Also, I believe it was mentioned that store packs would come only with magnets installed...

The Dungeon Level pledges didn't really have anything to do with packaging, so I suspect you'll get individual encounters for sale. The exception will be Lava Bridge, which is so large they split it in to sections. Howver, I do not think they'll split encounters in to their component boxes; the enco...

As a non-KS2 owner, I'm actually good with this - because I'll go out to the DF store between now and next year to buy KS2 sets to expand on an Essentials 1-11 pledge. I get bling and variety without breaking the bank on what are not-so-basic pieces - even the basics here are extra detailed and not ...

Grumm - still have a few lying around...

Nice look! The extra bling of vaulting and pillars really allows painters to customize their sets in new ways.

I'll be getting mine Monday. Hopefully you won't have to wait that long for someone to answer...

Just got my shipping notice for 110lbs. of Doom-y goodness! Monday arrival, which I guess I get to redirect to work so I can sign for it.

There is no easy answer to extending the Essentials packages to cover multiple Encounters at once, other than the combinations they list. There are fewer core pieces in the Universal packs than in the Core packs, and possibly fewer specialty packs than you'd get by selecting the full encounters. So ...

The Ice Walls and Ice 45 corner are translucent, but the rest of the Ice Catacombs are just a special paint job.

IMHO you won't have a great idea without some study and maybe some patient waiting. If you're looking for generic pieces you might want to BYOD with mostly core pack add-ons, or even a few KS6 add-ons and some KS2 sets when they're restocked. Pledge about what you'd like to spend now to help with un...