Again, I was slow to buy NECA’s Ultimate version of old Elkhorn (2023) the dwarf here. I’m just not excited about good guys. Then I got him and, he might actually be my favorite in the line so far.

Just in a measure of bits and pieces, he’s outclassing his predecessors: two heads (one annoyed, one stoic), seven hands, a longsword and sheath (Elkhorn was originally issued as a sword guy), a hand axe, his trademark round shield, dagger (for his belt sheath), backpack, crystal, the Heartstone, three additional two-handed weapons (battle axe and two hammers), a flaming torch and a clay jug of something good. I should note that all this stuff was intended as a sort of accessory pack for the whole line, but you can attach the sword in its sheath to the backpack, stick the heart and the crystal in the pack (it has a neat little design to close the flap), and hang the hand axe from the pack’s straps, affix the shield to the sword handle and have him carry the torch and the jug and he looks…perfect. The one hand is even sculpted to let him properly dangle the jug with a couple fingers. What an adventurer!

Curious to see where (and if) the line goes on from here. NECA issued Warduke, Strongheart, Zarak and Elkhorn in classic colorways and at a lower price (and fewer accessories) to celebrate the 50th anniversary of D&D. I did buy the Warduke, but held the line on the others. Only four more of the original designs seem interesting enough to Ultimate-ize — Kelek, Mercion, Ringlerun and the Ogre Lord. And maybe Metaflamme. I dunno! I’ll probably buy all of them, but maybe skip the wizards and just give me Mercion and the Hook Horror, if we’re really pickin’.