Hoard of the Dragon Queen Chapter 1: Miniatures

If you plan to run Hoard of the Dragon Queen with miniatures, here are a few suggestions on what you might use and how many you’ll need in Chapter 1.  The counts are based on the maximum number you’re likely to need at one time, not the total that appear in the chapter.

NPCS

Castellan Escobert the Red

Dwarf Maulfighter (Desert of Desolation 4).

Unfortunately, this miniature doesn’t have a red beard.
Unless, of course, you repaint it.

 

Eadyan Falconmoon

Village Priest (Angelfire 12).

 

 

 

Governor Tarbaw Nighthill

Purple Dragon Knight (Dragoneye 7) or
Dragon Knight (Dungeon Command: Heart of Cormyr)

 

 

Langdedrosa Cyanwrath, Half-Blue Dragon

Half-Red Dragon Fighter (Tyranny of Dragons 36).

You’ll just have to pretend he’s blue.  There don’t appear to be any good prepainted miniature options for a half-blue dragon/dragonborn short of painting one yourself.

 

Lennithon, Adult Blue Dragon

Blue Dragon (D&D Attack Wing).

Although a bit small, I like the Attack Wing version of this Blue Dragon because it can be made to fly high over the battlefield by adding multiple pegs (something that’s not possible with the Tyranny of Dragons version).

 

Linan Swift, her husband, and children

Healer (Archfiends 9)
Man with Hoe (Reaper Townsfolk V)
Townsfolk Children (Reaper)

These reaper minis are metal, not plastic.

 

 

 

Sergeant Markguth

 Human Fighter (Dungeons of Dread 35 or 4eGD4/5 Promo)

 

 

 

Other Creatures

Acolyte (x1)

Doomdreamer (Legendary Evils 11) or
Cultist of the Dragon (Archfiends 48)

 

 

Ambush Drake (x2)

Guard Drake (Tyranny of Dragons 22).

There is no official 5th Edition Ambush Drake miniature, but the Ambush Drake will do in a pinch.  And for the ambitious, you can always repaint it.

 

Cultist (x7)

Doomguard (Bloodwar 47)
Shadar-Kai Warrior (Lord of Madness 42)

The cultists are described as not wearing any particular regalia and are made up of, at least in part, mercenaries.  These minis seem to fit the bill.

 

Dragonclaw

Cult of the Dragon Enforcer (Tyranny of Dragons 20)

Mostly matches the picture on page 71 of Hoard of the Dragon Queen, makes you wonder why the miniature got a different name.

 

Female Prisoner

Prisoner (Promo repaint D&DC54) or
Prisoner (Night Below 40)

 

 

Guard (x4)

Caravan Guard (Angelfire 1)

 

 

 

Keep Defenders (x20+)

Sharn Redcloak (Demonweb 44)
Human Town Guard (Lords of Madness 22)
Dalelands Militia (Archfiends 2)
Greyhawk City Militia Sergeant (Night Below 13)
Human Crossbowman (Dragoneye 5)
City Guard (Giants of Legend 23)

A selection of guard miniatures to man the battlements of the keep.  Want their stats to match the minis?  Add the following to the Guard statblock:

Armor Class: 16 (chain shirt, shield) or 14 (no shield).

Longbow.  Ranged Weapon Attack:  +3 to hit, range 150/600 ft., one target.  Hit:  5 (1d8 + 1) piercing damage.

Glaive/Halberd.  Melee Weapon Attack:  +3 to hit, reach 10ft., one target.  Hit:  5 (1d10 + 1 slashing damage).

Crossbow.  Ranged Weapon Attack:  +3 to hit, range 80/320ft., one target.  Hit:  5 (1d8 + 1) piercing damage.

Longsword.  Melee Weapon Attack:  +3 to hit, reach 5ft., one target.  Hit:  5 (1d8 + 1 slashing damage or 6 (1d10 + 1) slashing damage if used two-handed.

Kobold (x22)

Kobold Slinger (DDM4 27)
Kobold Fighter (Tyranny of Dragons 5)
Kobold Soldier (Angelfire 44)
Kobold Skirmisher (Dragoneye 35)

A majority of the time you won’t need more than 5 or so kobolds, but the “Sanctuary” mission involves 22.  Although the Kobold stat block is statted out with slings and daggers, I chose to include minis bearing spears/javelins and bows for variety.

If you want the stats to match the minis, just add the following:

Javelin.  Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5ft or range 30/120, one target.  Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage.

Shortbow/Crossbow.  Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, range 80/320, one target.  Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage.

Winged Kobold (x1)

Dragonwrought Kobold(Dragon Queen 32)

 

 

 

Swarms of Rats (x2)

Rat Swarm (Pathfinder Skull & Shackles 2) or
Rat Swarm (Savage Encounters 28)

I prefer the paint job and the sculpt of the Pathfinder miniature, but the flatter D&D mini makes it possible to slip the figure underneath another when they’re sharing the same space.

Townsfolk (x6+)

Anirion Wood Elf (Reaper Bones)
Balto Burrowell Gnome Wizard (Reaper Bones)
Juliette Female Sorceress (Reaper Bones)
Lem Iconic Bard (Reaper Bones)
Mother With Children (Reaper Bones)
Townsfolk: Innkeeper (Reaper Bones)
Townsfolk: Blacksmith (Reaper Bones)
Townsfolk: Grandmother (Reaper Bones)
Townsfolk: Village Rioter (Reaper Bones)
Townsfolk: Strumpet (Reaper Bones)
Townsfolk: Undertaker (Reaper Bones)
Townsfolk: Wench (Reaper Bones)
Man with Hoe (Reaper Townsfolk V)
Man with Sickle (Reaper Townsfolk VIII: Village Mob)
Woman with Rolling Pin  (Reaper Townsfolk VIII: Village Mob)
Man with Pitch Fork (Reaper Townsfolk VIII: Village Mob)

The Reaper Bones minis are great for when you need to throw in a few townsfolk (“Seek the Keep”, “Wandering Encounters”, “Sanctuary”).  Since they are unnamed NPCs I just use the unpainted miniatures.

The non-Bones minis in the list are made of metal.