Friday Publisher Preview: Catching Up

Friday, September 26, 2014

I was out sick last Friday, so we’ve fallen a bit behind on our scheduled previews of new figures from The Lost Coast set of Pathfinder Battles prepainted plastic miniatures, which is set for a November release. I’ve got six figures to show off today, so let’s not waste time!

All of these figures (and any that are left after this) were the victims of bad photographs way back in the paint master stage. In the meantime, WizKids sent us actual production run figures, so everything you see from The Lost Coast from this point forward are actual production figures, not paint masters.

Here we have the Goblin Druid, who is based off the much-hated druid Gogmurt from the Rise of the Runelords Adventure Path Anniversary Edition hardcover. He easily doubles as any goblin spellcaster. If you want, you can pair him up with the Firepelt Cougar we previewed a few weeks back to complete the official Gogmurt encounter. The Goblin Druid is a Small, common figure.

And this is the Green Hag, your basic hag from page 167 of the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Bestiary. She’s an effective but pretty simple figure in terms of sculpt and paint scheme, so we slated her at the common rarity. The Green Hag is a Medium figure.

This is the Shifty Noble, which we drew from page 56 of Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Magnimar, City of Monuments. I’m not certain the picture does this figure justice. With one hand held forward in a come-hither pose and the other behind her back clutching a deadly dagger, this is one untrustworthy scion you do not want to cross. The Shifty Noble is a Medium, uncommon figure with a great sense of “three dimensionality” to her.

Look out, it’s the Sinspawn Champion! We pulled this nasty critter off the cover of Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Dungeons of Golarion. He makes a great boss for the two Sinspawn already in the Rise of the Runelords set, or you can put a bunch of him with a bunch of them to fill out the ranks of a Sinspawn horde. The Sinspawn Champion is a (fairly tall) Medium, uncommon figure.

We already produced a Boggard back in Shattered Star, but he was more of a chieftain/mystic sort of guy. This Boggard Warrior is your run-of-the-mill amphibious humanoid fighter type. He’s a Medium, uncommon figure.

And this guy is the Leaping Boggard, his jumpy companion! You might not understand why until you’re holding him in your own hands, but I think this guy may be my favorite in the entire set. I love his tongue, his weird eyes, and especially his pose. Looking at him just makes me laugh, a quality I’ve always liked in my frog-people. The Leaping Boggard is a Medium, uncommon figure.

And Now, the Bad News

Last time we met with WizKids, they brought in samples of the repainted Feiya and King Irovetti, two figures from previous sets that did not get the paint application they deserved and hence resulted in a lot of justified complaints. I’m happy to say that King Irovetti looked fantastic. Amazing, even.

I’m unhappy to say that Feiya still looked pretty bad, especially in the face department. WizKids was very up front about this before we ever saw the figure, but the end result is that after testing several different repainting options, WizKids has come to the conclusion that the problem with the Feiya miniature is in fact the sculpt, in particular the lack of deep detail on the face that leads to the paint obscuring most of what detail is actually there.

That means that the existing Feiya sculpt is not going to work for the proposed replacement figures that were set to be inserted into The Lost Coast. WizKids is going back to sculpt on the figure. They’ll now create a new Feiya sculpt with their current digital sculpting tools, with a pose that attempts to match as closely as possible the original figure, but with a better face sculpt.

That means that the Feiya and King Irovetti replacement figures will not appear in The Lost Coast, and will instead be inserted into the next set we do after that. We apologize for the delay, but I for one am impressed with WizKids taking the initiative to fix the problem. None of us needs more bad Feiya figures.

So, yeah, mild disappointment there, but they are still committed to creating replacement figures, and I’m confident that the new sculpt will be amazing.

Why am I so confident in the quality of WizKids’s new digital sculpts? Why, because they also brought in the paint masters for the first Iconic Heroes set (January 2015), and they are by far the best-looking Medium-sized figures I’ve seen from them to date.

But you’re going to have to take my word for it for now, as I am holding those photos for next week’s preview!

See you then!

Erik Mona
Publisher

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Tags: The Lost Coast Miniatures Pathfinder Battles

Pathfinder Maps, Pathfinder Accessories, Starfinder Society Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber

These figures look like a return to the quality found at the start of this product line with the improvements that have actually made it in over the successive sets as well. This is great news!

I love the boggards. I have a number of bullywugs from the old D&DM line, but having more dynamic frog people is always a good thing!

Sad about Feiya, but it is what it is. I'll be glad to get her whenever she is finally up to the quality level the initial painting deserves.

EDIT: Oh, and the Shifty Noble is on page 58 of Magnimar, City of Monuments, not page 56.

Grand Lodge

Glad you are back, and hopefully well.

Just a big thanks for an awesome preview. They all look great. The Leaping Boggard is really cool.

I look forward to a Feiya redo. She maybe my favorite Iconic. I appreciate Wizkids commitment to get it right.

Cheers!

Shadow Lodge

Adventure Path Charter Subscriber; Pathfinder PF Special Edition Subscriber

If these are production run minis I pretty sure the QC issues are dealt with. All of these have nice, clear detail. The only flaw is the limits of 2D photos.

Glad to see the goblin druid, although at common I may get a few too many in a case. Although he does look very nice(?) and that face is so malicious.

Same with the Hag, common means around 5 in a case if the distributions are about the same as before. A number of Hags that would see my players revolt. However, despite the simplicity I think this one has the capacity to be awesome in hand, that face looks really clear and well detailed

You're right about the noble, the pic does let it down a little, mainly the arm holding the knife. That said, it shows the very clear attention to facial detail I have been waiting on for some time. If I get one like that from my case I would be more than happy. Clear facial features, neat eyes, tidy paint. The City of Monument book is rife with potential miniatures - the Forever Man (yes please!), Aspis agent, Mystery Cultist, Aeryn Darvengian to name a few. Every piece of character art in there would look damned good as a mini.

Sinspawn. Wow. Incredibly nice and it looks as though his colour will fit in well with the pre-existing sinspawn. Once again the consistency and attention is apparent. Paizo and Wizkids work well together. My only issue, bendy trident syndrome from the softer plastic, but I believe I'm in the minority here.

Boggards. Leaping one get a massive A++ form me. Love it. I am a real fan of the transparent post for just this reason, it makes the mid leap pose possible and that adds some real character to this mini. This I a freaking brilliant miniature.

The first I'm not as fond of, and that may well be the angle. He doesn't look like the same species and he appears to be larger than the second.

Sad to hear about Feiya and Irovetti but the delay is much better than a second disappointment. I think it's a sign of true character that the two companies work so close to get the details just right.

Really happy to hear you're pleased with the new iconics, makes me very excited to see them.

Now with these, that takes the total to 44, including the Shemhazian. Doesn't that mean 1 more to go? So Erik why have you left 1 mini, all by itself, until the very last?


Some cool stuff here! I remember fighting Gogmurt, and what a pain in the butt he was, so that's cool. And the green hag looks like she's going to be a big step ahead of the one Wizkids just did for WotC. (Plus, she also looks like she could proxy for an interesting undead, since there aren't many prepainted undead females out there.) The leaping boggard also looks fun, though he definitely looks like one you have to see in hand to really appreciate.

Paizo Employee Publisher, Chief Creative Officer

I left the last mini because, truth be told, even the second photo isn't very good. It's a cool mini. I probably should have included it here. I'll probably do it as a post-script to next week's preview.


Any word on when the season's promo minis are going to hit the Paizo web store?

Paizo Employee Publisher, Chief Creative Officer

Good question. Probably some time in late October or November.

Contributor

Very cool minis! Glad to hear you're feeling better, Erik.


Pathfinder Adventure Path, Lost Omens Subscriber; Pathfinder Battles Case Subscriber

I appreciate the extra time Wizkids is taking to get the Feiya remake right. I'd much rather wait longer for an excellent product than have a subpar one in a shorter amount of time.


Pathfinder Adventure, Adventure Path, Maps, Rulebook Subscriber

I'm thrilled to be getting Gogmurt. I like that we are receiving multiples of him, as he fits my Goblin horde to a t. He'll also come in handy for an upcoming mini-campaign I'm running of only classes from the Advanced Race Guide. A friend of mine has been mulling over several different possibilities, with a magic-based Goblin being one of them.

I LOVE HAGS! I even managed to live with one for a couple years of my life. For a Medium Common figure, this Hag looks pretty great. I agree, she easily outdoes the one recently made for the D&D line. I actually think this hag looks better than her illustration in the Bestiary. I love Hags in my campaign, and I'm happy to be receiving multiples of this one.

I agree with the others, the Shifty Noble looks like it has potential. The picture sort of makes it look funny, but the face is promising.

I like the look of the Sinspawn Champion. I'll probably go with the latter suggestion, and use him to fill out my Sinspawn horde.

I love both Boggards. They are a welcome addition to help pad my lower level encounters. The leaping boggard looks so much like Mr. Toad on acid.

It's a bummer about the repaints, but at least they are working on it.

There are one or two people that post on here that first brought up their belief that the real issue with the Feiya was her sculpt, and not just the paint job. I can't remember who it was, but I'm giving them a shout out anyway. Good eye!


If Wizkids would stop having video game folks sculpt their stuff, they would not have that issue. Have someone with knowledge of plastic production do these things.

Shadow Lodge

Adventure Path Charter Subscriber; Pathfinder PF Special Edition Subscriber
Erik Mona wrote:

I left the last mini because, truth be told, even the second photo isn't very good. It's a cool mini. I probably should have included it here. I'll probably do it as a post-script to next week's preview.

Understandable. Although I never really judge the minis by photo anyway, they are so different in hand.

On another site you mention the next announcements may start end of October. Leaves me curious as to what will fill the gaps in the next 4 weeks. Any hints?

Also you mention you'll be going over the 55+ sculpts in the next set. Does this mean the next is a larger set (which I believe you may have you hinted at before), or is it simply a case of more sculpts than actual minis in the set and you are in the process of refining the final details?


I balked at starting to buy some miniatures sets months ago. Now that WizKids really shows they care about the quality I will look into those purchases now. And that will also include future ones, too.

Paizo Employee Publisher, Chief Creative Officer

da-Craig-o wrote:
If Wizkids would stop having video game folks sculpt their stuff, they would not have that issue. Have someone with knowledge of plastic production do these things.

The Feiya miniature was sculpted by a practical sculptor using the same methods that have been used since the 70s.

Sovereign Court

Erik Mona wrote:
da-Craig-o wrote:
If Wizkids would stop having video game folks sculpt their stuff, they would not have that issue. Have someone with knowledge of plastic production do these things.

The Feiya miniature was sculpted by a practical sculptor using the same methods that have been used since the 70s.

I think I see the problem now. I mean how hard was pong to sculpt am I right? Just kidding I have been very happy with the sculpts so far.


This set continues to deliver. The leaping Boggard is superb, and I'm glad that another Green Hag has surfaced after Tyranny of Dragons missed the mark with theirs! And, I'll always take more Goblins.


By the looks of the previews the Lost Coast set looks good.

I am disappointed in the retraction of the Feiya and Irovetti from this case. I pre-ordered a case a few weeks ago for several reasons (liked the minis included, liked the idea of getting 2 additional high quality minis as previously announced, some of the commons looked like I'd want multiples, the price on pre-ordering a case was good). I understand the reasons for not including them now and appreciate the communication about it, which is a strong suit of Erik, but with already investing the money based on the expectation of what was going to be included in a case order, the retraction doesn't seem right. Sorry for complaining.

I still am looking forward to getting the minis, but am not sure if I should cancel the case order and pick up singles now.

Still very much looking forward to this set, and despite my complaint am glad that WizKids is trying to get the minis right rather than rush them out.

Grand Lodge

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I like most of the minis pictured here, with the only exception being the noble - due to the difficulty in seeing the mini properly, not a dislike.

I do wish that one of the boggards was common, instead of the goblin. As much as I love the Pathfinder goblins we are getting an awful lot of them, and boggards are another good "large force" creature with less variety available. However, I'm pretty sure I'm in the minority in this view.

Still holding out hope that the last mini is a Dire Corby or a Flumph...

Dark Archive

Is it just me, or is that arm twisted in an unnatural angle? And I mean the shifty noble mini, of course...

Otherwise these are really great! And I don't mind the new Feya mini being postponed; it's better that we'll get a new sculpt that will do her justice.

Dire Corby would be an awesome mini to get! Flumph... yeah, not so.


Sorry, I want a flumph, just to get it out of the way. They have a niche.


What manual is the Sinspawn Champion's statblock in? Is it featured in the revised Rise of the Runelords adventure path book?


Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

I appreciate the extra effort in trying to get it right. I recently got a Feiya mini in a pack...it looked like her face was melting off.

Oh and if you're looking for suggestions could you guys please produce a Babau mini? It seems to be THE "go-to" demon for PFS.


Pathfinder Adventure, Adventure Path, Maps, Rulebook Subscriber
Soluzar wrote:

I appreciate the extra effort in trying to get it right. I recently got a Feiya mini in a pack...it looked like her face was melting off.

Oh and if you're looking for suggestions could you guys please produce a Babau mini? It seems to be THE "go-to" demon for PFS.

If I'm not mistaken, there is a Babau demon in the Wrath of the Righteous set. It's #8 in that set, a Common medium. I believe it's officially released under the name Blood Demon.

Dark Archive

[Chelaxian mind trick] Leo, you don't need a Flumph mini! There are no Flumphs, they do not exist! [/Chelaxian mind trick]

Shadow Lodge

1 person marked this as a favorite.
Adventure Path Charter Subscriber; Pathfinder PF Special Edition Subscriber
Scribbling Rambler wrote:


I do wish that one of the boggards was common, instead of the goblin. As much as I love the Pathfinder goblins we are getting an awful lot of them, and boggards are another good "large force" creature with less variety available. However, I'm pretty sure I'm in the minority in this view.

Still holding out hope that the last mini is a Dire Corby or a Flumph...

Yay, minority of two. Although I'd like to see several of the other "large force" minis get the goblin treatment. If the same variety of sculpts was available for boggards (a personal favourite), kobolds (close after legends), derro, hobgoblins, orcs I'd be ecstatic.

I'd also like to me some themed double minis like a spriggan in both small and large size, a duegar in medium and large for instance. Or similar size changing foes.


Gimme the boggards! I really liked the chieftain in Shattered Star and hope these two are his look-a-likes (the pictures imply otherwise, but here's still hope!).

The sinspawn looks awesome too!
Don't care for Gogmurt too much though--just too many of those little buggers around (but it will go nicely with the firepelt cugar posted earlier).

Ruyan.


I 2nd the thought of making 1 of the 2 boggard minis common and making the goblin uncommon. At this point there is a much greater need to have more boggards than goblins. If this could be considered it would be a huge advantage to the set. All look quite nice. I'm pretty much done with my need for goblins right now.


I'd bet changes aren't possible at this point. If they're releasing this set in November, I'd bet the minis are pretty much made and boxed, and they'll be starting to move them around soon if they haven't already. But this is just speculation on my part.

Paizo Employee Publisher, Chief Creative Officer

Berselius wrote:
What manual is the Sinspawn Champion's statblock in? Is it featured in the revised Rise of the Runelords adventure path book?

It's actually not statted up anywhere in particular. I consider it an advanced sinspawn with a few extra beefy HD.

YMMV.

Paizo Employee Publisher, Chief Creative Officer

Yeah, we're way past the changes stage. I suspect that sculpt complexity and paint steps both conspired to make the boggards uncommon (and the lack thereof is why the Goblin Druid is common).


Quote:
It's actually not statted up anywhere in particular.

Clearly this must be rectified.

Paizo Employee Publisher, Chief Creative Officer

Clearly.


What type of Sinspawn do you think it would qualify to be? I'm thinking Wrath but then again I could be wrong. Any idea what kind of CR it would have?


If nothing else, the Feiya paint job inspired me to take up mini-painting again after a 5 year hiatus. I'm still a noob, but have fun.

Here's my repaint attempt.


She has a face after all!

+1

Ruyan.

Liberty's Edge

So will we see Feiya in Iconic Heroes?

Scarab Sages

Erik, I realize you are incredibly busy. I just had an unacceptable experience with WizKids regarding the Feiya/Irovetti replacement agreement with Paizo. I would rather keep this between you, me and WizKids. Is it possible for me to pm you with information? Please let me know. Thanks very much.

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