Heroforge introduces microtransaction model with Daggerheart collaboration

[definiteFreakyFishGuy]

Yeah, I love the Critical Role folks and think it is great that Daggerheart is doing well...but between this and the Shennanigans with the "open" license for Daggerheart they have had some WotC-level rake-to- face moments.

Yeah, I have to wonder why is Heroforge introducing this pricing model now with this specific partnership. Did Heroforge / Darrington Press not expect the backlash? Or did they run some numbers and decided that profit from the micro transactions would offset any potential loss from any potential backlash?

I do think that as Critical Role becomes more and more corporate, we will see more shenanigans tied to their name.

What I found interesting so far, is the reaction from the community. I feel like many of the same voices that criticized WoTC are rushing in to defend or make excuses. I see it in this very forum, I see it in this very thread.

 

[Parmandur]

Yeah, I have to wonder why is Heroforge introducing this pricing model now with this specific partnership. Did Heroforge / Darrington Press not expect the backlash? Or did they run some numbers and decided that profit from the micro transactions would offset any potential loss from any potential backlash?

I do think that as Critical Role becomes more and more corporate, we will see more shenanigans tied to their name.

What I found interesting so far, is the reaction from the community. I feel like many of the same voices that criticized WoTC are rushing in to defend or make excuses. I see it in this very forum, I see it in this very thread.

I think the most charitable interpretiob is also most likely, that they straight up didn't forsee any pushback and were mainly focused on making sure all IP holders and creators were beong paid for their time and labor, because at least Darrington Press is at pains to ensure they pay their artists and contractors appropriately.

 

[Distracted DM]

So as I understand it, in order to make your virtual model, to then pay to have made, you need to pay for access to those CritRole options, which seems ridiculous since you're going to be buying the mini.. why not just charge more for the mini?

Well, the answer may be... that they want to charge people for making the virtual model, because people are using that Heroforge's virtual model screenshots to make character art for VTTs, and don't have to pay a thing? Just guessing.

 

[Parmandur]

So as I understand it, in order to make your virtual model, to then pay to have made, you need to pay for access to those CritRole options, which seems ridiculous since you're going to be buying the mini.. why not just charge more for the mini?

Well, the answer may be... that they want to charge people for making the virtual model, because people are using that virtual model pic frequently for VTTs?

Possibly, I imagine that Darrington wants a cut for any use of their IP and HeroForge worked out a system to accommodate that.

 

[MGibster]

I admit that these sorts of things -- having a mini that matches my mental image of my character-- are not things I care about. At all. So I don't understand why it is an issue, but I do understand that it IS an issue for some folks. I'm just as happy to use a die or penny or M&M.

It's not a big concern of mine either. I love miniatures, obviously, and I do like to have one that somewhat resembles a PC, monster, or NPC, but I'm just happy to have something that's close whenever possible. If I can't find that miniature, I'm just as happy to use anything else. Dice. Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. Whatever. Heroforge is a little pricy for me. I just checked, and their basic human sized miniature was about $30. That's near Games Workshop prices.

 

[Imaro]

Possibly, I imagine that Darrington wants a cut for any use of their IP and HeroForge worked out a system to accommodate that.

I'm curious... what IP is actually being used? Again, frog people, monkey people and even fungus people were all available before this partnership. It seems like all this partnership did was allow them to section of a chunk of assets in order to add extra cost to them...

 

[Parmandur]

I'm curious... what IP is actually being used? Again, frog people, monkey people and even fungus people were all available before this partnership. It seems like all this partnership did was allow them to section of a chunk of assets in order to add extra cost to them...

The actual art from the game, which Darrington owns and the artists in question were paid for.

Not necessarily defending it as the best decision, but it seems likely that Darrington was asking fir pay for their content and HeroForge was working out a system to compensate them for their property.

 

[definiteFreakyFishGuy]

I think the most charitable interpretiob is also most likely, that they straight up didn't forsee any pushback and were mainly focused on making sure all IP holders and creators were beong paid for their time and labor, because at least Darrington Press is at pains to ensure they pay their artists and contractors appropriately.

Perhaps! In the absence of any official announcements, we can only speculate the reasoning. I do hope that they (either HF or DP) address this controversy directly instead of staying quiet and hope that it goes away on its own.

...at least Darrington Press is at pains to ensure they pay their artists and contractors appropriately.

Is this a well-known fact? I genuinely don't know.

 

[Imaro]

The actual art from the game, which Darrington owns and the artists in question were paid for.

I'm pretty sure DP owns the art in their core rulebook.... so do you mean DP getting reimbursed for what they paid their artists originally?

Not necessarily defending it as the best decision, but it seems likely that Darrington was asking fir pay for their content and HeroForge was working out a system to compensate them for their property.

Or... they want to make a profit above and beyond what the normal HeroForge model can sustain. That seems like the simplest answer, but until a statement is made, we won't know.

 

[Parmandur]

I'm pretty sure DP owns the art in their core rulebook.... so do you mean DP getting reimbursed for what they paid their artists originally?


Or... they want to make a profit above and beyond what the normal HeroForge model can sustain. That seems like the simplest answer, but until a statement is made, we won't know.

Right, and Darrington would want HeroForge to pay them for usage.