THE HISTORY OF MINIATURES IN RPGS
We so often associate miniatures with tabletop wargaming and other titles that need to be played within a physical environment. But miniatures have been just as much a part of roleplaying games as they have wargames. Here we cover the basics of their foundation to today
Players have always wanted a physical representation of the campaign they are playing. For some, it’s easier to make choices or guide a party, if the adventure is playing out in front of them. Miniatures are fantastic for helping us create our RPG characters, and bring them to life in unexpected ways. The history of miniatures within the RPG genre is therefore rich and varied, and they have been intrinsic to its journey.
ORIGINS IN WARGAMING
The concept of wargaming far predates the notion of a roleplaying game. Many point to ancient iterations of chess, like chaturanga, as one of the earliest wargames since it takes on the same tactical manoeuvres while simulating basic battles. By simply adding character archetypes and narrative beats to these wargames, players were actually helping to create very early versions of what would later become RPGs. Some may remember a title called Chainmail, for example, a heavily modified wargame that acted as a vital precursor to modern RPGs.
Miniatures are vital within wargaming, and in theory, minis were therefore around at the birth of the RPG genre. The only difference was that rather than focusing on just the abilities of these minis and what they could contribute to a squad, these figures were suddenly given motivations and personalities of their own. As the genre continued to evolve, those minis from prior wargames became multi-purpose.
THE D&D EFFECT
The first commercial roleplaying game that was widely available to buy was Dungeons & Dragons, which launched in 1974. Although other rulesets and concepts existed before D&D, it was this iconic game that redefined the genre as we know it today. The title didn’t boast any specific licensed miniatures when it first launched, so fans began making their own or repurposing the minis they already owned.
Those wargaming characters would come into use again, and other objects like toy dragons, or fantasy figures, were all brought into campaigns. Some companies even started to sell unofficial minis for players to adapt to their campaigns. It wasn’t until 1977 that Dungeons & Dragons would receive officially licensed minis from the company Minifigs. But another title actually laid the groundwork for that very idea before D&D could set the standard…
WHITE BEAR AND RED MOON
White Bear and Red Moon was a fantasy roleplaying game launched soon after D&D and was created by Chaosium. The title is certainly worth revisiting, but what makes it particularly interesting is that the 1975 game could be expanded upon with officially licensed miniatures. It seems that White Bear and
Red Moon were the first to do this, using the company Archive Miniatures to craft metal minis that lived within the fictional world of Glorantha.
Archive Miniatures would become the go-to establishment for fans, creating minis for franchises like RuneQuest, Star Wars, Middle-earth, and even Dungeons & Dragons, before eventually going out of business. Without their stellar work, the rest of the industry might not have been quite so keen to get in on the miniature game.
MINIATURES TODAY
Today, most major RPGs are accompanied by licensed miniatures in some form or are designed to repurpose minis from other similar titles. The industry around RPG miniatures has grown beyond expectations, with a focus on game board design, scenery and terrain, monsters, weapons, fictional items, and other such campaign elements. Players have fallen in love with the idea that their characters and worlds can be represented right in front of them, and the custom community is now a huge part of that movement.
Despite sometimes being viewed as an unnecessary add-on to RPGs, miniatures were actually vital to the birth of the genre. Their history may be complex, but their value to some players is undeniable.