DoD Preview 9... mostly stale, w/ one nugget

[Reaper Steve]

Preview 9 is up: Ice Archon and Iron Defender.
Nothing you haven't already seen if you've seen mini pics from DDXP.

However, it does mention that there are only two elemental archons in the MM: fire and ice. So we'll have to wait a bit for earth, air, and water archons.

I'm not upset about the decision to parcel out like monsters (giants, archons, possibly dragons, etc) but at some point it would be nice to have them all in one location.
I'd like to avoid: 'Crap, which MM is the air archon in?'

 

[Reaper Steve]

Strange... they took it down. Hordelings also has a no-longer-working link to the final 2.0 Night Below cards.

Blast! I was already bummed at the lack of 4E info this week (and last, IIRC) and now the only morsel we've been given has been taken away.

 

[thalmin]

Probably to fix the picture of all the previewed minis. The tonights were not filled in.

edit: No, but it's back now.

 

[Reaper Steve]

And they're back!
(Don't mind me while I converse with myself. As long as I don't lose an argument, it's perfectly fine.)

 

[Glyfair]

And they're back!
(Don't mind me while I converse with myself. As long as I don't lose an argument, it's perfectly fine.)

Hmmm...not up for me (at least now). The link takes me to the main mini-page with no link to the 9th preview (and nothing on the RSS feed either).

 

[thalmin]

Just tried it again. Still working for me.

 

[Glyfair]

Just tried it again. Still working for me.

Now it's working for me.

 

[MaelStorm]

For those who have problems finding it, here's the info:

Dungeons of Dread Preview 9

Ice Archon

Two types of elemental archons can be found in the 4th edition Monster Manual. You already have a miniature of the first type with the Fire Archon from Desert of Desolation. In Dungeons of Dread, you can find the second -- the uncommon Ice Archon. I think this is one of the best uses of transparent plastic to date -- the clear plastic really invokes an icy aura to this elemental humanoid miniature.

These footsoldiers from the elemental chaos aren't shoehorned into a single role. In June, you'll be able to use this figure to represent three different Ice Archons. This soldier looks closest to the level 19 Ice Archon Rimehammer, but DMs will be able to flesh out encounters with Ice Archon controller and artillery versions.

Iron Defender

Homunculi are magically powered constructs created to maintain a watch. The exact nature of the homunculus depends on what needs watching -- some homunculi are adept at guarding areas while others prefer guarding objects. The Iron Defender is a homunculus created to guard a person.

This 3rd-level soldier protects by getting free attacks whenever the guarded creature is attacked. For the skirmish game, this is handled by the Defender ability. You may have already seen the Defender ability on previous creatures such as the Eternal Blade from the redesigned Desert of Desolation figures. If you haven't, here's how it works -- when someone attacks a different creature while adjacent to an Iron Defender, that Iron Defender can immediately attack. This encourages creatures to attack the Iron Defender before any others; a perfect example of how a soldier should work.

That's it for the Dungeons of Dread previews! It will be an exciting couple of months with the upcoming release of the new edition of Dungeons & Dragons. Keep an eye open in this space -- the next set of previews begins in just a few months. Before you know, it will be time to ramp up your battles Against the Giants.

 

[Olaf the Stout]

I wonder why the Fire Archon in Deserts of Desolation was a Rare mini while the Ice Archon is an Uncommon. Weird.

Olaf the Stout

 

[DanChops]

One thing I noticed that I thought strange - the Ice Archon is Evil. Had we known previously that Archons (or only Ice Archons perhaps?) are Evil? I would have thought they would be unaligned, given their whole "mercenary willingness to fight for whatever" trope.