Friday Publisher Preview: All Hail Lamashtu!

I've loved this set so far, but I'd have to say that this is the reveal I've been least excited about. Of the three, I like the priestess the most; the distended belly is very creepy, and I can imagine using her in other contexts as any sort of creepy priestess giving ready to give birth to something Man Was Not Meant to Know. But the alchemist isn't quite working for me; he looks a bit cartoonish to my eye, and from the picture he looks stuck a bit between human and halfling. Maybe he'll look better in hand.
As for Lamashtu, I'm sure she'll have some big fans, but for me it's the sort of mini that will most likely never see the table, both because it'd have to be such a high-level encounter and because she's just not my cup of tea. But I don't begrudge other people some minis they'll love!

I can see the Lamashtu figure finding use as a Lamashtu statue coming to life (I'd probably put the mini down every time the group comes across a statue, animated or not)

Lamashtu looks creepier as a mini!

May the Mother bless us all with her gifts.

Dude, Lamashtu!?! That's awesome. Now I have a figure to serve as a statue in all the temples of lamashtu:) aaaaand its gonna he awesome to kill the party off with her at the conclusion of an AP lol

Etania: Ewww. But getting that same response out of my players is perfect! Especially with an army of cultists at her control, to really mess up their day.
Lamashtu: This one may be a little harder to work in to an adventure, but is something I'd be happy to have available if and when I really need it.

One of my favorite previews for this set. Can't have enough cultists and demons, and having the Mother of Monsters herself as a miniature is amazing. Kudos!

A huge thumbs up from me, super creepy cultist, useful cultist alchemist or assassin and an awesome rendition of Lamashtu. Not 100% sure what I'll use Lamashtu for but since it looks so good I'm sure I will find a place for her. At rare I should get 1 of each which is enough Etanias and Lamashtus for my table, sadly I think I could use more of Thelsikar, but picking him up on the secondary should be easy enough I suppose, or perhaps that second case? Interestingly enough after this preview that means around 1/3rd of the set is NPC/PC types. At that ratio it really leaves me hoping they have come to grips with faces (although the latest D&D minis don't really give me much hope on that front) otherwise I can see another great set getting lambasted.

Sadly the Feiya solution doesn't look like a go for me. The idea of an added cost to ship a defective mini to get a replacement leaves a sour taste in my mouth. I've never used the replacement feature simply because the extra $10-12 in shipping just isn't not worth it. That said it will probably work for those in the US and it's nice to see wizkids do something special to replace what was a dog of a mini.

OK. That settles it. CAN'T. RESIST. MUST. HAVE.

Ruyan.

I know I'll never use the mini in any actual combat (except one the players are destined to lose), but that aside, Lamashtu looks absolutely amazing. I mean, I don't often get creeped out by minis, but dang, good job, belly and all! The supporting cast is also quite impressice- for those of us not in the know, whatsup with Etania's stomach?
I can easily see using Lamashtu as a set-piece in Rise of the Runelords, or a couple other uses.... Now if I can just get you guys to do one for Urgathoa, or better yet, a Daughter of Urgathoa.
Okay, getting more excited about this set....

Cat-thulhu: I haven't yet revealed ALL of the different ways of getting a better Feiya. I ask you to hang tight for a bit longer, as I think once the whole story is out there you'll be pretty satisfied.

Cat-thulhu: I haven't yet revealed ALL of the different ways of getting a better Feiya. I ask you to hang tight for a bit longer, as I think once the whole story is out there you'll be pretty satisfied.

Thanks Erik, I'm in the same boat as Cat-thulhu. Paying extra to get a correct version of a mini seems not right. I look forward to what else you will reveal.

Cat-thulhu: I haven't yet revealed ALL of the different ways of getting a better Feiya. I ask you to hang tight for a bit longer, as I think once the whole story is out there you'll be pretty satisfied.

Ok, I really hope there is more to it, Erik.

With how many times I've heard "you will be really pleased what WizKids has in store", to be told we will be able to replace her through WizKids normal replacement process is quite disappointing.

Like Cat-thulhu, I am no fan of how WizKids has handled replacements.

I still await the info that will 'really make me pleased'.

Why was nothing done with the crappy job on king irroveti? Was soo disappointed to get a figure from kingmaker , my favorite adventure path,only to get a figure with a melted looking face and crappy paint job. And that was ordered as a single so someone had to look at that and think it ok to ship to a customer. From what I have heard most of the irroveti minis were subpar, so why send them out?

Cat-thulhu: I haven't yet revealed ALL of the different ways of getting a better Feiya. I ask you to hang tight for a bit longer, as I think once the whole story is out there you'll be pretty satisfied.

You might be able to answer this question: will she be available for outright purchase as a single? From Paizo?

I didn't get this particular case but I picked up a bunch of singles and would have got her except a} she was pulled from stock before I ordered and b} she had a bad rap.

So I don't actually have a bad one to send in, and I never got the opportunity to get one, shy of a multi-hundred-dollar purchase.

Why was nothing done with the crappy job on king irroveti? Was soo disappointed to get a figure from kingmaker , my favorite adventure path,only to get a figure with a melted looking face and crappy paint job. And that was ordered as a single so someone had to look at that and think it ok to ship to a customer. From what I have heard most of the irroveti minis were subpar, so why send them out?

Ha ha ha! Hang tight, man! You will not be disappointed.

Erik, really burning the midnight oil. :)

And I am happy to hear this, as it sounds like resolutions for other pretty bad minis will be looked at as well.

Now I am truly intrigued to see the full announcement on what will be done.

I am really happy to hear that Paizo has pursued this figure replacement plan with WizKids.

I have to say WizKids' quality control has always had issues on many of their miniature lines. I guess it is has been a trade off for often having so many paint steps required for their miniatures. I greatly appreciate that Paizo is constantly striving to keep the quality these miniatures as reasonable as possible.

It was so sad to see the quality level of the Wizards of the Coast miniatures dip over time, and I never got the feeling that there was someone "fighting for us" to get the best possible miniatures. Given both WotC's lack of miniature quality control combined with WizKid's variable quality control, I almost fear the future of their new joint venture.

Thank you Erik and Paizo for caring, for listening to us, and for wanting to put out the best possible line of miniature products you can.

Etainia looks scary. I'm still missing a pregnant woman miniature, though this one is not actually what I had in mind for that ^_^ That being said, I think she makes a wonderful villainess, and that pregnancy is great foreshadowing, so she can actually be used multiple times. Love that!

Thelsikar is great, this is a miniature which can serve as an evil or just strange alchemist, but also as a grenadier, which opens up a slew of new options. He fits with the other cultists from the earlier post, which I appreciate a lot as well! Wouldn't have minded if he were uncommon, but this will do nicely regardless ^_^

Lamashtu is certainly a strange looking demoness, with a lot of character. Her distended belly, fire and ice weapons and skull bikini give her a very memorable and unique look. I agree with notes by others that she is a one-use or few-use monster unless you happen to be running something specifically regarding Lamashtu, but for a rare I do not mind that.

Regarding the trade in, I am very glad about how this is being handled - this gives me a lot of confidence for future purchases. The WizKids miniatures I have personally gotten all have acceptable or in some cases good faces, especially on the rares, so I am still confused as to how poor Feiya got so disfigured. I am happy it is being fixed. Yay!

I want to preface my comments by saying that I do not tend to purchase miniature sets and if I was to purchase your miniatures, it would likely be in the form of singles whether then the boosters.

To me, the addition of Lamashtu as a miniature is a bit disappointing. Not because I wouldn't want a miniature of Lamashtu mind you, but because I really would of liked an Iomedae miniature in the WotR set. As a miniature, Iomedae would been much more useable then Lamashtu. She could double as a female knight of some sort and those who are running WotR know there could of atleast been a couple of scenes where a miniature of the Inheritor could of been appropriate on the table.

With Lamashtu, that's a bit more difficult. Most campaigns aren't likely going to include the goddess herself and that relegates the use of this miniature in most potential campaigns as some sort of avatar or statue come alive type business. Otherwise, this particular monster lands pretty squarely in the hand-statted out miniature for a very specific campaign that most GMs aren't going to run.

On the subject of statting up gods. I have been on record for stating that I would love a Deific Adventures book though I am not one of the most prolific voices on these boards. But I realize that Paizo is unlikely to create such a book for sometime, if ever. But should that possibility ever come to pass, I feel that by having this miniature, you would hedged-in the potential statblock for Lamashtu. I say this because if you give her any other base size category then Large (mind you, I think either Large or Huge would be a good size for her) then you are effectively saying, if accidentally, "Yeah we know you have this miniature for Lamashtu but you probably won't be able to use her according to our statblock". I feel this would of been much less of a problem for Iomedae who has a lot more useablility outside of her own potential statblock and who in most descriptions of her keep her at medium even after ascension (plus there is the art in the Inner Sea Gods book which has her fighting side-by-side with some of her knights).

Anyway, those are my comments - minor though they may be. Have a nice day.

P.S. This is not an attempt at bringing in a discussion on whether Gods should be statted or not. That's for another thread at another time.

P.P.S. If you never do god stats, would you atleast consider Aspect or Avatar stats?

Eric wrote: I'm off to drink some wiiiiiiiiiiiiine!

Does that make tonight's lucky spice paprika?

Reggie.

Erik, I'd like to reiterate my appreciation for your open communication with us. Not only has it been informative, but it has been entertaining as well. And, having an avenue for feedback is awesome. Thank you for listening. I recommend Paizo to all my friends. But, using the minis you have produced in my games speaks louder than anything I say.

I know most of the posters above have a much greater understanding of Golarion, and a much larger minis collection than I will ever have, but I for one say thanks for making these minis.

I came to Pathfinder through the comics, so actually having the opportunity to use my limited GM skills (read "none") to craft a little adventure around the comic stories has been my dream since the beginning.

Maybe when the party reaches the final bosses, they'll be there to do battle in pre-painted miniature form...with Lamashtu looking on from the side :)

I know most of the posters above have a much greater understanding of Golarion, and a much larger minis collection than I will ever have, but I for one say thanks for making these minis.

I came to Pathfinder through the comics, so actually having the opportunity to use my limited GM skills (read "none") to craft a little adventure around the comic stories has been my dream since the beginning.

Maybe when the party reaches the final bosses, they'll be there to do battle in pre-painted miniature form...with Lamashtu looking on from the side :)

Glad you came in from the comics, I've gone the other way from Pathfinder back into comics, and I feel like a kid again when I show up at the comic book store and my bin is full of comics.

If you are enjoying the comics, and using them as the baseline for your group, consider picking up Rise of the Runelords, it is the AP that the comics are based on, and is very approachable as a first time GM.

Glad to hear the comics are bringing folks in, as I work my tail off on those, too! :)

Oh... Oh gods yes. Please come to me, your unholiness! While I am not worthy, I am willing! I and my horde of demon-children prostrate ourselves for your pleasure! <3

I am buying the Lamashtu mini the HOUR it comes out. Phew... Oh... By the (evil) gods... Oh thank you. :D

I can't wait to bust the Lamashtu mini out when one of my characters grows to Large size. Most of my characters are aspects of her in various ways, and would be greatly behooved by her appearance... furthering others' understanding of just how terrible they are. >:)

So now we have - Cult leader Etainia, cult alchemist Thelsikar, A goblin mutant, Lamashtan Cultists, 2 different bully boys for the cult, and Lamashtu herself. Please tell me that there will be one or two of her favored children in this set. Tell me we are going to get some Gnolls.

All things will come to you… in time.

All things will come to you… in time.

Someone's been eating fortune cookies again...

Erik Mona wrote:

All things will come to you… in time.

Someone's been eating fortune cookies again...

No, that would be "all things will come to you… in bed."

Eric wrote: I'm off to drink some wiiiiiiiiiiiiine!

Does that make tonight's lucky spice paprika?

It's the happiest spice in the world!

Oh, and Reggie, isn't that a beautiful car?