[KS] 48-hour : Archon's "D&L: Deuslair" with "Encounters" : 5 Leagues compatible

[ced1106]

Noticed a few "Five Leagues from the Borderlands" threads here, so figured I'd mention the Archon "Dungeons and Lairs 5: Deuslair" KS, which includes their previous D&L4: Encounters sets. If you're only looking for generic fantasy miniatures, the Deuslair miniatures are unlikely to be a good fit, although the Encounter sets are. Unfortunately, you have to take the Deuslair core set as part of your pledge, though the add-ons are about 1/2 off.

For 5L players, Deuslair includes unseelie fey and nature miniatures (easily proxied with elves and such, but difficult to otherwise match), which should be a good fit for the Ice Queen faction, particularly as Enemy Leaders. The core set has birdfolk and catfolk for your Preen and Feral Characters. If you pledge for the Super Stretch Goals, you'll get the ridiculously large fey Queen. The Elven Woods has not only trees, but a campsite for the Enemy Camp (and Enemy Hideout?) scenarios.

D&L4 backers received a Sample pack, so here're some pics. The hard plastic comes on sprues and I found it easy to cut, trim, and file, with easily removed mold lines. The pieces of the sample figures fit well, although some pieces from D&L4 are known to be difficult fits. (See the D&L Fan page on FB.) Reaper miniatures and Battle Systems "Village Set" cottage included for scale.

More pics: https://forum.reapermini.com/index.php?/topic/102890-archons-deuslair-sample-pack-and-elven-woods/#comment-2109053
KS: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/archonstudio/dungeons-and-lasers-v-world-of-deuslair-5e/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2418164861823205/

[robh]

....... If you're only looking for generic fantasy miniatures, the Deuslair miniatures are unlikely to be a good fit, although the Encounter sets are. Unfortunately, you have to take the Deuslair core set as part of your pledge, though the add-ons are about 1/2 off.......

This is why I did not back this campaign, which is first D&L kickstarter that I have passed on.
The figures are so specific that placing them in generic fantasy settings is not straightforward. I concluded the number I would probably never want to paint or use far outweighed the ones I would (which were mainly the add on Chaos figures).

After the various Reaper, Blacklist and even Archon's own previous sets the market is awash with cheap generic fantasy figures so I guess manufacturers struggle to find something different to stand out. But that in turn means the sets have a reduced audience in general, not an easy thing to balance.
Games like Wrath of Kings and Warlord suffered from this; mechanically good games but specific to selections of specific races, characters and armies. D&L's Deuslair will likely end up the same way.
Yes, you probably could find a way to use the figures in other games, or use generic figures in their specific rules and settings, but is it worth the hassle when better/easier options are already available.