Jack99
Adventurer
You obviously have no idea how bad I am at painting
Argh. I didn't know that was possible. I guess it might be another solution, although I doubt it.
That's it; I am done buying minis'!
- Thread starter Jack99
- Start date
Argh. I didn't know that was possible. I guess it might be another solution, although I doubt it.
Glyfair
Explorer
Clearly this isn't the case. If so the OP is clueless since you can easily get them online for far cheaper. He paid $550 to get 4 cases worth of miniatures. He's disappointed that he only got 1 dragonborn in the 4 cases.
The huge sets do get a lot more complaints than regular sets. The cost of the boosters due to the huge miniatures, smaller cases and a reduced number of "regular" miniatures lead to it being a lot harder to get certain miniatures. Last huge set the complaints were about the stirge.
One thing that's overlooked is that plastic miniatures have huge start up costs compared to metal. They are only affordable when produced in large quantities. The random model does help this.
There are a lot of side benefits to random packaging, even to the consumer. It's just lack of choice at the retail level is the cost of all of the benefits. The benefits are mostly to the distribution change, but they all trickle down to the customer. I won't go over the many benefits that have been covered over and over.
I understand that random miniatures aren't for many people. To them I say buy from your other options, or buy D&D miniatures from resellers individually. If you buy singles, stay away from those you consider overpriced due to the rarity scheme (or get similar miniatures from choices). The alternatives might not be perfect (such as the tails on some alternate dragonborn), but I find such differences to be minor.
As to the dragonborn miniatures, I recommend the "whelps" from the Mage Knight draconum faction. They tend to be commons, and MK figures tend to be very cheap (although I admit, draconum tend to be the more expensive factions). You can find a lot of them for $1 each in eBay stores (need a dragonborn wizard? How about dragonborn monk? dragonborn wizard or here?
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Fifth Element
Legend
When you're dealing with randomized minis, the secondary market is an extremely valuable resource. Extremely.
And? As I said before, I come from wargaming where I make what I need if no one has it. Half the fun.
I see why folks have prepainted for those with no skill or time, but myself I want what I can visualize, even if its not made.
Fifth Element
Legend
"I prefer painting my own metal minis, though I can see why some people prefer the prepainted plastic minis" is not, in fact, the same as "Random pre-painted just really sucks ass."
One is perfectly reasonable, the other is inflammatory.
I don't believe you!
The ability to paint is not something you're born with. It's just a skill you learn. And compared to most things, it's extremely easy! I used to think that I couldn't paint, but I was wrong. If I can do it, you probably can too.
A few easy steps:
1. Wash your mini in warm, slightly soapy water. Dry it and let it sit overnight.
2. Spraypaint your mini with a good indoor/outdoor brand (I use Krylon, but I don't know what they have in Denmark). The color should be as flat as possible (like "ultraflat black") and should either be black (if the mini is largely going to be painted as metallic, or is meant to look "realistic") or white (if you want non-metallic colors to stand out and be noticed). Let it dry thoroughly (overnight, or a few hours anyway). If you spraypainted the mini white, take some regular flat black paint (see note to 3, below) and paint any metallic areas black.
3. Paint each area the basic color it is supposed to be. Start with the "inner areas" first and work outward (like skin first, then clothes/armor, then outgarments and gear such as cloaks and weapons). Let dry thoroughly. You may need multiple coats. Don't glob the paint on... spread small amounts of paint evenly on the areas.
Note to 3: Use decent paints! "Testors" ain't gonna cut it. Use Vallejo or Citadel.
4. Take a brush that you don't mind destroying and get ready to "drybrush". Don't put water on this brush. Pick a non-metallic area of the mini to drybrush. This is going to bring out the details of the area. First, mix the color for this area with white. You can pick the ratio... 2:1 color:white works fine. Stir it together. Now dip your dry brush lightly into the paint. Now, brush most of that paint off onto a napkin. When there is so little left that you can barely see it, brush back and forth over the selected area. The lighter color will get onto the raised areas and bring out the details. Repeat this process on the various non-metallic areas. If you want to do this treatment with metallic areas, just buy a lighter shade of the metal color and drybrush that on (example: drybrushing Citadel Mithril over Citadel Chainmail).
Alternate Technique to 4: If you want a metallic area to look grungy, don't paint the base color over the black. Instead, drybrush the main color straight onto the black. This is perfect for armor like chain where you want to show off its depth.
5. Make sure you have painted all the details you want to. You can also paint the base a ground color and then glue rocks, grass, etc. to it. Most hobby stores will have fake grass ("static grass" and "flock" are two types) and pre-mixed gravel in various colors. You don't need superglue for this, just plain white glue that dries clear.
6. When your mini looks the way YOU want it to look (you're painting for yourself), you can spray coat it with something like Testors Dull Cote (or you can use a different finish if you want a different effect) to protect it from finger oils, etc.
Voila. You now have a mini that looks 100 times better than anything WOTC makes. These are just basic instructions and you can improve your technique as time goes on, if you care to do so.
Fifth Element
Legend
And, just as if not more importantly, if you have the time to do so. That's the big issue for many people - not lack of skill, but lack of time.
Sorry I hurt your feelings, but the fact of the matter pre-painted paint jobs do suck. Their on par at times with 10 year olds paint them.
I see why people use them, but it doesnt make the paint job any less crappy.
You can also, if your brave enough, "dip" your mini in minwax to give it a quick coat after step four instead of step 6. It does the same thing and gievs it depth.
http://www.dysartes.com/model/painting/Dipping1.php
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