Mini Alternatives

[Goobermunch]

I generally use D&D minis. However, in our last game we had 5 orc warriors, 4 goblins on worgs, an Ogre, 2 kobolds, and 6 hobgoblins.

Since there's not a lot of variation for the different minis (and since each foe was separately statted out), I used M&Ms to keep track of which monster was which. It's pretty easy to do, especially with the new Dark Chocolate M&Ms (since they add about 5 new colors).

--G

 

[RichGreen]

Hi,

I also like Cardboard Heroes, but recently I've been using a combination of Fiery Dragon counters (Counter Collection Digital is ace!) and homemade counters using downloaded images from the WotC site to supplement my metal minis.

Cheers


Richard

 

[francisca]

....am I making any sense?

You know better to ask that!

Check your e-mail.

Also, I like the Firery Dragon Counters a lot. Especially at Cons.

 

[LostSoul]

Lego is very good, because you can have characters as well as very easy-to-build buildings.

 

[Vurt]

Lego is just too versatile to pass up. Plus, what self-respecting geek doesn't have a full tub kicking around somewhere in their basement?

The long pieces become walls on the battlemat. Large pieces occupying multiple squares on the grid denote large creatures. Tall, cylindrical bricks become trees, or can be used to denote flying creatures.

For actual opponents we use pocket-change. There's nothing that sends a jolt through your players hearts quite like reaching for the penny jar and grabbing a fistfull! *GRIN*

Cheers,
Vurt

 

[Voadam]

Things I've used:

Ripped up pieces of paper. Sometimes with a mark on them like "O" for ogre.

Dice, with the numbers going down as they are wounded and killed.

Lego men.

Stratego pieces.

dragon scale counters, sjgames cardboard heroes, ida printable counters, bastion free counters for their minions product. I like the ida ones, once printed, folded, and taped they were remarkably sturdy and workable. I prefer the stand up ones to the lie flat counters.

I had a DM once who used potato wedges to represent giant slugs. Then an astral marauder (or whatever that thing was on the 1e Manual of planes cover) swooped in and ate some of them (with appropriate DM scoop and eat motions taking them off the field) and we ended up fighting it for our lives as well.

 

[francisca]

dragon scale counters

Wish I would have bought more of those......

I like their dragon mats as well. Bought two sets of them.

 

[Scotley]

Beer bottle tops, of course you have to save the really big fights for later in the session.

 

[Imperialus]

one thing I've found works quite well for mooks is bingo chips. I bought like 500 assorted colours for like 4 bucks at Walmart and love them. When I have a BBEG that I have a real mini painted up for I use them as a quick way of rembering spell effects and the like. For example Tharag the destroyer has a yellow chip and a green one beside him, well that means he's hasted and mage armoured.

Of course my FLGS has me spoiled by haveing an enormous collection of lead and pewter minis stretching back into the 80's from just about every manufacturer imagineable. I also quite enjoy painting and converting my own minis (the only thing I ever actually liked about Warhammer) so I try to do that as much as possible.