Desert of Desolation Gallery is up!!

[Vocenoctum]

Call me weird, but I'd expect the Desert of Desolation set to revolve around the more memorable creatures from the Desert of Desolation modules. I'd expect to see dervishes, genies, and perhaps a sphinx or two, for example. But there's none to be seen - in fact, only a tiny minority of these creatures are even in the Desert of Desolation modules.

There is a Sphinx, it just isn't the sphinx anyone wanted.

Figures of the set I like: Sahuagin Baron, Umber Hulk, Large Fire Elemental, that's about it.

Definetly not a case buy for me, I may grab a booster to try my luck, but not a very exciting set for me. In addition, while I understand their "mounted rules", it sucks for me personally since mounted figures were some of my favorite, and now all we'll have are these empty mounts? bleh.

 

[Imaro]

I agree.

Looks like we're back to the "ogres and trolls as rares" thing.

Yeah, this is especially irritating since 4e is suppose to be more group encounters...which of course means a need for more minis. I just can't understand the need to make Ogres and Trolls rares, since they're a staple of most fantasy. I guess I'll be buying the Reaper Ogre after all, but this is getting a little ridiculous for monsters that are commonly used.

 

[Keith Robinson]

In addition, while I understand their "mounted rules", it sucks for me personally since mounted figures were some of my favorite, and now all we'll have are these empty mounts? bleh.

While I agree that it is nice to have specific mounted sculpts, I also quite like the idea of having an unmounted horse. This way, I can just place the character mini on the base to represent him when mounted - and when he's not, the riderless horse is still there to remind me where he is. In this sense, I actually think it's quite a good addition.

I'm also very pleased to see rpg-friendly swarms. The old 10x10 bases were useless, whereas the new medium base means I can use them as the MM intended.

I must admit, however, there is some absolute dross in this set. The angel of vengeance, dwarf brawler, and macetail behemoth look real shockers and while I'm happy to see a gelatinous cube finally see the light of day, I'm disappointed with it on the whole. I really couldn't care less for popping it off its base and dropping the figures inside. For me, that's just silly and I'm very unlikely ever to do it that way. I'd have much preferred a good sculpt, with dissolving figure inside, etc.

On the positive side, the umber hulk, naga, and large fire elemental all look good and there are a few decent commons and uncommons.

An entirely averge set on the whole and IMO, though maybe it will improve when we actually get to see them for real, as there are a few I can't make up my mind about.

 

[Teflon Billy]

I thought Bruenor fought with a Hammer?

 

[Shortman McLeod]

Two thoughts:

1. How is a "Feral" Troll different from a regular troll? Aren't all trolls feral?

2. That is the ugliest, lamest-ass looking crocodile I've ever seen.

Other than those two observations, I like the set.

Shortman

 

[Vraille Darkfang]

But there's none to be seen - in fact, only a tiny minority of these creatures are even in the Desert of Desolation modules.

I'd just be happy if they had chosen Desert RELATED Creatures.

Why, oh why, did they name this set "Desert" Anything?

They've clearly chosen monsters at random with no attempt to get the minis to remotely resemble what is in the Title (or else the title was changed late in the game).

I'm pretty sure Boss Sahuagin and his minion are thrilled to be dragged out of the ocean & teleported to some area thousands of miles from the nearest ocean (or do they just drop dead after 3 rds of combat).

That's got to be one heck of a farmer in this set to raise pigs in a desert (must have all his ranks in Profession-irrigation; or the 4th ed equivalent).

Ettercap. Classic monster of the DEEP FORESTS! He must of been bushwhacked & sold to some efreet... Oh, wait. There are no Desert Classic Efreet in the Desert of Desolation Set.

And, let's not forget Bruenor Battlehammer, King of Mithral Hall, Dwarf citadel nestled within the snowy mountains of the far North..... Umm, OK, some of the Drizzt books take place in Calimport, thus maybe you could force him into a Desert Based Set. And while they got the Foaming Mug Standard right, they screwed up on the headgear. Bruenor has a one-horned helm, the other broken off before he was King Bruenor (plus, he's not the Crown type).

And how many of the Humanoids look Desert-Dwellerish? Rings of Endure Elements all aroud? Full Plate for fun & heat stroke, or are Eternal Blades some sort of Undead?

That's several mini's that have no place in a set called Desert Anything (Ok, if you go with an Artic Desert, you can slip Bruenor in).


Where the heck are the classic Desert Based Goodies? No Blue Dragons, No Efreet. No Dervishes, Arabian Warriors, or Dust Demons? Not even an Ali-Baba or Sinbad Type mini in the set.

If you name a set Desert of Desolation, keep the Aquatic Subtypes to a minimum.

 

[Dragon Snack]

The ocean is a desert with it's life underground and a perfect disguise above...

 

[Sammael]

<snip>

I agree. All three sets which came out this year had a tenuous connection to their theme at best, which is a surprising change after last years' Blood War (which had about 50% of theme-related minis). Desert of Desolation is particularly disappointing, because I was expecting (at the very least) to see the following in it:

Medium Blue Dragon
Scorpion of some sort (preferably medium)
2-3 desert-garb humanoids
Dao (last of the genies we're missing)
Scorpionfolk or Tlincali / Manscorpion / Stinger
Dust Mephit
Vulture
Jackal

That's just 9-10 additional minis which would have made the set feel a lot more thematic, IMHO.

Curiously, DoD has more Underdark-related minis than its supposedly Underdark-themed predecessor, Night Below:

Blade Spider
Demonweb Swarm
Drider
Drow Blademaster
Drow Spider Priestess
Gelatinous Cube
Umber Hulk

 

[megamania]

All good points and yes I was expecting more desert / fire themed figures but I still like the set.

 

[Pepster]

I see some minis I could use for other settings besides fantasy. I play Savage Worlds, and some of these look great for RunePunk. Overall I think this set has more for me than the prior 3-4 releases.

I must have the gelatinous cube. I too think it will be like the stirge when it comes to demand.

Pepster