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Message: <blockquote data-quote="captainspud" data-source="post: 5333386" data-attributes="member: 94481">I use a combination of different minis for my various games.Player MinisPlayer minis get a ton of special attention. I consider it to be very important for players to have a perfect mini to represent their character, so I work with them to design a look that fits their mental concept, and then I start digging through various minis lines to find something appropriate. If I find something perfect, I'll just paint it. <ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><a href="http://www.captainspud.com/stuff/dnd_harry.jpg" target="_blank">Shadar-Kai Tempest Fighter</a> (GW <a href="http://www.games-workshop.com/MEDIA_CustomProductCatalog/m490599_99110204097_WoodElfWardancers5Main_873x627.jpg" target="_blank">Wardancer</a>)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><a href="http://www.captainspud.com/stuff/dnd_blackfeather.jpg" target="_blank">Deva Cleric of the Raven Queen</a> (Reaper <a href="http://www.reapermini.com/OnlineStore/elf%20wizard/latest/03491" target="_blank">Anirion</a>)</li> </ul>Usually minis require at least at least some conversion work, though-- I'll do weapon swaps, or sculpt on details and custom heads.<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><a href="http://www.captainspud.com/stuff/dnd_nero.jpg" target="_blank">Githyanki Wizard</a> (Reaper <a href="http://www.reapermini.com/OnlineStore/female%20staff/sku-down/03276" target="_blank">Harrix Fireblood</a> with a sculpted head and other details)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><a href="http://www.captainspud.com/stuff/dnd_ztabby.jpg" target="_blank">Gnome hide-wearing Warlord</a> (Reaper <a href="http://www.reapermini.com/OnlineStore/gnome%20fighter/sku-down/03441#detail/03441_w_1" target="_blank">Elliwyn Heatherlark</a>, gender-swapped with a modified chest and chin line, and added weapons)</li> </ul>Other times, there's just no appropriate mini anywhere, so I sculpt the models from scratch.<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><a href="http://www.captainspud.com/stuff/dnd_gravus.jpg" target="_blank">Goliath Axemage</a></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><a href="http://www.captainspud.com/stuff/dnd_ox.jpg" target="_blank">Warforged Fighter</a></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><a href="http://www.captainspud.com/stuff/dnd_ryael.jpg" target="_blank">Deva Monk</a></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><a href="http://www.captainspud.com/stuff/dnd_nadarr.jpg" target="_blank">Dragonborn Dragon Sorceror</a></li> </ul>My <a href="http://www.captainspud.com/stuff/dnd_heroes.jpg" target="_blank">superhero PCs' minis</a> follow the same lines-- most are converted and repainted Heroclix, but when I run into something that just doesn't have a good base (like Code Monkey in that pic), it gets scratch sculpted.Monster MinisPlayers need nice minis because it's a part of how they bond with the character; but nobody really cares what the bad guys look like (since they usually only live a few hours at most), so they get FAR less time and effort than hero minis.For my regular D&D game, I use whatever I can scrounge:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">I have about 40 D&D minis, and I've just bought 140 more from TrollAndToad.com (they'll be arriving this week, I'm quite excited)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">I've got 25-30 random Reaper metal minis-- zombies, Kobolds, and bigger things like ogres and trolls. I paint these VERY quickly-- base colours (usually 2 to 3 colours per mini), and then a quick GW wash for shading. It only takes me about 10 minutes per figure-- I don't really care what they end up looking like.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">I buy some GW minis off of other people when I see lots for sale-- zombies, skeletons, and the like. If I need to paint them, they get the same half-assed paintjob as the Reaper minis.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">I also buy some of the <a href="http://www.reapermini.com/Miniatures/Legendary%20Encounters" target="_blank">pre-painted Reaper minis</a> (which are plastic casts of some of their stock metal models). They're very similar in quality to D&D minis, but since they're non-random, they're much more useful for bulking out certain monster types.</li> </ul>Bad guys for my 4e superhero game are much tougher. Heroclix tend to be very specifically a certain character, so they're a harder sell in my homebrew world. Thus, I've forsaken the use of minis entirely for the bad guys my heroes fight, and instead make <a href="http://www.captainspud.com/stuff/dnd_villains.jpg" target="_blank">paper standees</a>. I draw all the art, then print them two-sided and cut them out. I hot-glue pennies to the bottom to help them stand up.</blockquote>

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