Wizards of the Coast has planned expansions for its three miniature games for the coming months.  The Axis & Allies CMG, WotC's newest release, had a very strong preview at GenCon (see 'GenCon Wraps Third Indy Convention'), with a major display and demo presence.  Limited quantities of the Base Set Starters and Boosters, which were made available on a daily basis at the WotC booth at the show, sold out in an hour each day despite a last minute increase in the allocations for the show. One reason for the response may have been the unexpectedly high level of detail for the miniatures; tank turrets swivel, for example.

 

After the Axis & Allies Base Set streets September 16th, the next release will be Set Two (official name), a booster-only set planned for December.  Set Two will include snipers and paratroopers and updated rules to account for them.  The Eastern Front and Russian troops will be the general, but not exclusive theme of the set, which will also include Chinese troops, for example. 

 

Four more Axis & Allies booster-only expansions are planned for 2006.  Other SKUs are also being considered. 

 

Three new sets are planned for the Dungeons and Dragons miniatures in 2006, plus some products 'beyond starters and boosters.'  After Underdark, a booster-only release planned for November, the next release will be War Drums Starters and Boosters, in March 2006.  Certain figures in the War Drums set will have an epic-level stat card included. 

 

AT-AT Imperial Walker
The Star Wars Universe Huge Pack for the Star Wars Miniatures, of which limited quantities were also made available at Gen Con, sold out daily in around 45 minutes at the show.  After Ultimate Missions -- Universe, the sourcebook planned for October, and the AT-AT Imperial Walker in November (which was on display at GenCon), the first release in 2006 will be Attack on Endor, a non-randomized SKU that will include an ATST (which is in Universe) and three stormtroopers plus damage counters, a battlemat, and stat cards.  After Attack on Endor, other 2006 releases will be in the normal 25mm randomized booster format.