Finished HeroForge Scout - DS

The Scout - 11th level AD&D 1st and 2nd Edition Rogue.  

The Scout has an artefact bow that has a Will of its own.  Its most significant OP power is the ability to fire 4 arrows per round.  Its Will gives a healthy +4 to saves v. mind control/influence effects.  

  

The Scout is a character I made in 1997 for Mike's AD&D campaign.  Mike and Stephanie moved to Florida in about 2006 and the campaign continued as a twice a year event when hey came up to visit in June/July summer vacation and after Christmas in December.  During their visits we get a game or two depending on their schedule of seeing various friends and relatives.

I have never really had a mini I like for the Scout until:  HeroForge!  He's a custome made HeroForge model made of their Premium Plastic material.      

Notable Adventures played:
Return to the Tomb of Horrors.
Madness of Gardmore Abbey.

My secret until the Winter of 2018 game:
The Scout managed to avoid combat damage between level 7 and 11.  Which was literally -real life years.  And a lot of adventures and sessions.  I never mentioned this during the game or to any of the other players or DM.  I felt as though there might be some unwanted attention given by the DM...  Not that he's unfair.  But it is sort of ridiculous given the adventures that we were going through that I didn't take any damage.  All good things come to an end.  In the winter 2018 session I got nailed for 54 of 63 hit points damage.  That was when I spilled the beans.  :)

Heroforge Custom Miniatures Review - DS

I was very excited about Heroforge when I first read about it on the web.  For those who don't know Heroforge.com is a website that allows people to design their own custom miniatures.  Using the browser and 3d paper doll like function, you dress and equip your character using the variety of options available.  The figures are made using a 3d printer process.  There are a number of genres including, modern, fantasy, old west, and sci-fi.  You select the category of item or feature, click on it and it appears on your miniature.  There is some scaling for body size, from halfling to half-orc, and build and muscularity of characters as well as adjustment to face for expressions.

I have always been looking for the ultimate miniature for my AD&D paladin character I played in the 80s and 90s.  He had 2 henchmen, and I decided to make them too.  I have other versions of my characters from pre-existing miniatures lines (provided by Reaper, Red Box Games and Games Workshop), but I wanted to bring them to life with the Heroforge.

Freiderick the Halbardier, Saladian the Just, and Thomas (the Archer.)

When I initially saw finished Heroforge figures, and was reading web reviews of the products, they came in two plastic material options.  One was fine detail, and the other was strong plastic.  The fine detail miniatures had very crisp detail but had a fuzzy look from the 3d printing process.  It reminded me of a bad spray primer job when the paint mist dries a little bit when going through the air and leaves a layer of particles on the surface of the figure.  Although the detail on these figures looked great, the texture was a bit off putting for painting.  The fine figures were also brittle, and a one foot drop to a hard surface could take off weapons or an arm.

The other material option they had was strong plastic.  It was less expensive.  This material was much more sturdy and could survive incidental drop, but it lacked crisp detail.  I saw some example of them painted and was not overly impressed.

So, I played around with the creator, but never ordered anything

The characters on the outside are the regular Plastic materials and the black one in the center is the Premium Plastic.

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I infrequently checked the website to see what new weapon, clothing, and other options they added.  One that particularly got my notice was they had changed materials.  They had a "premium plastic" version, that is a black plastic that vaguely resembles hard model plastic.  I ordered one premium model of my character (center of pictures above.)  It was free of the fuzzy texture and seems very sturdy (aka like a hard plastic GW model.)  I was very happy with how it turned out, and they were priced $29.99.

The regular "plastic" came in at $19.99.  The models come primed.  I ordered my character's 2 henchmen in that material to see what it was like.  I was quite pleased with how they came out.  The detail is not as high as the premium plastic, but I have no complaints.

Size comparison.  Converted GW Rohan Sgt, Heroforge, Reaper Hellknight Captain.

GW Imp Advisor, Reaper General Drake, My Heroforge Archer, GW Espern Locarno

Red Box Games, Heroforge, Hasslefree

The size of the miniatures is a bit of a guess.  There are sliders for height, weight, build, (and muscularity), and all these add to the bulk of the figure.  With all the sliders there is no measurement other than looking at the size change on your screen.  With height -you don't really have an idea of what size it's actually going to turn out.  Also the base is shorter than a typical slotta base so that's going to take a few mm off the total height.  I mostly use regular slotta bases on all my minis.  If the figure is not set up for a slotta base, and I don't feel like clipping/ razor work to convert it, I will glue them to a Renedra flat base if it will turn out roughly the same as slotta base height.

Slotta Base, Heroforge, Renedra flat base

I am planning on making a Warhammer 40k character using the Heroforge site.  I will push his height up a bit on the scale (from where their default height starts,) so he isn't too small.  The size I made my three fantasy rpg characters is a bit bigger than Red Box and Hasslefree figures (my favorite scale.)  In retrospect I might take a little off of what height I made them if I had had a better idea of how they would turn out.

In closing I have to give Heroforge a big thumbs up.  The $19.99 models lived up to my expectations.  The $29.99 were better, but I think I am going to go for numbers rather than the additional quality (except for special characters.)   

My advice to anyone buying one for the first time:  Play around with all the features and poses.  Explore the items and clothes and the scaling of body measurements.  There is a considerable amount of content to explore to create your own character.

Now I have to get these guys painted up!.  :)

Dave of the Dale Wardens Verdict:
Thumbs up to Heroforge Miniatures.  Well done sir!

Heresy Miniatures Brother Lucius (Monk/Cleric) - DS

Father Willem

I have not really played clerics too often in rpgs.  There has just not been very much appealing to me in the class as my preference has been towards the non casting characters warrior or rogue types.  This particular mini has made me want to try to branch out.  The sculpt is by Steve Buddle, and originally it was made by Spyglass/Eolith Miniatures.  The range was sold and it is now available from Heresy Miniatures. 

I wanted a very simple color scheme with brown robes.  The sculptor put a lot of character in the face.  As always I have no idea with what I want to do with bases. so it's done generic enough to look okay using outdoor scenery or in dungeon terrain.

If you are not familiar with them, check the site out as they have a nice selection of fantasy and sci minis.  For Timelord adventure fans, or Browncoat diehards, they have several that look suspiciously like a certain Doctor and friends or roguish Firefly Captain and crew.

Skaven Weapon Teams - GF

A few of us have been playing Vermintide lately, a computer game similar to Left 4 Dead but with swarms of skaven instead of zombies. This got me thinking I should revisit some of my old Warhammer skaven. While I'm not sure how effective they are on the table, they certainly were fun to paint up.

Meet the NPC Allies - Reaper Miniatures Oswald the Overladen and Village Rioter (aka Cinart the Torch Bearer.) DB

For the Rise of the Runelords Pathfinder game, the players talked it over and decided it might be helpful to hire some non-player character allies to assist us in our quest.  Two likely lads from Sandpoint were chosen to join the party;  Oswald the Packbearer, and Cinart as a torch bearer.


Lighting can be a problem when searching in underground caves or delves.  To that end we hired Cinart as a torchbearer.  Although not a fighter by trade, he would be accompanying the party on underground expeditions, and other places we might need someone to handle a torch or lantern.  He carries a spiked mace just in case the battle makes it through the fighters.  His duties are going to put him in more frequent dangerous situations than Oswald, and we're hoping he can handle it.

77140: Townsfolk: Village Rioter by Bobby Jackson

Modded as a Torch Bearer

77140: Townsfolk: Village Rioter by Bobby Jackson
 Even though I really liked Bobby Jackson's original sculpt, I needed to modify him to make him a torchbearer rather than part of a mob heading out to chase Frankenstein's monster around.   I switched his head with a bearded extra head from a box of Gripping Beast Dark Age Warriors.  The pitchfork arm was removed and replaced with a mace arm from a plastic set of Fireforge Games medieval Foot Sergeants.  I think the figure has a rough and ready look.

Both the Gripping Beast and Fireforge Games plastic miniature sets have a lot of extra weapons, arms and heads included.  Great stuff for mashup and modded figures.

Oswald is carrying a lot of stuff.

77141: Townsfolk: Oswald the Overladen by Bobby Jackson

Emily liked the name Oswald (Reaper's name for the mini) so we thought we'd keep it as the character's name.  His story is that Gilly met him while she was working at the Sandpoint seamstress' shop.  Oswald is a youngish lad who would make deliveries, repair things, and do other odd jobs the business required.  The lure of adventure and good pay prompted him to join the party.  As a pack bearer, he will be carrying items and supplies so the more active (aka combat) party members are not encumbered.  His other duties would include camp maintenance and cooking.

I liked painting Oswald. He carrying a LOT of gear.  He has a chest, pack, book, shield, sacks, a bow with quiver, a chicken and more! 

Reaper Bones Bookcase and metal "Tierce" rogue - DS

Bookcase and Tierce #03265

I bought Tierce as it reminded me of a friend's hooded rogue character:  Pepper Von Bennetstein.  I really like the figure, but it is a bit sleight compared to a lot of Reaper's line.  I glued it on a 25mm circular base and that added enough height to fit in with scale creep-ed heroically proportioned minis that are so popular.  I think it would fit well with Red Box Games line of more realistic figures.

Tierce was sculpted by Jeff Grace.  It's a very classic rogue and fun to paint.  I think I may try another one with a weapon swap.

The bookcase is part of the my Reaper Bones II order, and is the first mini completed out of that particular mountain.  It was part of the "Dungeon Dressing" add-on pack.

As a reminder:  Don't forget to wash your plastic minis (and really all minis.)  I used Foundry Spearshaft colours for the wood on the bookcase.  Foundry paint, for the most part, is the best paint I own for basecoats...especially as I do not prime any minis before painting.  I had problems with painting the books though.  Whatever flux they use to get them out of the molds resisted the normal ease of applying paint.  Then I recalled that in my excitement to start, I forgot to soap it up.

Come to think of it, I forgot to soap up and wash Tierce too, but that proved far less problematic.

Remember kids, wash those minis with soap and water before you paint!

Pathfinder RPG Session 08: Thistletop (2)

After making their way across the rope bridge, the group enters the fort.  At the corners facing the bride there is a guard tower.

Gilly sneaks up the stairwell and opens a hatch to find two sleeping goblins.  She doesn't feel good about it;  she ensures they never wake up.

The party moves to the other tower...

Those goblins are awake and attack!

Chance Arcane hits them with a burning hands spell as Cinart squeezes by to get out if the way.

The noise of battle arouses goblins that were in the lower level.

The goblin leader Ripnugget, mounted on a giant gecko battles Rolf.

Tuihirdock get a critical and kills the Gecko.

A goblin warchanter complicates the battle by lending spell support to his troops.

Ripnugget goes crazy and battles Tuihirdock.  The goblin warchanter falls.

Four goblin riding their wardogs burst in from outside.

There are no back lines for Cinart to hide behind...he enters the fray.

Chance Arcane throws a flaming sphere spell.  A goblin and its dog fall.

Rolf battles Ripnugget.  Oswald assists.

Gilly fells another goblin.

Gilly kills the last goblin from the watch tower.  Chance moves the flaming sphere on to the next target.

Gilly fights a goblin dog that is on fire.  The rest of the group attack Ripnugget...Tuirhidock falls!

The Thistletop goblin commander lies dead under the assault.

The Thistletop goblin fort after the battle. 

The goblin fort has not been fully explored.  The party takes a chance to catch its collective breath as they decide what to do next.  The npcs Cinart and Oswald have been present for many fights, but this is the first one they have been apart of.

Pathfinder RPG Session 07: Thistletop

The group has found a hidden entrance to a very thick area of thistle bush.

As always....*!spoiler alert!* for those planning on playing Rise of the Runelords adventure Path by Paizo Publishing.

Gilly the halfling scouts ahead.  She discovers drag marks on the ground.

The group follows the path to discover where the drag marks go.

Gilly moves silently ahead.

She hears the sounds of crashing ocean waves.

There is a whole in the ground...the party discovers that they are on a cliff and, the ocean is crashing against the rocks below them.

The group moves on and....

...comes upon a group of goblin dogs!  They do not notice Gilly.

The goblin dogs are tied up!  This is their pen area.  Dried meat rations are thrown to them and they ignore the party.

A lair with red and black tufts of fur is discovered, but there are no other signs of what uses this area.

Ambush!

A cougar, hidden in the lair, leaps out and attacks Gilly!

Rolf, Gilly,  and Tuihirdock engage the cougar.  Gilly has been wounded by the ferocious bite and claw attacks.

A goblin spellcaster joins the fray.  Gilly retreats from the melee.

An injured Gilly retreats.  Spells and well placed bladework bring the cougar down.  The goblin begins to chant....

...an entangle spell is thrown to stop Gilly, Oswald, and Cinart.

The make their saves but are separated from the rest of group by the entangled area.  The plants writhe trying to find someone to hold.

Attacks are made against the goblin spellcaster.  He proves skilled and resilient. 

The goblin steps into the thistle wall and moves uninhibited by the thick branches.  He seemingly disappears into the vegetation and comes out of the hedge wall to attack Chance Arcane.  The goblin forgot about Gilly, who sends an arrow into his back from the other side of the entangled area.

Chance, Rolf, and Tuihirdock circle up so they don't expose themselves to a back attack.

The goblin returns, but is brought down.

The goblin's loot.

Emerging from the thick thistle area the party comes upon a rope bridge...

To be continued....

The player's characters have just reached level 3!  Although we didn't get too far this evening, the group decided it was a good natural break point and worked on leveling the characters.  Rolf of Nybor grows more dangerous at battle, Chance Arcane gain more spells, Tuihirdock rolled a 12 for hit points (giving him 45...not bad for level 3), and Gilly has a dizzying amount of skills!

The group will need it as they continue their assault on the goblin strongpoint.