There’s nothing quite like the anticipation of opening a new box of miniatures. Recently, I decided to dive into Marvel Crisis Protocol, intrigued by the scale of the miniatures and eager to design some custom 3D-printed terrain. As someone who enjoys crafting unique gaming environments, I was excited to finally see the figures in person and get to work.
The day my Marvel Crisis Protocol set arrived felt like Christmas morning. I ripped open the packaging, ready to inspect these beautifully sculpted miniatures. I imagined setting them up on the table, diving straight into the action, heroes and villains clashing in epic battles across a custom-built battlefield.
But my excitement quickly hit a snag.
As I peered into the box, my heart sank a little. The figures were all on sprues. Now, for most hobbyists, that’s no surprise – it's part of the process, the journey of assembling, painting, and bringing the characters to life. But for me, someone used to selling and working with pre-assembled, one-piece miniatures, it was a bit of a letdown. I had envisioned a more instant gratification: opening the box, pulling out fully formed figures, and jumping right into the game.
I had to take a moment and remind myself, this is miniature wargaming. The craft is as much about building the models as it is playing the game. After all, some of the hobby’s most passionate creators love that very aspect – the time spent with glue, clippers, and paint brushes. And here I was, faced with the same challenge, a necessary step before I could create my own terrain and see these heroes in action.
What was I thinking? I should’ve known! Most of the sets in this hobby involve sprues, assembly, and a bit of patience. It’s the journey, not just the destination, as they say.
Still, I couldn't help but feel a little daunted. As much as I enjoy design work, putting the miniatures together wasn’t how I planned to spend my time. But maybe, just maybe, this process would be a rewarding one, even for someone like me who’d rather skip the assembly and jump into the creative part.
