Pre-painted, OR HOME painted??

[garhkal]

For those who like using miniatures in their games, do you prefer using Prepainted plastic ones, or do you prefer buying unpainted ones (plastic or peuter) and painting them yourself?
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Confucious sayeth, don't wash cat while drunk!

[Ziz]

I'm a modeler, so I HAVE to paint them myself. Anything less is cheating.

[jtanzer]

It depends. The more complex the mini, the more attractive pre-painted becomes. On the other hand, simple minis are easier to paint yourself. However, there is a certain satisfaction from assembling and painting them yourself.
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The GM runs a living setting. Players unstick their own s***.

[TauntaunScout]

I've painted thousands of miniatures including hundreds for Star Wars. It began when I was 4 years old painting the 25mm-ish scale Jabba's Palace figures for the old plastic model kit. Then when I was in grade school I discovered the leadStar Wars minis which led me to the RPG and then to Battletech, Warhammer, etc.

However, in some cases, being able to carelessly handle the miniatures is very useful/freeing. For these times, I own a few hundred of the prepainted D&D and Star Wars (combined, not each) plastic WOTC miniatures.

[pakman]

IF I can find a mini of the reasonably close size and reasonable cost - I prefer buying them.

As a long time RPG and Wargamer - I have painted possibly thousands of minis (multiple 40 armies....and years of star wars and dnd rpgs) so I have a full craft room with all my hobby stuff.

At this point most of my new minis - are stuff I buy stl files and then 3d print myself - again, if THOSE prices are reasonable.

That gives the most flexibility - and I usually enjoy the creativity of working with them - although - at times - it can be a chore.

For example - for the current adventure my players are in - I needed some blacksun minis and an elite rodian guard.

I am using 3d printed minis for them both (bought files at a decent price). - the black sun guys were a pain to paint just due to the scheme and models.

I would have happily paid for preprinted versions of those - if I could have found them for less than $10 each in my scale (~32mm).

For the elite rodian guys - I am coming up with my own scheme - and found some cool dune minis that work for my vision - so they are more fun to paint.
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SW Fan, Gamer, Comic, Corporate nerd.
Working on massive House Rules document - pretty much a new book. Will post soon....