RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16, 2011 Top 32
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We have received a tremendous amount of feedback from fans regarding the D&D Miniatures line, and have made some exciting changes for 2009. Here’s what’s coming to a shelf near you!
Dungeons & Dragons Miniatures -- Player’s Handbook HeroesMore than anything else, D&D players have been asking us for more PC (player character) minis. The D&D Heroes line features high-quality miniatures representing iconic player character races and classes described in the Player’s Handbook and Player’s Handbook 2 core rulebooks. Now players will be able to find the miniature that best represents their PC, and Dungeon Masters can use these figures to represent non-player characters in their adventures.
Launching in Spring 2009, the first D&D Heroes series features six different packs (18 figures total):
* Martial Heroes 1
* Martial Heroes 2
* Arcane Heroes 1
* Arcane Heroes 2
* Divine Heroes 1
* Primal Heroes 1Each package contains 3 PC minis: 2 males and 1 female, and 3 unique power cards featuring brand new class powers. All three of the figures in the package will be visible so you’ll know exactly which pack to pick for your game.
The D&D Heroes will be refreshed regularly in order to continue to deliver new PC options to players. There are two series scheduled for 2009 and three scheduled for 2010. MSRP $10.99.
Dungeons & Dragons Miniatures -- Monster ManualAlso new to the 2009 lineup are Monster Manual themed releases. These sets are designed to be what every Dungeon Master (or D&D enthusiast) needs to create riveting adventures and exciting encounters at all levels of play.
Releasing in Spring 2009, the first D&D Monsters set is called Monster Manual: Dangerous Delves. This will be a 40-miniature set containing both medium and large sized figures. Each semi-randomized “booster” box contains 5 minis: 1 visible figure, 1 rare figure, 1 uncommon figure and 2 common figures, as well as full-color D&D Dungeon Delve stat cards for each miniature. MSRP $14.99.
Upon the release of D&D Monsters and D&D Heroes, we will no longer package the D&D Miniatures line in its current configuration (fully randomized booster packs and huge packs). This means that November’s set -- D&D Miniatures: Demonweb -- will be the final release sold in fully randomized booster packs.
So, less minis for more price. I'm not liking this trend at all.
In 2008 a $15 booster gives me 8 minis. In 2009 a $15 booster gives me 5 minis, one of which I can see. Looks like a REALLY bad deal to me.
I also found this to be very interesting:
"Each package contains... and 3 unique power cards featuring brand new class powers."
I was worried they might do something like this with 4e. Now a player needs to buy books, get a DDI subscription, and purchase minis boosters to have access to all their class powers.
Director of Brand Strategy
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As much as I had said I wouldn't be supporting WotC any more, this is seriously tempting me back again. I'm always in need of minis and though I don't play 4e, I might get some of these for the minis themselves, and being able to see what I'm getting (for the most part) ahead of time is an added bonus. Plus, the new semi-randomized distribution model should make the resale value of minis on Paizo and other sites significantly less. That way I can keep boycotting WotC and just buy them used on eBay of Paizo or wherever :-D
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After the recent crash in quality for the minis (coupled with my dislike for the skirmish rules 2.0) I took a step away from the DDM market. This could be the notorious final nail on the coffin.
The only thing that really bothers me is the fact that iconic creatures such as the aboleth and the rust monster have been announced for the set following Demonweb... argh... I'll probably go after the singles on Ebay or some site.
Plus, the new semi-randomized distribution model should make the resale value of minis on Paizo and other sites significantly less.
Unfortunately, the prices on the secondary market are almost certainly going to increase as there are now 37.5% less minis per booster, but boosters are still the same price.
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The biggest thing for me is that they are claiming they are iconic player's handbook heroes, but there are no iconic characters in the player's handbook, at least not as we have come to know thim in 3.5 and Pathfinder. Essentially as I see it they will just create a fighter of every race, a cleric of every race, etc. and claim this as being iconic. Not for me thanks.
Edit: And if every pack of the Dangerous Delves comes with 1 uncommon and 1 rare, how rare can they actually be?
Edit: And if every pack of the Dangerous Delves comes with 1 uncommon and 1 rare, how rare can they actually be?
Currently, with a 60 mini set, you have 12 Commons, 24 Uncommons, and 24 Rares, with the 4,3,1 per box. Rares are rare because you get less of them per case of minis; in 2 perfect cases you get 3 of each Uncommon and 1 of each Rare.
With this distribution method, I'd imagine that in order to make rares rare, you'd have to shift the number of uncommons at the start, say 8 Commons, 8 Uncommons and 24 Rares. That'd approximate the same level of rarity that's currently in play.
What's the old line? Good. Random. Cheap. Pick two.
*cough* So I can have them "good" and "cheap" and discard the "random"? Woo! Sign me up! Heh.
I think you mean: Good. Not Random. Cheap.
(Thus you can have them good and cheap, but not 'not random' (ahem). Or not random and cheap, but not good. Or good and not random, but not cheap.)
As much as I had said I wouldn't be supporting WotC any more, this is seriously tempting me back again. I'm always in need of minis and though I don't play 4e, I might get some of these for the minis themselves, and being able to see what I'm getting (for the most part) ahead of time is an added bonus. Plus, the new semi-randomized distribution model should make the resale value of minis on Paizo and other sites significantly less. That way I can keep boycotting WotC and just buy them used on eBay of Paizo or wherever :-D
You can buy them on eBay, Paizo, CoolStuffInc.com, and lots of other places now. I don't get how the change in packaging changes things.
Unrelated to that: I remember back when 4E had just been announced, people were making jokes about how WotC was going to start selling randomized class feature cards.
It was funny at the time. 0.o
-The Gneech
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RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
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What's the old line? Good. Random. Cheap. Pick two.*cough* So I can have them "good" and "cheap" and discard the "random"? Woo! Sign me up! Heh.
I think you mean: Good. Not Random. Cheap.
(Thus you can have them good and cheap, but not 'not random' (ahem). Or not random and cheap, but not good. Or good and not random, but not cheap.)
Thanks for the correction.
I consulted my Harrow deck*, and here's what it came up with for the 40-mini Monster packs:
8 Common
16 Uncommon
16 Rare
This assumes the "visible" mini is an Uncommon, and if correct, if you got a perfect set of 16 boxes, you'd end up with 4 of each common, 2 of each uncommon, and 1 of each rare.
*Okay, I juggled some numbers on an Excel spreadsheet.
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D&D Heroes:
So wait.
If I'm reading it right it's 10.99 for 3 minis. Beyond the 'new power cards' (which I find a pathetic marketing ploy), why would anyone buy them instead of getting 3 pewter minis (beyond the obvious fact that you'd need to paint the pewters - but with WotC's recent paint jobs on some minis in the last two sets I think unpainted pewter would look better) that you get to pick by hand?
It just seems like a sad attempt to get people to buy more minis.
D&D Monsters:
Hmm. Not sure on this one. It could be nice, but I'd much prefer static boosters of say eight minis, but this could work well too. I find the price ridiculous, however. I'll likely be hopping over to coolstuffinc to pick these up as singles.
I was excited at the news that they were going to have non-random minis.... but now I realize it is going to suck. So if the visible mini is a good one that you want/need then you'll have little luck getting them if their good since they'll get snatched. The less for more clause just sucks, and to be honest $11 for 3 pc minis just kinda sucks, so they had better be really good to get me to buy them. Heck it's $66 just for 1 of each pc mini if you wanted em all...
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I was excited at the news that they were going to have non-random minis.... but now I realize it is going to suck. So if the visible mini is a good one that you want/need then you'll have little luck getting them if their good since they'll get snatched. The less for more clause just sucks, and to be honest $11 for 3 pc minis just kinda sucks, so they had better be really good to get me to buy them. Heck it's $66 just for 1 of each pc mini if you wanted em all...
Plastic ain't cheap. Manufacturing in China is no longer cheap. Transportation is no longer cheap.
That's just the way it is.
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YAY! PCs separate from critters! YAY! You get to see the heros! YAY! As a GM I will buy my critters without all of those pesky PCs clogging my mini bin.
This is really good news.
You need to send me some of your pesky heroes. I have ... I think about 5 figures that can do PC work. As a role player, this is solid. Let me put my dollars where I want to. Like Sebastian said in another thread, pure win would be to ditch random altogether. This way, I don't have to spend forever to get a real-sided kobold warband.
I didn't know DDM was in trouble. The concept stuns me, and as I look through history, I see a lot of D&D product that has failed:
Spellfire: Lackluster, but they put a ton of product out for it
Blood Wars: Caught themselves before they followed suit
Chainmail
DDM
I just wonder, why is it you get such brilliant product with MtG, but D&D-licensed goods just tend to wither so soon off the vine.
I think 4E could be a pretty solid CCG, if WotC can get the materials out of the hands of the RPG folk and into the hands of the CCG developers.
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RPG Superstar 2009 Top 8
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Well, this is sad. I liked playing minis with my son though we did give it up buying new ones when they switched all the rules on us. We had enough to keep going and not enough motivation to relearn everything.
Still, I liked picking up the commons on the $1 shelf to use for RPGs. If they don't randomize the packs, I'll have to buy boxes to get what I want.
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Still, I liked picking up the commons on the $1 shelf to use for RPGs. If they don't randomize the packs, I'll have to buy boxes to get what I want.
The more I think about it, the more I think this may be the reason why they're keeping the randoms, Tarren. If not, there will be NO secondary market, and individual figures will dry up fast.
My personal prediction: Singles figures will skyrocket for about the next 4 months, and then tank. I expect demand for most recent product to go into a sort of singles feeding frenzy, and then the bottom will drop out of the DDM market.
Of course, I thought when West Germany and East Germany reunified that the value of the duetchemark would tank as well as they assumed all the debt for the new government, etc.
Boy was I wrong ...
Legendary Encounters is looking better and better. :)
Unrelated to that: I remember back when 4E had just been announced, people were making jokes about how WotC was going to start selling randomized class feature cards.It was funny at the time. 0.o
-The Gneech
I've got to get my "Told you so!" shirt printed. :D
My paladin with his Divine Wrath Deck will totally blast your Infernal Power Deck Warlock!