WotC announced non-randomized minis

[w_earle_wheeler]

Thanks sfgiants. I have indeed been a loyal WotC customer for many years. Started playing in '79. And while I indicated in my post I don't need anymore minis (got a gameroom full, Auggie's is Great!, .19 cent NON-Random minis!) or WotC books (not a 4th ed guy). I do still make regular RPG book purchases (Paizo, Troll lords, Green Ronin). Run a regular campaign (my group's purchasing practices usually follows what I run). I mostly post in the Pathfinder, d20 Modern, non-4th ed forums. My mistake for posting here. Won't make that mistake again.
Sorry for the threadjack.
Sincere Regards,
Bill

Don't take it too personally, Bill. WotC's internet spokespersons are feeling pretty defensive right now. Lots of deadlines pressing down on them, and lots of heat on them from the internet community they're hoping to sell 4e/DDI to.

Of course, it doesn't help things that they view TSR's pre-Williams legacy as old men passed out while wearing party hats while viewing themselves as progressive and innovative rock stars

 

[sfgiants]

Some good points wheeler, except for the fact that Rouse is the sr brand manager for d+d. I imagine he oversees most everything. This isn't some flunky with bosses breathing down his neck (except for perhaps Hasbro, but they don't seem to really care about d+d).

I expect more from someone in his position than sarcastic jabs at the customer base.

 

[Ahglock]

Since orcs and PC types go for as low as 19 cents online now, I really hope they don't start such a line with common figures like these.

WotC: "Gee, no one's buying them."
Us: "Maybe cuz we already have them?"

Yeah the only reason I wanted non-random was so I could buy orc hordes and masses of undead and other groups of common X monster I use in my adventures. I am not going to pay $10 a pack when I can find them online for much cheaper.

 

[El Mahdi]

Some good points wheeler, except for the fact that Rouse is the sr brand manager for d+d. I imagine he oversees most everything. This isn't some flunky with bosses breathing down his neck (except for perhaps Hasbro, but they don't seem to really care about d+d).

I expect more from someone in his position than sarcastic jabs at the customer base.

I understand how you feel, and I agree with what you've said. At the same time, I feel for the man right now. He's just had his right hand man (Linae) fired, had his area of responsibility increased, found himself fighting those above him for the very things we have feedbacked and critiqued about, and get's ripped by those very people he's championing (us).

However, Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that you're "ripping" him. Like I said, I understand how you feel and agree with what you said.

I'm definitely not shy about stating my criticism of WoTC when I disagree with them. But, lately I find myself really wanting to give Scott and the others the benefit of the doubt. I think they feel caught between a rock and a hard place. I guess I just feel for the tough spot he and they are in (and the fact I feel that kind of scares me a bit - maybe I need some de-sensitivity training to get back to normal). Now Randy Buehler is another story. He has definitely rubbed me the wrong way (but that's another thread).

Anyways, back to the subject (so this isn't a complete threadjack), I'm really looking forward to seeing what WoTC does with these non-randomized minis. Even though some of the minis really aren't to my taste, or up to the standards I feel they should be (sculpts and painting), they have had some reeeaaaly cool minis mixed in there. But, then again, even Reaper is a little hit or miss. I like how reaper lists the sculptors name, and I find I'm drawn to work from specific sculptors. The pre-painted plastics that WoTC makes are definitely easier to alter and customize than metal ones. They had a really awesome series of articles on the Star Wars page about how to do just this thing. I'd really like to see their mini line expanded with minis made specifically for non-random sale.

 

[blargney the second]

Until then your conjecture that 16 series of random sold excellently is no more provable than my conjecture that 16 series of non-random minis would have sold 10 times better.

Well, I can personally attest that at least 8 of those sets sold VERY well.

 

[Dire Bare]

I guess we should stop trying and close up shop then.

Don't let the haters get you down Scott. Besides, you've still got ME!! I can never have enough mini's (I'm a minis whore), and I love 4th Edition (I'm also a gamebook whore). I LOVE the randomized aspect of D&D Minis, although I'd also love to see some non-random sets.

I know you are aware that our hobby is full of cranky gamers that like to complain histrionically, but I imagine it gets wearing every once in a while. You have my sympathy!

Keep those minis, books, and other games coming!!!

 

[Iceman75]

Value is in figures that match up

many DDM figures that you can get for cheap are not specific creatures out of the MM. 19 cents is not all that common even on the auggies site. I think that the commons that I want are the humaniods. To others that are saying that the 3.x monsterrs are the same as the 4E I say BS. There are many subtypes of goblins, hobgobs, orcs, skeletons, zombies. I WILL buy 5 bags of these common figures and send the receipts to WotC to prove it. Not all of us have a stash of minis that we bought over the years. The value is that characters will be able to recognize the foes that they face. Thank you in advance WotC.

 

[w_earle_wheeler]

Some good points wheeler, except for the fact that Rouse is the sr brand manager for d+d. I imagine he oversees most everything. This isn't some flunky with bosses breathing down his neck (except for perhaps Hasbro, but they don't seem to really care about d+d).

I expect more from someone in his position than sarcastic jabs at the customer base.

Let me just say that I agree more with you than I disagree.

I don't think Bill is a hater. I think he was just expressing his situation plainly: he's been playing for a long time, and he doesn't need any more miniatures.

I am in a similar situation. During the years WotC sold randomized miniatures, I picked up non-randomized miniatures from Games Workshop, Reaper, and the occasional secondary market WotC stuff. At this point, I've already spent lots of money that could have gone directly into WotC's pockets -- and while I'm very happy that they may be making non-randomized miniatures now, it might be many years too late to capture me as a customer. That all depends on what they release.

For example, a few months ago I needed over a dozen kobolds. Desperately. WotC didn't sell packs of kobolds, so I had to go through other sources. It was a "lost" opportunity for them to make a kobold set available with the release of H1 KotS.

(I put "lost" in finger quotes because I'm sure there are plently of people who haven't ran KotS yet, and would still love to pick up a box of dirty, stinky little kobold jerks.)

However, if they release packs made for use with their published modules, or packs of iconic monsters -- carrion crawlers, beholders, hooked horrors and stuff like that -- I will be very excited about it.

 

[Fifth Element]

First, that is not what I said at all, and you know that. (shame on you!)

This is what you said: "just continue to listen to what we want to buy; instead of what the Hasborg wants to sell."

This implies to me that Hasbro was dictating randomized minis, even though the customers ("we") didn't want them. But if the customers did not want them, the financial results would be such that 16 series would not have been made.

If you make a vague statement, expect that some won't understand what you intended to say.

 

[sfgiants]

I think it is reasonably safe to say that customers didn't want randomized miniatures. They sold well because we didn't have any other options (for official d+d pre-painted plastic minis).