I love AFM LE had it for like 7 months and I am super impressed with CGC and the extras, large LCD, extra topper etc.

I have owned STLE sold one year ago, but sold to fund RR WoZ would not mind having it back.

I have not played MB too much mostly here and there as a casual play not like a full owning experience, I hear people say it's too easy or not as challenging a lot game. ST has more rules if you consider 6 modes x 3 levels deep.

Need some advice

ST LE
pros: slightly cheaper but the LE version is one of my favorite Stern pins due to the lighted side rails and the laser, 3 flippers, warp ramp, lots of ways to play, known build quality.

cons: I already owned STLE for 4 years and sold it, I still have SM which is similar layout, the code does have some bugs. I would need to buy the machine now to get the one I want local.

Side note: although I had STLE for 4 years, I never got too far towards the end, I have KM multi ball a few times but not much past that. I think I could make a run at the second wizard mode if I owned the pin again.

MBr LE

pros: would be new (to me) and so all new things to discover, I love AFM remake and MB is from that era and rules by Lyman are probably well polished. I could (probably) wait a year and still get one new.

cons: slightly more expensive, some people say it's too easy.

Side note: I could get the local STLE and still get the MB LE in a year (even if I had to sell STLE probably not much of a loss).

any suggestions????

Do you get far into the game (I mean most of the way to the 2nd or final wizard modes?)

I am starting to lean towards a shorter playing game, I mean sold LotR because it seemed like needed to play long games. Trying to decide if that's why I sold ST because (is it too long game times?).

I will be in Florida next week found this : Pinball lounge that has the MB LE as well as tons of other new pins that I have yet to play. will check it out.

https://www.facebook.com/thepinballlounge

Plus I own SM grrr that’s even more like ST.

I see your point about ST, that I loved the way it shot but the modes were too long or not varied enough or not super fun to play. Also I still own SM which is a lot similar to ST.

I will play MB LE this week to see if I like it.

Only reason I was thinking of buying STLE again was that I had a local one great deal. But that's not a strong reason to buy it. (I would still buy it if it was an amazing deal but it just seems like a great deal not amazing). I mean I bought DI LE for less than this STLE so they are on the same price (MB LE would maybe $400 more).

The other factor is that if/when I get MB it doesn't need to be now. When you have a great deal it has to be now, but with MB I can wait.

It's tie poll (if I take my vote away).

Goetz is a little obsessed with ST, I’m surprised he doesn’t own more. LoL

I do miss STLE great pin

I am leaning towards STLE.

I played MB LE today and while it was nice, it's almost too easy (IMO) which would be great for a novice player. I played 3 games and got every mode but one lit on the the second game. I don't say that means I was close to finishing all the modes but at least started them, and (some) modes just happen by chance like the pop bumper (mummy). MB is a fun game but I was watching some ST games there is a lot of different ways to play and scoring opportunities. I am still not 100% happy with ST code because the modes are very similar but it does take more skill to start the modes. I wish there was a bit more polish in some places, I was watching a tutorial of ST and they finished KM Multiball and it just ended like said mode complete, no big fanfare it was somewhat anticlimactic (IMO).

I’m about to take delivery of STLE.

I did own STLE for 4 years, but I never played it as much as some of the super players on Pinside.

I may have played 3-400 total plays on ST so there is a lot for me to explore and learn. I want to try the various paths of going 3 deep to double a shot permanently for example.

Thanks everyone for voting and posting on this thread. It’s still a tight race in the poll and both are great games and similar price range.

I think STLE is a great looking game and my old one was before Color DMD was supported on ST.

I agree... but pinball is more than just gameplay/rules. I do wish there was a bit more something special to the code. It’s got a lot of modes but they can feel same-same because they are all qualified in the same way.

This may sound like a poser attitude but half of my enjoyment of a pin is the bling bling. I love Tron gameplay but the sound and the lighted ramp and the arcade mod make it better. I love love AFM but the LE with the topper, mirrors, enhanced lighting effect are really worth every penny for me. With STLE it’s like bling turned up to 11. Why I love Woz so much is the light show and STLE is my second favorite light show pin. STLE has the lighted ramps, laser lights, lighted side rails, full color inserts.

This is partly why I love TNA sound and vision. I know many don’t care for TNA because it’s same same modes rinse repeat but I like the visuals and sound and the gameplay does enough to keep up.

Ultimately why I posted this question was not so much that I woke up alone day and said “I need to buy a new pin”. What happened was a local stle was for sale and the price was more than reasonable. Figure that worse case if I don’t love it in a year whatever I can sell it for similar price to what I paid.

It’s easier to buy a pin like STLE for a decent price (already some depreciation in the price) than to buy something nib that would take a big hit on resale.

I already sold a STLE after owning it 4 years at no loss not even loss on mods. So I figure I’m ahead of the game in a way since I had game 4 years at no cost. I might be able to do same with this one (I mean minimal loss). There does seem to be a hell of a lot of ST on the market for sale currently so maybe it’s going through a transition with people getting tired of it and selling to get something new.

I think you are misusing the word you and I.

I never thought MB was a grail pin, it’s a top rated pin so that has some weight but overall not my grail pin. I’d much rather see TZ and IJ remade.

I got the STLE from a super Pinsider now I need to work on knocking off his high scores (he had it on 5 balls but don't know if that was always on or just towards the end to see more modes).

ST is really fun and the light show is out of this world.
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I’ve been playing STLE like crazy glad that it’s mostly short games but I’ve potential to get a longer game now and then. Kind of like AFM more than SM which is more long games.

I think the hated mode start shot adds to the challenge.

I am just trying to play all level one missions and get to KM (that's proving a good challenge) and once thats done, I will play more three deep to see more of those and scoring strategies.

Thanks. I plan on doing that as soon as I beat the previous owners high scores ( he was on 5 balls so it’s not as easy as all that on 3 balls).