For many gamers, fun is inseparable from moving painted miniatures around the table.
That might mean a band of orcs discovered in a dungeon room by a party of adventurers, or players maneuvering a carefully assembled band of heroes across a battlefield in one of the many miniature-focused games out there. In the end, the specific ruleset often matters less than the miniatures themselves.
While some games require specific models, many allow—and encourage—creativity in what players put on the table. If you’re a gamer who enjoys building and painting, a visit to heliostabletop.ca is well worth your time.
Helios produces boxes of outstanding themed miniatures, drawing from Egyptian mythos, Hordes of the Inferno, goblins, kobolds, and more. I’ve reviewed several Helios boxes in the past, and this week’s focus—Savages in the Swamp—is an absolute standout, in an “angry critter” sort of way.
This set features a band of lizardfolk led by the imposing Dreadjaw, supported by seven weapon-wielding underlings. As with every Helios box I’ve encountered so far, the miniatures come in dynamic, battle-ready poses and require minimal prep work before priming and painting.
This is the kind of box that will have game masters drooling. The models slot effortlessly into traditional D&D campaigns, but they’d be just as at home in a bayou setting, a jungle adventure, or any scenario where a dash of the strange feels right. It’s hard to imagine a GM not finding a way to work these lizardfolk into a memorable encounter.
Helios also helps by including scenario ideas and basic stat suggestions, all of which are easily tweaked to suit your preferred system or power level.
In past Helios box reviews, I’ve suggested that the company consider developing a dedicated ruleset designed to pit one box against another in a standalone skirmish game. Dreadjaw and his crew only reinforce that view—they’d make an ideal miniature battle group. So, Helios, please keep thinking about it.
Ultimately, Savages in the Swamp is my favorite Helios box set to date.
About Author
Calvin Daniels is a Saskatchewan-born, self-taught journalist. He is currently Editor of Yorkton This Week, with 35-years in the newspaper business.
Helios Lizardfolk Are the Best “Encounter Box” to Date
That might mean a band of orcs discovered in a dungeon room by a party of adventurers, or players maneuvering a carefully assembled band of heroes across a battlefield in one of the many miniature-focused games out there. In the end, the specific ruleset often matters less than the miniatures themselves.
While some games require specific models, many allow—and encourage—creativity in what players put on the table. If you’re a gamer who enjoys building and painting, a visit to heliostabletop.ca is well worth your time.
Helios produces boxes of outstanding themed miniatures, drawing from Egyptian mythos, Hordes of the Inferno, goblins, kobolds, and more. I’ve reviewed several Helios boxes in the past, and this week’s focus—Savages in the Swamp—is an absolute standout, in an “angry critter” sort of way.
This set features a band of lizardfolk led by the imposing Dreadjaw, supported by seven weapon-wielding underlings. As with every Helios box I’ve encountered so far, the miniatures come in dynamic, battle-ready poses and require minimal prep work before priming and painting.
This is the kind of box that will have game masters drooling. The models slot effortlessly into traditional D&D campaigns, but they’d be just as at home in a bayou setting, a jungle adventure, or any scenario where a dash of the strange feels right. It’s hard to imagine a GM not finding a way to work these lizardfolk into a memorable encounter.
Helios also helps by including scenario ideas and basic stat suggestions, all of which are easily tweaked to suit your preferred system or power level.
In past Helios box reviews, I’ve suggested that the company consider developing a dedicated ruleset designed to pit one box against another in a standalone skirmish game. Dreadjaw and his crew only reinforce that view—they’d make an ideal miniature battle group. So, Helios, please keep thinking about it.
Ultimately, Savages in the Swamp is my favorite Helios box set to date.
About Author
Calvin Daniels
Calvin Daniels is a Saskatchewan-born, self-taught journalist. He is currently Editor of Yorkton This Week, with 35-years in the newspaper business.
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