Reddit reviews SCS Direct Monster Mini Action Figure Playset- 100 Horror Toy Miniatures w 13 Unique Sculpts - Dracula, Frankenstein, Giant Spiders and More- XL 1/32nd Scale Character Accessories

https://www.amazon.com/SCS-Direct-Monster-Action-Figure/dp/B00W5WSN5A?ref_=fsclp_pl_dp_6

https://www.amazon.com/SCS-Direct-Fantasy-Creatures-Playset/dp/B0746TKNSL/ref=pd_aw_fbt_21_img_2/134-2850793-6105410?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B0746TKNSL&pd_rd_r=6799ca22-7e0c-11e9-aef3-91e0c1ba0bc6&pd_rd_w=IiMxG&pd_rd_wg=CySu9&pf_rd_p=3ecc74bd-d08f-44bd-96f3-d0c2b89f563a&pf_rd_r=6RKB88GN4DJ7TSQZZDGZ&psc=1&refRID=6RKB88GN4DJ7TSQZZDGZ

I got these two sets and don’t regret it. Multiples of each in two colors, they can be painted but it’s not the best material for it.

Ok, don't laugh too hard at me, but I got this "bucket of monsters" really cheap, and you'd be surprised at how many will work for D&D, especially if you paint them. It's 100 monsters for, like $18 bucks American.

Edit: This is a "fantasy creatures" bucket for $23.

I've bought a number of cheap non-D&D mini sets, like these. They're certainly not great, but sometimes you need quantity, rather than quality. They're about $0.18 USD apiece.

Get some collection like that, and go to town painting them. Make mistakes. Try stuff. It almost certainly won't be the same as painting a good plastic miniature, but you'll probably still learn from it. You may feel better approaching that fetching young lady with a brush when you're done.

(I do not work for the Big Bucket of Monsters people, and was not compensated for this post!) ;-)

There are these bucket of figures that are great, and super cheap for how many you get.

Monsters

Skeletons

Zombies

Knights

Dragons

And so on. Super cheap. Tons of figures, less than $20 for each set.

These tubes of minis are probably the best value: 90-100 minis for ~$20. They can give you a good base, and then you can purchase specific minis for more important characters (PCs, important NPCs, BBEGs, etc.)

Dwarves, Elves, Wizards, Orcs, Dragons, Unicorns, Skeletons, Fairies and Centaurs

Fiends, Flesh Golems (Frankenstein), Lizardfolk/Dragonborn (Godzilla), Mummies, Cyclops, Werewolves, Vampires, Zombies, Giant Spider, Giant Moths, Sahaugin (Creature from the Black Lagoon), gravestones

How about something like this? These guys are basically like army men, but they're all monsters.

Cheaper minis

Monsters

Skeleton Warriors

Zombies

The "frequently bought together" link was cool also: http://www.amazon.com/Monster-Action-Figure-Bucket-Frankenstein/dp/B00W5WSN5A

1. Reaper Bones ($3-$40) Good detail, relatively cheap price, always unpainted. Softer plastic that can have problems with deformation. Some classic D&D monsters (like beholders) cannot be found.
   
2. Wiz Kids painted minis ($15+). Whether in blind boxes or sets, you can find Wiz Kids stuff branded for D&D, Pathfinder, and D&D Attack Wing. The painting job is usually better than a novice painter, but not as good as someone with about 12+ hrs of practice at mini painting. They are rarely in single figure sets when you want to get just the right one for your wizard or whatever, and if they are then they're grossly overpriced.
   
3. Pathfinder Pawns ($20-$40). A super cheap and easy alternative to regular minis. They take up way less space, but are much less flashy than plastic minis. I've found about a 60-80% crossover between the pathfinder and D&D bestiaries represented in these boxes, therefore about 20 to 40% of the pawns from any given box will not be useful because there is not visually similar D&D monster for which they can stand-in. Similarly there are a number of D&D monsters that have no visually analogous representations in Pathfinder, so you will have to find different miniature options to represent them.
   
4. Wiz Kids Unpainted Minis ($5-$30). A relatively new addition to your miniatures options (previous unpainted minis were all rare limited edition ones). These have good detail (similar to Bones) but are stiffer and more durable than Bones minis (inconsistent reports indicate they may also be pre-primed). There are official designs that match the creatures and even poses of the monster manual beasties. In some cases there are figures with integrated transparent and opaque elements making it much more easy to paint that flaming hellhound or a readied fireball.
   
5. Pathfinder Arena of the Planeswalkers ($15-$30) This series of board games has between 20 and 40 minis per box, usually with 3-5 of them pre-painted. Sometimes the boxes can even be found on sale shelves for really cheap ($5-10) making them the cheapest price per plastic mini you can get. The quality is lacking compared to the other plastic minis, however. They are certainly passable, but they just don't have the same minute details as other minis, even gaudily pre-painted ones. Also the bases for these are made for a 1.25" hex, so they don't fit well on a 1" grid or hex that is common in D&D tactical play.
   
6. D&D Adventure System Board Games ($40-$60) These cooperative board games are great resources for DMs to pillage -- in addition to unpainted (but highly detailed) minis, each has a trove of useful dungeon tiles and various tokens that can be reused at the game table. Though some of the minis will deform in the packaging (bent outstretched swords, etc), the mold and plastic are all high quality. There are 5 sets released so far, each one containing 30-35 minis.
   
7. Other Miniature board games like Descent (~$70) have minitatures that can be raided fro use with D&D.
   
8. Miniatures not designed with gaming in mind... there's a lot of these out there with similarly varying quality and price.

Not D&D miniatures exactly, but really cool and fairly well-sculpted is the "Monster Action Figure Bucket" on Amazon.com. For $17.95 you get 100 figures, most of them 54mm scale and cast in a decent plastic. https://www.amazon.com/Monster-Action-Figure-Bucket-Frankenstein/dp/B00W5WSN5A/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1505817377&sr=8-14&keywords=monsters+toys There is a wolfman figure among them.

Like /u/Kalranya states. Some of the paint is drying before it hit the model.

While I'm not an expert, I've now used about a dozen different color primers from Army Painter and Citadel. While heat and humidity might have something to do with it...

In the end it has everything to do with how far you are from the model. Each can is different. On the same day I could be the exact same distance away, and one can will do it, while the other won't.

Short and moving bursts at 4"-6" (much closer than the cans seem to recommend) that's how I avoid it. At that range you really need short bursts and to keep moving. Otherwise you risk the other issue with spray primers, overspray and loosing detail.

I now start with a test the back of the model. If it's a touch grainy then I get even closer. If I'm overspraying it, then I need to backup. Alternatively, when I'm doing a special character or trying a new color primer. I will prime a throw away model first to see how the can is behaving. Somrthing like this https://www.amazon.com/Monster-Action-Figure-Bucket-Frankenstein/dp/B00W5WSN5A/
Allows you to do a quick pass before your important character models. Also makes good test swatches to see what the colored primer really looks like, and test the actual colors of your base layers or shades on a primed 3d model instead of a sheet of paper/pallet.

• "Bones" line miniatures look great and are rather cheap compared to metal but need painting.
  
• Toy stores - there are usually tubs of various animals and fantasy creatures/people that work well and come painted. Example from amazon
  
• Meeples - Buddy of mine started using them and really likes it. Despite the lack of exact replication of a critter you do have easily distinguishable characters
  
• Pathfinder Paws - lots of colored cardboard tokens with stands. Look decent, easy to carry, good price and though they may be for pathfinder they are just slightly different named/interpreted D&D monsters.
  
• bottle tops or cardboard tokens work fine. Lots of things online that let you print tokens and you can glue them to bits of cardboard or coins.
  
  I have crap tons of minis. TOO MANY to be honest, a couple hundred easily from the kickstarters I've backed. I also DM and really...they aren't helpful for anything other than tracking locations. When I'm really excited about one I just finished painting the biggest reaction I get is "ooo, nice job. Do I get to kill it?" so don't think that well made and painted minis are necessary. I paint them for my own enjoyment and to relax, not to make my games "better" because that doesn't happen.

Citadel paint is good, but expensive. If you're starting out and just learning, I would suggest going to a craft and art supplies store rather than a hobby shop.


Personally, I use a mismatch of Liquitex Professional for bright colors, flow aid, and matte medium, Vallejo for darker colors for details and mixing, and Citadel washes.


I'd also recommend grabbing something like this bucket of monsters to experiment on while you're learning the basics. That way, you can get a lot of reps in without breaking the bank. Green army men are a pretty solid choice, too.

My FLGS has bins of heroclix minis and other random crap for between 10 for a dollar and a couple bucks a piece. You could keep an eye on eBay and occasionally find decent things there, but you're probably going to be spending $100 plus (but you can get a great deal of hundreds of minis).

If you don't really care about size, quality, or color, this tube on Amazon (along with several others like it) are great deals. Drop down some nail polish so you can say "I attack the green one!" and you're golden. My group is still working off a lot of these guys.

It came from this set. SCS Direct Monster Action Figure Bucket - Big Bucket of 100 Horror Toy Figures - from Dracula to Frankenstein to Giant Spiders- Perfect for Cake Toppers, Halloween Party Favors, Decorations https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00W5WSN5A/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_pBILDbDG1DAP9

If you're looking for affordable, I've got a few suggestions.

https://www.amazon.com/Monster-Action-Figure-Bucket-Frankenstein/dp/B00W5WSN5A

I got a few buckets of plastic toys off amazon that are cheap, are the right sized for a 1 inch grid and can cover a lot of ground.

Monsters:

https://www.amazon.com/Monster-Action-Figure-Bucket-Frankenstein/dp/B00W5WSN5A/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1469651031&sr=8-6&keywords=dnd+mini

Knights, solders, guards

https://www.amazon.com/Toysmith-36-Piece-Guardian-Knights-Action/dp/B000YA7FS6/ref=pd_bxgy_21_img_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=JMBZKP2E432YT1YA7WX4

Zombies, skeletons


https://www.amazon.com/Zombie-Action-Figures-Bucket-Zombies/dp/B00KBHVSTY/ref=pd_sim_21_13?ie=UTF8&dpID=51OXKuC6MBL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&psc=1&refRID=P3JXHNFM1GDFBDY967CY

I wanted to mention the figure is from the Monster Action Figure Bucket I purchase on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00W5WSN5A/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) for the sole purpose of having figures I could practice on cheaply. They are extremely cheap with mold lines all over but perfect for getting back into painting. If anyone has any tips on inexpensive minis which are perfect for practice, please let me know.

Go dirt cheap.

Skeletons
Zombies
Monsters

Then just do some reaper bones or wizkids for "feature characters" and upgrade as you go along. Unfortunately good minis are almost always expensive. Finding an E-Bay score is always an option.

I used these when I first started DMing, not really all to scale but close enough and super cheap for a bunch of minis.

Bucket of fantasy miniatures

Bucket of monsters

Bucket of mythical

Bucket of knights

I just remembered Amazon also has bucket o' minis like this. Are they to 28mm scale? Usually not, but the kids can paint them to their hearts desire and after you seal the paint in they can take them home with them. Don't have to face wee little tykes running off with a 5$ mini or losing them in couch cushions.

I would say to pick up a few things. Just starting out, and if you've got the money I would recommend this stuff if you want to do a full homebrew story:

[Minis](
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00W5WSN5A/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A1B7M9EQGNCLQA&psc=1) - You need creatures for your game, and while minis can be expensive I see these as being a good start.


Of course the rulebook.


Monster Manuel. Just flipping through it will give you ideas for encounters.


Erasable Grid Tileset - great for anything, from dungeons to wilderness. I would predraw before your session.


[Dice!](
https://www.amazon.com/Kuuqa-Polyhedral-Complete-Dungeons-Dragons/dp/B01MF5G9DY/ref=sr_1_7?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1517791222&sr=1-7&keywords=D%26D+dice) Enough for all your adventurers and yourself.


The books can be expensive, so if you're looking for a PDF version of anything really check here.

Minis get expensive quickly. Reaper is probably most popular mini store (although their website is atrocious). Depending on your campaign, you can get some stuff like skeletons or zombies minis in toy packs for much cheaper.

https://www.amazon.com/Piece-Army-Skeleton-Warriors-Ready/dp/B00IDBZPIU

https://www.amazon.com/Monster-Action-Figure-Bucket-Frankenstein/dp/B00W5WSN5A/

https://www.amazon.com/True-Heroes-Mythical-Warriors-Bucket/dp/B00MW7JH0I/

For specific heros or villians you might have to break down and buy a fancy custom mini just for it.

For my game I use lego people for players and paper minis for other baddies. But I've seen lots of other options. I had bought an old copy of Hero Quest at goodwill and that came with some good minis and some furniture. I had also found a large bucket of monsters on amazon, which was pretty handy.

There's lots of tutorials on how to make your paper minis look cool and professional. Photoshop's your friend there, and a nice printer. The paper minis are nice because now the players can easily see what the creature looks like, rather than me try to describe without using its race, thus giving away info.

The lego minifigures are easily customizable and I can make them hold books and swords, etc. They're slightly larger than 1 inch squares though, which can get a bit annoying in smaller spaces when they're all together. I'm considering just making the players in hero forge and getting them printed. It's a bit expensive, but considering they're the minis you see the most and I'm running a longer campaign, it's probably worth it if you can swing that.

Well unfortunately not many places sell bulk generic minis like that but there is this.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00W5WSN5A/ref=s9u_simh_gw_i3?ie=UTF8&fpl=fresh&pd_rd_i=B00W5WSN5A&pd_rd_r=b89dcdbb-d33b-11e7-9821-4b13dd402765&pd_rd_w=0OTdK&pd_rd_wg=jjcsV&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=&pf_rd_r=QK0HM00CSQV9G0PQGEPR&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=0d036f2a-db56-478a-b511-f59f2469d474&pf_rd_i=desktop

I don't believe that it is what you're looking for though but they have various other versions of these but i doubt they have a goblin version.

Reaper Miniatures does sell 6 goblins miniatures for about 3.50 so you could get 10 sets of those and have 60 goblins. All unpainted.

If you are looking for PC minis, you'll be hard pressed to stick to that budget, but there are also great sets of cheap monsters if you look around. These guys as a good general set that I have. You can also check out Pathfinder Pawns that are real great and get a lot of use at my table.

Also, if the go the pawns route, start with a bigger box like the bestiary. Some of the smaller sets don't come with bases.

I've seen "army men" variants pitched in the past but haven't tried it yet.

EX:

• Knights https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000YA7FS6/
  
• Hammer Horror https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00W5WSN5A/
  
• Skelingtons https://www.amazon.com/Piece-Army-Skeleton-Warriors-Ready/
  
• Zombies https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KBHVSTY/
  
• Fantasy Creatures https://www.amazon.com/SCS-Direct-Fantasy-Creatures-Playset/

for super cheap - anything lying around

if you got access to a printer - binder clips and random pictures you find on google

This and the few others like it. if you got some money.
https://www.amazon.com/Monster-Action-Figure-Bucket-Frankenstein/dp/B00W5WSN5A/ref=br_lf_m_za9uwymsy2m8j2a_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&s=toys-and-games

Amazon has a few bulk cheap options, like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Monster-Action-Figure-Bucket-Frankenstein/dp/B00W5WSN5A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1523683422&sr=8-1&keywords=miniatures

It isn't great and doesnt have NPCs, characters, or stranger enemies, but they make decent enough proxies for standard baddies. IMO if you have one of these, pick up a couple decent minis from Reaper for bosses, and have PCs buy and use their own figs for their characters, you can definitely scrape by.

You also might want to look out for reaper bones kickstarters. It's a really good way to get a ton of bulk by getting their base sets. It's still pricey, but you shell out a couple hundred and get enough variety in models to handle most encounters and plenty of characters for PCs to pick for playing. Totally worth it if you are trying to get a decent collection of 3d minis.

There are several mixed sets on Amazon. Just a few:

Monsters
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00W5WSN5A/

Fantasy
https://www.amazon.com/TimMee-Legendary-BATTLE-Fantasy-Figures/dp/B00FQIJEO4/

Skeletons
https://www.amazon.com/B00IDBZPIU/

Mythical Warriors
https://www.amazon.com/True-Heroes-Mythical-Warriors-Bucket/dp/B00MW7JH0I/

eBay has a lot too. Search for plastic toy knights, ninjas, monsters, etc. Dollar Stores also carry baggies of cheap toys.

Most of the battle mats I've seen are wet erase, and dry erase markers tend to stain them. If you want to use dry erase, I'd just get a basic whiteboard (which I did).

Figures can be kinda expensive, especially if you're looking for a lot of them. Back in the old days, we used to play with spare dice and coins. Each player tosses in a die they aren't using to represent themselves (easier to recognize the d12 that looks like the d20 you're rolling) and the DM either uses a bunch of random spare dice or pennies or something for the baddies.

If you really want to get into minis though, I'd suggest picking up things like this. They aren't "regulation" size or whatever. But they are cheaper than the real things. Considering you can buy this tube of 100 for the price of a single Reaper mini.

Or there are kits for some of the other games like Pathfinder, which is really just a generic store brand of 3.5e and the tokens work just fine.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00W5WSN5A?psc=1 is a solid pack of monsters.