Dungeons & Dragons Miniatures Game
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The Dungeons & Dragons Miniatures Game (DDM) is a collectible skirmish miniatures wargame game played with pre-painted, plastic miniature figures based on characters and monsters from the Dungeons & Dragons games. Released in September of 2003 by Wizards of the Coast, which is owned by Hasbro, DDM is composed of loosely themed sets that are released roughly every 4 months.
All figures are designated as being a "common", "uncommon", or "rare" piece. This rarity determines the odds of obtaining each piece within a pre-packaged expansion pack or starter set. By making certain pieces of higher worth to be less available, DDM has a collectible component similar to collectible trading card games such as Magic: The Gathering (also published by Wizards of the Coast).
Unlike Dungeons & Dragons, which like most role-playing games has players playing the part of a single character, the Dungeons & Dragons Miniatures Game is a miniatures wargame in which two opponents pit armies of units against each other. In order to allow rule adjudication without a Dungeon Master, the DDM rules are simplified from Dungeons & Dragons' combat system, with a few additional features unique to the skirmish game.
Wizards of the Coast also makes a Star Wars Miniatures Game, based upon their own Star Wars rules, which are similar to the rules of DDM, although simpler.
[edit] Sets
The first set, Harbinger, was released in September 2003. Unlike the sets which would follow, Harbinger contained 80 miniatures rather than 60, and featured no huge pieces. The set contained 27 rare figures, 33 uncommon, and 20 common, including Ogre, Umber Hulk, Human Blackguard, and Drow Cleric of Lolth.
Dragoneye was the second Dungeons & Dragons Miniatures expansion set, released in December 2003. The expansion symbol was the eye of a dragon. The set was centered on dragons, and included many dragons in it. The set contained 60 figures (20R, 24U, 16C) including Large Red Dragon, Eye of Gruumsh, and Purple Dragon Knight.
The third set, Archfiends, was also released in December 2003. It contained 60 figures (20R, 24U, 16C) including Drizzt, Large Silver Dragon, Aspect of Orcus, and Orc Champion.
Giants of Legend was the fourth expansion set, released in June 2004. It was also the first set to feature huge pieces. The expansion symbol was a mace. The set contained 60 regular-sized figures (23R, 21U, 16C) and 12 huge figures (6RH, 6UH). The huge figure either took up an uncommon or rare slot. Figures included Huge Gold Dragon, Mordenkainen the Mage, King Snurre, and Treant.
The fifth set, Aberrations, was released in October 2004. It contained 60 figures (23R, 21U, 16C) including Frenzied Berserker, Ryld Argith, and Mind Flayer Telepath.
Deathknell was the sixth set, released in March 2005. It contained 60 figures (24R, 24U, 12C) including Beholder, Large Blue Dragon, Couatl, Dire Bear, and Greenfang Druid.
Angelfire was the seventh expansion set. It was released in June 2005 and had the expansion symbol of a stylized angel. The set focused on lawful good "outsiders", some of which are considered to be angels. The set included 60 figures (24R, 24U, 12C) including Imp, Sword Archon, Efreeti, Trumpet Archon, and Hezrou.
Underdark was the eighth set, released in October 2005, and the expansion symbol was a spider. The spider was chosen as the symbol by Wizards of the Coast because it was within the context of spiders and Lolth, which were essential figures in the set. The set included 60 figures: (24R, 24U, 12C) including Elminster, Iron Golem, Dark Naga, Balor, and Marut.
The ninth set, War Drums, was released in March 2006. It included 60 figures (23R, 21U, 16C) including Chimera, Night Hag, and Large Bronze Dragon.
War of the Dragon Queen is the tenth set for the game and the second set, after Giants of Legend, to featured huge figures. The Dragon theme of the set ties in with Wizards of the Coast Year of Dragons promotion. The set features 60 figures, of which 12 are huge (6RH, 6UH, 18R, 16U, 14C). Each box includes 1 huge and 8 other figures. Stat cards are included for each figure, including epic cards for select figures allowing players to assemble higher-value armies with which to battle. Figures from this set include Aspect of Tiamat, Dracolich, Blackguard on Nightmare, and Meepo.
Two standalone figures, called icons, were released. These were Gargantuan Black Dragon in August 2006, and Colossal Red Dragon in September 2006.
The eleventh set, Blood War was released in November 2006. The set included 60 figures, including Marilith, Solar, and Githyanki on Red Dragon.
A third "icon", Gargantuan Blue Dragon, is to be released in January 2007, followed by the twelfth set, Unhallowed, in March, and thirteenth set, Night Below, in July.
