"15mm low level monster types needed?" Topic

Guys, am considering doing some low level humanoid monster types for 15mm fantasy, as my son is getting into D&D and wants to use my minis to game, but so far I only have orcs, salamander men and a few other things here and there.

I've got the above, and as you may have seen a lizardman set going, but what other low level humanoid monsters or similar would you like to see made?

Draconians, gnolls, bullywugs

Bugbears and Gnolls.

Civilized Lizardmen that wear armor on top of their scales and use metal weapons (the same body plan as your other Lizardmen, just better equipped).

Lizardmen in sleek Powered Armor with energy weapons (OK, not for low level types).

Foot versions of the Crocodilians you have riding on Wooly Rhinos/Dinos.

Bullywugs would be awesome
Hobgoblins
Bugbears
Sahuagin: tho I cant remember if they are really low level
Kobolds (Love SLM ones but they are bigger then 15mm)
Goblins

Drow, Goblins, Githyanki. You know actually it would be cool to see evil men, chaotic warriors. Not oversized arms and armor like GW chaos but more like Warduke or the cover of Test Of The Warlords link

Take a look at the old Ral Partha and Grenadier D&D monsters from the early 1980s. These are classic looks with many level 1-5 monsters available.

My all-time favorite: RP's Bugbears. Back in the day, I dribbled and pulled epoxy from their mouths to look like drool dripping off them.

Who don't love ratmen?

Thanks -- I won't be mimicking the look of 80s models, though. I'm just asking what types people want to see made. Rat men, gnolls, check. Aren't bugbears a little higher level?

I'd never heard of bullywugs! I think frogmen like that would actually make excellent adversaries for lizardmen. I might just make conversions of my 15mm deep ones.

Goatme/beastmen in 15mm would be cool.

Phil

Are they in D&D?

Goblins for sure. They were the first critters I faced in D&D, so the are an old favorite of mine. wererats too.

Bugbears are tough, but I just loved the look of the RP version. I used them as goblins back in the day. That's the nice thing about fantasy. Who says something has to look a certain way?

Bullywugs:
link

They were also in an episode of the D&D cartoon from the early 1980s. An old monster that often got/gets overlooked.

Guys, I posted a poll on LAF and if you're registered there you can vote:

link

I thought Bugbears were around 2-3HD but dont remember for sure. Books are in storage. Voted over on LAF as well.

Interesting how spread out the vote is on LAF. The only race so far to get multiple votes -- hobgoblins:

No one does 15mm hobgoblins. TSR Battlesystem line were the only ones I can think of ever done in 15mm.

They're just like big orcs though.

Somewhat but their look is different. More oriental in arms and equipment.

You already have a great range, but the classic D&D demi-human continuum should include:

Kobolds
Goblins (sometimes leading kobolds)
Orcs
Hobgoblins (sometimes leading goblins)
Bugbears (sometimes leading the orcs, or as mercenaries)
Ogres (as hired thugs)

Gnolls stand apart, but are as essential as lizard men. Githyanki and Githzeri would make a great addition from later (Fiend Folio) canon! Drow are also classic enemies.

Also, there are the Undead, skeletons and zombies for the most part, led by evil clerics.

Hmm …

From Mentzer's Basic D&D rules:

*Dungeon Level 1
Bandit
Fire Beetle
Cave Locust
Giant Centipede
Ghoul
Goblin
Human
Kobold
Gecko Lizard
NPC Party
Orc
Skeleton
Racer Snake
Crab Spider
Stirge
Troglodyte
Zombie

*Dungeon Level 2
Oil Beetle
Carrion Crawler
Ghoul
Gnoll
Goblin
Gray Ooze
Hobgoblin
Human
Draco Lizard
Lizard Man
Neanderthal
NPC Party
Orc
Skeleton
Pit Viper Snake
Black Widow Spider
Troglodyte
Zombie

*Dungeon Level 3
White Ape
Tiger Beetle
Bugbear
Carrion Crawler
Doppleganger
Gargoyle
Gelatinous Cube
Harpy
Human
Crystal Living Statue
Wererat
Medusa
NPC Party
Ochre Jelly
Ogre
Shadow
Tarantella Spider
Thoul
Wight

Hobgoblins are more than bigger orcs – they are organized and disciplined where orcs are chaotic – they could be the basis for a whole new line of orcs/goblins with a more civilized look to them.

Added my vote, but I would also like to see ogres please.

Cheers,

Kev

My 2 cents. I think you need to try to make something that Splintered Light, Demonworld, Ral Partha, Magister Militum, Lone Gunmen, Alternative Armies, Eureka and Old Glory do not.

What is that? I am not sure, but there is already a ton out there and while everyone here will post what they want.. will they buy it? I don't know that answer. Sure people here are vocal and will say, well, I don't like Old Glory Goblins or Splintered Light Goblins.. Does that mean they will like yours? I have no idea.. but I have had this same conversation with 3 different companies this year.

I am just throwing in my 2 cents here but it is your money :)

RebelMike
Rebelminis.com

I'm definitely not doing this to fill holes in other peoples' ranges. There are tons of Orcs out there but mine have really taken off lately -- there's plenty of room for one more manufacturer I reckon.

Evil cultists with medieval weapons, big robes and bad haircuts.
Arch-villains, every dungeon needs one.
Evil lackeys, every arch-villain needs one.
Imps and other small demons.

You've got undead, salamen, lizardmen, mushroom men, orcs and ogres (aka your trolls). You'll need some little guys, so kobolds and/or goblins.

That should get him a pretty good set to work with.

Jon,

How about some goblins in a style that fits your orcs. Goblins are a good standard low-level monster.

Low level, fantasy human types would work well too. There are a lot of historical humans but you can fantasy some up by making things like –

Masked or hooded warrior/bandits
City guard
Cultists and such have been mentioned too
Fantasy barbarians have a lot of breadth and the potential for several tribes.

Have you considered making some of your own signature fantasy creatures?

While this might seem daunting, there is room for your own twist on existing monsters or to create something new. For example, why not a race of smaller, diminutive canine humanoids that might fill the kobold niche but that are modelled after African bush dogs?

-Eli

some insect humanoids, direanimals, regular wolves/animals, swarms, gnolls, goblins, slimes, low level like human bandits/thieves, ratmen , giant bats , giant rats, giant spiders , frogmen

I agree on the Insect Humanoids.. What was that adventure where the Formians had a hive adventurers went into? Was it a Planescape setting?

RebelMike
RebelMinis.com

Might have been, dont recall now honestly. I know darksuns might have had some. It had alot of lizards

There was an AD&D module where you battled through an Apsis lair. They were humanoid bugs with four hands carrying shields and swords.

That was the classic "Against the Slavers" series of modules, and yes they would make a great foe race. If you need scans of any illustrations from these old modules just let me know!

Cheers,

Christopher

One more vote for "evil" style humans. Maybe expanding a bit on your "men of the east". Dudes with helmets with down turned horns, ornate armor and/or "Hollywood" armor (a mishmash of styles and periods).

Also kobolds (I love SLMs, but you can never have too many kobolds)
Skeletons
Lizardmen
Evil Wizard / Cleric types.
Solitary – rust monster, cubes, jellies etc
Fungoids
Large vermin – scorpions, centipedes, weasels….

Not necessarily "evil" – more females (pcs and monsters).

Reading through the various posts again, I see a concern over low-level encounters. Remember that low-level adventures have a few more challenging encounters. Some of those are…

Bugbears
Ogres
Trolls
Slimes
Ghouls
Fantasy Zombies (not the same as modern brain eaters)
Giant animals

Many of these have already been posted and I only lost them again for the sake of context.

Hi John, thanks for your comments. In case I wasn't clear (entirely possible) I'm looking at the sort of humanoid monster that appears in numbers in RPGs. They're useful for that purpose, and also for gamers who play mass battle fantasy so they are likely to appeal to more customers.

Things like solitary monsters are more loss leaders than anything else, to be made to help sell other models you make lots of. That's how I see the high quality adventurer models (although interestingly the TM models are so good they usually earn out quickly!). People are not going to build armies of the ranger, but are likely to buy multiple packs of hobgoblins.

slimes. I use different sized and colored glass aquarium beads. Very useful for when the big slime divides into 1d4 smaller slimes!

some dedicated slimes would be nicer

I like Slimes too…

RebelMike
Rebelminis.com

"People are not going to build armies of the ranger, but are likely to buy multiple packs of hobgoblins."

If there were enough poses foot, mounted; spear, one hand melee (sword, axe, mace, or whatever,) bow, etc., then I would probably build an elite border guard type army but I might be unique in wanting an army of Ranger/Robin Hood looking troops…

By and large though people don't build armies of male human rangers just like they don't build armies of female half-elf magic users, or slimes. They are much more likely to build an army of lizardmen or hobgoblins.

I think you underestimate the power of a slime army khurasan :P

Not its power, just its commercial popularity.

Ok, Fine! If no one will.. I'll make slimes! Be prepared to see an annoucement soon on Rebel Minis Slimes(TM).. and you'll want them.. oh yes, you will…

RebelMike
Rebelminis.com

Cant wait :)

Was thinking of sculpting some myself at this rate, haha.

I would like some semi fantasy/semi historical humans. I want to see them in armor that is close to historical, but not there. I love the armor of the Easterlings in the LOTR movies! That is the kind of look I would like to see in 15mm.

Also, I would love to see draconians!

I just bought some of the Rebel Minis Newts for Sahuagin…

Well, now I'm nervous! I went ahead and hired a sculptor and you can see in another of my famous previews that his work is well underway:

Is he following in gru's footsteps? Making a delicious line of jams and jellies? :P

Ooh! Squashed dungeon adventurers! And molded in color, too! ;-)

Start of a 15mm slime green, thoughts?

another one attacking:

Nice slimes :)

I smell a challenge coming on!

RebelMike
Rebelminis.com

slime community challenge? most voted one gets casted?