Adventure Sets (ie. KotS) of Minis...anyone?

[Upper_Krust]

Hey all!

Been meaning to start getting some new miniatures, and that coincides with getting a new group of friends together for 4E where I'll be the DM. Tying the two together, I was sort of wondering has anyone came up with the idea (and I'm looking specifically at you Wizards of the Coast) of actually selling sets of miniatures that correspond directly to the adventures...in this case Keep on the Shadowfell?

 

[Remathilis]

Hey all!

Been meaning to start getting some new miniatures, and that coincides with getting a new group of friends together for 4E where I'll be the DM. Tying the two together, I was sort of wondering has anyone came up with the idea (and I'm looking specifically at you Wizards of the Coast) of actually selling sets of miniatures that correspond directly to the adventures...in this case Keep on the Shadowfell?

I'd love it, but I'm under the impression that a few good mega-modules would get you nearly all the requisite monsters in the MM. That defeats the purpose of random packs of monsters of varying difficulty.

Also, how many mini's are we talking? A module like KotSF could Easily have 50+ minis (assuming duplicates) so what MSRP would you charge? $100? $200?

However, I do think WotC could be served with smaller "sampler" packs designed for a specfic module. A boss figure, some grunts, and a couple PCs for $30.00. That would peak my interest...

 

[doppelganger]

While I wouldn't be too keen on mega module mini packs (because of the duplication of minis after the first mega module) I would snap up a die cut cardboard counter set of the minis in the mega module in a heartbeat. I would also purchase a pdf of the same if the artwork were truly outstanding.

 

[JoeGKushner]

Heck, if Fiery Dragon can keep on the ball like they did with the first adventure, they could probably charge a fee for such counters in the future.

 

[Upper_Krust]

Hey there!

I'd love it, but I'm under the impression that a few good mega-modules would get you nearly all the requisite monsters in the MM. That defeats the purpose of random packs of monsters of varying difficulty.

Also, how many mini's are we talking? A module like KotSF could Easily have 50+ minis (assuming duplicates) so what MSRP would you charge? $100? $200?

However, I do think WotC could be served with smaller "sampler" packs designed for a specfic module. A boss figure, some grunts, and a couple PCs for $30.00. That would peak my interest...

Well I don't have KotS just yet, but I remember reading a breakdown of the encounters here a few weeks ago. Unfortunately I can't find that thread again.

However, you could perhaps break these adventures down into chapters (per 'level' or per ten encounters). So that you could have three sets of miniatures for the Keep on the Shadowfell. That way you would keep the cost of each down to about $20 (I presume?)

 

[Hawke]

They could even cost them up a bit:

5 minis in a random pack costs X.
20 minis in a adventure pack costs 6X (should be 4X).

You're paying extra for all the minis you wouldn't want that you'd have to wade through in the packs. It's actually a good deal, what are the odds that in 6 packs you'll get everything you need. In reality you'll probably need 10 to get you 85% of the way there and then hope and wish.

I'm all for adventure packs... and if the price was right, it included additional maps, and was released near official adventures I'd probably switch to that method for my primary group.

 

[Glyfair]

However, I do think WotC could be served with smaller "sampler" packs designed for a specfic module. A boss figure, some grunts, and a couple PCs for $30.00. That would peak my interest...

As I recall, WotC tried this before (pre-DDM). I believe that one of the two sets didn't sell very well (City of the Spider Queen) and the other was canceled because of lack of pre-orders (Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil).

While it sounds like an interesting idea, it seems to have such a low interest threshold that it isn't economically feasible to do. Think about it, the target is not just DMs that have the module. It's also only those who use minis and who would be interested in buying them in one big lot. Personally, I might fit the first two categories, but since I have plenty of DDM figures, I would only want to get those I'm missing.

 

[pawsplay]

As I recall, WotC tried this before (pre-DDM). I believe that one of the two sets didn't sell very well (City of the Spider Queen) and the other was canceled because of lack of pre-orders (Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil).

While it sounds like an interesting idea, it seems to have such a low interest threshold that it isn't economically feasible to do. Think about it, the target is not just DMs that have the module. It's also only those who use minis and who would be interested in buying them in one big lot. Personally, I might fit the first two categories, but since I have plenty of DDM figures, I would only want to get those I'm missing.

See, I might just assume it was because people hated Return to the Temple of Elemetal Evil.

But I've been wondering lately... how many miniatures did Gary Gygax own? Did he use a lot of pennies? I know he used some crazy plastic figures and invented the Umber Hulk and Rust Monster.

 

[Ruin Explorer]

But I've been wondering lately... how many miniatures did Gary Gygax own? Did he use a lot of pennies? I know he used some crazy plastic figures and invented the Umber Hulk and Rust Monster.

A huge number, no doubt, but none of them were "official D&D miniatures (TM)", and they did not giant chunks of change, nor did he ever risk getting random miniatures via "booster packs" (I'm not sure I've heard a more idiotic idea in my life).

Until the mid-90s, miniatures, compared to the prices of books and so, very strikingly cheap. Since then, they sky-rocketed, and for my money, the prices of D&D's minis are astronomical (for what you get, and how much use you're realistically likely to see of any given miniature).

I DO like the idea that people who WANT this sort of thing could have it, but I have serious fears that miniatures could be the downfall of WotC's RPG division, as they must surely cost a lot to make to warrant their price, and have, to my mind, a very limited potential market.

 

[Glyfair]

But I've been wondering lately... how many miniatures did Gary Gygax own? Did he use a lot of pennies? I know he used some crazy plastic figures and invented the Umber Hulk and Rust Monster.

He was a miniature wargamer, so he owned a lot. However, I remember Gary saying they rarely used miniatures for D&D (oddly enough, since it grew out of their wargaming). I remember him stating it was Arneson's group that tended to use miniatures, and Gary's group didn't use them until much later.