What Is A Good D&D Mini Set To Start On?

[Olaf the Stout]

Ok, I'm possibly looking at getting by first taste of plasticrack. However I plan on only using the D&D minis for my D&D game. After having a look at some of the sets, I'm still not sure what booster sets would be the best ones to start with. I would like to get a good mix of PC type minis plus a few of the classic baddies like orcs, goblins, etc., The possibility of a large Dragon would be good but I'm not going to buy 20 boosters just to find one!

After having a look around, it looks like I have the choice of the following options:

Angelfire Booster (8 minis)
Blood War Booster (8 minis)
Deathknell Booster (8 minis)
Underdark Booster (8 minis)
War Drums Booster (8 minis)
War of the Dragon Queen (7 minis + 1 huge)
War Drums Starter (12 minis)
Revised D&D Basic Game (Blue Dragon edition)

So, what one(s) should I get?

Olaf the Stout

 

[Dykstrav]

I use minis strictly for the D&D game, not for the miniatures skirmish game. So just bear in mind that I'm speaking from that angle.

I'd recommend that you get an Abberations starter if you can (the minis are just cooler than War Drums in my opinion). If not, War Drums still has a few cool critters and some neat battle maps that you can base an adventure or two around.

Get some Underdark boosters. Seriously. Underdark has alot of cool D&D monsters such as the roper, the iron golem, and (drum roll for my favorite) the balor. Some of the minis also serve nicely as PCs. The slayer of Domiel is a good rogue piece and there's a battle plate marshal that's begging for someone in your group to play a dwarf.

Angelfire is probably my favorite overall set, but then again, I love outsiders. Chain devils, barbed devils, trumpet archons, archer skeletons, vargouilles, hezrous. A whole boatload of cools minis. I think there was something awesome that I could actually use in every booster I bought.

I'd pick up some War of the Dragon Queen while you can. I think it's the best one for PC types: the cloudreaver for a pirate-themed rogue or fighter, the dragonborn fighter to represent half-dragon characters, the bonded fire summoner, the storm archer, an epic-level Tordek, tavern bralwer, warden of the wood, and even a passable crossbow-wielding cleric. There are some good classic monsters there too, such as the purple worm, fire elementals, two small dragons and the large green dragon.

I've bought alot of minis and I've settled into a pattern which gioves me plenty to choose from.
1) I buy about a dozen or so boosters. Go to web sites where you can get them relatively cheap. I usually go through http://www.gameoutfitter.com. You can get a dozen boosters of War Drums, for example, for right around $100.
2) Tear into your buy and check off to see if you got what you wanted.
3) Trade off your spares or things you don't like with other players to get the pieces you do want.

This gives me close to every mini in a set (within 3 or 4 minis of completing a set) and several duplicates of stuff I want alot of, such as skeletons or kobolds for filling out those hordes we all love. If there's a piece I didn't get this way, I usually just buy the single on eBay.

I've only had to buy four singles on eBay since 2003, BTW.

 

[Nightfall]

Well I can honestly say this: Don't get War Drums. I hated that set. My bets, Deathknell, Blood War, Unhallowed, War of the Dragonqueen and probably...Angelfire. Yeah Angelfire.

 

[blargney the second]

If you want D&D Minis for roleplaying purposes, here's my advice: do it for the long haul.

If you want specific figures, the randomness is horrifically unsatisfying. However, if you're willing to buy a number of boosters from each set, you'll end up with a wide variety of minis. I recommend starting with sets as old as you can go - once they're gone, they're gone for good and the price goes UP.

Once you've got a decent collection, I've found there are two ways to use the pieces for RPG purposes:
1) If they're the minis you really wanted, just use them as is.
2) Use them as inspiration to do things that you wouldn't have otherwise done.

An example of the second is the dragonspawn in War of the Dragon Queen. There were some very vocal complainers about the dragonspawn, but if you're willing to just run with the concept there is some seriously cool story potential.
-blarg

 

[Ghendar]

I'm not sure I would recommend Deathknell. It's got some cool monster rares (Large Blue Dragon, Beholder) but the common/uncommon selection is sub-par.

Angelfire is a good skirmish set but its high number of good aligned outsiders makes it (in my opinion) one of the weaker RPG sets. Plus, if your campaigns don't feature evil outsiders then those will be useless for you.

Given those choices I would go with Underdark or Blood War.

 

[diaglo]

So, what one(s) should I get?

avoid the plasticrack.

buy the lead Grenadier sets. Dwarves, Halflings, Females, Magic Users, etc...

 

[dogoftheunderworld]

Another option is buying singles from ebay or some online stores (see below). Buying singles lets you get exactly what you want, and if you buy enough at one time, shipping isn't bad. Over-all yuo can get all the singles you want for about the same price as buying a whole case. (With a case, you end up with more minis for your dollar, but not necessarily what you wanted.)

Auggies

Icon

(There are lots more...)

Another possiblity, if you want the joy of opening boosters, is to trade for what you want.
Again, locally or on the net (Hordelings)

Either way, start with the oldest set still on the shelves, before they're gone

 

[jodyjohnson]

Given your goals I'd do the Revised Basic Set (for characters, Dragon and a couple core monsters) and then buy singles of whatever commons and uncommons you can get (Auggies, GameRocket, etc.). Maybe get a couple cheap rares - however the ones you are most likely to want are the same ones everyone else wants so they are harder to come by.

Unless you buy in bulk which averages out the randomness (1+ cases at a time) the random nature is going to bite you in the rear when you want specific figures.


I buy by the cases but my goal isn't to get specific figures so much as to get a wider and deeper miniature collection.

 

[Mark CMG]

However I plan on only using the D&D minis for my D&D game.

(. . .)

So, what one(s) should I get?

What level is your game? Do you use all creatures available in the Monster Manual?

Make your decision based on what is in a set that you can use in your game right away.

 

[Zaukrie]

Auggies, Auggies, Auggies.

Follow that link above and buy singles that you want.

This advice comes from someone that buys cases and has some 1500 of the plasticcrack. Auggies has great selection, great prices, delivers fast....I can't recommend his store enough. You should be able to buy plenty of the commons and uncommons for a great price. Also, check Horedelings and maxminis for collectors that are selling off parts of their collection, you can usually find some nuggets.

If you want to buy the random packs, and have money, I suggest your FLGS as a way to support them. If you are only buying a few packs, saving $3-4 per pack by buying on line isn't that big a deal. I'd buy the oldest packs you can find. Also check half price books (if you live near one) as they occassionally have old basic sets or boosters. Join Borders Rewards. They'll send you a coupon 2-3 times per month for 20-40% off any one item, and they sell boosters.

Edit: Heck, I'd be happy to sell you a bunch of commons/uncommons from the last few sets. If you are interested, let me know, and I'll make up a list of monsters/pcs/....that I have lots of extras of that I can let go for a cheap price (not to mention a few rares for a fair price).