DDM: Underdark Preview - Sept

[Steel_Wind]

Yes, more previews of Underdark Minis! And lots more goodness on new books awaits you here: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/iw/20050901a

Iron Golem - Large Rare

Looking very much like an "armored giant," the Iron Golem is a well-orchestrated sculpture of form and function. Those wide, boxlike feet create a sense of sturdiness and weight that would dishearten anyone with the Improved Trip feat. The rivets and spikes on the golem's legs seem to blur the realm between construct and armor, which makes the rest of the mini feel all that much more like a big, living suit of armor. (So much that this mini could easily fit the bill for a large humanoid in full plate.) My favorite bit of detail on the mini (and there's a lot of it) is the array of pits and dents pockmarking the entire creature. They drive home the sense that this thing has been around for a very, very long time, has taken a crazy amount of damage, and is still going. When you can get a good, close look, you'll notice little stains here and there. They could be rust. They could be dried blood. Regardless, they just reinforce the sense of history you get when you look at this marvel of magical science.

Spider of Lolth - Common!

Did anyone get enough Large Monstrous Spiders in their Dragoneye boosters? Me neither. And while I still might not get enough of these eight-legged freaks, it won't be because of their rarity. Arachnophobes, be warned -- these Medium vermin are Commons. So, you can expect to see a fair number of these sleek-bodied spiders scuttling out of your booster packs this fall. In fact, judging from the way the Spider of Lolth is poised, you can probably expect them to leap out of the box. The way those front six legs are gathered, as well as the angle of the spider's body, seem to suggest that it's getting ready to pounce on some unfortunate victim. All eight of its beady, red eyes seem fixed on something directly ahead, and its mandibles are ready to inject a nasty toxin in preparation for a future liquid lunch. The rounded body and large abdomen (complete with spinnerets) is primarily black, highlighted with a light swirl of purple and burgundy. Its segmented legs overhang the base by about a half-inch, but are pliable enough to not be much of a problem when ganging them up to surround other minis.

Nentyar Hunter - Unknown

Her long, tan-colored hair may seem a bit thick, until you realize that a volodni's hair grows in locks that resemble strips of bark. Her eyes are glowing with some strange, eldritch, green light (not a racial trait), and are accented by the glowing yellow gemstone set on her forehead. (Both of these features are depicted in that prestige class illustration.) Her studded leather armor, bracers, and leggings are dyed a rich, reddish brown, and her skirt looks like it might be a lightweight deerskin. Her feet are shod in sandals, which just reinforce her comfort and ties to nature. (Her armor is for protection against attack, not the elements.) Slung over her shoulder is a quiver full of arrows -- one of which she's in the midst of drawing forth. In her left hand is a finely crafted composite shortbow (check out the scrollworklike décor at the end of each of the bow's limbs). Taking the whole mini in, at a glance, she seems to be in midstep while drawing an arrow to shoot at something in the distance -- almost casually confident in her ability to take down her target, while not taking her eyes off it.

Set List to Date:

Elminster of Shadowdale
Guenhwyvar
Rikka, Angelic Avenger
Ankheg
Xorn
Dark Naga
Balor
Large Deep Dragon
Mounted Drow Patrol
Marut
Kobold Miner
Artemis Entreri
Roper
Half-Fiend Ogre
Dark Creeper
Gray Render
Swarm of Spiders
Iron Golem
Spider of Lolth
Nentyar Hunter

 

[Oryan77]

That Iron Golem is great...of course it's a rare. All the minis I want to use in my game are rares, and I can't seem to get any of the rares from older sets. Geez, I have plenty of kobolds, orcs, & core races though.