Category Archives: Dungeons & Dragons Monsters

Reaper Bones 44098: Chaos Toad Savage (D&D Monster Manual 85: Not-Slaad) (Monster MAYhem ’23)

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Reaper Bones 44098: Chaos Toad Savage (D&D Monster Manual 84: Not-Slaad)

What the actual Frog is this thing? Well, aside from being my first submission for the Monster MayHem ’23 painting challenge, it’s something called a Chaos Toad Savage. In response, you might say something like this:

Firstly, dumbass. I can read. I saw that name up top in the header of the post.

Secondly. That doesn’t exactly explain what the hell a “Chaos Toad Savage” really is. Or does. Or why. Where it fits in. Or to what. Capiche?

Reaper Bones 44098: Chaos Toad Savage (D&D Monster Manual 84: Not-Slaad)

Well, I mean.. it’s a Reaper model, innit? We all know that Reaper produces several genres of models – Sci-Fi/Chronopia, Modern, Licenced Pathfinder Fantasy, “Generic” Fantasy – leaning hard into “Not-D&D” models, and then batshit random models.

Reaper Bones 44098: Chaos Toad Savage (D&D Monster Manual 84: Not-Slaad)

I figure that this thing fits into one of the last two of those categories. Given it’s rather large size, I don’t feel like it’s a “Were-Toad”, and I can’t seem to find something like a “Dire Toad” in D&D. If any of the more D&D-knowledgable readers out there recognise what this thing is supposed to be, please speak up and I’ll adjust the post! 🙂

edit – thanks to reader Xander for pointing out that the model is most likely a “Slaad” proxy – which is kinda embarassing for me – not because I know much about D&D but because I have a couple of unpainted Slaad models here, one of which is even next to the painting desk. Thanks again, Xander! 🙂

Reaper Bones 44098: Chaos Toad Savage (D&D Monster Manual 84: Not-Slaad)

As far as the painting, this model was originally assembled, based and spray-primed over a year ago for this very challenge, though the 2022 edition. So a few days ago I decided to get rid of the thing by painting it out of the plastic storage tub and off the desk. I took a look at some pics of toads and settled on the kind of mottled look. Not bad for a first attempt at something like that, though I can see where I’d do some of it differently next time.

Reaper Bones 44098: Chaos Toad Savage (D&D Monster Manual 84: Not-Slaad), Reaper Miniatures 50153 Berkeley Zombie Survivor

Which is really the biggest use (for me) of these random models – low-stress experimentation of new ideas and techniques and patterns. What will I actually use this thing for? Uh… the best thing I can think of is as “something Nurgle” in either Sigmar or 40k.

WizKids WK73554 Deep Cuts Miniatures Wild Boars (D&D Monster Manual 84)

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WizKids WK73554 Deep Cuts Miniatures Wild Boars

So not exactly heavyweight monsters from the old Dungeons and Dragons catalogue this post – instead we have a pair of piggies. The WizKids Deep Cuts Wild Boar Miniatures to be exact.

“But why..” You might rightly ask “..are you buying and painting piglet models?”

The answer is pretty simple – it’s part of my “shoring up” of the Drizzt set before I plunge back into the depths of painting the next of these D&D Adventure System Boxed sets.

WizKids WK73554 Deep Cuts Miniatures Wild Boars, Athrogate

As regular readers will know, I’m not exactly a D&D lore expert, but it seems that our Dwarf friend Athrogate from the set has a friendly boar companion that the Drizzt box provides in the form of a card token. As I’m sure you’ll understand, I could not let such an affront stand, and so I spent a few bucks on this set of Two Little Piggies so I could, erm, plug that gap.

Apparently Athrogate’s Boar is AKSHULLY called “Snort”, is summoned from something called a figurine of wondrous power”, is large enough for him to ride on, and is actually a summoned Hellboar. And yes, I did read all of those details after purchasing and painting these two. All I can do in response is point to these models and say the words “Look! Piggies!” I mean, still better than a cardboard token, amirite?