but I worry about the miniature line to support the expansion...
has anyone heard anything from any of the blogs or game designers about plans for the miniature line to go with the releases?
I know that there are some monsters that will cross over nicely, but one of the coolest things about Athas in it's original form was the unique changes to the races and also the new variety of monsters... and also the fact that there were really no longer any hordes of goblins, orcs, and bugbears running around.. everything was different and players (and DMs) had new challenges to face...
but with 4th edition being a lot more about miniatures and "tactical combat" than previous editions, I worry about the success of Dark Sun if there aren't mini's to go along with it...
do we think we are going to get a set of Dark Sun mini's (or at least compatible desert/waste world minis) around the same time as the campaign books release in August?
Josh
I'm not sure what the infinitely wise 8-ball means, but it sounds kind of psionic-y. Maybe psionic heroes minis from PHB3 are coming out soon? I dunno.
- Concentrate and ask again.
Did they release new miniatures when Faerûn/Eberron was released?
Did they release new miniatures when MM1/MM2 was released?
If nothing ever comes out, my Dark Sun Desert tiles will have to be filled with demons, orcs and dragons commonly found in other, inferior, settings... blasphemy!
... I of course have hope and faith in WotC and D&D that they will not let our Deserts of Athas be filled with platemail wearing hairy dwarves... but at the same time, many of the published adventures when 4th edition first hit shelves, when forgotton realms was released, and in subsequent published adventures have called for lists of models that were not available (or still aren't available)... which is wierd for a game that encourages miniatures as the basis for the game... and since I am interested in seeing Dark Sun do well and not have to wait another 19 years for another edition of it I just wanted to see if anyone had heard any facts about the models...
I do have quite a collection of non-D&D models (lead, pewter, and plastic) and have no problem converting models to fit my future Dark Sun Campaign... but sort of like the shortage of appropriate Tiefling models that were previously available, I worry that there won't be enough Dark Sun appropriate models to get people really into the campaign...
that said, I should realize that if you are reading this or playing the games you probably have plenty of imagination and are not going to let a lack of authentic Dark Sun versions of the monsters and PCs inhibit you from rocking Athas like it hasn't been rocked in 19 years...
And I'm happy to see the Desert of Athas Tiles too b/c that gives me much greater hope that some sweet sculpts are just around the next sand dune (or Dragon's Bowl or what have you)...
- Josh
Ral Partha
... is a long-defunct (under that name, at least) company that once produced metal miniatures for Dark Sun. Not really an option for most as they're not widely available at reasonable prices.
I've found there are dozens of existing WotC models that work well for Dark Sun - a lot happen to be commons and uncommons, so it's easy to stockpile quite a few and avoid the pricier stuff like dragons. The exception being Thri-Kreen - the two existing ones go for 3-7 bucks a piece (more, even, than the old metal Ral Partha Kreen that show on eBay).
Huge Athasian Dragon... Huge Athasian Dragon... Huge Athasian Dragon...
I've found there are dozens of existing WotC models that work well for Dark Sun - a lot happen to be commons and uncommons, so it's easy to stockpile quite a few and avoid the pricier stuff like dragons. The exception being Thri-Kreen - the two existing ones go for 3-7 bucks a piece (more, even, than the old metal Ral Partha Kreen that show on eBay).
Shame WotC had to go with the mass market approach started by the *klix and mageknight games. Even if Ral Partha isn't in business anymore, their style of minis (unpainted, able to survive a swim in solvent) is a lot more friendly to the hobbyist and miniatures junkie and the current line.
Shame WotC had to go with the mass market approach started by the *klix and mageknight games. Even if Ral Partha isn't in business anymore, their style of minis (unpainted, able to survive a swim in solvent) is a lot more friendly to the hobbyist and miniatures junkie and the current line.
You are right, these old figurines (which I own) are more detailed and more realistic. ALTHOUGH, I dont have the time to paint them and visual is important for a few players (and for me as well). When you keep yourself saying : " hum... it is your elf or mine?" It's just bothersome. So we opted for painted one and we tryed to find darksun feeling mini within the existing one.
I've found there are dozens of existing WotC models that work well for Dark Sun - a lot happen to be commons and uncommons, so it's easy to stockpile quite a few and avoid the pricier stuff like dragons. The exception being Thri-Kreen - the two existing ones go for 3-7 bucks a piece (more, even, than the old metal Ral Partha Kreen that show on eBay).
Shame WotC had to go with the mass market approach started by the *klix and mageknight games. Even if Ral Partha isn't in business anymore, their style of minis (unpainted, able to survive a swim in solvent) is a lot more friendly to the hobbyist and miniatures junkie and the current line.
I'm a big fan of both. As my miniatures painting time is taken up with a couple of Warhammer and Warhammer 40k armies, it's nice to be able to grab a handful of plastic minis, toss 'em in a box, and have them ready to go for an RPG session.
Still, it would be nice if WotC commissioned some sort of "expert" or "masterwork" line; perhaps through Reaper or one of the smaller companies. It'd be great to see modern (real; not prepainted) versions of Dark Sun classics.
I will no doubt buy the hell out of any Dark Sun-specific prepainted stuff though. Being able to cheaply acquire a bucket full of bone-sword wielding muls and hairless dwarfs will be great.
One of my painted minis of old 
www.silverblades-suitcase.com/minis/dark...
yeah.. I used to own the Dark Sun Boxed Set with all the pentad characters, the dragon, a half giant, thri-kreen.... ah.. the good old days of lead based miniatures...
I occassionally stumble across a way OOP ral partha dark sun blister pack in the old racks and bins of some old gaming stores... but sadly this was before I got back into 4e and although it would have been nice to have a gladiator chariot pulled by scaly birds... I do mean that I would like to know the masses out there who don't have the access to the limited # of ral partha sculpts will have their hairless dwarves too (assuming dwarves are hairless in the newest edition)...
I suppose I could probably go through a lot of the current plastic minis and repaint the weapons and armor to be more bone, chitin, wood, obsidian, etc... I mean.. that actually might be good for a lot of the PC classes...
however, if dark sun gets rid of the run of normal critters (horses, rats, wolves) and typical races (goblins, orcs) then it will leave us a limited (but not miniscule) number of sculpts..
anyway... if anybody hears or reads anything about new sculpts, let me know.. otherwise, best of luck finding those ral partha models, tracking down some other post-apocalyptic / desert sculpts, and adapting those plastics we have over to the hot, barren, deadly world we all can't wait for.. (I just worry about having to shave all the beards off my plastic dwarves... lol...)
Josh
Why do I have the feeling some WotC employees are reading this thread right now and saying to themselves, "Oh $hit...we forgot something."
Why do I have the feeling some WotC employees are reading this thread right now and saying to themselves, "Oh $hit...we forgot something."
HAHAHA! I wet my pants over this.
Before I get too worried about this, I would like to see what is available by the end of 2010. We will get PHB3 psionic character models which should be DS playable. The MM3 will contain some more psionic monsters which will come out as plastic models, which should also be DS playable.
thanks!
one day I may get to finish painting all my loads of unpainted ones...
Question - Any thought.s of Dark Sun miniatures? Answer - As a subset of a subset, we won't be doing a whole set of just Dark Sun minis...
twitter.com/Wizards_DnD/status/833478653...
but expect to see Dark Sun themed minis in future minis releases #ddxp
twitter.com/Wizards_DnD/status/833480072...
that's the detective work i was looking for =p (ah, Twitter...)
and to Silverblade:
And if we all got around to painting our unpainted minis wouldn't the world be a wonderful place.. it would also probably mean we all won the lottery, quit our jobs, and became awefully pale or learned to speedpaint ... lol.. but everyone once in a while I am inspired... like when I started playing 4e and now hopefully with DS coming out...
Josh
hehe true, oh so true! ;)
got 2 toolboxes and 3 cabinet drawers full of unpainted ones!
Great...I just got motivated to do the most irritating thing about RPG's. I hate you all. lol
Even if all of your game's other obscure athasian monster are beholder miniatures and rocks, it's much nicer when at least your characters and their mounts are appropriate. They're going to be there for the whole campaign, not just one encounter!
Some big mekillots with howdahs for caravans or assault parties would be lots of fun too.
I know everyone wants to see the BRUTAL DS monsters and I thing WotC will come through for us, but I'm really hoping they cover the basic player character archetypes and domestic animals of Athas with the D&D miniature releases.
Even if all of your game's other obscure athasian monster are beholder miniatures and rocks, it's much nicer when at least your characters and their mounts are appropriate. They're going to be there for the whole campaign, not just one encounter!
Some big mekillots with howdahs for caravans or assault parties would be lots of fun too.
I'm personally not much of a fan of the D&D minis... but I've never gotten into the hang of using minis in my own RPG campaigns (I prefer describing the situation and letting my players' imaginations run wild... or building a computer program that might do it for me too).
It would be nice to have something DS-connected... but personally, I can live without it.
I won't get one, but I want one.
Some kanks would be really nice. especially ones that you could balance a mini on top of.
*keeps chanting anyway*
Huge Athasian Dragon...Huge Athasian Dragon...Huge Athasian Dragon...Huge Athasian Dragon...
HUGE ATHASIAN DRAGON!!! HUGE ATHASIAN DRAGON!!! HUGE ATHASIAN DRAGON!!!
You guys frighten me... huge athasian dragon...
HUGE ATHASIAN DRAGON!!! HUGE ATHASIAN DRAGON!!! HUGE ATHASIAN DRAGON!!!
You guys frighten me... huge athasian dragon...
You sir, literally made me Laugh Out Loud.
I'd be all about a limited standalone version of him, like the supposed Orcus that's coming up.
HUGE ATHASIAN DRAGON!!! HUGE ATHASIAN DRAGON!!! HUGE ATHASIAN DRAGON!!!
You guys frighten me... huge athasian dragon...
You sir, literally made me Laugh Out Loud.
Excellent!
Borys was Gargantuan, though.
I'd be all about a limited standalone version of him, like the supposed Orcus that's coming up.
He was? Well, then...
Gargantuan Athasian Dragon! Gargantuan Athasian Dragon! Gargantuan Athasian Dragon! Gargantuan Athasian Dragon!
I was mostly basing the size of off that Athasian Dragon epic PrC from the print Dragon mags (I planned on using that in our disastrous attempt at a Dark Sun game), and 10 levels made you huge there. I see more possibility in seeing a huge Athasian dragon than a gargantuan one, but either will make me buy one with glee.
A large, in-between-21-to-30 Athasian dragon would also be nice. ^___^
I'd be pretty content with a Dragon of either size. Like "buy two and keep one on my computer desk" content.
Ral Partha
In all honestly those miniatures were of pretty low quality. The thri-kreen look like bastard mutations.
I feel like there is too much sacrificed too often in mini design. Even inch square cardboard or plastic markers with good artwork on them would work for me. Something cheap to produce, but able to maintain flavor.
Ral Partha
In all honestly those miniatures were of pretty low quality. The thri-kreen look like bastard mutations.
I feel like there is too much sacrificed too often in mini design. Even inch square cardboard or plastic markers with good artwork on them would work for me. Something cheap to produce, but able to maintain flavor.
Resurrecting thread to chime in, barring a future DS mini release, I like the idea of a set of Dungeon Tile-stock quality markers.
That said, while my Star Wars mini collection isn't as obscene as my D&D hordes, I went through them all with the OP's query in mind, and found some useable humanoids and creatures, especially if you're in the mindset of not always using published creatures and making up your own deep-desert mutant freaks.
Ral Partha
In all honestly those miniatures were of pretty low quality. The thri-kreen look like bastard mutations.
I feel like there is too much sacrificed too often in mini design. Even inch square cardboard or plastic markers with good artwork on them would work for me. Something cheap to produce, but able to maintain flavor.
I just had my old DS Ral Partha minis painted by a friend. He was as impressed by the quality of the sculpts as I was by his paint job. I am so happy with them. I'll post a picture when I get a chance. Of course, if you don't have them then it does cost an arm and a leg to get them (unpainted). I actually really love the 'kreen.
CoolMiniOrNot.com tends to have alot of harder to find minis you might not find at your local store with excellent pics of the models. I have also had luck with Fantization Miniatures who sell numerous lines online too.
Though any of the sorcerer dragons would work really good for an athasian dragon.
For those really looking for a dragon for the dragon of tyr... check out todd mcfarlanes dragons... series 4 sorcerer clan dragon... sooo nice
Though any of the sorcerer dragons would work really good for an athasian dragon.
Wow. You are not kidding.
It's almost as if that guy were some sort of Dragon Sorcerer-King.
Dark Sun Mini List
Best I did is come up with a list of proxies to match the Creature Catalog monsters. Of course, if anyone has a better choice for the list, lemme know and I'll update it. I know Star Wars probably has some good minis for Dark Sun, but I'm not intimately familiar with SW minis.
Dark Sun Mini List
This is excellent, thank you, Ghaladen!
www.reapermini.com
You have to paint them yourself, of course...but they come up well:
www.reapermini.com/OnlineStore/half%20gi...
...But I strongly recommend against using the bad green colour job shown here.
Also:
For Mul:
www.reapermini.com/OnlineStore/bald%20ba...
www.reapermini.com/OnlineStore/bald%20ba...
www.reapermini.com/OnlineStore/bald%20ba...
and
Thri Kreen
www.reapermini.com/OnlineStore/mantis/sk...
Just search around the Reaper site.
Also, providing you're prepared to paint in your own colour scheme (lots of Iyanden Darksun (sic), Ochre and other brown/red/yellow colours), you could probably also use some Games Workshop minis. I used their LOTR Ranger box (plastic minis, 24, but cheap as chips) and painted them all in desert tones with wood/bone and obsidian weapons. Now they're Desert Raiders.
www.games-workshop.com/gws/catalog/produ...
also...
www.games-workshop.com/gws/catalog/produ...
for more boss-like minis.
You can also have a go at confrontation minis...but they can be a pain to paint.
Best I did is come up with a list of proxies to match the Creature Catalog monsters. Of course, if anyone has a better choice for the list, lemme know and I'll update it. I know Star Wars probably has some good minis for Dark Sun, but I'm not intimately familiar with SW minis.
Dark Sun Mini List
The link to the :
Belgoi Foulspawn Grue www.ddmdb.com/images/miniatures/2415.jpg Yes
Doesnt work anymore.
Oh, and your dwarves, there arent many (except female) that dont have beard. DS dwarves are bald.
Thanks, I fixed the image. One other thing you could do (something I'm planning on using, once they arrive). Is LITKO paper counter stands. Here's the video I discovered them
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ga6uWDzKb1w
Apparently he uses artwork downloaded from DDI, and puts them into a Word doc, and prints them out and slips them into the plastic stands. And they're anywhere from $7-10 per size set (Med, Large, Huge, Garg.). Only downside is the processing time on em is anywhere from 2-3 weeks. For example, I placed my order for one medium set of 10, one large set of 2, and one huge set of 1 on the 15th of last month, and it just shipped today
But I'd much rather have what the actual picture of the monster up on the board than "okay this norker is a Tarek, this basilisk is an Id Fiend, etc...". Plus its good for all those monsters that Wizards just doesn't seem to want to put out minis for. Shame..
Cheaper to put together than trying to buy all the minis I need too.
Great suggestion and I am always on the look out for new ideas and this one is at the top of my list now.
@Grummore:
Thanks, I fixed the image. One other thing you could do (something I'm planning on using, once they arrive). Is LITKO paper counter stands. Here's the video I discovered them
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ga6uWDzKb1w
Apparently he uses artwork downloaded from DDI, and puts them into a Word doc, and prints them out and slips them into the plastic stands. And they're anywhere from $7-10 per size set (Med, Large, Huge, Garg.). Only downside is the processing time on em is anywhere from 2-3 weeks. For example, I placed my order for one medium set of 10, one large set of 2, and one huge set of 1 on the 15th of last month, and it just shipped today
Plus its good for all those monsters that Wizards just doesn't seem to want to put out minis for. Shame..
That video has changed my entire life as a GM lol. I have been using the alea tools for several months now, but have not wanted to have to buy a billion magnets to put under each and every monster mini of all sizes that I own. Now all I have to do is put a magnet under each base, and swap out the art as needed! I love it! Especially since I have already collected about 4,000 pieces of art that I feel is darksun appropriate to share with my players, now I can show a potrait of an npc and have a freaking awesome little stand with the same art!