So I Want to Buy Some Miniatures...

[cplmac]

Riftwalker, you would need to talk with Aeval from our group. She and her husband Harley take care of the minis for use at our game. They are both members here on the PP&G site.

cplmac

[grimwell]

I'm tossing in with the Wizards mini's camp. Yes they are random but you can get around that. Only buy on the secondary market and don't buy the rares. This gives you a nice supply of cheap, pre-painted, plastic miniatures.

To be honest, the rares are typically monsters that you aren't going to be using all that often, or just completely cool and unique monsters that deserve a feature mini. Either way, the need for those sorts of figures is pretty limited, while the need for a bunch of orcs or goblins is quite consistent. The prices put themselves in your favor when you are just buying the simple guys.

The expensive ones? Use a proxy miniature item, or buy it only when you need it and agree with the price. I have picked up a few feature mini's over the years, but only when backed by a specific need that I felt was worth the extra cost.

I am tired and probably overly wordy, so I'll wrap up with a two word summary: Buy Bulk

[1958Fury]

I generally go ahead and buy one or two random packs from each series, if I can find them cheap - sometimes Amazon has them for about $8, listed as "used" even though they're unopened. That way there's a chance I'll get a cool ultra-rare one. I'll do this before I even look to see what's in the series, because it's fun to be surprised. I don't buy more than two, because I might get duplicates I don't need. Once I see which ones I got, then I'll go online and buy the cheap ones that appeal to me.

[mrken]

I too must say that the WotC DDM are a good way to go. I steal my son's sometimes and they work well when I need more muscle around the table.

Since the beginning I have bought metal minis and painted them up as I could afford the money and the time. Lately I have been buying the LotR minis by GW. They tend to be cheaper, less detailed minis that look ok when I need 24 orcs or goblins, woodsmen or armored figures to represent the Duke or Barons men. Not as good as the metal ones, but doable.

Then there is DDM. Not as good as the metal minis that I paint, but I don't have to paint them, they are in most cases painted ok, and they can be fairly cheap. I have yet to buy my own, but I am now open to the idea of buying a pile of commons used at the next con or if the game store puts them out for sale and I am around.

[tesral]

Originally Posted by 1958Fury

I generally go ahead and buy one or two random packs from each series, if I can find them cheap - sometimes Amazon has them for about $8, listed as "used" even though they're unopened. That way there's a chance I'll get a cool ultra-rare one. I'll do this before I even look to see what's in the series, because it's fun to be surprised. I don't buy more than two, because I might get duplicates I don't need. Once I see which ones I got, then I'll go online and buy the cheap ones that appeal to me.

Duplicates in miniatures is not the problem it might be to other "collectibles" I can always use an extra [fill in the blank].

[1958Fury]

Originally Posted by tesral

Duplicates in miniatures is not the problem it might be to other "collectibles" I can always use an extra [fill in the blank].

Good point. I collect both D&D minis and Star Wars minis, and what I said about dupes probably applies more to the Star Wars ones. I can always use more orcs (or stormtroopers), but Star Wars also has name characters. I don't really need 3 Obi-Wans. There are some D&D minis that don't lend themselves well to multiples, but not many.

Still, if I pay $8-$15 for a pack of random minis, I would rather the money went towards ones I didn't already have.

[placebosonly]

Originally Posted by mrken

I too must say that the WotC DDM are a good way to go. I steal my son's sometimes and they work well when I need more muscle around the table.

Since the beginning I have bought metal minis and painted them up as I could afford the money and the time. Lately I have been buying the LotR minis by GW. They tend to be cheaper, less detailed minis that look ok when I need 24 orcs or goblins, woodsmen or armored figures to represent the Duke or Barons men. Not as good as the metal ones, but doable.

Then there is DDM. Not as good as the metal minis that I paint, but I don't have to paint them, they are in most cases painted ok, and they can be fairly cheap. I have yet to buy my own, but I am now open to the idea of buying a pile of commons used at the next con or if the game store puts them out for sale and I am around.

i agree about the GW point they do tend to be cheap and useful and the fact that they are also useful for another game gives you the ability to sell them down the road although if you went with warhammer GW minis you could prolly get more from my understanding LotRs minis are so cheap there is almost no point in buying used

[grimwell]

Another secret to try:

My son is now 12 and expressed interest in painting mini's. I bought him a nice starter set of paints for Christmas and have made my old and unpainted mini's available to him. If his interest sticks, I've got a good decade of painted mini's out of him that I can count on! Having kids provides some advantages. (and slave-paint labor it seems!)

[Riftwalker]

Thanks to everyone that's offered advice in this thread.

I think what I'm going to do is grab some of the common/uncommon sets of WotC Dungeons and Dragons Miniatures from Alterreality. That seems to be a really cheap way to get a good amount going (thanks for the idea 1958Fury). From a D&D standpoint, rare and larger minis seem too situational for me to do anything but pick one up when and if I need them. I'll also probably take your lead and buy a couple of random packs from a couple different series for the next wave of purchases when I need some specific critters.

[kirksmithicus]

It occurs to me that in general the DM bears the brunt of the financial burden anyway when it comes to RPG's. So I was thinking that if I ever run or play another game, I would see if the players and DM would go for the following scheme. In order to help pay for game accessories such as mini's, adventures, dungeon tiles and whatnot, each player contributes a set amount (determined by the players as a group) each game session, with the DM matching the total contributed by the players. The DM then has the discretion to use the funds on whatever is needed for the game and in the end he keeps everything (hence the higher rate each session for him). Even if each player only contributes $5.00 it can add up pretty fast, and after all, what is 5.00 a week for anywhere from 3-10 hours of entertainment? if you had 5 players and a DM, that's 50.00 a game session! 10.00 = 100.00 and 20.00 = 200.00

*Disclaimer - I'm aware that we don't live in a perfect world and when money is involved a whole host of problems arise. What to do with players who are 6 sessions behind on their mini's mortage? How do we know the DM isn't spending half the cash on twinkies, ho-ho's and Mt. Dew? and how many Haflings can you really fit into a bag of holding?

As for which mini's to buy that fit your criteria, I can't help you much. I do agree with everyone that it sucks how WoTC markets the mini's as collectors items (really? 30.00 for a F*****g gelatinous cube!) and in random lots, but common and uncommon singles are fairly inexpensive. Anyway Reaper makes a few plastic painted mini's that aren't to expensive.

[GoddessGood]

Speaking of painting minis ... I don't think anyone beats this guy

[tesral]

Originally Posted by GoddessGood

Speaking of painting minis ... I don't think anyone beats this guy

Nope, nope, we are so owned.

[Webhead]

[akela122301]

Originally Posted by tesral

Nope, nope, we are so owned.

Yep, definitely so far above my reach, it ain't funny.

[Webhead]

Originally Posted by akela122301

Yep, definitely so far above my reach, it ain't funny.

Painting with a hair from a fly's back! Geez!