Games like Pirates of the Spanish Main are a cross between collectible card games and miniature games. There are a number of different themes, sailing ships and transformers are the two I’ve seen most of. You buy a flat pack that contains several cards, and pop out and construct models from the pieces.
I find them to be a unsatisfactory cross between the two genres. The packs tend to be as expensive as other miniature games, but the pieces are not as sturdy, a limitation of the design. The games then need more space to play than a CCG, and more space to store (if not as much as most miniature game).
If you want a collectible game, stick with CCGs, and if you want a miniature game, stick with a normal game (Flames of War looks interesting).
