SFG Epic Encounters

[Guyra]

Steamforged Games has just released their first two "Epic Encounters", and they're looking pretty cool!

The first is "Lair of the Red Dragon", and the second is "Shrine of the Kobold Queen". The first includes the dragon only, and the second includes 20 miniatures total(ie. the rest of the minis in the picture below). They're $50/€45 each.

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I really like the design of these, and SFG has got pretty good quality miniatures in my eyes. I think it's especially interesting that the kobolds have a very different design than other brands. They look even more like dragons than WotC/Wizkids kobolds. I think it's cool.

Oh, and the sets come with a gridded, double sided game mat(that could easily be used with D&D), as well as stuff like adventure book and other goodies.

America: https://store.steamforged.com/search?q=epic+encounters
Europe: https://store-eu.steamforged.com/collec ... encounters

I see that shipping to Norway is actually just €8, which is pretty good!

I want to get these immediately, but I just found out I have to pay for new tyres and some work on my car, so that's not happening.

[Guyra]

So, I haven't been able to get any of these yet, but there are some new Epic Encounters that have been released.

Hall of the Orc King

This set of frost themed orcs is pretty cool! $50 for 20 miniatures without too many duplicates isn't too bad. And I really like the orcs riding on polar bears!

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Caverns of the Frost Giant

I think this Frost Giant is about the size of 5e frost giants. It definitely looks like a really nice mini, and would be a good addition if you want more different sculpts of frost giants. However, I do think $40 is a bit much for a single, unpainted miniature like this.

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Village of the Goblin Chief

Here are a lot of cool goblins! Their designs look more like the Pathfinder goblins than the D&D ones, but I personally think that's a plus. There are goblins mounted on giant frogs, as well as a really cool goblin shaman looking dude, and a weird snail like creature. I think spending $50 on this would be well worth it.

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Swamp of the Hydra

Okay, so this looks like a really nice Hydra sculpt! I will say that the vines its slightly entangled in is a minus for me, and as with the other big Epic Encounter minis, the price is $40 - which, again, I feel is a bit high. It's a four legged hydra though, so that's a plus.

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[ksbsnowowl]

I’m really contemplating the orc set. Gallant Goblin’s review was the first I’d seen of them.

The goblin set, with giant frog riders, is pretty nifty, but I don’t really need any more goblins. Good for a new DM, though.

$40 for a (gargantuan?) unpainted hydra seems nuts. The recent Theros painted one was available for 2+ months at a few retailers for ~$45. I’m assuming it is gargantuan, as the red dragon was, but if the Frost Giant is just Huge, then maybe the hydra is, too. In that case, it’s even less worth it.

However, you have to remember that these sets aren’t just the mini’s. Each one also comes with a short 5e adventure, and a double sided battle mat (23” x 15”, IIRC). The artwork on the orc maps was fantastic.

Gallant Goblin just reviewed the Frost Giant boss set about an hour ago. He is indeed Gargantuan. This intrigues me, and increases the chance I might get it. Third Edition’s Deities & Demigods does have stats for Jotenheim Frost Giants, which are CR 20 Gargantuan demigods. This would be perfect for that.

[Guyra]

I’m really contemplating the orc set. Gallant Goblin’s review was the first I’d seen of them.

The goblin set, with giant frog riders, is pretty nifty, but I don’t really need any more goblins. Good for a new DM, though.

$40 for a (gargantuan?) unpainted hydra seems nuts. The recent Theros painted one was available for 2+ months at a few retailers for ~$45. I’m assuming it is gargantuan, as the red dragon was, but if the Frost Giant is just Huge, then maybe the hydra is, too. In that case, it’s even less worth it.

However, you have to remember that these sets aren’t just the mini’s. Each one also comes with a short 5e adventure, and a double sided battle mat (23” x 15”, IIRC). The artwork on the orc maps was fantastic.

I very much agree with you. And yeah, the adventure stuff in each might absolutely make them worth the money. Or at least weigh up for the prices some.

[ksbsnowowl]

See my edit, above. The Frost Giant is Gargantuan, and towers over the WizKids 5e Frost giants.

Here is GG’s review:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-5jXAX75XdE

[Guyra]

See my edit, above. The Frost Giant is Gargantuan, and towers over the WizKids 5e Frost giants.

Here is GG’s review:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-5jXAX75XdE

Whoa! He's a giant amongst giants!

[Brophy]

Thanks to the Gallant Goblin for the reviews, I love that Giant. $39.99 & $20 shipping though..FML
I can't do it for a single figure even though I want to use him to Kill the party in a bonus mission after they complete Rime.
GG - Can I borrow yours? (I'll pay for shipping) LOL

[Tesla84]

the goblin pack look nice i like the pathfinder gobelins. It is on of my favourite creature with their lore culture which made them disturbing and hilarious

[breegull]

Finally got around to watching the gallant goblin previews. These sets are pretty appealing! (At Gamenerdz and Miniature Market discounted prices.)

The orcs and goblins are great, and I appreciate the numerous female sculpts. And the oversized frost giant looks extremely fun to paint.

I don't see myself picking up the kobolds, red dragon, or hydra. But for those, I'd still be tempted to buy just the booklets, if someone sold them for cheap on the secondary market. The extra bits of lore and plot hooks seem neat.

[Brophy]

Thank you Breegull, now I can bypass the $20 shipping.

[Brophy]

Epic encounters frost giant arrived yesterday from gamenerdz. I haven't had the chance to open it up but I'm looking forward to painting him and building an adventure around him.

[bjornsundell]

Anyone had a look on the quality of the prints? I looked at the orcs and they did not live up to what I expected. Lacking in details. But I’m interested in the larger figures. Especially the hydra.

[ksbsnowowl]

Anyone had a look on the quality of the prints? I looked at the orcs and they did not live up to what I expected. Lacking in details. But I’m interested in the larger figures. Especially the hydra.

I did see another YouTube review, and the Orcs didn’t look as crisp as the ones Gallant Goblin showed.

Still waiting on mine to show up. It got caught in the dumpster fire that is the USPS at this point. Was picked up by the USPS on December 2nd. Last real tracking update was Dec 7th. I’m sure it’s at the bottom of a pile, in the corner of some distribution center, and I won’t see it until mid January.

I feel bad for the small businesses that are getting raked over the coals because the USPS is worthless. It’s not the sellers’ fault; I’m patient, I can wait. My biggest worry is shit getting damaged while it sits there in the warehouses.

[Kubla Kraus]

I received Halls of the Orc King today and have to agree with prior sentiment, they are a bit lacking in detail. The faces in particular seem to stand out the most but not in a great way. The features are smooth and fairly shallow, not sharp and well defined. Some models are better than others. It'll be interesting to see how they paint up.

One thing I hadn't noticed from watching the video is the base size of the medium orcs is slightly larger than 25mm. When placed on a 1-inch grid (including the map it comes with) there is noticeable overlap. It's not that big a deal for me personally but it might be for others, especially if you mix in orcs from DDM and Wizkids which are all on 25mm bases. Just something to consider.

[ksbsnowowl]

I realized the base size thing when rewatching Galant Goblin’s video, after I’d already preordered the sets. I really wish he would have called that out; that’s the sort of info that should be highlighted in a product review of mini’s made specifically for D&D...

Still waiting for my copy to move at all. My brother’s Christmas gift finally had a bit of movement show up on the tracking yesterday, after nothing since Dec 2nd, so I’m hopeful the logjam will clear out soon.