Friday, October 29, 2004
The Week in D&D Miniatures
This week saw the ongoing discussions of the new Aberrations figures, as people began to acquire them and use them in their warbands. It also saw discussion of how the Aberrations figures hadn't reached many places around the world, something frustrating to many.
The most important realisation of the week was that the Exorcist of the Silver Flame can use its Turn Outsider ability on the Tiefling Captain. The Tiefling Captain has been at the top tier of the CE Commanders since the initial release of the game, and was enshrined there by Kiddoc's win at the 2004 Championships. If the Captain has one flaw, it is its horrible Morale Save - with the drawback of now being turnable, its possible that the Tiefling Captain will no longer be an automatic choice for players, although the Captain's Orc Champion and Ogre Ravager flunkies may have something to say about that!
Apart from that, attention has been focused on the Half-Elf Hexblade and the new options available to Lawful Good players.
The Half-Elf Hexblade is noted for its synergy with other LE figures - being able to reduce the saving throws of an enemy figure are excellent when you pair it with a Medusa, Gauth or similar. Unfortunately, it is still a risky figure - the Curse effect is fine if it works, but the randomness of the save may count against it.
Lawful Good has been boosted by some excellent figures: the Hill Dwarf Fighter provides a solid base of 15 HP for only 4 points and the Warforged Hero gives adequate damage output and solid defence for a relatively low point cost. Meanwhile, the three new commanders add new strategic options to LG warbands. Alusair requires some thought, but the Cleric of St Cuthbert makes the cheaper LG creatures worth including and poses a real tactical problem for the opponent: does the opponent destroy the small creatures and give the damage boost, or does the opponent first try to take out the Cleric and other big pieces?
Kiddoc revealed that the miniature he designed is currently slated for Set 8 (a year away) and will be great for Chaotic Good bands - it has an interesting special ability. However, Mina and Guenhwyvar should be appearing in Death Knell.
The week closed with the unexpected addition of a new and powerful (if dangerous) Terrain Tile to those available on the Wizards site: Assembly Tile 5. Next week we'll see what people have been saying about the new tile.
(Later today: the newest Warbands!)