Non-random D&D Miniatures

[crazy_cat]

*snip*
And I personally don't care that you don't want boosters with random content, as long as I can get a wide variety of reasonably priced miniatures.

Agreed.

 

[Agamon]

A company did try just that - I think the orc pack was $15 for 6 orcs, pre-painted. The line bombed, and you can occassionally find them in the close out bins at various gaming stores.

Exactly. This is a specific example, but even without it, some people are saying there's no proof this wouldn't work. Merric's Law is a specific version of a more basic business law that is tried and true.

For every person that wants a pile of orcs, there's someone that wants some iconic D&D monsters (mind flayers, beholders, etc), as someone posted above. The best way to make the most people happy most of the time is the random distribution that is currently being used (popular figures such as Drizzt and giant dragons aside).

I'm sure the Icons series is, for the most part, going to continue to offer 'minis' that can't be offered in boosters because of their size, with a couple other small minis thrown in to make a scenario pack once in a while.

 

[Mark CMG]

Uh Ok

(. . .)

Was that supposed to be hard?

Not when the results aren't correct.

A company did try just that - I think the orc pack was $15 for 6 orcs, pre-painted. The line bombed, and you can occassionally find them in the close out bins at various gaming stores.

Name the company, please. Though I am guessing you are talking about one of two different companies I have seen who used to sell metal prepainted figs at about six for either $19.95 (one of which also sold 6 figs plus a bunch of d20s for $24.95). That they are in some retail stores (perhaps even online) at a discount doesn't make them comparable to what I am asking be produced. It's apples an oranges.

Exactly.

Quite the opposite.

 

[smootrk]

Merric's Law is a specific version of a more basic business law that is tried and true.

Merrick's Law, as it is called, is not really a Law at all. It should be called something like a 'model' or 'principle'. Merrick's description only describes the currently understood market conditions. Innovation happens all the time, and when (and I really mean when) someone develops a method to produce something that fits what the market wants, then this 'law' and all the folks who feel that it is utterly unbreakable will look as foolish as those who said that the Wright bros. would never fly.

The market for non-random minis, in all likelyhood, exceeds the size of the market who actively want the randomized distribution. The Random-fanboys fail to understand that a great deal of their 'market' is comprised of people who want non-random, but due to lack of other options have to settle for this distribution method.

Any smart business plan (such as what WotC has) would look for ways to further compartmentalize their individual endeavors, so that they can serve the most folks. Sooner or later, a business will find a way to do what they have been unable (or unwilling) to do. My opinion is that they fear the unknowns moreso than to attempt any endeavors that differ from this successful method. I would therefore expect the true innovation to come from another company, and the innovation will include ideas that have not been covered by all these successful businessmen who 'absolutely know' the 'laws' of success.

Electicity used to be a palor trick.
how many mp3 players before iPod
Al Gore created the internet?? who knew he would change the world?

 

[TheYeti1775]

Perhaps the happy medium would do.

Currently they sell packs of what 8, guranteened one Rare.

How about up it to a pack of 10, guranteened one Rare, and 2 specific common critter/characters of the same type. Then you can have a pack of Blood War with 2 Orcs, or a pack of Blood War with 2 Elves, and so on.

They already used this model on the one that had the Elf and the Orc as well as the other 8, I forget what series it is. But it is a possible model to use, it still appeals to the collector market and gets those that want the specific types. Pull out the dang MMI and go down the list, people will buy it. Heck for those two figures do as they say and make it non-skirmisher don't print a card for it.

Or just make a complete Monster Manual Set and give me a price.

Yeti

 

[Mark CMG]

How about up it to a pack of 10, guranteened one Rare, and 2 specific common critter/characters of the same type. Then you can have a pack of Blood War with 2 Orcs, or a pack of Blood War with 2 Elves, and so on.

They already used this model on the one that had the Elf and the Orc as well as the other 8, I forget what series it is.

It's the starter set and is still available.

 

[Mark CMG]

While we're in the general area of the subject, what have been the ramifications of a bunch of Angelfire sets suddenly becoming available on the market again? Did they retool and go back into production or were a bunch of skids found in a warehouse somewhere?

 

[Agamon]

Quite the opposite.

LOL. We're agree to disagree then, Mark. I really hope the bigwigs at WotC aren't as dumb as you imply, though, or we'll soon be using our minis for some other game.

 

[Mark CMG]

We're agree to disagree then, Mark.

As long as you understand my disagreement. I am saying that prepainted metal minis put out by a company many orders of magnitude smaller than a Hasbro affiliated company should not be compared to prepainted plastic minis put out by the latter whereas you seem to believe they are one and the same.

I really hope the bigwigs at WotC aren't as dumb as you imply, though, or we'll soon be using our minis for some other game.

I imply no such thing. I do however suggest that marketing a product such as I have described above is unlikely to burst the bubble of the DDM scheme. And they seem to agree since they have put out the call for suggestions along the lines of the one I personally put forth.

 

[stonehill_troll]

You may find some alternatives to WOTC's minis here:

http://www.nobleknight.com/ViewManuf.asp?CategoryID=5


Though cheap pre-painted plastic (fantasy similar to D&D) minis just by browsing around I couldn't find, but I didn't check every single listing. I did notice a lot of old stock metal minis at clearance prices.