First Choice at the Table: What Are You Really Picking?

Every party has a beginning. Whether you’re planning your first adventure or expanding a well-worn campaign, there’s a decision to make early on: will your miniatures come to life by your hand, or arrive ready for battle?

Unpainted miniatures offer a blank canvas. They demand attention, time, and a bit of patience—but in return, they give you complete creative control. For many adventurers, painting your own miniatures becomes a ritual before the session begins, a chance to breathe personality into a paladin’s armor or bring a rogue’s cloak to shadow.

On the other side, pre-painted minis bring speed and simplicity. Pull them from the box, place them on the grid, and play. They work straight away for campaigns, one-shots, or even last-minute additions. For those who value convenience or consistency, collecting pre-painted RPG minis provides a reliable and visually pleasing solution.

There’s no wrong choice—but knowing what each path offers helps you start your quest the right way.

Time Is a Resource Too—How Much Can You Spare?

In any campaign, resources matter. Time might not be listed on your character sheet, but it’s still a limiting factor. With unpainted miniatures, what you gain in flexibility, you spend in hours at the painting table. For some, that’s part of the magic. For others, it’s a bottleneck that stalls the game.

The reality is: DnD painting vs buying is often less about cost, and more about the availability of your personal time. Do you have a few evenings a week to paint? Do you enjoy experimenting with dry brushing and washes? If so, you’ll likely enjoy the deeper connection that comes from preparing your own miniatures.

But if your game night is tomorrow and your party just decided to fight an owlbear, a painted model becomes a timesaver. Pre-painted minis offer speed without sacrificing style, making them great for both DMs and players who’d rather focus on storytelling and map-building than paint mixing.

Time spent painting = creative satisfaction.

Time saved with pre-painted minis = more sessions, less prep.

Which one weighs more for you?

Creativity in the Details: Do You Want Full Control?

There’s a quiet power in painting your own figure. Giving a character the same scar described in your backstory, matching the robe color to a god your cleric worships—these choices shape how the table sees your hero.

Painting your own miniatures means every inch of the figure can reflect your campaign. It’s personal, and no one else will have the same version. You can match paint schemes to your party’s theme, your map’s color palette, or even your DM’s twisted world.

But what if you’re not a painter, or just don’t want to repaint an entire model? That’s where customizing pre-painted miniatures comes in. You can swap a weapon, tint the eyes with a wash, or give a cloak a more sinister hue. You keep the convenience but add your mark. It’s a hybrid option for players who want their minis to stand out but don’t want to start from zero.

Creativity isn’t limited to a brush. Sometimes, a clever repurpose or a few painted accents make a miniature uniquely yours.

Gold, Gear, and Value: What’s Worth More to You?

In every village market, there’s a balance between coin and craft. Minis are no different. While unpainted figures usually cost less up front, they often require additional investment—paints, brushes, primer, varnish, and your time. But if you already have supplies and enjoy the process, it’s a solid trade.

With pre-painted miniatures, the cost is bundled in. You’re paying for someone else’s time and tools. But what you gain is speed, consistency, and table-readiness. If your campaign needs quick reinforcements, pre-painted is the reliable choice.

This is where DnD painting vs buying becomes a long-term decision. Are you building a curated collection over months, or do you need an army now for a siege encounter on Friday night?

It’s also worth looking at the variety. Some players search for DnD miniatures to buy not just by class or race, but by visual presence. Mystery Boxes, like the ones at RPG Guild, can offer a trove of minis—both painted and unpainted—at a better value than picking them one by one.

Money = materials or time saved.

Miniature painting = investment in art or immersion.

What’s the better reward in your bag of holding?

Who You Are as a Player (and Painter)

Your choice of miniature style often reflects where you are in your DnD journey. Beginners often lean toward pre-painted models—not because they lack interest, but because the painting process feels overwhelming at first. That’s totally fair. Pre-painted minis remove the pressure and let you focus on building characters and understanding rules.

For players who’ve spent a few campaigns around the table, painting can become an extension of play. It’s not just what happens on the board, but before the session starts. If you’ve ever caught yourself sketching your character between games or thinking about how to match your monk’s cloak to your map terrain, painting your miniatures might feel like a natural next step.

Still in between? That’s where customizing pre-painted miniatures can help. Maybe you repaint the base, change the weapon color, or dull down bright armor. It’s enough to give your mini a unique touch without diving head-first into hobby mode.

You don’t have to be an artist. You just have to know how you want your hero—or your villain—to be seen.

Building a Collection That Feels Yours

Ask any veteran DM: eventually, you build a collection. Whether it starts with one dwarf fighter or a full goblin warband, it grows. The challenge? Finding models that fit your story—and your style.

Unpainted miniatures offer more unique sculpts, especially for custom characters. If you need a lizardfolk bard with a flute and a backpack, chances are you’ll find it unpainted. And at RPG Guild, you’ll even find options not listed anywhere else, especially if you explore our Mystery Boxes.

That said, collecting pre-painted RPG minis has its own appeal. They’re display-ready, transport well, and make it easy to populate a battlefield quickly. Many collectors mix both styles—pre-painted for common NPCs and monsters, hand-painted for player characters and campaign bosses.

When choosing DnD miniatures to buy, think about your world. Are you building a desert city filled with gnoll merchants? A gothic forest crawling with undead? Your miniatures should support the flavor of your setting, not just fill space on a map.

Your minis are your toolkit—and the right ones make your world feel real.

So, Which Miniatures Belong in Your Story?

Here’s the honest answer: both types of miniatures have their place.

• Painting your own miniatures is great for players who enjoy crafting, creativity, and the satisfaction of bringing something to life.
• Collecting pre-painted RPG minis is perfect for those who want quick, clean models that don’t require extra prep.
• Customizing pre-painted miniatures is a flexible option when you want to add your touch without starting from scratch.
• And when you’re exploring DnD miniatures to buy, don’t forget about the element of surprise—Mystery Boxes give you a chance to discover figures you didn’t know you needed.

Whether you’re a player, a DM, or just someone who loves the world of fantasy roleplaying, the goal is the same: create unforgettable moments on the tabletop. The right miniatures help bring your campaign to life.

So ask yourself: are you building your party with a brush, or with a draw from a mystery box?

Either way, RPG Guild has over 4500 figures waiting to join your story.