Approach to minis - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Approach to minis

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
eberg
Apr 18, 2010 0:28:03 I understand that there isn't a lot of money in selling individual minis, but I'd love to see themed packs of minis instead of the current random sets. A set of goblins, a set of elementals, a set of angels, a set of devils. Each pack would cover a type of creature, a single of solo and elite monsters, a couple of each standard, and four of each minion. Even split them by power level (heroic elementals, paragon elementals, epic elementals). It would make purchasing for what you are planning on doing much easier, be much more useful for the players, and avoid the single packs for anything but huge or larger minis.

I mean, seriously, who couldn't use a set of orcs? 4 Warriors, 4 Drudges, 2 Raiders, 2 Berserkers, 2 Eyes of Gruumsh, 1 Chieftain, and 1 Bloodrager. 16 minis, make it $25-$30. You could even genericize it a bit. Orcs in light armor, orcs in heavy armor, orc leaders, orc spellcasters. Seriously, my group isn't picky that they can pick out from the mini the difference between four different types of skeletons.

Anyway, what do folks think?
#2
Duke5150
Apr 18, 2010 0:57:41 The details would need to be better refined, but yes, I completely support this. Although I would want more than a single elite in a package. I'd much rather have encounter groups.
#3
joydyhee
Apr 18, 2010 6:49:00 I also support this, especially since the minis game is gone and WotC has said the focus is now on RPing.

I usually buy some random packs when a new set comes out, do most of my shopping in the third-party singles market, and recently started picking up War Machine and Warhammer minis for either unique solos (Thagrosh) or to flesh out my commons (skeletons).

I have slowed a bit with gaming, so I have taken to assembling/painting minis to suit my needs when I need them. I know everyone does not have or want this option, and I would like WotC-specific packs (especially for the solos), but I am willing to do this until such time that they decide it is a good idea to make them.
#4
603
Apr 18, 2010 11:43:41 I don't think WotC is capable of making packs like that. From what I remember, they've done the random packs for every single miniatures-related game they've released, going back almost ten years. From hearing talk of D&D Encounters, I have a hunch they're just going to keep going with business as usual.

Personally, I'm going to be using Warhammer, Reaper, and Crocodile minis for almost everything. I'd rather be able to pick just which minis I'm going to be using for what, instead of having to shell out a ton for a lot of junk.
#5
thax
Apr 18, 2010 12:46:13 One of the main reasons D&D minis are not doing well is the price. Used to be, you could get 8 minis for the price point, now it is five, with one visable for the same price. The PHB packs, which had 3 visable minis for a slightly lower price, was more still for the individual mini.

Those that had minis already simply didn't buy the newer packs, seeing that they would get less for the same amount of money, and would not even get "rules cards" for the now defunct game. (You get character/monster stat cards instead) It simply was not worth it.

I see the future of the minis going completely within the Heroscape line, with several packs being the "heroes" line.
#6
Authw8
Apr 18, 2010 18:03:09 Maybe it would be best if they switched to an online model. Then they don't have to deal with the stocking and shelf space issues that have plagued minis for years. They could even maintain the whole rarity thing by making you buy sets of 5 or 8 or whatever, and you get to pick one rare, a few uncommon, and the rest common.
#7
gold_piece
Apr 18, 2010 21:56:50
Maybe it would be best if they switched to an online model. Then they don't have to deal with the stocking and shelf space issues that have plagued minis for years. They could even maintain the whole rarity thing by making you buy sets of 5 or 8 or whatever, and you get to pick one rare, a few uncommon, and the rest common.

An online distribution model is not consistent with the marketing strategy for WOTC. WOTC relies on retailers such as gaming stores and book stores to sells product. WOTC will not sell directly to a customer.
#8
Authw8
Apr 19, 2010 9:42:20
Maybe it would be best if they switched to an online model. Then they don't have to deal with the stocking and shelf space issues that have plagued minis for years. They could even maintain the whole rarity thing by making you buy sets of 5 or 8 or whatever, and you get to pick one rare, a few uncommon, and the rest common.

An online distribution model is not consistent with the marketing strategy for WOTC. WOTC relies on retailers such as gaming stores and book stores to sells product. WOTC will not sell directly to a customer.

Maybe they could make it so that you have to go through a brick-and-mortar retailer. You would tell the retailer what you want, then they get on a website and order it, then WotC sends it out and you pick it up in a week or so at the store you ordered from.
#9
drnick
Apr 19, 2010 12:29:25
Are these hoops something even you would be willing to go through?

Before you answer: Are you aware that there is a successful and affordable secondary market for D&D minis online already?
#10
Authw8
Apr 19, 2010 16:45:09 Oh ya, I've used the secondary market many times myself. Many people are stupid, though, and refuse to use it for whatever reason, and instead whine endlessly about WotC's random packaging scheme. If I were WotC, I would consider going ahead and giving the whiners what they want.

No, I would be unlikely to use it, but I wouldn't be the target market.
#11
22_Over_7
Apr 19, 2010 20:57:11 Theme packs would be bad for the retailer, with their limited shelf and stock. Do I carry Gnolls, Demons and Undead? Or Orcs, Aberrants and Drow? Going to any given store to find what you want would be almost as random as opening the booster.
#12
Legendmaster
Apr 19, 2010 21:09:14 With a model like that you would see undead and drow on a stores shelves for sure. If you ran a game using anything less popular you would be SOL. Gaming stores would not stock the sets that weren't purchased often and as a result Wizards would stop producing them.

This is the same sort of situation that would happen if Wizards let you log on and order the specific minis you wanted. It would not be practical to pay all the costs just to print out one Roc (A giant bird). Wizards would have to chose either not to offer them, or to hold onto orders until they had enough to run a print.

#13
Authw8
Apr 19, 2010 21:36:18 Of course Wizards wouldn't make minis to order in an online model, they would do what they do today: Make a bunch of minis, then try and sell them. An online model would mean they could do smaller runs though, and only re-make the ones that sell well. They would still be stuck with unsold minis, but not nearly as many as the individual stores would end up stuck with if they did individual sales in-store.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 eberg Apr 18, 2010 0:28:03	I understand that there isn't a lot of money in selling individual minis, but I'd love to see themed packs of minis instead of the current random sets. A set of goblins, a set of elementals, a set of angels, a set of devils. Each pack would cover a type of creature, a single of solo and elite monsters, a couple of each standard, and four of each minion. Even split them by power level (heroic elementals, paragon elementals, epic elementals). It would make purchasing for what you are planning on doing much easier, be much more useful for the players, and avoid the single packs for anything but huge or larger minis. I mean, seriously, who couldn't use a set of orcs? 4 Warriors, 4 Drudges, 2 Raiders, 2 Berserkers, 2 Eyes of Gruumsh, 1 Chieftain, and 1 Bloodrager. 16 minis, make it $25-$30. You could even genericize it a bit. Orcs in light armor, orcs in heavy armor, orc leaders, orc spellcasters. Seriously, my group isn't picky that they can pick out from the mini the difference between four different types of skeletons. Anyway, what do folks think?
#2 Duke5150 Apr 18, 2010 0:57:41	The details would need to be better refined, but yes, I completely support this. Although I would want more than a single elite in a package. I'd much rather have encounter groups.
#3 joydyhee Apr 18, 2010 6:49:00	I also support this, especially since the minis game is gone and WotC has said the focus is now on RPing. I usually buy some random packs when a new set comes out, do most of my shopping in the third-party singles market, and recently started picking up War Machine and Warhammer minis for either unique solos (Thagrosh) or to flesh out my commons (skeletons). I have slowed a bit with gaming, so I have taken to assembling/painting minis to suit my needs when I need them. I know everyone does not have or want this option, and I would like WotC-specific packs (especially for the solos), but I am willing to do this until such time that they decide it is a good idea to make them.
#4 603 Apr 18, 2010 11:43:41	I don't think WotC is capable of making packs like that. From what I remember, they've done the random packs for every single miniatures-related game they've released, going back almost ten years. From hearing talk of D&D Encounters, I have a hunch they're just going to keep going with business as usual. Personally, I'm going to be using Warhammer, Reaper, and Crocodile minis for almost everything. I'd rather be able to pick just which minis I'm going to be using for what, instead of having to shell out a ton for a lot of junk.
#5 thax Apr 18, 2010 12:46:13	One of the main reasons D&D minis are not doing well is the price. Used to be, you could get 8 minis for the price point, now it is five, with one visable for the same price. The PHB packs, which had 3 visable minis for a slightly lower price, was more still for the individual mini. Those that had minis already simply didn't buy the newer packs, seeing that they would get less for the same amount of money, and would not even get "rules cards" for the now defunct game. (You get character/monster stat cards instead) It simply was not worth it. I see the future of the minis going completely within the Heroscape line, with several packs being the "heroes" line.
#6 Authw8 Apr 18, 2010 18:03:09	Maybe it would be best if they switched to an online model. Then they don't have to deal with the stocking and shelf space issues that have plagued minis for years. They could even maintain the whole rarity thing by making you buy sets of 5 or 8 or whatever, and you get to pick one rare, a few uncommon, and the rest common.
#7 gold_piece Apr 18, 2010 21:56:50	Maybe it would be best if they switched to an online model. Then they don't have to deal with the stocking and shelf space issues that have plagued minis for years. They could even maintain the whole rarity thing by making you buy sets of 5 or 8 or whatever, and you get to pick one rare, a few uncommon, and the rest common. An online distribution model is not consistent with the marketing strategy for WOTC. WOTC relies on retailers such as gaming stores and book stores to sells product. WOTC will not sell directly to a customer.
#8 Authw8 Apr 19, 2010 9:42:20	Maybe it would be best if they switched to an online model. Then they don't have to deal with the stocking and shelf space issues that have plagued minis for years. They could even maintain the whole rarity thing by making you buy sets of 5 or 8 or whatever, and you get to pick one rare, a few uncommon, and the rest common. An online distribution model is not consistent with the marketing strategy for WOTC. WOTC relies on retailers such as gaming stores and book stores to sells product. WOTC will not sell directly to a customer. Maybe they could make it so that you have to go through a brick-and-mortar retailer. You would tell the retailer what you want, then they get on a website and order it, then WotC sends it out and you pick it up in a week or so at the store you ordered from.
#9 drnick Apr 19, 2010 12:29:25	Are these hoops something even you would be willing to go through? Before you answer: Are you aware that there is a successful and affordable secondary market for D&D minis online already?
#10 Authw8 Apr 19, 2010 16:45:09	Oh ya, I've used the secondary market many times myself. Many people are stupid, though, and refuse to use it for whatever reason, and instead whine endlessly about WotC's random packaging scheme. If I were WotC, I would consider going ahead and giving the whiners what they want. No, I would be unlikely to use it, but I wouldn't be the target market.
#11 22_Over_7 Apr 19, 2010 20:57:11	Theme packs would be bad for the retailer, with their limited shelf and stock. Do I carry Gnolls, Demons and Undead? Or Orcs, Aberrants and Drow? Going to any given store to find what you want would be almost as random as opening the booster.
#12 Legendmaster Apr 19, 2010 21:09:14	With a model like that you would see undead and drow on a stores shelves for sure. If you ran a game using anything less popular you would be SOL. Gaming stores would not stock the sets that weren't purchased often and as a result Wizards would stop producing them. This is the same sort of situation that would happen if Wizards let you log on and order the specific minis you wanted. It would not be practical to pay all the costs just to print out one Roc (A giant bird). Wizards would have to chose either not to offer them, or to hold onto orders until they had enough to run a print.
#13 Authw8 Apr 19, 2010 21:36:18	Of course Wizards wouldn't make minis to order in an online model, they would do what they do today: Make a bunch of minis, then try and sell them. An online model would mean they could do smaller runs though, and only re-make the ones that sell well. They would still be stuck with unsold minis, but not nearly as many as the individual stores would end up stuck with if they did individual sales in-store.