The best and worst part of this line is that you can see what you are buying and that there is no variance in the packages. If you want a Dwarf Paladin, you can buy the pack that features that, instead of opening up randomized packs, hoping to find it. If you do not need another Dwarf, but a miniature you do want shares the same package as the Dwarf, you have no choice but to get it as well. I think this is a purely psychological drawback, as it is still a better deal from the random pack.
Another good and bad thing is the wide array of race and class combinations. The Tiefling Fighter (a poor combination) exist in the same package as the Shifter Ranger (a great combination). I like it that the line is appealing both to obvious combinations as well as weak combinations. Some of the biggest requests I have heard for this line is giving new players (or those with little spending cash) quick access to traditional concepts like Human Barbarians, as well as requests for miniatures that do not exist, like Halfling Barbarians.
Perhaps the most frustrating part of this line's packaging is the widely different quality of miniatures in a package. Looking through them, it seems that each package has one miniature that has great sculpting and a good paint job that I would love to own for the sake of having it. The other miniatures are often a let-down, with boring poses and sloppy paint-jobs. I have been told that the 2009 line cannibalized miniatures from previously-released sets, as well as randomized sets that were to be released in 2009, but were cancelled. Still, I have a bad feeling that the "1 great, 2 mediocre" packaging may be a permanent feature.
Arcane Character 3 came from the second expansion of this line, and I think it is the best single package yet. All three miniatures (Female Human Wizard, Male Human Swordmage, and Warforged Artificer ) are great buys for their sculpting, paint jobs, and general usefulness as miniatures.
As race and class combinations go, this package is very solid. Humans make very good Wizards. That extra at-will means the ability to do area attacks, close attacks, and ranged attacks. A Swordmage, who has a variety of different modes of attacking (melee, ranged, etc.), can make good use of a Human's third at-will. Warforged are not the best Artificers, but like the Tiefling Infernal Warlock, the negligible racial bonus to play the character is outweighed by the flavour of the race-class combination. Even if you do not use these miniatures for 4th Edition (or even D&D), they make sense enough for most fantasy archetypes.
Each miniature was worthwhile to buy on its own merit. Their power cards are a nice bonus
Female Human Wizard
Fans of the Forgotten Realms will recognize this figure as a Hathran, a female arcane-user located in the Unapproachable East. Her metal mask hides a head with long flowing black hair, and her blue cloak barely hides her sex appeal. This miniature is wielding a staff, so PC Wizards who utilize wands, orbs, or tomes may not find her appropriate.
Keep in mind that any class that uses a staff (Sorcerer, Druid, Psion, etc.) could be appropriate for this miniature. Although I have no immediate plans for using her, I do feel she would make a great NPC, even outside of a Forgotten Realms campaign.
Power Card: Refocus (Wizard Utility 6) This power allows you to swap a Daily or Utility power you have in your spellbook with a power of the same type (Daily/Utility) and same level, and get a bonus on any attack you make with it. A great power for Wizards with Expanded Spellbook, or to expand the theme of Wizards who have taken "Tome of Readiness" Arcane Implement Mastery from "Arcane Power"
Male Human Swordmage
Wielding a sword in one hand and a spellbook in another, this miniature is a great capturing image of what the Swordmage represents. His brown armour suggest a subtle personality, one who does not care for glamour.
This miniature may be even better as a representation for Wizards who train to use Swords. While Swordmages have the option of using Spellbooks, not every one does, so this mini, with its book at its side, may not represent your Swordmage perfectly. However, it does fit the bill of a lightly-armoured sword-wielding character.
Power Card: Frostwind Blade (Swordmage At-Will 1) This power works similarly to Cleave. When you hit with it, you can deal cold damage to another creature, provided you have marked it. GIven that the Swordmage marks as a minor, this trick can work well to kill off minions. It also makes a nice combo for Half-Elf Wardens taking their Dilettante power.
Warforged Artificer
Of the three, this miniatures has the poorest sculpting and paint jobs. But for some weird reason, that is what makes it my most favourite. It looks like a traveling peddler, hunched over with its shelf of scrolls on its back and bandolier of baubles as a belt. Its rod and admixture in his hand looks like a paint brush and bottle. The gigantic nature of its shoulders makes its head look small and stuck facing forward. There's so much going on with this sculpt that it feels like a real person instead of the dime-a-dozen hero sculpts. It captures the feel of what an Artificer would look like, especially one that is a construct.
Power card: Unbalancing Force (Artificer At-Will 1). Similar to Ray of Frost, this ranged attack hits a foe at range, then sets up the next hit on the foe to push it back 1 square. It has a better than average damage out-put for an at-will, and has some tactical usage that an immediate push effect would not have (EX. triggering the push off on a opportunity attack, using it to push the foe away from a weak PC after it approached it, etc.)
Conclusion: Arcane Character 3 is the best package so far released for the "Player's Handbook Heroes" line. This package does not suffer from the worst parts of this line's packaging. It is fairly adaptable amongst classes for its use. The miniatures are ones I would use to represent a PC, or just have them standing on a shelf.
