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<blockquote data-quote="Descartes" data-source="post: 9364849" data-attributes="member: 85285">I'm thinking about getting a 3d printer to print terrain models for my games. I've been looking at free and paid files for printing. The larger models for big houses, taverns, etc. seem to be around the $30 range. It got me to thinking why don't companies like WizKids sell their model files as well as the printed minis? For example, I'm looking at the Falling Star Ship model for $250. How many of those do they actually sell at that price? If you sold the model file for $30 how many more would you sell? Plus, there is no production or packaging cost involved &amp; it's never out of print. You could sell that file for the next 20 years and it never costs you a thing. It would be like buying the printed book for $50 (which has production costs and eventually goes out of print) or the pdf for $10, the pdf is always available.So, with this example I could buy the file for $30 + $65 for filament (1/2 a spool per ship) = $95 for 10 ships for my pirate campaign. That would be more likely for most gamers to spend that much for 10 ships as opposed to getting 1 for $250.This could also open up larger models for published adventures too. Who wouldn't pay $50 for a Castle Ravenloft model with each level being a separate file that can be assembled and disassembled for use during the game? I would imagine that they could sell that file at least 10,000 times in the first year plus it's more than paid for in the first year so any sales beyond that are pure profit.So, what are your thoughts on why this is or isn't a viable business model for the future of minis with the cost of 3d printers being relatively low? Would you buy a 3d printer file for a large-scale model such as a tavern, gatehouse, castle, etc. for $10-$50?</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Descartes, post: 9364849, member: 85285"] I'm thinking about getting a 3d printer to print terrain models for my games. I've been looking at free and paid files for printing. The larger models for big houses, taverns, etc. seem to be around the $30 range. It got me to thinking why don't companies like WizKids sell their model files as well as the printed minis? For example, I'm looking at the Falling Star Ship model for $250. How many of those do they actually sell at that price? If you sold the model file for $30 how many more would you sell? Plus, there is no production or packaging cost involved & it's never out of print. You could sell that file for the next 20 years and it never costs you a thing. It would be like buying the printed book for $50 (which has production costs and eventually goes out of print) or the pdf for $10, the pdf is always available. So, with this example I could buy the file for $30 + $65 for filament (1/2 a spool per ship) = $95 for 10 ships for my pirate campaign. That would be more likely for most gamers to spend that much for 10 ships as opposed to getting 1 for $250. This could also open up larger models for published adventures too. Who wouldn't pay $50 for a Castle Ravenloft model with each level being a separate file that can be assembled and disassembled for use during the game? I would imagine that they could sell that file at least 10,000 times in the first year plus it's more than paid for in the first year so any sales beyond that are pure profit. So, what are your thoughts on why this is or isn't a viable business model for the future of minis with the cost of 3d printers being relatively low? Would you buy a 3d printer file for a large-scale model such as a tavern, gatehouse, castle, etc. for $10-$50? [/QUOTE]

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