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When Plants Attack!

Monday, January 28, 2018

Good Moonday, Pathfinders!

Last week, I previewed a few of the figures from the forthcoming Jungle of Despair set of Pathfinder Battles miniatures from WizKids, including the case incentive Hydra.

The mythical hydra's heads aren't the only thing growing wildly in the depths of the jungle, however. Today, we explore some of the verdant villains featured in the set, sure to seal player characters' floral fates. That's right—plant monsters!

Among the most iconic plant creatures in the game, and the bane of low-level adventurers everywhere is the well camouflaged Murder Vine. All too often unsuspecting explorers stumble across the remains of their predecessors, their treasures still intact, while hacking through the dense foliage of a forest or jungle, only to discover that the vines winding through the corpses are not so benign. This Large miniature, released at the Uncommon rarity, features just such remains, certain to remind your players of just how deadly a threat they're facing when it plops down on the battle mat.

While many would-be treasure seekers fall victim to murder vines and litter the jungle with their desiccated bones, not all prey of predatory plants are so lucky. Those who die at the tendrils of other mulchy menaces may be infected by their seeds and raised as fungal zombies! The culprit of such nefarious natural schemes is none other than the Musk Creeper, whose animated spawn not only serve as protectors of their parent vine, but act as seed carriers when they inevitably wander off into the jungle and die, creating a new plant to further torment future explorers. The Musk Creeper is a Medium Uncommon figure.

Other plants, such as a particularly pernicious variety of reddish brown mold, create not zombies, but intelligent pygmy plant men whose primitive societies spread through the jungles of the world. These Mold Runts hold their progenitor corpse, from whose innards they spring, wholly formed after the subject dies from exposure to the mold, in almost religious reverence, and often craft crude weapons out of the bones or equipment found on their birthing corpse. While weak in small numbers, these diminutive plant people are truly a force to be reckoned with in large numbers. The Mold Runt is a Small Common figure, allowing GMs to easily collect multiple copies with which to overwhelm their players.

Finally, another iconic plant makes its Pathfinder Battles debut in Jungle of Despair: None other than the hulking Shambler, whose formless bulk strikes fear into any explorer with even a passing result on her Knowledge (Nature) skill check. Dangerous in its own right, a Shambler exposed to electricity—either from a poorly planned magical attack, a natural lightning storm, or a nearby nest of static-charged lizards—flies into a rampage, absorbing the energy into itself and making it all the harder to bring down. Appearing as little more than moldering heaps of rotting vegetation, Shamblers are especially deadly when they infiltrate mulch piles and refuse pits, catching unsuspecting victims in their constricting tendrils. The Shambler is a Large Uncommon figure.

But surely adventurers the likes and caliber of most Pathfinder player characters will defeat these threats handily, right? Reducing Shambler, Musk Creeper, and Murder Vine alike to little more than salad? Mmmm, salad.* How about next week we look at something that goes perfectly with any salad? I am, of course, referring to dressing!

Mark Moreland
Franchise Manager

*My wife, were she to read this blog, would surely require I clarify that I have never uttered this phrase before in my life, though she would like me to.

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Thank you Mark, glad to have the blog back. I realy like the shambler and the musk creeper.

great start into the blog Mark, you may need to work on the titles ;-)
Scarab Sages
Pathfinder Battles Case Subscriber; Pathfinder Maps, Pathfinder Accessories Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber

Something like: "Jungle of Despair - where even the plants are out to get you."
or: "Welcome to the Jungle of Despair - where the friendly plants welcome you with open tendrils."
I could go on, but better not.
Sorry!

Good job of presenting them.
Can I get mine tomorrow?
Dark Archive
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Thank you for an incredibly fun blog, Mark!
4 out of 5 minis i wished for in last weeks blog have been previewed, that's what i call fan service. ;-)
Many thanks go out also to Erik for completing the missing Bestiary (1) creatures!
I really like how you incorporate other creatures (which may also be in this set) in almost each description:

-Fungal zombie (yellow musk zombie)
-Shocker lizard
-Russet mold

I also love that all of the large creatures could be used as dressing to create an exotic garden landscape and that the rarities are spot on.

Also i like that you are showing a few dressings (maybe half?) so early on.

I love how this set has a lot of long-missing basic creatures in it and will definetly order a case.

Until (hopefully) next monday, have a great week!
Shadow Lodge
Adventure Path Charter Subscriber; Pathfinder LO Special Edition, PF Special Edition Subscriber

Excellent. That vegepyg...err mood runt is a great addition to the line. The rarities are spot on. Only concern, the uniformity of the assassin vines colour. It looks quite flat and the uniform green may rob it of impact and definition when it’s on the table. the skeleton may break it up a bit, I suspect some shad s of green may need to be added. Don’t get me wrong I’m very glad to see more plants. (A line like yours Mark that my wife rarely hears)

These plants are great, especially three being of the large variety. The rarirties for the most part are fine, but I think the Hydra should actually be uncommon! :D
Pathfinder Rulebook Subscriber

Considering how often assassin vines, vegepygmies and shambling mounds show up in my games, I'm definitely going to have to invest in some of these figures. If only there was a cost-friendly way to buy a case in NZ...
Paizo Employee Franchise Manager
DropBearHunter wrote:
great start into the blog Mark, you may need to work on the titles ;-)

The blog title has now been corrected from last week's blog to a new one, as originally intended.

Dark Archive

That Musk Creeper is gorgeous!!!
Silver Crusade Contributor
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This is going to be a very exciting set. Better make some room in the plant minis' box. ^_^

Mark, I have to say I'm really enjoying this blog again, particularly your writing style and how you integrate it in with the previews. I find it informative and fun at the same time which is exactly the kind of thing this blog needs. Keep doing what you're doing and never let the naysayers get you down ;)

Now, onto the minis! Between the plant creatures you've revealed thus far and the ones we received in Maze of Death you guys are really making strides in an area that was fairly barren (no pun intended) up until recently.

The Murder Vine looks unassuming at first but it's flat design will surely make it a very practical piece. Miniatures can probably be balanced on top of it to represent them being grappled which is great.

The Mold Runt will be excellent in multiples as you've already pointed out. Plus, anything with even a passing resemblance to goblins is always a welcome addition at my table.

The Musk Creeper looks amazing, the contrast of colors really catches the eye. I can't wait to see what the production piece looks like.

But what I'm really looking forward to is the Shambler. It's been years since we've gotten a traditional Mound mini and this one certainly does not disappoint. The fact that it's uncommon is icing on the cake (or in your case, dressing on the salad).

Very strong reveals so far, keep em coming, Mark! :)
Contributor
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Tanukis AND vegepygmies? Sounds like a pretty rad set!
Paizo Employee Chief Creative Officer, Publisher
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I'm so pleased that Mark has taken such a shine to this blog series, and that you have all shown him such a warm welcome! Thanks, everybody!

Hey Marco, do you have a list of all the B1 monsters that we haven't yet done?

I want to compare yours to mine.
Dark Archive
Erik Mona wrote:

I'm so pleased that Mark has taken such a shine to this blog series, and that you have all shown him such a warm welcome! Thanks, everybody!

Hey Marco, do you have a list of all the B1 monsters that we haven't yet done?

I want to compare yours to mine.

Sure thing, Erik. Here you go:

-Aasimar (female) (m) Nualia looks too demonic
-ABOLETH (HUGE)
-Angel, Astral Deva (m)
-Angel, Planetar (L)
-Angel, Solar (L)
-Ant, Giant (Worker & Drone) (m)
-Ant, Giant Queen (L)
-Army Ant Swarm (m or L) flat
-Ape, Gorilla (L)
-Ape, Dire (L)
-Azata, Bralani (m)
-Azata, Ghaele (m)
-Barghest (m)
-Bat Swarm (L) flying (similiar to D&D Monster Menagerie #26)
-Bear, Grizzly (L) RR#38 is a good stand-in
-BEBILITH (HUGE)
-Beetle, Giant Stag (L)
-BEHIR (HUGE)
-Boar (m)
-BULETTE (HUGE)
-Cat, Cheetah (m)
-Centipede Swarm (m or L) flat
-Couatl (L)
-Crab Swarm (m or L) flat
-Crocodile (L)
-DIRE CROCODILE (G) right-sized toys exist
-Dark Creeper (s)
-Dark Stalker (m)
-Darkmantle (s)
-DEMON, NALFESHNEE (HUGE)
-Devourer (L)
DINOSAURS:
-ANKYLOSAURUS (HUGE) right-sized toys exist
-BRACHIOSAURUS (GARGANTUAN) right-sized toys exist
-ELASMOSAURUS (HUGE) right-sized toys exists
-Pteranodon (L) flying
-STEGOSAURUS (H) right-sized toys exist
-TRICERATOPS (H) right-sized toys exist
-TYRANNOASAURUS (G) right-sized toys exist
-Dolphin (m)
-DOLPHIN, ORCA (H) right-sized toys exist
CHROMATIC DRAGONS:
-Black Dragon (s & G) right-sized toys for G exist
-Blue Dragon (s, m & H)
-Green Dragon (s, m & H)
-Red Dragon (s)
-White dragon (s)
METALLIC DRAGONS:
-Brass Dragon (s, L & H)
-Bronze Dragon (s, m, H & G)
-Copper Dragon (s, L & H)
-Gold Dragon (s, m, L, H & G) right-sized toys for G & C exist
-Silver Dragon (s, m, H & G) right-sized toys for G exist
-DRAGON TURTLE (HUGE)
-Drider (L) male & female
-Drow (m)
-Drow Noble (m)
-Dryad (m)
-Duergar (m) there are the dwarf repaints from DD#21 & #22
-Electric Eel (s)
-EARTH ELEMENTAL (HUGE) PFB Set #15 case incentive
-WATER ELEMENTAL (HUGE) PFB Set #15 case incentive
-ELEPHANT (HUGE) didn´t find toy in the right size
-ELEPHANT, MASTODON (HUGE) right-sized toys exist
-Ettercap (m)
FAMILIARS:
-Cat (s)
-Lizard (s)
-Monkey (s)
-Rat (s)
-Toad (s)
-Viper (s)
-Weasel (s)
-FLYTRAP, GIANT (HUGE)
-Giant Frog (m)
-Poison Frog (s)
-FROGHEMOTH (HUGE)
-GIANT, CLOUD (HUGE) male & female
-Giant, Fire (L) female
-Giant, Hill (L) female
-GIANT, STORM (HUGE) male
-Girallon (L)
-Golem, Clay (L)
-Half-Celestial Unicorn (L)
-Herd Animal, Aurochs (L) RoW #32 (Catoblepas) is a good stand-in
-Herd Animal, Bison (L) RoW #32 (Catoblepas) is a good stand-in
-Homunculus (s)
-Horse, Pony (m)
-Hyena (m)
-Hyena, Dire (L)
-Iron Cobra (s)
-KRAKEN (GARGANTUAN) Dungeon Crawler Minis version is perfect
-Kyton (m)
-Leech Swarm (4 x m or L) flat
-LINNORM, CRAG (GARGANTUAN)
-LINNORM ICE (COLOSSAL) Safari´s Sea Dragon is a good stand-in
-LINNORM, TARN (COLOSSAL) right-sized (stand-in) toys exist
-Lion (L)
-Lion, Dire (L)
-Lizard, Monitor (m)
-Mantis, Giant (L)
-Mephits (10 different) (s)
-Merfolk (m) male & female
-Mohrg (m)
-Naga, Guardian (L)
-Naga, Spirit (L)
-NEOTHELID (GARGANTUAN)
-NIGHTMARE, CAUCHEMAR (HUGE)
-Nymph (m)
-Octopus (s)
-Octopus, Giant (L)
-Ogre (L) female
-Oni, Ogre Mage (L) male & female
-Orc (m) female (WR#28 Imrijka is a stand-in)
-Pegasus (L)
-PHOENIX (GARGANTUAN) Safari´s Phoenix is the right size
-Pixie (Jungle of Despair - unrevealed) (s)
-PURPLE WORM (GARGANTUAN)
-REMORHAZ (HUGE)
-RETRIEVER (HUGE)
-Rhinoceros (L)
-Rhinoceros, Woolly (L)
-ROC (GARGANTUAN)
-Rust Monster (m)
-Saty (m) (RoW#14 is a good stand-in)
-Sea Hag (m)
-SEA SERPENT (GARGANTUAN) right-sized toys exist
-Shadow (m)
-Shadow, Greater (m)
-SHARK, DIRE (GARGANTUAN) right-sized toys exist
-Shocker Lizard (s)
-SHOGGOTH (HUGE) Arkham Horror did a mediocre one
-SLUG, GIANT (HUGE) right-sized toys exist
-Snake, Constrictor (m)
-Spider Swarm (m or L) flat
-Squid (m)
-SQUID, GIANT (HUGE) right-sized toys exist
-Svirvneblin (s)
-TARRASQUE (COLOSSAL) Dungeon Crawler Minis Kickstarter has problems
-TIGER, DIRE (L) Jungle of Despair´s Tiger is a good stand-in
-TREANT (HUGE)
-Vampire (m) female
-Vargouille (s)
-Wasp Swarm (L) flying (similiar to D&D Monster Menagerie #26)
-Wolf, Dire (L) RD#44 with orc rider removed is a good stand-in
-Wolverine (m)
-Wolverine, Dire (L)
-Worg (L)
-Xill (m)
-Xorn (m)

I listed tiny creatures as small and added small and medium dragons, even though they are not all explicably statted in the Bestiary, as they appear on the table on page 91.

I also tried to list when toys of big (huge or larger) animals or larger creatures exist, as i think any huge+ animal is unlikely to get made and i can only see some special creatures of gargantuan size still happening.
Colossal creatures seem also unlikely atm.

I didn´t list HUGE or larger D&D minis versions for obvious reasons.

I suspect some of these missing creatures will be in the "Jungle of Despair" set & some are already planned for PFB #15.
I´ll speculate about them in another post below. ;-)
Dark Archive

Damn, how did i get smurfed? ;-)
Dark Archive

B1 Minis that i still suspect in the Jungle of Despair set:

-Boar
-Dryad
-Monkey Familiar
-Viper Familiar
-Nymph
-Shocker Lizard

LARGE:

-Crocodile
-Gorilla/Dire Ape
-Girallon
-Pteranodon
-Couatl

Others:

-Kech
-Serpentfolk Skeleton
-Fungal Zombie
-Russet Mold

I also hope that PFB set #15 finally has some drow. ;-p

I wish there will be a set with huge in boosters in the futur. I'd like a Pathfinder Battle version of many Huge on Marco's list (aboleth, behir, bulette,nalfeshny,remorhaz, retriever, treant) and in some case there is nothing that exist in both lines (froghemoth).
Paizo Employee Chief Technical Officer
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Marco Massoudi wrote:
Damn, how did i get smurfed? ;-)

Technically, you got "smerfed":

Marco Massoudi wrote:

-Mephits (10 different) (s)

-Merfolk (m) male & female

Paizo Employee Chief Technical Officer
1 person marked this as a favorite.
Cat-thulhu wrote:
Only concern, the uniformity of the assassin vines colour. It looks quite flat and the uniform green may rob it of impact and definition when it’s on the table. the skeleton may break it up a bit, I suspect some shad s of green may need to be added.

Note that you're looking at digital renders here. The master painter uses his expertise to implement and improve on these, then he brings them to us for feedback, and we repeat this cycle until we approve them for mass replication.

During this cycle, we made the very same observation on the uniformity of color on the Murder Vine, so the finished product should have a bit more differentiation than you see here.
Grand Lodge

That musk creeper looks like it would also be an Xcellent stand in for an Xtabay.

(Is there an official pronunciation of that plant? I always use ish-TAB-ay, due to Mexican vacation influence.)
Dark Archive

Here is a list of the most needed creatures from the Bestiary (1) which havn´t been made into PPm and why:

-ABOLETH (appears in lots of adventures like Second Darkness & Serpents Skull & has NEVER been made as ppm)
-Angel, Astral Deva (summon monster IX)
-Ant, Giant (Worker & Drone) (summon monster II & IV)
-Ape, Dire (summon monster IV)
-Azata, Bralani (summon monster V)
-Azata, Ghaele (summon monster IX)
-BEBILITH (appears in lots of adventures)
-Boar (summon monster III)
-BULETTE (appears in lots of adventures lately in Ironfang Invasion)
-Crocodile (appears in lots of adventures)
-Darkmantle (appears in lots of adventures)
-DEMON, NALFESHNEE (summon monster IX, the only missing demon)
-Devourer (has NEVER been made as ppm)
-Pteranodon (summon monster IV, too small to get as toy)
-Dolphin (summon monster I, too small to get as toy)
-Small Black Dragon (all other sizes have been made)
-Blue Dragon (s & m, large & gargantuan have been made)
-Green Dragon (s & m, large and gargantuan have been made)
-Small Red Dragon (all other sizes have been made)
-Small White Dragon (all other sizes have been made)
-Large Gold Dragon (all other metallic dragons have a mini)
-Drider male (Pathfinder´s male driders have a unique look)
-Drow (appear in almost every AP)
-Dryad (appear in lots of adventures)
-Electric Eel (summon monster III)
-Ettercap (appear in lots of adventures)
FAMILIARS:
-Cat (every settlement has them)
-Rat (one of the most chosen familiars)
-Toad (one of the most chosen familiars)
-Viper (summon monster I)
-Giant Frog (summon monster II)
-Frog, poison (summon monster I)
-FROGHEMOTH (appears in lots of adventures & has NEVER been made as ppm)
-GIANT, CLOUD (only missing giant)
-Giant, Hill female (has NEVER been made as ppm)
-Giant, Fire female (has NEVER been made as ppm)
-Girallon (appears in lots of adventures)
-Golem, Clay (the only missing golem
-Horse, Pony (summon monster I & for small riders)
-Hyena (summon monster II)
-Hyena, Dire (has never been made as ppm, too small to get as toy)
-Kyton (appears in lots of adventures, summon monster V)
-Lion (summon monster IV)
-Lizard, Monitor (summon monster III)
-Mephits (summon monster IV)
-Merfolk male & female (has NEVER been made as ppm)
-Mohrg (has NEVER been made as ppm)
-Nymph (has NEVER been made as ppm)
-Octopus (summon monster II)
-Octopus, Giant (has NEVER been made as ppm)
-Ogre female (has NEVER been made as ppm)
-Oni, Ogre Mage female (has NEVER been made as ppm)
-Orc female (has NEVER been made as ppm)
-Rhinoceros, Woolly (summon monster V)
-Rust Monster (appears in lots of adventures)
-Sea Hag (last missig hag)
-Shadow (appears in lots of adventures, last missing common undead)
-Shocker Lizard (appears in lots of adventures, has NEVER been made)
-Squid (summon monster II, has NEVER been made as ppm)
-Vampire female (has never been made as ppm)
-Vargouille (appears in lots of adventures)
-Wolf, Dire (summon monster IV)
-Wolverine (summon monster III, has NEVER been made as ppm)
-Worg (appears in lots of adventures)
-Xill (summon monster V)
-Xorn (appear in lots of adventures)
Marco Massoudi wrote:

Here is a list of the most needed creatures from the Bestiary (1) which havn´t been made into PPm and why:

[spoier=list]-ABOLETH (appears in lots of adventures like Second Darkness & Serpents Skull & has NEVER been made as ppm)
-Angel, Astral Deva (summon monster IX)
-Ant, Giant (Worker & Drone) (summon monster II & IV)
-Ape, Dire (summon monster IV)
-Azata, Bralani (summon monster V)
-Azata, Ghaele (summon monster IX)
-BEBILITH (appears in lots of adventures)
-Boar (summon monster III)
-BULETTE (appears in lots of adventures lately in Ironfang Invasion)
-Crocodile (appears in lots of adventures)
-Darkmantle (appears in lots of adventures)
-DEMON, NALFESHNEE (summon monster IX, the only missing demon)
-Devourer (has NEVER been made as ppm)
-Pteranodon (summon monster IV, too small to get as toy)
-Dolphin (summon monster I, too small to get as toy)
-Small Black Dragon (all other sizes have been made)
-Blue Dragon (s & m, large & gargantuan have been made)
-Green Dragon (s & m, large and gargantuan have been made)
-Small Red Dragon (all other sizes have been made)
-Small White Dragon (all other sizes have been made)
-Large Gold Dragon (all other metallic dragons have a mini)
-Drider male (Pathfinder´s male driders have a unique look)
-Drow (appear in almost every AP)
-Dryad (appear in lots of adventures)
-Electric Eel (summon monster III)
-Ettercap (appear in lots of adventures)
FAMILIARS:
-Cat (every settlement has them)
-Rat (one of the most chosen familiars)
-Toad (one of the most chosen familiars)
-Viper (summon monster I)
-Giant Frog (summon monster II)
-Frog, poison (summon monster I)
-FROGHEMOTH (appears in lots of adventures & has NEVER been made as ppm)
-GIANT, CLOUD (only missing giant)
-Giant, Hill female (has NEVER been made as ppm)
-Giant, Fire female (has NEVER been made as ppm)
-Girallon (appears in lots of adventures)
-Golem, Clay (the only missing golem
-Horse, Pony (summon monster I & for small riders)
-Hyena (summon monster II)
-Hyena, Dire (has never been made...[/spoiler]

I'm guessing that this list doesn't include the D&D minis. Cause I'm pretty sure a lot of those were made as PPM.

Dark Archive

That is correct, Rannik. :-)

It doesn't make sense to include the old D&D minis (2003-2010) or the newer Icons of the Realms minis here, because Pathfinder Battles aims to eventually publish all of the creatures found in the Pathfinder Bestiaries (or at least most small, medium & large & some huge and gargantuan ones) as minis, regardless of them being already done before or not.

There are multiple reasons for that, some of them being:

-The old stuff is long sold out.
-Most people either collect Pathfinder Battles OR Icons of the Realms, few both.
-Pathfinder creatures differ from the D&D ones.
-Pathfinder is it's own brand and doesn't look at what D&D is doing (mostly).

Personally, i collect both lines and have most of the old D&D minis, but i know that the Pathfinder Battles minis are of much higher quality than the Icons of the Realms minis, because of Paizo's great quality control.

If i were to list only the creatures that were never done as pre-painted minis from the first Bestiary, it would only be about 40 creatures long, fewer if i subtract creatures made as toys (like the various dinosaurs). ;-)
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