Disappointed with Minis

[Doc_Klueless]

Harbinger Start Pack

Ok. I went out today a purchased the Start Pack. The figures I got were:

Axe Sister, Orc Spearfighter, Goblin Sneak, Human Wanderer, Man-at-Arms, Halfling Verteran, Gnome Recruit, Kobold Warrior, Tordek: Dwarf Fighter, Hyena, Half-Orc Fighter, Hound Archon, Half-Orc Assassin, Hell Hound, Elf Archer, and Zombie.

Common:10
Uncommon:5
Rare:1

Is this about the normal ratio per box?

Also, what I haven't seen mentioned anywhere: These are made from a rubbery plastic so they bend. I had no idea about this. I like it. Can't count the number of times one of the swords/spears/whatever on my lead/pewter figures got snapped off on accident.

I found the paint jobs to be so-so. But it's a darn sight quicker than me painting them myself

Overall, I approve.

 

[Janx]

As a former envoy for WizKids, I have seen first hand how popular MK figs were.

I've also seen enough evidence that the WotC line sold well.

Arguments on WK being a small company seem a bit weak. Topps bought them for 27 million. I'm not sure what Hasbro paid for WotC.

I use my extensive MK collection for D&D. We play in the 1.5" scale instead of the traditional 1" scale. Works well enough, and I didn't have to spend more money.

Janx

 

[Nathal]

And in response to Nathal's original post, it is clear that some have feelings similar to yours, but mine are dissimilar in just about every way.

Since my original post I've read a great deal about the current state of the secondary miniatures market. Several people posted links and leads on how to find individual figures, if I so desired. That was cool. Also, I've been reminded of the Fiery Dragon counters, a product I had forgotten about entirely.

But jeez...I was tired, and a bit grumpy with my original post. I didn't expect much of a response. But, good grief, was I wrong!

I haven't played 3.5 in a while...and got frustrated with my minis collection after spending a bunch of money over christmas, getting only a ton of commons. If there are viable secondary markets online, then that might be worth checking into. I'm nearly broke, so my initial post was motivated by a bit of the "sour grapes" syndrome. I like to play a bunch of games, but I haven't had the opportunity for a regular campaign in months.

Also, I liked the suggestion of using small labels, numbered on the underside of the figures' bases. I hadn't thought of that.

 

[Taelorn76]

there is also a trading minis trading website Maxminis.com. I filled most of my missing ones from there, as well as getting rid of extras that I don't need or want.

Plus all traders are ranked so you can view who is trustworthyand who isn't.

Hope this helps.

 

[Barcode]

Ok. I went out today a purchased the Start Pack. The figures I got were:

Axe Sister, Orc Spearfighter, Goblin Sneak, Human Wanderer, Man-at-Arms, Halfling Verteran, Gnome Recruit, Kobold Warrior, Tordek: Dwarf Fighter, Hyena, Half-Orc Fighter, Hound Archon, Half-Orc Assassin, Hell Hound, Elf Archer, and Zombie.

Common:10
Uncommon:5
Rare:1

Is this about the normal ratio per box?

The ratios of C/U/R are fixed, so although I don't remember exactly for the entry pack, it sounds right. For an expansion pack it is 4/3/1, so you do much better if you are shooting for uncommons and rares.

Also, an odd phenomenon we noticed at my FLGS. Many of the boxes in a single case or shipment of cases have unusually large recurrences of the same uncommons and rares, while almost none of some others. The owner had a theory that a smaller subset of bins are used to fill batches of expansions with minor variations, these expansions go into the same case. This and other cases from the same "batch" are all shipped to the same distributor and placed in the same general location. So when your FLGS orders 10 cases, he gets many of the same uncommon and rare minis. Fine if you are in a large city or suburban sprawl, but in our isolated community in upstate NY it is bloody inconvenient, since it is tough to trade when everyone is missing the same minis. (Believe it or not, I have *no* Abyssal Maws or Dwarf Barbarians, but like seven Dretches and five Elf Spearguards)

Solution: For Archfiends he is buying a couple of cases each from multiple, geographically dispersed distributors. He doesn't buy enough to get volume discounts anyway. We love him.

I also am excited about Archfiends - the commons are much more useful to those of us using these primarily for tabletop instead of skirmish. If I throw seven dretches at my party, they just gonna laugh...

 

[Alcareru]

there is also a trading minis trading website Maxminis.com. I filled most of my missing ones from there, as well as getting rid of extras that I don't need or want.

Plus all traders are ranked so you can view who is trustworthyand who isn't.

Hope this helps.

Thanks for the heads up Taelorn, Ive been looking for a marketplace for the (I assume) inevitable day when WOTC retires lines.

 

[Agamon]

Also, an odd phenomenon we noticed at my FLGS. Many of the boxes in a single case or shipment of cases have unusually large recurrences of the same uncommons and rares, while almost none of some others. The owner had a theory that a smaller subset of bins are used to fill batches of expansions with minor variations, these expansions go into the same case. This and other cases from the same "batch" are all shipped to the same distributor and placed in the same general location. So when your FLGS orders 10 cases, he gets many of the same uncommon and rare minis. Fine if you are in a large city or suburban sprawl, but in our isolated community in upstate NY it is bloody inconvenient, since it is tough to trade when everyone is missing the same minis. (Believe it or not, I have *no* Abyssal Maws or Dwarf Barbarians, but like seven Dretches and five Elf Spearguards)

Yep, I noticed that, too. Abyssal Maws are waaaaay too common around here. I tend to try and stick to a couple of packs per month, that helps both the variety and my wallet.

 

[3catcircus]

If you play the skirmish game, you'll want more. Seriously, I've heard of warbands using nine or ten of the little gumballs.

You might be interested in this tournament report: http://www.3rdedition.org/merricb/minibfcupreport.htm

Cheers!

Actually, I was being a bit sarcastic. I've tried to give the mini's a benefit of doubt in terms of them being for both skirmish and D&D. Fact of the matter is - if you don't play the skirmish game (I don't) it is kinda dumb (personal hindsight) to buy $100 or so worth of them, hoping you'll eventually get the ones you want.

What WoTC *should* have done is release the different mini packs with the "common," "uncommon," and "rare" types based on the Monster Manual description of their rarity, rather than an arbitrary "we think this should be rare" decision. That way, you'll still get plenty of orcs, but trolls, ogres and ghouls would be more common than they are in currently, but we wouldn't be stuck with 8 hell-hounds and 8 hyenas (in a batch of 10 boosters plus the entry pack.)

 

[3catcircus]

I've been buying my singles from Colossal Games Their prices on the Dragoneye singles are variable, presumably based on demand rather than supply. I believe those who are complaining that they can't buy just the miniatures they want do need to check some of the aforementioned online stores, or at least check the definition of the word can't.

And in response to Nathal's original post, it is clear that some have feelings similar to yours, but mine are dissimilar in just about every way.

Funny - for the Harbingers I don't have, I checked both FRP and Popular Collections (didn't get a chance to check Colossal Games) - for the mini's I want (to essentially complete Harbinger for me), the total (for individual mini's - about 10 total pieces) was about $100 or so.

I dunno - I guess this must be that so-called "new math." Spend $100+ on 10 boosters plus the entry pack (what WoTC insinuated it would take to complete Harbinger) and still have to buy $100 worth of individuals or take my chances buying more boosters until I get what I need (as a bare minimum, 5 boosters.) No thanks - I've decided that $13+ for a piece of plastic painted by asian schoolchildren is a rip-off - better to spend $4 on a metal mini that I give a crappy paint-job than waste more money on processed dinosaur juice that's been painted.

 

[BobROE]

Spend $100+ on 10 boosters plus the entry pack (what WoTC insinuated it would take to complete Harbinger).

Um, This is imposible because of the number of rares, maybe you could get all the commons and uncommons, but there's no way you'll get all the rare's (with only one rare per booster or entry).