New Star Wars PocketModel TCG: Pics and ships

WizKids recently sent me samples of their latest Trading Card Game, Star Wars PocketModel TCG, available in retail stores on June 13, 2007.

Each game pack, which retails for $4.99, includes 4-8 pocket models (on two plastic cards), 6 game cards, an instruction/rules sheet and a pair of really tiny dice. The unique, and rather unusual, aspect of this game is that the “pocket models” are actually miniature ships. A free sample coupons is available on the WizKids’ web site where you type in your zip code and print the resulting page to pick two free cards and three ships (an X-Wing and two TIE Fighters) at a local shop. The coupon expires July 30, 2007.

Aside from individual packs, WizKids also offers a 30th anniversary Star Wars tin (a la the DVD tin) filled with 5 game packs and an exclusive Celebration IV Millennium Falcon ship card. The tin set retails for $69.95 and is limited to a run of 10,000.

Each plastic card in a game pack contains glossy, full-color precut ship parts that you pop out and piece together referencing a tiny wireframe diagram and itty, bitty guide letters on each connection point. Unlike Japanese toys that seem to naturally fit together these take a bit more skill and patience with miniscule pieces that would piss off most 9-year-old kids. each card also includes several fire blasts that are all the same shape. From the instruction sheet, there are 18 ships, including the Millennium falcon (aka YT-1300).

The good news is that the plastic cards are about as thick and sturdy as credit cards, so it’s not easy to break a piece. Also, each ship will be about 1-4 inc. tall once assembled.

When you finally do get to putting one together, especially the larger ships, you’ll want to look online to see what the final ship is really supposed to like like.

From the fold-out instruction sheet, the object of the game is to “[w]in by destroying all of your opponent’s PocketModel units or card objectives.” You’d better read the rest yourself, else you might think it’s a violent, smash-the-table type of game from that one line.

Even if you don’t like TCGs, this might be a cool set to buy simply for the mini model factor. My father-in-law was checking out the ships on my desk and liked them as-is, not realizing – or caring – they were part of a TCG. If you don’t plan to display then regularly, I would suggest getting a tin or storage box of some sort since these stand one to four inches tall when completed. You might even consider separating the base pieces from the models to knock off some height.

Also check out this bit of propaganda:

For your gawking pleasure, check below for a bunch of photos of the tin, cards and ships I pieced together from one pack.

Unopened packs still in the shiny, unripped foil. Each pack measures approx. 3 5/8 in. by 7 in.

Here are the instructions, aka Game Rules, side A. They fit in the unopened pack and are folded three times and then in half.

Instructions side B. The nice thing about the size of the instructions is they fit in the tin without folding them in half (you still need to use the three other folds).

Both sides of the two plastic model cards with all the pieces in tact. Each card measures exactly 3.5 in. by 5 in. They are printed on both sides (as you can see), though the parts images are printed a bit larger than the cuts to create a full bleed effect. You then punch out the pieces and make…

Yes, two cards made four ships. One card, with all the lighter pieces, made the Lamda Class Shuttle (upper left image) while the darker card had all the pieces for the ACR-170 and two Droid Trifighters. The Shuttle is actually the largest of the three ships, so don’t mind the scale of the images.

Oh, and then there are the actual cards, They are standard playing card size. Each card, as well as the base pieces of the ships, contain key combat information that is used to play the game. from the marking on the play side of each card, it appears there are 120 cards in the first series. Each is numbered (XX/120) and rated as either common, uncommon or rare.

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