WHY!! why do they toss my miniatures around?

[mearls]

Do you gloss coat your minis? It adds a protective layer to make them more idiot-proof, and I think it a must if you intend to game with them in any way.

Yup, this is definitely the way to go. A nice coat of sealing spray should protect miniatures from just about any damage short of physical breakage of the figure. In my BattleTech playing days, I never had any problems with figures losing paint, and this when we'd play dozens of games with minis while eating buttered popcorn, Cheetos, and other snacks designed to leave processed food fingerprints on miniatures.

- Mearls

 

[CWD]

You know, I've come to the conclusion that mini's just get dinged around no matter how hard you try to avoid it.

After reaching that epiphany, I started buying Mage Knight figures for my monsters and NPCs. If the player's want painted metal figs they can do it themselves...

 

[Droogie]

Lego men seem to work... then you just have to deal with the players constantly wanting to accessorize... (or is that just my players....)

Yep, we used a shoebox-full of lego minis. Our childhood toys found new life when we started role-playing.

Building your lego mini with just the right color scheme and accessories became waaaaay too fun....gradually we realized that we, a bunch of late twenty-somethings, were using D&D as an excuse to play with lego.


long live the the lego face!! ----><-----

 

[Droogie]

I would just start replacing 'their' miniatures with formless lumps of play doh. Worst offenders first. When they are killed or knocked out in combat take the playdoh and smoosh it onto thier character sheet.

Repeat as necessary (better if you don't even explain why you are doing this )

This is the best idea I've ever read.

 

[Raphid_Darkshade]

ARRRGH!!!

My players destroy the crap out of my books, my PHB is like the group whore they pass it around and take turns spilling soda on it.

They are evil!!!

I have owned my DMG and my PHB for the same amount of time, while my PHB has multiple spills on it torn pages and a broken binding, my DMG which only I use is in nearly flawless condition!

They are evil.

Still, they are my friends.

 

[Voneth]

After reaching that epiphany, I started buying Mage Knight figures for my monsters and NPCs. If the player's want painted metal figs they can do it themselves...

Yep! One has three options with MK figs. You can shave them of thier funky bases and then glue them on a regular base, mark up a mat where 1 inch squares = 2.5 feet, or you can be real lazy and just match up the front arc of the funky base to the front facing for the square.

 

[Kichwas]

Re: ARRRGH!!!

My players destroy the crap out of my books, my PHB is like the group whore they pass it around and take turns spilling soda on it.

My players and gaming friends always learn very quickly not to touch my books.

I got into comic book collecting in high school back in the 80's and ever since I keep any printed material I own in mint condition and I watch anyone who touches anything printed of mine like they were handling the family jewels without permission...

After enough looks they've learned to bring their own resources.

Unfortunately I've yet to get it across as well with the minis.


As for a glossy coat. I spray a matte coat on but it's not as strong as gloss. The gloss gets in the way of the artwork so that's not an option for me.

 

[Gizzard]

I glosscote the finished mini and then dullcote it. That way it remains pretty durable while not looking shiny and toylike.

My mini's great foe is a set of dice which are as big as ping-pong balls, but made of solid plastic. They seem magnetically attracted to the minis, crashing through them like a bowling ball through a set of pins. Eeeek!

 

[Bran Blackbyrd]

My players and I have an understanding about my gaming books. They are not to touch them for any reason. If they absolutely have to look at one, I might give them permission to. But I make it well known that if, when I get it back, I even imagine that it has been damaged in even the most microscopic way, they will have to buy the book from me at the price it will cost me to buy a current printing. They decide for themselves if that's a risk they want to take.

I'd do the same with minis. If they want to use them then they must understand that if one comes back to you damaged, they must give you enough money to buy a new copy of that mini and pay for a professional to paint it.
Then they get to keep the damaged one (at your discretion). Same with minis that have been discontinued. E-Bay can be a harsh mistress. MUHAHAHAHA!!!

 

[Tom Cashel]

My DM (who posts here often) recent threw a player out of the game forever for slamming down a minature! He's very protective of them.

(Well, she also threw temper tantrums when her character failed at something... but the miniature slamming was the straw that broke the camel's back...)

I'm the DM in question, and that's true...

Our group has adopted the chiding phrase, "They're miniatures, not action figures," whenever players think they need to "act out" their character's action using a mini.

Tease them about losing x.p., and keep repeating that phrase: "They're not action figures!" They'll get the hint.

Eventually.

Dingleberry: (eeewwww...) You're not the only one. I have btwn. 400-500 unpainted minis. If I started, I'd have to paint them all. No way.