Michael_R_Proteau
First Post
abstaining from poll.
The unpainted non-random packs were tried by WotC withthe Chainmail line which failed for numerous reasons, and I don't think doing the same thing with plastic would do any better.
I didn't vote because the option of no, I am fine with the current distribution model was not offered. Even if the minis were sold in non-randompacks, there would still be asecondary market developing as places would still by in bulk (though they would have to by more types of different packages) and resell for a profit at a price less than MSRP (as is done with several D&D products that are minis on places like ebay) so eliminating the random/collectible nature would not eliminate the development of a secondary market that provided alternate means of purchase by the end customer for the product.
We (my wife and I) had plenty (somehwere betweemn 300-400) painted minis of characters and monsters before the first set of DDM was released, but we still bought in after seeing them at Gen Con and playing a demo getting to see how durable the figs were when handling them. We still by metal minis we like (as my wife likes to paint) but the DDM model of distribution allowed us to get large numbers of minis at very cheap prices. Plus buying them was like a mini gift opening event. A new set comes out, we buy our case and split up the boosters opening them up to see what we got like a kid excited on Christmas morning. It's part of the fun of the minis experience with us. Over the course of the sets, we have acquired tons of common humanoids (last count we had almost 100 kobolds, 50+goblins, 50+ orcs, 40+ gnolls etc.) plus common soldiers, etc. that we can use, plus some cool rares and classic D&D staples. If we had bought specific gigs at the prices you mentioned, we would have spent for more and gotten much less, let alone losing the new set release event excitement that has become part of our households D&D experience.
Filling in holes via trades is part of the fun for me as well, hearkening back to the halycon days of my childhood where we would swap Topps baseball cards and comic books with neighborhood kids on my front stoop.
Buying exactly what I want at premium prices for minis is a model already offered by others in the industry. I don't need or want WotC to do that. They offer something different, a different method of distribution a different experience in getting the minis, and that is something I enjoy. I get plenty of cheapfigs trolling through Mage Knight bins at cons, and can get themed sets (sort of) with Heroscape figs, and I certainly do take advantage of those things, but honestly, even though I don't skirmish much at all, I like te DDM distribution just fine. I even like the stat cards, as they are great to throw in my travelling DM kit for reference to the D&D RPG stat side so I don't have to reference the MM during play, just throw the card of the relevant monster behind the screen if I need to reference anything and away I go.
-M
The unpainted non-random packs were tried by WotC withthe Chainmail line which failed for numerous reasons, and I don't think doing the same thing with plastic would do any better.
I didn't vote because the option of no, I am fine with the current distribution model was not offered. Even if the minis were sold in non-randompacks, there would still be asecondary market developing as places would still by in bulk (though they would have to by more types of different packages) and resell for a profit at a price less than MSRP (as is done with several D&D products that are minis on places like ebay) so eliminating the random/collectible nature would not eliminate the development of a secondary market that provided alternate means of purchase by the end customer for the product.
We (my wife and I) had plenty (somehwere betweemn 300-400) painted minis of characters and monsters before the first set of DDM was released, but we still bought in after seeing them at Gen Con and playing a demo getting to see how durable the figs were when handling them. We still by metal minis we like (as my wife likes to paint) but the DDM model of distribution allowed us to get large numbers of minis at very cheap prices. Plus buying them was like a mini gift opening event. A new set comes out, we buy our case and split up the boosters opening them up to see what we got like a kid excited on Christmas morning. It's part of the fun of the minis experience with us. Over the course of the sets, we have acquired tons of common humanoids (last count we had almost 100 kobolds, 50+goblins, 50+ orcs, 40+ gnolls etc.) plus common soldiers, etc. that we can use, plus some cool rares and classic D&D staples. If we had bought specific gigs at the prices you mentioned, we would have spent for more and gotten much less, let alone losing the new set release event excitement that has become part of our households D&D experience.
Filling in holes via trades is part of the fun for me as well, hearkening back to the halycon days of my childhood where we would swap Topps baseball cards and comic books with neighborhood kids on my front stoop.
Buying exactly what I want at premium prices for minis is a model already offered by others in the industry. I don't need or want WotC to do that. They offer something different, a different method of distribution a different experience in getting the minis, and that is something I enjoy. I get plenty of cheapfigs trolling through Mage Knight bins at cons, and can get themed sets (sort of) with Heroscape figs, and I certainly do take advantage of those things, but honestly, even though I don't skirmish much at all, I like te DDM distribution just fine. I even like the stat cards, as they are great to throw in my travelling DM kit for reference to the D&D RPG stat side so I don't have to reference the MM during play, just throw the card of the relevant monster behind the screen if I need to reference anything and away I go.
-M
) or b) available within 30 minutes driving distance of my house, then sure.
