D&D Miniatures alternative.

[NewJeffCT]

Now that WotC made the (disappointing) decision to no longer produce D&D miniatures, I wonder if there is any other alternative, similar in quality and price.

Anyone knows?

Thanks in advance!

I don't really think there are many alternatives out there if you want a bunch of prepainted miniatures. There are a lot of good companies that make nice unpainted metal, plastic & resin miniatures - Reaper, Warhammer, Confrontation from Rackham, Fenryll, Shadowforge and others.

Back in the late 90s when I had a bit of free time, I tried painting myself. However, marriage & fatherhood put the kibosh on that... luckily, I've had jobs that allow me enough spending money to hire people to paint miniatures for me. (Plus, I don't spend money on habits like drinking, smoking, etc). For individual minis, I've spent a pretty good amount. I've also gone overseas for some cheaper painters in Asia for cranking out a whole bunch of orcs, goblins, dwarves, etc. I've had pretty good luck with that.

I've also bought painted minis off of eBay in the past.

 

[Nemesis Destiny]

Games Workshop puts out some halfway decent LotR minis in plastic, though they are unpainted. If you liked the flavour of the movies' artstyle, these will appeal to your sensibilities. They are just bare plastic though, and really work better for when you need lots of the same types of mini.

I will second the reaper line if you're looking for higher-quality metal ones, albeit at a higher price point. My biggest beef with the mini sub-market is that most of them are cheesy-looking. It's relatively difficult to find (in my exp. / at my FLGSes) minis that are distinctive but also not featuring exaggerated features, ridiculous armour, and absurdly-shaped weaponry.

 

[shadzar]

By quality I meant "same production standards, resulting in similar final product". Or cheap plastic miniatures.

"Quality" is VERY subjective, but if you are looking for cheap plastic pre-painted minis with fantasy themes, but not necessarily D&D IP, you could check places for MageKnight minis. They have oversized bases, and scale may be a bit off to match D&D minis, but they have throughout the sets many various elves, trolls, imps, orcs, etc.

Being a game out of production for half a decade now, I think, they might be harder to find, but should be cheap enough if you can find them.

HeroScape minis, if they are proper scale for you, might work as well seeing D&D minis made there way into that game.

Otherwise there are still TONS of metal minis manufacturers, and as others mentioned places like Games Workshop where you can get select plastic minis of various fantasy themes creatures. Warhammer Fantasy probably better than 40k for most.

Iron Wind (Ironwind Metals)
Reaper
RAFM
Studio McVey
...
Miniatures

If you don't buy from there, at least you got some company names to check out.

 

[Firebeetle]

I got into painting miniatures with my son after starting with D&D miniatures. I have to say, it's very rewarding to use your own miniatures and they always look better.

Here's a question, would people pay a premium price for painted, metal miniatures?

I'm thinking packs of minis in themes (skeletons, orcs, goblins, etc.), sold in a box that works as storage. These would go for around $50 for packs of 20-24 miniatures. Would people be interested in something like that?

 

[ExploderWizard]

I got into painting miniatures with my son after starting with D&D miniatures. I have to say, it's very rewarding to use your own miniatures and they always look better.

Here's a question, would people pay a premium price for painted, metal miniatures?

I'm thinking packs of minis in themes (skeletons, orcs, goblins, etc.), sold in a box that works as storage. These would go for around $50 for packs of 20-24 miniatures. Would people be interested in something like that?

If you could offer 20-24 decently painted metal minis including storage box for $50.00 then you have one customer already.

I love painting minis too and I don't see how one could sell them for that price and get any compensation for thier time.

 

[Firebeetle]

If you could offer 20-24 decently painted metal minis including storage box for $50.00 then you have one customer already.

I love painting minis too and I don't see how one could sell them for that price and get any compensation for thier time.

Buy sets at wholesale (roughly 60% of MSRP, or ~$15-$20 ) and then paint pseudo-assembly line style with my son (don't worry, I'll pay him). For storage, candy boxes with clear lids and labels I add. Cheap but efficient for storing 25mm minis, but I have to shop around for large size+ mini containers.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Besides those already mentioned, I also like Rackham's Confrontation line- both the metal & prepainted plastic and the game itself, which is mechanically very similar to Chainmail/DDM in play & mechanics.

 

[Ahrimon]

Besides those already mentioned, I also like Rackham's Confrontation line- both the metal & prepainted plastic and the game itself, which is mechanically very similar to Chainmail/DDM in play & mechanics.

Rackham closed up last year or the year before. I really liked their minis too. Expensive, but awesome.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Rackham closed up last year or the year before. I really liked their minis too. Expensive, but awesome.

Wha? (Just checked- they've been in liquidation since Oct. 2010.)

Damn. I guess I'd better start buying up the remaining minis in stores...Confrontation, AT-43.

 

[Shadowslayer]

I stumbled once across Megaminis Mega Miniatures USA

The mini sets are unpainted, old school, and nothing spectacular when compared to Reaper's....but at a 1.50 per, it looks like dealing with them could get you a bunch of very functional minis at a reasonable cost.

Using my own "ghetto painting" technique, you could have em' set and ready for your table in no time.