Desert of Desolation Gallery is up!!

[Zaukrie]

Most of them look significantly better in person than online. Significantly.

That said, I too was dissapointed with the lack of theme minis. Usually there are 1/3-1/2 that are theme. This was the set we should have received humanoids in desert clothing, or light armor. This is the set that should have given us giant insects. We get a new copper, when the last one came out just a few sets ago. We could have easily gotten some other dragon.

 

[Agamon]

Even so - a swarm is a creature that occupies four contiguous squares. If you only have one of those figures, you don't have a swarm, you have a quarter of a swarm. If they're going to call it a swarm, they need to provide four of them as one 'figure'.

Hmmm...these are 4E minis. Interesting.

 

[Lancelot]

I've been collecting DDM since Harbinger, and have completed all previous sets to date. Having said that, I seriously debated buying any DoD at all.

I'm annoyed by the wonky sizing (Large bar-lguras, Medium spined devils, Medium swarms, Huge crocodiles on a Medium base, etc).

I'm peeved by the lack of theme (I was really geared up for more desert creatures).

And I'm really infuriated by the resculpts. There is absolutely no reason for another Large Copper Dragon... or more rare Ogres and Trolls... or a Nightmare so soon after the last one...

...however, part of the problem is that I'm an addict. I'll be getting one case (down from my usual two), and I'll probably try to complete the set. I'm really hoping the next set is a serious improvement, though. I haven't been really thrilled about a DDM set since Blood War, and the most recent two have been big disappointments.

 

[Keith Robinson]

Most of them look significantly better in person than online. Significantly.

That's really good to know and what I was hoping to hear, as some of the pieces are very hard to gauge from the pics. Of course, I won't know until I actually see them, but that is encouraging. Thanks

 

[Olaf the Stout]

It seems that since Blood Wars, the amount of minis related to the supposed theme of the set is becoming less and less. I don't look for the set name to give me a guide as to what minis may appear in the set anymore.

It was interesting to see that there were no Orc, Goblins or Kobolds in this set and there was only 1 Dragon (Copper). My guess is that the Dungeons of Dread set (which will be the first DDM 2.0 set) will have a lot of the "traditional" D&D monsters in it. I can imagine it being almost a Harbinger MkII.

Olaf the Stout

 

[megamania]

I used to enjoy reading the title of a set due in 4-6 months and try to guess what would be in it based on previous releases. Between getting away from the themes and resculps I can't do this anywhere near as accurately which is a bummer.


I still like the new set. Maybe we'll still see "Darksun" and get some desert goodies there or "Water Hazards" and get desert goodies then.

 

[Kunimatyu]

I really, really wanted desert creatures and humans in desert garb. I canceled my case preorder as soon as I saw the set and realized that it wasn't going to contain enough useful stuff for my current desert campaign.

Also, where are the friggin' centipedes already?!

 

[NiTessine]

Meh. Worst set in a while. Possibly ever. No strong theme, bad sculpts (why does the sphinx have the head of a lion?), and there seem to be balance issues. The prerelease tournament didn't feel like DDM usually feels. Everything died too easily.

I will not be buying any more boosters.

 

[Ant]

Well, I must say I am a little happier now that I've bought a couple of boosters. Zaukrie is correct -- they look somewhat better in person.

I was very happy that I pulled the ogre in the second booster. Very nice.

The red yuan-ti is still pretty terrible though and the sphinx, while not quite as horrid as it appeared in the images, still isn't a big winner.

And I've decided that the "harpy" would actually make a much better demon.

There also seems to be a reoccurring defect with the merchant guard. I pulled two and both have issues with the tips of their swords (not just the usual bendy issues -- more like "just about to fall off" issues).

Edit: Forgot to add that I'm most unimpressed with the "quarter of a swarm" mini.

 

[Olaf the Stout]

Well, I must say I am a little happier now that I've bought a couple of boosters. Zaukrie is correct -- they look somewhat better in person.

I was very happy that I pulled the ogre in the second booster. Very nice.

The red yuan-ti is still pretty terrible though and the sphinx, while not quite as horrid as it appeared in the images, still isn't a big winner.

And I've decided that the "harpy" would actually make a much better demon.

There also seems to be a reoccurring defect with the merchant guard. I pulled two and both have issues with the tips of their swords (not just the usual bendy issues -- more like "just about to fall off" issues).

Edit: Forgot to add that I'm most unimpressed with the "quarter of a swarm" mini.

What was your other Rare? And what is so unimpressive about the quarter swarm?

I'm not sure whether someone said it here or on the maxminis forums, but I think the swarm minis really should have been square if they were going to design them as quarter swarms. It makes them easier to put together to form the actual swarm sized mini. It also makes it easier to stand the "swarmed" minis on top of them too.

Olaf the Stout