I wish I knew. I'm not a fan of chase figures at all, and the Icons of the Realms line leans into them really heavily.

Given that the Pathfinder minis line comes from the same manufacturer and doesn't play those games, I'd guess that WotC would need to exercise control as the licensor to get them to stop.

Has anyone tried painting them? I've never painted a thing, but maybe after a coat of primer, you'd be able to come out with something nice. Can't think of any other use for them... (well, okay, I have one or two as ghosts but they're kinda lame ghosts.)

I haven't. I'd imagine even a quick drybrush of white would make the details really pop, but the idea of painting any of my pre-painted minis (even the ones that aren't really painted) makes my collector's soul cry a little. :-)

I'm 50/50 on 'em. If I wanted the figure I'd be fine painting it, but of the two I've gotten so far I have a Hommet Shaw without the matching painted mini, and no real desire for another spell caster mini even with a matching invisible version.

But the other is the Halfling Rogue and I had the painted versions from one of the starter sets so now I have a Hobbit with a ring. Or maybe just a Halfling with an imaginary friend so who knows. where this will go?

I did pass on one of the sets because of the preponderance of "invisible" figures though maybe they'll get the message. I think it would be a REALLY good idea if they made sure that if you got the invisible that the same box had the painted version. I think folks would hate them less that way.