The Rusty Dragon Inn is Open for Business!

The thing is, the bar dressing minis are all in high demand and are rare, and the worst problem is that customers want *multiple* copies of each bar dressing. There will be no single to purchase the rare bar dressings you are missing anywhere, or to get multiple copies yourself (unless you want to pay $40-50 in the aftermarket).

The real problem is that the bar dressings should have been uncommon, not rare. Stuff like Frost Giant Mage, Bugbear Tyrant, Flesh Golem, and some of the ghouls should have been rare.

It's important to remember a couple of things.

#1: There's a big lead-time on this stuff. The set list had to be finalized months ago; then there's sculpting, manufacturing, shipping; all kinds of time-consuming processes. These decisions would have had to be made back then. That goes hand in hand with...

#2: Dungeon dressing is still very new to the line. When #1 was being done, the results of the experimental inclusion of dressing in Dungeons Deep likely weren't available. Keeping the items at rare was the best way to hedge bets against potential unpopularity.

I'm certain that Mr. Mona is keeping a very close eye on these things, including all our posts here. Just remember that the gap between learning and doing can be wider than it looks, especially in this industry. ^_^

That being said, there are a few minis of late that I wish were higher-rarity. It sounds like the Frost Giant Ice Mage will be in the same boat as my four Fire Giant Kings. (War of succession time!)

I understand the potential reasons - in the Fire Giant's case, I'm guessing it was due to low sculpt/paint complexity, as well as the widespread demands for giant minis (I'm the outlier on that one).

Still... in a perfect world. ^_^

There's always pawns to slack thirst for Giants, frankly from having pawns for RotRL, SS, and RoW, I'm surprised the Storm Tyrant hasn't asked to borrow some for his army :-)

While I probably only need one Frost Giant Ice Mage for my Frost Giant collection, this piece is unique enough out of all the Frost Giants produced to date that it should be excellent trade material.

I have seen pictures of the "crate" mini that suggest the top lid can be removed (which would be excellent).

Can anyone who has one tell me if that is true (or possible to remove easyly)?

Thx

PS: I agree that the rarity of the "Dungeon Dressing" pieces needs to change in the future.

Reaper has a nice cube.

Barrels will require some painting skills and materials (brush, primer, medium brown acrylic, black acrylic, and a bit of water to create the black wash for the barrel.)

I just received some great looking barrels and crates from this closed Kickstarter using 3D printers (pictures about 1/2 way down the page). Their web store hasn't opened yet but is expected to soon.

I've been a subscriber for all of the Battles sets and have never missed out on a figure through bad luck (*knocking on wood, since I am waiting for this to ship from here).

In the past, I'd get my case and organize and count everything and then add singles to have the numbers I wanted. I've had better luck subscribing to the set here but then also ordering a brick and a few select singles that I really want to have a few of via another retailer. I know cost-wise that won't work for some, but it has cut down on single purchases for me while giving me the counts I'm looking for. It's also been a little cheaper as well.

I have seen pictures of the "crate" mini that suggest the top lid can be removed (which would be excellent).

Can anyone who has one tell me if that is true (or possible to remove easyly)?

Thx

PS: I agree that the rarity of the "Dungeon Dressing" pieces needs to change in the future.

I checked this out for you, and can confirm that the lid does not open.

I checked this out for you, and can confirm that the lid does not open.

Chris must have a low Disable Device skill. If you want that crate lid off, you'll get that crate lid off. ;)

I checked this out for you, and can confirm that the lid does not open.

Chris must have a low Disable Device skill. If you want that crate lid off, you'll get that crate lid off. ;)

Thx Chris.

So it is not intended to.

Brell, did you try this actually?

If yes - how does it look inside - probably not painted?

Have to say I'm pretty disappointed with the new procedure on singles, and considering the dressings are already sold out.

I know Erik indicated that it may be restocked, and that they are selling out this fast, gives more incentive on opening more cases to sell singles.

But all that means is I have to constantly watch the website to see if more singles open up which will probably sell out immediately again.

It's good for Paizo, but bad for us as we only have a limited time to get any extras, or forbid we don't get any of a rare in our case.

Please don't put this limitation on singles, continue to have them available for awhile, considering they are selling out fast.

I would also be open to seeing a dedicated dressing line.

Erik, have yall thought about a dungeon dressing mini set along same lines of undead and goblin packs?

Yes.

WizKids did not sell enough of the goblin or undead sets to continue with this format, though I do think it's probably the most appropriate for a dungeon dressing set. It's something I will continue to discuss with them. I know we're all pleased with how well the dungeon dressing singles have been selling.

Duncan7291 wrote:

Erik, have yall thought about a dungeon dressing mini set along same lines of undead and goblin packs?

Yes.

WizKids did not sell enough of the goblin or undead sets to continue with this format, though I do think it's probably the most appropriate for a dungeon dressing set. It's something I will continue to discuss with them. I know we're all pleased with how well the dungeon dressing singles have been selling.

That's too bad. I'd love a True Dragons of Absalom kobold theme pack similar to We Be Goblins.

Is the number of minis and set list for the next set (#11) already fixed and how many dungeon dressing pieces will it contain?

Same number of figures. Same amount of dungeon dressing. Same distribution method.

(So far as I'm aware. I haven't seen digital sculpts yet, so we're in the early stages of production when things still have plenty of time to change, but that's what I know at the moment.)

Erik,

Do you mean same distribution for the dressing pieces as in rarity (i.e., all rares)? Please don’t make them all rares for the next set if they are items that people would want at least several of, similar to the table or crates in this set.

Why can’t the frequency be changed for the more wanted items? I just see the same problem with the next set as with this one, all the dressing pieces will sell out same day when they are put up and skyrocket in price.

Duncan7291 wrote:

Erik, have yall thought about a dungeon dressing mini set along same lines of undead and goblin packs?

Yes.

WizKids did not sell enough of the goblin or undead sets to continue with this format, though I do think it's probably the most appropriate for a dungeon dressing set. It's something I will continue to discuss with them. I know we're all pleased with how well the dungeon dressing singles have been selling.

I also have to point out that fact that we quickly sold through the dungeon dressing singles from a bunch of cases we opened is far from definitive evidence that WizKids can successfully sell enough copies of a potential dungeon dressing set to make it worth their while. We're talking about a difference of multiple orders of magnitude here. Nonetheless, we'll make sure they're aware of the fact!

The Half-Elf Enchanter has sold out!

This is the 12th mini that has become unavailable.

Now only 6 rares remain available:

- #35 Allevrah, Elf General m
- #37 Ghoul Champion m
- #40 Cayden Cailean m
- #41 Silver Dragon L
- #43 Zilvazaraat (Mercane) L
- #44 Orc Rider on Dire Wolf L

I expect these all to sell out before street date (27th).

My money is on Cayden to be the next one gone.

Quote:

I checked this out for you, and can confirm that the lid does not open.

Brell Stormforge wrote:

Chris must have a low Disable Device skill. If you want that crate lid off, you'll get that crate lid off. ;)

Thx Chris.

So it is not intended to.

Brell, did you try this actually?

If yes - how does it look inside - probably not painted?

Marco, I was just joking around, but if you're really that curious, I'm willing to take an x-acto knife to the lid of mine, once my case arrives and let you know what I find. I can tell by the gap under the lid, that I can fix whatever damage I do to it by cutting it open.

Marco Massoudi wrote:

Quote:

I checked this out for you, and can confirm that the lid does not open.

Brell Stormforge wrote:

Chris must have a low Disable Device skill. If you want that crate lid off, you'll get that crate lid off. ;)

Thx Chris.

So it is not intended to.

Brell, did you try this actually?

If yes - how does it look inside - probably not painted?

Marco, I was just joking around, but if you're really that curious, I'm willing to take an x-acto knife to the lid of mine, once my case arrives and let you know what I find. I can tell by the gap under the lid, that I can fix whatever damage I do to it by cutting it open.

Haha, cool.

Brell Stormforge wrote:

Marco Massoudi wrote:

Quote:

I checked this out for you, and can confirm that the lid does not open.

Brell Stormforge wrote:

Chris must have a low Disable Device skill. If you want that crate lid off, you'll get that crate lid off. ;)

Thx Chris.

So it is not intended to.

Brell, did you try this actually?

If yes - how does it look inside - probably not painted?

Marco, I was just joking around, but if you're really that curious, I'm willing to take an x-acto knife to the lid of mine, once my case arrives and let you know what I find. I can tell by the gap under the lid, that I can fix whatever damage I do to it by cutting it open.

Haha, cool.

I would do the removal myself because to me that gap at the top looks like the lid is only glued on top.
The rest of the crate looks more seemless.
Makes me wonder if wizkids intended it to be removable and decided against it later.
They did such things in the past as with the "dagger-throwing Merisiel".
I think it could be worth the try if you can put a small mini inside the crate.
It could be the same with the barrel...

I'm doubtful that it's hollow, but I'll find out once it get here. If it is, I have some round shaped gold glitter that looks like gold coins for minis. I'll fill up a crate with it and if any of my p.c.s ever knock it open, they will be heavily rewarded. :)

Marco Massoudi wrote:

Brell Stormforge wrote:

Marco Massoudi wrote:

Quote:

I checked this out for you, and can confirm that the lid does not open.

Brell Stormforge wrote:

Chris must have a low Disable Device skill. If you want that crate lid off, you'll get that crate lid off. ;)

Thx Chris.

So it is not intended to.

Brell, did you try this actually?

If yes - how does it look inside - probably not painted?

Marco, I was just joking around, but if you're really that curious, I'm willing to take an x-acto knife to the lid of mine, once my case arrives and let you know what I find. I can tell by the gap under the lid, that I can fix whatever damage I do to it by cutting it open.

Haha, cool.

I would do the removal myself because to me that gap at the top looks like the lid is only glued on top.
The rest of the crate looks more seemless.
Makes me wonder if wizkids intended it to be removable and decided against it later.
They did such things in the past as with the "dagger-throwing Merisiel".
I think it could be worth the try if you can put a small mini inside the crate.
It could be the same with the barrel...

I'm doubtful that it's hollow, but I'll find out once it get here. If it is, I have some round shaped gold glitter that looks like gold coins for minis. I'll fill up a crate with it and if any of my p.c.s ever knock it open, they will be heavily rewarded. :)

Great idea!

Erik Mona wrote:

Duncan7291 wrote:

Erik, have yall thought about a dungeon dressing mini set along same lines of undead and goblin packs?

Yes.

WizKids did not sell enough of the goblin or undead sets to continue with this format, though I do think it's probably the most appropriate for a dungeon dressing set. It's something I will continue to discuss with them. I know we're all pleased with how well the dungeon dressing singles have been selling.

I also have to point out that fact that we quickly sold through the dungeon dressing singles from a bunch of cases we opened is far from definitive evidence that WizKids can successfully sell enough copies of a potential dungeon dressing set to make it worth their while. We're talking about a difference of multiple orders of magnitude here. Nonetheless, we'll make sure they're aware of the fact!

Yes, I understand that it is certainly not definitive evidence that a dedicated dungeon dressing set should be done, but it does begin to show the current method for singles (at least dressing pieces) right now doesn’t work as demand far exceeds the supply.

I know it’s been said you will open up more cases to resupply if it sells well enough (which it looks like a lot of the rares have), but I think stopping at the end of January will still be too early as many of us may not know what we have (haven’t received our cases or had the chance to open) or the demand will still be too high.

I know it’s a work in progress and something new you (Paizo) are starting, but I just don’t like the scarcity of these dressing singles, nevermind the access will be disappearing very soon on buying them (from your website).

I'm just happy that dungeon dressing are proving to be viable at any rarity. Hopefully the ones that really get used in quantity will eventually earn the right to occupy an uncommon slot.

To play a bit of devil's advocate, I can see why WizKids would not want to make a set of dungeon dressing. By keeping them limited to rares in current boxes, they are promoting the purchasing of boxes by people that are searching for dungeon dressing. It may make more business sense for them to keep the demand high under the current model than give us what we want :)

To play a bit of devil's advocate, I can see why WizKids would not want to make a set of dungeon dressing. By keeping them limited to rares in current boxes, they are promoting the purchasing of boxes by people that are searching for dungeon dressing. It may make more business sense for them to keep the demand high under the current model than give us what we want :)

When companies begin thinking like that, it is when I start to look elsewhere. It’s one thing thinking “We are going to make the best (plastic) miniatures on the market so consumers will continue to purchase them”, it’s another to think “We are going to make the most desirable miniatures the most rare (hard to get a hold of) so they have to buy more boxes.” That reminds more along the lines of what Wizards did with DDM where you would need to buy multiple cases to complete a set.

It may be good business sense to do this, as there are those who will buy more, but I don’t consider it good practice. The sets for PB are doing well in sales already (at least when I spoke with Erik at Gen Con it was), let’s not try to sock it to those who are already supporting PB.

If WizKids doesn’t do a dedicated set for the more popular dungeon dressing, then I would like to see them an uncommon slot, or at least a normal ‘rare’ slot, instead of this ‘ultra rare/very rare’ slot I keep hearing about.

WizKids did not sell enough of the goblin or undead sets to continue with this format, though I do think it's probably the most appropriate for a dungeon dressing set. It's something I will continue to discuss with them. I know we're all pleased with how well the dungeon dressing singles have been selling.

Part of the problem might be that the sets came out too early in the show: Most of the original sculpts where/are still readily available.

I wonder f the other retailers are going to pick up the slack and buy more cases to open, or if you opening fewer cases is going to shrink overall sales.

WizKids did not sell enough of the goblin or undead sets to continue with this format, though I do think it's probably the most appropriate for a dungeon dressing set. It's something I will continue to discuss with them. I know we're all pleased with how well the dungeon dressing singles have been selling.

Would a format similar to the Dragon Evolution or the Iconic Heroes be more viable? Like a set of dungeon pieces, ancient crypts, treasure hoards work? Just a thought on it.

Erik Mona wrote:

WizKids did not sell enough of the goblin or undead sets to continue with this format, though I do think it's probably the most appropriate for a dungeon dressing set. It's something I will continue to discuss with them. I know we're all pleased with how well the dungeon dressing singles have been selling.

Would a format similar to the Dragon Evolution or the Iconic Heroes be more viable? Like a set of dungeon pieces, ancient crypts, treasure hoards work? Just a thought on it.

The old Mage Knight Dungeons: Artifacts set, which was produced by Wizkids themselves, would be an excellent data point.

#40 Cayden Cailean has sold out (like i predicted)

I predict the next one to sell out to be either the Silver Dragon or Orc on Worg (as these seem to be the most beautiful and most useful respectively).

The Orc is absolutely fantastic. (which makes me upset that some of the other minis are lacking....looking at you slayer.)

If WizKids doesn’t do a dedicated set for the more popular dungeon dressing, then I would like to see them an uncommon slot, or at least a normal ‘rare’ slot, instead of this ‘ultra rare/very rare’ slot I keep hearing about.

Reposting from here:

Neither Paizo nor WizKids has used the term "very rare" or "super rare" in connection with these minis—if you see that, some fan came up with that tag, and it has no basis in the actual distribution method used by WizKids. Frankly, I feel that it's use is just plain misleading. You should see set dressing pieces in roughly the same proportion as rares in each case of minis, which is to say 1 or 2 of each per case. (They're not technically rares because they sometimes appear in uncommon slots, but they're not significantly more or less rare than rare.)

I don't even have my case yet. Far as I'm concerned, Wizkids/Paizo whoever might as well not have marketed any singles.

I received my email notice from Paizo yesterday that it will be shipping out this week. At least one of my two cases will be. But both incentive items are part of this first shipment.

"Both" incentive items? You mean there's an incentive item other than the bar? What? And why isn't it in my sub?

"Both" incentive items? You mean there's an incentive item other than the bar? What? And why isn't it in my sub?

Hey Ed, Hobbun is getting the same things that you are, just more because he has two subs to the Battles line.

Ah. Thanks for the clarification. :-)

I just wanted to say I was able to get a look at a half-dozen Rusty Dragon pieces yesterday of each rarity and this set is such a huge improvement from the past few. The faces are spot-on and crystal clear and the paint jobs are tidy and accurate. My compliments to the crew for getting the quality of the paint jobs back to where they were in the beginning. Pathfinder characters are the best-looking fantasy characters out there--they deserve this level of care with their paint jobs!

The faces in particular I'm really happy about seeing an improvement. I can live with slightly grubby armor, but if the eyeballs are all Robot Chicken or nonexistent, it breaks my little black heart.

Ah. Thanks for the clarification. :-)

Yeah, what Jeff said. I have two subscriptions.

Sorry about that, should have been more clear.

Eric,

now that the Rusty Dragon Inn minis and Bar are available:
Do you have some news to share about the Rusty Dragon Flip-mat possibility?

Thx

The Iconic Heroes Set 5 is in stores and looks much better than Set 4 (which does not look so good)!

The Iconic Heroes Set 5 is in stores and looks much better than Set 4 (which does not look so good)!

/Agree Sadly, from what I've seen, set 4 looks more like standard mini quality than iconic quality. Still waiting on my set 4, with crossed fingers and low expectations. Glad to hear set 5 resumes the high quality, was considering not buying anymore iconics if set 4 was the new standard.

I have to say, that my set 4 quality was great. The level of detail on Hakon's tattoos was superb, as was the paints on Lirianne and Jirelle.

Set 5 seriously? (5 is still showing in the Paizo store as pre-order, and 4 has yet to reach the UK.)

Set 5 seriously? (5 is still showing in the Paizo store as pre-order, and 4 has yet to reach the UK.)

Yeah, i know. Us Europeans have to wait till february for Set 4 and The Rusty Dragon Inn.

Wizkids.com/pathfinder-battles-iconic-heroes-set-5/

I sure hope we get a preview today.

Can somebody rate the 4 ghouls?

Are their eyes good?

Thx

It is now 2:40 in Germany.
If we don't get a preview in the next 20 minutes, we won't get one at all.

:-(

Marco Massoudi wrote:

The Iconic Heroes Set 5 is in stores and looks much better than Set 4 (which does not look so good)!

/Agree Sadly, from what I've seen, set 4 looks more like standard mini quality than iconic quality. Still waiting on my set 4, with crossed fingers and low expectations. Glad to hear set 5 resumes the high quality, was considering not buying anymore iconics if set 4 was the new standard.

I went to a different gaming store tonight that had two sets of set #4 for sell. The two that they had looked a LOT better than the set I saw at a previous gaming store. I now have higher hopes for mine, on its way to me :)

Brell Stormforge wrote:

Marco Massoudi wrote:

The Iconic Heroes Set 5 is in stores and looks much better than Set 4 (which does not look so good)!

/Agree Sadly, from what I've seen, set 4 looks more like standard mini quality than iconic quality. Still waiting on my set 4, with crossed fingers and low expectations. Glad to hear set 5 resumes the high quality, was considering not buying anymore iconics if set 4 was the new standard.

I went to a different gaming store tonight that had two sets of set #4 for sell. The two that they had looked a LOT better than the set I saw at a previous gaming store. I now have higher hopes for mine, on its way to me :)

Thx for the info and good luck, Brell.

Take a look at www.miniscollector for a preview of the first 4 minis from the upcoming D&D minis set "Monster Menagerie" due out in februaty.

The Silver Dragon has sold out!