“Never put your trust in a con man”
Hasbro’s Dungeons & Dragons Golden Archive series of 6-inch collector-focused figures was built on the initial release of 2020’s Drizzt Do’Urden and Guenhyver set, and came into being on the back of the 2023 release of the new Dungeons & Dragons movie - Honor Among Thieves. This new collection kicked off with the odd release of the Gelatinous Cube and soon expanded into the first full wave of figures based on the movie characters.
Each figure is packed in a plastic-free windowless box with a top hanging tab and a corner angled off into a triangle a the top right, paying homage to the dice used playing D&D. The box is predominantly black with gold ornate trim surrounding the character image on the front and the logo with a picture of the figure and contents set into the front as an insert over the main image. To the left of the box is a larger image of the character, while the right side spine carries a brief character bio. The rear of the box includes a larger posed picture of the figure and further confirmation of the accessories as well as a QR code taking you to the DnD homepage.
Forge Fitzwilliam, is depicted in figure form in his Lord of Neverwinter finary starting off with a red tunic into which is sculpted an emerald pendant with gold surround. He is wearing a pair of blue trousers with knee-high dark grey boots. Over this sits an ornate golden long coat with relief scrollwork and patterns picked out in gold over the glossy brown base. Forge is also wearing a belt with a gold buckle and a blue necktie. The paintwork, where applied, is impressive - not just the coat, but also the detailing of the pendant even when it is mostly hidden by the neck scarf. Other jewelry detail is also evident on the hands with individual rings sculpted and then painted to finish Forge’s look.
The head sculpt is not quite at the standard of the Marvel Legends line which is currently leading the way on likeness across most of its MCU figures, but Forge does have a passing likeness to Hugh Grant a look that is more accurate from a side on position rather than looking at him head-on. Faceprint tech is used to colour the eyes and mouth, but there are no obvious additional skin tones to add definition and texture to what is quite a smooth face. Forge’s hair is well done with a grey base coat and lighter highlights around the sculpted side parting and front brushed fringe that has been Grant’s trademark look for many years.
The figure has a trio of accessories starting with a large crossbow. This is also relatively featureless and includes a brown central shaft, grey cross-section, and front ring. The bow itself is black and the trigger is a silver segment underneath the main body of the weapon. While this is all accurate in terms of shape vs. the prop, it is all too bulky and looks out of place with a 6-inch collector line.
Forge is also armed with a small knife, tucked away in a working holster beneath his coat. This is also relatively featureless with a simple handle and curved silver blade. The final accessory, the ornate chalice, is the best of the three pieces but is not the gold we are shown on the box and instead is a dull brown finish once unpacked. There are more details sculpted into this piece than the weaponry, but much of this is lost in the dull colour and lack of any additional highlighting or washes. It also feels oversized when placed into Forge’s hands.
The articulation count on Forge is 20 in total, all pinless and inclusive of double-jointed knees and elbows, butterfly joint shoulders, a ball joint waist, and a single neck joint. While the coat limits some movement, the articulation supports a good level of posing options with any of the three accessories including some of Forge’s more expressive mannerisms and poses from the movie. The bicep swivels are the weakest element with their shape cut as a flat line and not shaped like Marvel Legends, leaving them out of line when posed to turn the elbows or arms inward or outward.
The D&D figures are going to need time - time they may not get - to find their feet, and Forge is an example of a new line where certain aspects are absolutely nailed on like the coat decor, and other elements like the facial features are still not taking advantage of the techniques we are seeing on other Hasbro lines. This same issue was seen in the first Ghostbusters and Indiana Jones waves and is repeating itself with the D&D line. The accessories are poor for a fantasy line that is going to live or die by the quality of weaponry, armour, and costumes. Forge was also not a particularly engaging ‘enemy’ in the movie, with more ‘Toyetic’ potential in the Red Wizard characters he was allied with. Forge is currently on deep discount which is not great news for the line, but at half the RRP or more the line is certainly worth picking up fans of D&D in general or the movie itself.
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About Me : As a child of the 70's and 80's I grew up in a golden age for action figures and in my youth bought and sold myself through collections of Star Wars, G.I. Joe (Action Force) and M.A.S.K. while also dabbling in He-Man, Transformers and Ghostbusters. Roll forward and I am now reliving that Youth with the action figures of today and am a collector and fan of the larger 6-8 inch figures from my favourite movie and TV licences - including the ones mentioned above, but also the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Doctor Who and the Aliens. I launched The Mephitsu Archives in 2015 with a view of creating a UK focused site or these figures where fans can pick up the latest action figure news, read reviews and get information on where to buy their figures and what is currently on store shelves. I hope I am delivering that to you guys...