crueldespot
28th of December, 2005, 15:53
Most of you, like me, probably use the wotC plastic miniatures for playing D&D.
They are a good deal price-wise compared to metal miniatures, and they come painted, but they still aren't cheap. It is also frustrating having to buy them "sight unseen." If you want a particular monster type, it would be much easier if you could see what is in the box before you bought it.
Well, you can. My kids have gotten into a boardgame called Heroscape. It is made by Hasbro (who also owns WotC) and it looks like the miniatures for Heroscape are made in the same factory where the D&D minis come from. They are the same scale, and some of them are the exact same miniatures (but with a different color base). The only real difference between Heroscape minis and D&D minis is that the Heroscape minis cost less $ and the packages are transparent, so you can see what you are buying.
The main heroscape game is $40, and comes with 30 minis, including some big ones. You ca find it in the boardgame section of toy stores. The supplement packs are $13, and come with about 6 minis each. That is about the same $/mini ratio as D&D, but you waste less $ because you only get the packs with the minis you want.
Many of the minis are appropriate for D&D, but a lot of them are modern or futuristic, which may be better or worse for you, depending on what genre of games you play. Right now I am DMing a post-apocalyptic game, so minis with swords in one hand and lasers in the other are useful.
WEBSITE (http://www.hasbro.com/heroscape/pl/page.characters/dn/default.cfm)
Reviewing this post, it looks like some sort of stealth marketing, but I am sincere. I am not recommending that you play Heroscape in fact. It is pretty primitive for D&D players (the box says ages 8+). Just scavenge the minis. You could probably also use the hex board pieces in the game for a 3D campaign world model if you were so inclined.
They are a good deal price-wise compared to metal miniatures, and they come painted, but they still aren't cheap. It is also frustrating having to buy them "sight unseen." If you want a particular monster type, it would be much easier if you could see what is in the box before you bought it.
Well, you can. My kids have gotten into a boardgame called Heroscape. It is made by Hasbro (who also owns WotC) and it looks like the miniatures for Heroscape are made in the same factory where the D&D minis come from. They are the same scale, and some of them are the exact same miniatures (but with a different color base). The only real difference between Heroscape minis and D&D minis is that the Heroscape minis cost less $ and the packages are transparent, so you can see what you are buying.
The main heroscape game is $40, and comes with 30 minis, including some big ones. You ca find it in the boardgame section of toy stores. The supplement packs are $13, and come with about 6 minis each. That is about the same $/mini ratio as D&D, but you waste less $ because you only get the packs with the minis you want.
Many of the minis are appropriate for D&D, but a lot of them are modern or futuristic, which may be better or worse for you, depending on what genre of games you play. Right now I am DMing a post-apocalyptic game, so minis with swords in one hand and lasers in the other are useful.
WEBSITE (http://www.hasbro.com/heroscape/pl/page.characters/dn/default.cfm)
Reviewing this post, it looks like some sort of stealth marketing, but I am sincere. I am not recommending that you play Heroscape in fact. It is pretty primitive for D&D players (the box says ages 8+). Just scavenge the minis. You could probably also use the hex board pieces in the game for a 3D campaign world model if you were so inclined.