Guest Reviewer: Stephen
In this tutorial, I hope to show case some easy to assemble formations that will give you a number of strategic options for grouping your figures in attack or defensive formations. There are two major principles involved in creating formations, both of which are designed to increase the resistance of the whole formation to damage: stacking of bases and interleaving of weapons. The formations below all involve only 2 lines of figures so as to minimize the number of figures needed to accomplish any particular formation. Ideally, in each formation, any gaps that exist between figures will go straight through the entire formation, thereby not leaving any exposed areas for a well-placed (or lucky) missile to hit.
There are two main ways of stacking figures in any formation: tight and loose. In tight formations, figures' bases are placed adjacent to each other. In loose formations, figures' bases are placed approximately 1 10-point figure's base diameter apart. Tight formations are ideal for combating shooter armies, whereas loose formations help minimize the damage that a striker group can inflict on your figures. All formations are pictured in their “tight” variant, so if you're facing a bunch of strikers, you'll need to spread them out. Beware that loose formations will take the formation's stability rating down a notch or two.
Each formation is ranked on a few different factors that may affect your decision to use it. In testing each of these formations, I have used 10- and 20-point figures. If larger figures are used, the stability of the formation will go up. Roughly speaking, for every 10 point increase in the overall point value of the figures involved in the formation, the stability rating will go up by one point.
Protected figures The figures that are afforded the greatest protection by the formation
Vulnerable figures The figures to aim for, if your opponent is stacked in this formation
Offensive or defensive The degree to which the formation still allows for most figures to be engaged in offensive attacks vs. sacrificing their attacking power for increased defensive stability. Formations can be offensive, defensive, or mixed.
Speed Generally, any formations involving shooters are going to be slow to medium, and those involving only strikers will be fast.
Ease of movement The degree to which a formation can be moved without requiring substantial rebuilding
0 All figures must be disassembled and reassembled to move the formation
1 Within each line,
2 Each line of the formation may move easily
3 The entire formation may be moved all together
Stability The degree to which the formation affords protection to its weakest figure
0 At least one figure may fall to a point-blank small missile
1 At least one figure may fall to a point-blank large missile
2 At least one figure may fall to a point-blank Force blast
3 Can withstand a point-blank Force blast to any figure but will dislodge at least one figure from the formation substantially
4 Can withstand a point-blank Force blast to any figure without moving any figures appreciably.
Basic triplet
In this formation, the heaviest figure is placed in front to absorb blasts that would be directed toward the lighter two figures in the rear. The base of the front figure is placed in front of and between the bases of the two figures in back. All weapons are pointed forward. Tested with 1 Clone Lieutenant in front and 2 Clone Troopers in back.
Protected figures Figure in front
Vulnerable figures Unless they're covered by the weapon of the figure in front, either of the figures in the rear
Offensive or defensive Offensive
Speed Slow
Ease of movement 3
Stability 0
Triple cross
This is a modification of the basic triplet, in which the two figures in the back cross their weapons to provide additional stability to the formation. This takes away two offensive guns from the back row. Tested with 1 Clone Lieutenant in front and 2 Clone Troopers in back.
Protected figures Front figure
Vulnerable figures Figure farther back in the back line
Offensive or defensive Mixed
Speed Slow
Ease of movement 3
Stability 2
Backwards triplet
This is a reversal of the basic triplet or triple cross, in which a large-based figure with a long weapon is used to support two smaller front line figures. If you keep the front line figures' weapons pointed, this is a variant of the basic triplet; if their weapons are crossed, this is a variant of the triple cross. One front line figure's base is aligned with the back line figure's base, and the other front line figure's based is placed adjacent to the other front line figure's base, in front of the back line figure's gun. Tested with 2 Clone Troopers in front and 1 Clone Commander in back.
Protected figures The back figure
Vulnerable figures The front figure that's supported only by the back figure's weapon
Offensive or defensive Mixed (pointed front row weapons) / defensive (crossed front row weapons)
Speed Slow
Ease of movement 2
Stability 1 (pointed front row weapons) / 3 (crossed front row weapons)
Tripod triplet
This is a somewhat unique variant of the basic triplet, in which the tip of each figure's weapon is pointed at the ground to provide a third leg of support. Though this takes the weapons out of immediate use, it enhances the stability of the formation greatly. It also takes some relatively flexible figures (e.g., Clone Troopers) in front to accomplish this, as many figures cannot rest the tips of their weapons on the ground, no matter how you twist their waists around. Tested using 1 Clone Trooper in front and 2 Wookiee Scouts in back.
Protected figures Figure in front
Vulnerable figures Figures in back
Offensive or defensive Defensive
Speed Slow
Ease of movement 3
Stability 1
Force Shielding
Here, Force blasters use either their strong bases or raised Force blasts to protect figures in the rear. The ability of the Force blasters to stay up under heavy assault is directly proportional to the strength of the figures placed in back. Hence, you may want to put the smaller figures in front of the Force blasters if you use figures less than 30 points in this formation. Tested with Obi-Wan Kenobi and Plo Koon Force Blasters in front, 2 Clone Troopers in back.
Protected figures The figures in back
Vulnerable figures The Force blasters in front, particularly if they have a weak supporting cast in the back
Offensive or defensive Mixed
Speed Slow
Ease of movement 3
Stability 2/3
The 2x3
This formation is a method of making a relatively solid attacking line of low-point troopers. As pictured, it is a purely defensive line. However, you can point the front line troops' weapons toward the enemy with little to no loss of stopping power.
[u]Protected figures[/u] The figures with the most weapons overlapping (in this picture, those on the left and middle, front and back)
Vulnerable figures The figures with the fewest weapons overlapping them (in this picture, those on the right side, front and back)
Offensive or defensive Mixed/Defensive
Speed Slow
Ease of movement 2
Stability 1 (vulnerable figures) / 3 (protected figures)
Wookiee Olympics
In this formation, the Clone Troopers in the front and the Wookiees in the back together look somewhat like the Olympic Rings. Chewbacca and Tarrful have their paws resting behind the left and right side front line figures to catch them. These figures also block shots from taking down either Wookiee by the paw. However, the middle figure in the front line still doesn't have that much support (and falls in the crease between the two Wookiee bases), even if the front line figures are rotated into a defensive line. Tested with Tarfful and Chewbacca in the back line, and 3 Clone Troopers in the front line.
Protected figures Back line Wookiees and side front line figures
Vulnerable figures Middle front line figure
Offensive or defensive Mixed/Defensive
Speed Slow
Ease of movement 2
Stability 2
The Four Noble Truths
Here, a back line of strikers provides additional protection to a front line of Force blasters. If you leave the Force blasts down, the front line will have a bit more stability, as the Force blasts nearly form a second base for those figures. The back line strikers' striking surfaces are interleaved to provide support to each other when the front line is hit. Tested with Anakin Skywalker and Shaak Ti in the front line, and 2 Count Dookus in the back line.
Protected figures All
Vulnerable figures Front row figures with Force blasts raised
Offensive or defensive Mixed
Speed Slow
Ease of movement 2
Stability 3
The Eightfold Path
This formation is a conjunction of two 2x2 defensively arranged shooter formations. Each 2x2 group consists of lower point figures in the front and higher point figures in the back. In addition, having the two groups together allows figures in the middle (that would otherwise be on the periphery and thus spin out when hit) to catch each other. Tested with 4 Clone Troopers and 4 Super Battle Droids.
Protected figures Middle figures
Vulnerable figures Peripheral figures
Offensive or defensive Mixed/Defensive
Speed Slow
Ease of movement 1
Stability 3
Wall of sabers
The interleaving of sabers between figures makes this a nearly ideal formation for the defense of a 2x2 group of strikers. As long as the strikers aren't attacked from either side of this formation, each striker is protected by 3 other striking surfaces (1 in front, and 2 in the all-important back), along with another striker's base. Tested with 4 Count Dookus.
Protected figures All
Vulnerable figures None
Offensive or defensive Defensive
Speed Fast
Ease of movement 2
Stability 3
Jedi cross
By crossing sabers in the midpoint of this formation, each striker derives additional strength from its compatriots. However, this method of defense leaves all figures' front and back sides unprotected from your opponent's fire, thus making this a less than ideal defensive formation. Tested with 4 Count Dookus.
Protected figures All
Vulnerable figures All
Offensive or defensive Defensive
Speed Fast
Ease of movement 0
Stability 2
Saber box
This formation is essentially a weaker version of the wall of sabers, inasmuch as each striker is now protected only by 1 striking surface (only in the front, which does little to arrest a backward-falling striker's momentum) and 1 additional figure base. It may be good to use only when an opponent is attacking from all sides, thus making it unclear which side to defend. Tested with 4 Count Dookus.
Protected figures Figures on the side and back
Vulnerable figures Figure in front
Offensive or defensive Defensive
Speed Fast
Ease of movement 2
Stability 1
In this tutorial, I hope to show case some easy to assemble formations that will give you a number of strategic options for grouping your figures in attack or defensive formations. There are two major principles involved in creating formations, both of which are designed to increase the resistance of the whole formation to damage: stacking of bases and interleaving of weapons. The formations below all involve only 2 lines of figures so as to minimize the number of figures needed to accomplish any particular formation. Ideally, in each formation, any gaps that exist between figures will go straight through the entire formation, thereby not leaving any exposed areas for a well-placed (or lucky) missile to hit.
There are two main ways of stacking figures in any formation: tight and loose. In tight formations, figures' bases are placed adjacent to each other. In loose formations, figures' bases are placed approximately 1 10-point figure's base diameter apart. Tight formations are ideal for combating shooter armies, whereas loose formations help minimize the damage that a striker group can inflict on your figures. All formations are pictured in their “tight” variant, so if you're facing a bunch of strikers, you'll need to spread them out. Beware that loose formations will take the formation's stability rating down a notch or two.
Each formation is ranked on a few different factors that may affect your decision to use it. In testing each of these formations, I have used 10- and 20-point figures. If larger figures are used, the stability of the formation will go up. Roughly speaking, for every 10 point increase in the overall point value of the figures involved in the formation, the stability rating will go up by one point.
Protected figures The figures that are afforded the greatest protection by the formation
Vulnerable figures The figures to aim for, if your opponent is stacked in this formation
Offensive or defensive The degree to which the formation still allows for most figures to be engaged in offensive attacks vs. sacrificing their attacking power for increased defensive stability. Formations can be offensive, defensive, or mixed.
Speed Generally, any formations involving shooters are going to be slow to medium, and those involving only strikers will be fast.
Ease of movement The degree to which a formation can be moved without requiring substantial rebuilding
0 All figures must be disassembled and reassembled to move the formation
1 Within each line,
2 Each line of the formation may move easily
3 The entire formation may be moved all together
Stability The degree to which the formation affords protection to its weakest figure
0 At least one figure may fall to a point-blank small missile
1 At least one figure may fall to a point-blank large missile
2 At least one figure may fall to a point-blank Force blast
3 Can withstand a point-blank Force blast to any figure but will dislodge at least one figure from the formation substantially
4 Can withstand a point-blank Force blast to any figure without moving any figures appreciably.
Basic triplet
In this formation, the heaviest figure is placed in front to absorb blasts that would be directed toward the lighter two figures in the rear. The base of the front figure is placed in front of and between the bases of the two figures in back. All weapons are pointed forward. Tested with 1 Clone Lieutenant in front and 2 Clone Troopers in back.
Protected figures Figure in front
Vulnerable figures Unless they're covered by the weapon of the figure in front, either of the figures in the rear
Offensive or defensive Offensive
Speed Slow
Ease of movement 3
Stability 0
Triple cross
This is a modification of the basic triplet, in which the two figures in the back cross their weapons to provide additional stability to the formation. This takes away two offensive guns from the back row. Tested with 1 Clone Lieutenant in front and 2 Clone Troopers in back.
Protected figures Front figure
Vulnerable figures Figure farther back in the back line
Offensive or defensive Mixed
Speed Slow
Ease of movement 3
Stability 2
Backwards triplet
This is a reversal of the basic triplet or triple cross, in which a large-based figure with a long weapon is used to support two smaller front line figures. If you keep the front line figures' weapons pointed, this is a variant of the basic triplet; if their weapons are crossed, this is a variant of the triple cross. One front line figure's base is aligned with the back line figure's base, and the other front line figure's based is placed adjacent to the other front line figure's base, in front of the back line figure's gun. Tested with 2 Clone Troopers in front and 1 Clone Commander in back.
Protected figures The back figure
Vulnerable figures The front figure that's supported only by the back figure's weapon
Offensive or defensive Mixed (pointed front row weapons) / defensive (crossed front row weapons)
Speed Slow
Ease of movement 2
Stability 1 (pointed front row weapons) / 3 (crossed front row weapons)
Tripod triplet
This is a somewhat unique variant of the basic triplet, in which the tip of each figure's weapon is pointed at the ground to provide a third leg of support. Though this takes the weapons out of immediate use, it enhances the stability of the formation greatly. It also takes some relatively flexible figures (e.g., Clone Troopers) in front to accomplish this, as many figures cannot rest the tips of their weapons on the ground, no matter how you twist their waists around. Tested using 1 Clone Trooper in front and 2 Wookiee Scouts in back.
Protected figures Figure in front
Vulnerable figures Figures in back
Offensive or defensive Defensive
Speed Slow
Ease of movement 3
Stability 1
Force Shielding
Here, Force blasters use either their strong bases or raised Force blasts to protect figures in the rear. The ability of the Force blasters to stay up under heavy assault is directly proportional to the strength of the figures placed in back. Hence, you may want to put the smaller figures in front of the Force blasters if you use figures less than 30 points in this formation. Tested with Obi-Wan Kenobi and Plo Koon Force Blasters in front, 2 Clone Troopers in back.
Protected figures The figures in back
Vulnerable figures The Force blasters in front, particularly if they have a weak supporting cast in the back
Offensive or defensive Mixed
Speed Slow
Ease of movement 3
Stability 2/3
The 2x3
This formation is a method of making a relatively solid attacking line of low-point troopers. As pictured, it is a purely defensive line. However, you can point the front line troops' weapons toward the enemy with little to no loss of stopping power.
[u]Protected figures[/u] The figures with the most weapons overlapping (in this picture, those on the left and middle, front and back)
Vulnerable figures The figures with the fewest weapons overlapping them (in this picture, those on the right side, front and back)
Offensive or defensive Mixed/Defensive
Speed Slow
Ease of movement 2
Stability 1 (vulnerable figures) / 3 (protected figures)
Wookiee Olympics
In this formation, the Clone Troopers in the front and the Wookiees in the back together look somewhat like the Olympic Rings. Chewbacca and Tarrful have their paws resting behind the left and right side front line figures to catch them. These figures also block shots from taking down either Wookiee by the paw. However, the middle figure in the front line still doesn't have that much support (and falls in the crease between the two Wookiee bases), even if the front line figures are rotated into a defensive line. Tested with Tarfful and Chewbacca in the back line, and 3 Clone Troopers in the front line.
Protected figures Back line Wookiees and side front line figures
Vulnerable figures Middle front line figure
Offensive or defensive Mixed/Defensive
Speed Slow
Ease of movement 2
Stability 2
The Four Noble Truths
Here, a back line of strikers provides additional protection to a front line of Force blasters. If you leave the Force blasts down, the front line will have a bit more stability, as the Force blasts nearly form a second base for those figures. The back line strikers' striking surfaces are interleaved to provide support to each other when the front line is hit. Tested with Anakin Skywalker and Shaak Ti in the front line, and 2 Count Dookus in the back line.
Protected figures All
Vulnerable figures Front row figures with Force blasts raised
Offensive or defensive Mixed
Speed Slow
Ease of movement 2
Stability 3
The Eightfold Path
This formation is a conjunction of two 2x2 defensively arranged shooter formations. Each 2x2 group consists of lower point figures in the front and higher point figures in the back. In addition, having the two groups together allows figures in the middle (that would otherwise be on the periphery and thus spin out when hit) to catch each other. Tested with 4 Clone Troopers and 4 Super Battle Droids.
Protected figures Middle figures
Vulnerable figures Peripheral figures
Offensive or defensive Mixed/Defensive
Speed Slow
Ease of movement 1
Stability 3
Wall of sabers
The interleaving of sabers between figures makes this a nearly ideal formation for the defense of a 2x2 group of strikers. As long as the strikers aren't attacked from either side of this formation, each striker is protected by 3 other striking surfaces (1 in front, and 2 in the all-important back), along with another striker's base. Tested with 4 Count Dookus.
Protected figures All
Vulnerable figures None
Offensive or defensive Defensive
Speed Fast
Ease of movement 2
Stability 3
Jedi cross
By crossing sabers in the midpoint of this formation, each striker derives additional strength from its compatriots. However, this method of defense leaves all figures' front and back sides unprotected from your opponent's fire, thus making this a less than ideal defensive formation. Tested with 4 Count Dookus.
Protected figures All
Vulnerable figures All
Offensive or defensive Defensive
Speed Fast
Ease of movement 0
Stability 2
Saber box
This formation is essentially a weaker version of the wall of sabers, inasmuch as each striker is now protected only by 1 striking surface (only in the front, which does little to arrest a backward-falling striker's momentum) and 1 additional figure base. It may be good to use only when an opponent is attacking from all sides, thus making it unclear which side to defend. Tested with 4 Count Dookus.
Protected figures Figures on the side and back
Vulnerable figures Figure in front
Offensive or defensive Defensive
Speed Fast
Ease of movement 2
Stability 1
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