Starcraft TMG Starter Set Founder’s Edition review: better value than Armageddon?

Terrans versus Zerg: one of gaming’s most iconic rivalries finally comes to the tabletop, and it arrives in style. The Starcraft Tabletop Miniatures Game Founders Edition is a massive two-player starter set packed with coloured multipart plastic miniatures, a fabric gaming mat, terrain, and everything you need to wage war across the Koprulu Sector straight out of the box. We’ve gone through every sprue in detail, have high-res sprue images for both factions below, and put the models side by side with Warhammer 40k miniatures for a scale comparison. Read on for our full unboxing and review.

The Starcraft Tabletop Miniatures Game (often abbreviated to Starcraft TMG) is the hottest thing in the hobby right now, and it’s not hard to see why. This is the first tabletop wargame that not only targets the Warhammer 40K audience directly, but does so with a full range of gorgeous plastic miniatures. Originally funded through Kickstarter by Archon Studios, the plastic experts behind Dungeons & Lasers and Masters of the Universe Battleground, the first wave is now shipping and will soon be available in retail stores.

In this review, we’re taking a close look at the mighty two-player starter set in the exclusive Founders Edition. Crowdfunding backers are receiving their copies right now, while the box will be available in retail in a couple of weeks. The Founders Edition is a temporary item and will later be replaced by smaller, Spearhead-style faction starter sets. The RRP is approximately £169.00 / 199 €, though many of our partner stores are offering solid discounts for preordering:

Unboxing the Starcraft TMG Founders Edition: first impressions

The first thing you notice: the box is big, and the box is heavy. It holds its own easily against major Games Workshop launch boxes like Skaventide or Armageddon. Inside you’ll find mountains of coloured plastic: two complete armies of Terrans and Zerg at roughly 1,000 points each, a fabric gaming mat, plastic terrain, all the markers and dice you’ll need, rules cards, and an assembly guide. The only thing missing is a printed version of the core rules book, which had not been communicated quite clearly beforehand. However, the digital version is now available to download free of charge.

Check out the unboxing video below, where I walk you through the complete contents and the assembly guide:

Opening the Founders Edition, you’re immediately hit by the sheer volume of coloured plastic sprues. Archon Studios are masters of coloured hard plastic injection moulding: the Terrans are cast in blue plastic with a subtle metallic effect, the Zerg in purple, and additional sprues provide effect parts like muzzle flashes in coloured transparent plastic. The colour choices might call to mind 90s action toys at first glance, but they mean the miniatures look striking even straight off the sprue and unpainted.

The scale and size of the Starcraft Tabletop Miniatures Game takes clear cues from the industry leader: 32mm scale miniatures in 1,000 to 2,000 point games. You could argue that Epic scale would be a more fitting choice for the tabletop adaptation of an RTS game, but the mass market sits firmly at 32mm. Then again, if Starcraft TMG takes off, perhaps a spin-off in a smaller scale isn’t entirely out of the question.

The Terran faction: what’s in the box?

The Starcraft Tabletop Miniatures Game Founders Edition includes the following Terran models:

• 12x Marines (2x 2 sprues with 3 models each, plus 1 orange transparent sprue)
• 2x Marauders (2 sprues plus 1 orange transparent sprue)
• 3x Medics (1 sprue plus 1 green transparent sprue)
• Jim Raynor and Point Defense Drone (together on 1 sprue, plus 1 orange transparent sprue)

Depending on whether you play without upgrades or fully kit out your units, the Terran points value ranges from 820 to 1,150 pts.

Terran Marines reviewed: twelve soldiers, plenty of options

The Founders Edition includes 12 Marines. There are two blue metallic plastic sprues with three different models each, which come twice in the box. You also get a transparent sprue with special effect parts and 32mm bases.

Assembly and fit are on par with modern Warhammer kits. The plastic is marginally softer than Games Workshop’s, so take a little care when cutting. Casting quality and sharpness are excellent, and mould lines are very minimal. The design is fantastic, capturing the bulky Starcraft 2 design perfectly. Posing options are limited though. Each Marine can only be assembled one specific way, and heads aren’t interchangeable, but there are a few optional parts and bits.

Patreon bonus content: Ultra high-res, uncompressed versions of these sprue images (and backsides of the sprues) can be downloaded here.

Per 6 Marines, the build options break down as follows:

• Marine pose 1 carries a two-handed C-14 rifle with no build options beyond the optional extras.
• Marine pose 2 builds with either a two-handed C-14 rifle, or alternatively a right arm with slugthrower and a left arm holding the rifle.
• Marine pose 3 can carry either a C-14 rifle or an AGG-12 grenade launcher.
• Marine pose 4 builds with either a two-handed C-14 rifle, or alternatively a right arm with grenade and a left arm holding the rifle.
• Marine pose 5 carries a two-handed C-14 rifle with no build options beyond the optional extras.
• Marine pose 6 carries a two-handed C-14 rifle and can optionally mount rocket launchers on his shoulders.
• As optional extras, every Marine can receive a combat shield, a bayonet, a grenade pack, and a holstered pistol.

All 12 Marines also share a single orange transparent sprue with optional effect parts, containing 8 muzzle flashes for the C-14 rifles, 10 crystals for the bases, and 12 visors. The visors can be left off to expose the Marines’ faces.

Here is a scale comparison. In terms of size, the Terran Marines stand on 32mm round bases like Primaris Space Marines, but are noticeably larger and bulkier.

Terran Marauders reviewed: heavy support with surprising build variety

Probably the coolest sculpts on the Terran side are the Marauders. Marauders are heavily armoured support units designed for heavy ground targets, armed with auto-loading Quad K12 grenade launchers. The box includes 2 models on 50mm bases, spread across two different sprues. The torso and body have fixed poses, but each sculpt comes with three left and three right arm options in slightly different positions, giving a decent range of combinations even if the differences aren’t dramatic.

Patreon bonus content: Ultra high-res, uncompressed versions of these sprue images (and backsides of the sprues) can be downloaded here.

A small orange transparent sprue is also included, containing 4 muzzle flashes for the grenade launchers, 4 crystals, and two optional visors.

Terran Medics reviewed: transparent effects aren’t optional

The 3 Medics come on a single blue sprue, with 32mm bases matching the Marines. A green transparent plastic sprue provides their flares, shield cross symbols, visors, and 4 base crystals.

Patreon bonus content: Ultra high-res, uncompressed versions of these sprue images (and backsides of the sprues) can be downloaded here.

Unlike the Marines’ muzzle flashes, the flares and crosses are not optional parts. You’ll need to decide whether to leave them unprimed to keep them transparent, or simply paint over them. Two of the flares have a sculpted glow effect; if you want to keep those transparent, you’ll need to mask them with putty or tape before priming.

Beyond that, the Medics have no build or posing options, though the heads sit on ball joints and can be rotated and swapped.

Jim Raynor and Point Defense Drone reviewed: Starcraft’s most iconic hero makes his debut

Along with Kerrigan, Jim Raynor is arguably the most recognisable character in the Starcraft franchise, so it’s entirely fitting that he makes his debut in the starter box. He shares a sprue with the Point Defense Drone, with an additional small orange transparent sprue.

Patreon bonus content: Ultra high-res, uncompressed versions of these sprue images (and backsides of the sprues) can be downloaded here.

Raynor has quite a few build options, which include an arm pair with commando rifle (right hand, left arm free) or an arm pair with sniper rifle. Two different scenic bases are included: one rocky design and one with a Terran generator-style aesthetic. Optionally, you can give Jim a holstered pistol and a transparent visor, and add a bayonet to the rifle.

The Point Defense Drone builds on a 32mm base with several orange transparent parts, including the smoke column keeping it airborne and various antennae. These can be left off during painting and attached afterwards if you want to keep them transparent.

The Zerg faction: what’s in the box?

The Starcraft Tabletop Miniatures Game Founders Edition includes the following Zerg models:

• 24x Zerglings and 4 creep tumor tokens (2 sprues, each appearing 4 times, plus 1 transparent purple upgrade sprue to build up to 6 Raptors and 6 Swarmlings)
• Kerrigan (1 sprue)
• 3x Roaches/Corpsers, 3x Roachlings, and 1 burrow token (2 sprues plus 1 green transparent sprue)
• Queen (2 sprues plus 1 green transparent sprue)
• Omega Worm (2 sprues)

Depending on whether you play without upgrades or fully kit out your units, the Zerg points value ranges from 930 to 1,350 pts, slightly higher than the Terrans so there is no perfect balance between the two forces.

Zerglings reviewed: 24 models, six unique sculpts, and a swarm that means business

The Founders Edition includes a large unit of 24 Zerglings on 32mm bases. Two different purple plastic sprues contain 3 different models each (6 unique sculpts in total), each coming 4 times in the box. The models are monopose; build options are limited to the transparent upgrade sprue, which lets you build up to 6 winged Raptors and 6 Swarmlings, plus optional creep tumor base decorations. 4 32mm creep tumor tokens are also included.

Patreon bonus content: Ultra high-res, uncompressed versions of these sprue images (and backsides of the sprues) can be downloaded here.

Unlike the standalone Zerglings box, which includes enough upgrade sprues for all of its 18 models, the Founders Edition contains only 1 transparent upgrade sprue. That means you can build up to 6 Raptors and 6 Swarmlings, but the remaining 12 models must stay as standard Zerglings.

Assembly is straight-forward, though as the models are built from two halves, there are some seam lines at the joints. The Raptor wings can be left off for painting and attached afterwards if you want to keep them transparent. For the Swarmlings, an entire body half is replaced by a part from the transparent sprue. This is more likely a consequence of sprue economy than an intentional transparency effect, so you can simply prime over it.

In terms of scale, the Zerglings are about the same size as Tyranid Termagants, just a little chubbier.

Roaches and Roachlings reviewed: acid, armour, and two ways to build

The 3 Roaches and 3 Roachlings are spread across 2 purple plastic sprues, with a green transparent upgrade sprue providing spines and claws to build Corpsers instead of Roaches. Note that the standalone Roaches box includes an additional sprue to build Viles, but that sprue is not included in the Founders Edition.

Patreon bonus content: Ultra high-res, uncompressed versions of these sprue images (and backsides of the sprues) can be downloaded here.

The Roachlings stand on 32mm bases and are monopose with no build options. The 3 Roaches come on 50 mm bases and can optionally receive transparent acid saliva effect parts at their mouths, or be built as Corpsers with different back spines and front claws, all from the transparent sprue. Since the spines slot in from underneath the chitin armour before attaching to the Corpser body, you’ll need to mask these before priming if you want to preserve the transparency effect.

A single 32mm burrow token is also included.

Zerg Queen reviewed: the best model in the box?

The Zerg Queen is perhaps my favourite model in the entire box, arriving on an imposing 80 mm base. She spans two purple sprues and one green transparent sprue.

Patreon bonus content: Ultra high-res, uncompressed versions of these sprue images (and backsides of the sprues) can be downloaded here.

For the legs you can choose between two leg pairs in slightly different poses. Both the small and large talons include two left and two right tentacle options each, giving a decent range of combinations. The brood sacs are moulded in green transparent plastic and need to be inserted from below into recesses in the body during assembly. So they can’t be left off for priming and would need to be masked instead.

Eight 32mm creep tumor tokens are also included on the transparent sprue.

Omega Worm reviewed: the Zerg centrepiece, monopose but magnificent

The Omega Worm is the Zerg faction’s large centrepiece model. It comes on two purple sprues without any transparent effect parts, on an 80mm base. There are unfortunately no build or posing options. The model is fully monopose.

Patreon bonus content: Ultra high-res, uncompressed versions of these sprue images (and backsides of the sprues) can be downloaded here.

Kerrigan reviewed: the Queen of Blades joins the swarm

Another iconic Starcraft character is Sarah Kerrigan, the Queen of Blades. She was originally a psychic Terran woman captured and infested by the Zerg Swarm. Her kit comes on a single purple plastic sprue with no posing options (the standalone box will have her packed with the Omega Worm). Like Jim Raynor, however, she includes two different scenic bases: one rocky design, and one where she stands atop Zerg tentacles. Alternatively, she can be placed on the uppermost jaw of the Omega Worm.

Patreon bonus content: Ultra high-res, uncompressed versions of these sprue images (and backsides of the sprues) can be downloaded here.

The game components: a complete experience in one box

The Founders Edition of the Starcraft TMG two-player starter set is a complete game in a box. Alongside the Lost Temple terrain set, you get 10 deployment and 6 mission cards for generating game setups, plus 14 unit cards and 18 tactical cards for the included Terrans and Zerg. Starcraft TMG doesn’t have army books (yet), all the rules come on the unit cards included in every box and can also be downloaded for free. A rules reference is also included, though what’s missing is a proper rulebook or at least a beginner’s booklet with tutorials or lore. The Starcraft Core Rules Book is now available as a free download from Archon Studios, though lore isn’t included there either. For that you’ll need to turn to the Starcraft Wiki or other sources.

The box also contains a cardboard token sheet, 20 plain white D6 dice (including one blue and one red), an inch ruler, and a fabric battle mat. The mat measures 54″ x 36″ (137 x 91 cm) and is printed on one side with a lush green Lost Temple map design. It’s the typical mousepad material with a good thickness, though unfortunately without a rubberised backing. Even so, it’s a genuine step up from the cardboard gaming boards you get from Games Workshop.

Lost Temple terrain set reviewed: Starcraft scenery done right

The gaming mat and included terrain are identical in content to the separately available Lost Temple terrain set. You get 6 large grey plastic sprues: the two sprues with wall sections and shrubs each appear twice, while the remaining two sprues contain the wall bases and scatter terrain.

Patreon bonus content: Ultra high-res, uncompressed versions of these sprue images (and backsides of the sprues) can be downloaded here.

In total, you get 15 terrain pieces:

• 6 walls
• 4 shrubs
• 1 statue head
• 1 temple obelisk
• 1 vespene geyser
• 1 statue shard
• 1 Protoss banner

Archon Studios have built up considerable experience designing plastic terrain through their successful Dungeons & Lasers range, and the Starcraft terrain reflects that. It’s detailed, precisely rendered in plastic, and absolutely on par with Games Workshop’s output, if not better. The Lost Temple atmosphere comes through convincingly thanks to the detailed mat and the architecture of the wall sections. A raised platform for this terrain theme is also planned as a future separate release.

Have you tried the Starcraft Tabletop Miniatures Game yet, or any other game from Archon Studios? Garfy painted the entire Masters of the Universe Battleground starter set a while back. Would you like to see more Starcraft TMG on Tale of Painters? Feel free to leave a comment here or on our friendly hobby Discord channel.

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