Mini's for large groups.

[Lord Zardoz]

I kind of like the D&D mini's, since they can give me some very useful props for monsters. However, I do have one problem with the random distribution. If I want to run a fight with more then 1 of a particular monster, it is very difficult to get a decent quantity of them at a reasonable cost.

I want to run fights with say, 20 Orcs (or Hobgoblins, Or Kobolds, or Zombies, or whatever). If I could do so, I would pay a reasonable price to get 10 each of Orcs, Goblins, Hobgoblins, Skeletons, Zombies, Kobolds, and Baaz Draconians (or Lizardmen). Ideally they would look mostly the same but have some means to distinguish each, like numbers. Minions can look alike, but if it takes more then one shot to die, I would like to track the hp reliably.

So assuming I am not inclined to hit E-bay and buy individuals in the quantities needed and number them myself, what is my best option short of sitting down the D&D Mini's brand manager and breaking his toes one by one until he agrees to my well thought out and reasonable idea?

END COMMUNICATION

 

[pawsplay]

Are you familiar with Reaper Miniatures pre-painted line? All the orcs you can eat.

 

[JustKim]

Commons from DDM are going to be less expensive than Reaper's Legendary Encounters. Any of the fairly recent sets have commons that go for less than $1. If you've considered these and decided ~$15 for 20 miniatures is not a reasonable cost, I think you're out of luck.

For metals, Mega Minis used to be all about big assortments of metal miniatures for cheap. It looks like they operate out of Ebay now, poking around it seems you can still get assortments, but 20 orcs are $25. So it's almost twice as expensive, but each orc is also a different sculpt. I've never bought from the company so I can't attest to the quality.

20 Legendary Encounters orcs will run you about $40 for three varieties of prepainted plastic. Orcs, goblins and skeletons are about the only things that're available in those numbers.

I think miniatures that arrive with numbers already on them would be a pretty small niche. You're going to have to label them yourself, but tape and pencils are readily available.

 

[Vorput]

You've probably already thought of this- but counters are always an option too.

Simple and easy to label, but lacking in aesthetics.

 

[Chris Knapp]

A few Ebay sellers sell customized lots of a particular creature type: Orcs, Kobolds, Undead, etc.

 

[frankthedm]

Counters are a ok idea. Stop by this thread if you like video game flavor....


http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/5971/pathfound2.png
img34.imageshack.us/img34/5971/pathfound2.png

Otherwise Claudio Pozas makes some nice high quality counters for fiery dragon.

... take a look at the Tarrasque counter... http://www.fierydragon.com/img/tarrasque.jpg

They also hooked gamers up with some free counter sheets for a certain 4E module...
http://www.fierydragon.com/downloads/castle_shadow.pdf
fierydragon.com/downloads/castle_shadow.pdf
http://www.fierydragon.com/downloads/castle_shadow_bonus.pdf
fierydragon.com/downloads/castle_shadow_bonus.pdf


Buying DDM singles can be done cheaply, but you MUST be a savvy shopper and watch out for shipping gougers. You must seek flat rate and free shippers, but beware of those who offer those, but charge too much for the minis themselves

Also, if you can rebase figures, that means you'll be able to use heroclix/horrorclix for miinis, and those lines have some decent figs

And orcs are kinda hard to fiind. Starwars has 2 gamorreans with axes that make fine stand ins.

Auggies Games Home Page Good store
ddgamezone.com good store
eBay Store: Search results for Star Wars Miniatures. still has free shipping

 

[unan oranis]

With a large enough collection you could run things a different way; have the minis you DO own represent the actual demographics of your world.

I like legions of orcs as much as the next guy, but you might find it refreshing to have a planet peopled very differently than the atypical campaign and you'll get to deploy your minis smoothly to boot.

 

[Oryan77]

I just put up my new RPG online store last week and I have a category on it where I will be selling theme sets like this. Right now I only have a Male Human miniature theme but I will hopefully have other themes up soon. You can check out my store at RPG Locker .

If you are in a hurry, I could maybe throw some themes together just for you. Or you can use the search button on my site to search for specific names like Orc, goblin, ect ect.

Keep in mind though, everyone wants ocs, goblins, kobolds, undead, and all of those typical creatures. So they are hard to keep in stock, the cheaper ones usually sell out fast. You can probably get a few of the cheaper ones from one source, but you probably won't get enough of them unless you are patient and buy from different sources. But then you need to figure in shipping from each source. So sometimes it's cheaper to buy what cheap figures you can from one source and fill in the holes with some of the older minis that cost a bit more from that same source (get combined shipping).

 

[Holy Bovine]

A current advertiser on this very site, Dungeons & Dragons, Reaper Miniature, Rackham Confrontation, Chessex Dice , sells DDM for low prices and free shipping on orders over $75. Otherwise shipping is whatever USPS charges. I have had numerous transactions with them over the last year and they are really great. Ask for Steve!

 

[NewJeffCT]

Since you don't want to go on eBay, a lot of the bigger sellers on eBay also have their own websites and actual brick & mortar stores that you can contact directly - Troll & Toad, Noble Knight, etc - instead of going through eBay.