In a result that left me unsurprised, but genuinely delighted, Modiphius’ Terry Pratchett Discworld RPG has made a killing on Kickstarter, racking up nearly $1.4 million (£1 million), more than ten times its initial funding goal, in only three days. I’m unspeakably excited to play – but I confess I was a little disappointed to see no miniatures among the pile of enticing extra knick-knacks offered in the crowdfunder.
I know, I know, the Discworld RPG is emphatically not a game about combat or tactics; the rules are more concerned with the quality of your puns than anything approaching DnD stats, after all. There’s absolutely no in-game need for a map, a grid, minis, character tokens, or any other such board-gamey things – especially as positions in space and time can often get a bit… changeable on the Disc. A tiny Nanny Ogg is not required for Adventures in Ankh-Morpork to be – as I hope it will be – one of the best tabletop RPGs of recent years.
On the other hand, painting miniatures of our favorite characters is a joy that can really help folks get immersed in the world, even if they’re not technically needed for gameplay. Even for Dungeons and Dragons – a game which really does care about distances, areas, ranges, and tactical movement – minis aren’t actually required; but megabucks are still made selling them, because a) it can really enhance the experience for some groups and, most importantly, b) nerds like toys.
Modiphius knows this well, of course – it’s the firm behind Bethesda licensed miniature wargames like Fallout: Factions and The Elder Scrolls: Call to Arms – not to mention the new Mass Effect board game, whose nicely sculpted resin minis were lovely to paint. So, why no minis?
Well, I can’t speak to Modiphius’ future Discworld mini-making plans, but one reason I discovered only recently is that there’s already an official licensed range from Polish studio Micro Art, they’re delightful, and I’m in love.
Here are the top five Discworld RPG minis on my shopping list to get in the Pratchett groove:
The Luggage
First seen in The Colour of Magic, Twoflower’s Sapient Pearwood trunk, a.k.a The Luggage, is maybe the most recognizable, distinctive thing in the Discworld – a wooden chest with a mind of its own, trotting along on a forest of unnervingly human-looking legs. Absolutely essential mini.
The Librarian
A human wizard who, thanks to a mysterious arcane accident, is now also very much an orangutan, The Librarian is the jealous guardian of Ankh Morpork’s premier magic school, Unseen University (think Hogwarts meets Harvard, by way of Dr Frankenstein’s lab). Good-natured, but territorial about his books and bananas, he’s a Discworld icon.
Nanny Ogg
Undoubtedly the coolest of Pratchett’s Lancre coven of witches, Nanny Ogg is everyone’s plump, lovable grandma, usually drunk, always replete with kitchen table wisdom and adorable village sensibilities. Her cat Greebo is a stone cold killer who might be a demon. A couple of variants are available, but this version on broomstick, with bloomers, is the GOAT.
Death (and the Death of Rats)
One of the most prolific characters in the Discworld novels, Death is exactly who you think he is: the Grim Reaper, collector of departed souls, and generally very depressed about it. As befits his fame, you can get several variant minis of Death (including ‘on motorcycle’ and ‘with guitar’) but my favorite is the one paired with his rodent counterpart, the Death of Rats.
Detritus
The Ankh-Morpork City Watch’s first ever troll recruit, Detritus is a walking stone wall toting a siege ballista as if it were a crossbow. One of the best characters in the Watch novels led by the famous Captain Sam Vimes, Detritus could absolutely factor in your campaigns – just don’t get on his bad side.
If you’re keenly awaiting Adventures in Ankh-Morpork after pledging the Kickstarter, or still considering whether to go for it, you should also read our first impressions on the Discworld RPG quickstart, and check out the Discworld RPG species you can play (spoiler, it’s all of them).
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Source: Wargamer
