Dear Hasbro: about those minis

[Echohawk]

Is it if the only change is packaging? So if the cost to re-do a figure was low (and here I have no clue) then I think the small run (say a few thousand units) would make money. But I've no idea what scale DDM sells at.

A lot, lot more than a few thousand. According to this press release, more than a million miniatures were sold in the first month they were released. That's roughly 125,000 Harbinger boosters in one month, and all indications are that subsequent sets have sold better.

So based on this, my guess would be that the market would need to support sales of at least 100,000 units of any non-randomised set for it to be even vaguely worthwhile for WotC to make, not taking into account the potentially higher distribution/retail costs for a wider product range. I suppose that it is possible that smaller quantities might somehow still be profitable, but I'm skeptical.

 

[Pramas]

You have to wonder how much Mage Knight is responsible for the random nature of D&D minis. That was a successful product line before DDM even existed, and they used the random distribution method.

I'd say Mage Knight is entirely responsible for it. Mage Knight created the collectible minis market and I doubt DDM would exist today if it hadn't. Its existence also undermined everything we were trying to do with Chainmail.

As for my "position" on DDM and Chainmail, I haven't really put one forth. All I said in this thread is that it's foolish to read too much in to Chainmail's failure because of the circumstances of its creation. I've considered writing up Chainmail's story for my blog sometime, but the last time I did something like that (The True Story of True20) it took me seven installments and nearly a month to finish it and I don't have that kind of time to commit right now.

 

[Templetroll]

But what about the Fiendish Dire Flumph in Spiked Full Plate I need for next week's session?

They need a fig with add-ons for templates!

 

[Shadowslayer]

They need a fig with add-ons for templates!

Need me that uber-rare Mr Potato Head Mini!

(ok, I'll shut up now)

 

[Raven Crowking]

I don't think B is a big consideration, but A is. Even more, the problems it causes for distributors/retailers in stocking and warehousing increase the price more than the cost of making the minis.

Cheers!

Wheras, I think A is a minimal consideration, but B is a huge one. If you look at the WotC market research prior to launching 3.0 (or, at least, what is still available), the amount of money you make per customer skyrockets when minis are involved. If you need 2, and I can convince you to buy 6, I've tripled my profit.


RC

 

[Echohawk]

The only real question is if A) it would sell and B) if it would hurt the base sales of DDM.

And then...

Wheras, I think A is a minimal consideration, but B is a huge one.

Say what? Do you really think that whether a product would sell is a minimal consideration when deciding whether or not to make it???

 

[Raven Crowking]

And then...

Say what? Do you really think that whether a product would sell is a minimal consideration when deciding whether or not to make it???

No, sorry. I don't think there is any doubt that it would sell; based on the marketing research WotC published, this seems to be something WotC can be fairly certain of. Therefore, I don't think "Will it sell?" is the major question facing WotC. They know (as much as possible) the answer.

OTOH, they are currently selling minis to both the collectable and the gaming market, and there is indication in their research that there is a large divergence between those consumer groups. They could market minis for a collectable market, and they could market minis for gamers, seperately.

However, their market research also indicates that gamers will pay a heck of a lot more for minis than they would for books (weird, but true). Which does not, in and of itself, mean that they will pay for minis they wouldn't normally use if there was an economical alternative. So, by packaging the minis as they are doing they manage to get gamers to buy more than they would if they were packaged otherwise.

The result is that packaging minis in a non-random factor would mean that WotC would lose sales. The other would sell; random packaging sells more.


RC

 

[Echohawk]

No, sorry. I don't think there is any doubt that it would sell; based on the marketing research WotC published, this seems to be something WotC can be fairly certain of. Therefore, I don't think "Will it sell?" is the major question facing WotC. They know (as much as possible) the answer.

Okay, I sort of see what you mean. But based on these comments further up the thread:

Several years ago, early on in the DDM saga, WotC announced they were going to do exactly what many of you are asking for: it was going to be a non-random pack of 10 or so orcs (multiples of several different sculpts, IIRC). For whatever reason, it was pulled from the release schedule after being announced.

It wasn't ordered in sufficient quantity by distributors, as I recall.

It seems that the only actual evidence we do have (little though it is) is that non-randomise packs won't sell. That's gotta be a pretty significant factor in deciding whether such a product will work in the future, don'tcha think?

 

[Raven Crowking]

Okay, I sort of see what you mean. But based on these comments further up the thread:

It seems that the only actual evidence we do have (little though it is) is that non-randomise packs won't sell. That's gotta be a pretty significant factor in deciding whether such a product will work in the future, don'tcha think?

When was this, and what evidence is there that the product was pulled due to insufficient orders?

(EDIT: I ask because I co-own a comic book store, and I don't recall any actual solicitations for such a product.)

RC

 

[Jefe Bergenstein]

maybe Games Workshop can fill a hole in the marketplace by creating a new "wargame" that uses pre-painted plastic minis sold in "regiments" and "squads" which will replace the old metal-and-needs-painting Warhammer line that according to Ryan Dyancy is losing sales? If they were the right size, there would be no reason these units could not be used for multiple RPGing applications...

just an idea...

Rackham is trying this out now.

http://www.rackham-store.com/boutiq...HEL02&code_lg=lg_us&pag=1&num=48&tri=0&marq=0

You'll note the price tag isnt cheap.