Minis versus new books

[Dykstrav]

Ever since D&D minis came out, I've noticed a trend in my own spending habits and those of several of the players I play with. I want to know how widespread it is.

I generally spend about $100 a month on gaming stuff. In alot of ways, I'm probably very much the target demographic for the gaming industry- I'm in my late 20's and have enough cash after my mortgage, bills, retirement account and et cetera at the end of the month to afford a great deal of "splurge items." I usually like to buy gaming stuff.

I used to just buy books and metal minis. When the D&D minis came out, I notice I spend more time in the FLGS thumbing through books, deciding whether or not I want to buy another sourcebook that I might or might not use, or whether I'd rather just buy more minis for the next game. I can always use more minis- my undead horde is getting big. After all, you can never have too many skeletons or zombies.

I've noticed the same trend among other players, both casual and serious. We have a certain amount of cash we're willing to spend on gaming stuff, and the minis makes us take a far more critical look at sourcebooks than we used to. Do we really use enough abberations to merit getting Lords of Madness? Do I really need MMIV? Or would I rather just get two or three more boosters?

Opinions?

 

[Crothian]

Minis never effect what books I buy. I don't buy minis, but that doesn't mean I buy all the books either. I have always taken my time and bought books when I know I want and need them and they are good.

 

[Darkwolf445]

As for me, anything Iron Kingdoms or Warmachine I automatically purchase. Good fluff, good crunch, good world.

As for minis, I purchase, again IK/Warmachine regularly and Warhammer minis as well (can't beat 12-20 to a pack, and they are not random).

So, if there are no new IK books, which is common, I purchase the above-mentioned minis or some pdfs like E-Adventure tiles. I do not, however simply purchase new WotC books. Given a choice between said books or minis, I'll go for the minis.

 

[Angel Tarragon]

Although I will ocasiionally buy minis, I am more of a book man.

 

[Victim]

I tend to be like that every without buying minis. Our group just uses cardstock counters, and now we even print our own counters after Photoshoping stuff.

 

[Odhanan]

I buy minis after books. Depending on the money I recently spent on books, I may buy some miniatures or not at any given time.

 

[BryonD]

I've found that since there is so little 3rd party stuff out there that I've pretty much stopped looking for it. So of this extra cash has gone into minis. So I wouldn't say that minis have made a dent in my book spending, but the cash flow has worked out the same anyway.

 

[KB9JMQ]

Back when the D&D Minis started I was spending about $80 a month on books. That quickly changed to 1 book a month and the rest on minis.
Finances have changed in my life for now so all gaming cash goes to mins. I get about $200 a year in books now which come from Reward Points at Amazon.

I know that even if my financial situation was back to normal I would be spending the majority of my gaming money on minis. I love the little plasticrack things.