Need help finding minis for unusual characters!

[GILGAMESH]

In this hobby, especially mini-centric d20, it pays to know miniatures. It's a lot of fun to collect minis and learn how to paint and convert them.

In 3e there are so many possible class/race/equipment combos, most minis will never precisely match your conception of your character. It's handy to have the ability to use file, pins, x-acto, epoxy putty and superglue to transform that off-the-shelf Reaper Dwarf Warrior into a spectacular Dwarf Sorceror/Monk with a shaved head, a cloak of displacement and dual magic gauntlets.

I can recommend a ton of websites with tutorials if you are interested.

That exactly what I've always done. I got into model converting back in my Warhammer- Rogue trader days. Once you get in the habit of making your minis exactly the way they are writen up, you'll never stop. All of my DnD characters have been modeled. Even when they advance or change weapons, I'll remodel the figure. Rogue Trader was excellent for making a poor modeler into a pro.

 

[Zappo]

I, too, have converted a few minis while playing Warhammer 40k. Friggin' game rules require all equipment to be represented on the mini, so it's either convert or become poor to buy those incredibly costly special weapons (or ignore the rule, but hey I can't deny it makes the game easier).

I've made a very cool space marine with his right foot over a bloodied chaos marine's head, plasma gun in his arms, head looking at the sky. Getting the right leg right (heh) has been a tough bit of cutting, pasting and puttying (the original leg was straight...), but it was worth it.

 

[Zaruthustran]

bandwagon

I'll chime in with my own plea for help, this time in finding an elf spearman that doesn't have one of those silly conical hats.

Here's my guy: strong Wood Elf ranger with longspear, spiked gauntlets, and spiked chain shirt. Stealthy, so if you've got a fig in mind who's sneaking that'd work too. He occassionally uses a large wood shield and a short sword.

Any ideas? Links? So far, all I've seen are Games Workshop conehead elves...

-z

PS: doesn't have to be an elf per se. If the fig's got long hair or a hood, who can tell the race?

 

[Thorntangle]

Here's a start - lots of tutorials and inspiration:

http://www.paintingclinic.com/
http://hem.spray.se/kendoka/samurai/supplier/guide3.htm
http://www.owlnet.rice.edu/~mjcasav/wp/Minis/index.htm
http://www.miniaturespace.net/
http://members.aol.com/drdresch/start.htm
http://games.necrosys.com/
http://www.coolminiornot.com/
http://www.wegotgame.net/jen/main.html
http://www.bvdijk.com/archive/index.php
http://home.pacbell.net/lnlcoolj/Hot_Lead/
http://www.littlebrush.com/
http://www.minitaly.com/paolo/index_e.shtml
http://www.charger.se/prs/
http://www.agisn.de/
http://paintman101.tripod.com/creativefigurines/
http://minipainter.netfirms.com/
http://www.scowling.net/figs.html
http://www.slappingpaint.net/
http://www.steve-dean.co.uk/
http://www.angelfire.com/games2/cautionwetpaint/
http://members.shaw.ca/jarrettl/
http://www.dragonforge.com/
http://www.thewarp.net/war/nocturne/
http://www.goldendemon.homestead.com/index.html

And don't forget to join the mini-painter Yahoo group:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mini-painter/

 

[Wicht]

White Dwarf magazine, although very GW oriented, generally has nifty articles, with pictures on painting and converting minis. If you can find them, you might check out some of those ForceUser.