I've now been posting several posts about prepainted miniatures fitting for Sword & Sorcery settings. This time, I'm making a world -specific entry about monsters - for my favourite setting Beasts & Barbarians. I'm mostly using D&D miniatures but also other cheap miniatures, mainly from mage knight/clix series. First I'll be posting miniature suggestions for creatures that appeared in the original edition, and then later to those that appeared in Golded edition.

Ok, let's start. Remember that you'll see photos of many of the miniatures if you scroll down a bit.

Ancestor’s Ghost

Being an ethereal creature, there are some great choises for this. My favourites for this one are Cursed Spirit(link is external), Deathlock wight(link is external), rare Ghostly consort(link is external) and Sacred wather(link is external). You'll see a photoof these a bit lower.

Demonic Mastiff

While I think Shadow Mastiff(link is external) (which I don't have, therefore no photo) should be most fitting, I can't pass a chance of using one of my favourite DDM uncommons, Nessian Warhound(link is external). This mini is a bit too large, but it's just magnificent and otherwise very fitting. Also Dire Wolf(link is external) is very impressive for this purpose.

Fanged Ape

Being a large creature, Fiendish girallion(link is external) or Dire ape(link is external) work well. Please note that this creature doesn't have extra arms in the description, but you can of course change it for your world if you want! Star Wars Wampa(link is external) (or second version(link is external)) works also well, although they cost a bit more. And yet another option is Feral Minotaur(link is external).

From left to right:  Ghostly consort(link is external), Deathlock wight(link is external), Cursed Spirit(link is external), Sacred wather(link is external), Nessian Warhound(link is external) and Fiendish girallion(link is external).

Fighting Bird

No good miniatures for this. Fire bat might work well if repainted, but a small printed 'from above' photo of a hawk glued on a stick and cardboard piece might work well. Here's a piece I've created for this purpose - the image should be printed at 300dpi.

[The image file]

Shadow Bat

Dire bat(link is external) is the first one that comes to mind, but the bat is described to be far larger. Star Wars Utapaun on Dactilllon(link is external) might work as it's got a rider, especially if modified a bit, but I'd say your best bet would be to buy a bat toy, modify it a bit to make it a bit more study and base it. And Sorcerer on Black Dragon is always an option, even if it looks like a dragon and not a bat. Wings are similar and it's got a sorcerer on it already!

Singer Demon

There's only one good option for this: Clawborn scorrow(link is external). Unfortunately, I don't have it, nor a good proxy, so I can't post a photo. I'm trying to come up as a good proxy, but I don't have any scorpions or driders so I can't get really close. I'm trying to look at toy stores for cheap alternatives.

Spirit of the Betrayer

Two really great options come to my mind: Warrior Wight(link is external) and Dread warrior(link is external). Karrnathi Zombie(link is external) looks also promising.

Steppe Pony

No really good options here. I believe I'll be using just plain horses, even if 'ugly and furry' would tempt me to use my LotR Worg riders... but they are also a bit too big for ponies - and a bit too ugly. And if I modify the riders much and mounts as well, I can't use them as orcs.

LotR miniatures worg raiders (and one clix for scale). Won't probably be available anymore, and there is better alternatives. My choise is likely Valiant Cavalry, seen in the middle of the first photo of this post - even if it's horse-sized.

Twisted Servant

There's one great option for that - unfortunately I don't any of these Grimlocks. in DDM sets, there are 3 different versions, some of which are in stores at T&T(link is external).

Keronian Imp

I'm going to use Imp(link is external) as I have several of those, although Quasit(link is external) might work better. Grinning Imp(link is external) is also an option as well as Star Wars Mynock(link is external) might work. Another option I really like and also have is Gnaw demon(link is external).

Warrior Wight(link is external), Dread warrior(link is external), Dire bat(link is external), Imp(link is external) and Gnaw demon(link is external). Behind the bat is Thunderdusk boar(link is external), that can be used as a proxy for War buffalo if there isn't better options. Unfortunately it's not actually mounted either, but you might be able to mount it a mini on riding position if you want.

War Buffalo

Not straight fits here too, although Mage Knight might have more fitting ones that I do. I may just use Dire boars (Harbinger or the uncommon mounted version)

If you know cheap prepainted miniatures that work well as buffalos, or you know a half-scorpion miniature (I know I've seen one, probably in Mage Knights) please let me know!