Miniature figure | accessory:Dragon Lords: Battle Lords Fantasy Armies: Orcs, Army of the Black River

The use of miniature metal figures in traditional war gaming grew out of interest in and collecting of toy soldiers. In 1913 H.G. Wells authored "Little Wars," an explanation and demonstration of war gaming with miniature soldiers. Interest in war gaming grew during the 1970s, when many new games and manuals were published. Also at this time gamers Gary Gygax and David Arneson added another dimension to this type of play by developing Dungeons & Dragons (D&D), the first of the classic role-playing games. The figures, called optional in the rules, played a part in the earliest editions of D&D although they weren't necessary to enjoy the game. Devoted players soon began collecting, and then hand-painting, the tiny accessories. Manufacturers were quick to produce all the various races, monsters, and military types found in the role-playing game manuals. Chief among these manufacturers were the firms Ral Partha of Cincinnati, OH and Grenadier Models Inc. of Springfield, PA, (both incorporated in 1975). Grenadier even billed itself as "Your D&D Figure Company" in 1981 and '82, though D&D publisher TSR ended this when Grenadier began creating figures for other game publishers.