D&D Minis on the Decline?

[Ogrork the Mighty]

I've noticed that there isn't much buzz about the DDM lines anymore. The newest set is coming out and, I have to say, there's no minis that really jump out and grab me and the set as a whole is a big, "meh." (don't get me started on yet another gargoyle mini)

The last set seemed to come and go equally as unnoticed.

Where I've really noticed the change is on the secondary market. I buy 95% of my minis on Ebay and there's been less and less available and the sellers who normally buy case loads no longer seem to be doing so. It's like there's an initial rush and then the market disappears (which is very different from the longevity of previous sets).

Now some will say that's it's the imminent arrival of 4E that has curbed the market but I think it's more than that. I think DDM-fatigue has set in and there's simply too many of the same ho-hum minis (gargoyles anyone?) being produced.

I noticed Merric's DDM page hasn't been updated in 6 months and I think that's indicative of the general malaise that's taken hold.

Thoughts?

 

[PoeticJustice]

While I can't speak with much certainty, I must confess that I suspect the same thing.

Something I've noticed is the steadily declining price on several high-profile minis. For example, Giants of Legend's Huge Red Dragon used to go one ebay for $60-$80. These days it usually goes for about $50. Just last week I saw one go for $36!

However, I concede that thee low prices may just be a fluke, but somehow I doubt it. Of course, there are other factors that diminish prices in this market. The US economy's dismal state, the pending release of 4E, the fact that DDM 2.0 obsoletes most minis (at least for now)...

 

[rgard]

While I can't speak with much certainty, I must confess that I suspect the same thing.

Something I've noticed is the steadily declining price on several high-profile minis. For example, Giants of Legend's Huge Red Dragon used to go one ebay for $60-$80. These days it usually goes for about $50. Just last week I saw one go for $36!

However, I concede that thee low prices may just be a fluke, but somehow I doubt it. Of course, there are other factors that diminish prices in this market. The US economy's dismal state, the pending release of 4E, the fact that DDM 2.0 obsoletes most minis (at least for now)...

I think sales are slow for most luxury goods right now. We're coming up on tax time and some don't want to spend money that they may need to pay the IRS.

On a different note, I've used the 3.x minis alot, especially the cards as a short cut to not hauling the monster manuals around. The 4e minis don't hold as much allure for me as I don't plan on switching to 4e for a couple of years. I won't be buying them much unless I really like the sculpt.

I did read somewhere that WotC will do pdfs of DDM 2.0 cards updated to 4.0.

Thanks,
Rich

 

[SavageRobby]

Regarding buzz ... I have over 6k of the little plastic suckers, at least 2 full sets of each release, and regard the minis and tile lines as WotC's best (in fact, the only lines I buy from them anymore), and I don't think I'll be buying the new set, certainly not in bulk. I'll probably buy some of the PC types to provide more choices to the players, and maybe a few monters here and there, but I definitely won't get my usual 400-500 of this set and I certainly won't get my usual 2 complete sets (or even 1).

Even discounting the complete redesign of many creatures (making them inconsistent with the previous sets I own), the choices to print, the sculpts, the paint jobs ... for the most part, they're all getting worse. And they've all gotten worse since Rob stopped managing the line (around Angelfire-ish, I think). For a number of releases, it seemed like every set has some major problem it - poor painting, bad distribution, sucky pieces and (if you play the game) immense power creep. The last release was lackluster at best. And now the new set, from what I've seen (even the previews) is really just "blah" - not to mention (as I alluded to earlier) that many creatures are getting a total overhaul to match the 4x rules, overhauls I don't like (for one) and which make them much less consistent with the previous sets (of which I own a fair amount, obviously).


Regarding the secondary market ... I recall a year (or more) ago that one of the best sellers (Auggie) was bemoaning Wizards cracking down on pure internet sellers, and to get the major discount required at least a certain percentage of product be sold through a brick and mortal store. I don't recall all of the particulars (and don't really care) - but I have noticed a distinct trend since then, with fewer overall minis sellers on ebay. That trend could also be attributed to the generally fixed (and lower) price points that folks like Auggie and Hubbs charge (and have since around the same time, although I recall buying from Auggies as far back as Giants of Legend), and that they've essentially forced a number of other sellers to come down to in order to stay competitive. It could simply be that, at those prices, a lot of the other sellers simply couldn't make enough margin to justify selling them.

 

[NewJeffCT]

I've noticed that there isn't much buzz about the DDM lines anymore. The newest set is coming out and, I have to say, there's no minis that really jump out and grab me and the set as a whole is a big, "meh." (don't get me started on yet another gargoyle mini)

The last set seemed to come and go equally as unnoticed.

Where I've really noticed the change is on the secondary market. I buy 95% of my minis on Ebay and there's been less and less available and the sellers who normally buy case loads no longer seem to be doing so. It's like there's an initial rush and then the market disappears (which is very different from the longevity of previous sets).

Now some will say that's it's the imminent arrival of 4E that has curbed the market but I think it's more than that. I think DDM-fatigue has set in and there's simply too many of the same ho-hum minis (gargoyles anyone?) being produced.

I noticed Merric's DDM page hasn't been updated in 6 months and I think that's indicative of the general malaise that's taken hold.

Thoughts?

I think it is mostly the anticipation of 4E and people worrying that their miniatures & cards will be out of date, so why bother?

Also, the economy has been slowing & inflation has been on the rise, so people are probably holding back on purchasing things like miniatures as well.

 

[Dragon Snack]

Don't forget the higher prices that eBay now charges. They mainly hit the lower priced auctions - right were the common/uncommon (and some of the crappier rare) DDMs sell. It's the main reason I don't sell on eBay anymore (big guys squeezing from one end, eBay sqeezing from the other, plus increased postal charges). I found another auction site, hopefully they can compete with eBay (WargamesMarket.com).

I also think there is some line fatigue, I honestly haven't bought any DDM in over a year. I've got most of the grunts I want for my game and the sculpts/painting haven't been impressing me. Add in the 2.0 changes to monsters being incompatable and it's killed my enthusiasm for the line.

 

[megamania]

From my end-

Little cash left

Gas / Heating has wiped out any saving and credit I had

4e changes to some figures is bothersome (size changes mainly)

How many of each humanoid and monstrous humanoid do we need?

Other players have dropped out for the above and personal reasons.... not a one person game.

Quality has been inconsistant though not enough to stop me from buying.

Ignoring creatures I want..... Rust monster, Darksun creatures etc.....

Percieved Greed on WoTC's part.... 4e and look at hero clix. 4 LICENCED figures a box for 8 dollars. DnD...8 figures for 15 dollars. Why do the LICENCED stuff cost the same as WoTC own stuff?

Will the game end soon...? doubt it. But it will need to do something soon.

 

[DaveMage]

Speaking for myself only, I no longer buy cases and only a few singles.

I have already preordered what I want from the entire Dungeons of Dread set and the total number of minis from this set that I'm getting is around 15 (and that includes multiples of some). From the earlier sets I usually have 80-120 (although I only bought 35 from Desert of Desolation).

I imagine I'll buy a few more of the Huge set coming this summer, but if drow are heavy in the last set of the year, then I won't be buying much as I already have around 25 drow figures.

I certainly do not need any more drow, orcs, bugbears, goblins, hobgoblins, kobolds, humans, dwarves, elves, gnomes, half-orcs, or halflings.

 

[pawsplay]

I could always use a nice-looking bugbear. I don't buy minis so much anymore because:

1) the sculpts are crap,
2) I still don't understand how they go about deciding what to make in the first place,
3) if were going to play the game, as a game, then I have to say the last couple of sets have been riddled with stupid abilities, bad rules, and poor point cost balance

If they put out a really nice set next week, I would totally buy a case.

 

[blargney the second]

I hit my saturation point not too long ago. I've got enough minis that I can find something for practically everything my players are liable to run across. From here on out, I'll probably just pick up a few singles from each set.