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egg_green
2007-01-08, 10:52 AM
Greetings and Salutations!

I am about to join a gaming group where they use miniatures to keep track of character positions (something I have never done myself; our groups always just used initials on scratch paper or a whiteboard). However, this means that now I have to find a mini to represent my character!

I've looked at the Fantasy Fig Finder (http://www.reapermini.com/FantasyFigFinder), but wasn't able to find one that matches my character. Do any of you know of a good place to look for figures? Pewter is best, though I could make due with a plastic mini like the ones in the D&D Minis sets (if I can find something specific; they all seem to be randomly selected!).

If it helps, the character in question is a half-elf Sorcerer/Bard who uses a longbow.

Thanks in advance!
--Egg

Matthew
2007-01-08, 04:50 PM
Try:

http://www.reapermini.com/

They have tons there. It's always a problem finding the exact Miniature you want. Oh yeah, find out what scale everyone else is using, as these are 25-30 mm.

pestilenceawaits
2007-01-08, 04:52 PM
wizards has galleries of all their sets and they can usually be purchased online (ebay and such) individually

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/mix/gallery

bosssmiley
2007-01-09, 12:06 PM
If you're not adverse to the price, have a gander at the GW High, Wood and Dark Elf ranges. They're sure to have an appropriate character model (and the plastic kits are *soooooo* customizable).

Thomas
2007-01-09, 12:45 PM
If you're not adverse to the price, have a gander at the GW High, Wood and Dark Elf ranges. They're sure to have an appropriate character model (and the plastic kits are *soooooo* customizable).

I totally love the newer GW plastic miniature lines. All those parts you can stick on practically any way you like. (I was disappointed by the Ogre Kingdoms ogres and the Chaos Warriors; you can only put them together one way! But the zombies, beastmen, imperial troops, skeletons, etc., etc. - they're wonderful.)

The problem, of course, is that buying 20 similar miniatures may not be very smart when you only need one specific kind of miniature.

SpiderBrigade
2007-01-09, 01:09 PM
Plus, the painting. For me that'd be a perk but some people hate painting minis.

Were-Sandwich
2007-01-09, 02:17 PM
that fantasy fig finder is nifty. very nifty

Red Sky Knight
2007-01-10, 01:03 AM
GW and Reaper are the most inspiring miniatures there are, they are certainly worth it. DnD miniatures are singularly s@*t, I'm not sure why nobody ever mentions that?

paigeoliver
2007-01-10, 01:19 AM
I used to be really gung ho for the plastic minis from Wizards, but after using them for a while I discovered some real problems with them.

Everybody has the same ones, which causes people to be constantly accidently stealing your miniatures, and leaving theirs behind and so on.

Now I use metal minis or highly customized plastic ones as much as possible, and really only use the larger monster figures out of the plastic sets. Those aren't so prone to walking away amongst honest friends.

Thomas
2007-01-10, 01:42 AM
GW and Reaper are the most inspiring miniatures there are, they are certainly worth it. DnD miniatures are singularly s@*t, I'm not sure why nobody ever mentions that?

I like the idea of pre-pained one-piece plastic miniatures - sounds like they should be cheap - but selling them like Magic: The Gathering cards is just the height of money-gouging *******ry. Never bought 'em, never will. Maybe if they start coming in proper packs where I know what I'm getting, and cost less than GW miniatures.

Jack_of_Spades
2007-01-10, 04:22 AM
You can probably look up the mini you like and buy it at cardhaus.com

http://cardhaus.com/cgi-local/shop3.pl/SID=1746889688278567630/page=Info_DungeonsAndDragons.htm

Click the expansion you want to look at and find the mini you like. Happy hunting!

Leon
2007-01-10, 04:55 AM
Reaper and D&D are you best bets
- Reaper have a massive selection to chose from and are nice mini's to boot
- DDM has a large selection that covers a lot of DnD turf and from Ebay you can pick them up quite cheap (so long as your not after uber rare stuff)

SpiderBrigade
2007-01-10, 10:00 AM
Yah, the D&D minis are...well, they sort of missed the niche they'd be perfect for. That niche being, D&D players who want figures for their characters/monsters, but don't want the larger investment of building and painting. But WotC has a different idea of what they're for. The things are not pretty. At all. So as Thomas said, they ought to be cheap...but they're not, or not cheap enough. They're really only worth it to people who are very gung-ho about the miniatures GAME, which...does anyone really play that?
And let me reiterate: they're ugly. My friend's kids just got some toy-store "miniatures wargame" for christmas, and those figures are at least as attractive, if not more so.

DeathQuaker
2007-01-10, 10:21 AM
Greetings and Salutations!
I've looked at the Fantasy Fig Finder (http://www.reapermini.com/FantasyFigFinder), but wasn't able to find one that matches my character.

The problem with Reaper's Fig Finder is that the database is not particularly well set up--sometimes something is classified in being in "leather" when they could as easily be in clothes or plate (especially depending on how you painted the fig), and vice versa. Likewise, the classes they provide are useless. And of course with a half-elf, you could probably use a human or elf figure easily enough.

Finally, although converting can be complex, you can always clip off a weapon (with sturdy wirecutters) you don't want and glue on one you do, so searching by weapon is pointless. You can buy weapons in packs like these: http://www.reapermini.com/gallery/2200s/2202_G

And since you're a bard you might be interested in this accessory pack:
http://www.reapermini.com/gallery/album14/3032_G

Now, you can do broad searches with the fig finder though, and just search through the list to see what you like. And in the end, the only way to be sure you've looked at all options is just to look through the galleries when you have time.

Now, with Reaper's fig finder and their galleries, I found these:

http://www.reapermini.com/gallery/2200s/2226_G

A handsome, elfish fellow with bow. You could put an instrument in his other hand. The chain could be a problem, unless you want to spend time filling it in with green stuff (modelling putty) which you probably don't. But one option.

http://www.reapermini.com/gallery/2500s/2585_G

He's even better. He's wearing what could just be clothes, and already comes equipped with bow again, and again if you felt the need, you could glue an instrument to his other hand (or onto his base). Take a needle file and shave down his ear if it's a touch too pointy for you.

http://www.reapermini.com/gallery/2700s/2735_G

Another handsome archer, and his face is less chiseled so could serve well as a half-elf. He's wearing armor, but it's so ornate, if you painted it unconventionally, you could pass it off as clothing. No room for an instrument though.

And finally...

http://www.reapermini.com/gallery/2800s/2873_G

I kinda like this fellow in spellcasting pose. Hood's up, so you can pretend his ears are as long as you like, and the cloak is fetching for a sorcerer-bard. If you felt the need, you could glue on an instrument or weapon somewhere, in his hand, on the ground, maybe even on his back if it didn't look weird.

Those are just ideas. I won't be hurt if you take them--I'm just showing how if you broaden up your search and be creative you'll probably find something.

Deus Mortus
2007-01-10, 10:28 AM
Could someone link to a place where you can buy very customizable or build it yourself miniatures?

Ambrogino
2007-01-10, 10:29 AM
The things are not pretty. At all. So as Thomas said, they ought to be cheap...but they're not, or not cheap enough. They're really only worth it to people who are very gung-ho about the miniatures GAME, which...does anyone really play that?
And let me reiterate: they're ugly.

Well they're still bringing out new expansions and made WizKids stop MageKnight, so I'd imagine they are being bought to be played with. And they're not that bad for pre-painted - they beat seven bells out of the early MageKnight editions. The Collosal size miniatures like the Red dragon get pretty decent paint jobs. I'd prefer if they were non-collectible, but I'm pretty sure they're vastly more profitable for WotC than tabletop D&D as they are.

DeathQuaker
2007-01-10, 10:36 AM
Could someone link to a place where you can buy very customizable or build it yourself miniatures?

The only such things (that I am aware of) that are anywhere close are the aforementioned Games Workshop (http://www.gamesworkshop.com) plastic sprues, where the pieces come in a bunch of legs, arms, torsos, and heads and you glue them together as you like. The problem is that these are relatively expensive (even if you just bitz order the one you want) and you're getting a sprue to make a squadron, not just a single figure.

The problem with doing "build it yourself" is the manufacturing of individual pieces (bitz) is difficult to manage at a feasible level. If you really want to do uber customization, you're going to have to learn how to do conversions yourself. Or, find someone who will do it for you, of course. If you have one friend willing to do models for your whole group, you might be better off paying THEM to do your modeling than trying to buy sprues and bitz and trying to get it to come together right. (I do all the miniatures for my players in the game I run.)

Deus Mortus
2007-01-10, 10:44 AM
The only such things (that I am aware of) that are anywhere close are the aforementioned Games Workshop (http://www.gamesworkshop.com) plastic sprues, where the pieces come in a bunch of legs, arms, torsos, and heads and you glue them together as you like. The problem is that these are relatively expensive (even if you just bitz order the one you want) and you're getting a sprue to make a squadron, not just a single figure.

The problem with doing "build it yourself" is the manufacturing of individual pieces (bitz) is difficult to manage at a feasible level. If you really want to do uber customization, you're going to have to learn how to do conversions yourself. Or, find someone who will do it for you, of course. If you have one friend willing to do models for your whole group, you might be better off paying THEM to do your modeling than trying to buy sprues and bitz and trying to get it to come together right. (I do all the miniatures for my players in the game I run.)

I have a few favorite character that I 3d modelled, so I was thinking that this was perhaps cheaper then using a wax 3d printer, but I think I might go with that option, or perhaps go entirely overboard and have them made for me, not sure yet ;)

atma
2007-01-10, 12:43 PM
Try this: http://uk.games-workshop.com/elves/miniature-gallery/129/
Third guy (with bow) have harph on back

Fhaolan
2007-01-10, 01:10 PM
I have a few favorite character that I 3d modelled, so I was thinking that this was perhaps cheaper then using a wax 3d printer, but I think I might go with that option, or perhaps go entirely overboard and have them made for me, not sure yet ;)

If you do get them done with one of those 3d printer thingies, could you send me pictures? I'm curious as to see the results.

Not curious enough to pay for the experiement myself, of course. :smallbiggrin:

Were-Sandwich
2007-01-10, 01:11 PM
Whats a 3d Wax printer? And what software do you sue to use it? Just curious.

Fhaolan
2007-01-10, 01:17 PM
Whats a 3d Wax printer? And what software do you sue to use it? Just curious.

This is a company that makes them: http://www.zcorp.com/

I think there are other companies that make them, but this is the first I found. Only $20,000 ($50,000 for one that paints the miniature for you as well. :smallbiggrin: )

Narmoth
2007-01-10, 02:09 PM
I really like the games workshop models for my AD&D games. If you want to have many ekstra bits for convertions, you can order many different weapons separatedly from the warhammer 40.000 range of models. For convertions with metal figures, greenstuff is often better for holding parts together than glue.
With plastic / resin glue that melts a bit of the plastic is very usefull.

Deus Mortus
2007-01-10, 02:47 PM
If you do get them done with one of those 3d printer thingies, could you send me pictures? I'm curious as to see the results.

Not curious enough to pay for the experiement myself, of course. :smallbiggrin:

I have created some for other projects (where I got paid for it), I'll see if I can find a picture of the full size ogre I made once :smallbiggrin:

Results are usually very good, especially when the machine paints for you as it allows for a lot of details you can't do by hand.

You can also try this site (http://www.emachineshop.com/), not sure if they do wax, but I heard they can do pretty nifty things with metals...