Why Miniatures are Randomized

[catsclaw227]

I prefer plastic, painted minis over metal, unpainted minis because I just don't have the time to paint anymore. As someone else stated, I would rather work on my campaign with that free time.

I used to have 1000's of minis, I sold them all on ebay to help pay for my wedding (more important) and now I use counter collection tokens that I glue on the back of wooden disks. Much nicer, easy to make, easily customized, and VERY cheap.

If I could get non-random mini's in sets designed for printed modules (like a complete Savage Tide set -- wishful thinking) I would buy it in a second.

 

[IanB]

...but I find it odd that I have never, EVER seen a game where people actually have even a majority of their figurines represent what they actually are. And I'm not talking about weird, freaky figurines like Bone Claws from the MM3 or Grells. I'm talking about skeletons or orcs or kobolds or goblins or any of that stuff.

I run 2 games and play in 3 others. All of them use DDM heavily, and all of them have the vast majority (I would say 90% or more) of the minis represented by what they actually are.

 

[IceFractal]

Nicely explained. IMO, minis are an item that's so much easier sold over the internet that I'm surprised they even have them in stores. Storage, shelf space, distribution - these are all significant issues that online distribution solves.

The high profitability of the random pack is just about the only way minis can be sold in stores at anything resembling low prices. And if that many people want to collect armies, that is the reason they don't have army packs - it would cut into the random packs that fuel the system.

It's like mass produced vs hand crafted. Sure, hand crafted is nice, and maybe you get it where you can - but when you need more stuff at less price, you need mass produced.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

How hot do you heat the water?

I put it in the water boiler (one of those kits you use to make a quick cup of tea). You dip them in for a bout 10 seconds (you can see how it "shapechanges") and then put it in cold (some use icy) water. Works like a charm.

 

[Bagpuss]

Well then, for their convenience, here is a list of fourteen online retailers, all of whom sell individual D&D minis:
No bidding required!

Okay now produce a similar list for the UK or anywhere outside the US for that matter. It's hard enough finding a primary market let alone a secondary one.

 

[Echohawk]

Okay now produce a similar list for the UK or anywhere outside the US for that matter. It's hard enough finding a primary market let alone a secondary one.

I hear you. As far as I know, there isn't a gaming store on the same continent as me that sells minis, in either randomized packs or in any other form. I guess I've long since accepted the inevitability of having to order from US suppliers .

 

[Echohawk]

But having said that, these guys seem to be a UK based supplier of single figures. They don't seem to have a large amount of stock though.

 

[Echohawk]

Ooh. And two more here and here.

How am I doing Bagpuss?

 

[Bagpuss]

Very well thanks, although I don't think I'll be paying £1.50 for a common Bullywug!

 

[Echohawk]

You can get them for £1.00 here, although that still seems quite pricey.