AD&D 2nd Edition Hold Out

Pre-Painted Arkham Horror Minis

2012-01-21T14:08:00.002-05:00

My life just got a little more expensive:

Pre-Painted Arkham Horror Minis

Complete Set of the First Wave of Monsters

Complete Monstrous Manual Online

2012-01-17T08:30:00.001-05:00

OK, this is useful, but who knows how long it will stay online.

Complete Monstrous Manual Online

Mold Making and Casting

2012-01-11T15:22:00.006-05:00

I have decided I'm going to try my hand (when I get home) at making some clear resin casts of various walls (ice, fire, force) and clouds (stinking, smoke, vapor).

Here's some of the preliminary research:

Resin Casting techniques: EZ Clear Resin

How to make a two-part mold

Mold Making: 2 piece mold

Mold Making and Resin Casting Your Own Sculpted Miniatures - Part 1

Casting Custom Scenery For a Model Railroad

Fifth Edition?

2012-01-09T14:21:00.001-05:00

New York Times Article about a new edition of D&D with "gamer input".

I'll believe it when I see it.

Hasbro killed this hobby.

The D&D Room

2012-01-09T11:42:00.001-05:00

My D&D room will never be as splendid as this one, but I can dream (and be envious)!

The Burntwire Brothers.

D&D Historical Reference and Resource

2012-01-08T05:26:00.002-05:00

Tome of Treasures is truly a treasure trove of information about collectible gaming and the history of Dungeons & Dragons.

Dungeons and Digressions

2012-01-07T23:07:00.001-05:00

Another great D&D blog I've stumbled upon is Dungeons and Digressions.

Check it out, you'll be glad you did.

Jeff's Game Blog

2012-01-06T20:45:00.002-05:00

Jeff's Game Blog is pretty awesome. You should check it out if you haven't already.

I'm still in Minot, ND for a family medical emergency, so it will be another couple of weeks before I can get to that New Year's resolution. Meantime, during the long periods of waiting that come with this particular situation, I'm passing time by using my Google Fu on all things mini related. It keeps my mind off the worrying.

DnD Lead

2012-01-06T14:07:00.005-05:00

DnD Lead is a web archive of a wide range of out of print miniatures, as well as some current lines. It is not intended to be as comprehensive as The Stuff of Legends but is very nicely laid out and has a ton of really high quality photos of many miniature lines from yesteryear.

They also have a pretty nice section on the history of fantasy miniatures. It is told in a "colorful" character voice, but there is a side bar with a more straightforward historical thumbnail and then each individual page for different mini companies has some historical background too.

For those who like archival material, they also have a section of links to PDFs of catalogs from several miniature companies.

Check them out, and tell them Shandar sent ye!

Reaper's Craft Corner

2012-01-02T11:19:00.002-05:00

Reaper Miniatures is such a great company. And their website really reflects that. Not only is the website a great place to buy their great stuff, it is also home to a great community forum for their customers.

They post their own spoilers, and by looking at the Greens link you can see what products are coming long before they appear in the catalog. There is a great wish list feature where you can window shop and keep a running tally of what your metal dreams will cost you when your lottery ticket pays out.

Perhaps best of all, they have a section of their website devoted to helping you learn how to paint, sculpt, build terrain--in essence, how to get the most out of the products you buy from them and therefore the hobby you are addicted to.

The Craft is a treasure trove of articles and tips and I really recommend you check it out: http://www.reapermini.com/TheCraft

New Year's Resolution

2012-01-02T11:01:00.002-05:00

Well, I may not be able to hold myself to it, but some of my New Year's Resolutions involved D&D.

I have resolved to clean and organize the Dungeon, and to have played a session down there before April Fool's Day. (Selection of the date was intentional, though partially because I'm in a play in February and have a conference to go to in March.)

We bought our house four years ago, and this has been a hope for me since a year before we moved. I can't believe it has been five years from the last session. Players probably don't even know where their character sheets are anymore and I may have to start from scratch, possibly with new players.

I will not, however, start over again with Doom of Daggerdale. Starting that module for the fifth time since 1993 and never finishing it ONCE means that even though it is a pretty cool adventure, I just need to move on.

Everytime the players get to that underground area and are faced with the choice of getting through the exploding tangle of vines or down the unobstructed staircase to the raging underground river and right out of the module, they always choose the latter and we never get back on track.

I think what I'll do is convert all those PCs into NPCs and start over with a small group of players and instead of planning for formal modules linked together into an ongoing campaign, we'll just do single shot side treks and maybe those will turn into a campaign organically.

Anyway, that's the plan.

I'll post pictures of the progress.

Also, I am got a great Christmas Present, three full boxes of minis from Reaper to examine and review here and that is going to mean fully reorganizing the minis closet, which will also provide a nice context to get back to my Monstrology Project of creating 2E monstrous compendium sheets for each creature in my beastiary.

I think I may have to move to having no more than 12 representative minis of each monster type on the shelf, though and putting the remaining ones in storage or a different room because the walk-in closet is rapidly running out of shelf space.

I'd also like to get my painting/sculpting/assembling station up and running, too.

All these D&D aspirations seem so possible when I'm spending a couple of weeks at my In-laws up in North Dakota. IRL often gets in the way, but siting here this morning, I'd love to be down in my own basement again.

Holy crap! Over a year since my last post.

2011-12-26T07:53:00.006-05:00

So little time and so many minis...

2010-11-06T10:02:00.002-05:00

Well, to those few people who follow this blog, many apologies for my lack of attention to it. And to my players, who have been stuck in that "we left the module" cave with the stone golem and the coffin for two years now.

I do hope to get back to playing and working 2E materials again soonly, but not making any promises--even to myself.

Nearly have the full Lords of Madess set now, and reasonably pleased with the minis, though I'm fairly certain we won't be getting any more.

Wizards just no longer seems interested in supporting the miniatures line in any way. They don't even mention them on the main website anymore and just recently announced they were giving up on HeroScape.

Sad days.

I'm posting pretty frequently on the DDM Spoilers site, but have honestly had zero time to work on the D&D room or miniatures lately. Bought a house two years ago, and that is a bigger time suck than gaming.

:)

Deep Rothe

2010-05-09T23:21:00.018-05:00

I have always wanted a herd of Deep Rothe ever since I started reading the Drizzt books so long ago. The current NWN2 computer game shows them as really big cattle, and it is true that they are described in the back of the 2E book Drow of the Underdark as being like musk oxen, but they are also listed as being 4' tall. A four foot tall musk ox would look pretty silly. (I'm also re-reading the Drizzt books, and when he is on the Isle of Roethe, Salvatore describes them as coming up to between the knee and the waist.)

In my mind, they were always a little more like big horn sheep, so when a search for miniature musk oxen in any scale turned up zip, I did a web search for 25mm Big Horn Sheep. The best I found are an accessory for the Aegyptian line of War Gods minis from Crocodile Games. I got the minis six months ago...ordered them while I was in North Dakota over Christmas. I got six of them, two of each type available.

This is the conversion process:

First, take the mini and remove all flashing.

The next step in the conversion process is to roll out some brown stuff in a very small quantity and then spread it out thin like a pancake. Once you have a nice piece, press it to the side of the mini like you're putting a coat on it.

I want to say again how useful the 1.5x reading glasses are when working with minis. I got amazing detail as I pressed the Xacto blade into the brownstuff to furhter adhere it and also to create the thick hair of the creature.
The hardest part about working with brown or green stuff is cultivating patience. You really need to work with small sections and not mess around with it until it is hard. That is about 24 hours. When it is hard, you can add the next little section and sculpt detail without screwing up the work you did earlier. It takes a lot of time. I am not very patient, but I'm learning. Also, be very careful, but it is important to wet your xacto blade frequently so that the brown stuff does not stick to the blade and pull away from the mini. I've seen people use a small sponge in water, KY jelly, and other lubricants, but I think spit is the best and if you are careful, licking the blade is pretty good--it is what I do.
To encourage patience, it is a good idea to work on several miniatures at once. That way while one mini is hardening you can be distracting yourself by working on another one.

Or two.

Or six.

Finally, the minis are done and ready for painting. Again, I go back to the Compendium sheet to re-read the description and then get to work with my Reaper paints. These don't need a lot of detailed painting, so it goes pretty quickly. I used Woodstain Brown for the fur and Dove Gray for the horns. Black for the hooves and I also painted the snout like a cow's instead of like a goat, to make it seem a little more like the bovine aspects of the musk ox. Then the whole thing gets a thin black wash.

Ashcrawler

2010-05-09T22:39:00.006-05:00

In my never ending quest to have all the monsters, I was working on the Excel Spreadsheet I've been compiling of every monster reference in my home gaming library so that I can quickly find which book any given monster is described in.

I was going through the Creature Catalogue (TSR) and noticed the Ash Crawler, and thought that the Massiff Star Wars Mini might work as a proxy for it.
The description says the Ash Crawler needs a tail, and this mini looks like it needs one too, so I whipped out the brown stuff and added the tail.

This is not much of a sculpting job, I realize, but that's exactly why you look for proxies that are very close to what you're after so you don't need to do a lot of detailed sculpting. Once I had the tail on and patiently waited for it to harden, I read the descriptions for the creature in the Creature Catalogue, and then looked at the 2E version in the Mystara Monstrous Compendium Annual.
I painted a base coat of Reaper Pro Paint Dove Gray and let that dry. Then I gave it a light wash with watered down Reaper Master Series Woodstain Brown. I painted the eyes red, because that was handy and it looked nice and I had extra after I painted the tongue. When it was all dry, I put black dots on the eyes, painted the hight lights with more of the Dove Gray and then added a few Stormy Gray shadows (Reaper Master Series).

Lastly, I touched up the base with Reaper Master Series Pure Black.
I like a glossy varnish on the minis, rather than dullcote or matte. I think because when we were painting minis back when I was a kid, we all used Testor's Enamal so even though I'm painting in acrylics now, I still don't think they look right without the shiny top coat. Everyone says I'm crazy, which I do not contest, but I have started photographing my minis before I put the sealer on them, just to avoid reflecting the flash and deflecting the negative comments from my pro friends at Reaper.

Spriggan

2010-05-09T22:30:00.003-05:00

The Spriggan is an interesting monster that is a bit like a dwarf, but has the growth capabilities of the Duergar.

Here is my repaint creating that creature...because, I need to have all the monsters.

See MC Compendium 5: Greyhawk Adventures for full stats and info.

Hellstinger Scorpion

2010-05-09T11:19:00.004-05:00

CLIMATE/TERRAIN: Native to Third and Fourth layers of the Nine Hells, where it is common, but can be found in desert ruins on Prime Material
FREQUENCY: Very Rare
ORGANIZATION: Solitary
ACTIVITY CYCLE: Any
DIET: Carnivore
INTELLIGENCE: Animal (1)
TREASURE: Nil or incidental in lair
ALIGNMENT: Neutral Evil
NO. APPEARING: 1-35 (1)
ARMOR CLASS: 6
MOVEMENT: 18
HIT DICE: 13
THAC0: 7
NO. OF ATTACKS: 3
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 2d6+4/2d6+4/1d8+4 (+fire damage from claw and venom)
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Hellish Sting, Fire Claw
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Immune to poison and heat/fire damage
MAGIC RESISTANCE: 15%
SIZE: L
MORALE: Steady (12)
XP VALUE: 8,000

Hellstinger scorpions are vicious predators that are native to the third and fourth layers of the Nine Hells, however at some point it is believed that an evil priest gated in hundreds of these creatures as part of an arcane ritual and the hellstingers flourished in Toril’s deserts, especially Anauroch. They look and behave very similarly to giant scorpions, but are immediately recognizable as extra-planar in origin by their searing heat radiating from their red-hot claws.

The hellstinger scorpion has a red carapace, legs and claws. The segmented tail is orange, with a vicious stinger on the end. There is a bitter smell associated with the scorpion, which probably comes from the venom. They make an unnerving scrabbling sound as they travel across rocky terrain.

Combat: The hellfire scorpion is 95% likely to attack any creature that approaches. Scorpions of any variety do not use visual or aural senses to detect prey. Instead they use the vibrations of the sand underneath them. Small sensors on their legs pick up and measure the strength of the vibrations, using the minute differences in the vibrations detected by each leg to locate the prey. Hence, the scorpion can detect your presence even if it isn’t looking at you or you are invisible. When it determines the location and distance of the prey, it calculates when the prey is within sufficient range to attack in a single rushed charge with pincers extended. It will remain motionless until this attack, and players must make a roll for surprise when it does. The scorpion can sense these vibrations up to a distance of 3 times that of its length. (Giant: 9’; Monstrous: 45’) Scorpions have the same limitations on attacking and moving that characters and NPCs do, in that they can not move more than 1/2 of their max movement in one round and still attack. Tunneling under a scorpion also does not protect from detection, unless the tunnel is so deep it is beyond the range of detectable vibration. Therefore, the scorpion is almost impossible to surprise by any attacker who travels on or below the ground.

An injured scorpion which is missing legs will suffer a 10% penalty on its detection roll for each leg that it is missing or crippled. If several adjacent legs are missing or damaged, the scorpion will not be able to detect motion in that quadrant.

The creature has a hellishly hard, chitinous carapace that gives it Armor Class –4. This monster attacks by grabbing prey with its two huge pincers, inflicting 2d6 points of damage each +4 points of heat damage, while it lashes forward with its tail to sting. Thus, it can fight three opponents at once. If a hellfire scorpion manages to grab a victim in a pincer, it will automatically inflict 2d6+4 points of damage each round until it releases the victim. If the sting is employed against an un-trapped victim, an attack roll is required for a successful attack, but a trapped character is automatically struck by any sting attack directed at him with no attack roll required. The victim has but one chance to escape. If he can make his bend bars/lift gates roll, he will escape the claw. However, this can be the character's only action that round and it can be tried only once per combat. If the victim escapes, however, it will automatically be stung without chance to miss by the reactive sting of the hellfire scorpion.

The sting inflicts 1d8 points of damage from the poison +4 points of heat damage and the victim must save versus poison or permanently lose one point of Strength. Neutralize Poison will stop the loss of strength and damage, and a point of Strength will be returned each time a full flask of Elixer of Health is imbibed.

Note that this scorpion type is immune to their own poison.

If a hellfire scorpion is reduced to 1 or 2 hit points, it will go into a stinging frenzy, stinging everything in sight, gaining two attempts to hit per round with only the tail. Slain creatures are dragged to the scorpion's burrow to be eaten.

Habitat/Society: Hellstinger scorpions live in underground burrows and ruins found in dry, arid climates. If found in a dungeon, or other subterranean location, the uncharacteristic dryness of the air created by the heat of the creature will be an early clue that something is amiss. Hence, they tend to favor climates where their natural ability to dehumidify does not alert potential prey to avoid them.

Each lair may (20%) have 5d4 scorpion eggs. These beasts eat any living creature that is unfortunate enough to stray too close to their lair. Any treasure found comes from the bodies of human or demi-human victims that have been dragged here to be consumed. Armor is rarely found intact, since the scorpion will surely have used its pincers to cut up its prey.

Ecology: These bizarre insects contribute little to any ecosystem. They themselves are seldom prey for other creatures and so where there is one, there are likely many.

Reek (adapted from Star Wars)

2010-05-08T23:04:00.002-05:00

CLIMATE/TERRAIN: Underdark
FREQUENCY: Uncommon
ORGANIZATION: Herd
ACTIVITY CYCLE: Any
DIET: Omnivore
INTELLIGENCE: Animal (2-4)
TREASURE: Nil
ALIGNMENT: Chaotic Neutral
NO. APPEARING: 1-6 (3)
ARMOR CLASS: 5
MOVEMENT: 12
HIT DICE: 10
THAC0: 11
NO. OF ATTACKS: 1
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1d10 (horn), 1d8 (bite), 1d6 (kick)
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Charge and trample
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Nil
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Nil
SIZE: H
MORALE: 8-10
XP VALUE: 1,400

These immense creatures of the Underdark are similar to the surface rhino, but larger and more aggressive. They are primarily herbivores, but plant life in the depths of the Underdark is not abundant. They have adapted, however, to eat whatever food is available and are known to eat meat when no other food is at hand. They like to find mud pools near subterranean water sources, and will wallow for hours. Their horns, though fierce, are not primarily weapons, but are used to knock away stone and dirt to get at insects or plant life in hard to get crannies.

The meat of a Reek is not considered a delicacy, but is nourishing and one can acquire a taste for it, especially if there is little else available. The meat from a single Reek can feed a large number of creatures but they are difficult to capture or domesticate.

Worm, Runespiral

2010-05-08T22:29:00.004-05:00

CLIMATE/TERRAIN: Underdark
FREQUENCY: Very Rare
ORGANIZATION: Hive
ACTIVITY CYCLE: Any
DIET: Carnivore
INTELLIGENCE: High (14)
TREASURE: Incidental
ALIGNMENT: Neutral Evil
NO. APPEARING: 1-25 (5)
ARMOR CLASS: 4
MOVEMENT: 9
HIT DICE: 9
THAC0: 11
NO. OF ATTACKS: 6
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1d4 x6
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Hive scream
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Confusion
MAGIC RESISTANCE: 50%
SIZE: M
MORALE: Steady (12)
XP VALUE: 6,000

These strange creatures of the deep Underdark live in colonies and seem to have a hive mind, meaning that they are telepathically linked and what one sees, all see. They communicate via this mental link, and so have no use for language. They seem to be able to understand languages of other races, but either do not have the ability to communicate their thoughts to other species or simply have no interest in doing so. Their name comes from their “shell” covering the top or back portion of the creature. It is not really a shell at all, but a semi-transparent sack filled with some sort of fluid that from a distance appears to be a constantly changing series of runes. In reality, they are not runes at all, but some sort of bodily fluids of different colors that are constantly shifting. Mammals find the changing patterns impossible to ignore, and if within 10 feet of the creatures any mammalian creature must save vs. spells or be transfixed for 1d4 rounds. At the end of the effect, another save vs. spell must be made to avoid one of 4 terrible mental effects:
Confusion, as per the spell cast by a 9th level wizard
Sleep as cast by a 9th level wizard
Fear as per the spell cause fear cast by a 9th level wizard
Permanent loss of 1d4 points of Intelligence

Obviously, the effects are negated if there is no light by which to see the runes, or if blinded. Monstrologists believe this is an added protection against creatures in the Underdark who use artificial or natural light. The Runespiral Worm has excellent night vision and are unaffected by their own runes.

Each Runespiral Worm has 6 bladelike appendages on their upper body near the head. These are as deadly as a fighter with 6 shortswords that can be used in a single round. Thus, the creature is as able to defend from the front as they are defended from behind.

Their other defense is a screeching howl which can be used to drown out all other sound (rendering spell casting as ineffective as a globe of silence) and causing actual physical pain to the ears. When one howls, any other worm within 125 feet will also take up the howl, thereby increasing the noise and the damage it causes. No sound but the screeching can be heard within 125 feet of the creatures howling, and those within range suffer deafness for 1d6 rounds per screeching worm, and 1d4 points of damage each round the howling continues. Screeching will continue for 1d12 rounds from the first screech. This defense can only be used once per day.

Crypt Worm (Ghoul Worm)

2010-05-08T16:33:00.008-05:00

CLIMATE/TERRAIN: Any burial ground
FREQUENCY: Very Rare
ORGANIZATION: Solitary
ACTIVITY CYCLE: Any
DIET: Carrion
INTELLIGENCE: Low (3)
TREASURE: Nil
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
NO. APPEARING: 1-2 (4)
ARMOR CLASS: 6
MOVEMENT: 8, Br 4
HIT DICE: 3
THAC0: 17
NO. OF ATTACKS: 2
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1d6+2 (bite)
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Paralysis
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Stenchcloud
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Nil
SIZE: L
MORALE: Elite (18)
XP VALUE: 420

This horrible worm is blind, but possesses an amazing sense of smell that allows it to detect dead flesh from hundreds of feet away. The creature has a stench cloud defense mechanism, which erupts when it first takes damage, causing an effect identical to the spell of the same name as though cast at 9th level. The creature can only emit a stench cloud once per day.

It also is coated in a slime which causes paralysis, similar to the ghoul touch spell. The creature has two bite attacks per round, but need only roll to hit once. If one hits, both attacks hit, because the mouths are so close together.

Back to the Basement!

2010-05-08T09:56:00.002-05:00

My wife went out of town for a long weekend, and I'm taking advantage of the opportunity to put on my hermit robes and head down to the basement to work on my D&D stuff.

I have spent two straight days working on monstrology and making new entries in the Monstrous Manual I'm making in Publisher--converting stats to AD&D 2E.

Lots of new photos of minis, and I'm going to try to make enough posts to this blog to move the YouTube videos off the page so that it loads faster. :)

Enjoy!

Sharn Scratchbuild

2010-02-01T12:45:00.019-05:00

In my never ending quest to have all the monsters, I decided to try my hand at scratchbuilding a Sharn.

I had a bunch of blue plastic gene stealers from Warhammer and noticed that some of the parts might lend themselves well to the conversion.

First I cut the parts off the plastic minis and arranged the ones I needed to use for the conversion.Then I took a little brown stuff and attached the hand and claw tri-arm assemblies and attached two torsos with heads together.

Next, I took the twin torsos and used green stuff to attach an unbent paperclip to it as a skeleton. The wire I attached through a slotta base to the cork I use to hold the sculptures I'm working on. I filled the slot and connected it to the clip using green stuff.

The next step was to attach the arm triads and to begin to build up the body using combinations of brown and green stuff.

The results are pretty good, I think. I wanted to post the images before I did the painting because once the whole thing is painted black there might not be any way to really see the individual parts as reflective of the steps.

Not sure if I will do another one of these, not likely to run more than one sharn at a time. :)

XanderXereus' Tutorials on Mold Making and Resin Casting

2009-12-30T12:50:00.003-05:00

Studioworx Sculpting Videos

2009-12-30T12:28:00.004-05:00

I will post some of the videos here for easy reference, but you should check out all of his videos at Studioworx's Channel on YouTube.

Unfortunately, on many of these he uses a background music track that somebody put in a notice about copyright violation. Fortunately, YouTube just blocked the audio track and didn't delete the account or the videos themselves. There isn't a lot of narration anyway, as the videos are done

Creager Studios Sculpting Tutorials: Heads

2009-12-30T12:25:00.002-05:00

Here is are additional videos on sculpting...designed for larger models, but you can appply the techniques to smaller miniatures as illustrated by Will at stormthecastle.com in a previous post.

Grognardia

2009-12-30T09:31:00.002-05:00

This morning I discovered Grognardia, which is an excellent blog on the history and traditions of all things RPG.

The word is used as a slang term for a veteran wargamer, but derives from a French term used to describe grumbling members of Napoleon's Old Guard. You can a find a definition here and here.

The blog is truly an excellent place for fellow grognards to feel less lonely.

Storm the Castle Sculpting Tutorial

2009-12-29T15:26:00.005-05:00

There are some excellent tutorials for miniatures at Storm the Castle

Part 1:

Part 2:

Part 3:

Part 4:

Part 5:

Part 6:

Part 7:

Part 8:

Part 9:

Part 10:

Part 11:

Part 12:

Part 13:

Part 14:

Part 15:

Cold War Miniatures

2009-12-29T12:25:00.003-05:00

I have been putting off buying the 28mm SG-1 miniatures from Phoenix for a long time. I checked the website from a link on this blog yesterday and discovered that Phoenix isn't making them anymore and sold their backstock to several different companies, all operating out of the UK.

In a panic, I clicked through the links to each of them and the only one still selling them was Cold War Miniatures.

I really hate nothing more than not buying something because it feels like an impulse buy and then finding out that it is OOP when I make up my mind to purchase it. So, I grabbed the credit card and purchased the complete set of Stargate SG-1 Miniatures from Cold War Minis.

Paypal estimates the conversion at around $113, which is pretty good, and shipping was free.

I will let you know what the quality of the miniatures is when (if) they arrive from England. I was in England last January and was going to try to find Phoenix then, but they didn't have a shop in London and I wasn't able to travel outside the city.

Auggie's Order

2009-12-28T15:11:00.004-05:00

Auggie's Games

I prefer the interface at the Troll and Toad website, but you can't argue with Auggie's service or prices! The store is top notch, and when you're shopping, you should definitely check there first.

Just don't buy stuff I want!

Knights of the Old Republic #38 Czerka Scientist
Knights of the Old Republic #40 GenoHaradan Assassin (Yes, I already bought one of these at Troll & Toad...but it was only $0.19 here.)
Alliance and Empire #45 Human Force Adept (x5)
Legacy of the Force #14 General Dodonna
Rebel Storm #47 Gamorrean Guard (x6)
Universe #31 Vornskr (x10) (I use these as a proxy for Gibberlings)
Universe #40 Noghri
Dragoneye #23 Medium Air Elemental
Dragoneye #43 Abyssal Maw(x2)
Chuul (x2)
Kelda the Kyrie Warrior
Raelin Kyrie Warrior
Raelin Kyrie Warrior
Taelord the Kyrie Warrior If the wings come off him easily enough, he might make a good proxy for Kaanyr Vhok
Charos
Underdark #14 Dromite Wilder
WotDQ #18 Warden of the Wood
WotDQ #19 Azer Fighter (x5)

New Order from Troll and Toad

2009-12-28T11:32:00.002-05:00

There is nothing more dangerous than being snowed in with an internet connection and a credit card.

This is what I've ordered from Troll and Toad.

When I get home, I will take pictures and do reviews of them all...eventually.

Kem Ravenbane #094 Mage Knight Sorcery: Got the last one! An excellent proxy for the evil guy in Baldur's Gate.
Warrior Sprite #008 Mage Knight Sinister: These are only $0.79, so if good, I might get a bunch more.
Centipede #020 HorrorClix Nightmares: These were also pretty cheap, and I really want lots of nasties for forests and caverns.
Goat-Headed Satanist #018 HorrorClix Nightmares: This will be an excellent Ibixian shaman.
Nessie #043 HorrorClix Nightmares: I have been collecting water based monsters a lot lately, so I couldn't resist. I think a ship crossing of the Sea ofFallen Stars is in the PCs future...
Pod People #019 HorrorClix Nightmares: Impulse buy, but might be useful someday. No regret is as painful as not buying something now you may want later when it is out of print. Like the Ultimate Godzilla toy which would be an excellent Tarrarasque but though you could once get it for $10 is now $375 on Amazon.com. My wife does not appreciate this very good advice.
Sasquatch #013 HorrorClix Nightmares: I don't know why I bought this. Impulse buy. It is exactly the same pose as the Reaper metal miniature hanging on my wall...but was under a dollar. I AM NOT A HORDER!!!! (If the hord is organized, you're not a horder, you're a collector.)
Satanist #038 HorrorClix Nightmares: Can you ever have enough?
Succubus #044 HorrorClix Nightmares: I think this would make an excellent proxy for an Alu Fiend, and will probably make her a stand-in for Aliisza from The Empyrean Odyssey.
Voodoo Priest #045 HorrorClix Nightmares: He is like that Disney character, but I like human shamen.
Fan Dancer #061 Freakshow HorrorClix: I will have to look at her, but I'm hoping I can re-sculpt a little to make this a proxy for a swanmay
Catman #040 DC Heroclix Origin Rookie: I probably already have one of these, but maybe I will make this the vestments for Sharessan Celebrants, if I do.
Anaconda #031 Rookie Marvel Heroclix Ultimates: What is this? Is it a dude with boobs? Fzoul Chembryl's ugly sister? At $0.49, I'll roll the dice.
Green Arrow #014 Justice League DC Heroclix: I love Green Arrow, and have a bunch of different ones and poses. Maybe they will be Meilikki priest vestments or something.
Merlyn #019 Justice League DC Heroclix: I am always looking for rangers who don't look dorky.
Black Panther #085 Rookie Marvel Heroclix Infinity Challenge: I don't know for sure what I'll use this for, but I'll find something.
Raven #029 Experienced DC Heroclix Icons: I have a bunch of Raven in blue and two different poses because I'm using her as vestments for a priest of something. The white one will be the High Priestess.
Fandral #018 Heroclix Hammer of Thor: Another fighter.
Heimdall #036 Heroclix Hammer of Thor: Not crazy about a sword where the hilt is longer thant he blade, but the rest of the mini is pretty cool.
Karnilla #020 Heroclix Hammer of Thor: Always looking for evil females.
Loki #035 Heroclix Hammer of Thor: I really like this mini. Not sure if I will use her as a barbarian or something else. I should have also gotten the male version of Loki. Next time.
Moonstone #022 Heroclix Hammer of Thor: I have a lot of super heroine type minis, but I like the mask. Maybe I will make these the vestments of the Church of Mask.
Namora #024 Heroclix Hammer of Thor: I use all of the Namor-ite miniatures as Aquatic Elves.
Sif #033 Heroclix Hammer of Thor: I have a metal miniature to use for Sif, so this will be just another female fighter NPC. I don't think it is detailed enough for anyone to want to use as a PC.
Venus #052 Heroclix Hammer of Thor: This is a great mini and would make a much better cleric of Sune than the WOTC one...but that ain't gonna happen with these priced at $12 each! Maybe I will make her the High Priestess at the temple and the rest mere clerics.
Hawkeye #052 Rookie Marvel Heroclix Clobberin Time: Another ranger, though at $0.49, you could get a whole lot of them and make them Cormyrean Archers.
Medusa #095 Unique Marvel Heroclix Clobberin Time: She's just hot...and I will find something for her to do that justifies the $12 price tag.
Citizen V #52 Avengers Marvel HeroClix: I have no idea what I'll do with this, but he is kind of neat. A little pricey to repaint at $5, but if I don't like it I might go that route.
Taskmaster #29 Avengers Marvel HeroClix: I'm sure I can find a use for this. Not sure if he is really skeletal or if it is a mask.
Angel of Valor Legionnaire #3/40 - Savage Encounters D&D Miniatures (x4)
Black Slaad #4/40 - Savage Encounters D&D Miniatures (x2)
Bullywug Guard #7/40 - Savage Encounters D&D Miniatures (x10)
Drider Fanglord #12/40 - Savage Encounters D&D Miniatures (x4)
Greenvise Vine #20/40 - Savage Encounters D&D Miniatures (x2)
Human Outrider #22/40 - Savage Encounters D&D Miniatures (x5)
Norker #27/40 - Savage Encounters D&D Miniatures (x10)
Rat Swarm #28/40 - Savage Encounters D&D Miniatures (x4)
Rockfire Dreadnought #29/40 - Savage Encounters D&D Miniatures (x3)
Salamander Archer #30/40 - Savage Encounters D&D Miniatures (x3)
Thief of Last Chances #58 Dreamblade Baxar's War: Not sure what I'll use this for.
Jorogumo - Arcane Legions Single Miniatures: I might use this for an Areana or the Lady Pentitent from the Lisa Smedman books
Gray Slaad #18/40 - Savage Encounters D&D Miniatures (x2)
GenoHaradan Assassin #40 Knights of the Old Republic Star Wars Miniatures: Might not be useful, but you gotta buy SWMs with real swords and not light sabres.
Sith Assassin #16 Knights of the Old Republic Star Wars Miniatures: Ditto
Praetorite Vong Warrior #39
Captain Mar Tuuk #5/40 Galaxy at War Star Wars Minis: I will have to look at it before I decide what I will do with it...holy crap, did I really blow $12 on it? Better be freakin' awesome!
Elite Senate Guard #27/40 Galaxy at War Star Wars Minis: I need to look at this, but at $0.61 this could be a pretty cool palace guard bought in bulk.
Human Force Adept #45 Alliance and Empire Star Wars Miniatures: I think this could be a cool priestly vestmant, and they are $0.49 so I could buy in bulk if needed. Perhaps a druidic sect, worhipers of Sylvanus?
Ithorian Commander #10 Alliance and Empire Star Wars Miniatures: I got 5 of these, I'm thinking they will be a variant of Myconid and live in the Underdark.

DDM Spoilers by Greyhaze

2009-12-28T11:07:00.002-05:00

http://www.ddmspoilers.com

I've been in Minot, North Dakota for a week or so now...with at least three of those days snowed in. I've been going a little stir crazy and that often results in spending time on the computer surfing for miniatures.

Knowing that my mother-in-law was going to have a knee replaced and that I'd probably be wanting even more computer time than usual, I bought them a wireless router (by them, yes, I mean me).

I used to spend a lot of time in the discussion forums on Hordelings, which is still great, but ever since DDM 2.0 and WOTC no longer supporting the skirmish game, Hordelings has become the official place for fan based/user support of that game system.

I never played DDM, but before Hordelings became the only official place to discuss DDM gaming you could still have great conversations about miniatures in general. Now there are far fewer casual players of the game discussing there and not nearly as much interest in discussing anything outside the official game.

I've made the transition this week to lurking primarily at another DDM forum site, DDM Spoilers by Greyhaze. I was always a frequent visitor to the site, because at Hordelings the official policy has always been that they don't discuss any miniatures which were not officially previewed by WOTC on their site or acknowledged by WOTC at a convention or something. DDM Spoilers has always been exactly what the name implies, a gallery of images of the miniatures in the pipe as soon as the news, leaks, or images could be gleaned from any possible source.

It wasn't until this week that I registered for and began participating in the forums. I have to say it is a really enjoyable online community. The site even has a nifty chat feature so that not everything that is discussed is preserved in the forum for all time.

Unfortunately, there haven't been any new spoilers for a long time and the new PHH set that was due out in February has been moved back. There is the usual gloom and doom predictions that the end of the WOTC miniatures line is at hand, but it has been predicted before.

At any rate, DDM Spoilers is the place to go if you are interested in miniatures but are not married to a brand name and towing the corporate line. There is great discussion of all editions of D&D as well as a wide range of other miniatures and role playing options.

Go there. It is good.

And Greyhaze is a great guy.

Thumbs up!

Eye of Frost

2009-12-05T19:36:00.007-05:00

As you know, recently ordered my new series set from Auggie's and while I was at it I ordered another Eye of Flame.
I wanted to try my hand at repainting it as a conversion to an Eye of Frost. It came out pretty well, I think.

First step is to spray the whole thing with a white primer coat.

Next, I painted the entire mini with Pearl White paint from the Reaper Master Series paints. This gave the mini a really nice opalescent quality which shimmers like ice or snow.

Once the Pearl White dried, I used some different shades of blue from the Reaper Pro-Paints line. I can't remember which ones and though the paints are still sitting in teh living room waiting for my wife to tell me to put them away, I am not at home to look at them. I'll try to post the shades in the comments later. Mostly the eye is dark blue with a light blue highlight around the iris, inside eye, and lips.

I used Reaper Saphire Blue Ink as a wash to the body and eyestalks to give depth, and black wash in the mouth to accentuate the teeth. I had painted the teeth Pure White, and then they stained up nicely as nasty looking teeth. I used a little tissue wipe off the black ink from the tops of the teeth.

ALl that ink pooled around the base, so I used Pure White to repaint the base like snow. If I were being really dedicated, I might have used some green stuff to make drifts on the base, but these are as much utilitarian as they are for display...really, they are much more for game play than for display, so I don't mind them not being perfect.

Quite pleased with the results!

Savage Encounters Complete Set arrived!

2009-11-27T19:47:00.002-05:00

Well, that was fast! Auggie's delivered my complete set today, along with a Gauth for me to mount on my crawler and an Eye of Flame to turn into a snowball.

Very exciting.

Didn't have a chance to look through the minis before rushing off to rehearsal, but can't wait to start getting them up on the shelves. Perhaps I can do a partial review tomorrow. Right now, need to get back to rehearsal.

Updated 2E Monster Index

2009-11-25T21:30:00.002-05:00

I've updated the 2E citation index with quite a few more supplements, and included a list of the source materials at the bottom of the page. This brings the number of listed monsters to just under 1500 creatures.

Enjoy!

http://www.ristentltd.com/realms/2emonsterindex.html

Savage Encounters

2009-11-25T09:42:00.002-05:00

I just ordered my complete set of these minis from Auggie's. Buying a complete set online isn't as much fun as ordering 3 cases and ripping them open like Christmas morning on new minis day, but this is the world we live in now. I've just heard too many stories of people getting two identical cases to risk it.

I'll let you know what I think when the complete set arrives. I haven't been able to buy any boosters yet. None of the local hobby stores (fewer every day) have been able to keep them in stock and Barnes & Nobel Booksellers don't ever seem to get sets in until after the next one comes out.

Grumble.

On the upside, I've been able to squirrel away some time in the basement to update my monster citation list with a few more newly acquired Monstrous Compendium Annuals (3&4) and I'm going to try and get some more of these monsters on my game table alphabetized and cataloged on the shelf before the new minis arrive.

New Minis Day

2009-11-17T17:21:00.002-05:00

And all I got was a lump of Orc feces.

Well, New Minis Day isn't quite the same since the non-random packaging. I think for the most part it is better, but I really miss getting those three cases of miniatures and hoping for a complete set out of them.

The thrill of collecting isn't quite what it was now that I wait to the end of the month and go to Troll and Toad to buy the individual pieces.

In any event, I am still eager to get the minis from this and the next monster sets, I think they are stunning and can't wait to add them to the shelves in the basement.

Crawler, the Director's Mount

2009-10-26T09:03:00.002-05:00

I'd been wondering what to do with the WOTC Gauth for a long time, since it has no resemblence at all to the TSR description of that creature. Ral Partha did a good rendition of it, and I have one of those in my collection already.

The WOTC mini does make a reasonable fascimilie of the description of the Director beholder-kin. It looks like a beholder and has only six eyestalks, so other than not being 8-10 feet in diameter it is pretty good. It even has what looks like little appendages on its chin for holding onto a mount.

The Crawler, which is the Director's mount, is a weird cross between a giant centipede and a spider. I was trying to figure out a way to scratchbuild a mount for the WOTC gauth when I stumbled over the Mage Knight miniature "Thorn Crawler" (available at Troll and Toad for under a dollar, but getting pretty rare).

This creature looks like someone had the TSR crawler in mind when they made it, and then added "thorn" to the name to avoid any cease and desist action from WOTC. It has a centipede body, spirdery legs and eight eyes with spider mandibles.

Perfect!

I might have to break off one of the spikes behind the head so that the WOTC Gauth can fit up there (with a superglue saddle), but since a WOTC Gauth is going for nearly $20 at the same site, I can wait a while before I need to have a mounted director.

Apsect of Eilistraee

2009-10-24T12:52:00.008-05:00

I just finished my scratchbuilt Aspect of Eilistraee, the dancing woodland goddess of goodly drow.

It was a pretty simple modification from the Urban Legends Sophie available at Reaper Miniatures.
I looked everywhere for a naked 72mm female elf with a sword, and the Urban Legends Sophie is really the best miniature for the purpose outside of sculpting your own. Once you have the mini, which is a fantastic sculpt by Werner Klocke and under $25, simply don't glue on the wings or the scabbard of the sword.

I then painted her using a black primer. Once the primer was completely dry--so as to avoid getting fingerprints on her smooth features--I worked up a nice length of Brown Stuff, a varient form of the "green stuff" sculpting epoxy from Reaper which I find a little easier to work with because it isn't quite as sticky.

I rolled the brown stuff out into a suitable length and then flattened it out, attaching it to the figure to create the long white locks of the drow goddess. Once the hair was attached and had begun to harden a little, I used one of my dental picks to etch in the hair and smooth the brown stuff into the hair of the original miniature.This inclued a second length of hair that I brought in through the crooked arm to flow down from the wrist. This step wasn't entirely necessary, but I liked the way it looked and it helped create the impression of the crazy long tresses Eilistraee is known for.

It took incredible patience, but then I waited 24 hours for the brown stuff to dry and harden, before putting a coat of white primer over the entire length of hair from the crown of the miniature's pre-sculpted locks down to the end of the hair that I'd added. I wanted to have her hair really shine and be irridescent, and black primer tends to give a ruddy appearance.

After the primer dried, then I began to paint the miniature using Reaper paints. I went with the painting guide of the Sophie as depicted in the website, but with drow coloration. I liked the red leather glove and leggings, because they show up nice on drow skin and reflect the only other color of a black widow spider, one of Lolth's avatars. Then I used true silver instead of gold.

The hair was done in Reaper Pearl White, so that it was shiny and opalescent. I used Storm Grey for the lips and breast accents, and emerald green for her eyes.

I'm not a particularly gifted sculptor or painter, but I'm quite pleased with my efforts and very happy to have another god to put on my shelf.

Scratchbuilding is going to be increasingly important as 4E has radically changed the pantheons of existing worlds and most of the gods have been eliminated. I'm sorry to say that Eilistraee does not fare well in the Lisa Smedman books and WOTC isn't likely to do a lot of miniatures of deities who are not current.

Real Minis

2009-10-22T19:12:00.005-05:00

Found a nice minis blog called Real Minis while searching for info on the Snowball beholder promo. It is mostly posts dealing with an online version of minis gaming, but there are older posts reviewing minis as they are released by WOTC.

I haven't had a lot of time to scroll through his back pages, but I think the blog is a great resource if his tutorial on converting the Eye of Flame Beholder to the Snowball is any indication. The online gaming stuff isn't that interesting to me, but I like the repaints he's done and the tips on painting.

Right now I'm taking advantage of a night away from the theatre while my wife is out with a friend to sneak in several hours of D&D recreation in the basement. Working on some monstrology and getting some of my backlog of minis up on the shelf.

Will try to get the dungeon cleaned up soon and snap some updated pictures of the renovation project.

Lensman Scratchbuild

2009-10-14T07:00:00.006-05:00

Well, in my never ending quest to have all the monsters, I've finally finished my prototype Lensman.

I'm a sculptor by necessity not talent or desire, and this was a bit of a rush job so I could see if it would work, rather than trying to create something that would win any contests.

Step One: Buy the Heroclix White Martian. I am picking up 10 of them from Troll and Toad for .99 each.

Step Two: Cut off his head and tail, then file and sand down the bumps that are left.

Step Three: take a bit of stiff wire and after drilling a hole where the neck would be, insert the wire and glue in place. This will be the frame to support the tentacle.

Step Four: apply green stuff to sculpt the tentacle, the chest eye, and the webbed loincloth.

Step Five: Paint to limits of desire and talent.

Like I said, I'm no sculptor and a lousy painter, I'm sure any number of you folks could do this a lot better. I'm mostly posting this as a template for a Lensman mini, not bragging about what meager talents I might possess. So, no need to critique the execution, I'm more interested in feedback on the idea for creating a lensman mini.

WOTC Ultimate Tyrant

2009-10-09T05:35:00.006-05:00

It was always frustrating converting 3E materials to 2E use, but trying to do it with 4E is an exercise in futility.

I'm no stranger to that, and really have no choice but to make some effort to do so since all the WOTC minis will be using their radically changed concepts and structure and I will need to find some way to incorporate the new figures into my campaign world.

An example is the Ultimate Tyrant mini from the Legendary Evils set. In 2E, the terms Ultimate Tyrant and Hive Mother were both used for the same creature. I can't find any mention of Hive Mother in the new 4E MM2. The mini itself looks like The Beholder Formerly Known as Prince, but nothing like the 2E description of a Hive Mother. The old Hive Mother had no eyestalks but did have a full set of eyes set into its body and a much larger mouth with a beak as well as teeth.

In my world, because this thing is so huge and of such a weird color, I am going to use it as the avatar of the Great Mother as described in the Monstrous Arcana supplement I, Tyrant.

Really wishing I could get back in the dungeon

2009-09-27T17:44:00.002-05:00

Haven't been able to play in our campaign in over a year. For me it seems like just a weekend ago, but IRL stuff has kept me from organizing a session where our heroes can at least try to escape certain doom.

The calendar doesn't look like it offeres a free weekend until after the first of the new year, either.

Still, I've been trying recently to get some time to finish up organizing the game room in the new house and have been continuing to buy miniatures. I teach full time at one university, am a leave replacement for a class at another university in a different city that is an hour's drive each way, and I also run a non-profit theatre. Did I mention also being married? Not a lot of time left over for gaming.

I didn't get to buy any of the Player's Handbook Heroes set #2, and only last week managed to pick up two boosters from Legendary Evils. Buying minis is a lot harder than it used to be, and not just because I don't have time to shop for them. I normally bought 3 cases each release from IconUSA.com, but they must have had some kind of falling out with WotC because they haven't updated with a new release for sale since Demonweb Pits.

I've also been hesitant to buy cases of the new packaging format for D&D Miniatures. I don't want to get a case of all the same visible ones. I don't use eBay anymore now that they force you to buy and sell using PayPal...a rant for another time, but I stopped using PayPal in protest when eBay bought the company because nobody wanted to use their stupid BidPay system and imposed all their Safe Harbor rules on every transaction you use PayPal for whether it was on eBay or not.

And them my FLGS closed, so the nearest place to buy minis retail is not in a town an hour and a half drive north of here. Other retail outlets that normally carry minis, like Barnes & Nobles and Books a Million aren't ordering the new sets because they still have so many of the old ones (Dungeons of Dread) sitting on their shelves.

Sooo, I guess I have to buy individual minis from Troll and Toad or something...which is frustrating because I rely on buying cases for building up a large stock of the commons...Sorry, I didn't meant for this to be a combination rant/depressed sob fest, but I miss my hobby!!!!

And, I'm a little worried that many of the things I'm complaining about are really indications that Hasbro is going to decide D&D isn't profitable enough to support and what little I do have and can get ahold of will go away.

Anyway, we have a show closing tonight at the theatre and Fall Break is coming up, the wife is going with my mother on a quilting trip to Houston and I might just get a 3-4 day run at organizing the basement, cataloging monsters and online shopping without guilt or interruption.

Fingers crossed, and I'll let you know how it goes.

Another Reason WotC Sucks

2009-09-20T08:20:00.003-05:00

I've been unable to play in my world for over a year, IRL stuff has pushed hobby time far to the side. This morning I thought I would sit down and return to a few projects that bring me a lot of joy, including updating my monster manual by adding in source citations to the pages in Publisher.

Back when I started buying all the Monstrous Compendiums I didn't keep them in their original configuration, but alphabetized all the different compendiums in three big binders. Lots of them don't have the product number on the individual pages, including Aarakocra (you can guess how far I got before I was frustrated and angry enough to post a blog).

I used to rely quite heavily on RPGNow to purchase archival PDFs of discontinued TSR products. Even though they were very inexpensive, there were so many that I have not downloaded a complete set of everything.

Today I went there to buy the old compendiums for reference purposes as I do my citation project and discovered that there were no TSR or wotC products available at all. It was a vastly impoverished site without this core product line and so I did some digging.

Wotc does it again, in what looks like an attempt to be the only distributors of their material and to force people to only play the current edition of their game...they have forced anyone who was selling PDFs of archival game materials to cease and desist.

Read the thread at EnWorld here.

This is the electronic version of when WotC ordered Ral Partha not only to stop selling the liscenced TSR AD&D miniatures line, but to melt down all existing stock and destroy the molds.

Finding AD&D 2E materials just got infinitely harder and made piracy a lot more likely to occur. This is incredibly stupid on WotC and Hasbro's part. It hurts their image, increases resentment, and does nothing to increase 4E sales.

I don't play anything but 2E, but have been buying 4E stuff (while grumbling) so that I can convert to 2E, but why should I bother doing that when they are such pricks and especially now that they jumped Forgotten Realms stuff 100 years in the future and are making the game world so different that conversion is pretty much moot.

I hate those guys and their D&D insider we want all the marbles our way or the highway mentality.

It is a GAME people, you should find ways to help people want to play it, not make them have to play it.

After literaly hours of online keyword searches, I did find a good site which lists the contents of the individual TSR products, which is all I needed since I have the actual paper product sheets.

Wapedia.mobi

This will allow me to check which product had the monster I am trying to cite.

Man, stuff like this really makes me tip my hat to my wife, who is a librarian with an MLS and an information specialist.

Lost Minis Wiki

2008-12-28T09:35:00.005-05:00

This new website, The Lost Minis Wiki, is dedicated to user created galleries displaying images of old miniature lines.

It is sort of a logical follow up to Stuff of Legends 2.0. SOL hasn't been updated in years and there is always the danger that because there is copyrighted content (the images of miniatures from OOP catalogs, the site may be taken down someday. This site, instead, puts the emphasis entirely on images of actual miniatures in people's collections. Because it is user generated content via a wiki, the site owners don't have to devote their lives to maintianing and growing it.

Sites like these are invaluable to collectors as reference tools.

The only drawback is that there is no chat interface to communicate with other users putting up the content so all questions back and forth become part of the user history and remain on the site forever.

I guess one other drawback is that while it is pretty easy to use and edit once you get the hang of it, I don't yet undersand how to create new pages. I have several minis that I know the maker and background, but can't post them to the site yet as there are no pages for these lines. I'm sure that will come in time.

I'd also like to see them create a page for Unidentified Minis, so that people could post their miniature and have the experts tell them what the mini information is. Once that info is known the user could either repost the image in the correct place and delete the mini from the unidentified page or Admin could move it for them after the information has been confirmed.

The hardest part is uploading a mini if you are not 100% certain of the ID, and this can only happen if you have a catalog or actual product box insert with the minis ID's on it. A lot of the pages don't have this information, so uploading a mini to the wrong mini slot is so likely that I have a lot of images I'm not willing to upload yet.

It would be nice if there were an email link where people could send the Admins PDF copies of old mini catalogs for their expert use in IDing those minis.

I realize my "suggestion" is actuall creating a tremendous amount of work for the Admins, but perhaps they could get some OCD volunteer to step forweard and agree to take on the work of IDing, at least share the work.

Consider this an offer.

Dear Santa, Revised

2008-12-26T15:44:00.004-05:00

I broke down and did even more online shopping.

My still don't have but want list is now:

Bendy Dungeon Walls (Greedy DM Package)

World of Warcraft
MARSH MURLOC x3
WOW Thangal

Marvel Clix (secret invasion)
MEPHISTO
IRON MAN
HERCULES
GAMORA

Marvel Clix (Mutations and Monsters)
ARCHANGEL
CUCKOO
EMMA FROST
LIVING MONOLITH

Marvel Clix (Avengers)
Abomination
Ares
Mandarin
Namorita

Marvel Clix (Days of Future Past)
Hound

Marvel Clix (Danger Room)
Jean Grey
Storm

DC Clix (Anti-monitor)
SHADOW DEMON

DC Clix (Staro)
STARRO THE CONQUEROR

DC Clix (Arkham Asylum)
CIRCE
DOCTOR DESTINY
LYSSA DRAK
MAN-BAT ASSASSIN

DC Clix (Batman Alpha)
POISON IVY
THE CAPED CRUSADER

DC Clix (Justice League)
DR. ALCHEMY

DC Clix (Origins)
Carter Hall

City of Villains Clix
Ghost Widow

Indy Clix
Arwyn (with bow)
Hecate

Horrorclix
AGONY (#095)
MI-GO (#089)
ANIMAL TAMER (#070)
FAN DANCER (#061)(swanmay)
FLYING MONKEYS (#064)
CENTIPEDE (#020)
GOAT-HEADED SATANIST (#018)
SUCCUBUS (#044)

DREAMBLADE
Abyssal Predator #40 Dreamblade Anvilborn
Foul Beetle #30 Dreamblade Anvilborn
Steelborn Lion #21 Dreamblade Base Set
Crypt Koi #16 Dreamblade Night Fusion

MAGEKNIGHT
Animated Mud #046 Mage Knight Dungeons
Gate Lord #068 Mage Knight Dungeons
Heddravalis #133 Mage Knight Nexus
Abbess Marlik #208 Mage Knight Omens
Arythea #213 Mage Knight Omens
Amanuensis #213 Mage Knight Sorcery
Aovon #208 Mage Knight Sorcery
Tythania Stormbringer #089 Mage Knight Sorcery MK Sorcery Unique
Vargana #215 Mage Knight Sorcery
Tanglewood Spirit #007 Mage Knight Whirlwind

Star Wars
Darth Talon #07 Legacy of the Force Star Wars Miniatures

Dear Santa

2008-12-24T19:01:00.008-05:00

I ordered a whole bunch of minis from online vendors, but among the things I still wanted but either weren't in stock or couldn't afford this month is the following wish list.

I'm posting it here not so much as a Christmas hint list (as it is Christmas Eve, I waited a little long for that!) but as a way to remember what I liked when online window shopping at my Mother-in-Law's.

STARGATE Minis from Phoenix-Icons

Col. Jack O'Neill, Stargate SG-1 : Phoenix Icons Series 1
SG-1 4 pack with exclusive Teal'c figurine
SG MINIS - SQUAD DEAL - Jaffa Hawk Guards with Staff Weapons(9)
SG MINIS - SQUAD DEAL - Jaffa Serpent Guards w Staff Weapons (9)
Lt. Col. John Sheppard, Stargate Atlantis : Phoenix Icons Series 1
Atlantis 4 Pack with exclusive Ronon Dex figurine.
Wraith Warrior.
Stargate and DHD
SG MINIS - Jaffa Heavy Cannon
Jaffa First Prime

Bendy Dungeon Walls (the Greedy DM set)

World of Warcraft Miniatures

World of Warcraft MARSH MURLOC x3
WOW Thangal

Marvel Clix (secret invasion)

MEPHISTO
IRON MAN
HERCULES
GAMORA

Marvel Clix (Mutations and Monsters)

ARCHANGEL
CUCKOO
EMMA FROST
LIVING MONOLITH

Marvel Clix (Avengers)

Abomination
Ares
Mandarin
Namorita

Marvel Clix (Days of Future Past)

Hound

Marvel Clix (Danger Room)

Jean Grey
Storm

DC Clix (Anti-monitor)

SHADOW DEMON

DC Clix (Staro)

STARRO THE CONQUEROR

DC Clix (Arkham Asylum)

CIRCE
DOCTOR DESTINY
LYSSA DRAK
MAN-BAT ASSASSIN
WHITE MARTIAN (x10)

DC Clix (Batman Alpha)

POISON IVY
THE CAPED CRUSADER

DC Clix (Justice League)

DR. ALCHEMY

DC Clix (Origins)

Carter Hall
Gentleman Ghost

City of Villains Clix

Ghost Widow

Indy Clix

Arwyn
Hecate

Horrorclix

AGONY (#095)
MI-GO (#089)
ANIMAL TAMER (#070)
FAN DANCER (#061)(This might make a good swanmay)
FLYING MONKEYS (#064)
CENTIPEDE (#020)
GOAT-HEADED SATANIST (#018)
SUCCUBUS (#044)

DREAMBLADE

Abyssal Predator #40 Dreamblade Anvilborn
Dreamscape Prophet #18 Dreamblade Anvilborn
Foul Beetle #30 Dreamblade Anvilborn
Steelborn Lion #21 Dreamblade Base Set
Crypt Koi #16 Dreamblade Night Fusion

MAGEKNIGHT

Sand Minion #033 Mage Knight Dragon's Gate
Alsyn Vale #81 Mage Knight Dungeons
Animated Mud #046 Mage Knight Dungeons
Deadwood Golem #052 Mage Knight Dungeons
Gate Lord #068 Mage Knight Dungeons
Glanjoram Hawklord #078 Mage Knight Dungeons
Heddravalis #133 Mage Knight Nexus
Pyre Spirit #104 Mage Knight Nexus
Abbess Marlik #208 Mage Knight Omens
Amazon Warrior #057 Mage Knight Omens
Arythea #213 Mage Knight Omens
Fang Worm #013 Mage Knight Omens
Moonborn Sorceress #043 Mage Knight Omens
Wave Spawn #007 Mage Knight Omens
Deep Spawn #132 Mage Knight Rebellion
Amanuensis #213 Mage Knight Sorcery
Aovon #208 Mage Knight Sorcery
Blood Priestess #069 Mage Knight Sorcery
Eahna Longblade #209 Mage Knight Sorcery
Tythania Stormbringer #089 Mage Knight Sorcery
MK Sorcery Unique
Vargana #215 Mage Knight Sorcery
Galeshi Knife Dancer #080 Mage Knight Uprising
Tanglewood Spirit #007 Mage Knight Whirlwind

Star Wars

Amanin Scout #46 The Force Unleashed Star Wars Miniatures
Knobby White Spider #52 The Force Unleashed Star Wars Miniatures
Mission Vao #47 Knights of the Old Republic Star Wars Miniatures
Darth Talon #07 Legacy of the Force Star Wars Miniatures
Princes Leia, Captive #12 Rebel Storm Star Wars Miniatures

The New Dungeon (2)

2008-12-23T17:47:00.007-05:00

I mentioned earlier that my wife and I just bought a new house, and I'm going to have a lot of space for a new D&D playing area down there. The photo here shows the desk I've set up in the laundry room. The previous owners had a stove there, but this is going to be a perfect sculpting and painting station for me. The oven hood with light that was left by the previous owners is going to be excellent lighting for painting. The little cupboard above will be nice for storing materials. On the desk, against the wall, will be my two Reaper wall racks for the master series paints I've got.

To the left, you can see into the room where the game table will be set up. It took some mental gymnastics to figure out the best orientation for the 4x8 table and so forth, but I've got a plan now and it will be glorious.

I've got to get that horrible flowered wallpaper covered. I bought some discontinued rolls of stone-look wallpaper from Lowe's and I'll be putting that up in there. I'll also need to hang some flourescent lights above the table because the room is very dark with the single incandescent bulb in there now.

Inside the room there is a walk-in closet that I painted and hung additional shelves to turn into the storage room for all my miniatures. They are arranged in alphabetical order.

I still have a little more rearranging to do.

Instead of the bookshelf at the end of the hall, I've already hung a 7x3 sheet of peg board to hang unopened miniature blisters.

That will be a far more convenient way to store unpainted metal minis until I can get to painting them than the current system I've been using--giant boxes underfoot on the floor.

It will also make it easier for my players to look at possible PC figures they might want to use. Nobody buys their own minis in my campaign, unfortunately. :)

Stained Glass Golem

2008-12-21T13:03:00.003-05:00

Among the many monsters from AD&D that I've long wanted a mini of, there shines brightly the stained glass golem. I've thought about ways I could make one, but recently discovered that there is this miniature from the Dreamblade line.

Night Fusion * Stained-Glass Angel * 9/60 Rare

It is very difficult to find, and extremely expensive, though I did manage to find this one on eBay for under $20 including shipping. Most of the other places wanted two and even three times that.

Anyway, the roster of monsters for which I have minis is growing!

Possible Lensman Scratchbuild

2008-12-19T22:03:00.005-05:00

A long while back I had someone leave a comment asking about suggestions for a scratchbuilt Lensman.

The Lensman is a Beholderkin that is the lowest rung in Behholder society. They are simian in shape with a single eye between their shoulders and a huge maw in the stomach area. They have two arms and legs with hands and feet that have three claws each, then a prehensile tentacle that comes out of where the neck would be if it were a humanoid.

I picked up a Heroclix White Martian today at a hobby store. Except for the barbed tail, this mini could easily be modified to make a Lensman. All you'd need to do is cut off the head and use green stuff to make the tentacle to replace it.

I am not sure if I will also try to cut and file away the tail, and instead opt for Lensmen in my world to have the tails.

These are in the new Arkham Asylum set, but you can get singles at places like Troll and Toad for 0.49 each.

I'm not going to be able to get a chance to work my sculpting magic on this one until February, but as soon as I do, I will post pictures.

Leonard Nimoy sing The Ballad of Bilbo

2008-11-22T08:11:00.000-05:00

A new dungeon...

2008-11-05T08:48:00.002-05:00

My wife and I just bought a house yesterday. Many things about the house are wonderful, and we will be very happy there. One of the things I'm really pleased about is the huge increase in space, which includes a D&D room that will be amazing.

There will be room for the game table, but there is also a large, narrow walk in closet with two walls full of adjustable shelving. This will be a perfect place to display and store my miniature collection.

Photos to come!

The end of DDM? Possibly.

2008-10-22T04:39:00.001-05:00

Just posted on the WOTC website:

We have received a tremendous amount of feedback from fans regarding the D&D Miniatures line, and have made some exciting changes for 2009. Here’s what’s coming to a shelf near you!

Dungeons & Dragons Miniatures -- Player’s Handbook Heroes
More than anything else, D&D players have been asking us for more PC (player character) minis. The D&D Heroes line features high-quality miniatures representing iconic player character races and classes described in the Player’s Handbook and Player’s Handbook 2 core rulebooks. Now players will be able to find the miniature that best represents their PC, and Dungeon Masters can use these figures to represent non-player characters in their adventures.

Launching in Spring 2009, the first D&D Heroes series features six different packs (18 figures total):

Martial Heroes 1
Martial Heroes 2
Arcane Heroes 1
Arcane Heroes 2
Divine Heroes 1
Primal Heroes 1
Each package contains 3 PC minis: 2 males and 1 female, and 3 unique power cards featuring brand new class powers. All three of the figures in the package will be visible so you’ll know exactly which pack to pick for your game.

The D&D Heroes will be refreshed regularly in order to continue to deliver new PC options to players. There are two series scheduled for 2009 and three scheduled for 2010. MSRP $10.99.

Dungeons & Dragons Miniatures -- Monster Manual
Also new to the 2009 lineup are Monster Manual themed releases. These sets are designed to be what every Dungeon Master (or D&D enthusiast) needs to create riveting adventures and exciting encounters at all levels of play.

Releasing in Spring 2009, the first D&D Monsters set is called Monster Manual: Dangerous Delves. This will be a 40-miniature set containing both medium and large sized figures. Each semi-randomized “booster” box contains 5 minis: 1 visible figure, 1 rare figure, 1 uncommon figure and 2 common figures, as well as full-color D&D Dungeon Delve stat cards for each miniature. MSRP $14.99.

Upon the release of D&D Monsters and D&D Heroes, we will no longer package the D&D Miniatures line in its current configuration (fully randomized booster packs and huge packs). This means that November’s set -- D&D Miniatures: Demonweb -- will be the final release sold in fully randomized booster packs.

Huge lot of my minis for sale on eBay

2008-10-12T20:34:00.001-05:00

I'm selling the following minis on eBay right now.

D&D miniatures Lot #1

Underdark
5 Gold Dwarf Soldier
19 Halfling Sneak
23 Spirit Folk Fighter
42 Dark Creeper
53 Lolth's Sting

War Drums
2 Arcanix Guard
4 Axe Soldier
5 Combat Medic
8 Sacred Watcher
12 Warforged Captain
14 Warpriest of Moradin
15 Brass Samauri
18 Halfling Slinger
19 Hunting Cougar
20 Lion of Talisid
21 Mephling Pyromancer
22 Steelheart Archer
26 Wood Elf Ranger
30 Goblin Blackblade
32 Hobgoblin Archer
34 Karrnathi Zombie
39 Skeletal Legionaire
41 Terror Wight
44 Blood Ghost Berserker
46 Derro
48 Frost Dwarf
49 Hill Giant Barbarian
51 Horde Zombie
52 Howling Orc
55 Orc Mauler
57 Quaggoth Slave
58 Tiefling Blademaster
59 Troglodyte Thug
60 Orc Mauler

War of the Dragon Queen
1 Aasimar Fighter
12 Goliath Cleric of Kavaki
17 Tavern Brawler
28 Diseased Dire Rat
30 Doom Fist Monk
33 Dread Warrior
43 Cleric of Laogzed
44 Cloudreaver
47 Hunting Hyena
53 Small Black Dragon

Blood War
3 Dwarf Sniper
5 Elf Warmage
7 Hammerer (X2)
11 Soldier of Bytopia
16 Free League Ranger
17 Gnome Trickster
18 Hero of Valhalla
20 Medium Copper Dragon
21 Phoera
22 Shadowdancer
26 Maug
28 Acheron Goblin
32 Greenspawn Sneak
36 Karsite Fighter
37 Kobold Monk
39 Lord of Blades
43 Red Hand War Sorcerer
44 Soulknife Infiltrator
47 Doomguard
50 Fiendish Snake
52 Gnoll Barbarian
58 Skeletal Reaper

Unhallowed
1 Blessed Hunter
2 Celestial Giant Owl
3 Cormyrean War Wizard
4 Devotee of the Silver Flame
5 Knight of the Chalice
7 Phalanx Soldier
8 Shield Guardian
10 Van Richten
11 Vampire Hunter
13 Asura
14 Changeling Rogue
15 Cleric of Sune
16 Dwarf Battlerager
17 Halfling Brawler
18 Large Astral Construct
20 Lyrandar Skyfire Captain
21 Marid
22 Psuedodragon
23 Rat Swarm
24 Stormrage Shambler
26 Wild Elf Warsinger
27 Wizard of Turmish
28 High Inquisitor
31 Beholder Lich
33 Blood of Vol Divinity Seeker
35 Count Strahd Von Zarovich
36 Redspawn Aracniss
38 Duergar Slaver
40 Graypeak Goblin Archer
41 Inspired Shock Trooper
42 Nessian Warhound
43 Ogre Executioner
44 Strahd Zombie
45 Torturer
48 Bugbear Gang Leader
49 Caller in the Darkness
51 Dark Talon Champion
53 Gravetouched Ghoul
54 Intellect Devourer
58 Tiefling Warlock
59 Vampire Dire Wolf
60 Werewolf Lord

NIGHT BELOW
2 Brass Golem
3 Champion of Dol Dorn
5 Delver Sergeant
7 Gaurd of Mithril Hall
8 Guardian Naga
9 Kalashtar Bodyguard
10 Large Gold Dragon
13 Greyhawk City Militia Sergeant
14 Raistlin Majere
15 Darkmantle
16 Digester
17 Dire Tiger
18 Giant Eagle
19 Greater Basilisk
20 Halfling Tombseeker
22 Verdant Reaver
23 Warpriest of Vandria
24 Wild Mage (Not In Bag)
25 Wulfgar
27 Assassin
28 Bluespawn Ambusher
30 Exarch of Tyrany
31 Greater Barghest
32 Greenspawn Zealot
33 Hobgoblin Marshal
35 Kobold Trapmaker
36 Lady Vol
37 Medusa Archer
40 Prisoner
42 Trained Carrion Crawler
43 Krenshar
49 Clawborn Sorrow
48 Cerebrilith
53 Gnoll Claw Fighter
55 Kuo-Toa Whip
56 Large Chaos Beast
58 Large White Dragon
60 Shadow

Desert of Desolation
1 Angel of Vengeance
2 Animated Statue
3 Dwarf Brawler
4 Dwarf Maulfighter
5 Human Cleric of Bahamut
7 Militia Archer
8 Sphinx
9 Thundertusk Boar
11 Farmer
13 Warhorse
14 Black Woods Dryad
15 Cliffwalk Archer
16 Elf Conjurer
17 Eternal Blade
18 Halfling Enchanter
19 Halfling Rogue
22 Vicejaw Crocodile
24 Tiefling Cleric
25 Tiefling Rogue
26 Astral Stalker
27 Blood of Vol Fanatic
28 Guardian Mummy
32 Rot Scarab Swarm
34 Sahuagin Baron
35 Shadar-Kai Assassin
39 Boneshard Skeleton
42 Flame Snake
45 Drider
46 Drow Blademaster
47 Drow Spider Priestess
52 Ogre Brute
51 Large Fire Elemental
54 Ravenous Ghoul
56 Snaketongue Cultist
60 Yuan-Ti Malaison

DUNGEON OF DREAD
1 Dwarf Warlord
3 Cleric of Pelor
4 Halfling Paladin
6 Elf Archer
8 Orc Raider
10 Gargoyle
12 Chillborn
13 Drow Spiderguard
14 Eye of Flame
15 Immolith
16 Shadow Demon
17 Warrior Wight
18 Howling Hag
21 Ascendant Hellsword
22 Rakshasa Baron
23 Vampire Spawn
24 Champion of Baphomet
26 Mindflayer Scourge
27 Troglodyte Bonecrusher
31 Gnoll Marauder
32 Bugbear Headreaver
33 Dwarf Shieldmaiden
34 Goblin Picador
35 Human Fighter
36 Iron Defender
37 Dire Wolf
39 Everfrost Ranger
41 Kobold Archer
42 Wyvern
43 Defiant Rake
45 Grick
47 Tiefling Warlock
48 Warforged Infiltrator
49 Runecarved Eidolon
50 Drow Wand Mage
51 Shade Knight
53 Bulette
55 Deathjump Spider
56 Giant Centipede
57 Hook Horror
58 Shadowhunter Bat
59 Spectral Panther

AGAINST THE GIANTS
3 Gnaw Demon
4 Degenerate Cultist of Orcus
6 Efreeti Flamestrider
7 Visceral Devourer
10 Yuan-ti Anathema
12 Fire Titan
13 Armored Guulvorg
14 Bugbear Lancebreaker
17 Dwarf Warsword
18 Feybound Halfling
20 Fist of Moradin
21 Goblin Runner
22 Hobgoblin Guard
23 Mighty Blademaster
26 Firebat
27 Orc Zombie
30 Xorn Ravager
31 Cave Bear
32 Cockatrice
36 Galeb Duhr
37 Lizardfolk Raider
38 Shifter Claw Adept
34 Flamescorched Kobold
41 Captain of the Watch
42 Chain Golem
44 Half-elf Assassin
45 Golden Wyvern Initiate
48 Blazing Skeleton
54 Enormous Carrion Crawler
55 Hellwasp
56 Ochre Jelly
57 Ravenous Dire Rat
60 Elf Arcane Archer

BONUS!!!!

These Reaper Miniatures also included at no extra charge!

DARK HEAVEN LEGENDS
Christmas Carol Sophie
Aaron the Conjuror
Darby Darkleaf
Krug, Hill Giant chieftain
Battle Troll
Klaus Copperthumb, Dwarf Thief
Hellakin, Halfling Thief
Small Egyptian Treasure
Large Egyptian Treasure
Ilkhan the Bloody
Nathrae, Dark Elf Cleric
Thelfoea, Medusa
Tyshall, Lamia Priestess
Virina, Female Demon
Goblins II
Rozmina, 1/2 Orc Pirate
Finaela, 1/2 Elf Pirate
Aroudj Firebeard, Dwarf Pirate
Pirate Sophie
Tara the Silent
Lorelei, Dryad
Thora, Gnome Bard
Gronk Spliteye, Bugbear Hero
Netheris, Evil Cleric
Eyebeast
Anwyn, Female Bard
Mag Blackscar, 1/2 Orc
Ibycus, Satyr
Halfling Wizard
Surkar, Orc Shaman
Parway Ambercane, Gnome Druid
Maria Roseblade
Tortise Dragon

LEGENDARY ENCOUNTERS
Skeletal Archer

WARLORD
Miner, Dwarf Adept
Bone Horror, Necro Solo
Ammat, Nefsokar Captn

Tieflings

2008-08-25T04:57:00.003-05:00

In 1E when a demon got down to busines with a mortal lady, the resulting offspring was a Cambion. In the 2E Monstrous Compendium for the Outer Planes (MC8) the ecology was further clarified in that you got a Marquis if it had been a True Tanar'ri doing the violating, and just a run of the mill Cambion if it were any of the lesser Tanar'ri.

In the 2E Planescape campaign setting, you didn't hear much about Cambions anymore, they started being called Tieflings. Which, I thought, OK, that's not a big change, because they probably call themselves by a different name than the humans afraid of being violated by demons call them.

In 3E you had a lot more of these progeny running around, only nobody called Tanar'ri by that name anymore, we went back to demons and the offspring were exclusively called Tieflings.

I'm given to understand that in 4E we don't talk much about the sexual habits of greater and lesser demons, and the Tiefling is now a true breeding race of its very own...I guess because horns and tails are cool.

Anyway, this sort of thing really messes with the long term gamer's continuity. By design, of course, because long term gamers already own most of the stuff they need and unless you destroy their continuity and stop supporting their products, they won't buy the new stuff. I actually do still buy the new stuff, and not just to complain about it being new, though I am going up in levels in my grumpy old guy character class.

In any event, here is how I handled the fact that I have several cambions on my miniature shelf, monstrous compendium sheets for them, and a rapidly growing pile of tieflings.

The following is a blend of my ecology description and the 2E entry for Tieflings from the Planescape boxed set. Let me know if you think it is plausible.

"Tieflings are the offspring of the planes, as varied as the places they call home. They are similar to Cambions, in that they have Tanar’ri blood in their veins, but these are the children of Cambions and other races, a kind of demonic quadroon. Where Cambions are universally male offspring, tieflings may be of either gender and they are able to breed more tieflings by mating with humans, demi-humans, or even among themselves, which they have begun to do in ever greater numbers as they tend to be shunned by those not of their own kind. Some scholars believe that the tieflings are well on their way to becoming a truly separate race. One thing is known, they are proliferating and becoming as frequent a sight in some larger cities as elves. Superficially human, their appearance always betrays them: some sport small horns, other have pointed ears, scales, a cloven hoof, or just a wicked gleam in their eye that never leaves. What they all have in common is a quick temper and a chip on their shoulder."

Thunderblast Cyclone

2008-08-25T03:50:00.003-05:00

This is another mini from Against the Giants that I originally thought I'd have no use for and was pretty lame.

My opinion on lameness has not changed much, but I discovered I do have a use for it. Shuffling through my "monsters with no minis" file of 2E compendium sheets, I found the sheet for the Windghost from FRX1.

There is no picture, so that makes using the Thunderblast Cyclone as a proxy pretty easy. There isn't much in the way of description of the Windghost either, but what is there matches up reasonably well.

They are flying cones (Flying parsnips, they were called by one adventurer)with a rough, mottled flexible, smoky-gray to purple body with white, pupil-less eyes and a many fanged mouth.

It also describes two retractile tentacle arms on either side of the mouth.

Except for the tentacles, which one can say are retracted in the mini, thus surprising any PCs who encounter it, I'd say we have a pretty good match here.

Perhaps, even intentional? It would warm my heart if the sculptors/designers over at WOTC were sneaking in obscure 2nd Edition monsters under new names and 4E stats. If I thought that in 4E I were likely to get old monsters with new names I'd be thrilled to death.

Fingers crossed.

Shadow Hulk

2008-08-24T22:12:00.001-05:00

I had been complaining about Shadow Hulk being stinky and stupid.

I have changed my mind. I run a 2nd Edition campaign, but all miniatures based. I had no idea what to do with a giant metallic umberhulk...especially since all my "real" umber hulks are the old Ral Partha AD&D 2E ones.

I use the WOTC ones as Vodyanoi. Was looking at the monstrous compendium sheet today for Vodyanoi, which are all freshwater. It said that there are rumors that a salt water version is twice as big & ferocious as the freshwater ones.

I'll just make that three times as big. Now I'm thrilled with this piece...perhaps that makes me fickle, but anything that is a proxy for a 2E monster is terrific in my book...even one that is only mentioned in a single line of another monster's ecology description.

Just thought I'd share.

Peace,

Shandar

Lots of images from Demonweb Pits up at DDM Spoilers

2008-08-05T09:09:00.004-05:00

http://www.ddmspoilers.com/dwb_stats2-0.php

I don't think we're ever going to go back to the look of the earliest sets, where the miniatures still had the detail and feel of the Ral Partha figures I remember of old, though they are still better than many of the minis from the '70s.

The Against the Giants set was a major disappointment, in my opinion, but Demonweb Pits has some interesting minis in it and I'm actually looking forward to the next set.

Take a look and you'll see what I mean. They still look a bit like those Chinese toys that come in clear plastic bags at the Dollar General, but some really interesting creatures this time and resculpts of some minis I really wanted to have more of, like the Bearded Devil.

Eager to see the rest. Where does this guy get his advance images???

Gallery Review for Against the Giants

2008-07-03T11:39:00.002-05:00

The new Gallery is up:

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/mg/atg

I know folks aren't as interested in my opinions as I am in voicing them, but my wife hates it when I talk minis so you are my only friends. :)

I wasn't that impressed with the last set, but I'm holding out some hope for this one. That said, I'm not crazy about the paint jobs either. I think they are starting to look more like "toys" than game pieces or collectible miniatures. I know they are, in fact, toys, but I mean they are looking more and more like the crap in bags at Target...which, I suppose, to a purist might mean it is finally getting "back to the egg" because it was monsters made in China that came in plastic bags that Gygax originally used when developing the game...but I digress. On to the personal opinions. Also, remember, I am purley RPG, so my opinions have nothing to do with skirmish values.

Angel: I really am not crazy about the direction the 4.0 angels are going. I like angelic legs, not whispy clouds.

Boneclaw Impaler: Excellent. I like it a lot.

Blazing Skeleton: Not sure about this. I like it, but I'm not sure what in the world I'd use it for. The purple Faerie Fire throws me a little.

Armored Guulvorg: I feel like this is a wasted huge slot. I wish it were a rare so I'd only have to worry about winding up with one of them.

Blackroot Treant: WTF? I picture him chasing the dryads around from the last set. Again, wish it were a rare.

Bugbear Lancebreaker is pretty good, nice detail, but seems more Orcish to me than Bugbeary.

Captain of the Watch: Excellent miniature, looking forward to adding to my female fighters.

Cave Bear: Nice to have a bear that isn't dire. Cave Bears are really scary 1st level encounters.

Chain Golem: If this is a huge, it is dumb. Where would you get that much chain that is that big? Probably a lot easier to just make an Iron Golem instead. If it is, you know, normal chain, then I'm less worried about its inherent dumbness, because golems that aren't from the normal four food groups tend to be made from more easily obtained materials...like chains.

Cloaktrick Rogue: I'll have to wait to see the mini that I actually get on this one to judge the paint job. The image looks like some of the midling painted HeroClix minis...He's got enormous eyes.

Cockatrice: Pretty decent. Good to have an ignored core monster in this set.

Deathpriest of Orcus: I've been saying for years that I wish WOTC would do more mythos specific priests (still holding out for a Gondsman) and this is very nice to have. I'd have prefered going for Banak as depicted on the cover of one of the early Realms supplements, or one of the robed priests dancing around the summoning pool, but this will do. In my world, Orcus made a bid for Godhood early on and so I've had a real need for some Orcus priests.

Degenerate Cultist of Orcus: I'm happy to have more Orcus followers, believe me...and the Common designation meanst I'll have a bunch of them now, but why couldn't they be more generic and robed? Why do followers of a god who is in charge of skeletons and stuff have so much healthy flesh on their bones? I guess every temple to Orcus has a well equipped weight room.

Doresain, the Ghoul King: Did they finish painting this one? Who is this guy? Why is he on my shelf?

Dwarf Warsword: Nice. I'll probably use him for an angry dwarven theif. Or ranger.

Death Titan: Very nice. Not sure what I'll use him for, and hope my axe handle isn't as twisty as the gallery image, but I like it.

Dragonborn Defender: I'm just not that interested in the dragonborn or spawn or other dragaon hybrids.

Dragonborn Myrmidon: Ibid.

Earth Titan: I'll be interested to see the ecologies of the Titans. So far the huges are not grabbing me and making me cry tears of joy. One of the advantages of doing a huge miniature is that you can do extra detail on them. Something like this seems like cheating.

Eldarin Pyromancer: Pretty nice, but I bet he gets tired of carrying around that fireball all the time.

Elf Arcane Archer: Not crazy about the paint job, but can always use a few more elves.

Efreeti Flamestrider: This is a nice miniature, and perfect to make it a rare. You really only need one. Great homage to the old 1E artwork.

Enormous Carrion Crawler: Maybe it is just me, but it seems like so many of these huge slots are wasted on things we've already got. It is kind of interesting, but do we really need a huge version of something that mostly eats things that are already dead? Did it get huge because there is so much dead stuff where it lives? I wish that WOTC paid half as much attention to ecologies as TSR did. Fantasy isn't supposed to be real, I know, but does it have to so often defy logic? Carrion Crawlers were menacing, but their main puprose was to crawl along and clean up the dead stuff adventurers leave behind...but, I guess the 3rd and 4th editions were so combat and skirmish heavy that there probably are enough dead things to let carrion crawlers get this big...I withdraw my complaint. (yes, that was sarcasm)

Elder Red Dragon: Ever since the set before last I stopped caring about collecting these things, so I won't have more than a twinge of guilt over repainting this if it comes out of the box looking like the gallery image.

Elder White Dragon: So cool that I probalby won't get a single one in my three cases.

Feybound Halfling: All the halflings look the same to me. Is it some kind of halfling religious thing that they all have to have pony tails?

Firebat: This is sort of interesting...though I wish they'd make a bone bat.

Fire Giant Raider: This is very similar to the old Ral Partha fire giant sculpt. I like it, and like the pose, and am always happy to have more giants. Especially in a set that is called Against the Giants. I guess I thought there'd be more, you know, giants. This set should really be called Here Come the Titans.

Fire Titan: Awesome. Have no idea what I'll use it for, but awesome.

Fist of Moradin: Very good miniature, glad it is an Uncommon.

Flamescorched Kobold: Not sure what the flamescorched thing is all about, but seems like it will be a good addition to the kobolds on my shelf.

Furious Owlbear: I have way more owlbears than I need. Having a furious one doesn't get me that excited about adding another one.

Galeb Duhr: This I am excited about. I've been using a really crappy earth elemental from Citadel Miniatures for a Galeb Duhr for close to 30 years. I am so glad that I was able to procrastinate that entire time so that I don't have a sculpt of my own for this classic monster that I'd prefer to this one.

Gnaw Demon: Why? There are lots of similar minis from HorrorClix and other places...why invent a stupid looking new demon when you still have some classic ones you've ignored. Besides, it looks an awful lot like an old grenadier sculpt but with wings...the one that MageKnight uses.

Goblin Runner: I like him.

Golden Wyvern Initiate: A wasted opportunity to have another Mythos specific priest...but I can probably find a use for him/her someplace. Human faces are looking pretty bad in this set. I like the color of the robes, though.

Half-Elf Assassin: Um...is there anything about this figure that strongly indicates Half-Elf? Is there some quota I'm missing? Is this a token Half-Elf? With a hood and face mask, what are the specific Half-Elf traits that demanded a racial designation instead of just saying "Assassin" and letting the player choose the race? Probably some skirmish thing.

Hellwasp: Back to that plastic bag at Target. Thanks for the homage, but...keep your disproportionately huge articulated stiner to yourself. At least give us clear plastic wings!

Hobgoblin Guard: Good pose for a common. Nice work.

Lizardfolk Raider: Albino? Unfinished paint job? I know we had all those arguments about red Yuan-ti, but white lizard folk are...uncommon indeed.

Lurking Wraith: Good use of a clear plastic mini, but I'm not sure how many of these clear plastic ghosties we need. Well, want, I mean.

Mightly Blademaster: I can't tell, but isn't this a blade mistress?

Ochre Jelly: So dang glad to finally have an ochre jelly that isn't already eating somebody. Really hard to explain how your players are going down the dungeon hallway and find a bunch of Ochre Jellies eating a bunch of clones.

Orc Zombie: With Orcus presumably on his way, and his priests pumping up for action, makes sense to start giving us some more undead varieties.

Planechanged Ghoul: Not sure what I'll use it for.

Roper: I like this roper better than the last one...but why do we need another one?

Ravenous Dire Rat: We've got regular, Diseased, and Ravenous Dire Rats now. I think we've suffered enough. Give us some more wererats instead, please.

Shadow Hulk: Another wasted huge slot. What's the point? Would have been much cooler to do an Aboleth instead.

Shifter Claw Adept: Where are the admantine claws?

Skullcleave Warrior: This is a really nice mini, I think. Can't see it too clearly. Is it human or Orc?

Shocktroop Devil: I guess we're leaving all the Blood War Devil and Demons behind. I'll find some use for this.

Storm Giant Thunderer: I always thought the original Storm Giant was more like a Titan, but because she was painted green and I didn't want to repaint her, I shrugged and said, "Whatever." Now we finally get a storm giant that looks like a storm giant and they paint him blue???? This will be a repaint, and maybe now that I'm so uninterested in collecting, I'll finally go back and repaint the first storm giant afterall.

Thunderblas Cyclone: I like it...but it makes me really weep that they didn't do a Phaerimm instead. That would have been cooler. Oh well.

Tiefling Gladiator: She's OK, but if tieflings are supposed to have a variety of looks becasuse they each get one or two demonic traits, how come they are starting to look so much like a true breeding race with all of them looking nearly exactly alike?

Tomebound Arcanist: Pretty good miniature. I like when mages are depicted with spell books.

Visceral Devourer: I really like this one. Hope it looks as good out of the box as it does on the gallery page.

Voracious Ice Devil: Excellent. Really wish it were Uncommon instead of Rare.

Xorn Ravager: Is this a zombie Xorn? I don't get it. This was not a monster I was dying for a resculpt of.

Young Adamantine Dragon: Pretty good, though it looks a lot like the old green to me.

Yuan-ti Anathema: Nice miniature, I'm looking forward to using it, but I prefered the artwork of the Anathema having multiple heads rather than snake head fingers.

All in all, not a bad set...but where are all the giants? Against the Giants only has two different giant types? Oh well.

The worlds finest miniature terrain...Dwarven Forge

2008-05-07T15:06:00.001-05:00

Dungeons of Dread Case #3

2008-04-08T15:05:00.004-05:00

Well...this is it!

First Pull: Nothing new

Second Pull: Nothing new

Third Pull: Nothing new

Fourth Pull: Spectral Magelord. Another clear plastic mini that you doesn't get painted and is presumed "cool". Meh.

Fifth Pull: Death Knight. Not that impressive a mini, but will work very well for that guy who guards Darkhold.

Sixth Pull: Nothing new

Seventh Pull: Ettin, not crazy about it. It would be fine, if there weren't so many other really nice ettin miniatures out there.

Eighth Pull: Emerald Orb Wizard--this is a very nice miniature, very good paint job.

Ninth Pull: Angel of Valor. Hate the new agels concept. Having fits trying to figure out how to use them in my world.

Tenth Pull: Nothing new

Eleventh Pull: Fen Hydra, nice.

Twelfth Pull: Vampire Vizier--very nice miniature

So, after three cases, the only two I'm missing are:

5 Young Silver Dragon 62 C Good 8 R
40 Griffon 22 B/W -- 7 R

I might try to get the YSD, but don't really care if I get the griffon, it doesn't look great from the gallery images and I've got a bunch of griffons from other sources. Maybe I'll luck into one if I do a tournament play thingy.

Dungeons of Dread Case #2

2008-04-08T14:44:00.002-05:00

First Pull: Nothing new

Second Pull: Nothing new

Third Pull: Lamia...poorly painted and relatively useless for gaming purposes.

Fourth Pull: Balhannoth is a strange creature, but I can probably find use for it. My Underdark needs some populating. It will fit in well with my Great Old Ones.

Fifth Pull: Champion of Baphomet is not the best minotaur we've seen from WOTC, but it isn't bad.

Sixth Pull: Nothing new

Seventh Pull: Nothing new

Eighth Pull: Nothing new

Ninth Pull: Nothing new

Tenth Pull: Nothing new

Eleventh Pull: Nothing new

Sniff....counting down:
2 Angel of Valor 30 B/C Good 8 R
5 Young Silver Dragon 62 C Good 8 R
7 Death Knight 65 B Evil 13 R
28 Vampire Vizier 51 U Evil 11 R
38 Ettin Jack-of-Irons 71 B/C -- 10 R
40 Griffon 22 B/W -- 7 R
44 Emerald Orb Wizard 33 C/U -- 9 R
46 Spectral Magelord 26 C/U -- 7 R
55 Fen Hydra 93 U/W -- 12 R

Dungeons of Dread Case #1

2008-04-08T10:26:00.007-05:00

OK, the new boosters are strange....unfamiliar...dare I say it? Less phallic.

In the first pull I got an Oni. Very nice, and a much better paint job than the one in the gallery. The Elf Archer was a terrible paint job. If I keep a bunch of these, they will all have to be repainted, but I can't tell if there is no detail on the face or if all detail is obscurred by the paint they used. The Drow Spiderguard is good, but mostly because there is almost no paint on it at all. The Iron Defender looks a lot more like a dog in armor than a mechanical dog. Meh. The Magma Brute...well, its hard to get excited about a miniature that even I could sculpt. The Troglodyte Bonecrusher is worthless. It is stupid, ugly, and the only thing that keeps it from being considered a poor paint job is the almost complete lack of paint. If I use this at all, it will be as some form of evolved rock lizard, certainly not as a troglodyte. Ick. The Chillborn, however, is extremely nicely painted for a common. I'm glad this is a common, I'll be using these frosty undead in my campaign for certain. The Defiant Rake might be a nice figure if it had any real detail and wasn't painted with Testor's Model Paint.

Second Pull: Deathjump Spider is excellent, but partially because they didn't bother to do more than put a light wash on it. I will be using these for Retrievers, as they are in an almost identical pose to the 1st Edition artwork. The Shadow Demon is nice, but I'm starting to get a little bored with the clear plastic minis. Runecarved Eidolon...Worst Rare Ever. Cleric of Pelor is good, nice pose, shiny armor. Goblin Picador is alright, for a goblin, but the paint is awful and very thick, obscuring most of the detail on the face. Spectral Panther is dumb. And strangely metallic. Giant Centipede is cool, but what is with these weird paints? I know it is a common, but how much time and effort would it have taken to do the legs in black so they stand out against the bright orange belly? Make the time up with the time you saved by not really painting the Troglodyte Bonecrusher. Which I now have two of and don't even want one.

Third Pull: Grick sucks, not to put too fine a point on it, especially compared to the old one. The colors used are too bright and the pose is awful. I guess I will use these blue ones as males, and have them be much fewer in number than the more common green females. Meaning, this is the only one I'm going to keep. The rest go to eBay. The Hook Horror is kind of nice, though now I have to find a reason for my existing Ral Parthas and the Hook Horror from the previous edition. I am not crazy about the metallic paints in this set. Warforged Infiltrator is an interesting mini, and also interesting concept. Shadowhunter Bat is nice, but I don't really care for the tail...why would any creature, especially a flying one, have a tail that is thicker and more massive than it's own body? Vampire Spawn is another example of what seems to be the hallmark of this set...miminal paint jobs without detail. The Orc Raider is even less impressive than the image in the gallery. It has little detail, sloppy paint job, and the sculpt is uninspired. With so many orcs already done in previous sets, why offer something so...Meh? Mind Flayer Scourge is another unimpressive Rare. Hardly any paint, what paint there is is sloppy, and one of the points on his collar is broken. This is going to take some cleaning up and repair before I use him. The Kobold Archer is the tallest kobold yet, and not very well painted.

Fourth Pull: The Warrior Wight is really a nice miniature. Eye of Flame is a nice variation on the Beholder. The Dwarf Warlord is a nice sculpt, ruined by the paint job...why does he look like a Duergar? Halfling Paladin is OK, but again, not a great sculpt and bigger than we've seen halflings before, with little detail on the paint.

Fifth Pull: More metalic paint on the Bralani...whatever a Bralani is. I think the Archons are about as dumb as the new concept for the Angels. The Ice Archon isn't going to change my mind. I was very pleasantly suprised by the Bugbear Headreaver. Nice detail and very well painted. The Drow Wand Mage is a nice sculpt, but will need to have some paint to touch it up.

Sixth Pull: Tiefling Warlock is a nice mini, but terrible paint job. The Gargoyle is a good miniature, and I'll probably use it as a Malebranche. The Immolith is good, if weird. I think I will use him for Kossuth...I think that is the name...one of the Forgotten Realms dieties of fire. I had been using the giant fire elemental, but this thing looks more "god-like" to me. The Bulette is probably my least favorite version of the Bulette. I much prefer the Ral Partha one of old, which is about half the size. So, I guess, now I have a Medium, Large, and Huge version of the Bulette. One question, though...why is this bulette metallic gold wherever it doesn't look like an elephant? The Gnoll Marauder is an OK sculpt, but why do we need a new gnoll, and why do we need one painted this poorly? Even so, I might end up keeping all the ones I pull, because this gnoll sculpt works the best for gnoll guards out of all the sets so far.

Seventh Pull: The Wyvern...This is so similar to the previous wyvern in pose that I'm at a loss to explain why they would resculpt it...or why the would paint it metallic olive drab. Shadeknight is interesting, and it might be cool to take a second one and paint it up so that you could have both a visible and invisible version of this as a character. Dwarf Sheildmaiden is a prtty good sculpt, except for the impression that she is has a pretty severe hump...but the paint is just as bad as the rest of the set. Why does her red hair turn to gold where it is braided? The Rakshasa Baron is really nice. No complaints at all, here. Everfrost Ranger is also very good, no complaints only compliments.

Eighth Pull: Dire Wolf...like we need another Dire Wolf...I guess dire creatures in 2.0 no longer have spiked bones sticking out of their bodies and lack the "prehistoric" cast that the old sets had. What can I say, another black mini they didn't have to paint anything on but eyes and teeth. Meh.

Ninth Pull: The Vrock is a great sculpt, so much better than the one in Archfiends. Also well painted.

Tenth Pull: Young Red Dragon is not as impressive as previous red dragons, but there isn't much wrong with it, other than the wings extending further than the base so it doesn't sit flat on the table. I'm glad to see that dragons are going by age category rather than size, that's how we did it back in 2E.

Eleventh Pull: Skeletal Tomb Guardian is a nice sculpt, but this would have been a much better Uncommon than a Rare.

Twelfth Pull: Howling Hag is interesting, if a little cartoony. The Human Fighter is also a pretty nice sculpt, but the paint is again uninspired. Might be nice to do up several variations on the paint job. Glad I don't care about collecting any more, so I don't have to preserve the original paint jobs on any of these things. The Ascendant Hellsword is also nice, but I don't like the Darth Maul double bladed sword.

So, that's it, my first case.

Still hoping for:
2 Angel of Valor 30 B/C Good 8 R
5 Young Silver Dragon 62 C Good 8 R
7 Death Knight 65 B Evil 13 R
24 Champion of Baphomet 66 C/W Evil 13 R
25 Balhannoth 53 U Evil 13 R
28 Vampire Vizier 51 U Evil 11 R
30 Lamia 98 U/W Evil 12 R
38 Ettin Jack-of-Irons 71 B/C -- 10 R
40 Griffon 22 B/W -- 7 R
44 Emerald Orb Wizard 33 C/U -- 9 R
46 Spectral Magelord 26 C/U -- 7 R
55 Fen Hydra 93 U/W -- 12 R

New Minis Day

2008-04-08T06:46:00.003-05:00

The new miniatures set from WTOC was released last week on April 4th, but around here we don't get things into our FLGS for nearly a weekk after the release date.

I broke my boycot and ordered three cases, which should arrive late this afternoon by FedEx.

The boycot after the last set was because the quality was so horrible in the minis, and the miniatures themselves seemed to have taken a much bigger step toward "toy" than "miniature" in the sculpting. It was not over the transition to DDM 2.0, since I never played DDM anyway. I used them to support my 2nd Edition RPG sessions.

I'd been looking at the previews of the new set on the WOTC website and decied I would give it another try. You can see the gallery here: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/mg/dxd

Judging by the gallery images, there is less detail, poorer paint jobs and a more cartoonish feel to the miniatures than previous sets. Still, there are some interesting miniatures that I know I can immediately find uses for in my game. I am done worrying about collecting complete sets, but there are some minis in this set that I'm very eager to have on my shelf and then incorporate into play.

These include:

Ascendant Hellsword
Balhannoth
Deathjump Spider
Dwarf Warlord
Eye of Flame
Giant Centipede
Gargoyle
Oni
Young Red Dragon
Vrock
Young Silver Dragon

These, in spite of their paint jobs, are all interesting minis. I am also very glad that the centipede and the spider are commons, and hope I get a pile of them. I think that I will use the deathjump spider as a Retriever.

I should probably wait to see the minis in hand, but judging from the gallery, the following minis from the new set look terrible. I am at a loss as to what goes into the decision making in terms of what miniatures to make in each set, these are either ones that we've already seen, and seen done better, or will require me to spend hours inventing a reason to have them in my monstrous ecology.

Angel of Valor
Bulette
Champion of Baphomet (how many minotaurs do we need????)
Dire Wolf
Grick
Griffon
Hook Horror
Ice Archon
Runecarved Eidolon (this piece of crap is a RARE??? Hopefully I won't get one.)
Spectral Magelord
Troglodyte Bonecrusher
Wyvern

So, there you have it, more WTFs than WOWs, and the rest are yawns. I didn't mention the orc, the bugbear, the gnoll, and the mind flayer because I can find use for them and might repaint them...but man, they suck. I just can't get over how much they feel like toys instead of game pieces...meaning, made for a demographic who doesn't care about detail, quality, or artistry. These are a lot closer to Marx playsets than Ral Partha figures.

I know, I'm so hard to please. And the days of highly detailed renderings of 2E artwork are gone, gone, gone.

Still and all, I'm actually excited about the delivery of the cases, and with a modicum of luck, I'll be thrilled rather than disappointed.

I'm also planning to pick up a starter set and actually learn how to play DDM 2.0. I think that having a non-randomized set of miniatures exclusive to the DDM 2.0 starter sets was a brilliant idea. Since I never played the first DDM game, I don't have a problem with transition, and since I have to buy the starter set anyway, I might as well try out the game system. That was never something that occured to me with the original game, because I never had any motivation whatsoever to buy a starter set.

Gary Gygax Dead

2008-03-04T16:13:00.000-05:00

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: March 4, 2008
Filed at 1:41 p.m. ET

MILWAUKEE, Wis. (AP) -- A sad day for fans of role-playing games: The man who co-created Dungeons & Dragons is dead.

Gary Gygax died Tuesday morning at his home in Lake Geneva, Wis. His wife Gail says the 69-year-old had been suffering from health problems for several years.
Gygax and Dave Arneson developed Dungeons & Dragons in 1974 using medieval characters and mythical creatures. The game known for its oddly shaped dice eventually was turned into video games, books and movies.

It's considered the grandfather of fantasy role-playing games and has inspired legions of adoring fans. Gygax's wife says he always enjoyed hearing from them.

Dwarven Forge!

2008-02-25T17:18:00.004-05:00

Well, I finally took the plunge and got some basic Dwarven Forge sets to use as background for my campaign images.

I plan to use the gaming table and wet erase markers for actual play, but the "re-enactment" photos will incorporate the Dwarven Forge pieces. That way, I don't need to have more than the basic sets, as I can use the walls in a variety of configuration with only as much as can be seen in one photo showing.

Here is the first shot, of The Hopeful Seven.

Chore Wars

2008-02-17T14:01:00.003-05:00

I was reading entries on Hordling.com, and there was a guy on there who was wondering if there were any more people out there like himself, who had spent more than $4K on miniatures.

I'm sure, cumualtively, I've got him beat, but this poor fella was talking about his minis exactly like an addiction...which, of course, it is. You don't hear people refer to it as plastic crack for nothing. I think it is actually closer akin to a gambling addiction, and the random rewards of randomized minis really do fall into that category. It isn't a slot machine, it is a cardboard box, but it is exactly the same principle involved.

Anyway, he'd maxed out his credit cards and was starting to have marital trouble...us grizzled veterans of the obsessive compulsive collectors on Hordlings had seen it all before.

One thing I hadn't seen before was something called Chore Wars. One of the posters suggested to the guy that he and his wife and the kids, if they haven't sold them to buy more minis, should register for Chore Wars. The idea is you role play characters and earn XP for doing household chores -- Household Adventures.

You can set it up so that you earn both XP and Gold for various things, and if you agree that you can only spend dollars equal to the gold you've gotten for doing chores...everybody wins.

My wife and I set up an account...she may not invest in doing the Chore Wars thing, but even if it is only a way for me to track my household chore contributions, I'm pleased. You can create monsters to encounter and add in extra treasure.

For example, if while I'm cleaning the bedroom closet I encounter the Dust Bunny of Doom, I might defeat it and get two movie tickets. If the wife is making the bed and defeats the Angry Sock Monkey, she might get a foot rub.

It is fun, and I like it, and I recommend it.

Scribd

2008-02-17T07:39:00.005-05:00

Scribd is a new online service that is sort of like the YouTube of documents, or that is what they are being called.

Essentially, you upload a document, like a PDF, and the file sharing service automatically converts it to several different file formats available for download.

I'm dubious about the legality and wary of the potential for copyright infringement, but I have to say that for someone who labors to back-engineer 3rd edition materials to a useful 2nd edition format, the service is a godsend. I hope they don't go all Napster on us geeky D&D file sharers. That would just be embarrassing for everyone. Besides, with 4th edition coming out this year, all these 3E files will be obsolete and unsupported by the parent company anyway.

When I'm doing up a Monstrous Manual page for my 2nd Edition game from 3E materials, it is incredibly time consuming to scan the text from the 3E books and because of the ebmedded graphics, I almost always end up having to just transcribe it myself.

With Scribd, all I have to do is download the Word version of the PDF and the text is ready to be converted to my 2E files. I am sure that at first blush this seems a lot like piracy, but I have purchased nearly every single book in 3E in order to convert the materials to my 2E game, so WOTC isn't losing any money from me by my taking advantage of this service solely as a document converter.

That's my story, anyway, and I'm sticking to it.

My life isn't going to be long enough to actually play all the adventures I have planned for my players, any time I can shave off prep and devote to play, I'm all for, and this is going to save me literally months!

Wow...I almost had a twinge of doubt, but I overcame it--D&D crisis of faith averted, hobby time is never wasted! Never!

Check it out. If you search and find a poster who has a lot of the same kind of files you like, click on their name and you'll probably get a very specific short list, like Wilbur07, who has uploaded a lot of WOTC pdfs.

I'm also actually happy about WOTC going to all online content for DRAGON and Dungeon for the same reason. Much as I miss losing a little more shelf space every month with the print versions, I had the same trouble scanning and converting. Now it is just cut and paste and it couldn't be easier for me...though I have to remember to keep logging on to the website regularly to keep up!

What I've Been Doing Wrong

2008-02-16T10:35:00.005-05:00

I made a resolution to re-read my DMG from cover to cover. It has been a very long time, probably 15 years since I did that. When you use a book like this only as a reference to check rules when problems arise, you begin to let some basics drop. You can't quite remember a rule and don't want to break up the flow of play by looking up the specifics when a ruling on the fly will work just as well...then the next time it comes up you remember the rule made on the fly and don't even think to look up the real rule...and that's how different campaigns get different feels...because they start having different rules without you even knowing it.

I've been surprised by some of the things I've been doing "wrong" for years as a result. Most of them my players would never notice. Some of them are actual rule changes I've made as house rules, and some of those with the player's consent.

We haven't been able to play in my world for a long time, too many IRL conflicts, and it looks like the next time we have a chance to play is March 22 or 23. I might actually be able to read the whole DMG and PH by then, in addition to session prep. Hope springs eternal.

Among the things I've been doing wrong, that I've discovered so far, is that I'd been assigning a speed factor of 3 to natural weapons like claws and bites. The DMG says they have no speed factor. A discover that is bad news for the players, but delights me! Of course, there is the optional table that assigns an initiative modifer to natural attacks by size of creature, and I'm contemplating that...tiny is 0, gargantuan is +12 to initiative, which is essentially assigning a speed factor to the entire creature, even though they say that natural attacks have no impact on speed. I think with this table, the segments added to your initiative roll for a medium creature is +6.

I don't think I'll use it, or if I do, I may modify it. My reasoning is, ff people, which are medium sized, don't have a +6 to their initiative roll in addition to the speed factors, then why should creatures with natural weapons? It seems to me it would have been better to have medium creatures be 0 and give incremental bonuses to smaller creatures and penalties to larger creatures, if you do it at all.

In other matters related to speed and combat, I also haven't been using the attack modifiers for magical weapons to also reduce speed factors. A +1 long sword not only hits better, it is faster by one than a normal long sword.

There are other things, and maybe if I sit and read with the lap top fired up, I'll list some more discoveries of fundamental things I've been doing wrong here...if I don't think it is too embarassing to do so!

The Miniature Building Authority

2007-12-23T00:05:00.000-05:00

The Miniature Building Authority is one of the best sources of pre-painted resin building for your table top gaming needs.

Custom made miniatures!

2007-12-19T13:43:00.001-05:00

http://www.figureprints.com/

Crazy.

I don't imagine WOTC will be far behind once 4.0 comes out.

Nasteez Dragon Turtle

2007-11-11T22:01:00.001-05:00

I've got a couple of the Reaper Tortoise Dragons, and even an old Heritage turtle dragon...I think it is heritage...but one of the minis I'm desperate to own is the Dragon Turtle put out by Nasteez.

This, to my mind, is the perfect dragon turtle. I have seen one, my friend Matt Clark had it and it was one of the minis he refused to sell me when I bought most of his old collection...but unfortunately it is also one of the miniatures that he melted down when he started working at Reaper.

If you know of someone who has one of these and would like to part with it, please let me know. I saw this one on eBay a couple of years ago, but couldn't afford the final bid.

DoD Fire Archon

2007-11-11T09:03:00.000-05:00

It is no secret that I really was unimpressed with the Desert of Desolation set of miniatures that WOTC recently released. I remember being heartbroken, and that isn't too strong a word, when I found out that WOTC broke its contract with Ral Partha to produce official AD&D miniatures and saw that WOTC was going in the direction of making minis that looked a lot like Warhammer minis--28mm scale, and less realism. This became the industry standard, really, and I did come to embrace the WOTC minis in the DDM plastics line...until this set which represents the new artwork for 4th Edition and DDM 2.0.

There are a few minis in the set that are worth showcasing, though. In 2E there are only 5 types of archons, but 3E and it seems 4E are expanding the archons dramatically. This mini, the Fire Archon, is a little goofy looking. I like what WOTC is doing with their clear plastics, but the Fire Archon looks more comical than menacing.

I finally realized that what made him look so stupid was the size of his weapons. Why a guy made of fire wants to use steel weapons and wear armor, I leave that to the game designers to explain. He has them, its a mini in my collection, and he has to have a place on the shelf...
I cut off the puny little scimitar blades and glued on the blades from some hefty weapons from the Reaper Warlords weapons packs and it instantly went from "meh" to nifty.

All of a sudden instead of having one figure on the shelf because I collect the set, to one i'd like to have a half dozen of or so as guards to some Elemental Wizard's dungeon or something. It was a very easy conversion and i was happy that the glue held the metal to the plastic so well. With the wide variety of weapons in the Reaper packs, I could easily have a dozen of these without repeating the weapon combination.

All that said, however, the Flame Harrower from Dreamblade is a much more dynamic pose for essentially the same monster. The armor is cooler and it makes much more sense that a fire creature would have a flamesword rather than humping around some steel blades...although, I wonder how much extra damage those red-hot steel blades do?

WOTC Two-Headed Troll (scratchbuilt)

2007-11-08T12:00:00.000-05:00

I call this photo, "Proffit On The March".

For years and years I have been wanting someone, anyone, to make a decent two headed troll. There just aren't any out there. The companies that have tried...Reaper for example, made them look too much like warty ettins and gave them weapons or armor, which didn't look like a troll to me.

WOTC's new set, Desert of Desolation, has a new troll based on the 4th edtion artwork. Pretty much this new artwork and the minis from this set have broken my heart, because this is the first WOTC mini set that I honestly don't give a darn if I collect the entire set or not. I think they suck and may not buy any more DDM minis...not out of protest, but just because I'm not interested anymore in their product line. I know they are toys...but do they have to look like them?

I'll review the set later, if I can muster up that much interest, but probably the best thing about it, in my opinion, is that this new troll really worked as a basis for my own scratch-built two-headed troll. The body was big enough, with broad enough shoulders, and the head sunk low enough on the chest...and its own seperate piece...that I could pop them off and reattach with green stuff very easily.

I'm pretty much thrilled with this mini...though I have a hard time thinking that it justifies the expense of the three cases I bought in order to make it.

Here are some process pics:

Personalities: Banak

2007-11-04T10:48:00.000-05:00

This is a Reaper miniature, not sure of the name or product number. I thought he was pretty close to the representation of Banak from The Bloodstone Lands. He's a bit beefed up, so perhaps he's a few levels higher than he was when Larry Elmore painted that cover.

I don't think I like very much how the beard turned out, I should maybe have gone with white rather than black so he'd look a little more goat-like.

Here is the original cover painting for reference:

NPC: Unroch Rexohi, Quotspa, and Zerlina

2007-10-23T14:38:00.000-05:00

Unroch Rexohi is a mighty young warrior of the Lost Tribe of the Great Worm. The Lost Tribe arrived in Archwood almost 25 years ago through a one way gate. At that time a hunting expedition came upon an ancient ruin in Lurkwood. They were examining the area and all passed through an archway. The stone archway suddenly blazed with blue fire and transported them across the vast distance to archwood. Here, the tribe essentially re-invented itself and waits for a sign that will take its people home.
Unroch has a brother named Quotspa, who is a priest of Tempus. The two brothers have recently begun adventuring together, joined in their company by a female human ranger named Zerlina.

Zerlina was born in the small Cormyr frontier town of Thunderstone. She was the daughter of two adventurers who were members of the Company of the Flaming Falcon. This company had been employed by a Cormyte merchant to clear a large area of the Hullack Forest for lumbering, and they headquartered in a log fort just inside the treeline. One night black orcs radied the fort and killed all the members of the company, and the young Zerlina was taken by the orcs and placed in a slave pen.

She was rescued by a very old druid named Tildeth and her friend, the ranger Abdenthar. These two women would raise the child, and train her in the ways of Meillikki. Zerlina became a ranger as well, and when it came time to take a follower, she was honored by a fire falcon, a fitting tribute to her murdered parents.

I lived for a very short time in Chicago, and while I was there I started a campaign with Jeff Goode (who played Quotspa), my now ex (Zerlina) and a good friend of ours named Brett (Unroch). We played once a week, but the short story is that I didn't live in Chicago very long, so it was a very short campaign. I think we played through one complete adventure--the Fountain of Health side trip in an issue of Dungeon Magazine. The real lesson here is not to invest mountains of prep and detailed backstory into your campaign...the characters could get killed off quickly or the players could move out of town...or, in this case, the DM could.

The other lesson, I suppose, is that if you are the DM, its nice if you own all the miniatures--including the PCs. I'm glad to still have these on my shelf, and will likely include them as NPCs in my campaign.

Unroch is a Ral Partha figure, I think he came with some sort of animal, Quotspa was from the Heroe Quest game set. I actually thought that was a pretty decent game, though I never played by the rules. You got some decent plastic minis and some stand up things like a fireplace and table...both of which I still use. It was fun painting him up like a priest of Tempus, because their vestments are the dried blood of their foes. To be a priest of Tempus is never to have to wash, I guess.

Zerlina is a Rafm mini, as are the lesiban duo who resuced her. These were my ex-wife's characters and she painted them herself. She seemed to give the whole D&D thing an honest roll. Didn't make my save, though.

NPC: Alzador

2007-10-23T13:03:00.000-05:00

Alzador is a wizard of moderate level who will provide training to lower level magicians and offer magical assistance when needed, for a price. He lives in the tower on the uppermost level, along with whatever student he is currently tutoring.

Alzador has quite a few powerful magical items, one of which is his enchanted crown--but no one knows what the enchantments are. He likes to wear it while walking on the roof of his tower, but never wears it outside the building. The locals refer to him as the King of Bug Tussle, and Alzador actually thinks this is a complimentary remark!

Alzador joined the Hopeful Seven after Shandar was cast out from the group when it was still operating out of Epping, in the Kindom of Ool, on the far side of the Anauroch desert.

This miniature is another one that I got from that hobby store in San Francisco. It is stamped Ral Partha 1977 on the bottom. I bought it because it reminded me of a character I played in a play in High School, which was written (I think) by my High School speech teacher, Harvey Green. The play was Alzador and the Enchanted Crown. I had a blue robe and a big staff and a long grey beard. This miniature looked pretty close to what I imagined the character to be like. I see him pop up in hobby stores and on eBay a lot, and in almost every case the top of the staff is broken off and missing...just like what happened to mine some years back. I took a staff from the Reaper Warlord accessories and cut it to size and glued it on the hand. I think this is a nicer staff than the original, which was just a long cudgel. I just finished painting him yesterday...he's been in my collection for nearly two decades and I never finished painting him because I didn't want to paint it without fixing the staff and I just couldn't find the right piece until recently when I went through my Reaper spare parts.

And now, ladies and gentlemen, the Ringo Starr who made Shandar the Pete Best of the Hopeful Seven.

I decided that I will photograph the mini the first time before I put the varnish on it, that should be a fair compromise.

NPC: Ransom

2007-10-23T12:47:00.000-05:00

Ransom the Thief was an adventuring partner of Too Bad Jim before joining The Hopeful Seven.

Ransom was a very accomplished thief before settling down in Bug Tussle. At one point he was captain of a great flying ship, and he has traveled further over the Realms than most have dreamed of going.

His two great failings are that he easily falls into unrequited love and then he turns to drink for comfort. Too Bad likes him, but disdainfully refers to Ransom as an "accidental worshipper of Sharess."

Ransom still has retains all of his thief abilities, but when he is drunk they are at 1/2. It would take a good long drying out period to get them back to full strength and Ransom would be constantly in danger of falling off the wagon if he undertook any adventuring these days--in particular if he is around Too Bad Jim, who takes delight in the fellow off the wagon and baiting him with questions about his love life or taunting him with tales of the objects of his affection (both past and present) visiting him in his temple.

Ransom rarely leaves his house, which is fashioned like a small castle. It is in a poor state of repair however, and a bit of an eyesore. Ransom will provide training if he is sober, otherwise he will make any sort of promise necessary in order to get a drink, and promptly forget that promise as soon as he has the drink in hand.

Although he has drunk away a vast portion of his adventuring fortune he still has enough that his house is well stocked with drinks and pipeweed, one of the primary reasons you can find Putnam, the Captain of the Guard from Fort Aumry, there on most evenings. Ransom and Aumry dress up in various ancient uniforms they have collected and sing songs from armies both ancient and modern, human and demi-human.

This miniature and somewhat sorry character were the ones I used in Goode's world. When Ransom was adventuring, he was quite a clever and charismatic thief. Once he wished for a flying ship and it fell on him out of the sky...smashing into kindling. Too clever by half. I think Jeff took pity on me and rewound time until I could get the wording of the wish exactly right. Once we had the flying ship, Too Bad, Ransom, and Snod's dwarf character...whose name escapes me...all went flying around being Wind Pirates with Too Bad creating a barrel of gin a day.

At any rate, Ransom is the final original member of the Hopeful Seven. I left him in this sorry state to remind me of the bad end I might have come to had I not left my wind pirate days behind me and reformed.

NPC: Too Bad Jim

2007-10-23T12:27:00.000-05:00

Too Bad claims to hold the office of Exalted Grand High Priest of Sharess—and does, in fact, maintain one of the few remaining "temples" to that diminishing power. Sharess is a Lesser Power whose worship is waning in the Realms as more people lean toward Sune and Lliira.

While Sharess worshipers appreciate beauty and parties, Sharess is the god of the idle rich and decadents of any stripe, catering to less socially acceptable pleasures and outright hedonism. Her portfolio includes lust, free love, sensual fulfillment, drunkenness, and excess of all kinds. The local farmers wives would not call this a temple, but are more inclined to refer to it as the "shameless whore house" run by that "degenerate little man".

In addition to the "clergy" or prostitutes, if you will, Too Bad Jim also has a mighty fine tonic he calls “Holier Water” that is really nothing but gin. This gin is magically created by Too Bad himself, who was granted a wish on one of his adventures and which gave him the ability to create gin at will.

Regardless of anyone’s opinion of his religion, he is a fully qualified priest and will pray, cast spells, heal, and provide other services for a "donation". The "temple" does rent rooms, but only by the hour.

Too Bad Jim also has a small shop called "Priest in a Poke" where he sells items which might be needed by travelling clergy of all faiths.

When we played in high school, each player had a party of 5 members. You've met the original 5 already...Galen, Groot Hairfoot, Thom the One Armed Bandit, Christo Lackey, and Shandar the Ashen One. I used a different mini back then for Shandar, but I don't think I still have it. It was a very tiny wizard leaning on a staff. I like the Heritage Gandalf mini much better, it is closer in scale to the others.

At any rate...how did the Hopeful Seven become 7 in number?

Well, in college I started playing in another campaign, this one run by Jeff Goode. He was a really amazing DM, and I had a lot of fun. One of the other players in that game was Stan Ruth, who was in the theatre program at Iowa with me. His character in the game was Too Bad Jim, and this is the miniature he used. I've done a minor repaint on it because the enamal paint has really chipped away. I tried to keep the flavor of his original paint job, though. Too Bad was a priest, but I don't think Jeff was using a specific campaign world or mythos. I remember that Too Bad got a wish, and he wished for the "Create Gin" spell-like ability.

Stan gave the mini to me after Jeff moved to go to grad school and we stopped playing. I incorporated the character into the Hopeful seven...because we didn't have a priest.

NPC: Galen

2007-10-23T12:12:00.001-05:00

Galen, in his day, was one of the greatest fighters in the Realms. He often had terrible tangles with his brother Morgan (LG hm Paladin 18), but it has been quite some time since the two have locked horns. Morgan is not a frequent visitor to Bug Tussle.

Galen was the leader of the Hopeful Seven, and a dual classed fighter/bard. He is currently retired and living in Bug Tussel, the town he helped found after he and his companions destroyed a giant insect infestation. He owns and operates a tavern called The Fighter’s Own.

Despite the tavern’s name, it is a haven for all travelers, not just warriors, although fighters are certainly are the target demographic. This is a favorite haunt of sword swingers of all levels who come to drink and to boast of their exploits or to meet with other adventurerers to plot new ones.

This miniature is the one that represented me when we played in high school. I know the paint job is horrible and the colors look like Mike Grell tried to sculpt Santa Claus, but back in those days when all you had was Testor's model paint, there weren't nearly so many colors to choose from.The mini had a lute on his back, which I scraped out the sides and painted like my own Hoefner Beatle Bass--left handed, of course. I really liked the mini for use as my game alter ego, because it was left handed, had a guitar of sorts, and did look like Mike Grell's Warlord. I was a very big Travis Morgan fan in those days. Still am, actually. I could repaint him to improve the look a little, but I think I'll keep him exactly as is...because the paint is also part of my personal gaming history.

NPC: Thom, the One Armed Bandit

2007-10-23T11:33:00.000-05:00

Thom is another member of the original Hopeful Seven. Before he lost his arm he was a brigand who waylaid travellers on the highways outside of Epping, in the kingdom of Ool. Early in their career, the band that would become the Hopeful Seven were set upon by Thom and his bandit boys. In the fight, Galen severed Thom's sword arm. The rest of the unlucky bandit's compatriots fled and left him for dead. Pleading for mercy, Too Bad Jim healed him, but could not reattach the arm. Thom now asked them to kill him outright, for he had few prospects as a one armed man in a very dangerous world.

Moved to pity, Galen spared him his life and determined to show him that he could be useful, in spite of his lost arm. He was accepted into the company and proved himself invaluable on a number of occaisions due to his wealth of accumulated experience and the lockpicking skills of his remaining fingers. He remained with the company until they retired in Bugtussle, where he opened a shop and became a merchant. He named the store after his infirmity, and the nickname he'd had since that meeting on the road so many years before.

Thom mis the proprietor of The One Armed Bandit, an outfitters where many items for the road are bought and sold. Thom still has some less than savory connections, in spite of a gradual alignment shift over the years.

The shop has just about anything (non-weapon) you need for long journeys and if it hasn't got it, Thom can get it for you in less than 7 days. Every item on the Miscellaneous Equipment Table on page 67 of the PHB can be bought here, at twice the price listed.

This is another of the minis from that Heritage Paint 'n Play set. His arm was broken when I opened the box, and I could never get it to glue back on and stay, so I just left it that way and started calling him "the one armed bandit" which I still think is pretty funny.

Because of Thom’s handicap, he only earns 15 skill points per level, as it is harder to learn to do the skill with only one hand. He also suffered a penalty to his base wall climbing ability, so 30 points were taken from his starting 60 and placed in other skill areas.

NPC: Christo Lackey

2007-10-23T11:10:00.001-05:00

Christo Lackey is another core member of the Hopeful Seven, and lives in Bug Tussle. He is a sturdy fighter and excellent horseman. Now retired from adventuring, he runs My Father's Blade, a pawn shop for weapons. is a cruel joke. Many who come to get money in time of need do indeed pawn their father's swords and armor. This is the best shop of its kind in the area, and things pawned are often sold long before the money is raised to retrieve it. Many a fine family heirloom has changed hands here. Of course, it is a convenient place to unload all those extra weapons picked up after a fight or scouting mission to the catacombs. Christo will pay 25% of the value of any weapon, and then sells them for three times cost. As a result you can find real bargains here. He admanantly reprimands people who call his wares "used." He prefers to call them “proven” weapons.

Christo is also adamant about not being a fence for stolen goods, and will accept no weapon without a signed piece of paper assuring him that you are the sole and rightful owner, all these papers are then kept on file. A used version of most any weapon in the Arms and Equipment Guide can be bought here (75% chance in stock and 10% chance of a defect. If one is present, roll on the weapons defects table and then haggle for a price).

In addition to the normal fare, Christo has a fine collection of more valuable weapons and is quite proud of them--many worth thousands of gold pieces. Theft is infrequent as it is also widely known that some of the magical shields hanging from the walls are actually imprisoned monsters that can be released to fight as an ally of the shield owner. Also one of the items in the shop, no one knows exactly which one, is an ever vigilant sentinel.

This is another of the very first miniatures I ever owned, and it came in the same Heritage Paint 'n Play set.

NPC: Groot Hairfoot

2007-10-23T07:13:00.000-05:00

Groot Hairfoot is one of the original members of The Hopeful Seven. He is an excellent sneak thief and very skilled with the bow. His particular specialty is finding and removing traps.

Now retired, Groot runs Hairfoot's Barefoot Inn in Bug Tussle and trains novice rogues as a sideline.

This miniature is one of the oldest in my collection. It came in the Heritage Dungeon Dwellers Paint 'n Play set I got when I was still in High School. The little feller's been on more adventures than you can shake a shortbow at.

Equines

2007-10-23T06:52:00.001-05:00

The equines are a race of beings with a human body but horse's heads. They are the invention of my friend Matt Clark at Reaper. He took some horse heads and attached them to the bodies of some of their Warlord line and the results are pretty impressive.

I haven't quite figured out what to do with them in my world, but he cast a bunch of them for me, so I have to do something. Perhaps they were an experiment by a wizard to see if creatures similarly polymorphed would breed true.

I really do like the way these creatures look, but they must have extremely muscular necks and backs to support the wieght of those heads.

NPC: Dwarf with No Name

2007-10-23T05:12:00.002-05:00

The Dwarf with No Name is a gruff and mysterious ranger who arrived in Bug Tussle with a frail and injured young woman two years ago. The woman was Ada Janko and she'd come to study magic under the instruction of Alzador the Mage of Hopeful Seven.

The dwarf never says anything, to anyone, for any reason. Many believe that his tongue was cut out, but that isn't true. You can sometimes see him licking his cigar butt and he will stick it out to scare children away from him. No one knows who he is or where he comes from, except that he knows the trail through the Dagger Hills like an expert and has been known to frequent the Broken Dagger in Dagger Falls. Some people say they have seen him in the company of a beautiful elven woman in tattered chain mail on the edge of the Border Forest, but nobody much believes this.

In any event, he has taken on the role of guardian of the young wizardess, and she has grown very fond of him, feeling as though he is almost a father figure. He never lacks for golden coin, and there are many rumors of a vast horde hiden in a secret cache out in the wilds of the Dagger Hills.

I got this miniature on that same mystery trip to California. I have always loved the sculpt. Unfortunately, over the years, mine has been dropped or something, because his cigar broke off and his hat is crushed down over his eyes. I could proably get another one on eBay, but this one has been in my collection so long, it just wouldn't feel right. I can probably make a new cigar for him out of brown stuff.

NPC: Corwyn Leafsong

2007-10-23T03:52:00.001-05:00

Corwyn Leafsong is a very young High Elf who has made a home in the Dalelands. She was born into a small group of Sun Elves who had not left for Evermeet, but instead elected to remain in a settlement in the Border Forest north of Dagger Falls. They did not interfere in the affairs of humans in the dale, but did watch them closely and monitored the trade route along the River Tesh. She is currently 153 years old. When she was only 53, her family was wiped out in a drow attack on her settlement. Her mother hid her, and so she escaped the ruthless, murderous dark elves. She has lived alone since then, but vows to one day track the drow that killed her family. She believes that Colderan Morn, the Mage Lord at the time, was partly responsible if not directly. He was known to have had dealings with the drow, and may have ordered them to eliminate any elven threat to his authority in the dale.

Corwyn has searched the surrounding lands and as yet has found no passage to the underdark. She suspects that the tunnels might be inside the town walls, but she has never yet been inside the town gate. She prefers to keep her existence a secret.

She wears the armor of her father, and the sword he weilded. The armor was somewhat damaged in his fight for the survival of the elven settlement, but still affords a great deal of protection. The sword, Trollsbane, was created to slay regenerating creatures. She also found and kept the dagger of throwing owned by her mother.

Some 15 years ago, she met and befriended a strange and silent dwarven ranger in the Border Forest. Together they have spent many years searching for tunnels, each for their own, unspoken reason.

This miniature is a Ral Partha piece from a Dragonlance boxed set. I don't know that setting at all, and couldn't tell you a thing about the original character she was supposed to represent. I think she was supposed to have black hair, but I wanted a traditional elf in my little No Name Group.

One thing that is difficult about having elves in your party is that their base starting age is 100 +5d6. What did they do for 150 years or so before they started racking up experience points? To me, it is a head scratcher, so I just had Corwyn hunting tunnels for a century or so. Not many XPs in walking around looking for secret doors and not finding any, but you'd think she'd be bored out of her elven skull by that point.

If any of you who run elves in your campaigns have figured out a good way to deal with the huge age differences in party members when you start including elves and how you account for their great age but paltry experience/lack of levels, please let me know how you handle it in your campaigns.

NPC: Costa Janko

2007-10-23T02:02:00.004-05:00

Costa is the brother of Ada Janko. He has a home in Dagger Falls, which was inherited from their parents. He works as a bartender in the Broken Dagger. Like his employer, Tharwin One Eye, Costa lost an eye and wears a patch. Recently, however, Costa lost his job at the tavern due to taking ill with the sleeping sickness. Tharwin can't afford to keep him on if he can't work and because of the fear of the illness is unlikely to let him return to work if he recovers. Lack of employment will force the novice rogue to take to adventuring to meet expenses, and he will join his sister in the No Name Band

I really like this miniature a lot. It is stamped Ral Partha, 1982. He's quite detailed, including the eyepatch, and I love his stance. I named him after a friend of a friend I met in New York many years ago, but recently that friend of a friend discovered this blog and asked me not to use his name, so I've changed it. If you remember the previous name, please forget it.

I think I picked up the miniature during a trip to San Francisco one summer. I remember staying with another friend of a friend there for a month or so, in an apartment on the corner of Taraval and Great Highway. I think I took a series of busses to an amazing hobby store way across town, where I bought a large number of individual miniatures. But it could be that I'm conflating that trip with one of several business trips I took when I was doing some commission work for Kaiser Permanente. At any rate, he's been on my shelf for a very long time...maybe since 1982.

NPC: Ada Janko

2007-10-22T20:21:00.001-05:00

Ada was the apprentice to Alzador in the town of Bug Tussle. She was born in Daggerdale and often visits her brother, Costa, who lives in a house in Dagger Falls. When she first left Daggerdale to go to Bug Tussle to seek to study under Alzador, she foolishly tried to cross the Dagger Hills by herself and was beset by brigands. She surely would have died were it not for the intervention of a gruff and silent dwarf who is very handy with a crossbow. The dwarf has remained her companion ever since, but has never said a word to anyone, anywhere, so far as we know.

She studied for over a year with Alzador and left his tower when her brother fell ill with the Sleeping Sickness in Eleasias, 1368.

In my current campaign, Ada was originally going to be used as a hook to get the PCs to Dagger Falls and into the Doom of Daggerdale module...but it turned out that it wasn't necessary. They were sent there by Shandar as part of the quests undertaken for him. Still, it will be a comfort to the PCs to have a few friends they knew from home in the strange town, so the details of the hook I'd planned on using were left in place...Ada's brother still came down with the sleeping sickness. The Janko house is near the burned Lathanderite temple and so could provide limited background information and a potential haven inside the town. Ada could also provide needed healing for the party if they had to scramble up due to taking a beating from the hook horror or something else equally nasty.

I got this miniature ages ago. She was made by Ral Partha. The No Name Band are a little NPC group that I toyed with using as my own party to play test areas I'd send the regular PCs through or to play on my own using randomly generated dungeons with the random dungeon generation system in the 1E DMG. Never seemed to have time for that though. They've managed to remain useful low level NPCs to have around, though. You don't want high level NPCs like Randal Morn rushing in to save the day all the time. Low level NPCs keep the focus on the heroes.

Clawborn Sorrow

2007-10-22T06:06:00.000-05:00

In the Night Below set, WOTC came out with a new monster called the Clawborn Sorrow. I didn't really know what to do with it because it is an Eberron monster. It looks like a cross between a drow and a giant scorpion.

WOTC has really made driders seem like being punished by Lolth for failing her test is more of a blessing than a curse, and then they come out with this thing. I don't really think Lolth's touch is going to bestow scorpion traits when she is the spider queen.

A few couple months before Night Below came out I picked up two minis from ages back (can't remember the company) that I thought I was going to use for Tlincali...but the Tlincali, the Scorpion Man, and the Clawborn Sorrow are all three very distinctly different variations on the same scorpion theme. Tlincali don't have the fore claws, but have human hands. Scorpion Men have human arms and scorption claws. Clawborn Sorrows have no arms, do have scorpion claws, and have drow features instead of human.
These guys were clearly more like the clawborn sorrow than the other scorpion-ish creatures, though they are bald. I painted them up like the clawborn sorrow put out by WOTC.

What is their ecology in my Realms? Good question. I looked at this site, Descent into Darkness, which has developed a lot of information on drow religion.

I've made Lolth's son, Vhaeraun, the patron not only of drow males, but also all those whom Lolth has cast out. In my world there are three types of driders--I won't go into my rant about that--because there are three types of drider minis available. In the original materials, all driders became warriors and lacked any secondary sex characteristics as part of their punishment by Lolth. Because D&D is marketed primarily to teen-age boys and they like nothing so much as boobs, driders started being made with breasts. So, in my world warriors, wizards, and priestesses can all fail Lolth's test and retain their secondary sex characteristics.

Priestesses of Lolth are no longer in her favor, so she wouldn't grant them their spells...but loving the delicious irony of it all, Vhaeraun grants the spells to the fallen priestess and forces them to worship him if they wish to continue casting spells.

The warriors who fail become traditional driders. When they have shown exemplary service to Vhaeraun, he rewards them by transforming them into Clawborn Sorrows. Further exemplary service will result in complete restoration to drow male form and these drow males are his most elite followers.

Or, anyway, that's how it works in my world.

Alu-Fiend

2007-10-22T05:38:00.000-05:00

The alu-demon or alu-fiend is the offspring of a succubus and a human, they are always female.

In the official description they appear as beautiful human women, except for their very small bat wings. In my world they are black-skinned...mostly because I forgot that they looked like human women when I was painting this one and decided she'd look great with black skin, purple hair and red eyes. Which, she does. I will compensate for the discrepency by saying that in my world they are capable of creating an illusion which makes them appear as human women when they are not on the Lower Planes, but for some reason they are unable to disguise their wings.

This is a scratchbuild figure, but I can't recall what I used to make her. I think the base mini is a Reaper miniature and the wings are from some really old lead miniature I had. Again, I can't remember what it was.

Pleased, however, with the results.

When I was at ReaperCon, everyone laughed at me for using glossy varnish instead of matte on my miniatures. I realize that matte photographs much better, which is probably why the industry switched to that...it is very difficult to even find glossy varnish in a hobby store these days...but remember that I harken back to an earlier age.

When we were painting minis in the 70's and early 80's almost all of us used Testor's enamal paints, because that is what you painted metal with. That was a very glossy paint. Then, when we discovered acrylic paints and how much easier they were to work with than the enamals, almost all the companies providing paints for the purpose of miniautures had glossy varnish. I was using Polly S acrylic paints and the spray primer and varnish I used were by a company called Armory, I think. If you wanted to have a flat finish, you generally hat to get a spray can of dullcote, made by Testor.

As a result...a miniature that doesn't shine a little on my gaming table doesn't look finished to me. So, pardon the glossy, shiny monsters here. Blame it on my unwillingness to change...which, given the name of the blog, is the whole point.

Reaper Reviews

2007-10-21T10:37:00.000-05:00

I don't think I'll live long enough to do a review for every Reaper Mini that came in on my last wish list from the online store, so I'm going to review them as I paint them or include them in the game so that this blog isn't completely dominated only by the reviews.

Sorry, Matt.

There will be more...just not all at once and all this month.

03225 : Eilluvasheth, Succubus Queen

2007-10-21T08:48:00.001-05:00

I really love this miniature, which is sculpted by Patrick Keith. I'm not always crazy about minis based on things that include terrain features, because she will have to drag that railing with her wherever she appears. But, Patrick has thought of that, and the basing is actually in two pieces so you don't have to glue her to the railing if you don't want to. You could rebase her on something else very easily.

The detail on this figure is wonderful and I think I can probably use her in two different ways. In fact, I suspect that Patrick had this in mind. The mini is designed to be flexible and comes with two different hand options. One holds a sword and the other a long whip.

I'll use it as intended and swell the ranks of my succubus swarm, putting her together exactly as the illustration.

The place on the back where her wings come through her hair will be very easy to fill with epoxy and repaint her not as a succubus but a powerful drow matron mother. She'll get the whip and I'll probably rebase her with epoxy cavern floor details.

Delicious.

I can also always find uses for the spare wings and horns from the second model. Great idea to make a mini that automatically makes you want to by several more of them because of the kitbashing variety they inspire.

Patrick Keith is a great guy, by the way. I met him at ReaperCon this year and his website is really nice too. He's a very talented sculptor and I'm glad that Reaper is going to be presenting more of his work. Kudos!

03185: Bergun Sunblaze, Sun Priest

2007-10-21T08:40:00.001-05:00

One thing that I wish WOTC would do is put out more mythoi specific priests in their mini line, but since they are geared toward the rpg improbably tabletop skirmish game, there isn't a lot of point to it for them from a business model. If they do one, they do one. Not much sense from their point of view of having 6 different poses for priests of Lathander.

Reaper really helps fill in the gaps. They can't do exact representations of mythoi specific priests from the trademarked Forgotten Realms, but each of the gods in that setting have portfolios that can't be trademarked...like the sun, for example.

This sculpt by Bobby Jackson will make a nice addition to the priests of Lathander in my world. Right now, my PCs are exploring the ruins of a temple to Lathander in Dagger Falls. If they end up taking the relics from that church, soon to be dedicated to Cyric, to a temple of Lathander for safe keeping, I'll need some Lathanderites to accept them and bestow blessings. Bergun Sunblaze will likely be there.

World Works Games

2007-10-21T08:05:00.000-05:00

I'm joing the terrain revolution. In my quest for good ship models I blundered across this company which produces amazing PDFs of terrain features, including inns, castles, dungeons...pretty much everything.

World Works Games

The artwork is fantastic and it actually looks more like what I'd like Dwarven Forge stuff to look like...at least in the pictures. Since I planned to use my Dwarven Forge stuff mostly for taking pictures to depict the adventures, this might be a better route for me to go. Certainly less expensive, though more time consuming in the contruction.

Way back in the day I had a lot of the TSR cut out and glue together village and castle things. They worked fine, but these go the extra mile and are fantastic in every respect. The one downside of the cardstock terrain is that they don't store easily. I think that if I mounted them on coreboard, they'd be sturdier and have more realistic thickness. At anyrate, they are so cheap that it can't hurt me to buy a few and try them out. I suppose Kinkos would print them for me, and they might even have the ability to print them directly onto something sturdy like coreboard or very stiff posterboard.

This is exciting. I just wish I had a bigger basement. I've been worrying my wife because I keep telling her the ideal would be for us to buy a nice farmhouse somewhere that had a mobile home parked on the property and I could keep all my gaming stuff in the game trailer...then it would be out of the house.

Her response..."Wait, so you're telling me your hobby needs its own house now? We really need to talk about this...but I don't think you're going to like where the discussion goes..."

Paper Boats

2007-10-21T07:57:00.000-05:00

Hokey Smokes, but this is cool!

SeaWorks: Maiden of the High Seas

This company has amazing pdfs for sale of all sorts of cool game accessories. The PDFs are very inexpensive for the quality. It probably takes a bit of skill and access to a very high quality color laser printer with bright white cardstock, but man, these are nice models.

Check them out!

Resin Boats

2007-10-21T07:40:00.001-05:00

Not giving up my quest. I found an excellent site for resin boats.

Shifting Lands has some amazing pieces.

In particular, the Buccaneer Ship is a fantastic piece of modeling and he gives you a complete and detailed history of its creation. He doesn't exactly have a retail operation, however, and when he puts things up on ebay I'm sure they are very expensive...and if they aren't, they should be.

25mm Pirate Ships

2007-10-20T15:59:00.000-05:00

I found a few pirate ships, and they aren't as expensive as I thought.

Old Glory Miniatures has some nice ones...though this would force me to make a decision about cannons. I'm still sticking to the no smoke powder rule in my Realms and would prefer catapults on my pirate ships.

Probably the best value is going to be GameMastery Ship: The Ravaged Pride Ship with Mast Kit from Paizo Publishing.

The layers look good and you could have simultaneous action on all decks, but it lacks the pazazz of a resin model on your game table. Afterall, the whole point is for adults to justify playing with toys.

Here you see it with all of the layers stacked on each other and the dowel rod masts stuck in place.
If you got long enough masts, though, you could glue the layers to the masts spaced far enough apart that miniatures could be placed below deck and above deck at the same time. Sort of like a 3D chess set or a a ship with invisible sides.

That might be sort of cool. Also, if you consider the middle deck to be the water line, you could include underwater threats to the ship such as an approaching sahuagin swarm or an aboleth or weresharks or mermen or lotcatha, or any number of marine nasties. I'm definitely warming to the idea.

At $80 each, I could get three of them for what my budget for one ship is at the moment, and then both Razig and Sophie could fight over the ship that my PCs are on. That might be the best way to go, after all.

Thinking about it...there are probably 25mm deck plans out there, or deck plans from real ships that could be scaled to a 5' grid and then printed out and glued on coreboard for even cheaper.

I knew all those Spelljammer deck plans would come in handy some day!

I wish I could remember who made that resin pirate ship. It was really cool and I want to say was around $300 or a little less.

01420 : Pirate Sophie

2007-10-20T15:49:00.001-05:00

Speak of the devil...or in this case, the succubus, and there she is.

I mentioned in the previous post the collection of pirates by Reaper that I've been amassing. I got this mini in a boxed set of pirate monsters, but Reaper has started selling them seperately in blisters. If you don't want the boxed set, I really recommend this miniature, sculpted by Julie Guthrie. The sculpt is magnificent in fantastic detail and a really nice pose.

As I said, I'm getting a particularly nasty mixed race pirate crew together which will be captained by Sophie here. I haven't decided if she'll have Razig's undead pirates incorporated into her crew, or if Razig and his undead pirates will be a seperate menace on the high seas. Probably the latter.

I remember seeing, some years ago at a hobby store in Staunton, Virginia, a 25mm resin pirate galleon. At the time it was outrageously expensive. I'm sure it is even more expensive now, if I could track it down, but I've got a little more disposable "hobby money" than I did 5 years ago.

Maybe I'll do a little web searching and see what I can find. If anyone out there knows of a 25mm-30mm pirate ship that is made of wood or resin or even plastic (no Playmobil, please!) then post a comment with a url or product name to search, would you?

Help Sophie and Razig get their boats floated.

02144: Eric Swiftblade, Swashbuckler

2007-10-20T15:40:00.000-05:00

Back to reviewing Reaper Minis from my most recent shipment so that I can delete them from my wishlist at the online Reaper store.

This pirate is sculpted by Sandy Garrity and is in a really nice, dynamic pose. He's got a puffy poet shirt with some sort of amulet swinging on his neck. I love the cutlass and his pirate boots. He could just as easily be a vistani/gypsy as a pirate.

I can't really tell if he has a bit of an overbite or if that is a moustache, though. I think I might go with moustache when I get to painting him.

I don't know if my players will ever spend any time crossing the Sea of Fallen Stars, but I've started getting a pretty nice collection of pirates, so they better watch out. First time they put to sea, they're likely to get set upon by a nasty crew of pirates both living and undead all commanded by that really great Sophie the Pirate succubus mini. Arrrr.

Two new old books for my shelf.

2007-10-20T15:30:00.000-05:00

I haven't posted in a while, real life has its intrusions. I was out shopping with my wife today and we went to a used bookstore and someone had unloaded a large collection of their 2nd Edition hanbooks.

I couldn't remember if I had the Priest's Handbook on my shelf or not, so I didn't get that one...and rats, I didn't, so I'll have to go back.

I did get the Ninja's handbook though, and that is going to be a useful addition to my game materials. We had a player in our group who was running an updated version of a 1E Monk character. I have a lot of DC comics and Heroclix minis and have been wanting to incorporate them into the game somehow. The backstory I had for the monk character was that she had been trained in a secret academy run by my Forgotten Realms version of Ras al Ghul. I've got a version of Batman who is training there at the same time, and a really nice backstory for both. Anyway, Ras will now offer training to both monks and ninjas in my world, so that westerners don't have to travel all the way to or from Kara-tur for those character classes. Monks will be related to the priesthoods, of course, and ninjas will be related to rogues.

I also picked up the Warriors and Priests of the Realms handbook. This also is a really nice resource volume filled not just with useful information on these two character classes as they relate to the geography and dieites of the Realms, but also on those geographic areas and dieties themselves.

All at wonderfully low used book prices and without having to print off the pdfs at work. My concience is clear on every level.

Points of Light

2007-10-14T05:52:00.000-05:00

Fourth Edition Sneak Peaks.

It's been pointed out to me by the Prussian Gamer that another aspect of the transition to 4E will be the concept of Points of Light. (This is an article by Rick Baker on the new WOTC website, and you need to register in order to read it. Registering, signing a usage agreement and eventually paying a subscription fee are also part of the concept of 4E.)

What Points of Light boils down to is that they want to make the worlds a lot more wild with fewer city states and their politics to deal with. The focus will be on making the PCs heroic and getting them out of the shadow of major NPCs who populate the worlds the PCs live in.

Now, on Rick Baker's blog has a post where he reacts to the strong negative reaction to this change. He says:

One quick point of clarification I'd like to make... Don't assume that we're going to apply the 'Points of Light' conceit to existing campaign worlds. I think Realms and Eberron would prosper if they got just a little more points-of-lightish, but we're not going to overthrow worlds with that much breadth and history.

That might be just a little bit reassuring if WOTC hadn't been denying that they were even working on a fourth edition right up to the moment they announced they were launching it.

Hi, Liar. Here's my lunch money.

Anyway, Points of Light is perfect for straight and pure D&D where the DM is making up his or her own campaign world, and would make it easy peasy to drop in modules as you go along and the PCs explore a little bit further into the wild world. That's pretty much what the original concept was for D&D and it makes a lot of sense...but if you are playing in a published campaign setting you have already chosen not to do that work and are relying on the game company to provide richly detailed material.

Based on past history, here is what I think...they know that the only way to keep people playing is to emphasize "home brew" inclusions even in the published campaign worlds, but they can't keep their hands out of it and are so addicted to proprietary protection of their published material that it won't be long before the points of light concept is defeated by their own R&D team....because they know a home brew DM isn't addicted to their published material.

And so, I remain firm in my satisfaction at having stuck with second edition all along. My Realms isn't run by Hasbro, and that's a very good thing. Oh, and it is plenty wild, thank you very much.

But, even I am an addict that will probably drop the e-version of the monthly dime bag from my pusher by signing up for the $9.95 D&D Insider membership, and continue to drop $300 for three cases of minis every time a new set is released...and out of curiosity will buy the new campaign setting just to see what they've done to my world.

If they can count on every single D&D player out there to do at least that much, they've done a lot better than break even on their little experiment.

I guess if what they want to prove is that we are dumb enough to keep buying their schemes, then it makes sense to want to dumb down the game system for us dumbies.