Best of the Best (Harbinger)

[shamurai7]

Blooper reel-wight. Oh man! This guy looks so stupid. I have never used him because he just looks like an undead superhero with his colors and cape. I have 1 for completion's sake, but man..he is bad.

I have to agree. I was torn about having to keep him in my collection as a completionist, because it meant I had to acknowledge he existed.

So, Shamurai7, you couldn’t come up with one mini in the set tat is your favorite?

I think, given my current collection, if i had to sacrifice them all but one I'd keep the wolf skeleton.
There are good options for all the others.

[deadsmurf]

One of my favourites from the set is the Umber Hulk - it's a simple but effective sculpt, and nothing special in the paints, but it totally holds up anyway, and is a very iconic D&D monster.

[Lotzakroqin]

I would have to say the wraith. Even now this is my general go to mini.

A close second would be the wolf skeleton, as said by others there is no similar mini that’s been released that replaces it. I use these a fair bit, great alternative to the classic human skeleton.

I will say A
at o e point I would have easily said the best was the bearded devil a lot, it stood up against every alternative produced since admirably and was arguably one of the best devils produced (much like the angelfire barbed devil that’s still irreplaceable, although the recent Avernus ones are up there). However my go to is now the deadly foes mini. Yeah you could argue the colour palette is a little monotone, but it’s a great bearded devil.

In terms of PCs/NPCs I still find myself using the Cleric of Order, Human Blackguard and Human Thug a lot - even if the blackguard is a little small. Three very nice humanoids.

Let’s get the next one up, the early D&D sets were really good with many excellent minis.

[arbados]

Nothing shocking with my pic but it's got to be the Wolf Skeleton. I'd say the Mind Flayer is a close 2nd, but the Wolf Skeleton is one of a kind and something which adds great diversity to the undead ranks.

What would be really cool if we kept numbers on the votes to see which creature wins, shows and places for each set!

wolf-skeleton[1].jpg (147.85 KiB) Viewed 4891 times

[berk the black]

I’m quite fond of my Drow collection. There have been some great offerings, and Harbinger gave us three wonderful minis in the set, which still stand strong against later offerings. Normally, I would be tempted to get multiples of a great mini like the Drow Priestess of Lolth, but she is in great company with a couple other priestesses. I think I have the least number of duplicates in my drow collection because we have such a variety to choose from that there isn’t then need for that many repeats.

Drow Cleric of Lolth, Harbinger #61


Left to Right
Yochlol Tempter, Legendary Evils #40
Drow Arachnomancer, Underdark #46
Drow Cleric of Lolth, Harbinger #61
Drow Spider Priestess, Desert of Desolation #47
Yochlol, Storm King’s Thunder #12

I do love the Harbinger Umber Hulk, but the Umber Hulk Delver beat him out in my book. The Harbinger mini is a little smaller, and the Desert of Desolation one seems to match with the Shadow Hulk well (at least with a little customization) giving him a Truly Horrid cousin.

Umber Hulk, Harbinger #78


Left to Right
Umber Hulk, Sting of Lolth
Umber Hulk Delver, Desert of Desolation #57
Umber Hulk, Harbinger #78
Umber Hulk, Monster Menagerie #42
Shadow Hulk, Against the Giants #29


Shadow Hulks repainted as Truly Horrid Umber Hulks


Wolf Skeleton x 3, Harbinger #57

[English Wizard]

Morning from the other side of the pond.

Interesting question and good topics. Glad to see we have a section per release.

Loved Harbinger.
I was a staunch metallist.
From 1980 when I started playing, characters, monsters, scenery you name it I bought it, in metal. Then, from seemingly nowhere comes cheap, pre-painted boxes of goodness. Be still my beating heart.
My wife used to get 'miffed' on the amount I spent on metal figures; now I have to hide the amount I spend on PPM. Hey ho.

So Harbinger (the herald of things to come!!!)
As has been mentioned before, the orcs, drow & human 'sandbags' were extremely useful (and still are).
Some were good to get in (cheapish) plastic - I'm looking at you Shambling mound, Owlbear & elementals.
But what got me excited were the miniatures that hadn't been done in metal (or done badly). Shout outs to Felldrake, Barghest and the Displacer beast.

Finally, I fell in love with some of these figures. It's difficult to explain why one loves something, a bit like describing the smell of the number 12. So I won't bother.

My top 3

3) Didn't have any of these. These allowed me to run the 'Shrine of the Kuo Toa' properly!!!!

kuo-toa.jpg (116.91 KiB) Viewed 4875 times

2) A proper, scary Illithid - Wahay!!!!

mind-flayer.jpg (117.99 KiB) Viewed 4875 times

1) Yup, I know. Badly painted, just a lump of plastic, no definition - What can I say, I've dated better but I just fell for this one! Used him time and time again. Still do as 'grunt troops' with the additions of the newer ones.

azer-raider.jpg (161.85 KiB) Viewed 4875 times

And that folks is my twopenneth on the Harbinger front.

Cheers

[Yack]

The Orcs are gold in this set but my favs are a tie between the Displacer Beast (still my fav sculpt) and the Ogre (I love the look of this guy).

[Rotolord]

What a lovely post!

My favourite one is the super common, super useful, super beautiful Skeleton. No other Skeleton mini captures that feeling of an old, forgotten soldier in a lost dungeon. Love it.

[Chordof3]

What a lovely post!

I am super happy you all are liking these. I was hoping for them to give new collectors a reference as to why they may want to collect certain minis. But, I love how everyone has their own reasons for collecting. It is not always about a perfect sculpt or a perfect paint job! To me, that is fantastic!

[Infernalslayer]

1) Wraith, because of the Lord of the Rings vibe it has.

2)Mind Flayer, looks good for its time and wears the classic villain robe that makes illithids look more menacing.

3)Wolf Skeleton. I had the metal chainmail versions and this plastic one is a very good sculpt for its age.

Honorable mentions:
The zombie, very simple miniature whose design makes clear that it is a reanimated corpse even at table distance.
Certain modern undead miniatures luck that element like the recent Revenant from the Icons of the Realms.

The Minotaur, if i had to choose a favorite from the larges.

[coyotee]

Looking back I should have voted for the wolf skeleton. Almost 20 years and they have not done another. Such a great mini to have.

Surprised the Human Wanderer is not more popular. That mini gets used more by my PCs than any other I have.

The wraith I hated at first. But then I saw the picture posted of all the other wraiths....the Harbinger wraith is most accurate as to how I picture them, and only one with a sword. Clearly modeled of the Lord of the Rings wraiths.

Disappointed in the Lidda mold for a named character. Wild elf barbarian got much better pose/mold.

Trog Zombie - Cant tell if horribly accurate, or just horrible.

[Freedeath]

Very fond of the Minotaur. The Owlbear, Umber Hulk, Orc Berserker & Cleric of Gruumsh are pretty nifty, too.

[Marco]

1. Wolf Skeleton - such a great mini and with a removable collar.
I have six i think and yet to use them in a low-level adventure in a Resident Evil inspired house.

2. Tordek, Dwarf Fighter - this still holds up as the classic dwarf mini with Shield & axe.

3. Jozan, Cleric of Pelor - with the sun Symbol on the Shield & the mace this is a great good cleric.

Honorable Mention: 72-75: Orc Archer, Berserker, Spearfighter & Warrior allow for the construction of the first warband of very basic monstrous enemies!

[Yack]

You know what I should have said Jozan, Cleric of Pelor !

He is my go to cleric. He screams classic cleric (also its my fav class since AD&D).

I have a bunch of him even custom painted for certain realm faiths.

[Marco]

You know what I should have said Jozan, Cleric of Pelor !

He is my go to cleric. He screams classic cleric (also its my fav class since AD&D).

I have a bunch of him even custom painted for certain realm faiths.

Yeah, it doesn't get more classic cleric than Jozan.
I love this guy.
I would be very interested in seeing your custom paintjobs, can you post some pictures?