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I have a pretty extensive collection of minis. All handpainted. I don't like the cost of the D&D prepainted ones.
This leads me to a problem. I have medium sized elementals, but something you see a lot in play is at least large (sometimes huge) elementals.
Does anyone know of any specific mini's that can be used for elementals? Non-prepainted.
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I have a pretty extensive collection of minis. All handpainted. I don't like the cost of the D&D prepainted ones.
This leads me to a problem. I have medium sized elementals, but something you see a lot in play is at least large (sometimes huge) elementals.
Does anyone know of any specific mini's that can be used for elementals? Non-prepainted.
Are you looking for REAL minis, or thing that can work somewhat well for huge minis?
If the second, see if you can hunt down McDonald's Hercules toys. The titans work really well for huge minis, and with some paint can be pretty cool.
You can see somewhat what I mean HERE Not pictured is the lava and wind titans. There was a good hydra too...
I agree with Eric. Your best bet is to find things from other sources that work as elementals if you need any significant number of large or larger elementals.
I make earth elementals out of actual rocks and pebbles which I glue together and paint. Sometimes I have to use a little epoxy putty, but that's not a big deal. Fire elementals are fairly easily done by taking a standard mini and adding flames to it with putty or even hot glue. Or just make large flames out of hot glue. Water elementals can be tricky but a simple approach is to take a standard mini and make a wave with the mini's chest, arms and head coming out of the top and painted blue and white.
My biggest difficulty is in making air elementals. I've not yet managed to come up with an easy and cheap way to make them.
I have a pretty extensive collection of minis. All handpainted. I don't like the cost of the D&D prepainted ones.
This leads me to a problem. I have medium sized elementals, but something you see a lot in play is at least large (sometimes huge) elementals.
Does anyone know of any specific mini's that can be used for elementals? Non-prepainted.
The least aesthetic but simplest solution: just pop a "medium" elemental onto a large base. For gaming purposes, all you need is the larger base to show its space and related reach on the battle grid. Decorate the base nicely so it doesn't look weird and empty. Plus a lot of the elemental minis and minis that work well for elementals are big for their size, even if coming with a 1-square base, so they don't look out of place on the bigger base--a good example would be this mini which with paint and/or green stuff could be a great earth or fire elemental easily, and he is barely fitting on the standard size base.
Here's a good one for fire -- http://www.reapermini.com/OnlineStore/fire/sku-down/14264 -- looks like it might even be on a larger than normal base already.
If you want truly big minis, though, the best thing I can think of (that aren't of course the awesome suggestion of various toys that others mentioned) would be giant miniatures (as in, miniatures of creatures known as giants--gosh that's confusing), with conversion where needed to add elemental flair.
My biggest difficulty is in making air elementals. I've not yet managed to come up with an easy and cheap way to make them.
I've not tried it myself, but what I'd do is see if I could sculpt a whirlwind out of clay/putty (make a cone and gently twist it, make sure it stands (maybe shape it around a simple wire armature). If feeling very confident, after the initial tornado shape cures a bit, sculpt a bit of an "angry face" on it. Voila -- air elemental in its whirlwind form.
DQ, the "whirlwind" mini is the first thing I thought of too. Unfortunately I have a custom "Dust Devil" monster set that is more or lass exactly what you are describing here, so I didn't go that way out of concern the minis were too similar.
I tried a half whirlwind/half djinn but that proved to be too much for my limited mini making skills. I finally settled on a variation of that with some interwoven strands of cooled hot glue, but they ended up looking like gobs of cobwebs... I am still planning on using them anyway...
I've considered putting a tiny, tiny mini on a colossal base just for the comic effect, but I've never done it.
I may go back to the whirlwind idea and make a mold and cast them out of clear resin... that would probably be the best solution, but I have avoided that mostly because I don't need an army of huge elementals, and the expense of making a mold and casting just a few examples just strikes me as impractical... but I may do it anyway...
I have a pretty extensive collection of minis. All handpainted. I don't like the cost of the D&D prepainted ones.
This leads me to a problem. I have medium sized elementals, but something you see a lot in play is at least large (sometimes huge) elementals.
Does anyone know of any specific mini's that can be used for elementals? Non-prepainted.
Maglok, I will GIVE you an assembled, unpainted pewter Large official D&D air elemental miniature from 2000ish. I have one to spare, just email me (sean at paizo dot com) with your mailing address.
If you want to stick a Large base on a Medium mini, as others have suggested, I suggest taking a look at Dapper Devil's laser-cut bases, which are available in several sizes and colors. (DD also has other cool tokens and such, check them out!)
Also, this djinni mini from Otherworld is pretty cool and you could paint it up as an anthropomorphic air elemental.
And these elementals from Reaper (other than the lesser elementals) are all Large size. And the Reaper site has an even bigger earth elemental.
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I use a lot of WoW minis when I need large. The bases are the right size and many sculpts overhang the base so putting them on a huge base is also doable. :)
Earth elemental: bog elemental
Water elemental: wave caller or crashing wave spirit, or Sarmoth he could also go as an air imho,
Fire elemental: enraged fire spirit, DnD did a huge mini which I like.
Air elemental: razaani stalker (they have other razaani, but this one has the least gear), storm rager personal favorite, tried to do this for halloween, but alas it was epic fail :)
This site had good pictures, but they are pricey, try ebay if any tickle your fancy, most are commons :)
I gotta say, those WoW minis for elementals look really, really cool. Better than most D&D elemental minis I've seen. I may have to look into buying some, I found some on eBay for a buck apiece...
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Imagine my surprise as I am behind my computer, drinking my morning tea, figuring I might as well check in and see this sea of info. Thanks a lot. :)
Let's see!
@Eric Clingenpeel: Ah I think I remember those things. Hard to get I'd say. There are a lot of people out there that are avid collectors of that kind of stuff. I'd also probably repaint them.
@Brassbaboon: Making them is one option. I have made a large animated object out of hirstarts objects once ( http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5294/5495021748_fe42aa76be_z.jpg ) Though I will be the first to admit others can sculpt better then I can. :)
@DeathQuaker: Good ideas. I don't neccesarily want big or huge mini's, just in-game 'large' would be a very good step.
@Sean K Reynolds: I didn't know those exsisted. Wouldn't wanna bother you though, I live in europe ;) Thanks a bunch for the offer though! Maybe I can track them down from ebay somewhere.
I shop at Otherworld regularly and I was just gonna get it as a djinni.
Oh and those are large? As in 2x2? I didn't know that, that is very cool. It would be a huge help if websites would just post how large the mini's are. Thing is, they are almost all 'unavailable'.
@Curaigh: Hmm I never considered WoW mini's. I'd probably spray em and repaint them to fit with the rest of my collection, this I might persue. Though my players will easily recognize it from WoW (but that's not a bad thing)
@Balodek: I'll look into that as well.
Thanks for all the help people.
I'm pretty sure the djinni from Otherworld is Large, as djinni are Large. Good hunting! :)
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I use a lot of WoW minis when I need large. The bases are the right size and many sculpts overhang the base so putting them on a huge base is also doable. :)
Earth elemental: bog elemental
Water elemental: wave caller or crashing wave spirit, or Sarmoth he could also go as an air imho,
Fire elemental: enraged fire spirit, DnD did a huge mini which I like.
Air elemental: razaani stalker (they have other razaani, but this one has the least gear), storm rager personal favorite, tried to do this for halloween, but alas it was epic fail :)
This site had good pictures, but they are pricey, try ebay if any tickle your fancy, most are commons :)
WOW (and I don't mean the game name) Those are pretty awesome. I think I'm going to have to save up for some or hunt them on ebay for my Master Summoner... :D
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I use a lot of WoW minis when I need large. The bases are the right size and many sculpts overhang the base so putting them on a huge base is also doable.WOW (and I don't mean the game name) Those are pretty awesome. I think I'm going to have to save up for some or hunt them on ebay for my Master Summoner... :D
Ok, I'd like to thank you Curaigh for posting about these WoW minis, my wife on the other hand would like to have other words with you than thanks... ;) I found a good store on EBay and got most of those for a buck each, the Sarmoth 2 for $1. Plus, since I bought like 10 minis from them they gave me a great deal on shipping. Now I can't wait until next week when they come. I just hope I can get them before Thursday when I play my Master Summoner next... :D
One other thought on elementals...
I've been looking through my minis (many of which are Mage Knight minis) and there are quite a few that would make quite acceptable elementals with a simple paint job and maybe some creative base modifications.
I've got this mermaid mini that came in a "mythical creatures toob" that I've been wondering what to do with, and I believe if I paint it blue with white dry-brushing and add some wave action with epoxy putty, it will make a perfectly acceptable large water elemental.
Just about any heavily muscled humanoid could be tweaked with some epoxy putty, painted earth colors and have the base modified so that the earth rises up to its knees or thighs and then blends in makes a very nice earth elemental.
Paint just about any humanoid red with yellow highlights and make some simple flames out of epoxy putty at the base and you've got a fire elemental.
If I could figure out how to sculpt a passable cloud from epoxy I think the same could be done with a white paint job and sky blue highlights with the humanoid rising from the cloud for an air elemental. Haven't done that yet though...
I use a lot of WoW minis when I need large. The bases are the right size and many sculpts overhang the base so putting them on a huge base is also doable.WOW (and I don't mean the game name) Those are pretty awesome. I think I'm going to have to save up for some or hunt them on ebay for my Master Summoner... :DOk, I'd like to thank you Curaigh for posting about these WoW minis, my wife on the other hand would like to have other words with you than thanks... ;) I found a good store on EBay and got most of those for a buck each, the Sarmoth 2 for $1. Plus, since I bought like 10 minis from them they gave me a great deal on shipping. Now I can't wait until next week when they come. I just hope I can get them before Thursday when I play my Master Summoner next... :D
** spoiler omitted **
Eric. You're drooling.
*grin* you are welcome and to your mate, my apologies. If you got the fire rager for a buck though, I think you will be pleased, I have never seen it for less than eight :) (so I will check them out. :)
@brassbaboon. I have a number of reaper familiar packs and I often paint those as elementals. I have a fire drake and a lightning drake for example. One Mage Knight Mini I have always wanted to get some use from is an earth elemental of sorts. Mostly rocky humanoid with an elf sticking out the top, his arms melded into the rock's arms. I cannae find a picture though. :)
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Eric. You're drooling.
*grin* you are welcome and to your mate, my apologies. If you got the fire rager for a buck though, I think you will be pleased, I have never seen it for less than eight :) (so I will check them out. :)
Yeah, just a bit. Unfortunately the fire spirit was the one I couldn't get from them. I only found one on ebay, for 5 something. Most other places I've looked they're out of stock. :/