Hero Forge - Custom-Order Miniatures

Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you:

No adverts like this in the forums anymore.
Times and dates in your local timezone.
Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance.
Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely.
Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net.

If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

**redstripe**

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/heroforge/customizable-3d-printed-tabletop-miniatures

This Kickstarter aims to publish a website where you can design a hero from a wide assortment of weapons, armor, equipment, races, and poses and then order a 3D printed version in a variety of scales.

(I am not associated with this company or kickstarter, just thought it was really interesting.)

**weeble1000**

I think the technology might just be a LITTLE behind what you'd need with a service like this to make miniature gamers happy. Still, it is a really cool idea. It just seems to me that the resolution being printed at is a touch grainy for a 28mm model with that level of detail. At least that seemed to be the case from the photos on the Kickstarter. The panted models in the video were spinning quickly, and the quality of the paint jobs wasn't great, but setting that aside it seemed that the texture of the printed models really came out in the painted miniatures.

**Joyboozer**

I hope theres an option to give scfi females three boobs!
I might actually give this a go. It's like SoulCaliber with miniatures!

Nah, stuff it. Shipping is too high for what you're buying. Why not just have an Alpha software access pledge?

**redstripe**

Looks like they're doing pretty well, a third of the way to their goal on the first couple days.

**Scrub**

I can only imagine that this is what the future will hold for the hobby within the next decade, where more and more companies are able to offer mass production for this type of service.
Within two decades? We'll probably be buying digital files straight from talented sculptors to print at home or buying a program that allows you to construct your own miniature from a vast swathe of prefab options.

It's certainly a very inspiring incentive to work on developing some skills for programs like zbrush, 3ds Max and Maya.

**Yodhrin**

Looks great, and frosted ultra-detail quality prints just about work out at wargaming scales.

However, there is no way in hell they're getting $20 out of me to ship a single solitary model, that's highway robbery, either by them or by USPS.

**Gallahad**

Those are pretty low resolution prints for wargaming miniatures. Unless you want to play "Sedimentary Man" who is composed of thousands of tiny visible layers.

**Kroothawk**

Is there a rule or law that every second miniature company has to be named Forge?

**alphaecho**

Kroothawk wrote:
Is there a rule or law that every second miniature company has to be named Forge?

Its listed in the section that also contains "Have you considered WWII Orks?"

**MeanGreenStompa**

alphaecho wrote:
Kroothawk wrote:
Is there a rule or law that every second miniature company has to be named Forge?

Its listed in the section that also contains "Have you considered WWII Orks?"

**Necros**

I think this is a good idea.. true the detail isn't up to the standards we all like, but I think it'll work great for roleplayers and boardgamers or folks that might not care as much. And I'm sure they'll be able to do better looking sculpts later on down the line as the technology improves and gets cheaper.

**Kid_Kyoto**

Yeah, yeah, yeah - necro, necro, necro.

2 years later, the site is up and they're making minis.

https://www.heroforge.com/

https://www.facebook.com/HeroForgeMinis/?fref=ts

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1602674193287684.1073741833.1451139418441163&type=3

Yeah it could use more options (really needs some Grimdark sci fi and military uniforms) but they're adding stuff. And a figure seems to go for $25 which for a custom figure wiht the body, clothes, weapons and pose of your choice ain't bad at all.

**bbb**

Definitely needs more options. This was the best Zed I could make.

**Necros**

I think it works really great and there are a lot of options, hopefully over time they'll keep adding and making more and more. The price is kind of high for 1 mini ($25?) but that's probably due to 3D printing not being cheap in general. I love the idea though, hopefully it will get better and better from here.

**Hanskrampf**

I remember the Kickstarter. This is a really cool designer on their side. 25USD for one miniature is kinda pricy, but it's unique, so I guess it's okay-ish. 15 USD international shipping on top of that is too much for me though.

I also wished there was an option to make it a bit less heroic scale.

Needs more options for grimdark SF/Fantasy.

**Nevelon**

I painted one for a friend. I was not fond of the material. It had a rough feel, like a bad prime. Now a more skilled painter might have been able to compensate for that, with a better basecoat or priming with something other then a rattlecan, but not me. The detail level was acceptable. When you are doing the mix-and-match builder system, you can run into issues where thing don’t tie together. Like where are the pack straps on that modern guy a few posts up?

But the level of customization is nice. And while the price might be high, it’s not like you are building regiments out of them. Even though there are a lot of minis out there, it can be hard to find one for your character. If you know you are going to be playing a campaign for a while (like Pathfinder’s adventure paths) investing $20 for a mini that is exactly your character and will last a couple of years is not a bad idea. Particularly if you want to play something a little off the beaten path, like an Undine monk.

(Extreme close up does not help in that pic, and it’s not my best work. It does show the texture issue though)

**Siygess**

Nevelon wrote:
I painted one for a friend. I was not fond of the material. It had a rough feel, like a bad prime. Now a more skilled painter might have been able to compensate for that, with a better basecoat or priming with something other then a rattlecan, but not me. The detail level was acceptable. When you are doing the mix-and-match builder system, you can run into issues where thing don’t tie together. Like where are the pack straps on that modern guy a few posts up?

But the level of customization is nice. And while the price might be high, it’s not like you are building regiments out of them. Even though there are a lot of minis out there, it can be hard to find one for your character. If you know you are going to be playing a campaign for a while (like Pathfinder’s adventure paths) investing $20 for a mini that is exactly your character and will last a couple of years is not a bad idea. Particularly if you want to play something a little off the beaten path, like an Undine monk.

(Extreme close up does not help in that pic, and it’s not my best work. It does show the texture issue though)

Hmm. Was that the ultra detail plastic (clear material) or the hard plastic (white material). I'd expect that surface texture on the latter, but not the former..

**Hanskrampf**

Oh, wow. That certainly is bad quality/resolution.
But I guess that was not the Ultra Detail Plastic?

**Nevelon**

I was handed the mini to work on, so don’t know about the details of the ordering or what options were chosen. It was the clear/frosted stuff.

Then hit with a spray primer, and then my crummy brushwork.

I’d not damn the whole thing, but I did have a bad experience. In all fairness, the friend who I painted it for was thrilled when he got it, and it looks good at arm’s length on the coffee table. But if you need something specific for your golden demon entry, I’d look into other options.

**Albino Squirrel**

Another complaint I've heard is that they are very fragile. Can anyone that has tried it out comment on the durability?

The texture looks bad in that hugely blown up picture, but I think that could be handled with a few very watered down coats to even it out. Even in that picture, you can see some areas that look pretty smooth.

**Necros**

I wonder if they are just using shapeways, or doing their own prints? I never used shapeways so I'm not sure what their quality is like, but that could be why the prices are high, since they have to get paid for their work too

**Hanskrampf**

Necros wrote:
I wonder if they are just using shapeways, or doing their own prints? I never used shapeways so I'm not sure what their quality is like, but that could be why the prices are high, since they have to get paid for their work too

Yes, they are using Shapeways. Says so on their website.

**adamsouza**

One of the guys in my group just ordered and recieved 9 custom figures from Heroforge.

If your a believer in the 2ft rule, then they are great.

The frosted texture isn't really a bad thing, it's just not something you would ever see on cast miniature.

**Kid_Kyoto**

Seems of interest...

Greetings Hero Forge Fans,

We're back again to update you on the latest news from Hero Forge, the internet's home for custom tabletop miniatures. We've just added some exciting new content we are eager to tell you about: new bestial body options, new parts, and riderless mounts!

Since we launched, users have been vocal about wanting to see more variety in our body options. We're excited to deliver! We've added a new range of bestial body parts: a textured, scaly body, along with hooves, paws, claws, and talons so you can bring your animalistic characters to life! We've also split the body in two, allowing you to mix and match your choice of upper-body and lower-body for more flexibility.

We've also added a small batch of new parts: an umbrella and two new bird-like 'helmet' options--an owl head and a hawk head. We're also experimenting with another new feature: the ability to order your mount without a character equipped. Click the "riderless" button in the mount menu to try it out.

That's all for today. We invite you to come by the site and look at what new character you can make!
Check out the latest content on www.heroforge.com
We love adding new content, and we appreciate all of our users taking the time to reach out via email, on Facebook, on Twitter, or on Instagram to give feedback and suggestions. We can't wait to hear what you request next.

That's all for now!

https://www.heroforge.com/

**foostick**

Ahhh nightmare, we've just ordered up four for our D&D group and two are Dragonborn but it was prior to them putting up the scaled bodies so the lizard feet were the only option at the time. Makes them look like they're wearing novelty slippers

Might drop them a line and see if they can adjust them if they've not started printing them.