedi in the game. 10/10.