Randomized Mini's or Not?

[Psychic Warrior]

I would be willing to pay a few bucks more if I knew exactly what I was getting.

So would that translate into paying $32 for one 8 mini booster because that is appoximately what you would pay for pre-painted plastic miniatures singly. Somehow I don't think the market would bear that kind of price increase even with non-random packaging.

 

[Umbran]

I think that if that was true, then RPG players would be buying the metal individual miniatures from other companies, and leave the DDM line to the game players.

An RPG player wants specific minis to represent PCs or monsters they intend to use in their campaign. For finding the specific ones you want, randomization is a great hindrance.

[In my area the DDM game never took off. However, DDM miniatures sell very well (very, very well). I've heard of lot of places where this holds true as well. Someone besides the miniatures game players are buying them, and buying a lot of them.

My first thought would be - don't be too sure the DDM didn't take off.

My second thought would be - they aren't necessarily buying them for RPG use. I know quite a few folks who don't play CCGs, but speculate with card purchases.

 

[Arnwyn]

I despise the collectible nature of the DDMs, and don't buy them because of that (since I'm not interested in the minis game). However, there is no question that WotC is doing much better because they're collectible.

I'd rather them be non-collectible (ignoring any issues regarding affordability and paint quality) for my own personal selfish needs.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

i HATE random minis.

QFT. Since I use minis for the RPG, not the battle game, the random "collectable" nature really irks me, though I do like the quality of the minis for the price (and since I haven't had much time for painting my own lately).

I saw "Critter Packs" on Paizo's site though that sets of known configuration minis are coming. I'm assuming this is a Paizo rather than WOTC initiative, but it does provide some predicatbility.

 

[Glyfair]

An RPG player wants specific minis to represent PCs or monsters they intend to use in their campaign. For finding the specific ones you want, randomization is a great hindrance.

That means that it makes sense to have figures available singlely. They are available (not from WotC). It doesn't mean randomization doesn't make sense (since it keeps the cost of a figure, even if random, cheaper).

My first thought would be - don't be too sure the DDM didn't take off.

My second thought would be - they aren't necessarily buying them for RPG use. I know quite a few folks who don't play CCGs, but speculate with card purchases.

This isn't just speculation. I've talked to a lot of local people who are buying them for RPG campaigns. Many haven't played the DDM game, few are particularly interested in regularly playing the DDM game. The venues are observing the same thing, too.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Things like that DO happen- I lived in Austin when M:TG alpha was released, and I used to buy mine from a store that routinely had cards MONTHS after the game was sold out everywhere else (including my FLGS' in San Antonio and Dallas/FW as well).

Turns out a buddy of his had a game store in California that tried and tried to sell the game, but only had a couple of hardcore fans.

The guy in Austin, thus, routinely bought out his buddy's overstock.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Just another thing that bugs me about random distribution...when it isn't.

I went through that with early M:TG sets (AND missed their offer to correct the error :\ ), and some of the DDM sets I've purchased boosters or boxes from have seemed a little wonky to me (but I'm probably oversensitized).

 

[VirgilCaine]

As a non-collecting gamer who just wants some decent, specific minis to use in my rpg games, they are no good for me. I get my minis elsewhere. So yeah, WotC are losing my dollar here, but that is insignificant compared to the masses of dollars they are getting from those who do buy them en masse collectors (and out of the 6 gamers in my group, 2 are rabid, addicted nutters who by them by the caseload).

Copy that. I'd love to have specific minis of iconic monsters (beholders, illithids, etc.), but randomization makes this a PITA.

 

[Umbran]

That means that it makes sense to have figures available singlely. They are available (not from WotC). It doesn't mean randomization doesn't make sense (since it keeps the cost of a figure, even if random, cheaper).

It doesn't keep them cheaper for those who might buy them singly - we have to pay the retail price, plus a markup for the middleman. From my point of view, it'd be far better to have them available as singles direct from WotC.

I've talked to a lot of local people who are buying them for RPG campaigns.

*shrug*. The fact that they do this does not imply that the marketing actually makes sense for the RPG players. It just means the RPG players are willing to make do with something that isn't designed for them.

It is a point of view thing. What makes for WotC and the wargame players does not make sense for the RPG players. But, if the RPG players are in teh minority, they'll just have to deal.

Me, I dealby buying from Reaper, through the EN World RPG store.

 

[Jdvn1]

I like that I could potentially get a high-price mini for the price of a booster pack--gives me a sense of excitement opening them!

Though, I'd imagine WotC might be able to make more money selling the higher-price minis for more money.