Rating: 
Summary: Good miniature rules, poor paint jobs
Review: There are several criteria by which I came to a 4 star judgement. Others may emphasize different aspects of the Harbinger miniatures - so it's important to know how I'm grading them.
1)Miniatures gaming system: the basic handbook that comes with the entry pack provides you with an important understanding of the skirmishes rules. The rules have been designed to facilitate much quicker battle resolution than with the more complicated combat system provided by the D&D RPG (unless you include too many combatants). The rules are for the most part understandable, with only a few complications. The miniatures are useful as a stand-alone product, and they come with their own statistic cards. (you can also play mass battles with the miniatures, rules are provided for that as well - but I have little personal interest in it)
AND These statistic cards can transform this stand-alone game into an accessory to your normal D&D RPG campaign to supplement battles - using the miniature battle system OR by using the reverse side of the stat card to use the miniature in the normal D&D combat rules.
2)Aesthetic: The miniature are POORLY painted, and are often bent (they are plastic, not metal). This upsets me given that I took great care to paint the old metal ones.
3)Randomization: For the old miniature players - its frustrating to not be able to custom assemble your army piece by piece. The current D&D miniatures come in randomized packs (much like Magic cards) - you don't know what you will get and you'll often be forced to trade to assemble armies to your satisfaction. This feature increases their collectibility, however and may be seen as a bonus rather than as a drawback (as I saw it).In all, I believe that the miniatures are fairly affordable when compared to their metal predecessors. Their stand-alone playability makes them increasingly worthwhile for those that have no interest in standard RPGs. Lastly, I find their combat rules to be well written and brilliantly devised, while still based on creatures appearing in the various monster manuals.
Rating:
Summary: Good miniature rules, poor paint jobs
Review: There are several criteria by which I came to a 4 star judgement. Others may emphasize different aspects of the Harbinger miniatures - so it's important to know how I'm grading them.
1)Miniatures gaming system: the basic handbook that comes with the entry pack provides you with an important understanding of the skirmishes rules. The rules have been designed to facilitate much quicker battle resolution than with the more complicated combat system provided by the D&D RPG (unless you include too many combatants). The rules are for the most part understandable, with only a few complications. The miniatures are useful as a stand-alone product, and they come with their own statistic cards. (you can also play mass battles with the miniatures, rules are provided for that as well - but I have little personal interest in it)
AND These statistic cards can transform this stand-alone game into an accessory to your normal D&D RPG campaign to supplement battles - using the miniature battle system OR by using the reverse side of the stat card to use the miniature in the normal D&D combat rules.
2)Aesthetic: The miniature are POORLY painted, and are often bent (they are plastic, not metal). This upsets me given that I took great care to paint the old metal ones.
3)Randomization: For the old miniature players - its frustrating to not be able to custom assemble your army piece by piece. The current D&D miniatures come in randomized packs (much like Magic cards) - you don't know what you will get and you'll often be forced to trade to assemble armies to your satisfaction. This feature increases their collectibility, however and may be seen as a bonus rather than as a drawback (as I saw it). In all, I believe that the miniatures are fairly affordable when compared to their metal predecessors. Their stand-alone playability makes them increasingly worthwhile for those that have no interest in standard RPGs. Lastly, I find their combat rules to be well written and brilliantly devised, while still based on creatures appearing in the various monster manuals.
Rating: 
Summary: Not a bad deal
Review: These miniatures are not great, but they are good because 1) you get a lot of them for the money.
2) The paint jobs are "ok"
3) You dont have to worry about them.
4) The base size tells you the size of the critter (s, m, l)
5) Like the other guy said, you throw them in a bag, and you dont have to carry around the figure case. I you want to paint the ultra detail figs, stick with the old ones. But if you dont want to worry about all that, and just have something to play with, buy these.
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