How to store a big collection of DDMs?

[frankthedm]

Cardboard boxes with flaps that close

Several are Giants of Legends boxes.

Gol Box of Undead
Gol Box of Pseudonatural horrors
Gol Box of Reptilians
Gol Box of Miscellaneous / multiple larges
Gol Box of Anthro / Furverts
Coffee canister of constructs
Small Priority mail box of modded mounted figs
Ronco Rotisserie accessory box of unsorted figs from medium to huge’
DVD ROM box of vermin and bugs.
Box of D&D outsiders
Box of animals

 

[airwalkrr]

I also have thousands of DDMs. I use a big rubbermaid container to store the ones I am keeping solely for collection purposes and a tackle box for my "select crew" of monsters and minions I take with me everywhere I go. The tackle box is one of those big expensive ones with lots of compartments. All compartments have sub-compartments, which are separated by alignment and the compartments themselves are roughly separated by rarity. One compartment is for PC and NPC minis only, separated by alignment (LG, CG, and LE/CE), where I keep only one of each figure. Another compartment is for medium and smaller rares, all organized by alignment. Another compartment is for commons, all organized by alignment. Another compartment is for large uncommons, another for medium and smaller uncommons, etc. I keep most of my large rares in one box that has no dividers since they are easy enough to root through (for now). It works fairly well. I have to strap it to a dolly to carry it around, but at least I always have the right mini for the job and can find it fairly quickly.

 

[Sammael]

I keep mine (around 1100 of them) in my desk drawers, but the space is getting woefully insufficient. I'll have to look into another storage solution after War of the Dragon Queen comes out.

 

[Psychic Warrior]

I too have close to 2000 WotC miniatures and I use about 20 "800" count white card boxes. They are what I used to keep my Magic cards in. I have them sorted by creature type (with PC figures sorted by class I RPG almost exclusively) and they currently fill about half of the space beneath my china cabinet. These boxes are awesome and I'd recommend them to anyone. Keep a few spares around to grab some 'travelling' minis if you don't game at your house. Mine sit right behind me when I DM and all of the boxes have labels identifying them so it takes about a minute for me to grab whatever I need. Here is a link to what I am talking about.

For the Huge minis I have a much larger 'white box' but plan on getting a bigger plastic bin for the huges when WotDQ arrives.

 

[Bagpuss]

I've got several stackable clear "Really Useful" plastic boxes. They are board and flat. A bit like these ones but I think not as deep and longer.

This means you can look in the top and shake the tray about to find them pretty easily.

Type so one tray is for PC race creatures (good or evil doesn't matter for the RPG). One is of outsiders, elementals and the like, another I've put cardboard dividers in. In this I've an orc section, goblin, other goblinoid, kobold, drow and spiders, gnoll and undead sections. These tend to get the most use.

We also once we have the party figures decided put them in a little clear plastic bag, so they don't get split up.

Not sure how many I have but I normally don't have trouble finding a figure. Clear plastic and sensible divisions is the way to go, clear plastic means you don't have to open a box to know what's in it, and a sensible division means you know roughly where to look for things to start with.

I considered a draw type arrangement, or fishing tackle/DIY box but if you can't recall whats where you have to open the draws to see what's in them. With stackable boxes with big clear lids you can quickly do a visual check on whats inside.

I admit they aren't greatly protected but they are plastic D&D Miniatures they shouldn't need protection.