Star Wars Legion – Crashed Escape Pod

After the crashed X-Wing, we cover the next crashed terrain from the Star Wars Legion Battlefield Expansion SWL 43 - the Crashed Escape Pod.

And this is just not any battlefield expansion, but included R2-D2 and C-3PO  as well, as it recreates their use of the escope pod to smuggle the Death Star plans off the Tantive IV, while crashing upon Tatooine in Star Wars Episode IV - A New Hope.

Just like the other terrain supplement, Asmodee / Atomic Mass Games does not provide these just as terrain pieces, but includes rules like scenarios and additional gaming material to it. In this case, you find a scenario on rescuing the droids, but you can use the duo for both Rebel Alliance or Galactic Republic unit. Due to the gaming content, the boxed sets of Star Wars Legion are usually multi-language and available in different packs. In this review we cover the German and Italian variant, the English is identical, just with the cards in a different language.

Regarding the RRP, I didn't find an official price, but the boxes can be found online in a range between 35 to 50 EURs.

I don't think I need to introduce the R2-D2 or C-3PO, but we're having an R2-series astromech droid, who are generelly used for maintenance and repairs of starships, where they in some cases are encased into the hull, like in the X-Wing starfighters and not only provide repairs but assist the pilots in navigating. As for C3-PO, he is a protocol droid, who often are designed in humanoid appearance, and are programed to cover duties similar to an assistant or butler, with traits in etiquette, translation and cultural customs. In case you are with the Imperials and don't really know what to do with the two of them, there's an extended universe options - you can paint them up as 0-0-0 and BT-1 (in case of you would need a "head-swap"), or go for some generic paints in general, as there is an endless amount of both droids in service among the stars.

Beyond that, this is one of the few boxes, where the instructions are included.

As for the models themself, they are split across three sprues and a medium sized base piece for the terrain. All sprues are different sized, but come with a very clean casting and minor mould lines, without any flash.

Let us start with the two droids. Their parts are covered in a single sprue and they come with the 25mm round bases with a beveled edge.

The protocol droid C3-PO is quickly build, back, upper front torso, right leg, the two arms and head. While it is a static pose, the way it is cut, makes battle damage easy, as it happened quite often through the movies.

Similar for R2-D2. The astromech is split in a way, that swapping his head, for example to actually built BT-1 or go for R4 or R5 series is easy.

And here are they. As written above, with different paint jobs, you can have generic droids as well, that better suit your army project.

Let's move on towards the escape pod. This is build from two sprues and the moulded base.

We are building it from the bottom up, with the four exhaust pieces added to the bottom, along with three steering jets.

The upper lid, which includes a hatch, that you technically could leave open, if you want to, is quickly build. Make sure to not swap the smaller pieces, as they have a rounded inside, that otherwise would leave a gap.

The main hull of the escape pod is build from three wall pieces and a ring, along with a detailed inserts. I reminded me a bit of a McFlurry container.

Now we add the lid and the bottom, and place it upon the terrain base. I didn't glue it in, just kept it in place, as it would give me some options regarding the scenarios. Beyond that, it is a compact piece of terrain, with a proper amount of detail and good foot print, not too big to take up too much space for a point of interest, but not too small to not provide enough cover.

Conclusion

I like the concept of these Battlefield Expansions, especially as you not just get terrain but rules / scenarios as well, directly with it and not forcing you to buy another campaign supplement or something. Along with the aspect, as I don't need to paint / use them as C3-PO and R2-D2, but give them a generic paint job (I don't fancy using "legendary" characters in every small skirmishes). Same goes for the base, with a bit of grass tufts, you can easily move the whole thing from Tatooine to any other setting.

Regarding the value, if we take for comparison that character packs usually cost around 20 EUR for a single model, and the IG-88 Assassin duo is 30 EUR, even the upper numbers of 45 to 50 EURs are still within proportion of the Star Wars Legion pricing. If you get this at 40 EUR or less, it is a proper deal.

On the Star Wars Wiki you can find some ideas on alternate paint jobs and uses for your duo, Protocol Droids and R-Series Astromech Droids.

Star Wars Legions is a game by Atomic Mass Games and distributed by Asmodee.

The reviewed product item was provided by the manufacturer.