Modern Miniatures and 3D Gaming For Campaigns
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While I enjoy a fantasy or sci-fi game as much as the next person, I’ve been looking into running a more modern based campaign lately. One of the issues I noticed with delving outside the realm of the more popular settings, like Dungeons & Dragons, Star Wars, or other big names, is that you start to realize how the overall game support just quite isn’t there. One of the issues I’ve noticed with running a modern campaign is that there seems to be less quality miniatures for the modern genre. I have yet to find a single source for all my modern campaign miniature needs. That led me to start searching around to find out just what is available for miniatures and 3D gaming in a modern campaign?
The first resource I found was Mega Miniatures. It is actually an eBay Store that sells 25mm miniatures for fantasy, futuristic, sci-fi, and modern settings. If you’re going to run a Spycraft or Modern d20 campaign, they definitely have some great miniature sets out there for a modern setting. Mega Miniatures also offers free 3D downloadable PDF scenery. It includes both 3D scenery and 2D playing templates, like roads for fantasy, modern, and sci-fi.
Click here to see Mega Miniatures free downloadable PDF game aids.
Modern Civilians from Mega Miniatures
Modern CIA Bureau from Mega Miniatures - Great for 'Men In Black' characters in a Spycraft campaign!
Modern Street Thugs from Mega Miniatures
If you’re looking for a one-stop shop for your modern miniatures, I would say that Mega Miniatures is a great place to start. Their products can be found through Alliance Game Distributors, which most local hobby stores are going to have an account with. Although you can buy their figurine groups at retailer stores, the individual miniatures are available only at their eBay Store.
Also, they also have teamed up with Two Hour Wargames and will be re-releasing “All Things Zombie” which is supported by more modern figures and modern scenery. Look for more modern miniatures and sets in the future from them.
Other Roleplaying Pro articles on Modern Miniatures:
Modern Miniature Research and Links - Over a dozen links to miniatures companies that offer modern miniatures
Modern Miniature Picture Inspiration- Picture inspiration from RAFM Miniatures and Games
Leave a Comment
February 24, 2009 at 7:49 am
I, too, have had a hard time finding support, figures, etc. for modern games. Do you know of any other sites/companies in addiiton to Mega Miniatures?
February 24, 2009 at 10:19 am
Those are kinda cool I might have to pick up a couple so I can always have something more specific to the players that I tend to play.
February 24, 2009 at 9:11 pm
Reaper has a very good new line of modern miniatures.
February 24, 2009 at 9:19 pm
You’re right, Mark. I hadn’t heard of them. Went to their site and they’ve got some pretty awesome stuff.
February 25, 2009 at 4:10 pm
Nice post. Proper figs and props make any game session better.
Talk about modern games got me thinking: Are “modern” games more susceptible to being dated? Take a classic PnP RPG like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles & Other Strangeness. Look at it now, and it is so 80’s.
Now, to be fair, would a Dungeons and Dragons or Sci-Fi book of the day feel similarly dated? Are they shielded somewhat by their deliberate attempts at de-familiarization? Or will the production capabilities of the time also give themselves away?
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February 25, 2009 at 5:25 pm
As far as the feel goes, it seems to me like different miniatures have different game ‘feels’. I don’t notice a time frame as much. Like I can tell what figures are created for a Warhammer 40k game, even though I’ve never played it. I can also tell, for the most part, which figures are created for a Dungeons & Dragons game.
However, I’ve noticed in my search for modern figures that they tend to be a little less game-specific. There are definitely some figures that feel dated to me though. Like I’ve seen some Call of Cthulhu figures that obviously fit into the 1900-1930 time period. So I guess you couldn’t use those as easily for your game set in 2000+ (if your players even care).
February 26, 2009 at 3:08 am
Just letting you know that this post has been included in this week’s round up of best miniature related blogging: Lead Bucket
February 26, 2009 at 3:11 am
Thanks, Chris! I have been doing a lot of research with miniature companies this week. I e-mailed well over a dozen companies about their products. I’m still waiting to hear back from some of them, but once I do I’ll have a pretty nice article coming up about it.
February 26, 2009 at 5:56 am
I’ve been recommending MegaMinis for awhile, glad to see some other love going his way. The Guthrie minis that he is licensed to produce are fantastic – I should post pics of the two I just finished. His work is always well done and he ships very fast.
He told me that with the economy and real life, things have slowed down, but he’s hoping to release new models soon. I keep bugging him for a set of henchmen/hirelings…
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July 26, 2009 at 2:38 pm
Ahaan… I will follow.
March 22, 2010 at 7:08 am
I;ve found that heroscape minis come in handy a lot and they are better quality than my DnD official minis.