Pathfinder Battles Preview: Spoiler Alert!

Friday, February 24, 2012

There's just no two ways about it. If you read through this Pathfinder Battles Rise of the Runelords preview, you're putting yourself at risk of some plot spoilers. If you plan to play through the campaign, I highly recommend that you do not look super-closely at the miniatures I'm revealing today, as they could spoil a couple of fun surprises in the Adventure Path.

Our new Rise of the Runelords Adventure Path Anniversary Edition hardcover is set to release this summer around the same time as the Rise of the Runelords miniatures set (still no specifics on release date or price for the miniatures, alas). The hardcover collects the entire classic first Pathfinder Adventure Path in a newly revised edition, with plenty of fun bells and whistles we'll be revealing over the next few months.

So a lot of people who have not yet had a chance to play the campaign will soon get that chance. If you think you'll be one of them, and you want to maintain your sense of surprise as long as possible, I suggest that you stop reading immediately.

Don't say I didn't warn you.

Spoilers Ahead!:

First up this week we have Aldern Foxglove, a local lord encountered by the player characters in the opening encounters of the campaign. Foxglove serves as an ally and patron to the heroes, and stars in some additional expanded encounters in the hardcover, written by James Jacobs, who introduced Aldern the first time way back in Pathfinder Adventure Path #1.

Aldern is one of many NPCs to receive a new illustration in the Anniversary Edition. In many cases, we ordered these new pieces of art specifically because we knew the character needed a miniature. In the original, we only ever saw an image of Aldern's face, so this time we wanted to make sure that we captured his entire body. I think this figure, a rare, also doubles nicely for any male noble, city dandy, or even a well-dressed bard player character.

And here we have the rare The Skinsaw Man, who for whatever reason seems to have gotten a hold of a familiar jacket. I won't say much more here, other than to mention that this figure has a long purple tongue you can't quite make out in the photo, and that the splattered blood effects bring me much personal joy and satisfaction.

A noble figure like Aldern Foxglove could really use a well-dressed woman at his side, and for these purposes we've included the cunning Lucrecia, also a rare figure. Lucrecia makes a great figure for any female noble, and she plays an important role in the middle part of the Rise of the Runelords campaign. Generally speaking, we try to limit specific characters to the rare rarity. While everyone can use a nice figure of a noblewoman holding a glass of wine, you don't really need a ton of them. Placing these specific figures at the higher rarity also gives our partners at WizKids the opportunity to layer on some really great detail, like the brocade work on Lucrecia's dress and the detail on her corset. Given how many folks liked the unarmed Human Druid from Heroes & Monsters as a townsfolk figure, I think a lot of people are going to get a kick out of Aldern Foxglove and Lucrecia!

And because every preview blog needs a good monster, here's the uncommon Lamia Matriarch. This Large snake-woman has multiple uses throughout the campaign, covering two major enemies in the first half of the Adventure Path. I don't include her in this blog for any other reason. None at all. Humm dee dummm dee dooo.


So! I hope you guys dig this latest batch of releases. They look great in hand, and I'm thrilled to have them in the set. By the time you read this, an agent of WizKids is already at the Paizo office, having delivered the very final miniatures for us to approve and photograph for future preview blogs.

That means the final details on the Rise of the Runelords set, such as price and official release date, must be just over the horizon!

Erik Mona
Publisher

More Paizo Blog.
Tags: Pathfinder Adventure Path Pathfinder Battles
Dark Archive

I've been spoiled AHHHHHH!!!
I just wanted to see the pic but too much info!!!

Anyway they look awesome, I'm waiting until the complete book comes out to play Rise of the Runelords but I'm DMing so I'm intact.


1 person marked this as a favorite.

Those minis are just so fricking awesome. The lami matriarch has me in total awe and nerdlove.


Yes, very awesome. Can't wait.

Grand Lodge

Completely awesome. Cant wait for this set to drop.

The Exchange

Hey Erik do you know if the pics of the minis are available under the CUP? Specifically, bullet point #4 suggests not since it says:

Community Use Policy wrote:
...You may not use any photographs published in the blog (because those rights are usually not ours to offer)...

I'd like to use some of these on Monster/NPC pages on the site but right now I don't think we legally can.

Thoughts?


Soooooo awesome


This preview is amazing.

I dont know if I can financially handle a case of this set. Im debating if I should or not and then a preview like this comes out and really pulls me in. Curse you!! :)

The male and female nobles are excellent peices. Shes even holding a goblet so could be a tavern wench stand-in.

Since there are spoilers in this set I'd like to take this time to suggest your next set should be Crimson Throne. Older adventure paths means less chance of spoiling things for most of us.

I just saw this preview and already am drooling for next week's. Bring on Mammy Graul!!!


The Foxgloves are great additions to the set. Other commoner type piece would be welcome as well. These kind of pieces have been sorely under represented in the past. I'm glad to see Pathfinder electing to provide pieces that might be used outside of strategic situations. They add nice flavor yo yhd game and help players keep the cast straight a little easier. This set keeps getting better.


Nice mini's my players just defeated Karzoug (version. 2.o)last night and these min bring back some really good adventures that we played over the course of a 15 months.

Good Job Paizo!

I'm only concerned about the cost and make up of the cases.

Silver Crusade

Great sculpts on all those. Glad to hear Aldern gets a update as far as art. While the original was nice it could have been improved.

RM

Paizo Employee Chief Creative Officer, Publisher

Lots of that going around in the hardcover version, often because we wanted really kickass images for minis!

Liberty's Edge Contributor

I'm so glad I subscribed to the minis line. You guys have, as usual, set the standard in the RPG industry. :D


3 people marked this as a favorite.

I just hope this minis line doesn't produce as much packaging trash as the first line did. >_>

Grand Lodge

*lift self off floor from passing out* Thank you! Thank you! I don't believe anyone has every made a weaponless noble and noblewoman miniature in PPM. These miniature are badly needed in our hobby. These will be very popular well beyond RotR, but essential in RotR. Thanks again Erik for your preview.

Later,

Mazra

Paizo Employee Chief Technical Officer

d20pfsrd.com wrote:

Hey Erik do you know if the pics of the minis are available under the CUP? Specifically, bullet point #4 suggests not since it says:

Community Use Policy wrote:
...You may not use any photographs published in the blog (because those rights are usually not ours to offer)...

I'd like to use some of these on Monster/NPC pages on the site but right now I don't think we legally can.

Thoughts?

We definitely own the rights for the standard Pathfinder Battles minis photos, so feel free to use them under the CUP. (We may or may not own full rights to photos of minis taken at conventions, as in this post, so this permission does not extend to those types of photos—just to the "studio"-type photos in the preview blogs.)

Liberty's Edge

Awesome sculpts, and the noble jacket detailing is OUT -frikkin-STANDING. Bravo!

BUT... I can't say as I'm digging the green+brown combo on Lucrecia's dress Erik. It's a fine sculpt, but those color choices are just ruining the impact of the model, imo.

Not sure what colors would be better -- but I know that this particular combo isn't the dress you're looking for. Maybe a nice ivory and pale blue? Something -- anything -- but this. (The bright orange hair and green is also close to clashing colors, too).

Paizo Employee Chief Creative Officer, Publisher

You know, it might be helpful if you and other preprinted minis fiends posted a list in a different thread of miniatures you'd like us to make to fill holes in your collection. Although I have a pretty good idea of what's already available, my knowledge is not exhaustive.

I keep meaning to sign up for the Plasticrypt forums, where I'm sure folks would be happy to provide that sort of feedback, but keeping it here at Paizo.com would make it more convenient for me to reference when planning sets.

For example, I'm about a week away from finalizing the preliminary list for the set after Rise of the Runelords, and I have a few open slots. I can always pick what _I_ want, but I'd love to hear a little more about what _you guys_ want.

Thanks!


Didn't read any of the text (cause of spoilers), but the minis look great!

"Normal" looking minis always were lacking in DDM, now I just hope to see more animal companions/familiars, and some furniture!


Erik Mona wrote:
I'm about a week away from finalizing the preliminary list for the set after Rise of the Runelords, and I have a few open slots. I can always pick what _I_ want, but I'd love to hear a little more about what _you guys_ want.

It would certainly help to know what's already in the set, but I guess that's not in keeping with Paizo's normal practices.

Paizo Employee Chief Creative Officer, Publisher

Yeah, that's not happening. And I probably won't be able to add anything specific to the next set. I'm just speaking generally. Sometimes I have holes and don't know exactly what to do with them. I frequently have to choose between one mini idea and another. A little more general feedback on what the audience wants would be most helpful in both cases.


Erik Mona wrote:

You know, it might be helpful if you and other preprinted minis fiends posted a list in a different thread of miniatures you'd like us to make to fill holes in your collection. Although I have a pretty good idea of what's already available, my knowledge is not exhaustive.

I keep meaning to sign up for the Plasticrypt forums, where I'm sure folks would be happy to provide that sort of feedback, but keeping it here at Paizo.com would make it more convenient for me to reference when planning sets.

For example, I'm about a week away from finalizing the preliminary list for the set after Rise of the Runelords, and I have a few open slots. I can always pick what _I_ want, but I'd love to hear a little more about what _you guys_ want.

Thanks!

Eric, you mean your not paying attention to the Wishlist? Or are you just asking for more people to use it? :)

Paizo Employee Chief Creative Officer, Publisher

I guess I am encouraging more people to use it, especially miniature fiends who have a really good idea of what isn't already out there from other companies.

But I'll take suggestions from anybody!

Grand Lodge

Erik Mona wrote:

I keep meaning to sign up for the Plasticrypt forums, where I'm sure folks would be happy to provide that sort of feedback, but keeping it here at Paizo.com would make it more convenient for me to reference when planning sets.

You just need to do what I do. You have your Paizo tab and your Plasticrypt tab always up in your browser. :)

I am sure you would be most welcome over at Plaisticrypt. There are some folks there passionate about their miniatures (myself included).

I have all but suspended my RotR campaign with side adventures in the hope of being able to use the new book and these wonderful miniatures sometime in the near future. And then, plan to run RotR again by year end at my FLGS.

Later,

Mazra

Grand Lodge

Steel_Wind wrote:


BUT... I can't say as I'm digging the green+brown combo on Lucrecia's dress Erik. It's a fine sculpt, but those color choices are just ruining the impact of the model, imo.

The miniature only looks like she fell right out of the artwork for Lucrecia in the Adventure Path. You may not like the color, but the miniature is Lucrecia. I am sure there will be many that will repaint her to ones personal taste. But if you are running RotR, you couldn't ask for better.

Later,

Mazra

Dark Archive

Steel_Wind wrote:
Awesome sculpts, and the noble jacket detailing is OUT -frikkin-STANDING. Bravo!

All of them are awesome! I love the lamia matriarch, and wish I had had her a year ago when I used one in my campaign! :)

Absolutely B R I L L I A N T job on those minis! Wow! Double bravo! :)


That is an exceptional rendition of a high-ranking contender in the top-5 TPK machines. Good job!


Eric, looking at the Lamia Matriarch mini made me wonder if all Pathfinder Battles mini's are going to be Rated 'G' (i.e. no nudity). I ask because with a mini like the Lamia I would almost expect that the breast would be bare or creatively covered with locks of hair in lieu of a bikini top.

It's not a big thing, I was just curious.

RPG Superstar 2010 Top 4

1 person marked this as a favorite.

Good monster choices? FROGHEMOTH.

(and if you're feeling generous, an Aboleth)


All of these minis are great! It's so nice to see minis that can be used as civilians/patrons!

Regards,

V

Dark Archive

Ok Erik from a guy who owns literally over 5000 DDM minis and have been collecting minis for over 10 years. Here are the top things I would like
NPC townsfolk- like minis are always a niche in need of filling when combat breaks in public we need representations so anything would be nice, even if it is just here and there.
Pathfinder exclusive monsters- Stuff from the bestiary that hasn't been made.
And for the heck of it I'll even go ahead and list what hasn't been made from the bestiary on a spoiler button for you.

Huge list:

** Means a close facsimile has already been produced but not the exact mini.
Bestiary 1:

Aboleth- While a large size one was produced many still wnat a proper huge size version
Astral Deva-**
Planetar-**
Solar-**
Animated objects- Some objects have been made but more would always be handy, and they can also dual function as dungeon decor.
Ant, Giant
Archon, Lantern
Assassin Vine
Azata, Ghaele-**
Basidirond
Bat swarm
Beetle, fire-**
Black Pudding-**
Boar
Boggard-**
Cat, Cheetah-**
Cat, Leopard-**
Cave fisher
Centipede swarm
Crab, Giant
Crab Swarm
Demon Nabasu-** (gargoyles can almost be replacements)
Derro- Has been made once before, but only once and never a pathfinder version
Dinosaur, Brachiosaurus
Dinosaur, Deinonychus
Dinosaur, Elasmosaurus
Dinosaur, Pteranodon
Dinosaur, Stegosaurus
Dinosaur, Tyrannosaurus- It was made as a mini in "Giants of legend" however it was fiendish and I personally would like to see a natural version and I Bet James Jacobs would too :P
Dog-**
Dog riding-**
Dolphin
Dolphin, Orca
Doppelganger
Dragon, Black- All sizes have been produced
Dragon, Blue- Medium is the only size not yet produced
Dragon, Green- Small and GARGANTUAN haven't been produced (seriously the gargantuan green dragon has been requested for years now)
Dragon, Red- Medium and gargantuan are the only sizes not produced
Dragon, White- Medium is the only size not produced
Dragon, Brass- small, huge, and gargantuan have never been produced
Dragon, bronze- medium, huge, and gargantuan have never been produced
Dragon, Copper- Gargantuan is the only size not produced
Dragon, Gold- small, gargantuan, and colossal are the only sizes not produced (And if you did produce a colossal or garagantuan gold I buy it in a heartbeat)
Dragon, Silver- small, medium, huge, and gargantuan have never been produced
Dragon Turtle
Eagle
Eel, Electric
Eel, Giant Moray
Elemental, Air- small**, and huge** have never been produced
Elemental, Earth- small**, and huge** have never been produced
Elemental, Fire- small** has never been produced
Elemental, Water- small, and huge have never been produced
Elephant
Elephant, Mastodon- ** (One with a frost giant rider was produced)
Familiars- All except the bat have never been produced
Frog, poison
Froghemoth- (often requested)
Genie, Janni
Genie, Shaitan
Golem, Wood
Gray ooze
Green Hag
**Skipped the templates**
Herd Animal, Aurochs
Herd Animal, Bison
Homonculus-**
Hyena, Dire
Invisible Stalker
Kraken- (Awesome idea for a mini though)
Lamia
Leech, Giant
Leech Swarm
Linnorm, Crag
Linnorm, Ice
Linnorm, Tarn
Lion-**
Lizard, Giant Frilled
Mephit- Dust, Magma**, ooze, salt, steam, and water haven't been produced
Merfolk
Mimic
Mite
Mohrg
Morlock
Naga, Guardian-**
Neothilid
Nightmare, Cauchemar
Nymph
Octopus
Octopus, Giant
Phase spider-**
Pheonix
Pixie
Purple Worm- (While one was produced as a miniature by DDM it was huge size and not the proper gargantuan size)
Retriever
Rhinoceros- (One was produced with an orc rider but not solo)
Rhinoceros, Woolly
Roc- (one was produced by DDM but again it was huge size and not the proper gargantuan size)
Sea Hag
Sea Serpent
Shadow, Greater
Shark
Shark, Dire
Shocker Lizard
Shoggoth
Skeletal Champion-**
Skum
Slug, Giant
Squid
Squid, Giant
Tarrasque- (OMG yes someday please!!!!)
Tengu- But DDM did produce Kenku minis that look nearly the same
Tiger-**
Vegepygmy
Violet Fungus
Wasp swarm
Wolverine-**
Wolverine' Dire
Worg-**
Yellow Musk Creeper
Yeth Hound

Also Erik I will start a thread in the miniatures section with this post and I will do the same type of list with the following bestiary for your reference. It should hopefully give you a good idea.

Dark Archive

And here is the Complete list for you Erik. Only took an hour and a half of work, and it should help you with any mini suggestions.

http://paizo.com/forums/dmtz5b4x?List-of-creatures-from-the-bestiaries-not- yet


Jeremy Mcgillan wrote:

And here is the Complete list for you Erik. Only took an hour and a half of work, and it should help you with any mini suggestions.

http://paizo.com/forums/dmtz5b4x?List-of-creatures-from-the-bestiaries-not- yet

Jeremy your link just takes me back to this blog I was really looking forward to your list. Thanks for the great effort that's really useful to me in my hunt for minis.

Paizo Employee Chief Creative Officer, Publisher

Jeremy Mcgillan wrote:

Ok Erik from a guy who owns literally over 5000 DDM minis and have been collecting minis for over 10 years. Here are the top things I would like

NPC townsfolk- like minis are always a niche in need of filling when combat breaks in public we need representations so anything would be nice, even if it is just here and there.
Pathfinder exclusive monsters- Stuff from the bestiary that hasn't been made.
And for the heck of it I'll even go ahead and list what hasn't been made from the bestiary on a spoiler button for you.

** spoiler omitted **...

That list is SUPER helpful. Thanks, Jeremy!

PS: Several of those are already in the works! :)


Wow! These are really fantastic. Better start saving the cash up now. :)

Shadow Lodge

Adventure Path Charter Subscriber; Pathfinder PF Special Edition Subscriber

Copied from my other post since my tech savvy doesn't extend to anything technological. Going over the AP's here are some I'd like to see, in order of non existant to already out there:

:

Skum! There are cetainly NONE of these in prepainted plastic. And since the art is so inspoiring I'd love to see these in plastic. All form CC4 - Zhab boath - the Skum on the cover, Iq'lothatua!

Aranea!but really only Akinasa from Forrest of spirits this would just look too awesome as a mini

Ettercaps - yeah there are two but there is certainly no WEAVERWORM - however use the art at the start of broken moon, not the art in the bestiary

A Decapus!The hidden beast form RolRL or Nindinzego form Brinewall legacy

The Emkrah from the Jackals price bestary

Almosy any Lovecraftian goodies but especially Dark Young of Shubniggurath, mi-go, a GUG!!!!!!, hound of Tindalos - especially if RotRL art is used

From the serpents skull Urdefhain,Morlocks any here as the art is universally good for both of these. The vegepygmy on p33 of City of seven spears, ain't no vegepygmies in plastic

Hobgoblins yeah there are plently but the initial ones were great and the later ones really suffered - especially the only female. Jade Regent, forrest of spirits, the hobgoblin on p32, the swine shogun, and really the sister of broken path on p41 - more FEMALES!

A flesh golem there are 2 out there but the faceless golems on 53 of the same volume or even the Kava Devil from Vaults of Madness would make for something unique that sets it apart from other flesh golems

There are a ton of vampires out there but given the great artwork would love to see minis of any of females since there are none of those available in plastic Lady Zunaida, Aisa Dublesse.

Gnolls and their beasts of war yeah there are lots of gnolls but Paizo could given them a unified look and add beasts (and I just like gnolls as basic monsters, much better than orcs after all) but really it's just the need for hyenadons and gnolls mounted on these that drives this.


In the land of HUGES - there is still no huge water elemental - a massive whole in the minis market - have all three other types but never this one. And Linorms, there are a ton of dragons out there, and thankfully almost one of each size category now, but this is really unique to Pathfinder (well the use is), and a huge or even gargantuan (?) would be great.

Mounted monsters. Yep, just basic monsters (orcs, gobbos, gnolls, ettercaps, hobgoblins etc on mounts) A great way to add variety to a group of monsters and some cool minis!
Female monsters are really lacking - just basic female goblins, orcs, giants(!), ghouls etc that kind of thing. This is the one I'd really like to see as a theme in the minis - females of the monster races.

Dark Archive

Vic Wertz wrote:
We definitely own the rights for the standard Pathfinder Battles minis photos, so feel free to use them under the CUP. (We may or may not own full rights to photos of minis taken at conventions, as in this post, so this permission does not extend to those types of photos—just to the "studio"-type photos in the preview blogs.)

Would it make sense to tag blogposts with "CUP" if they only contain images usable under the CUP? Or vice versa...


Mazra wrote:

*lift self off floor from passing out* Thank you! Thank you! I don't believe anyone has every made a weaponless noble and noblewoman miniature in PPM. These miniature are badly needed in our hobby. These will be very popular well beyond RotR, but essential in RotR. Thanks again Erik for your preview.

Later,

Mazra

+1

I routinely have need for noble figures and these will do the job perfectly!


I must say, a lot of the art in the original "Rise of the Runelords", while not bad, didn't really capture the characters very well (see Ameiko Kaijitsu's art in "Burnt Offerings" vs. "Jade Regent"). It's only natural, seeing as Pathfinder was still in its infancy.

If the rest of the revised art is this good, I'm pretty stoked. In particular I hope there's a new portrait of Tsuto Kaijitsu.


Excellent pieces. Two useful non-combatants and the Skinsaw Man is amazing.

My only concern is how many there will be in a case. What will a rare mean in RotR? In H&M, a case averaged 2 of each rare but only 2.55 of each common. Most cases had one rare with a quantity of 3 and one commmon with a quantity of 1. Will RotR be similar? Will it be possible to pull 3 rare Aldern Foxgloves but only 1 common Sinspawn?

Sovereign Court

Lamia looks sexy and malevolent. Well done.

Paizo Employee Chief Creative Officer, Publisher

Filby Pott wrote:

I must say, a lot of the art in the original "Rise of the Runelords", while not bad, didn't really capture the characters very well (see Ameiko Kaijitsu's art in "Burnt Offerings" vs. "Jade Regent"). It's only natural, seeing as Pathfinder was still in its infancy.

If the rest of the revised art is this good, I'm pretty stoked. In particular I hope there's a new portrait of Tsuto Kaijitsu.

There is.

Shadow Lodge

Adventure Path Charter Subscriber; Pathfinder PF Special Edition Subscriber

SO when do we see the goblins? Looking forward to these immensely! Given the three spoilers per preview I hope we get a goblin commando, goblin dog and commando on dog combo.

Dark Archive

I am running RotRL currently, just finished Stones over Sandpoint tonight,now I have to find a second group so I can run this AP again with all the cool new mini!!!


I love the Lamia Matriarch. Super psyched she is getting mini'd. I might just have to splurge and get a brick or two instead of buying individuals.

Sovereign Court RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8

Nevynxxx wrote:
Vic Wertz wrote:
We definitely own the rights for the standard Pathfinder Battles minis photos, so feel free to use them under the CUP. (We may or may not own full rights to photos of minis taken at conventions, as in this post, so this permission does not extend to those types of photos—just to the "studio"-type photos in the preview blogs.)
Would it make sense to tag blogposts with "CUP" if they only contain images usable under the CUP? Or vice versa...

[IaNaL]I'd think best practice (if our hosts choose to do so) would be to tag the image with CUP. Better to have the image be missing the tag and be intended to be CUP than to have the default be 'no tag = CUP'[/IaNaL]

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