HorrorClix Base Starter Game Set

Great, came on time, no complaints here!

This review is for the Starter box for Horrorclix, a collectible miniatures game (CMG) by WizKids. WizKids is better known for their HeroClix CMG, with superhero miniatures. HorrorClix uses the same concept (painted miniature on base that clicks through different ability stats based on damage) with classic horror monsters, plus niche monsters that appeal to certain fan groups (Lovecraftian monsters particularly stand out). Rather than review the entire CMG/Horrorclix concept, I'll only review the starter box.The idea of the starter box is to provide enough material for two people to play a game, and hopefully get you interested in buying more. I ordered the starter to play a game with a friend and was quite pleased by the product's visual appeal. It is packaged like a shadowbox, with all the figures and terrain pieces visible and in place like a diorama. Unfortunately, the shadowbox had to be torn up in order to get the pieces out; being able to store them in the same diorama would have been nice.You get a LOT of stuff with the starter. First, you get 6 monsters and their monster cards, There is a map, 12 victim tokens, 6 portal squares, 6 terrain squares, 3 terrain items, 10 plot twists, 2 subplots, and the rulebook.-The monsters are nicely sculpted, but the plastic feels cheap and the dial clix don't always align with the window well. Every starter has the same monsters, which are a red vampire lady holding a skull, a skeleton, a werewolf, the ghost of a lynched man, a chainsaw slasher, and a straitjacketed monster with tentacles. It's fairly representative of the monsters in the base set, with most of the powers and monster types. The monster cards look nice and detail the miniature's powers, but NOT dial clix statistics. (Maybe we're supposed to be surprised at the clix results?)-The map is dual-sided, with a graveyard on one side and a haunted mansion on the other. Maps are hard to come by for this game, so this one is nice to have. You can, of course, make your own. There are plenty of obstacles, winding passageways, and atmospheric decoration to make these maps interesting. They have the downside of buckling at the folds - very difficult to make them lie flat.-You get three 3-D terrain, a haunted tree and 2 tomobstones. I don't think WizKids produced any other 3-D terrain, so this is more for novelty's sake than strategy.-You should have 12 victim tokens for a game, and they are included. They are cardboard pogs, with a victim stereotype (jock, cheerleader, reporter). Their purpose is to be eaten by the monsters, but it's also fun to watch them flee.-There are portals and hindering terrain squares available to be used. They are double-sided, so you can choose which image to place (cobwebs, scary eyes, mold, a swamp, etc.) which adds to the atmosphere.-The plot twists are events that you can play (horror-movie themed) which help you to control victims. The subplots give you a way to score extra points by completing a mission. The two subplots were to kill all opposing monsters and to eliminate all victims.-The rulebook is about 50pg, B&W softcover. It could have used some play examples, and I found some of the rules rather opaque (such as using portals).All of my quibbles with the starter have more to do with the game than the set itself; it's a very nice starter kit with everything you need to play. And you really can play with just the starter; I divided the 6 figures with a friend and we sat down for a game. I learned that the chainsaw slasher is incredibly powerful and definitely tournament worthy. Probably the blood vamp as well, while the other figures are nice starter pieces. I'm definitely pleased with the value and have bought more boosters since to continue playing.