D&D Miniatures alternative.

[zoroaster100]

I plan to stock up on any D&D minis I might still need, and to occasionally buy from others like Reaper. Some times I also buy minis for other games and convert the bases. The one thing that is most disappointing from the announcement is that we'll now never get minis for some of the cool new monsters that are WOTC intellectual property (maybe some sellers will find ways to create similar but different miniatures that can substitute for those). I have no interest in using counters since I already have a massive miniature collection.

 

[JoeGKushner]

My experience is that really there isn't another company out there making minis at the same price/quality point. DDM were always at the mass produced dreck level of quality/price. While that might sound insulting, it's also why I liked them. I got ok quality, a wide selection, and a low price. Unfortunately, for a mass production product, you need a lot of buyers.

I'm going to agree. If you're looking for prepaints with a wide variety of materials and a large secondary market, not a thing out there.

If painting miniatures doesn't bother you, Mega Minis has a wide selection of older minis that should fit your needs.

 

[Mapache]

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

Heck, if you could offer decent unpainted metal minis at that price, you'd already be substantially cheaper than most other companies.

 

[Firebeetle]

If painting miniatures doesn't bother you, Mega Minis has a wide selection of older minis that should fit your needs.

True that! Their Grenadier classics is, well, classic. It would be easy to build a base to start from here.

For those who want to start painting, get a craft paint selection. Get primer and matte sealant. $50 is a reasonable estimate. Hobby Lobby or Micheals is your best bet. You'll need to grab more itty bitty brushes than you think you'll need.

Google miniature painting, including blackwash and drybrushing. The basic idea is is, prime, paint, inkwash, drybrush, seal. Start with simple figures and work your way up in complexity.

 

[JoeGKushner]

Heck, if you could offer decent unpainted metal minis at that price, you'd already be substantially cheaper than most other companies.

SKELETONS X 24

24 skeletons, under $30 bones.

 

[Incenjucar]

Personally, I'm going to be looking into using Shrinky Dinks to make 2D standup minis, but I have a bit of artistic talent to rely on. Warhammer makes some cardstock 2-sided "miniatures," which are extremely awesome, but I don't know that they make very many of them or in much variety. Hopefully WotC or some other group will figure out that cardstock figures would be a great compromise between tokens and minis and start pumping out sheets of them.

 

[Lalato]

There really aren't a lot of options for plastic pre-painted minis. There are, however, a number of mini painting services out there, but that will definitely put you over budget.

That said... how about plastic, unpainted minis? Well... it's just dwarves, elves and undead so far...

Building Big Armies | Mantic Games

 

[Charwoman Gene]

How to paint to a good tabletop standard that is super durable.

1. Prime and Paint in bright solid colors.
2. Let Fully dry.
3. Drop into a dark brown polyurethane/stain combo product, pull out right away.
4. Shake/blow off excess.
5. Let dry overnight.
6. Spray with Testor's Dullcote.

A quick guide to ‘Dipping’ your minis |

 

[buddhafrog]

This is all rather depressing as I'm a new, but strongly converted mini-collector. I went out this past weekend and bought nearly 200 singles that I still wanted/needed. I want to get them before they dry out - which will actually take some time, but will eventually happen.

My 9 y/o son loves *LOVES* his minis. When we're not playing D&D, he's often "playing" with the minis. He was really disappointed with the news.

As for me and my son, I doubt I'll get any metal minis. Too costly and fragile.

As for me, I'm hoping that somewhere down the line WotC or another company will look at the gap in the market and try to fill it. I think it'll happen eventually. I'm 1/2-cup-full'ing it. I don't want to imagine a future with no more minis to buy, ever.

 

[buddhafrog]

double-posted out of mini-death grief.