It really is tough to pick 7 miniatures that stand above the rest. There are a lot of very talented and inventive people displaying their skills in the Hero Forage library. I make the selection based on innovative techniques and/or how effective the designer was in reaching a design goal.
There is a huge variety of options you can choose from on Hero Forage, and there are a lot of people out there pushing every button to the extreme. These weekly contests will showcase their unique approach to designing miniatures on that platform.
There are also designers that take a direct, subtle but detailed approach. They make scenes and creatures that feel like they belong in a campaign or just jumped out of a module. That understated approach to detail brings these creations to life.
Ultimately, this is a fan letter to these designers. We created a countdown for what we consider to be the best, but, frankly, each and every one of these Miniature Masterpieces represents an outstanding example of imagination.
Aasimar Rogue
By Marks aka Azzu
We’re starting this countdown with an excellent example of how color and lighting can work together to enhance a Hero Forage Miniature. The coloring is rich, and the gold lighting on the left and blue lighting on the right emphasizes the detail and the subtle tones. The light function is an underutilized tool, but Marks aka Azzu shows how effective it can be.
Spiderblessed Priestess
By Kathas
I seriously considered not putting this one on this week’s countdown. Not because I didn’t like it; this miniature is amazing! I almost dropped it from the list because it’s so damn creepy. This is going to give me nightmares.
Besides the fact that this is an excellent example of truly beautiful art that can be accomplished within the Hero Forage system, this is an example of dedication and hard work. This creation required two miniatures to be placed within each other. There are effects in this that cannot be obtained otherwise.
This is yet another example of excellent use of the lighting tool. I run across the implementation of varying light sources so rarely in the Hero Forage library, so when I do find that it is utilized, I immediately consider it for the weekly countdown. There’s no doubt that the time and energy Kathas poured into this creation paid off.
Clockwork Monster
By Eric T
I found this particular Miniature Masterpiece exceptionally dynamic. The varying points scattered throughout the image immediately instills a sense of danger. The title, Clockwork Monster, is aptly named as well. Not only because the design of the creature embodies the theme of the name perfectly, but also because the tips of all the spikes create a circular shape. That round form found in the negative space is reminiscent of a cog. That is an exceptionally subtle but powerful motif to employ in this already dynamic design.
Star Child
By Windthin
In the description for this creation, the designer, Windthin, stated that this was an example of how to create a celestial entity using decals. I would say that his mission has been accomplished. The blending and amorphous tones and patterns scattered throughout the miniature’s color palette renders an otherworldly and cosmic theme. This creation could certainly be found battling on the astral plane.
Landsknecht
By sk minishido
I found this miniature to possess a sense of personality. The pose, position, clothing and coloring tell a story of a nobleman possessed by confidence (a bit of arrogance) and lethal competence. I often place monsters and creatures with challenging and dynamic designs in the countdown because of the talent and work that is required to render such effects.
However, “Landsknecht” made it on this week’s list because of the truly nuanced and subtle attention to detail that emphasizes thematic character. I feel like this design could have been pulled directly from a module. This Miniature Masterpiece is an individual, an NPC that an adventuring party could talk to. In many ways, achieving what sk minishido has done here is even more challenging than creating a complex design.
Cannibal of Circus
By Crazy Achilles
Anyone running a horror TTRPG game? Boy, do we have an incredibly dark and twisted design on our hands. This monstrously yet masterfully crafted Miniature Masterpiece could and should easily be found in a carnival themed nightmare module. One subtle detail that I think propels this design to higher levels of excellence is the lengthened arms. They are grotesque, but not emphasized. This filled out the motif without overpowering what is already a sinister creation.
Soul Stealer Serpent
By Captain Crits
This week’s number 1 pick made it to this coveted spot for so many reasons, I had trouble even knowing where to begin. First, the attention to detail is excellent. The coins littered across the ground, the bottles in the victim’s hands, the skull found in the torso of the snake monstrosity illustrate Captain Crits attention to detail. The color palette is unique and could only be created through manipulation of the Hero Forage color mixing tool. The serpent truly looks otherworldly.
I also want to call attention to the fact that designing a creation that has two forms and appears to be in motion is exceptionally hard. Interlacing multiple props in the Hero Forage system is an endeavor worth doing, but requires tedious attention to detail. This particular piece took considerable time to complete; of that I have no doubt.
Finally, the thing that really set this masterpiece above the others was that behind all the craftsmanship that went into making this creation there is a story. I assume some thief wandered into the wrong crypt and found a spectral serpent soul stealer guarding a coveted treasure. Some miniatures found in the Hero Forage library possess personality and character, some designs exemplify incredible attention to detail and talent, but few do both.
That’s why Captain Crits’ Soul Stealer Serpent is this week’s number one Hero Forage Miniature Masterpiece.
Writer