Finding these in one of my LGS, I found I really like the new way these are being marketed. I love being able to choose the large figs I want, helping me avoid unnecessary dupes. I also love that these are basic RPG minis we all need from the Monster Manual and not obscurities created for the sake of the now defunct minis game.
Most of the sculpts are great. Love the hippogriff, the chimera, the harpy, etc. I also love the brighter, wider color palette, which I feel is important at such a small scale.
On the downside:
A few of the sculpts were weak (Gnoll Huntmaster, what the hell is that in your right hand?).
I'm paying substantially more per mini (although to be fair, I'm getting something closer to what I wanted).
This first published adventure for 4e is lacking in the quality content department and perversely overpriced.
Just eight years ago, we were paying $20 for the 3e Player's Handbook. The philosophy then was to offer a low barrier to entry and drive up the number of players. (A strategy which succeeded.) To price this module at $30 is a shocking affront to the fans.
More than 20% of the pagecount (22+ out of 96 pages) in this module is a reprint of 4e basic rules (found in the PHB and DMG), to make no mention at all of the duplicate stat blocks and other nonsense.
Furthermore, I am constantly amazed by Wizards' content bias toward older players. Demonic cults? As the first introduction to the game? It's just as cliche as saving the princess from the dragon. (BTW, has Wizards *ever* done that?) Worse, it makes it much more difficult to pitch the game to potential new players.
There happens to be a culture war going on in the U.S., and Wizards has gone all in on one side of the war. Through their content choices, Wizards is effectively saying, D&D is a blue state game for 20- and 30-somethings. Doesn't sound like smart marketing to me.
