subliminalmf
Skirmisher
44 Posts
    
Maine
 | | 09/04/2008 10:48 PM |
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Well, I think I'm going insane. I've been sorting miniatures for almost 4 hours and still have a drawer of who knows what filled to the brim.Â
So here's the question. For us folks with larger collections but no display room...what are you doing to keep things some what organized?  I'm trying a couple different methods, but keeping up with the sets is getting hard as storage containers cost money too. Thanks in advance.
Sub
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"The process of delving into the black abyss is to me the keenest fascination." ~ HP Lovecraft | |
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sonofrich
Skirmisher
16 Posts
York, Pa
| | 09/04/2008 11:39 PM |
| I use a couple of things. 1st zipplock back in differnt sizes. 2nd either a 3 row shoebox or 5 row card box (for sports cards). 3rd if your handy enough make your own out of thin plywood, balsa wood & wood glue. Lastly a couple of large to medium shipping cartons or copy paper boxes discarded @ work or mall.
Hope this helps. | | | |
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Dordledum
Commander
3463 Posts
Netherlands
| | 09/05/2008 4:12 AM |
| I'm using hardware store collector bins, intended for nails, screws, nuts & bolts. Both cheap and compartimentalised (is that a word?).
D.
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Member of the Bearded Devils
Champion of the Huge Spider (WotDQ 46/60), A New Umber Hulk (DoDe 57/60), and the Orog Fighter! | |
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E Thug of the
Round Table
Wolfgang
Warlord
6530 Posts
Milton, Ontario Canada
| | 09/05/2008 4:27 AM |
| | well depending how you sort them i use plastic bins the kind you find at wal mart and i sort by set/rarity and it works good for me and i have about 2,500 mini's | |
Proud member since March 26 2005
Champion of the SIVAK DRACONIAN
Completed trades: (94)
Bad traders(2) DJchuckles, sardal
Called shots:Sivak Draconian in DD
Trade References
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Shottglazz
Underboss
1184 Posts
Quinte West, Ontario, Canada
| | 09/05/2008 7:04 AM |
| I use something similar to Dordeldum...it has 35 smaller drawers, 2 med, 1 large...I use two of those cabinets for figures that I have multiples of (drow, gnolls, gobbies, etc) - the rest I store on shelves...works pretty well for about 1000 minis...
EDIT: fixed that after I got home and looked at them again. Each of the small drawers hold 4-5 medium figs or many small or tiny figs. | |
Shottglazz
"Take my love, take my land, take me where I cannot stand;
I don't care, I'm still free, you can't take the sky from me."
Completed trades ( 53 ): Pikel, Darrell x2, JeffDHarvey, BiggPappa001, Ghendar, Valinrook X2, Wolfgang x4, Wraithborne x6, Mr Ruffles, Anothermullen, CKissee x3, Browns_Scoundrel, Kyrin, GuJiaXian x2, Tyngfumv, Basic_Aim, Mickey Mouse, Berus316, Crisisman, Zoons, Rockfrd, Sterling40 x2, Brucemc, 2007 Magical Mystery Trade, Redskullz x2, Stephengroy, Lyus_Sleyden, Foolforthought, 2008 Magical Mystery Trade, Kilsek x4, Generic Fighter, Auric, Relientkitten x3
Pending trades ( 0 ):
WotC trades ( 1 ): Red_Deceiver
Bad trades ( 2 ): LeftEyeofGruumsh, Yotebeth | |
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StormKnight
Sneak
85 Posts
| | 09/05/2008 7:54 AM |
| I've got a 4 drawer large plastic bin. Within each bin, I've got gallon (usually, sometimes smaller) ziplock bags filled with monsters in alphabetical order - IE, all the 'A' monsters in one bag (some letters are combined, a few need to be split into two bags). Some common types of critters get their own bag - Dwarves, Dragons for instance.
Then I've got a 25 drawer 'parts' rack type setup with minis that get a lot of use for RPG in it, divided by type - a box of goblins, one of kobolds, zombies, etc.
The big 4 drawer bin has a label on the front of each drawer indicating what letters go in that drawer, which sub-bags are in that drawer, and which types are in the smaller rack.
It kinds works...but I'm still lost if I want to find a particular type of mini for RPG and don't know the name of appropriate minis, and its too much to sort through and not at all portable.
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kestrel.ca
Underboss
1687 Posts
| | 09/05/2008 4:38 PM |
| | I have a large, wheeled suitcase filled with fishing/tackle boxes. I have about 6 1.5" deep boxes with ~20 compartments each (for small and medium figs), and 4 2.5" deep boxes with 16 compartments each (for large figs). As the collection has grown, I also have one or two other fishing box things which don't fit in the suitcase. The minis are arranged into the cases alphabetically by type (Animals, Bugbears, Catfolk, Duergar, etc.). Huge figures go on top of my bookshelves. This system is only for the figures I might want access to, and so only has 1-4 of each figure. All extras/traders/spares are kept in ziploc bags by set and rarity, and those are in a couple of boxes. Considering how much trading I do, it's not too big a deal that way. This manages over 3000 miniatures now. | |
Completed Trades/Transactions: 94 || Bad Trades: 3 (Chaotic Good x2, MackeyV) | |
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subliminalmf
Skirmisher
44 Posts
Maine
| | 09/05/2008 9:00 PM |
| Thanks everyone for the input. I went out and bought a case of 1.5" tackle boxes to help separate out things by creature type for a start. I'm on the last one and not sure what I want to put in it, and still probably need more of them so I can spread things out a bit more, as well as get more of the medium/small creatures out of the Rubbermaid tower.
I will be looking into the Ziploc bags next for some of the more redundant miniatures that I don't need 50 of in cases.Â
I start the spread sheet of what I actually own on Sunday...wish me luck..hahahahaha...
Sub
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"The process of delving into the black abyss is to me the keenest fascination." ~ HP Lovecraft | |
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Fun Guy from Yuggoth
Cthulhufnord
Warlord
11110 Posts
Umass Amherst Baby!
| | 09/06/2008 11:45 PM |
| I originally used plastic bags in shoeboxes. However I found this lead to quite a few of the minis getting bent and warped. These days I use these compartmentalized fishing boxes from hardware & sporting goods stores. I sort my critters based on monster type and encounter type.
http://saltfishing.about.com/od/tackleandaccessories/gr/aaprplano.htm
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Pathetic Earthlings. Hurling your bodies out into the void - without the slightest inkling of who or what is out here. If you had known anything about the true nature of the universe - anything at all - you would have hidden from it in terror. | |
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relientKitten
Warrior
201 Posts
Portland, Oregon
| | 09/07/2008 12:44 PM |
| My collection is fairly small (1100 minis) but I have made excellent use of the ArtBin storage boxes from JoAnns Fabrics and Crafts. I discovered them when they were having a 50% off sale on all of their storage stuff. They have quasi-customizeable storage sections with removable dividers and they stack pretty nicely on top of each other.
http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog.jsp?CATID=cat3718&PRODID=prd61682&source=search
http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog.jsp?CATID=cat363845&PRODID=xprd408781&source=search
I have two of the larger boxes and three of the smaller and I'm heading back today to get more with 40% off coupons.
My earlier sorting method was plastic baggies labelled by RPG type and all shoved into a plastic carrying file box. Problem with baggies in small spaces is lots of tearing.
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~relientKitten, Champion of Elenriel Annanole, Loremistress
>^..^<
Happy Customers: 17
Completed Trades: 22
Crochet Beholder: http://www.maxminis.com/Forums/tabid/104/forumid/68/postid/810379/view/topic/Default.aspx
Crochet Dice: http://www.maxminis.com/Forums/tabid/104/forumid/68/postid/807807/view/topic/Default.aspx
My trades, references, and flavrs: http://www.maxminis.com/Forums/tabid/104/forumid/53/postid/808880/view/topic/Default.aspx
My can-has-want-plz-trade list: http://www.maxminis.com/hw_list.asp user=relientKitten | |
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Knight of the
Round Table
Thenameless
Warlord
12474 Posts
The Fortress of Solitude
| | 09/07/2008 1:33 PM |
| | I sort them the way I bought them. I keep the original cases (so you have an automatic label), and put the minis for that particular set, in those boxes. I keep different boxes for promos, repaints, traders, tournament warbands. | |
Over 270 successful online DDM trades. | |
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subliminalmf
Skirmisher
44 Posts
Maine
| | 09/07/2008 8:14 PM |
| So this is where I'm at after the weekend. I need to get labels and a few more cases. The storage cases can do 20 compartments and can be adjusted for size, I got them at Lowes, about 4.50 each. Mostly getting the medium and small based creatures out of the larger Rubbermaid containers. I use the bottom container of the black to hold my dungeon tiles. At some point will lay out my collection for pictures.Â
Thanks again for the help.
Sub
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"The process of delving into the black abyss is to me the keenest fascination." ~ HP Lovecraft | |
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Duke of Spoils
greyhaze
Warlord
7650 Posts
| | 09/08/2008 6:32 AM |
| | I'm actually working on something that people should really like for storage and sorting their minis... too band it won't be ready for several months. Threads like this kill me a little each day. :*( | |
Greyhaze's DDM Spoilers
Champion of a Medium Dog & then a Darkenbeast , Raistlin Majere, Nightmare WDQ25/60, Warduke WD60/60,
Anti-Champion of Guns, "Knight of Bugbears", and Joke Champion of Venger.
Called Shots: Frost Giant in Dangerous Delves. | |
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Knight of the
Round Table
Thenameless
Warlord
12474 Posts
The Fortress of Solitude
| | 09/08/2008 9:42 AM |
| Posted By greyhaze on 09/08/2008 6:32 AM
I'm actually working on something that people should really like for storage and sorting their minis... too band it won't be ready for several months. Threads like this kill me a little each day. :*(
I look forward to seeing the fruits of the master-plan. | |
Over 270 successful online DDM trades. | |
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Duke of Spoils
greyhaze
Warlord
7650 Posts
| |
Most Edumacated
zenthrus
Warlord
5132 Posts
SLC, UT
| | 09/08/2008 11:35 AM |
| | Currently using plastic shoeboxes sorting by creature type (most useful method considering my minis are for RPG). I need to re-organize based on 4e creature types but that's another story. | |
Knight Warlord a.k.a. Commander (#32) in only 6 months. Where's my pie?
Champion of Dwarven Thunderlashers
Knight of the Large Dire Chicken
Have/Want List
Trade References | |
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Master of the
Awesome Sauce
Teflon Jeff
Warlord
7908 Posts
Sector 2814
| | 09/15/2008 9:21 AM |
| Since I hardly play anymore, I piled them all into 2 72 quart underbed containers, and put them under my desk.
Cards still sorted in card boxes.
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Official Delegate, Wizards of the Coast
Icons Called Shot: Gargantuan Prismatic Dragon
"Rejoice, for bad things are about to happen." | |
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Duke of Spoils
greyhaze
Warlord
7650 Posts
| | 09/15/2008 11:14 AM |
| Related to storage solutions. Plano used to have a Kidz division and made plastic card boxes. If you call Plano, you can ask for model 5305, and they sell them for $2.13 each. They hold 1000+ nicely. They just don't have a handle.
The outlet is at 712 West Main, Illonois, they're open Thurs - Sat 8am - 4pm. 630.552.9442
The call centre is 1.800.226.9868 if you want em shipped.
I'm posting this, cause I love these boxes and ordered a load of them, but it took me nearly 17yrs to find them again. They even fit nicely on a bookcase.
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Greyhaze's DDM Spoilers
Champion of a Medium Dog & then a Darkenbeast , Raistlin Majere, Nightmare WDQ25/60, Warduke WD60/60,
Anti-Champion of Guns, "Knight of Bugbears", and Joke Champion of Venger.
Called Shots: Frost Giant in Dangerous Delves. | |
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subliminalmf
Skirmisher
44 Posts
Maine
| | 09/15/2008 1:59 PM |
| I have a couple of those containers and they're great. Even if not for cards they hold larger D&D minis well and make great travel boxes when transporting miniatures to a game not at your home. Thanks for the information Greyhaze, once I can get things settled on my home front I may have to get some more.
Sub
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"The process of delving into the black abyss is to me the keenest fascination." ~ HP Lovecraft | |
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mazra
Sergeant
442 Posts
Canton, GA
| | 09/15/2008 6:54 PM |
| Hi Everyone,
Besides plastic shoe boxes, bead trays, and larger bins, I have found the item below at both Michael's and JoAnn's. I have about a dozen of these cases. They have a blue top tray that is ideal for medium sized or smaller figs and a section below that can handle most large figs. There are chambers on each side of the handle ideal for keeping the cards. These cases hold about a complete non-huge 60 fig set. Some later sets do have figs too large for this case though.  Sorry, I do not know the manufacturer. I long ago removed the label and can't recall the name. Unfortunately, I do not see these cases as often as I used to. I believe Michaels has discontinued selling them; though you may luck into some leftover inventory.
Later,
Mazra |
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relientKitten
Warrior
201 Posts
Portland, Oregon
| | 09/15/2008 9:29 PM |
| Yeah, I haven't seen your uber cases at either place recently, mazra. The ones that I grabbed are the best I've found for the price.
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~relientKitten, Champion of Elenriel Annanole, Loremistress
>^..^<
Happy Customers: 17
Completed Trades: 22
Crochet Beholder: http://www.maxminis.com/Forums/tabid/104/forumid/68/postid/810379/view/topic/Default.aspx
Crochet Dice: http://www.maxminis.com/Forums/tabid/104/forumid/68/postid/807807/view/topic/Default.aspx
My trades, references, and flavrs: http://www.maxminis.com/Forums/tabid/104/forumid/53/postid/808880/view/topic/Default.aspx
My can-has-want-plz-trade list: http://www.maxminis.com/hw_list.asp user=relientKitten | |
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thekidxii
Sergeant
533 Posts
No Yack. I said.. we need a DM not BM!
| | 09/16/2008 4:25 AM |
| Posted By greyhaze on 09/08/2008 6:32 AM
I'm actually working on something that people should really like for storage and sorting their minis... too band it won't be ready for several months. Threads like this kill me a little each day. :*(
care to share your plans  no need to wait for a finnished project. I'm still not sure what to do with my minis... (they are tucked away in the garage and at work) | |
Champion of the dire hippo.
Audi Vide Tace
"Nothing matters but the weekend, From a Tuesday point of view" -Diamond & Zero | |
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Duke of Spoils
greyhaze
Warlord
7650 Posts
| | 09/16/2008 6:16 AM |
| | Can't share just yet, if it never goes in to production, it'll just be a bigger let down (for me). | |
Greyhaze's DDM Spoilers
Champion of a Medium Dog & then a Darkenbeast , Raistlin Majere, Nightmare WDQ25/60, Warduke WD60/60,
Anti-Champion of Guns, "Knight of Bugbears", and Joke Champion of Venger.
Called Shots: Frost Giant in Dangerous Delves. | |
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thekidxii
Sergeant
533 Posts
No Yack. I said.. we need a DM not BM!
| | 09/16/2008 11:36 AM |
| | ah.. is this something you plan on selling | |
Champion of the dire hippo.
Audi Vide Tace
"Nothing matters but the weekend, From a Tuesday point of view" -Diamond & Zero | |
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Duke of Spoils
greyhaze
Warlord
7650 Posts
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thekidxii
Sergeant
533 Posts
No Yack. I said.. we need a DM not BM!
| | 09/16/2008 12:09 PM |
| | nice. (i'll sign an NDA... if you need any CNC design done) | |
Champion of the dire hippo.
Audi Vide Tace
"Nothing matters but the weekend, From a Tuesday point of view" -Diamond & Zero | |
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Duke of Spoils
greyhaze
Warlord
7650 Posts
| | 09/16/2008 12:56 PM |
| | I appreciate the offer, but I already have someone handling the designs. :) | |
Greyhaze's DDM Spoilers
Champion of a Medium Dog & then a Darkenbeast , Raistlin Majere, Nightmare WDQ25/60, Warduke WD60/60,
Anti-Champion of Guns, "Knight of Bugbears", and Joke Champion of Venger.
Called Shots: Frost Giant in Dangerous Delves. | |
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thekidxii
Sergeant
533 Posts
No Yack. I said.. we need a DM not BM!
| | 09/17/2008 5:43 AM |
| All good. Keep us posted!
cheers,
kid | |
Champion of the dire hippo.
Audi Vide Tace
"Nothing matters but the weekend, From a Tuesday point of view" -Diamond & Zero | |
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E Thug of the
Round Table
Wolfgang
Warlord
6530 Posts
Milton, Ontario Canada
| | 09/17/2008 6:57 AM |
| | hey greyhaze is there a place here in canada to get them and are there other sizes in am very interested....VERY... | |
Proud member since March 26 2005
Champion of the SIVAK DRACONIAN
Completed trades: (94)
Bad traders(2) DJchuckles, sardal
Called shots:Sivak Draconian in DD
Trade References
Email Me | |
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Duke of Spoils
greyhaze
Warlord
7650 Posts
| | 09/17/2008 7:12 AM |
| | Unfortunately, to my knowledge no. I haven't been able to find them anywhere, and I always kept my eye out for them. I think they dissolved their Kidz Divison and recalled all of their product. I got the first batch when I was 15yrs old, and wasn't able to find them anywhere else, until just last week, when I finally tracked them down in their outlet store - by calling and asking. I did buy 2 boxes of 6, so I'll have 4 more than I was looking for, you're welcome to take em off my hands for $5 each if you like. As for different sizes, I have no idea. You could call and ask, although I'm not sure if they just go by model & inventory or can look that kind of stuff up. Illinois is a bit of a drive... | |
Greyhaze's DDM Spoilers
Champion of a Medium Dog & then a Darkenbeast , Raistlin Majere, Nightmare WDQ25/60, Warduke WD60/60,
Anti-Champion of Guns, "Knight of Bugbears", and Joke Champion of Venger.
Called Shots: Frost Giant in Dangerous Delves. | |
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Beware of Kobold
Sneak
89 Posts
| | 09/17/2008 9:53 AM |
| I use these (below). They are made by a company called Flambeau (www.flambeau.com/gamecase.html). I have no clue how many minis I have, but I have complete sets of every set through Night Below (I stopped collecting when Desert of Desolation came out due to the large amount of 4th edition only minis) plus tons of doubles of things, and I'm able to store all my minis (including huges) in 4 of these cases, each with an expander on the bottom (below) so that each case has 3 rows of drawers below the large top container that I use to store the huges. The problem with these, however, is that apparently the company's Gamecase division shut down and they don't make them anymore. They do apparently still use the design as a tool case (http://www.flambeauhardware.com/brute_srs/brute.asp#13902) except its yellow and only has one tray below the main container. I couldn't find the expander trays on the website, but I'm sure they are still available somewhere on there.
Anyway these things are awesome because they allow me to sort my minis to such a degree that I can always find the exact mini I am looking for by sorting them into creature types, further broken down by subtype, and sometimes character class (in the case of humans). They are kind of expensive, but they are excellent quality. The top containers are big enough to hold huges and the smaller trays are just big enough to fit larges.
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Duke of Spoils
greyhaze
Warlord
7650 Posts
| | 09/17/2008 10:36 AM |
| | I think they use the EXACT same mold from their Battle Tray as a fishing kit, cause I have that tray x4 from the Fishing dept of Canadian Tire. They fit cards, but the edges are too high, so I scrape my fingers (and have cut my thumb) trying to dig out the cards. I'll admit their not bad for fitting minis in, but not ideal... | |
Greyhaze's DDM Spoilers
Champion of a Medium Dog & then a Darkenbeast , Raistlin Majere, Nightmare WDQ25/60, Warduke WD60/60,
Anti-Champion of Guns, "Knight of Bugbears", and Joke Champion of Venger.
Called Shots: Frost Giant in Dangerous Delves. | |
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Beware of Kobold
Sneak
89 Posts
| | 09/17/2008 11:53 AM |
| Greyhaze: yep they do. They call it "Tuff Tainer® 7004R" in their fishing gear section. I used to use one of those boxes to hold my entire collection of minis back when harbinger and dragoneye first came out.
Looking at their fishing stuff I saw their Kwikdraw tackelboxes which look like they would work pretty good for minis. Some of them even use the same size boxes as their gamecase division. http://fishing.flambeauoutdoors.com/otdrs_fishing/tackle_boxes/kwikdraw_ftload.asp
wow I sound like an advertisement for these people | |
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Duke of Spoils
greyhaze
Warlord
7650 Posts
| |
E Thug of the
Round Table
Wolfgang
Warlord
6530 Posts
Milton, Ontario Canada
| | 09/17/2008 1:29 PM |
| greyhaze sent you a trade offer
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Proud member since March 26 2005
Champion of the SIVAK DRACONIAN
Completed trades: (94)
Bad traders(2) DJchuckles, sardal
Called shots:Sivak Draconian in DD
Trade References
Email Me | |
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Duke of Spoils
greyhaze
Warlord
7650 Posts
| |
E Thug of the
Round Table
Wolfgang
Warlord
6530 Posts
Milton, Ontario Canada
| | 09/17/2008 5:10 PM |
| | and i replied to your reply | |
Proud member since March 26 2005
Champion of the SIVAK DRACONIAN
Completed trades: (94)
Bad traders(2) DJchuckles, sardal
Called shots:Sivak Draconian in DD
Trade References
Email Me | |
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dhunton
Sneak
91 Posts
SW Florida
| |
E Thug of the
Round Table
Wolfgang
Warlord
6530 Posts
Milton, Ontario Canada
| | 09/18/2008 5:24 PM |
| | WOW thats alot of minis! | |
Proud member since March 26 2005
Champion of the SIVAK DRACONIAN
Completed trades: (94)
Bad traders(2) DJchuckles, sardal
Called shots:Sivak Draconian in DD
Trade References
Email Me | |
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Faragdar the Wise
Commander
3547 Posts
Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | 09/25/2008 9:54 AM |
| | I use a portable hole. I just say the name of the mini, reach inside and out comes the one I'm looking for. It's pretty cool, though I keep worrying that one of the huge sized minis with swords is going to manage to puncture the hole from the inside and spill my whole collection into the astral plane. | |
"Before God we are all equally wise - and equally foolish." - Albert Einstein
Champion of Myopic Half-Orcs
Winner, WBC X | |
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