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This is a quick pre-build review of the miniatures from "Deluxe OGRE".

The designs are excellent; not having seen the Ral Partha versions, I find these to be attractive and in fitting with the pseudo-low-technology feel of the game world. Note that these are the "NA Combine" designs, not the more-often-seen "Paneuropean" versions; thus they may seem different from the OGRE miniatures you remember. The miniatures seem to be in 1/285 or '15mm' scale (the conventional armored vehicles are approximately 3/4 of an inch long, while the Ogres are two to three inches.)

Most of the designs consist of a hull piece and a turreted weapon; the GEVs (armored hovercraft) also have separate tailfins. Mold lines are evident on many of the pieces, though the metal used is quite soft and easy to carve. (In fact I've added a number of 'shell holes' to my vehicles with nothing more than a blunt X-Acto.) This will make some pieces (such as the infantry, or Ogre sensor towers) rather subsceptible to damage during transport and play. The designs all have raised surface details and scribed-in panel lines which should be picked out quite nicely by drybrushing.

The Ogres themselves are taken directly from the Ral Partha masters, and look the same as they always did. The Deluxe OGRE set includes a Mark III (one main gun), while the Mark V (two main guns) is available separately. (Just like in 'real life', the factory had trouble getting Mark V production up to speed.) Even at this scale, the Ogres are sizeable. However, the actual miniatures are merely shells--there are large depressions in the undersurface of the mini, which are unfortunately visible from several angles. Most of these angles are from down at tabletop level--but they're clearly there. (Time to break out the Squadron Green, I suppose.) The Ogres were clearly not meant to be looked at from underneath.

Deluxe OGRE also includes the basic OGRE rulebook and an OGRE map sized for the miniatures, with one-inch hexes. This map, printed on glossy paper, is just a scaled-up version of the OGRE map; but it looks very good, rather than being pixelated or blotchy at the larger scale.

All in all, OGRE miniatures is a definite buy for both hard-core miniatures wargamers looking for a break, and for players of Warhammer 40K-type games looking for something a little more cerebral. It certainly requires painting and assembly of the miniatures, but said miniatures are fairly simple to deal with and will look nice with only minimal painting skill applied. The deluxe set comes with 6 GEVs, 4 Heavy Tanks, 4 Missile Tanks, 1 Howitzer, 21 Infantry figures (with 10 special bases for them), one 'Command Post' building, and one Ogre Mark III; this is a well-balanced force selection for small games. (The Ogre attacks and the conventional force defends, the classic Ogre scenario.)

Steve Jackson Games SJG OGRE Website SJG Miniatures Website Michael Powers

Deluxe OGRE (Miniatures reviewed only)
Item type: game Review by: Michael Powers Product Name: Deluxe OGRE (Miniatures reviewed only) Author: Steve Jackson (game), Richard Kerr, Winchell Chung, et al (miniatures) Company/Publisher: Steve Jackson Games Line: OGRE SKU: Cost: US $49.95 Page count: ISBN: Ratings: Style: 4 (Classy and well done) Substance: 5 (Excellent!) Review type: Capsule Review Genre tags: Science Fiction,Far Future,Post-apocalypse	This is a quick pre-build review of the miniatures from "Deluxe OGRE". The designs are excellent; not having seen the Ral Partha versions, I find these to be attractive and in fitting with the pseudo-low-technology feel of the game world. Note that these are the "NA Combine" designs, not the more-often-seen "Paneuropean" versions; thus they may seem different from the OGRE miniatures you remember. The miniatures seem to be in 1/285 or '15mm' scale (the conventional armored vehicles are approximately 3/4 of an inch long, while the Ogres are two to three inches.) Most of the designs consist of a hull piece and a turreted weapon; the GEVs (armored hovercraft) also have separate tailfins. Mold lines are evident on many of the pieces, though the metal used is quite soft and easy to carve. (In fact I've added a number of 'shell holes' to my vehicles with nothing more than a blunt X-Acto.) This will make some pieces (such as the infantry, or Ogre sensor towers) rather subsceptible to damage during transport and play. The designs all have raised surface details and scribed-in panel lines which should be picked out quite nicely by drybrushing. The Ogres themselves are taken directly from the Ral Partha masters, and look the same as they always did. The Deluxe OGRE set includes a Mark III (one main gun), while the Mark V (two main guns) is available separately. (Just like in 'real life', the factory had trouble getting Mark V production up to speed.) Even at this scale, the Ogres are sizeable. However, the actual miniatures are merely shells--there are large depressions in the undersurface of the mini, which are unfortunately visible from several angles. Most of these angles are from down at tabletop level--but they're clearly there. (Time to break out the Squadron Green, I suppose.) The Ogres were clearly not meant to be looked at from underneath. Deluxe OGRE also includes the basic OGRE rulebook and an OGRE map sized for the miniatures, with one-inch hexes. This map, printed on glossy paper, is just a scaled-up version of the OGRE map; but it looks very good, rather than being pixelated or blotchy at the larger scale. All in all, OGRE miniatures is a definite buy for both hard-core miniatures wargamers looking for a break, and for players of Warhammer 40K-type games looking for something a little more cerebral. It certainly requires painting and assembly of the miniatures, but said miniatures are fairly simple to deal with and will look nice with only minimal painting skill applied. The deluxe set comes with 6 GEVs, 4 Heavy Tanks, 4 Missile Tanks, 1 Howitzer, 21 Infantry figures (with 10 special bases for them), one 'Command Post' building, and one Ogre Mark III; this is a well-balanced force selection for small games. (The Ogre attacks and the conventional force defends, the classic Ogre scenario.) Steve Jackson Games SJG OGRE Website SJG Miniatures Website Michael Powers

Deluxe OGRE (Miniatures reviewed only)