I have had a figurine for a long time that I like but have never really been able to use. (It is actually a warhammer dwarf throwing a bomb.)
I find myself actually considering making a rock thrower or an alchemist simply to make use of that figurine. That isn't like me and it isn't like any of the characters I ever play. Kinda weird.
But I'm still giving it serious consideration.
Do you ever make a character based on the figurine you have?
Oh yes, I do this almost all of the time.
NPCs, but sure, nearly every time I see a mini I like. Whether or not said NPCs ever make it into a game, and whether or not all my efforts are wasted is something I'd rather not consider; RPG prep is a process, not an end unto itself. :P
It'd be nice. I once saw a an orc holding a gatling gun. I thought that would make one heck of gun slinger.
It's actually the other way around. Find a figurine that matches closest.
We tried running the game without minis, but it was difficult. We had to be at certain places on a large map. We could have used dice, but we have such a huge collection of minis that it makes sense.
One thing of note, We didn't have a Bebilith "mini" so one had to be made. We also fought other demonic things that were made of spiders and clay. Even that Giant demonic snake thing that we killed near the end of Second Darkness was made of clay because we didn't have anything to represent it.
I think Minis have been around long before the current versions of D&D. Champions, Marvel, DC Heroes and other games have used them.
Well, at least I'm not completely alone.
... I usually just pick whichever is barely approximate ...
That is what I usually do. That's why it kinda surprised me to find myself designing a character to fit the figurine.
When I've had to use plastic minis, I do it the other way around: pick the mini that fits my character most.
We usually just use dice to mark player spaces, though: everyone has a unique set so there's no cross-over, but no one's imagination is influenced by it.
I'll use mini's for PCs and notable NPCs for combat, but any enemies I have tend to just be mini-d6's using numbers and colors to denote specific enemies. My favorite mini stand-in thus far was using a tape measure for a huge-sized monster.
I find it just makes it easier for me to play or run a game when I can see the battlefield. I've played in games without mini's before and they're enjoyable. I just prefer to have the visual aide.
To the initial question, I usually tend to get a mini that best represents the character I've built. It's hard to get an exact fit, but for me, the mini is just a close approximation, the actual appearance is all in my head. I have a few figs that I liked enough I built characters around them, but on the whole I prefer to think of ideas for fun characters and build from there.
Do you ever make a character based on the figurine you have?
Figurine I have? not so much.
Random picture found on the web? all the times!
Do you ever make a character based on the figurine you have?Figurine I have? not so much.
Random picture found on the web? all the times!
Ha! That's even worse! You win. ( Or maybe lose depending on your point of view. )
We use cardboard tokens with pictures that look ... similar ... to our characters to represent them. They're from 4e essentials. However, once I have a character, I end up being obsessed with finding and editing images to look like that character.