Getting a full set is unreasonable

[Kunimatyu]

If that proves to be a drawback for y'all, remember that most of the Rares in any given DDM set can be had on the secondary market for as cheaply -- or nearly so -- as Reaper is selling their large pieces.

While I <3 D&D Minis, I do feel compelled to point out that Reaper's Troll is $4, its Ogre is $5, and its Minotaur is $6, with sculpts that are far and above better than any equivalent large humanoid figures WotC has done so far.

The price different is only going to get more dramatic when Reaper releases the mind flayer clone for somewhere in the $3-5 range, and a beholder clone for ~$10 or less.

 

[Zaukrie]

I believe the explanation for switching the number of R/U/C had to do with painting time and effort, iirc. Less numbers of commons leads to less painting variety being needed, or something like that. I can't remember how it worked, but it was related to paint steps or something.

I view these threads pretty much the same way I view 4E threads, they pop up every few weeks, some people say the minis are great, some say the model is bad. I just keep on buying them because I use them in DDM, in RPG and my kids play with them a ton.

 

[Imaro]

For those of you looking forward to other pre-painted miniatures, I sincerely wish you the best. Personally, I couldn't deal with the lack of variety. If that proves to be a drawback for y'all, remember that most of the Rares in any given DDM set can be had on the secondary market for as cheaply -- or nearly so -- as Reaper is selling their large pieces.

Well part of the appeal is convenience...I have to search on ebay to find the best price for some of these Rares and even Uncommons, then(unless I buy a boatload at one time) I also have to factor in shipping costs. With the Reaper line I can call my gamestore, have them order and hold exactly what I want, and pick it up within a week. And I'm sorry but mosty rares are equal or above Reaper's prices for their large figures.


I also think it's unfair to compare Reaper's "lack of variety" to what WotC has out now...wouldn't it be a more fair comparison to give them just as much time as WotC has had and then see what type of variety they have? I think if the line becomes profitable, we will definitely see a wider variety and faster production schedule, however it's a new venture and it would be foolish of Reaper to toss a ton of minis out there without testing the market first.

I personally think if Reaper goes for those figures that are "Rares" or haven't had a model produced by WotC yet and are in demand, they could capture a pretty good market for their minis. Keep up with the higher level of sculpts and paints and they just might be able to carve a profitable niche out.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

I've finally bought a single booster

What did you get?

I still don't think, I'll buy more than a single booster per set. Being a DM I have a use for pretty much every critter out there, but I am not really interested in duplicates.

It always depends on the figure. The commons are usually figures that I don't mind having several of. A dozen identical soldier figures for a dozen identical soldier NPTs aren't a bad thing, as are many many orcs and the like.

Well part of the appeal is convenience...I have to search on ebay to find the best price for some of these Rares and even Uncommons, then(unless I buy a boatload at one time) I also have to factor in shipping costs.

It's not all that bad - all you have to do is find a couple of decent shops (shout once and people here can supply you with several good ebay sellers) and the search is not so bad.

Still, figures that will be sold non-randomly in the first place do come in handy, and Reaper isn't exactly a bunch of hacks.

With the Reaper line I can call my gamestore, have them order and hold exactly what I want, and pick it up within a week.

Yeah, I hope my new FOGS will pick them up, too.

And I'm sorry but mosty rares are equal or above Reaper's prices for their large figures.

Well, a lot of rares are quite cheap.

But of course, the desirable ones aren't. Try getting your pick of medium or larger rare dragon without paying through the nose. And they're not the only ones.

it's a new venture and it would be foolish of Reaper to toss a ton of minis out there without testing the market first.

Agreed. I'm not sure whether they will crank up the production after that. Not sure they have to, either.

I personally think if Reaper goes for those figures that are "Rares" or haven't had a model produced by WotC yet and are in demand, they could capture a pretty good market for their minis. Keep up with the higher level of sculpts and paints and they just might be able to carve a profitable niche out.

I'd say let them make some models people want to get in numbers (like orcs or lesser undead) and desirable figures (demons, squid-heads, doomspheres, mariliths that aren't fugly....), and they can do very well indeed.

 

[DaveMage]

To the OP: there are e-bay sellers who will sell you complete sets (1 of each mini) for (IIRC) around $225. You can also get sets that have 1 of each rare, 2 of each uncommon, and 4 of each common.

This avoids randomization and assures you don't waste $$ on cases. 3 cases will cost you around $300-$350, so go the e-bay way and be happier.

I bought singles (no cases) only this time. I spent more money up front, but the number of minis I will get that I don't want is "0."

 

[armac]

Just a note to say that Wizkids started guaranteeing a full set of minis within a factory sealed case. They listened to their customers, and changed their randomization accordingly, and that was a couple of years ago.

WizKids has moved away from this model with their newly redesigned boosters and cases.

Also, they didn't "guarantee" the full set of minis in their old cases. That is a word that will always come back to haunt you.

 

[Jhaelen]

What did you get?

I got an Underdark booster:
Rare: Gray Render
Uncommon: Wizard Tactician, Dolgaunt Monk, Troglodyte Captain
Common: Royal Guard, Halfling Sneak, Spirit Folk Fighter, Monitor Lizard

The only one I didn't like was the Royal Guard (especially since the polearm was bent).
Since the majority of my spellcaster minis are the pointy-hatted, long-bearded kind, I liked the wizard. And since there aren't that many attractive female fighter minis, the spirit folk fighter was quite nice, too.
I didn't have anything remotely similar to the grey render, dolgaunt, and the lizard.
The halfling and the troglodyte are a nice addition to the three halflings (one female) and lizardfolk I had before.

As mentioned, I am not fond of any duplicates. I prefer to have a variety of armaments and/or poses for monsters and especially humanoids of the same kind since I often use teams with different class levels. It's easier to remember who is who, if they're actually looking different.

 

[Squire James]

I took my old miniature paint and used it to paint differing numbers/colors of dots on my duplicate minis, so I could keep track of them when running that encounter of - say - 40 goblins ("Red 5 went down!").

 

[megamania]

whoa! That was meant as a brief rant. I didn't expect the comments I'm reading.


I know what I am getting into and I do metal figures also. Now however, with 2 jobs and family, I find time limited though I love my painted metal figures more than most of the DDM figures.

My rant was related more to three cases and still no complete sets. There should be a limit. After a lot of hunting for good prices, after S/H the three cases cost me 330 dollars which I think will be hard to beat. I dislike the fact that it will cost me closer to 350 to get the set.

The good news (This wasn't meant to be negative)
3 Shadow Drafgons
2 White
2 Gold (yeah got my mated pairs)
3 Dracotaurs (will eventually want 5-6)


The two I am missing I should be able to collect easily enough in time, the Exarch of Tyranny and the Otyugh.

 

[JiffyPopTart]

When I have a spare $16 I'd rather buying a couple metal minis and a paint bottle or two. Since the first of the year I've invested several hundred in Reaper minis, painting supplies and lessons at Reapercon.

Conversely, when I have a spare couple of hours (what it would take me to paint 1 decently detailed mini to my standards) I could go do my side-job and make $60. I could then take that $60 + the original $16 to the interweb and purchase 8 packs of pre-painted minis and show up at next weeks game with 64 new miniatures for our collection, including 10 or so large ones.

DS