Toys for use as minis

[Richards]

I've used a Godzilla toy as a fiendish tyrannosaurus. As a bonus, the figure has its mouth open, and a standard D&D PC miniature fits perfectly in there for his bite attacks....

The HeroQuest game has all of the goblins, orcs, skeletons, mummies and zombies I'll ever need. (It also has a lich, 2 platemail-clad warriors, a gargoyle, several "fimirs" - useful as lizardfolk - a human barbarian, a dwarf, an elf, and a human wizard, most of which have also seen use in my home campaign.) Plus, I use the stand-up door props (open and closed) for my D&D campaigns.

Johnathan

 

[Zaukrie]

Remember, all Hasbro products have gone on sale buy 1 get one free in the spring/summer at TRUS in the US for the last few years.

So, wait for the sale, and buy hersoscape at that point.

I use those, legos, plastic dinos and animals, megablocks and more.

 

[sniffles]

We once used a carebear from one of those kiddie "paint your own carebear" sets as a dire bear during an encounter.. I can't find the picture anymore, but maybe sniffles will manage to see this thread and dig it up..

/ali

I would, but for some reason IE won't let me post pictures.

Jubilee's hubby has also used aquarium decor as props, similar to what Replicant2 mentions. They found some Egyptian-themed items that were great for when our party went to Mulhorand in FR.

They also found a playset by some unknown toy manufacturer that had hollow plastic walls with Egyptian designs on them and came with some Egyptian-style plastic statues. The scale was just right for some monumental pyramid-builder architecture, and the GM used the walls as his GM screen during those sessions.

I found some little plastic people at Archie McPhee's, which has a website but I think you can only get the plastic figurines at their physical store in Seattle. I bought a bunch of generic people that came in handy as set dressing for our superhero games - there are even cops and little old ladies with canes.
http://www.mcphee.com/

We've also used Hot Wheels and other toy cars for superhero and modern-setting games. The scale is just a bit small for minis, but close enough that they look good on the mat.

Back when we were playing a Star Trek campaign we bought a ton of Micromachines spaceships from their Star Trek and Babylon 5 lines. We also had toy phasers and tricorders, enough for every player to have one.

 

[smootrk]

While Christmas shopping this past season, I saw some very good army miniatures that would work very well. However, I did not tarry long enough to learn manufacturer or other info - but it was found in Target, so it is likely a decent size company.

 

[Jubilee]

I got some toy animals (sorta) from Big Lot's this year for my hubby's stocking this year, with the thought that they'd make fun and unique monsters to use in D&D.. I can't say what they are, or it'll ruin the surprise for sniffles.. Although, I have no idea when he'll manage to fit 'em in..

/ali

 

[Pbartender]

A while back I picked up a half dozen sets of plastic chessmen at the dollar store. I often use them as counters in my D&D games.

"The black pawns are goblins, the black knights are worgs, the black rooks are orcs, and the bishop is what appears to be an evil wizard. Any white pieces are villagers of all sorts."

I especially like the fact that I've got something like 96 pawns in two different colors... Makes it easy to stage big battles with hordes of mooks.


We also often use my son's plastic dinos, animals and bugs as appropriate. He's got one big rubber octopus that makes a great kraken.

 

[Vanye]

Megablox Dragons sets (an earlier posterer aluded to them, with the Lego or similar company comment).

They also make Pyrates and the Pirates of the Carribean sets....

 

[Treebore]

Between Heroscape, Fiery Dragons counters, McFarlane Dragons and figures (there is one old one I use as a "young" Terrasque), cheap plastic stuff in the toy section, and the metal Reaper miniatures I do buy, I have pretty good sets of miniatures that get the job done.

I had been thinking about buying aquarium stuff, especially now that one of my kids got a 55 Gallon set up for Christmas. I'll have to look those over again.

 

[Scylla]

Quite true, Gygax said that several times in his Q&A here.

Does anyone happen to have a photo?

I've got a photo of mine over at my blog:
Jabberwock's Rest

Sorry for the poor quality pic!

 

[Desdichado]

I've used Megablocks Dragons, MacFarlane toys and a handful of others. I just buy them at places like Target or ToysRUs.