A YouTube video with the D&D Miniatures discussion is up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVxklvYdhvM

At least one thing on that set list is wrong, as there are 25 uncommons listed there and only 23 rares. My guess is for either the Hook Horror or the Ice Archon.

I guess we still wait for more information.

Adam

Thousandsofminis said:
At least one thing on that set list is wrong, as there are 25 uncommons listed there and only 23 rares. My guess is for either the Hook Horror or the Ice Archon.

I guess we still wait for more information.

Adam

Thanks Adam - it was the Bralani that was mislabeled. I was as surprised as you to find out that the hook horror was uncommon.

Thats really kind of odd that the dragonborn are the new 4th edtition core race, and arent represented in the set. Overall a great set list, and from what I can tell, they stepped up their game on the sculpts.

Kyrin said:

Runelord151 said:
Note on my above post - 24 R, 24 UC, 12 C.....only 1 rare is a PC.

That folks, is making me very excited about this set. I can effectively pull a useful monster as my rare in almost every random booster I pick.

Good job WotC!

I'm not sure why that's good. I'd rather be pulling useful monsters as uncommons. I get more of them that way. I wish more rares were PC types.

JIM
aka kyrin

Well - there are all of 8 uncommons that are PCs, leaving 16 monster types there and only 1 (2? what is an iron defender?) commons that are PC types.

With 80% of the set being monsters I'm very glad.

I always feel cheated when the rares are half monsters, half PCs and for some reason I just pulled my 6th Ulmo.... I just like the trend overall of having more 'highly usable' monster minis. (And I know, that's not everyones preference, but it sure does make me happy!)

I agree that it can make getting that certain monster harder to get, when it is slotted into a rare position just for the sake of having 20+ rare monsters in a set. I hope this would be fixed by WotC looking ahead in parallel with DDM2 and 4E so the casual buyer doesn't have to feel the need to hunt down more than 2 or 3 of any rare figure.

Having just gotten home (I live 20 minutes away), I can say that the minis in DoD2 look awesome.
I'm not crazy about some things (yet another red dragon; the colors on the hook horror) but overall it's looking good.
I get a shot at the pre-release tomorrow (today was just league for me).

Kyrin said:
I’m not sure why that’s good. I’d rather be pulling useful monsters as uncommons. I get more of them that way. I wish more rares were PC types.

/sigh

And yet, when they put PC types in the rare slot, people complain that they’re pulling yet another “crap rare”.

ktatroe said:
bq. *Kyrin said:*
I'm not sure why that's good. I'd rather be pulling useful monsters as uncommons. I get more of them that way. I wish more rares were PC types.

/sigh

And yet, when they put PC types in the rare slot, people complain that they're pulling yet another "crap rare".

There are monsters that make great rares: dragons, beholders, mind flayers, unique undead (death knights, liches, vampires), powerful fiends and celestials, and so on. Generally, anything you'd usually encounter only one of, and you want the mini to look awesome.

The set sounds promising, but I will need to see clear pictures of most of the pieces in order to make a final judgment. The minis previewed so far were mostly crappy...

CorimDanex said:
There’s just more PC types than we need in each set. If there were fewer PC types, then they could have more UC and R monsters

There’s 50 monster slots, and a mere 10 PC slots* in this starter set! How many more monsters would they have to put in to make it right?!

*Dwarf Warlord; Cleric of Pelor; Halfling Paladin; Elf Archer; Dwarf Shieldmaiden; Human Fighter; Everfrost Ranger; Emerald Orb Wizard; Tiefling Warlock; and Warforged Infiltrator.

ktatroe said:
There's 50 monster slots, and a mere 10 PC slots* in this _starter set_! How many more monsters would they have to put in to make it right?!

At least 100, and preferably Over nine thousannnnd!

More seriously, I actually wish more 'PC Types' were present. A 40 monsters, 20 PCs thing would do alright by me. Or even 35 monsters, 15 PCs, and 5 NPC/filler types.

New pictures are up in the XP picture thread
http://www.hordelings.com/forums/postView.php?post_id=133092&viewPage=0#133233

Including better pics of the Hook Horror, Wyvern, Griffon, Minotaur, and Red Dragon.

Also - the 2.0 Stat card for the large white dragon can be perused.

This is speculation from me looking at this picture: Large White Dragon card taken from Here.

Faction: Wild

Lv 4
AC 18
Def 14
Speed F6
HP 90

Bite: +10 vs AC, 10 + 10 Cold Damage
[ ] Frost Breath (large cone): +8 vs Def (fort) 20 Cold Damage RECHARGE when first bloodied

[ ] [ ] Mauling Bite: Make 2 attacks vs same target, if both hit, make a attack against another target within reach.

Abilities:
Dragon
Flight, Reach 2
+4 Def (fort)
Resist 15 Cold

Champion 1
• Use at start of the round. For the rest of the round, a target that takes cold damage is also Immobilized until end of its next turn

• Use before taking your first turn of the round. If this creature destroys 1 or more creatures during this round, score +15 VP

Great pics, thanks Runelord! Got much better view to many figs!

About PC figs, there's also the starter figs, and there's some that MIGHT work (no idea yet) - what does Defiant Rake look like, or Duelist, or Spectral Magelord (Hm, this might be clear but would work for invisible?)

I have some time, so you guys get some stats. (I played in the pre-release yesterday and after having a strong 5-0 start I ended up coming in fifth at 5-2):

Bulette (59)
Underdark/Wilderness
Lvl: 9 AC: 27 Def: 22 Speed: 6 HP: 90
Attack:
(M) Bite: +14 vs. AC; 20 Damage
D Earthcrest: IF this creatures moves at least 3 squares from its starting position using borrow, at the end of its move, attack all targets within 2 squares, +15 vs. AC; 20 Damage
Abilities:
Beast
Burrow
+4 Def (Fort)

Eye of Flame (61)
Borderlands/Underdark
Lvl: 13 AC: 26 Def: 26 Speed: F5 HP: 90
Attack:
(M) Bite: +16 vs. AC; 10 Damage
D Cinder Cone (large cone): +15 vs. Def (Ref); 20 fire Damage, 10 fire Damage on a miss
R Eyes Rays (range 8): Any 2 of the following on different targets.
Fear: +13 vs. Def (Will); target immediately moves its Speed away from this creature AND gets -2 Attack against Beholders (Fear, -2)
Flame: +15 vs. Def (Ref); 25 fire Damage
Telekinesis: +13 vs. Def (Fort); 15 Damage AND slide target up to 4 squares

Abilities:
Evil*Beholder
Fly

Special Powers:
[]Eye Ray Frenzy; Use once bloodied; 3 attacks with Eye Rays instead of 2.
Firestarter: Alliges get +2 Attack with attacks that deal fire damage.

Can somone at XP ask if the "resculpts" can be subbed with the originals of the exact same anme?

IE: I'd like to be able to use both sculpts of the hook horror, or of the death knight, etc. etc.

There's about 25% of the set in re-sculpts.

Inquiring minds want to know!

Rakshasa Baron (75)
Civilized
Lvl: 14 AC: 28 Def: 23 Speed: 7 HP: 85
Attack:
(M) Claw: +21 vs. AC; 15 Damage
R Mind Thrust (range 20): +19 vs. Def (Will); 20 Damage and Staggered
[]A Thundering Phantom: (range 10, radius 1) +17 vs. Def (Will); 20 psychic Damage OR Stunned
Abilities:
Evil*Rakshasa*Arcane*Mastermind
+4 DEF (Will)
Special Powers:
Desperate Displacement: When first bloodied this creature gets Conceal 11 until an attack damages it.
Champion 3
*Use when an Evil ally attacks. That ally has combat advantage against its target.
*Use during this Champion's turn. Recharge an ally's rechargeable power.

lingster said:
Can somone at XP ask if the "resculpts" can be subbed with the originals of the exact same anme?

IE: I'd like to be able to use both sculpts of the hook horror, or of the death knight, etc. etc.

There's about 25% of the set in re-sculpts.

Inquiring minds want to know!

According to DoB, it's been declared that old figs cannot be subbed for new figures.

Username said:

Runelord151 said:
More pictures will be available in the morning. Discuss!

Yay!!!

Really looking forward to some clear close ups!

*whimper*

Need... closeup... pics....

Must... see... miniatures...

Agh!

*makes puppy dog eyes*

Please sirs, can we have some more (steady closeups)?

Pics of stuff you got in the pre-release would be great. Pics of the case would be good too.

For stuff you got at the pre-release, try:
* Setting your point & shoot camera on Macro mode or super macro
* Putting your camera on a book or magazine and angling it so you have the miniature in frame
* Setting the 2-second timer on your camera
* Taking the picture hands-off, without flash

For the display case, try:
* Stealing a chair
* Putting a large box or similarly steady object(s) on the chair
* Putting your camera on top of the box
* 2 second timer, no flash
* Snap the shot

You can also set your point & shoot on Manual or Tv (shutter priority) in most cases and take the shot at a shutter speed of 1/60 or higher, but the shot might be dark. Slower than 1/60 will be blurry.

Get us the goods get us the goods get us the goods!

And thanks to everyone who's posting info. Hot stuff!