The Dungeons and Dragons RPG system, by the end of the last century [how wild does that sound!], revolutionized both the world and the gaming market. It also firmly established itself in pop culture, thanks to books, video games, TV series, films, and countless references by other creators [e.g., Stranger Things]. Therefore, it was only a matter of time until we saw D&D in LEGO form.

This year, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Dungeons & Dragons, we received the Red Dragon’s Tale 21348 set as part of LEGO IDEAS. A little over a week ago, the entire series of 12 minifigures in the CMF 71047 set was also released.

I must admit, during the time when I regularly played RPGs, I was team Warhammer [out of necessity, not choice], so some of these dungeons will be new to me as well. But I’ll do my best not to lose myself or you in them.

I usually write CMF series reviews in the order of the leaflet, but this time I’ll make an exception. The RPG convention is too tempting, so I’ll divide the minifigures into player characters — good or neutral [marked in blue on the leaflet] — and Non-Player Characters [NPCs] — the evil/chaotic ones [marked in red]. In reality, I’ll only change the order of one minifigure.

Player Characters

The first thing that catches the eye when it comes to the D&D CMF series is the multitude of heads. As many as five figures have double heads: male and female. Each of the heads also has a double expression. This makes sense, considering the fact that when creating a character in the RPG system, we choose, among other things, gender and profession. The two figures from the “bad guys” also have a double expression.
This gives a lot of possibilities for toy photography. As do the accessories and prints, which most of the figures in this set are generously equipped with.

So it’s time to light the torches and enter the dungeons!

Dwarf Barbarian

For some, every dwarf is a barbarian, so what must a dwarven barbarian be? He/she’s certainly a fearless warrior and treasure hunter. A mighty axe aids him/her in battle, and a torch in his/her treasure hunts. The axe is a brand-new, fantastic design — very dwarvish. Although the minifigure itself is a bit “safe” and monochromatic, I’m sure its elements will be highly useful for creating other warrior minifigures.

Gith Warlock

This figure immediately catches the eye [pun intended!] with a black staff topped by a large eye. That eye is, for me, the apple of this set’s eye! But when we look closer at the minifigure itself, we also appreciate the stylish and mysterious spirals on the clothing, the equally mysterious pendant [probably magical], a pouch [possibly magical], and what looks like runestones [definitely magical!]. Clearly, this is a powerful and well-equipped master of magic.

Just in case magic fails, the Gith Warlock also carries a dagger — a new, sharp design. Or maybe it’s a ritual dagger? Anything is possible. The heads, with interesting patterns on the forehead and beneath the eyes, and the hair with elf-like pointed ears, are also very striking.

Since the head and ears are in the traditional LEGO yellow color, it gives you the opportunity to create non-licensed elf minifigures.

Tiefling Sorcerer

Tieflings, like the Gith mentioned above, are one of the original races inhabiting D&D worlds. The Tiefling stands out with impressive horns and a tail, giving them a somewhat diabolic character. While the Gith Warlock’s design and color scheme suggest they operate “in the field,” the Tiefling Sorcerer’s more subdued colors and attire suggest that this character is more likely to study arcane magic in the secluded tower [or dungeon, depending on preference]. But even in a tower, one must look good, so the torso, arms, and legs are adorned with rich gold details. The Tiefling Sorcerer also wields a material manifestation of a spell in the form of three energy blasts in trans-pink. This piece offers great potential for experimenting with light during photography.

However, the best accessory for this figure [again, a new design!] is the small dragon. Perhaps it’s a pet, an experiment, or a future weapon?
Or maybe all at once?

Dragonborn Paladin

“All at once” is the motto of the next minifigure: Dragonborn Paladin. Of course, everything is “the best” and better than the common folk. The paladin dazzles on all fronts. With their immaculate armor, so grand it borders on exaggerated.

The magnificent shield bears the likeness of Bahamut, the dragon king, a far stronger symbol of purity and peace than a white dove. The ornate mace, topped with an iridescent pommel, is also stunning. And finally, the impressive dragon head, with a scaled pattern around the eyes, mighty horns, and a wide, powerful jaw. Thanks to that jaw, the Dragonborn Paladin is the Giga Chad of this series. A true knight in shining armor, which, I’m certain, will be highly sought after by Castle series fans. For toy photographers like us, the interplay of light and reflections on the armor’s surface will be a joy to experiment with. And it all fits perfectly because, after all, a paladin serves the light!

Halfling Druid

A halfling druid is a natural choice, quite literally. After all, these creatures are chthonic in the most literal sense — they often live underground. I must admit, this is one of my favorite minifigures in this series. It has great heads and headgear, reminiscent of Hern the Hunter, with a bird companion that acts as additional eyes and ears. I also love the muted, earthy color scheme, pleasantly contrasted by the colors of the flower on the staff. But that staff… As the saying goes, the more crooked the staff, the more powerful the magic. It’s quite the opposite for “urban” mages. The straighter the staff, the greater the respect in the guild.

And those legs… I truly appreciate the designers’ effort to ensure the halfling is shorter than the dwarf, but I would have overlooked this inconsistency for better “poseability” of the minifigure. That being said, this figure, despite its height, is among the top for me in this series.

Aarakocra Ranger

Aarakocra [kudos for using at least two bird onomatopoeias and one bird species in the name!] is another race from the worlds of D&D. It’s a harpy-like hybrid of bird and human. Despite the relatively limited color palette, this ranger is an excellent minifigure. The new head mold is a little work of art, and the focused and determined expression perfectly suits the character. The new wings, with clearly defined feathers, look fantastic.

The torso design is exactly what I’d imagine for the proud and strong birdfolk race. A great detail is the cloak pin, which has a somewhat Nordic design. The puppy accompanying the ranger puzzles me a bit. I hope it’s indeed a companion for the Aarakocra, or maybe the bird-person is searching for someone’s lost dog. Because surely puppies aren’t on the Aarakocra’s menu, right? Right?

Elf Bard

Just as the halfling seems perfect for a druid, the bard is an ideal profession for an elf. And everything about this figure is “the best” [thank goodness it’s not an elven paladin!]. This figure is certainly not a wandering bard, drifting between wretched inns along muddy roads. No, this is a great artist, as evidenced by the scarf [made from some rare and expensive elven material] and the beautifully decorated lute [likely centuries old and possibly magical, crafted in an ancient elven workshop].

The intricately decorated vest also indicates that this is a highborn elf [are there even low-born elves?]. The image is slightly marred by the patch on the pants, but fortunately, it’s mostly hidden by the lute. Sometimes, an artist must defend their art [and/or purse], so the bard also has a rapier at hand. This is a very well-composed and harmonious figure.

Non-player characters

Time to peer into those darker, shadowy corners of the dungeons, from which sinister red eyes gleam!

Mind Flayer

Mind Flayers, also known as illithids, are powerful beings that literally and figuratively devour the minds of their victims. These creatures, undoubtedly inspired by the works of H.P. Lovecraft, truly embody blasphemous and indescribable horror. Or at least they should, because the minifigure version of the Mind Flayer is decent. Scary, but not as terrifying as it could be. One illustration I found online shows an illithid wrapping its tentacles around its victim’s head. I can imagine [I made a good sanity check!] the figure’s head with more splayed tentacles that could grasp another minifigure’s head. However, the designers, likely for various reasons, opted for a more compact shape. Perhaps it’s easier to produce, and maybe even elegant, but it’s still not quite scary enough.

The intellect devourer, on the other hand, makes a great impression, being an exceptionally fitting aberration of the doggie next to the illithid.

The mind flayer in the minifigure version is a bit of a mad scientist. And in my opinion it should be a mad scientist who is a psycho.

Strahd Von Zarovich

Let’s read that slowly. Strahd. Von. Zarovich. And from the Valley of Barovia, no less. This vampire lord in the world of D&D is made of stereotypes. And it’s no different with his minifigure version. Dominated by the color of dried blood, with prints that look like fur, jet-black hair, and ashen skin. Not to mention a large sword, a crystal goblet, and a rat. And it’s a rebellious rat, because, according to my 7-year-old daughter, any creature with red eyes is rebellious.

Well, Strahd himself probably didn’t rebel against his image.

He’s a model vampire from some forgotten, dark land in central-eastern Europe.

And that’s very good. Erm, that is, bad, very bad!

Lady of Pain

This is my second favorite minifigure in the series, even though I know almost nothing about the character it represents. And I’m not alone in that. Even D&D players know very little about this mysterious entity, which is said to be both extremely dangerous and utterly fascinating. What draws me to this figure is the impressive headpiece and the emotionless mask expression. There’s also something intriguing about the slightly insect-like shapes and textures of her richly detailed robe, which flows into a long cloak split into four strips.

The Lady of Pain holds a cube marked with the symbol of Arborea, one of the Outer Planes, which might be a portal to that dreamlike realm of excess and emotion. The Lady of Pain is the ruler of the city of Sigil. She is neither good nor evil, so the red color assigned to her on the leaflet feels a bit off. Also, in the actual lore, she’s much larger than a human, so she had to be scaled down for this minifigure version. Just don’t let anyone tell her that!

Szass Tam

I wonder how non-Polish players pronounce this necromancer’s name. But jokes aside, Szass Tam is no laughing matter. He’s insatiable—for power, control, and skeletons. And incidentally, he’s also my third favorite minifigure in the series. What’s captivating is that this necromancer still cares about elegance, even though his style involves showcasing an empty ribcage where the wind can blow through.

The color scheme, the ornate design of his robe and skull, that striking red skull and a swirling trail of magical energy—all these elements make this one of the best-designed figures in the series, right alongside the bard. And although he’s undead, there’s no shortage of energy radiating from him! Even if it’s evil energy!

Tasha the Witch Queen

Since I come from the Slavic cultural circle, I have a soft spot for all witches, sorceresses, and Baba Yagas. It’s no different when it comes to this minifigure. Witches are known for their beauty, so from under Tasha’s hat flows a wild mane of thick, dark orange hair. The face of this character is adorned on the right side with an Algiz rune, and on the left—a playful beauty mark. The ever-present belts, whether around the waist or on the sleeves, give this minifig strength and gravitas. In legends, witches are said to wear seven skirts, so perhaps in the D&D worlds, they have more belts?

Regardless, Tasha’s appearance lives up to her title as the Queen of Witches. Her insignia are equally powerful: a personal cauldron, from which a dark pink magical flame rises, and a book decorated with a magnificent pattern of astrological and occult origin.

Tasha has two facial expressions—one with a slight smirk, the other with a manic laugh. The manic laughter is also represented on the page of her magic book, since in D&D lore, Tasha created the powerful spell “Tasha’s Hideous Laughter,” which caused the victim to burst into uncontrollable laughter. A true magical ROTFL!

The only thing I miss in this minifigure is a skirt—a tattered, long piece of fabric that would give her more dynamism, much like in the illustrations depicting Tasha.

Before setting off on a journey, you need to gather a party

The above words, spoken at the start of the Polish version of Baldur’s Gate by the iconic actor Piotr Fronczewski, do a pretty good job of summarizing this latest CMF series. From these minifigures, you can assemble a solid team that can take on the villains in this set and/or encounter some of the more neutral characters along the way. And perhaps gain something from them—or lose it.
Depending on the roll of the dice.

This series is rich in prints, accessories, and facial expressions, like dungeons brimming with abandoned or hidden treasures. Sure, it has a few minor shortcomings, but overall, the creators rolled mostly natural twenties with this one.

The only thing I’m really missing is a wild, over-the-top dungeon master minifigure. Maybe that’s an idea for the next D&D series?

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