Reaper to produce pre-painted Plastic minis - Non-random

[D.Shaffer]

Yeah, but are those figs plastic or resin - it does make a difference.

Both games mentioned use plastic.

 

[kenobi65]

If the price per mini is $3-4 as you're suggesting (so approx £2 maybe here in the UK) then that is about double what I pay for DDMs.

Well, given that, IME, Reaper's unpainted pewter minis retail for US$4 or more, I just have a hard time picturing them selling painted plastic ones for less than that.

 

[Pbartender]

Oh yes, forgot about my painting machine in back yard!!!

What, you don't have one?


Sorry... I meant: If reaper produced something similar, all they'd need to do is machine paint them.

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

My key is price to a degree, but more important is quality of paint job. The DDM figures are mostly poorly painted. If there are good monsters with a quality paint job I'll be all over this. PC minis will probably still be reaper metal.

 

[Holy Bovine]

Heck, if they were smart, they'd sell them for $1 each and try to get someplace like Dollar General to buy into them.

And not make a single penny of profit. but profit is the worst thing any gaming company can make, right?

 

[rgard]

What, you don't have one?


Sorry... I meant: If reaper produced something similar, all they'd need to do is machine paint them.

My apologies, I was naughty! Agreed, hopefully they have a machine to do this!

 

[Bagpuss]

The DDM figures are mostly poorly painted.

They are considerably better painted than Mage Knight figures, and many GW figures I've seen fielded by teenagers.

 

[Jefe Bergenstein]

This is great news, IF they sell these at reasonable prices. My biggest issue with DDM isn't so much the randomness, but the fact that the classifications affect the price. If a figure, even a normal-sized one, is "Rare" then it sells for about $20 if not more. Twenty bucks for a small plastic figure with an amateur paintjob!

VERY few rares go for 20. The average is about 7 bucks for a new set. 3-4 if its humanoid, more if its larger.

 

[Jefe Bergenstein]

Because it isn't. This so called "secondary market" dpesn't really exist - it isn't economical, practical, or even viable. I went on some of these secondary sites...no one was selling a horde of orcs or a group of zombies, or large lots of kobolds or zombies.

The secondary market doesn't really exist.

Auggie will likely ship overseas if you shoot him an email.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Orc-Savage-x10-...17251311QQihZ005QQcategoryZ2544QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/Strahd-Zombie-4...86964138QQihZ011QQcategoryZ2537QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/Kobold-Soldier-...82378527QQihZ011QQcategoryZ2544QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/Kobold-Miner-38...84503424QQihZ011QQcategoryZ2544QQcmdZViewItem

 

[Ogrork the Mighty]

I'm glad to see Reaper adapting. I predicted that the plastic DDM market would seriously cut into their sales and I stand by that prediction. Detail is great, but it pales in comparison to being cost effective and pre-painted. DDMs are for the masses, and that will crush a niche market (or at least make it unprofitable) over time.

The key will be price. If Reaper's prices are anywhere near what they're charging for metal, this is a dead duck before it ever gets off the ground. I can almost guarantee they will be more expensive than the average per unit DDM, but probably cheaper than the secondary market DDMs.

I think the real news is that the line will be non-random. That's a direct shot across the bow of WotC and it's a savvy business move that capitalizes on DDM's primary weakness (being random).

If I can buy 20 orcs with a leader and a shaman (i.e., an orc warband pack) for only moderately more money than if I bought them off Ebay, I'd make the switch to Reaper.

I'd be happy if it curbs the sometimes highway robbery prices that I see on Ebay. Competition is always good.