We have a new article up in our Craft section. For those of you new around here, the Craft section is a little spot we have for user-submitted tutorials of all types covering all aspects of our hobby craft: Sculpting, presentation, painting and conversions.

This week, we have a tutorial from Janelle Schulzetenberg about making technology work for you before you ever commit paint to your figure.

Ever have a difficult time deciding what colors to paint your mini? Afraid the colors you're thinking of using won't look right together? Can't quite make up your mind as to what shade of red would look best on your dwarf's beard? Here's a quick and simple way to experiment with colors without the risk of needing to repaint your mini.

Check out the tutorial over in the Craft Section!

If you have your own ideas for what you'd like to see or share in the Craft section, we take submissions! Email kit@reapermini.com for more information.

A happy Thursday to you! We have a number of new releases we'd love to draw your attention to.

Dark Heaven Legends
03591: Lola Darkslip, Female Thief by Patrick Keith ($6.99) [+1]
03599: Drake Whiteraven, Young Mage by Bob Ridolfi ($7.99) [+1]


Warlord
14639: Shadowguard, DkRch by Bobby Jackson ($6.99) [+1]


Chronoscope
50256: Joe Don Mitchell, Sheriff by Gene Van Horne ($5.99) [+1]
50257: Dr Thomas Welby by Gene Van Horne ($5.99) [+1]
50258: Nurse Anne Foster by Gene Van Horne ($5.99) [+1]
50263: Erik Proudfoot, Intergalactic Marine by Bobby Jackson ($5.99) [+1]


Pathfinder
60101: Kiramor the Forest Shadow by Bobby Jackson ($7.99) [+1]
60102: Trinia Sabor by Patrick Keith ($5.99) [+1]


You can find all of these in the online store.

I also wanted to take the time to say thanks for listening to us about the internet piracy bills that were ultimately shelved. The internet is safe for now. Thanks!

Say you've painted a 54mm Finari to look like Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland. It's awesome. It looks great in your Jabberwocky diorama. And you post it to the Inspiration Gallery. It starts coming up in Google searches as Alice in Wonderland. Some marketing guy at Disney comes across it. "But wait," he says, "Reaper didn't license this property! What's it doing on their website?" In no time at all, it goes up the chain, Disney files a complaint, and Reaper's website is taken offline without so much as a Cease & Desist and certainly no hearing. And we didn't even post the content!

This scenario isn't far-fetched at all. Not under the SOPA and PIPA laws making their way through the US legislative process. I don't like to get political here, but bear with me, fans: our US audience needs to hear this. Our livelihood depends on it.

Sure, SOPA and PIPA are about stopping online filesharing, and I don't begrudge the owners of IP their protection. But the way this one is written is so broad, so easy to abuse, that any corporation with an axe to grind can take someone's website down with little recourse. If anyone, anywhere decides that content on a site violates someone's copyright, they'll be shut down and you'll be redirected to another page looking at the above graphic. And if the victim has the temerity to file suit, then the issue becomes a war of attrition with the winner being the legal team backed with the most money.

These are bad laws. They affect everone with a website. They affect everyone who uses the internet. And they don't begin to solve the problems they're intended to address. Call your US representatives as soon as you can. Don't assume somebody else is going to. Visit this page for more details on how to act and get involved. Here's a terrific analysis of the situation from a technical perspective. And a great movie to illustrate the issues as well.

It took me 15 minutes to call the Congress and House switchboards and let my representatives know how I feel. It's your turn.

Ah. That first release of the year. We had a great time for New Year's! We hope you did too, but now it's down to business. What better to kick things off than a resin and metal troll?



03553: Kallaguk, King of the Trolls (resin and metal) ($25.99)
by Jason Wiebe
painted by Michael Proctor



Beautifully detailed and fierce, this troll is a thing of beauty, if a troll can be a thing of beauty.

Here's the whole batch:

Dark Heaven Legends Heroic Scale Fantasy Miniatures
03553: Kallaguk, King of the Trolls (resin and metal) by Jason Wiebe ($25.99) [+1]
03592: Sea Priest of Dagon by Bobby Jackson ($8.99) [+1]
03597: Dalyn Talas, Elven Sword Mage by Matt Gubser ($6.49) [+1]
03598: George & Gracie, Zombies (2) by Bob Ridolfi and Julie Guthrie ($7.49) [+1]


Warlord Heroic Scale Fantasy Miniatures
14638: Shade Beast, Darkreach Monster by Kevin Williams ($6.49) [+1]


Chronoscope Modern Miniatures
50260: Xiufang, Femme Fatale by Patrick Keith ($5.99) [+1]


Officially Licensed Pathfinder Miniatures
60091: Jigeke the Exile, Mwangi Necromancer by Gene Van Horne ($7.29) [+1]


P-65 Heavy Metal Miniatures
65137: Shredd Bloodgill, Wereshark by Jason Wiebe ($8.99) [+1]
65138: Young Swamp Dragon by Kevin Williams ($9.79) [+1]


As always these are in the Online Store. Enjoy!

We have the last new release of the year on deck for you today. Plenty of strong figures from our fantasy lines and Chronoscope.

Check out Kevin Williams' Pharaoh Dragon. This cool monster is based on a design by Tim "Talin" Collier and painted by the talented Martin Jones. Pretty swanky, eh? You can find more painted shots in the gallery.

We also have a mere two days left for our 12 days of Christmas promotion. We saved the best two for last. Today, Echidnox, leader of the legion of Justice and Caeke! I get more emails asking about this guy, and whether or not someone can buy one. Sorry to say you still can't buy one, but if your order today exceeds $25 (USD, EURO, GBP, AUD) you'll get one included in your package.

Tomorrow, we have our very first ReaperCon Sophie. Why did we save this one for last? Well, in addition to being the first Con Sophie we ever produced, and being based on the artwork that graces the back of pretty much every one of our blister cards, this is the one that is the most rare. There are fewer 2004 reclining Sophies out in the wild than any other Sophie we've ever made. And she can be yours if you order tomorrow.

Finally, we're still running the Build Your Own Paint Set deal. 54 or 108 of the exact paints you need. But only 2 days remain to get 25% off the regular price.

Here are the releases:

Dark Heaven Legends
03593: Akar Nakhal, Pharaoh Dragon by Kevin Williams ($39.99) [+1]
03595: Mini Monsters (3) by Kevin Williams ($12.29) [+1]


Warlord
14634: Sinisthreax, Darkreach Warlord by Bobby Jackson ($11.79) [+1]
14648: Kragmarr Pummeler by Jason Wiebe ($5.99) [+1]


Chronoscope
50259: Mrrowl, Tigerian Merc by Patrick Keith ($11.19) [+1]
50261: Kawa, Sumo Wrestler by Jason Wiebe ($5.99) [+1]


Pathfinder
60093: Charau-Ka Warriors (3) by Patrick Keith ($9.49) [+1]
60098: Khalib, Runelord Apprentice by Patrick Keith ($7.79) [+1]
60099: Shalelu (version 2) by Patrick Keith ($6.99) [+1]


As always, these releases are in our online store here.

Press release time!

Playnet Inc. announced today that it has completed a licensing agreement with table-top game and miniature figure creator Reaper Miniatures to acquire exclusive rights to use all IP associated with two of their table-top games for use in design of video games. The license includes world-wide publishing rights for PC-based, online or console platforms to any video game based on "CAV: Strike Operations" and "Reich of the Dead." Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

The agreement includes the exclusive rights for the titles, logos, storyline and back stories, comics, rule sets, art work, characters and other elements from the original tabletop games, "Combat Assault Vehicle" (CAV) released in 2000, "CAV2" and their upcoming "CAV-Strike Operations". It also includes the new table-top game, "Reich of the Dead", scheduled to be released in April 2012 by Reaper Miniatures.

Commenting on the exclusive agreement, Jim Mesteller, Playnet's CEO said, "These settings, characters and stories developed by Reaper are a perfect fit for new, action-based, online games to be designed and developed by Playnet. These properties, including the longtime fan-favorite, "CAV", and their newest game "Reich of the Dead" provide fantastic content for Playnet to leverage.

The "CAV" universe is set in 2274 with a fragile galactic peace shattered. The second Galaxy War has started and every government is looking out for number one. Fueled by a decade of clandestine wars, secret agendas and unprecedented military preparation, the racial, religious and nationalistic governments across the galaxy have begun grabbing resources, nationalizing UCORs and Mercenaries and folding everything into vast war machines capable of intergalactic domination and destruction.

"Reich of the Dead" explores an alternate history of WWII with a group of German scientists experimenting on how to harness the energy of Dark Matter to power the Reich. The results are fantastic but horrifying with the rise of the undead threatening to overtake the Allied forces. Hordes of refugees have flooded into Allied camps telling tales of the dead coming back to life. Something has gone horribly wrong and zombie humanoids, known as "Kroids", are attacking with organized military efficiency.

About Playnet
Playnet Inc., a privately held corporation, was organized and started business operations in May 1999 and is located in the Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas. Playnet specializes in design and development of the full range of 3D technologies and development tools required to build and distribute, as well as operate, proprietary and 3rd-party multiplayer and massively multiplayer online games as part of its Internet-based, global games service. Playnet operates its own internal video game design and development studio which is responsible for game design and the entire development cycle from pre-release production through post-release feature updates and live-team support for game titles in all markets.

About Reaper Miniatures
Reaper Miniatures is a leading hobby and adventure industry company. Their primary focus is the design and manufacture of pewter miniature figurines, paint and accessories for hobbyist around the world. Founded in Fort Worth, Texas in 1992, Reaper Miniatures quickly established itself as a leader in hobby product design and production. From its inception, Reaper Miniatures has worked closely with artist, sculptors and writers to create a community of endless adventure for consumers around the world.

Announcing Reaper's 12 Days of Christmas. Starting tomorrow any order placed for $25 or more (USD, EUR, AUD, GBP) will receive the miniature of the day, free! These aren't just any miniatures, though. These figures are limited-edition-can't-buy-them-any-more-you-might-get-lucky-on-eBay kinds of figures. So, the schedule:

12/9: 01410: Babu (Tsunami Relief) by Jason Wiebe ($6.99)

12/10: 01502: ReaperCon 2005 Cowgirl Sophie by Bob Ridolfi ($9.99)

12/11: 01402: Magnus, Wizard of Hope by Werner Klocke ($3.99)

12/12: 01504: ReaperCon 2007 Sci-Fi Sophie by Werner Klocke ($9.99)

12/13: 01427: Platypod, Platypus Mage by Jason Wiebe ($12.79)

12/14: 01514: ReaperCon 2011 Adventure Sophie by Werner Klocke ($11.99)

12/15: P01517: Mr. Squiggles by Gene Van Horne ($0.00)

12/16: 01508: 2010 Convention Sophie by Gene Van Horne ($9.99)

12/17: 01512: Mousling Zombies and Chainsaw Hero by Gene Van Horne ($11.99)

12/18: 01503: ReaperCon 2006 Burbon Street Sophie by Bob Ridolfi ($9.99)

12/19: 01424: Echidnox, Hedgehog Hero by Jason Wiebe ($9.99)

12/20: 01501: ReaperCon 2004 Reclining Sophie by Gael Goumon ($9.99)


You place a $25 or more order on those days and you get the figure of the day. Simple. Why? Merry Christmas!



Not to be outdone, Krampus wanted to interject that from December 9-20, every Build Your Own Paint Set is going to be 25% off its list price. Regularly $184.99 and $329.99 for the 54 and 108 paint sets respectively, for the next twelve days, they're going to be $147.99 and $263.99! Each BYOPS contains exactly the paints you want from both Master Series Core Colors and HD and a durable plastic caddy to tote all your fantastic paint around in. If you were ever on the fence about diving into Master Series Paints, now is the time to hop down and see how fantastic our paints really are. Krampus Says.

Small print: The figures really are a gift for you. They come unpainted and unassembled. A day is defined from midnight to midnight here in Denton, TX CST (-6 GMT). If you can't figure out when to order, please ask someone to help you. Limit one figure per qualified customer per day.