D&D Minis: What's missing most?

[Lonely Tylenol]

Well they tried something like that with Chainmail and we all know was a mess that was. There is the D&D Basic Game boxed set that comes with 16 unrandomized miniatures (including 4 PCs and a Black Dragon). It also has maps and RPG stat cards for all of the figures in the box.

I doubt you will see many more unrandomized boxes in the future. It is the collectability factor that is driving the DDM sales now. Your best bet is the secondary market via a local games store, eBay and trading sites like www.maxminis.com .

I think that the main problem with Chainmail was that the minis came unassembed and were a total pain in the butt to put together, combined with the way that they were practically useless for standard D&D miniatures. I mean, all the gnomes had guns and mohawks. What the hell was that? And the monsters...felldrakes and aberrations that they made up for that game...that's not really useful if what you want are some orcs or a troll to kill your party with.

They have never tried releasing a line of cheap plastic non-collectable miniatures of standard D&D monsters, so I don't think anyone's in a position to say whether it would or wouldn't sell. I think the biggest thing such an approach has going against it is profit margin. When you can sell 7 or 8 minis for $12 or so, why would you sell 1 mini for $1 or less?

Oh, if only I had more time to paint my minis...I've got some great Reaper figs waiting for me on my shelf, all primed and ready to go...and I've sworn off buying new ones until I paint the old ones.

also: Gelatinous Cube

 

[Kunimatyu]

However, it is still a hassle, as are all online transactions. You have to seek out the product on ebay, purchase it, go through the process of paying online, arrange to have the product shipped, and then wait until it arrives. That is an inconvenience. You may not mind the inconvenience, but it doesn't mean that others share your opinion on that score.

Hmm. I must say, I don't find the 10-minute process listed above as any more or less convenient than a quick drive to the local FLGS to look at their D&D Minis singles -- or Reaper metal figures, if this is a comparison -- and buy a few. In fact, buying minis from an Ebay Buy It Now store probably takes *less* time out of my day, even if I have to wait a few days for the product to show up. Really, once you find a few of the Ebay stores you like, you're set.

Now, trading on maxminis, that's another kettle of fish, and I'd only recommend that to the hardcore minis addicts out there.

 

[interwyrm]

Swarms would be nice. *snicker*

 

[Kunimatyu]

Swarms would be nice. *snicker*

Amusingly enough, there is a swarm in this set, a spider swarm.

 

[interwyrm]

Suriously? How do they manage that. I was thinking about it, and my solution was to put some glue on a piece of plastic, and then scatter iron filings on it. I mean, really, how can you paint things *that small*

 

[Shadowdancer]

Dryads
Nymphs
Succubus
Gigantic freakin' dragons, dragons so big when you put them on the table even the PCs' minis will say "Holy cr@p! We can't defeat THAT!"
Pirates. We have ninjas, we need their natural enemies to balance things out.

 

[Remathilis]

What do I want for minis?

Warforged: Variety of weapons (axes, spears, bows), builds (ironwood, mithril) and such.

Changlings: More than just the Sharn Cutthroat.

Females: Some females, both lightly and heavily armored, with a variety of weapons. Fully clothed if possible.

Uncommon Ogres.

The Rest of the Iconics. (Ok, just Gimble)

Young male wizards.

Fey, like sprites, satyrs, and nymphs

Rogues. Aside from Lidda.

 

[Soul]

I think the answer for non-randomization shouldn't come from wotc, though I'd like to see more people do what paizo seems to intend, by repackaging into sets, or selling bags'o generic beastie, which would be an excellent solution.

As for my vote on new minis a tarrasque would be sweet.

 

[elforcelf]

Flumphs!

 

[frankthedm]

If wotc aint giving you the figs you want, look elsewhere...

Those looking for non random monster minis;
Check dollar stores! Several mini makers have had mini sculpts pirated into cheap plastic toys in asia. Thier loss is your gain!

Gigantic freakin' dragons, dragons so big when you put them on the table even the PCs' minis will say "Holy cr@p! We can't defeat THAT!"

Until Gencon 2006, your only real option is the Red dragon of Krynn vynil model kit. It fits nicely on a 8"x16" base.

A few of Mcfarlane's dragons make good gargantuan dragons

Winter wolves as an uncommon would be nice.

I agree, more dragons, especially Huge versions of all the basic dragons that haven't been covered yet, as well as Large black, green, gold, & white dragons.

Winter wolves are large uncommons in underdark More dragons would be nice too. The GoL Ultra-Rare huges REALLY soured me to buying packs.

And i never want to see another 'medium' Rare. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr those waste of rare slots are what drove me to cherry pick.