Minis

[DogBackward]

Alright, most people (that I've talked to) agree that things are going to be much more mini-centric, especially if Saga is any indication. Which is fine, actually, in my opinion. Minis make battle go much smoother, in my experience, and make things much easier to keep track of. That's not the problem.

The problem is that if you want to play the game with minis, you either have to spend way too much cash on do-it-yourself pewter and plastic minis and paint, or grab a D&D Minis booster and just pray that the minis you're after are in there. Which they won't be.

So, if anybody out there's paying attention, could I ask just one favor? Provide non-randomized minis packs for those of us who want them for D&D. If you're worried about people cherry-picking the perfect warbands for a Minis game, just don't provide the stat-cards, only give the minis themselves. I'd love to get some minis, but I haven't bought a single pack because of this. I just don't want to have to buy 20+ boosters just to find the 4 goblins I need for tonight's adventure.

Really, it's good business. I know I'm not the only one that would buy minis for my games if I could buy a Goblin Raiders or Monstrous Spiders pack instead of a Random Monsters I Don't Need pack.

Just a thought...

 

[crazy_cat]

*snip*
Just a thought...

Have you tried eBay or any of the other numerous online stores (or bricks and mortar FLGSs) that sell single DDMs to order in a non randomised way?

Just a thought....

 

[pawsplay]

You can also use flats, cardboard figures, tiles, dice, cut out squares of cardboard, cheap plastic figures from the dollar store, monopoly pieces, or M&Ms.

 

[Kunimatyu]

Check out these, they're what you want:

http://reapermini.com/LegendaryEncountersPre-paintedPlastics

 

[frankthedm]

And keep your eyes open at garage sales!

Take a look at my mini's tread for scratchbuilt mini ideas.

http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=125969&page=1

 

[Amphimir Míriel]

You can also use flats, cardboard figures, tiles, dice, cut out squares of cardboard, cheap plastic figures from the dollar store, monopoly pieces, or M&Ms.

Indeed, in my group we use the player tokens from the Master Labyrinth game (30mm tall wooden icons) for the PC figures and different colored-and-sized glass beads for enemies.

We are also looking into "crafting" our own minis, as detailed in this page: http://cerise.theirisnetwork.org/?p=17

 

[Cadfan]

A player character miniature from Reaper will run you about $5 for an expensive figure.

An expensive player character miniature imported from Europe is unlikely to run you more than $10. Art house pieces from popular miniature sculpter's personal lines will run a max of $15.

Monsters = skittles. Less likely to stain things if they get squashed.

 

[Jefe Bergenstein]

Alright, most people (that I've talked to) agree that things are going to be much more mini-centric, especially if Saga is any indication. Which is fine, actually, in my opinion. Minis make battle go much smoother, in my experience, and make things much easier to keep track of. That's not the problem.

The problem is that if you want to play the game with minis, you either have to spend way too much cash on do-it-yourself pewter and plastic minis and paint, or grab a D&D Minis booster and just pray that the minis you're after are in there. Which they won't be.

So, if anybody out there's paying attention, could I ask just one favor? Provide non-randomized minis packs for those of us who want them for D&D. If you're worried about people cherry-picking the perfect warbands for a Minis game, just don't provide the stat-cards, only give the minis themselves. I'd love to get some minis, but I haven't bought a single pack because of this. I just don't want to have to buy 20+ boosters just to find the 4 goblins I need for tonight's adventure.

Buying packs, particularly at retail is a sucker's bet. I use Auggies for my singles. He's fast and reliable, and considerably cheaper than anything WOTC could hope to package and market.

http://stores.ebay.com/Auggies-Games-n-Movies

You can pick up reaper's legendary encounters packs, pre-painted plastic if you think ebay steals your memory through your fillings and are fresh out of tin foil.

Really, it's good business. I know I'm not the only one that would buy minis for my games if I could buy a Goblin Raiders or Monstrous Spiders pack instead of a Random Monsters I Don't Need pack.

Just a thought...

They've supposedly done the market research, and its come up bad business each time. Too many different SKU's for what they want to deal with among other things.

 

[grimslade]

Monsters = skittles. Less likely to stain things if they get squashed.

Also, there is ability to feast upon the slain!
Candy for monsters, minis for PCs

 

[Clefton Twain]

We've used all sorts of things for minis--Warhammer 40K harlequins, old Blood Bowl dark elves, and Homies. I have amassed quite a collection of D&D minis and, yeah, would prefer that they be sold in a different way for those of us who use them for our D&D games, not for the minis game (which I've only played once and did not much care for).

I bought a few singles at GenCon which were nice finds.

--CT