In case you've been looking for Grenadier's Special #1, The Giant Dragon - one is currently up for grabs on eBay. If you want it, it's going to cost you at least $201 USD (current price as of 5/15, with three and a half days left). Good luck if you happen to join the bidding for that monster!
Speaking of Grenadier's Battling Behemoths (that's what it says on the packaging), I paid a paltry $22.84 for my Giant Griffon (Special #2), compared to $233.50 for the only other example I remember seeing. Sometimes it pays to be lucky, no?
My son needs some shelves to display his growing collection, so I bought some 1x6 pine boards and have been busy cutting, assembling, and staining them into completion. I should have that up by this weekend, and I'll post some pics when that happens.
And I've finally dusted off my brushes and started painting again. I'm working on a small gaggle of mostly Reaper giants, ogres, and trolls, along with a few other nearly-complete projects. I hope to have pics of those completed pieces in the very near future! Wish me luck.
Friday 5/17 Update: Aaaand with a day and a half to go, the aforementioned dragon is now up to $257.55! The current high bidder seems VERY determined to stay on top. Good luck to him/her.
Sunday 5/19 Update: WOW! I woke up this morning and found that the dragon jumped from $257.55 to a winning bid of $460.55 - I figured it would probably top $300, but I guess a couple of folks really wanted this one. Congrats to the winner.
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Thursday, May 2, 2013
You Are Attacked By An...Umber Flayer? Mind Hulk?
Every now and then, a reader or fellow eBayer will ask me to identify some random hunk of lead. I'm always happy to oblige, and I like to think that most of the time I can help ID the mini in question. Sometimes, of course, I get stumped. This time, however, I was pleased to be able to determine the genetic makeup of this abomination, shared with us courtesy of Prestigen.
As soon as I looked at the picture, I knew it was the Tomb of Spells Umber Hulk from Grenadier. At least the main body, that is. I had to sit and look at the head for a couple of minutes, and then the light bulb floating above my head fizzled to life and I realized it was not a head, but a creature! Specifically, the Octopoid Alien Trooper from Heritage's Galacta 25 line. Fortunately for any potential victims, the laser has been neatly cut away. Some extra tissue/muscle has been added to the torso and arms.
You can see that a tail has been added and some bulk added to the arms, along with the area where the head was grafted on. Overall, it makes for a pretty imposing and fearsome foe. To me, it has more of a slimy, loathsome Call of Cthulhu look to it, but perhaps the creator was thinking more like "I need a mind flayer that can tunnel through solid rock." Either way, it's neat to see the end result of someone's imagination.
And for reference, the obligatory group shot. That's Grenadier's Umberbulk (Fantasy Lords 135) on the left and Ral Partha's AD&D Umber Hulk (11-404) on the right. Presitgen tells me he intends to keep this critter intact, which is what I would do as well. With any luck, Prestigen is a DM (sorry, any GM is a DM by default to me) and will be able to trot out this bad boy on his players. Nothing induces panic like a creature that is not readily identifiable by the players! Thanks again to Prestigen for sharing his pics.
"You are one UGLY motherf..."
As soon as I looked at the picture, I knew it was the Tomb of Spells Umber Hulk from Grenadier. At least the main body, that is. I had to sit and look at the head for a couple of minutes, and then the light bulb floating above my head fizzled to life and I realized it was not a head, but a creature! Specifically, the Octopoid Alien Trooper from Heritage's Galacta 25 line. Fortunately for any potential victims, the laser has been neatly cut away. Some extra tissue/muscle has been added to the torso and arms.
Shake that tail!
You can see that a tail has been added and some bulk added to the arms, along with the area where the head was grafted on. Overall, it makes for a pretty imposing and fearsome foe. To me, it has more of a slimy, loathsome Call of Cthulhu look to it, but perhaps the creator was thinking more like "I need a mind flayer that can tunnel through solid rock." Either way, it's neat to see the end result of someone's imagination.
Look ma, they followed me home. Can I keep them?
And for reference, the obligatory group shot. That's Grenadier's Umberbulk (Fantasy Lords 135) on the left and Ral Partha's AD&D Umber Hulk (11-404) on the right. Presitgen tells me he intends to keep this critter intact, which is what I would do as well. With any luck, Prestigen is a DM (sorry, any GM is a DM by default to me) and will be able to trot out this bad boy on his players. Nothing induces panic like a creature that is not readily identifiable by the players! Thanks again to Prestigen for sharing his pics.
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Lead Market Report April 2013 - Part 1
OK, this LMR is like a hydra - it doesn't seem to matter how many lots I list because the report just keeps growing and all the lots still to be listed doesn't seem to be shrinking! So I'll split this report into two parts, and add everything else to Part Two. That's what I get for waiting so long to complete an installation of the LMR. Hope you enjoy it!
ASGARD: Here's one that doesn't pop up very often: a big old Asgard dragon by Nick Bibby. This one sold for a reasonable $31, with a couple of RP dragons thrown in for good measure. Looks like the rider and saddle aren't included, but it's still a very neat and very large piece of old lead art.
ARCHIVE: A few baggies of old Star Rovers minis came and went, like this Roberker (robot worker perhaps?) that sold for $18, and this Krushaugga that went for $22. Funky old-school sci-fi lead goodness.
CITADEL: Some AD&D blisters showed up for the party as well: 2 Carrion Crawlers ($28 and $18), 3 Gorgons ($23, $23, and $21), 1 Rust Monster ($29), and 1 Giant Rat ($12). Loose ADD series included an Umber Hulk for $12. In addition to the $18 Carrion Crawler, I also managed to score a Beholder and a Gorgon for $12 - yay me! I would have enjoyed adding a Gargantuan Fire Giant Lord to my collection, but the overseas shipping usually kills it for me. $14 seems like a very reasonable price, shipping notwithstanding. $24 for a C28 giant seems par for the course for these giant-kind.
Citadel dragons, on the other hand, are usually both rare and expensive. Kegox the Kevin Peat Dragon sold for $92, and this Great Spined Dragon sold for $100 in all it's minty glory. And I'm pretty sure the center dragon in this $104 lot is also a Great Spined Dragon. On the more affordable side of the fence, how about this lot of 8 minotaurs for less than $5/mini? And from the current crop of LOTR minis, it doesn't get any cheaper than this metal Cave Troll for less than $6! Lastly, a buyer snapped up a small group of Citadel/Marauder lead for under $25.
DRAGONTOOTH: This V1 Vulturian Chariot is missing a wheel and a couple of the small detail bits, but at $27, I don't see why a DT collector wouldn't have a go at this one. Same goes for the Arctic Warriors sled for $10 - just the sled and nothing else. $100 for a very incomplete Magic Shoppe is too rich for my blood, but someone wanted it. $131 for a 100% complete Ye Blind Cyclops Inn seems a lot more in line for a set that is becoming more and more rare to find. Same goes for the 99.9% complete Magic Shop that sold for $103.50. A run of assorted blisters that included an Amphibian Colossus ($66), a Saurian Champion ($47), some Lizard Pikemen ($43), Javelineers ($35), and Bowmen ($31). Mounted Nobles ($32) and a Sorceress ($21) also made an appearance. Don't forget the axe-slinging Demon Bird Bear for $34.Weapons and Capes? $25 and $11. Four Personalities blisters sold for $57, $37, $32, and $32. And this trio of a Saurian Champion ($46), Dwarf Warrior ($44), and Elfin Enchanter ($38). Finally some Mounted Elves sold for $41. I don't know why, but I just love seeing old minis with their original packaging hit the auction block. Another thing I just love are old Dragontooth catalogs! I didn't buy these, but this 1980 ($24) and this 1981 ($23) were good buys for sure.
GRENADIER: From the "A Miniature That Is Really And Truly Rare" files, I give you this assorted lot that sold for $169.50. That breaks down to about $2.65/mini - a little higher than normal, but on the surface still a decent deal. But what makes it so special? In the first picture in the auction listing, notice the lizard man in the top right corner? Look familiar? Why yes, he DOES look almost exactly like the old TSR logo! According to my fellow collectors over at acaeum.com, Grenadier made an extremely limited run of these lizard men back when they were bidding on the licensing rights for AD&D minis. Very cool! And then there was this lot of 3 Grenadier rares: the gold-plated Basilisk, a gold-plated dragon pendant, and the same dragon in un-plated form. Your cost? A modest $70.
Not one but two W55 Giant Cave Spiders for .99? I forgot why I didn't bid on this lot. Steal of a deal for two nicely sculpted big lead spiders. Uneducated sellers frequently start their Fantastic Females boxes around $100 or so. I think $21 for the Water Nymph is more realistic, but then again I am a cheap sonofabitch. And since I am cheap, I did not bid on any of the following Gamma World blisters that sold:3 blisters of G-14 Human Tribesmen went for $57, $51, and $47. Some G-21 Power Armor Troops fetched $37. There were several others from the same seller that I missed tracking, but I'm sure everything went for appropriate prices. The Grenadier bargain lot of the month goes to this lot of 10 Fantasy Warrior blisters for $3.75 - that's .375 cents per blister!
HARLEQUIN: I almost never post anything from Harlequin, but this Giant Mountain Troll was just too cool to pass on. And for under $7, I wish I had bought it! You can never have too many giants.
HERITAGE: Someone ponied up $160 for a new in shrink box of Galacta - Galactic Rebellion. I guess if you are going to go big, you might as well get a nice, complete, minty set. Back down in my price range, $32 bought a collector the Giants box set, along with all ten minis from the Mines of Moria box set. I didn't see the Frost Giant's axe head, but at least the Storm Giant's lightning bolt was present. For a mere $10, you could have owned three packs of River Trolls and three packs of Mind Beaters. My guess is a reseller snapped these up, because 30+ figures sold at even a modest $4/mini is going to make you a profit of $100 or more. I had to pick up the LOTR Painting Guide when the seller dropped the price to a more reasonable $35. And just because it was available at the same time, the movie poster that shares the artwork with the painting guide.
There were enough John Carter, Warlord of Mars blisters that recently sold to warrant their own paragraph! Here we go: John Carter mounted on Thoat with Deja Thoris and Woola went for a cool $133. A second copy of the same set was much lighter on the wallet at $53. Tars Tarkus? Not the usual $75-$100, but a very reasonable $33. Black Pirates of Barsoom ($61), Phor Tak, Mad Jaharian Scientist ($36), Solon of Okar ($31), and Synthetic Men of Mars ($30) round out the rest. And someone snapped up a couple of bargains: 2 blisters of Orovars, Horz, and Lotharians with Bowmen for $20 each, and The Mesena (Catmen) of the Thurian Moon also for a low, low $20.
MANZAKK PUBLISHING: Hey, we have a Finieous Phigures sighting! This complete set with box commanded a neat $82.
MINIFIGS: You know him, you love him, you hate him...Demogorgon! The Minifigs demons usually do well, and this one for $52 was no exception to that rule. Other demons included two Type VI ($31 and $28) and one Type IV ($27).
MITHRIL: $17.50 for a complete set of The Hobbit? That's less than $2/mini! Nicely done, buyer, nicely done.
RAL PARTHA: As a giant collector, I wish I would have picked up this copy of Avalyne the Life Giver for only $23! That's a kickass deal, considering I see the giant alone usually being offered at around $40. Someone bought a Peryton for $42, which is probably the lowest price I have seen in a long time. And speaking of low prices for 11-series critters, how about these Remorhaz that went for $58 and $47, respectively. I would have been fine paying for one of those uglies at that price point. Like the Peryton above, the Black Abishai also sold for $42. I love to see alternate sculpts go for more than reasonable prices, like this seated Displacer Beast that was only $10.50. Nice kitty! Molydeus, on the other hand, continues to sell consistently high, like this one that went for $78.
The Bronze Dragon of Pern is another one of those uncommon to rare sets, so to see one like this go for $103 is pretty neat, especially if you are the seller.
REAPER: Why is it whenever I need a spare $5K I can never seem to find it? This would have been a great lot if you had a store and could justify the expense. If I had told the missus "Honey, I just dropped 5 grand on 1,500 minis!" I can only imagine the trouble I'd be in... If DOOM minis are your thing, you probably would have been pleased to spend under $25 on this Cacodemon.
WOTC: 13 blisters of the Third Edition minis went for just over $2/mini. Great price on a often-overlooked line of official D&D miniatures. With that in mind, I was a bit surprised at this lot of 23 blisters that sold for $200, or about $9/mini.
LOTS-R-US: I wish I could see every mini in this lot! 228 minis for $100 is a sweet bargain IMO. I hope the buyer got some good ones! In this $33 lot, I see Mithril minis, a Grenadier Juggernaut, and various dragons and/or dragon parts. There's a bunch of Grenadier minis and a nice Superior dragon in this lot, but $61 is a bit higher than I would have paid for it. Am I missing something really cool? Still, we're only talking a bit more than $1/mini, so still a nice deal for the buyer. I don't think I've ever seen EIGHT umber hulks in one lot before, but this one had them, along with some nice old Archive and Citadel minis too. $158 is a pretty steep price, and I see the buyer still hasn't resold the Citadel, Grenadier, and RP hulks. And this $69 lot has some neat pieces from TA-HR, Citadel, and others. At just a bit more than $4/mini, this was a good buy. OMG I love all the glossy enamel paint on the minis in this tackle box! For $100, I have to say this lot was a great buy, and that doesn't even include what the books might be worth.
ASGARD: Here's one that doesn't pop up very often: a big old Asgard dragon by Nick Bibby. This one sold for a reasonable $31, with a couple of RP dragons thrown in for good measure. Looks like the rider and saddle aren't included, but it's still a very neat and very large piece of old lead art.
ARCHIVE: A few baggies of old Star Rovers minis came and went, like this Roberker (robot worker perhaps?) that sold for $18, and this Krushaugga that went for $22. Funky old-school sci-fi lead goodness.
CITADEL: Some AD&D blisters showed up for the party as well: 2 Carrion Crawlers ($28 and $18), 3 Gorgons ($23, $23, and $21), 1 Rust Monster ($29), and 1 Giant Rat ($12). Loose ADD series included an Umber Hulk for $12. In addition to the $18 Carrion Crawler, I also managed to score a Beholder and a Gorgon for $12 - yay me! I would have enjoyed adding a Gargantuan Fire Giant Lord to my collection, but the overseas shipping usually kills it for me. $14 seems like a very reasonable price, shipping notwithstanding. $24 for a C28 giant seems par for the course for these giant-kind.
Citadel dragons, on the other hand, are usually both rare and expensive. Kegox the Kevin Peat Dragon sold for $92, and this Great Spined Dragon sold for $100 in all it's minty glory. And I'm pretty sure the center dragon in this $104 lot is also a Great Spined Dragon. On the more affordable side of the fence, how about this lot of 8 minotaurs for less than $5/mini? And from the current crop of LOTR minis, it doesn't get any cheaper than this metal Cave Troll for less than $6! Lastly, a buyer snapped up a small group of Citadel/Marauder lead for under $25.
DRAGONTOOTH: This V1 Vulturian Chariot is missing a wheel and a couple of the small detail bits, but at $27, I don't see why a DT collector wouldn't have a go at this one. Same goes for the Arctic Warriors sled for $10 - just the sled and nothing else. $100 for a very incomplete Magic Shoppe is too rich for my blood, but someone wanted it. $131 for a 100% complete Ye Blind Cyclops Inn seems a lot more in line for a set that is becoming more and more rare to find. Same goes for the 99.9% complete Magic Shop that sold for $103.50. A run of assorted blisters that included an Amphibian Colossus ($66), a Saurian Champion ($47), some Lizard Pikemen ($43), Javelineers ($35), and Bowmen ($31). Mounted Nobles ($32) and a Sorceress ($21) also made an appearance. Don't forget the axe-slinging Demon Bird Bear for $34.Weapons and Capes? $25 and $11. Four Personalities blisters sold for $57, $37, $32, and $32. And this trio of a Saurian Champion ($46), Dwarf Warrior ($44), and Elfin Enchanter ($38). Finally some Mounted Elves sold for $41. I don't know why, but I just love seeing old minis with their original packaging hit the auction block. Another thing I just love are old Dragontooth catalogs! I didn't buy these, but this 1980 ($24) and this 1981 ($23) were good buys for sure.
GRENADIER: From the "A Miniature That Is Really And Truly Rare" files, I give you this assorted lot that sold for $169.50. That breaks down to about $2.65/mini - a little higher than normal, but on the surface still a decent deal. But what makes it so special? In the first picture in the auction listing, notice the lizard man in the top right corner? Look familiar? Why yes, he DOES look almost exactly like the old TSR logo! According to my fellow collectors over at acaeum.com, Grenadier made an extremely limited run of these lizard men back when they were bidding on the licensing rights for AD&D minis. Very cool! And then there was this lot of 3 Grenadier rares: the gold-plated Basilisk, a gold-plated dragon pendant, and the same dragon in un-plated form. Your cost? A modest $70.
Not one but two W55 Giant Cave Spiders for .99? I forgot why I didn't bid on this lot. Steal of a deal for two nicely sculpted big lead spiders. Uneducated sellers frequently start their Fantastic Females boxes around $100 or so. I think $21 for the Water Nymph is more realistic, but then again I am a cheap sonofabitch. And since I am cheap, I did not bid on any of the following Gamma World blisters that sold:3 blisters of G-14 Human Tribesmen went for $57, $51, and $47. Some G-21 Power Armor Troops fetched $37. There were several others from the same seller that I missed tracking, but I'm sure everything went for appropriate prices. The Grenadier bargain lot of the month goes to this lot of 10 Fantasy Warrior blisters for $3.75 - that's .375 cents per blister!
HARLEQUIN: I almost never post anything from Harlequin, but this Giant Mountain Troll was just too cool to pass on. And for under $7, I wish I had bought it! You can never have too many giants.
HERITAGE: Someone ponied up $160 for a new in shrink box of Galacta - Galactic Rebellion. I guess if you are going to go big, you might as well get a nice, complete, minty set. Back down in my price range, $32 bought a collector the Giants box set, along with all ten minis from the Mines of Moria box set. I didn't see the Frost Giant's axe head, but at least the Storm Giant's lightning bolt was present. For a mere $10, you could have owned three packs of River Trolls and three packs of Mind Beaters. My guess is a reseller snapped these up, because 30+ figures sold at even a modest $4/mini is going to make you a profit of $100 or more. I had to pick up the LOTR Painting Guide when the seller dropped the price to a more reasonable $35. And just because it was available at the same time, the movie poster that shares the artwork with the painting guide.
There were enough John Carter, Warlord of Mars blisters that recently sold to warrant their own paragraph! Here we go: John Carter mounted on Thoat with Deja Thoris and Woola went for a cool $133. A second copy of the same set was much lighter on the wallet at $53. Tars Tarkus? Not the usual $75-$100, but a very reasonable $33. Black Pirates of Barsoom ($61), Phor Tak, Mad Jaharian Scientist ($36), Solon of Okar ($31), and Synthetic Men of Mars ($30) round out the rest. And someone snapped up a couple of bargains: 2 blisters of Orovars, Horz, and Lotharians with Bowmen for $20 each, and The Mesena (Catmen) of the Thurian Moon also for a low, low $20.
MANZAKK PUBLISHING: Hey, we have a Finieous Phigures sighting! This complete set with box commanded a neat $82.
MINIFIGS: You know him, you love him, you hate him...Demogorgon! The Minifigs demons usually do well, and this one for $52 was no exception to that rule. Other demons included two Type VI ($31 and $28) and one Type IV ($27).
MITHRIL: $17.50 for a complete set of The Hobbit? That's less than $2/mini! Nicely done, buyer, nicely done.
RAL PARTHA: As a giant collector, I wish I would have picked up this copy of Avalyne the Life Giver for only $23! That's a kickass deal, considering I see the giant alone usually being offered at around $40. Someone bought a Peryton for $42, which is probably the lowest price I have seen in a long time. And speaking of low prices for 11-series critters, how about these Remorhaz that went for $58 and $47, respectively. I would have been fine paying for one of those uglies at that price point. Like the Peryton above, the Black Abishai also sold for $42. I love to see alternate sculpts go for more than reasonable prices, like this seated Displacer Beast that was only $10.50. Nice kitty! Molydeus, on the other hand, continues to sell consistently high, like this one that went for $78.
The Bronze Dragon of Pern is another one of those uncommon to rare sets, so to see one like this go for $103 is pretty neat, especially if you are the seller.
REAPER: Why is it whenever I need a spare $5K I can never seem to find it? This would have been a great lot if you had a store and could justify the expense. If I had told the missus "Honey, I just dropped 5 grand on 1,500 minis!" I can only imagine the trouble I'd be in... If DOOM minis are your thing, you probably would have been pleased to spend under $25 on this Cacodemon.
WOTC: 13 blisters of the Third Edition minis went for just over $2/mini. Great price on a often-overlooked line of official D&D miniatures. With that in mind, I was a bit surprised at this lot of 23 blisters that sold for $200, or about $9/mini.
LOTS-R-US: I wish I could see every mini in this lot! 228 minis for $100 is a sweet bargain IMO. I hope the buyer got some good ones! In this $33 lot, I see Mithril minis, a Grenadier Juggernaut, and various dragons and/or dragon parts. There's a bunch of Grenadier minis and a nice Superior dragon in this lot, but $61 is a bit higher than I would have paid for it. Am I missing something really cool? Still, we're only talking a bit more than $1/mini, so still a nice deal for the buyer. I don't think I've ever seen EIGHT umber hulks in one lot before, but this one had them, along with some nice old Archive and Citadel minis too. $158 is a pretty steep price, and I see the buyer still hasn't resold the Citadel, Grenadier, and RP hulks. And this $69 lot has some neat pieces from TA-HR, Citadel, and others. At just a bit more than $4/mini, this was a good buy. OMG I love all the glossy enamel paint on the minis in this tackle box! For $100, I have to say this lot was a great buy, and that doesn't even include what the books might be worth.
Friday, April 19, 2013
The Great Sro - An Impressive Dragon From The Legions of the Petal Throne
The Great Sro: Some Assembly Required
I recently picked up a large dragon that I couldn't readily identify, but still looked at least somewhat familiar - you know when you've seen something at least once, but you just can't put your finger on it? So after some poking around on LMW and SoL to no avail, I stopped by leadpoisoned.com and found what I was looking for: NH-005, the Great Sro armed with sword from the Legions of the Petal Throne line of miniatures.
This line appears to have been sold under several brands - The Old Guard, Murray Miniatures, and eventually Ral Partha. Mine says copyright 1975 T.O.G. - T.S.R. inside the right half and SRO by Murray inside the left half. I'm assuming TOG stands for The Old Guard.
Sro is pretty big hunk of lead, weighing in at almost 1 pound 9 ounces. He measures 9" from snout to tail, and each wing is 6.25" so his wingspan when assembled should be around 13.5" or so. I wasn't able to Bing/Google any particulars about Sro, so I'm pretty much in the dark about his background, stats, or how he fits into the grand scheme of all things Tekumel.
The pose isn't terribly dynamic, as all six legs are pretty much lined up the same. Where it does shine a bit is the arms: the left arm pointing right at YOU! and the right arm brandishing a nasty-looking sword that could be metal or could be a flaming sword. The overall sculpt is very nicely done and just screams old-school from just about any angle. The snout has a unique look, almost as if covered by a piece of plate armor. The only downside is he appears to be missing one of his two curved horns.
Overall, the Great Sro is a very, very cool dragon for your Empire of the Petal Throne or other fantasy game. I'll most likely trade or sell this magnificent fella, as I have no plans on starting a Legions of the Petal Throne collection.
Saturday, March 2, 2013
Lead Market Report - Dragons! Dragons! Special Edition
OK, OK, I know...it's been way too long since I banged out a LMR. So I thought I'd get back on track with this report that focuses on Dragons and other creatures who often get lumped in dragon-kind. Next report will hopefully see my back to my standard monthly LMR format covering a bit of everything. Thanks for reading!
DRAGONTOOTH: Well, a 5-headed hydra isn't a true dragon, but it's good enough to include in this report. Now this D-76, this is a true classic, and for only $23. There were a few other DT dragons as well, but those got lumped in down below in the Lots of Lots entries.
GRENADIER: This $56 lot looks like fun - it has a bunch of pieces that may or may not have several complete DOTM dragons plus some extras. $88 for five assorted metallic dragons. Someone really likes Asian-themed Grenadier dragons, to the tune of $114 for this lot of 6. This lot of 8 dragons went for $143, which is still less than $20 per dragon. And I had no idea that the Imperial Dragon of the Eleven Celestial Dynasties was in the $95 range, but this one was.
RAL PARTHA: Let's start off RP with a Draco Dracorum for $75. How about a 2-for-1 in the form of T'Char and Niddhogg for $45. Another 2-fer was this Dueling Dragons and Griffin Chariot for $35. He's big, he's bad, he's the Great Red Dragon for a mere $60! Another Great Red Dragon (no box, no number plate) for $56. For a smaller version of the Great Red Dragon, there is the Dragonstrike boxed set, this one for only $30. Not a true dragon, but impressive nonetheless is The Feathered Serpent, and for $87 at that! Look at this - a Dracolich in shrink for $79. Much more reasonable than $200-$250 that you sometimes see advertised for this cool model.
LOTS OF LOTS: $64 for a couple of DT hydras, Heritage hydras, some other hydras, and a 90mm Superior Gollum. $49 for 8 assorted dragons and beasties, including something in the middle that looks like a conversion that was started, as evidenced by the Greenstuff. $58 bought someone 6 assorted creatures, along with a dragon or two. A riderless Red Dragon of Krynn and three others went for $72. The prices continue to climb, like this lot of 4 for $91. I don't know why it only cost me $68 to score this sweet lot that included Superior, DragonTooth, Minifigs, and Grenadier dragons. I'm certainly not complaining, just wondering why there weren't more bids. You can't make out much in these photos, but there are some Reaper dragons in this haul that sold for $64. Seemed like a lot with possibilities if you are the gambling type. Who is that big lunk in the back of this $86 lot? Why yes, it IS an Archive/R-kiiv Imperial Dragon. And yes, that is his twin dragon brother in this $135 lot. Very cool and very big! Another 8 for $114 lot was this one, about half dragons and half other winged creatures of one sort or another. This lot of 8 went for $103, and was more dragon-esque in nature than the previous lot.
THE GREAT UNKNOWN: I have no idea whatsoever on this critter. It looks kind of like a cross between a beaver, dragon, and octopus (?). Not sure if it is complete or a mish-mash of parts, but it is nonetheless intriguing! And at only $12, a relative bargain if you like taking chances on oddities.
And that's it! Kind of short and to the point, but stay tuned for the return of the usual LMR, coming soon to a blog near you. At least this blog. I think you catch my drift.
DRAGONTOOTH: Well, a 5-headed hydra isn't a true dragon, but it's good enough to include in this report. Now this D-76, this is a true classic, and for only $23. There were a few other DT dragons as well, but those got lumped in down below in the Lots of Lots entries.
GRENADIER: This $56 lot looks like fun - it has a bunch of pieces that may or may not have several complete DOTM dragons plus some extras. $88 for five assorted metallic dragons. Someone really likes Asian-themed Grenadier dragons, to the tune of $114 for this lot of 6. This lot of 8 dragons went for $143, which is still less than $20 per dragon. And I had no idea that the Imperial Dragon of the Eleven Celestial Dynasties was in the $95 range, but this one was.
RAL PARTHA: Let's start off RP with a Draco Dracorum for $75. How about a 2-for-1 in the form of T'Char and Niddhogg for $45. Another 2-fer was this Dueling Dragons and Griffin Chariot for $35. He's big, he's bad, he's the Great Red Dragon for a mere $60! Another Great Red Dragon (no box, no number plate) for $56. For a smaller version of the Great Red Dragon, there is the Dragonstrike boxed set, this one for only $30. Not a true dragon, but impressive nonetheless is The Feathered Serpent, and for $87 at that! Look at this - a Dracolich in shrink for $79. Much more reasonable than $200-$250 that you sometimes see advertised for this cool model.
LOTS OF LOTS: $64 for a couple of DT hydras, Heritage hydras, some other hydras, and a 90mm Superior Gollum. $49 for 8 assorted dragons and beasties, including something in the middle that looks like a conversion that was started, as evidenced by the Greenstuff. $58 bought someone 6 assorted creatures, along with a dragon or two. A riderless Red Dragon of Krynn and three others went for $72. The prices continue to climb, like this lot of 4 for $91. I don't know why it only cost me $68 to score this sweet lot that included Superior, DragonTooth, Minifigs, and Grenadier dragons. I'm certainly not complaining, just wondering why there weren't more bids. You can't make out much in these photos, but there are some Reaper dragons in this haul that sold for $64. Seemed like a lot with possibilities if you are the gambling type. Who is that big lunk in the back of this $86 lot? Why yes, it IS an Archive/R-kiiv Imperial Dragon. And yes, that is his twin dragon brother in this $135 lot. Very cool and very big! Another 8 for $114 lot was this one, about half dragons and half other winged creatures of one sort or another. This lot of 8 went for $103, and was more dragon-esque in nature than the previous lot.
THE GREAT UNKNOWN: I have no idea whatsoever on this critter. It looks kind of like a cross between a beaver, dragon, and octopus (?). Not sure if it is complete or a mish-mash of parts, but it is nonetheless intriguing! And at only $12, a relative bargain if you like taking chances on oddities.
And that's it! Kind of short and to the point, but stay tuned for the return of the usual LMR, coming soon to a blog near you. At least this blog. I think you catch my drift.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Dirty Deeds, Done Dirt Cheap
12/28 Session Recap
You know an
adventure that begins with a vague request by an unknown drow is NOT going to
end well for someone. It ended rather well for our adventuring party which was
of course quite smashing, and it ended in a bad way for the Red Wizards of
Thay. This is good for us in the short term, but could potentially see us even
more hated (and hunted) by the Red Wizards in the long run. But I skip ahead,
so let me begin the recap where it started.
Nikola (our
ranger) was heading home one evening, once again alone and once again at least
partially in his cups. The appearance of an unknown drow at his side provided
some instant sobriety. Drow seem to have that effect on non-drow races,
especially on the surface of Faerun. He introduced himself as S’ilthantiz of
Clan Maknatz, and implied that he was related to Nik. Oh, and yes, that the services
of our intrepid little group was required. In the Underdark. Right away.
OK, so it
turns out S’ilthantiz is kind of related to Nikola. He is apparently a second
cousin to D'nayin, Garrity’s mother and Nikola’s adoptive mother. We don’t
have much to go on, although the Red Sword is mentioned. Well, that’s the only
enticement Nikola needs to head out on some damned fool quest to god knows
where doing god knows what.
We are told
to seek out a gnome by the name of Arte at the Dragon’s Ladle in Mulsantir.
Traveling overland in Thesk and shadowing The Golden Way from Tammar to Two
Stars, we manage to avoid patrols and prying eyes. One night a wagon is heard
passing nearby, prompting us to investigate. Callum detects evil, but it is
unknown who on the wagon is evil. With Garrity flying air cover above, the
party charges into action. The wagon quickly springs ahead, but is forced to
slow thanks to a blade barrier placed by Posht. One horse perishes in the
whirling blades, while the other veers off in time along with the wagon.
The wagon
guards fight back, but are forced to abandon their vehicle to us when the tide
of battle turns in our favor. A search of the wagon shows us that we have
intercepted a Thayan wagon, laden with treasure and ancient artifacts. Well, we
do find a modest stash of loot, but no artifacts. The mere thought of sticking
it to the Thayans, even in such a minor way, gives us reason to smile.
On the
western shore of Lake Mulsantir we manage to draw the ire of the locals when
one of the ferry guards challenges Nikola, probably just for looking at him or
some minor offense. Instead of backing down or playing it cool, Nikola acts all
tough and Palau wades in, blades flashing. The half-orc guard is cut to ribbons
by the ill-tempered Halfling and panic and mayhem of the ferry landing ensues.
The party scatters and melts away, using spells to bypass the ferry and head
across the water to Mulsantir.
We
rendezvous with Arte the gnome, but end up staying at the Dead Dwarf. Innkeeper
Milo Hintar runs a decent joint and we manage to lay low until we venture into
the Underdark, thanks to Arte.
As we head
deeper into the Underdark, we of course encounter several natives who think we
are their next meals. A greater basilisk and a pair of beholder/illithid
hybrids give us some trouble, but we overcome the foul fiends. A manual of bodily health is recovered
from the floating horrors, providing Nikola with a boost to his constitution.
The party
finally reaches the drow city, and are ushered in to meet with S’ilthantiz and
his people. There, it is learned that the drow are still mightily pissed at the
Thayans for their earlier meddling that led to the destruction of Sith Morcane,
along with the usual plots and machinations common to naughty types like drow,
Thayans, Zhents, etc. Our part is to help the drow locate the mind flayer who
is linked to Nikola. If they can triangulate on him, that should lead them to
the high-value targets they wish to take out, or so the theory goes.
We agree to
help, but mostly out of self-preservation. If we can rid Nikola of the constant
beacon in his head, we suddenly make it that much harder for the Red Wizards to
keep tabs on us. That, and no one in the party feels bad about sending a bunch
of Thayans to their doom. Karma is a bitch and whatnot. So if we find ourselves
temporarily allied with the drow, so be it. We know how to play their game, so
we’ll be watching our backs the whole time for good measure.
For Callum,
the dilemma was gut-wrenching. Here he was, in the Underdark, helping the drow
to strike a major blow against his fellow surface-dwellers. True, the target is
the Thayan brain trust, which somewhat deflects the sense of complicity and
betrayal the paladin is feeling, but still…there was so much evil present, it
was hard not to feel bad for the servant of Kelemvor.
Maybe it is
just the taunting, the mere presence of cruel demons, loathsome driders, and
the cruel servitors driven before the drow overlords that gnaws at the
paladin’s soul. Callum steadies himself, and tries to focus on his comrades
rather than allowing himself to be distracted by the overwhelming stench of
evil that assails his every nerve. Kelemvor will be busy today, of that much
the paladin is sure.
The party is
able to pass some down time in the wonderful drow bazaar. A few minor weapon
upgrades were completed, and Palau traded his Horned Ring for a ring of
invisibility. I don’t think I would have traded a minor artifact for a
lesser item, but we’ll only really miss it if we ever find ourselves back in
Undermountain.
A series of
spider-web portals are activated, and the drow assault force begins to take
shape. If it weren’t for the evil nature of most of the players involved, it
would have been a truly marvelous sight for any eyes to behold. From the
seething masses of cannon fodder to drow regulars to elites such as powerful
demons and drow high priestesses, we can tell this is a force to be reckoned
with in any corner of Faerun. And if they can do this against the Thayans, they
can do it against anyone. Food for thought.
Finally, the
attack is launched. Target: Thaymount, the seat of Red Wizard power. There are
multiple citadels and fortresses upon the plateau, and each one is attacked by
a dedicated assault team. Stealthy drow appear, raining down poisoned bolts and
spells and flashing blades. Massive demons shrug off spells and tear through
defenders in sprays of blood and gore. Supporting drow spellcasters augment
their allies with various spells, and send Thayans to their doom or scrambling
for cover.
Dragons and
other mounts/pets are visible as well. Flying creatures engage in dogfights,
and stricken victims fall from the sky, plummeting down to land among (and
sometimes on) the swarm of combatants below.
Our heroes attack the small keep where the illithid we are connected to should be found. The defenders are fighting as expected – no quarter given, none asked for. Our frontal assault gives way to attacking from above, and we soon breach the keep’s defenses. Inside, chaos and confusion reign. We encounter a pocket of defenders who put up a good fight, but we are able to come out on top. Even when we finally meet the mind flayer we are hunting, it is more relief than dread. We kill him, and the link with Nikola is finally severed!
The final
scenes of the battle played out rather dramatically: the party was worn down,
spells nearly exhausted, and still the Thayans fought on. Escape via teleport and similar means was
impossible, so the party would have to slink away and hope they could make a
break for it. Trapped in the heart of Thay, fighting Red Wizards, and keeping
watch on our drow “allies” is not the best of situations to be in. And then
came the dragon…
The ancient
red dragon was dead, felled in combat somewhere above the outposts. It plowed
into the keep, more or less shearing it in twain, burying the living and dead
under tons of rubble. Our stalwart adventurers were tossed around like dolls,
stunned and even trapped in the debris. Nikola found himself on the ground
outside the keep, thrown clear by fate or luck. As he rose, he sensed he was
not alone.
Also rising
from the carnage was none other than T’See Larak! The drow was gravely wounded,
missing one arm and suffering numerous cuts and gashes from head to foot. Even
in such a state, the drow still glowered at Nikola with sneering contempt.
“Come, weakling, let me send you to the lower planes. You have been seeking the
Red Sword, and now you have found it. Allow me to show you how it works.”
With that,
the two wounded combatants leapt at one another, eyes aglow with hate and fury.
Nikola’s two-handed attacks were turned aside by the drow, which only made the
ranger dig deeper into his resolve. “Your time is over, assassin.” said Nikola,
as he slowly wore down the wounded drow’s defenses. “You have been hunted down
and betrayed by your own kind. The Red Sword is mine!”
Nikola’s
thrusting feint with his short sword worked, and he sent the keen edge of his
longsword into the drow’s torso, skewering him just below the ribcage. The Red
Sword fell from T’See’s grasp, and thudded onto the charred earth as the dead
drow toppled over.
The party,
battered and exhausted, gathers itself up and seeks refuge inside the ruined
keep. Inside a wizard’s chamber, a portal is discovered. Garrity casts analyze portal and is able to activate
it. Escape is at hand! The adventurers make the leap, leaving behind both the
Thayans and the drow to finish what they started. I’m sure the Thayans will be
looking for some payback down the road, and I wouldn’t put it past the drow to
consider us loose ends that need to be tied up at some point. But for now, we
are safe and the Red Sword is ours! Or Nikola’s, as he is quick to point out.
All in all, a good time was had by everyone. For my son Frodo (aka the painting prodigy), it was his first time to hang out with us during a gaming session. I didn't know how he would do, honestly. I figured he would hang out for a few hours, eat some food, drink some pop, and eventually get bored. But he stayed the entire night! He ate some chili and cornbread, drank many root beers, and had a selection of chips and snacks to choose from. When he wasn't rolling dice for our DM or me, he read The Two Towers, watched TV, and eventually passed out in a comfy chair. When it was time to head home at oh-dark-hundred, he was good to go. Next time, I think he wants to play! We'll see what we can do about that.
Monday, February 11, 2013
More New Old Dragons
Superior Models FA-49
Superior Models WL-137 (?)
Superior Models FA-36
I was fortunate enough to pick up a new batch of old dragons recently. The lot in question caught my eye because it was heavy on Superior dragons, two of which I already have and two that are new to my collection. And then there was the dragon second from the right on the listing picture that sure looked like a Dragontooth D79 Large Dragon, but I wasn't 100% sure. Turns out I am now 100% sure. And for good measure there was a Grenadier Brass Dragon (2504 or 9303), as well as a sculpt that could possibly be a Minifigs Large Dragon from Auroela Rococo (it is stamped ARM 1 on the bottom, far right on the listing picture).
Dragontooth D79 Large Dragon
What I really was after was largest beast in the lot (second from left in the listing pic) that is FA-49 Tiamat, The Dragon. There were also two copies of FA-36 Puff the Dragon, and one I believe to be WL-137 Dragon with Crystal Ball on Treasure (even though it's sitting on a rock and not so much a treasure pile).
Minifigs Large Dragon (?) ARM-1
I'll have to snap some pics this week, but needless to say I am happy to have some cool new old dragons in hand and for only $10 each!
Grenadier Brass Dragon
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