Bring Out Your Dead

These are all brilliantly creepy! I love the fact that we subscribers are pretty much guaranteed to get multiples of each, as there any number of adaptive ways the first two can be used. The Death figure is less viable for multiples, but even an illusion of multiple grim reapers should be enough to panic a party. Excellent sculpts all round!

Oh, and congratulations on being handed we whiny plastic-crack addicts to appease every few weeks. If congratulations is the correct term... ;)

The minis look good, but Pathfinder: Worldscape is nearing the end of its run. We need a post about what comes next!

Just the other day I was scanning through my bestiaries. Upon finding the Geist I said to my wife "I hope they turn this into a mini sometime soon", and now BAM! Here it is! Fantastic. Looks great, simple but effective.

The Banshee has a great pose, just screams out menace and malintent. My only hope it is that it's left fully transparent like the render rather than paint shaded like so many of the transparent figures. The poor invisible stalker from the previous set really suffered...

As for the Death, I'm certain I'll find a use for him. Could double as a dread wraith since he's large I suppose

All three look great even though they are quite simple in design. I know you'll get some flack for the flying posts but I think they enhance the three of these, although the one under the Death is perhaps a little too long, could be about half that length, similar to the banshees post

Again rarity is spot on. 3-4 of the Geist and 2-3 of the others in a case. The Geist I can see using in those numbers or proxying(?) for some other horror. The Banshee can easily double as a ghost, so 2-3 is not out of the way. The death I'm not 100% sure how many I think you and wizkids have got the rarity spot on. Can't take up a common slot at its size, and it certainly doesn't merit taking up a rare slot with its simple(ish) design.

Thanks and congratulations Michael. Hope things are good with Erik (Were we really that bad?) and looking forward to the next preview. Here in Australia these these previews add a little joy to the Saturday morning start of my weekend.

Perfect choices, perfect molds, perfect rarities... very cool.

So far I'm thinking this is a set I'll be reactivating my subscription for.

Damn! I now want that Grim Reaper mini!

Wow, i guess Erik has become to busy with the Comics and Roleplaying line?
I'll miss him here. :-(

But welcome aboard, Michael!
I hope the illustrous title of Director of Licensing brings a hefty pay-raise and all manner of social advances with it. ;-)

The Geist (german for ghost) looks cool. I hope the final mini doesn't tip over easily. Maybe a thicker post would work better here?

The render for the Banshee looks good, the thick translucent pole going into the slightly darker body could be okay. This will depend on the shading - if totally translucent, the features won't be visible, if too dark, it won't be see-through. A light blue would maybe work best?

The Death (Danse Macabre - called it!) looks impressive, but at that height, the only way it will fit into a booster is, if the pole has to be self-assembled (like with the "Giant Eagle" from Deadly Foes.
I would prefer it to be shorter and glued in.

Anyway, thanks for the great preview, we have seen 11 out of 44 booster creatures now - 33 to go plus 6 dressing pieces.

Maybe you could show us the incentive pieces next friday?
It's a reason for many people to decide if to order a case or not (i already did), not only here on paizo.com but as the images are spread to other sites (as plasticrypt, miniscollector or pathfinderminiatures), it will increase awareness and demand.
The "Adventurers Camp" dressing incentive is a huge selling point for the latest D&D set as i hear it.
The "Court of the Crimson Throne" throne room should be the same for Pathfinder Battles: Crown of Fangs! ;-)

Oh, I like all three of these. The Geist is super creepy, more so than the others because he isn't even remotely human. I have really high hopes for the Death mini, the rendering looks like it could be hands above anything already produced.

As for the posts, all three of these minis have great flying poses. I don't think they'd be the same without the posts, so are worth the assembly effort and storage requirements.

Reading the title of the post, I was hoping for a peasent with a cart ;-)

Reading the title of the post, I was hoping for a peasent with a cart ;-)

Hehe.

DropBearHunter wrote:

Reading the title of the post, I was hoping for a peasent with a cart ;-)

Hehe.

Luckily we have both from "Rusty Dragon Inn", alongside a ghoul standing in as a corpse. ;-)

"But, he's not dead yet!"

Mike, you asked if it is too soon to turn to undead.
I don't think it was too soon, it was right to show that there are not only medium human(oid) minis (1 Queen, 2 Gray Maidens, 3 Red Mantis Assassins), but also a lot of cool monsters (in addition to the Bone Devil and Dragon) in this set.

For most people (me included) useful monster minis seem to be the primary selling point of a set (i have taken this assumtion from comments on minis forums on the net, as well as comments from people in stores and from 15+ years of collecting prepainted minis).

The secondary selling point seems to be dressing pieces these days or even scenery packs (i wish i had the incredibly cool Mage Knight Castle stuff). The Rusty Dragon Inn sold very well and from what i am seeing and hearing the Adventurers Camp is doing great too.

Third place goes to the humanoids usable as PCs or NPCs, but that is only because there have already been so many done in the last years.

And besides that, we know there will be another blog with undead coming somewhere in the next 12 weeks. ;-)

I think he was making a joke Marco :). Turn. Undead.

That said I agree with your sentiment. It's usually the monsters that sell a set, may I be so bold as to suggest it's primarily the large ones that really galvanise people and bring out the strongest responses. Get those right and people will be happy enough to accept a few "duds" amongst the medium and small figures. The large after all are where detail can shine.

The biggest detractor for me is always the NPC/PC figures. Too many really puts me off a set, especially if they're poorly executed. Plus the tendency to recycle a thematically similar group makes them less desirable. I probably don't need dwarf number 90 with a hand weapon.

The inclusion of huge minus in the last Icons set I suspect boosted sales no end, even if some of those were unappealing. Giants was a sensible choice. I hope we see more in either line, Erik has pretty much stayed it will happen. Then it will be these that set the sales tone because people feel these are the missing link. Anyone remember the armoured Gulvorg - that mini alone downgraded a good set to average status.

So far this set has a very solid feel for me. I'm assuming we've seen a fair proportion of the NPC/PC sculpts (20% or so if the set at this time) and we'll start seeing the monsters now. I'm very excited about the large minis because the AP has a lot of cool ones, The prospect of a few more orcs to round out the numbers from lost coast also excites the DM in me.

I think he was making a joke Marco :). Turn. Undead.

That said I agree with your sentiment. It's usually the monsters that sell a set, may I be so bold as to suggest it's primarily the large ones that really galvanise people and bring out the strongest responses. Get those right and people will be happy enough to accept a few "duds" amongst the medium and small figures. The large after all are where detail can shine.

The biggest detractor for me is always the NPC/PC figures. Too many really puts me off a set, especially if they're poorly executed. Plus the tendency to recycle a thematically similar group makes them less desirable. I probably don't need dwarf number 90 with a hand weapon.

The inclusion of huge minus in the last Icons set I suspect boosted sales no end, even if some of those were unappealing. Giants was a sensible choice. I hope we see more in either line, Erik has pretty much stayed it will happen. Then it will be these that set the sales tone because people feel these are the missing link. Anyone remember the armoured Gulvorg - that mini alone downgraded a good set to average status.

So far this set has a very solid feel for me. I'm assuming we've seen a fair proportion of the NPC/PC sculpts (20% or so if the set at this time) and we'll start seeing the monsters now. I'm very excited about the large minis because the AP has a lot of cool ones, The prospect of a few more orcs to round out the numbers from lost coast also excites the DM in me.

I absolutely agree with you about the large minis being the main selling point of any miniatures set.

I also agree about don't needing any more dwarves (or even elves, halflings or gnomes) minis.
Half-Orcs are under-presented.
Humans please only if they havn't been made in PFB before (like Thousand Bones, the Cinderlander with heavy repeating crossbow, Shoanti female with double star-knives...) or if they are Campaign Setting staples (like Red Mantis & Gray Maidens).

LARGE minis that are most probably in this set:

UNCOMMON
1 Leukodaemon
2 Belker
3 Cytillipede
4 Minotaur Skeleton
5 Ash Giant
6 ?

RARE
1 Horned Devil
2 Belier Devil
3 Red Reaver
4 ?

I think that would be an almost perfect set of large minis. I say almost since I'm not excited at the red reaver, but I recognise it as a necessary evil.

The fourth large rare is the dragon rider. We know we're getting the Death and bone devil as uncommons. As to an eighth uncommon large. I have no ideas, perhaps we'll get spoiled with two daemons!

Following comments re the washes used on transparent figures:

If you don't like the paintjob on a mini, what would people suggest to remove it?
Is it removable, or would the solvents destroy the plastic?

I think that would be an almost perfect set of large minis. I say almost since I'm not excited at the red reaver, but I recognise it as a necessary evil.

The fourth large rare is the dragon rider. We know we're getting the Death and bone devil as uncommons. As to an eighth uncommon large. I have no ideas, perhaps we'll get spoiled with two daemons!

You're absolutely right about the Dragon Rider.

The Red Reaver is only a guess, it could also be the:
-Havero Tentacle
-Sivit
-Corpse Orgy
-Nihil the Ashbringer

Personally i'd like the Havero Tentacle best. ;-)

The last uncommon large could be:
-Owlbear Skeleton
-Meladaemon
-Skeletal Horse/Nightmare
-Nightmare
-Cinderghoul

I would like to see a NPC/PC with a large Elven Curve Blade. In the one that has been made, the blade looks like a short sword.

Cat-thulhu wrote:

I think he was making a joke Marco :). Turn. Undead.

That said I agree with your sentiment. It's usually the monsters that sell a set, may I be so bold as to suggest it's primarily the large ones that really galvanise people and bring out the strongest responses. Get those right and people will be happy enough to accept a few "duds" amongst the medium and small figures. The large after all are where detail can shine.

The biggest detractor for me is always the NPC/PC figures. Too many really puts me off a set, especially if they're poorly executed. Plus the tendency to recycle a thematically similar group makes them less desirable. I probably don't need dwarf number 90 with a hand weapon.

The inclusion of huge minus in the last Icons set I suspect boosted sales no end, even if some of those were unappealing. Giants was a sensible choice. I hope we see more in either line, Erik has pretty much stayed it will happen. Then it will be these that set the sales tone because people feel these are the missing link. Anyone remember the armoured Gulvorg - that mini alone downgraded a good set to average status.

So far this set has a very solid feel for me. I'm assuming we've seen a fair proportion of the NPC/PC sculpts (20% or so if the set at this time) and we'll start seeing the monsters now. I'm very excited about the large minis because the AP has a lot of cool ones, The prospect of a few more orcs to round out the numbers from lost coast also excites the DM in me.

I absolutely agree with you about the large minis being the main selling point of any miniatures set.

Huge miniatures are even more interesting imo.

I also agree about don't needing any more dwarves (or even elves, halflings or gnomes) minis.
Half-Orcs are under-presented.
Humans please only if they havn't been made in PFB before (like Thousand Bones, the Cinderlander with heavy repeating crossbow, Shoanti female with double star-knives...) or if they are Campaign Setting staples (like Red...

I'm definitely with you on that. I've been playing with miniatures since the 80's(Ral Partha and such) and I've got WAAAAYYYYY too many of the commons. I've loved the sets of prepainted minis and have been boosting my collection but it's getting to the point of "where do I put these".

I am probably the exception to the rule though and I fully understand the spread of commons in a set. Regardless of my woes, Paizo is still producing a quality series and they are very appreciated.

It looks like we won't get a preview today.
I hope Mike is not sick.

But that means 11 weeks till release and more than 40 minis to reveal!

That means 4 minis per week!

:-)

It's up now! It's a Good 'un as well.

About minis on a stick, like these: I don't own a single one that has not snapped off yet. Any advice on: 1) repairing/reinforcing so that these last; and 2) storing them/carrying them/protecting them.

Cheers!