Hi!
I'm running some players through the Shackled City Adventure Path. I'm thinking of getting some minitures to represent the NPCs and monsters.
I currently own zero minitures. I'm using beads and loose change for the NPCs can monsters.
Any suggestions on what to get? The only one I have my eye on so far is this beholder: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/iw12102004Beholder.jpg
Depends on where you are in the path. If you haven't hit Zenith Trajectory yet, then picking up some Kuo-Toa, about 8, would be a good idea. A bunch of half-orc fighters would also be a good investment. Hmmm... I don't know what you would use for the demodands. The large and huge Red Dragon would also be of use later on in the campaign.
So, where are you in the path?
Squid
I'm right at the end of Flood Season so an Umberhulk and Kuo-Toa and some half-orc fighters would be the first few things.
I expect that I'll adventually run another group through the path so I would be interested in hearing ideas for the earlier adventures too.
The prepainted dnd minis would be the way to go since I'm not wanting to take the time myself to paint. I don't like the random box concept but I guess I could try to find them on ebay.
I've seen the reaper minis they look good, and I may beable to get one or two of my players to paint them for me.
Anyone have any speciffic minis that represent the Key NPCs particularly well? or have worked well for the random monsters?
Chet.
I think it would be great to share ideas for what commonly available miniatures could be used for various monsters and NPCs in the adventure path. I'm primarily using the plastic miniatures from WOTC myself, but there are plenty of creatures and NPCs for which there is no good representation yet among WOTC plastic miniatures, so I've also turned to Mage Knight miniatures for some, which I've been able to buy on the internet or ebay for about fifty cents each on average. (I don't have time to paint metal miniatures).
For Life's Bazaar, I'm using the WOTC plastic Harbinger ghoul miniatures for the skulks, since they look similar to the Fiend Folio illustration in terms of skin tone and they are mostly naked. I'm using the Mage Knight half-troll hacker for Kazmojen. It looks kind part dwarf part monster, vaguely similar to the illustration in the adventure, has really long arms like Kazmojen is supposed to have with his unusual reach, and has an axe, which is close enough to an urgrosh for me. I'm going to use WOTC's Aberrations mad slashers for the monstrous spiders. I'm using WOTC's Valenar commander for the dark stalker and Silent Wolf goblins for the darks stalkers. I'm using WOTC's mummy for the raggamoffyn/skulk.
For Flood Waters, I'm probably going to use either the WOTC sahuagin or the Mage Knight deep spawn for the skulveyn. I don't know yet what I'll use for the kopru, but if I don't find a better alternative, I'll use the WOTC half-illithid lizardman.
Any other ideas for miniatures?
I saw that WOTC is putting out a grell miniature in Deathknell due out in March, so that is another Life's Bazaar creature that will be available. Any ideas though, on what miniature to use for three main evil NPCs in Flood Waters? I'm thinking of using the WOTC gnoll skeleton to stand for the gnoll huecuva, and the WOTC halfling wizard for the halfling that worships Vecna, but I don't know what to use for Triel.
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I'm thinking of using the WOTC gnoll skeleton to stand for the gnoll huecuva, and the WOTC halfling wizard for the halfling that worships Vecna, but I don't know what to use for Triel.
The Cleric of Bane matches pretty well, though she's got a mace instead of a flail. I think that's going to be your closest match.
I'd love it if WOTC would come out with some Shackled City minis- just one or two of them, really. A set of Adimarchus minis would totally rock.
I'm still in Life's Bazaar but have used many minis for the encounters up till now. For some of them however I've been using the supplied counters that came in Dungeon (I think). There is one for the skulks, dark creper, dark stalker, Kazmojen, Triel, Tongue-eater, and others I can't remember off-hand.
Figs for Thugs I used Human Thugs(Harbinger); for Death Knight, Death Knight, Choker(Aberrations) for Choker, Kua-Toa are in Harbinger. Dread Guard is in Archfiends. Hobgoblins are in multiple releases, Lemure are in Giants of Legend. For the Automatons I couldn't find anything acceptable and used tokens/counters (I scan the illustrations in the books, crop them and print to size.) That's what I will do for Grell since the fig won't be out in time.
NPCs are Nebbin (harbinger) for Ghelve, Cleric of Lathander (Archfiends) for Jenya (I'm in Greyhawk), Cleric of St. Cuthbert (Aberrations) for Ruphus, Duargar Warrior (Archfiends) for slave trader guy, Deepshadow Elf (Giants) for Fellian, Human Wanderer(Harbinger) for Fario. I think that's right, Human wanderer for whichever one is the two-weapon fighter. Drow Rogue (Giants) for Jil.
My players are still in Jzadirune though they are most likely over half-way through it. Still need to figure out what other figs to use in Malachite area. And beyond...
I'm quite interested in this topic as well. My players are a third of the way through Jzadirune, and my D&D Mini collection is small but select (I buy about eight boosters per release and trade for the things I really want).
A few quick thoughts:
1. The umber hulk would be great for Zenith Trajectory, but the D&D umber hulk is among the most popular and expensive. I'd seek a metal version or substitute (perhaps the Hook Horror in Aberrations).
2. I haven't tried getting D&D Minis through EBay, but I have had a lot of success both buying and trading through Maxminis.com's forums. I also recommend Zenako's pricing list (http://maxminis.com/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=12578) as a guideline for trading and purchasing.
3. I'd recommend getting either the Fire Giant or King Snurre from Giants of Legend. Did anyone else notice that named fire giants appear in three episodes of the Adventure Path (Demonskar, Smoking Eye, Thirteen Cages)?
Be back soon...
Alright, compiling ideas from Eric Ludy and zoroaster100 and adding my own, here are miniature possibilities for Life's Bazaar:
Cauldron
Thugs (3) - Human Thugs, City Guard
Ruphus - Cleric of St. Cuthbert
Guard Patrol - City Guard, Soldier of Cormyr
Jil - Drow Rogue, Sharn Cutthroat
Jenya - Cleric of Lathander, Healer
Fellian - Deepshadow Elf, Elf Archer
Fario - Human Wanderer, Elf Ranger
Ghelve - Nebin, Gnome Recruit
Jzadirune
Raggamoffyn/Skulk - Mummy
Yuathyb, Dark Stalker - Valenar Commander
Dark Creepers (2) - Silent Wolf Goblins
Skulks (2) - Ghouls, Medium-size Astral Constructs
Fiendish Dire Rats (3) - Dire Rats
Grell - Grell
Choker - Choker
Dread Guard - Dread Guard
Hobgoblins (2) - Hobgoblin Warriors
Pulverizer Automatons - Warforged Fighter
Small Monstrous Centipedes - Grick
Medium-size Monstrous Spider - Mad Slasher
Small Monstrous Spider (2) - Mad Slasher
Mimic - ??
Malachite Fortress
Stone Spike - Medium-size Earth Elemental
Xukasus [Ogre] - Ogre Ravager, Ogre
Hobgoblins (4) - Hobgoblin Warriors
Zarkad, Hobgoblin Jailer - Half-orc Assassin
Animated Mass of Chains - ??
Lemures (2) - Lemures
Mimic - ??
Fire Beetles - Mad Slashers
Hammerer Automatons (2) - Warforged Fighters
Krylscar Endercott [Female Human Rog/Sor] - Mialee
Coryston Pike [Male Human War] - Human Commoner
Maple [Female Halfling Rog] - Lidda, Lidda Adventurer
Goblins (3) - Goblin Skirmishers
Kazmojen [Male Half-dwarf Half-troll Ftr] - Urthok the Vicious, [MK] Half-Troll Hacker
Prickles [Howler] - Hell Hound
Pyllrak [Durzagon] - Duergar Warrior
Vhalantru - Beholder
Thirifane [Female Human Tra] - Red Wizard
Everything is a D&D Mini unless it has [MK] for Mage Knight. This is an evolving list, so feel free to suggest additional options and edits.
That's funny, I had MK in brackets before each Mage Knight figure and in my penultimate sentence, but they were stripped by the forums. I'll have to try something else next time.
By the way, Eric and Zoroaster, I liked the recommendations you made.
Minis for Flood Season (again a compilation of ideas):
Lucky Monkey
Deinonychus (2) - Destrachans
Male + Female Fighters (4) - Various
Male + Female Alleybashers (2) - Various
Hill Baboons (5) - Taers
Tongueater - Mountain Orc or Longtooth Barbarian
Shensen Tesseril - Champion of Eilistraee or Drow Wizard
Kopru Ruins
Skulvyn - Sahuagin or Deep Spawn (Mage Knight)
Kopru - Half-Illithin Lizardman or Crested Felldrake
Mud Slaad - Bullywug Thug
Male + Female Fighters (6) - Various
Male + Female Alleybashers (4) - Various
Skaven - Halfling Wizard
Medium Air Elemental - Medium Air Elemental
Small Monstrous Spiders (6) - Mad Slashers
Medium-Size Monstrous Spiders (4) - Mad Slashers
Large Monstrous Spiders (2) - Large Monstrous Spiders
Ettercaps (3) - Ettercaps
Harpoon Spider - Large Monstrous Spider
Triel - Cleric of Bane or Frenzied Berserker
Bloodbloater Ooze Swarm - Gibbering Mouther or Ochre Jelly
Gargantuan Tyrannosaurus Skeleton - Huge Fiendish Tyrannosaurus?
Large Monstrous Spider Zombies (6)
Spawn of Kyuss (2) - Ghasts
Medium Zombies (8) - Zombies
Tarkilar - Gnoll Skeleton
Gutterrut - Quasit
And minis for Zenith Trajectory:
Chapter 1
Fiendish Umber Hulk - Umber Hulk or Hook Horror
Half-orc City Watch (4) - Half-orc Fighters
Beppo - Human Commoner
Mergala - Dark Moon Monk
MTA Agents (2) - Nebbin
Chapter 2
Celeste - ??
Davked - ??
Chapter 3
Wilderness Encounters with D&D Minis - Bulette, Hill Giant, 1d4+2 Bugbears or Bugbear Footpads, 1d3+1
Ogres or Ogre Ravagers, 1d3 Displacer Beasts, 1d3 Griffons, Wyvern, Troll or Ice Troll
Other Wilderness Random Encounters - Stone Giant, Ogre Mage, 1d3 Giant Eagles
Crazy Jared - Sage
Gotrrod - Large Red Dragon
Seven-Headed Cryohydra - ??
Underdark Encounters with D&D Minis - Behir, Drider, 1d3+1 Minotaurs, Gauth, 1d3 Gargoyles, 1d3+1 Ghasts,
1d3+1 Gricks, 1d3+1 Bugbears or Bugbear Footpads, 1d4+2 Drow (various), 1d3 Ogres or Ogre Ravagers, Troll
or Ice Troll
Other Underdark Encounters - 1d3+1 Centipede Swarms, 1d3+1 Derros (Duergar?), Ettin, 1d4+1 Shadows
(Cursed Spirits or Wraiths?), 1d4+2 Giant Bombardier Beetles, 1d4+4 Dire Bats
Chapter 4
Aabhaca - Kuo-Toa
Kuo-Toa Soldiers (4) - Kuo-Toa
Kuo-Toa Whips (4) - Kuo-Toa
White-Eye - Human Brigand (until he reveals his lycanthropy) and Wererat
Cherrit - Halfling Veteran (until he reveals his spellcasting) and Halfling Wizard
Aushanna - Erinyes
Mangh-Michto - Kuo-Toa
Duergar Slave - Duergar
Garekk - Mummy
Hlanamm the Spearmaster - Kuo-Toa
Wraith - Wraith
Fingerling Pools - ??
Dhorlot the Dragon Father - Large Black Dragon
Violet Fungus - Myconid Guards
Saagogoi - Kuo-Toa
Zenith Splintershield - Dwarven Defender or various dwarves (they all look pretty similar)
Here's a question. Do you think it is better to have all the Kuo-Toa look alike (and keep the party guessing), or repaint the named Kuo-Toa and the whips?
Wow, excellent list Derek!!
I haven't really thought ahead to Flood Season and beyond yet. Still trying to flesh out Cauldron a bit better. In my game I'm sorta shortcutting some stuff but want to role-play some of the loot selling, inn staying, supply buying, church worshiping things. Just haven't had time to flesh it out yet.
I do plan on using an Umber Hulk fig from Harbinger in Zenith and do have 1.
For the Kuo-Toa that are named maybe you can get away with other serpent looking amphibious/reptilian figs. Like troglodyte zombie (harbinger), lizardfolk (harbinger), lizardfolk rogue (giants), or Sahuagin Ranger (aberrations) At least they are all green.
Thanks again for your list, I'm printing it out and separating the figs out soon.
E.
Wow, excellent list Derek!!
For the Kuo-Toa that are named maybe you can get away with other serpent looking amphibious/reptilian figs. Like troglodyte zombie (harbinger), lizardfolk (harbinger), lizardfolk rogue (giants), or Sahuagin Ranger (aberrations) At least they are all green.
Thank you. I like your idea regarding the named Kuo-Toa.
I finished lists for Demonskar and Smoking Eye, but adding them to this thread would seem like spamming at this point, as there is no way to edit the posts after an hour or so. Once I get through all eleven adventures I'd like to make a prioritized list of minis (like the fire giants and red dragons) to aquire.
I'm using WOTC's Valenar commander for the dark stalker and Silent Wolf goblins for the dark stalkers.
That'd work. A better option for folks who don't mind doing the painting is Reaper's Dark Stalkers and Dark Creepers:
http://www.reapermini.com/store/customer/product.php?productid=2214&cat =0&page=1http://www.reapermini.com/store/customer/product.php?productid=2467&cat =0&page=1
A better option for folks who don't mind doing the painting is Reaper's Dark Stalkers and Dark Creepers:
http://www.reapermini.com/store/customer/product.php?productid=2214&cat =0&page=1
http://www.reapermini.com/store/customer/product.php?productid=2467&cat =0&page=1
I'm not sure if the dark creeper has cloven feet, but they look great from cloak up.
For a minute I thought the link was bad, then I remembered that Paizo's boards put random spaces in URLs. Took it out, and it showed up fine.
My players will soon be starting Flood Season, so I've updated my list. Rather than post it here in uneditable form, I've started an Excel spreadsheet and put it online.
http://poppinks.com/derek/ShackledCityMinis.xls
I dropped down to recommending a single mini and a common/uncommon alternate if the original was a rare.
Comments are welcome. Time to go trade. :)
i used many of the same minitures as you
My players will soon be starting Flood Season, so I've updated my list. Rather than post it here in uneditable form, I've started an Excel spreadsheet and put it online.
http://poppinks.com/derek/ShackledCityMinis.xls
I updated the spreadsheet to include the entire Adventure Path. You can sort by adventure, miniature, miniature set, rarity, etc. This is still a work in progress, so suggestions are welcome (dpoppink@yahoo.com).
Looks very good almost done with it i see... i use many of the same minitures.. however i laughed when you use the dire bear as an alternate for the beholder
Wouldn't it be great if you could actually buy the figures off the shelf by the type you wanted. As it is now you have to go to Ebay and try to get them one at a time and usually end up paying more in shipping than the figure cost.
Or you buy the random mix box, and maybe get one of the minis you need and 7 others that you don't want.
I actually saw a website that was asking $50 for the displacer beast. I have one of these, and I'd gladly sell it for $50.
The whole Beanie Baby artificial value aspect of D&D mini's pisses me off almost as much as Wil Save does.
ASEO out
Senior Software Developer
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Wouldn't it be great if you could actually buy the figures off the shelf by the type you wanted.
You mean like this? :-)
Looks very good almost done with it i see... i use many of the same minitures.. however i laughed when you use the dire bear as an alternate for the beholder
Yeah, there aren't many options when it comes to large uncommons as alternates. I used Skullcrusher Ogre for all Large humanoids, Destrachan for most large monster-like creatures, and Dire Bear here and there. Perhaps I should put a few rares in the alternate column, and restore the Gauth as an alternate for the Beholder (even if the size is wrong). Or maybe just eliminate the alternate column if there is no good alternate.
Wouldn't it be great if you could actually buy the figures off the shelf by the type you wanted.You mean like this? :-)
I like the offer. However, for for the common mini's, I like these prices a lot better.
Anyone have a good idea for the demodands? I chose Bloodhulks for the Kelubar (they are corpulent and strange) and Chokers for the Farastu (thin, could be covered in tar), but then I realized that the Chokers are small. I have no idea what to do for the Shaator (Blue Slaad? Aspect of Orcus?). In Asylum the party can encounter as many as 10 Farastu at one time, so it would be good to start collecting the appropriate mini early.
I'm using WOTC's Valenar commander for the dark stalker and Silent Wolf goblins for the dark stalkers.I painted up three dark creepers and a dark stalker for AP 1 as well as a Chainmail Pulverizer. I am currently working on two hammerers to round out what I will need for the first mod.
I have converted a Chainmail zombie gnoll for the second mod and will use the Cahinmail war ape for Tongueater. The adventure path has really gotten me to start painting again!
I will post pics as soon as I can figue out how to take a good photo of my minis- i am a decent painter and would like to share these with you all.
matt
Anyone have a good idea for the demodands? I chose Bloodhulks for the Kelubar (they are corpulent and strange) and Chokers for the Farastu (thin, could be covered in tar), but then I realized that the Chokers are small. I have no idea what to do for the Shaator (Blue Slaad? Aspect of Orcus?). In Asylum the party can encounter as many as 10 Farastu at one time, so it would be good to start collecting the appropriate mini early.
i think i am going to go with the harbinger ghoul for the faratsu, unless we manage to get a faratsu out of angelfire...
i am really hoping we see some demodands in angelfire...
i think the bloodhulk is an excellent choice for kelubar
shaator - if you want to drop some dough, you could always go with the Nurgle mini from GW, but i think they are like 50 dollars each. I am thinking about getting some green stuff and trying to do a couple of my own.
This is what I am going with
Cauldron
Thugs (3) - Daring Rogues
Ruphus - Cleric of St. Cuthbert
Guard Patrol - City Guard,
Jil - Sharn Cutthroat
Jenya - Cleric of Bane
Fellian - Deepshadow Elf
Fario - Human Wanderer
Ghelve - Nebin
Skulk - Medium Astral Construct
Jzadirune
Raggamoffyn/Skulk - Mummy
Yuathyb, Dark Stalker - Githzerai
Dark Creepers - Goblin Sneaks
Skulks - Medium-size Astral Constructs
Fiendish Dire Rats (3) - Dire Rats
Grell - Grell
Choker - Choker
Dread Guard - since the dread gaurd is supposed to be a gnome sized suit of armor i am going to use the Gnome Fighter
Hobgoblins (2) - Hobgoblin Sargeants
Pulverizer Automatons - Pulverizer from Chainmail
Small Monstrous Centipedes - replacing this encounter with a displacer serpent
Medium-size Monstrous Spider, Small Monstrous Spider (2) - replaceing this encounter with 1 large monstrous spider
Mimic - its a chest so I am using a chest from Heroquest, but there are chests in the back of the DMG that can be photo copied and cut out to use as a mimic chest counter
Malachite Fortress
Stone Spike - Stone Spike from Chainmail
Xukasus [Ogre] - Ogre
Hobgoblins - Hobgoblin Sargeants
Zarkad, Hobgoblin Jailer - Hobgoblin Sargeant
Animated Mass of Chains - <i may drop this creature from the encounter or replace it with a regular sized dread guard>
Lemures - Lemures
Mimic - This mimic is a gong, as I use the dundjinni mapping software there is a gong in it so I will use the gong.
Fire Beetles - I am replacing these with glowing fungus, and non-violent glowing beetles
Hammerer Automatons - Hammerers from Chain Mail
Krylscar Endercott, Male Human Warrior - Human Commoner, unless the PC's decide to outfit him or he outfits himself, then I will use a man-at-arms.
Coryston Pike [female human] - healer
Maple [Female Halfling Rog] - Lidda, Lidda Adventurer
Goblins(3) - Goblin Skirmishers
Kazmojen - Urthok the Vicious,
Prickles [Howler] - Chainmail Howler
Pyllrak [Durzagon] - Duergar Warrior
Vhalantru - Beholder
Thirifane [Female Human Tra] - Evermeet Wizard