DMs: Monster Minis in your game

[Shawn_Kehoe]

Hi,

As a DM first, and a wargamer second, I have a love / hate relationship with the randomised D&D minis. I hate how difficult it is to find specific figures for my games, especially modules I have purchased. On the other hand, I appreciate how this system allows lots of obscure monsters to get published, such as the Psionic Handbook beasts. Since I've been unemployed for most of the product run, I tend toward the hate a little stronger.

So, my question is, how do you deal with finding monster minis?

Ebay?
Proxy?
Trading?
Buying random and hoping for the best?
Saying "To hell with it all!", and switching to FDP's Counter Collections?

Thoughts would be appreciated.

Shawn

 

[stevelabny]

this is how my group has done it. for the first three sets. not the last 3 yet though.

buy two cases online. get huge discount. get almost complete set (after harbinger we bought boxes = # of rares in set...we got all commons, almost all uncommons and all but 3 rares)

then traded on maxminis.

since then maxminis changed their setup, making it slightly more irritating to find the people to trade with. and we havent had enough cash to buy the last 3 sets. but we'll get around to it and do it the same way.

 

[IronWolf]

I substituted minis and didn't always represent critters with an actual representation. Makes it easier and much easier than trying to track down just the perfect mini you want. Now that's not to say I wouldn't be tempted by a good deal on eBay or one of the sites that sells minis individual to round something out.

I also make heavy use of one of the player's minis collections during a game. He's addicted but we haven't told him yet because we like to borrow his minis....

 

[Crothian]

I also make heavy use of one of the player's minis collections during a game. He's addicted but we haven't told him yet because we like to borrow his minis....

He's actually not even close to addicted.....

 

[Beale Knight]

I substituted minis and didn't always represent critters with an actual representation. Makes it easier and much easier than trying to track down just the perfect mini you want. Now that's not to say I wouldn't be tempted by a good deal on eBay or one of the sites that sells minis individual to round something out.

I also make heavy use of one of the player's minis collections during a game. He's addicted but we haven't told him yet because we like to borrow his minis....

This is the same way I go about it. I've got a big collection of the old lead minis from the early '80s that I use a lot, and two of my players are big into minis, another is interested, but less sp. One brings a big carry case of minis to each session (partly to show off, but he's talented at painting and has a willing audience ). Even so, I scramble for big monsters most of the time.

 

[IronWolf]

He's actually not even close to addicted.....

True, but I couldn't resist the poke!

 

[Graybeard]

I have a bunch of minis and so does one of my players. We buy them where we work because we can get 25% off each box. We don't always have what we need for a session but we will substitute another mini instead.

 

[frankthedm]

I love monsters, have since i was a child. I have been buying minis for a decade or so, and toys before that.

I buy single figs of D&D and mageknight platics and i have a moderate collection of huge to gargatuan action figures.

Garage sales are a mini maniac's friend.

My friends try and steer me away from dollar stores since i always find minis there.

4 collosal model kits await my attention.

I make deadly puddings out of candle wax and Lovecraftian horrors out of hot glue and pipe cleaners.

And there is this wonderful japanese toy and gift shop in arlington heights, IL that had hordes of little kaiju, perfect for many minis.

 

[pogre]

Can you paint at all?

Offer to paint some figures in exchange for figs. I support my habithobby in just this way

 

[No Name]

As a DM first, and a wargamer second, I have a love / hate relationship with the randomised D&D minis. I hate how difficult it is to find specific figures for my games, especially modules I have purchased.

I feel your pain. So much in fact that I don't buy the minis hoping to get a rare that I'd use in a game. I rarely buy any minis, period. I have enough commons and uncommons that I got as singles. I just use those and make substitutions where necessary. I'd love a beholder, but not for the going price.

Is the bottom line so important to WoTC that they won't make minis for people who just play the RPG and not the wargame?