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Post by twrich on Jan 3, 2012 5:33:53 GMT
GOOD CHARACTER: GIRION OF DALE.As a Lord of Dale, Girion would be tall, with his famous necklace visible over his lengthy robes. I picture him with longer hair, perhaps bound by a circlet with a precious stone set in it. I imagine also that he would have a slender belt to gather in his robes, with a dagger at his side. BAD CHARACTER: EASTERLING EMISSARY (SPY) FROM RHUN.In the time of Girion, before Smaug decended upon the Lonely Mountain and drove out the Dwarves, there was a great commerce in the northeastern lands of Middle Earth. Erebor, Dale, towns of Rhovanion, Dorwinion, Gondor, and the Anduin Vales, and those of Rhun all traded directly with each other. We have some Easterling warrior/magic user type figures, but none who is basically a diplomat (spy). I picture the Emissary of Rhun in ceremonial gear. As a generally nomadic people he would be in riding gear with a sword, but over fine clothes with no head gear, as his purpose would be to arrange trade deals with (and spy on) Dorwinion, Dale and Erebor--and secretly, with the Orcs of the Grey Mountains and Misty Mountans. He would be high in the confidence of the just released Easterling Chieftan!
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Post by twrich on Oct 28, 2011 3:09:51 GMT
Thank you for your service, Savage, and welcome home!
I have voted for Aragorn also, although I like both ideas. I Just think the White Sapling scene is very important and not yet produced by Chris.
Harold, you correctly mention that Gandalf was there, but he stopped at a distance from Aragorn, who went forward to the sapling alone. A vignette is a close scene. Better to have this figure and then build a scene of a mountain side and use one of the many existing Gandalfs placed a foot or so away from Aragorn.
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Post by twrich on Oct 8, 2011 5:14:31 GMT
Hello friends.
I will try again with [glow=red,2,300]Girion of Dale[/glow]
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Post by twrich on Sept 5, 2011 4:35:50 GMT
GIRION
He has been suggested before by others besides me. He is one of the few named figures not produced yet by Chris.
A Lord of Dale who enjoyed the friendship of the Dwarves of nearby Erebor. Girion was a wealthy lord, and Dale in his time was said to contain many fine things. He owned a famous necklace said to be made from five hundred emeralds, which he gave in payment to the Dwarves for a marvellous mail coat they created for his eldest son.
Girion's prosperous rule came to a sudden end when the Dragon Smaug descended on Erebor. Dale was also laid waste, and Girion was slain, but his wife and younger son were able to escape down the River Running to Esgaroth. There they and their descendants remained, until nearly two hundred years later Girion's descendant Bard succeeded in slaying the Dragon and rebuilding his ancestor's township of Dale. (Encyclopedia of Arda).
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Post by twrich on Aug 25, 2011 2:18:14 GMT
Although he is someone else's suggestion this time, I have nominated Mauhur for too many months to turn my back on him now. Too bad we don't have "Huron devouring Mauhur" ;-)
Vidugavia is a great idea also, I would be happy with him too.
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Post by twrich on Aug 23, 2011 0:52:02 GMT
Girion is a missing piece, like some others, I hope we can see him and his necklace!
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Post by twrich on Aug 14, 2011 6:41:30 GMT
Best Wishes, Michael, for a Happy Birthday.
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Post by twrich on Aug 14, 2011 5:15:46 GMT
Lars, thank you for addressing us and explaining some of the facts and plans concerning Mithril.
One major change I would make in the marketing of Mithrils is the eBay store. It is under the name "mouldsandminis." It is a hodge-podge of stuff with an occassional Mithril lot thrown in with Warzone and hobby casting metal, etc . . . Why doesn't Mithril have its own ebay store site, am I missing it? If PA is afraid that promoting Mithril might cannibalize other PA lines I think our group is proof it won't.
I know the Fellowship Gold is an exclusive club and we want to reserve unsold MS figures for new members that might join, but what marketing outside the factory is being done to promote regular M series Mithrils? This is not asking for business details, just a general statement that says: we are doing these things, or we really can't justify much in marketing expenses. I understand that PA has a somewhat robust marketing program, especially in France. Is there a way to include the Mithril brand in those efforts?
I include listing Mithrils for sale on ebay as "marketing." Perhaps I am wrong, but isn't the cost of producing a figure for which you already have a mould very cheap per figure? Perhaps a new MC series, created from the existing moulds (maybe Hobbit themed to take advantage of the movies) sold on ebay would be a good investment by PA. Milo is right. The collectors are out there, many of whom have never heard of Mithril, but came upon it often on ebay by typing "Lord of the Ring miniature or figure." Start them low, even slightly below cost. Lars, perhaps you are not a collector, but how that psycology works usually is anything that seems at first too high priced to an individual, they don't even look at. But if it is in a reasonable range (meaning we think we might get a deal!) we look at it, and perhaps become emotionally invested in owning it. Usually someone else (or many others) feel the same way, and we are likely to bid against each other and pay a higher price in the end than if it was just listed as a Buy it Now or with a high starting price.
Finally, please don't underestimate the benefits of networking with other MEE licensees (I understand that GW might not be a good idea) or contacting other Tolkien related website administrators, just to let them know Mithril exists and the company is willing to cross-promote. I am not talking about production deals like the Salute situation, or about buying banner ads; just agressively pursuing relationships so that the new Mithril website you build out will have links from other Tolkien related websites featured prominently in exchange for them doing the same. This should not be very time consuming--a couple of hours of "google" searches and brief emails might go a long way towards identifying these "partners." Many of us try to promote Mithril to our contacts in other Tolkien related circles, but without an active Mithril(PA) involvement there is only so much we can do.
I am glad to hear about the idea to establish displays promoting Mithril at the factory, but I thought this was already being done. I haven't had the opportunity to visit the factory yet, so perhaps I just don't know? 10,000 visitors a year!? Mithril/PA should produce several hundred (more if needed) figures of Gandalf and Bilbo from existing moulds and give one of each away to every kid that visits your factory between now and the time the Hobbit movies run their course! If this can be done with an MEE approved promotional brochure talking about the upcoming Hobbit movies that would be even better. Once a kid has one of something that is a part of a set they often want more. Just like with coins and stamps, etc . . . 10,000 visitors (even if not all are interested in Mithril) is a huge potential market, and if even one percent per year became Mithril collectors we would add 100 collectors per year just from those visits! Is every visitor exposed to your Mithril figures? If not they should be.
Well, just some thoughts. And I do appreciate the suggestions that you, Chris, and Michael have taken from us already. But if this new M series project is going to succeed there definitely has to be a way of reducing the price below the exclusive MS prices. Getting the revised website up and going is a good step, but that may not be in time for the first attempt to revitalized regular M releases. I worry that if the first attempt (likely to be the long-awaited HD2) fails to be economical that the whole project will be deemed uneconomical.
Lars, I realize that I could have emailed you directly, but I post these thoughts here to also get feedback from the others.
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Post by twrich on Aug 12, 2011 5:10:25 GMT
[glow=red,2,300]GIRION OF DALE[/glow] This suggestion has been made by others before, and I have always thought it would be nice to see Chris' interpretation of him.
A Lord of Dale who enjoyed the friendship of the Dwarves of nearby Erebor. Girion was a wealthy lord, and Dale in his time was said to contain many fine things. He owned a famous necklace said to be made from five hundred emeralds, which he gave in payment to the Dwarves for a marvellous mail coat they created for his eldest son.
Girion's prosperous rule came to a sudden end when the Dragon Smaug descended on Erebor. Dale was also laid waste, and Girion was slain, but his wife and younger sons were able to escape down the River Running to Esgaroth. There they and their descendants remained, until nearly two hundred years later Girion's descendant Bard succeeded in slaying the Dragon and rebuilding his ancestor's township of Dale. (Encyclopedia of Arda)
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Post by twrich on Aug 6, 2011 5:37:15 GMT
It seems there has really been little effort to partner with the logical sites/groups that could help promote Mithril. As far as I can tell, the marketing effort is basically "we're going to revise our website and rely on customers." This is all good, but I wonder how Mithril will ever rebuild its customer base if it doesn't agressively advertise across several different mediums . . . . that also means contacting every company that has a LOTR license for any product . . . from action figures to board games to the new RPG system. And I believe it also means reaching out via the internet to the major retail gaming stores that still operate in major metropolitan areas. There are bound to be opportunities to market Mithril as a result from estalishing such business contacts. The only cost to Mithril/PA is time, as I am not sugessting buying ad space in a magazine.
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Post by twrich on Aug 3, 2011 5:15:20 GMT
Very nice gilgalad; if he wins I hope it is with a base shaped into a few steps. Gollum is small, so the extra metal shouldn't be too expensive.
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Post by twrich on Jul 30, 2011 18:40:14 GMT
OK, 7 days and no answer for us about Gildor's question. So . . .
IF PA CAN ADVERTISE FOR OTHER PRODUCTS, WHY NOT MITHRIL TOO?
Or if PA is advertising Mithril, please let us know where.
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Post by twrich on Jul 30, 2011 18:10:57 GMT
Congratulations Milo on a great suggestion! I am sure Chris will make it a superb figure.
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Post by twrich on Jul 22, 2011 17:18:02 GMT
I agree that these are all good ideas! And if Mauhur wasn't in the vote, I'd support Milo also . . . his is a very original suggestion, I think. Hopefully all three will be made some day!
As for Mauhur, should he win, I picture him as an Uruk type orc, bred by Sauruman to be as big as the "middle" men, such as the Rohirrim. He would have better gear than the typical orc. Chain mail as opposed to hard leather armor as an example, in a fighting pose as though on the edge of Fangorn Forest, fighting to help Ugluk get the hobbits to Isengard.
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Post by twrich on Jul 18, 2011 18:15:24 GMT
I was thinking the same thing . . . very quiet.
So time to plug my suggestion
VOTE MAUHUR!!!
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Post by twrich on Jul 2, 2011 18:29:36 GMT
Thank you for that Thingol, and karma for your links (as long as we didn't abolish karma it may as well be given when useful info and ideas are presented)!
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Post by twrich on Jul 1, 2011 16:00:37 GMT
Once again:
MAUHUR!!!
Many beside myself have suggested him in the past, and I believe it is probably time to have the most obviously missing Orc produced by Chris. I will add details to his discription during the voting.
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Post by twrich on Jun 30, 2011 16:30:29 GMT
I hope the snow-troll is suggested in a single figure month--I think it could win.
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Post by twrich on Jun 29, 2011 7:06:45 GMT
A Lossoth Hunter with Snow Troll is very interesting, I like anything Lossoth. But as Beregond Fighting the Troll is a real scene from the Books; and this is a special month where we get to have two opposing figures, I have voted for it. I only wish that Frodo and Gollum would have made it to the 2nd round of voting.
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Post by twrich on Jun 24, 2011 3:45:20 GMT
Can someone refresh my memory; does Beregond actually fight a Troll in front of the Black Gate in the books themselves?
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Post by twrich on Jun 18, 2011 3:35:22 GMT
Merry and the Ruffian was also what I voted for, but I also would support Frodo/Gollum. It just seems that Sam should somehow be involved.
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Post by twrich on May 25, 2011 2:39:24 GMT
True Gildor, I guess that is why Michael calls her a Dorwinrim I will not give up hope for more regular series, but we know that there are a few series already "on the block," so to speak. Hopefully when Michael revises the official Mithril website it will attract new members and we will have more sales and M releases to follow. In the meantime, we have three very good choices for this month and I hope we see all of them before long.
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Post by twrich on May 24, 2011 4:31:13 GMT
I think mostly the same way you do Gildor. It took many months for Theodred to win a second round vote. But we already have some Helms Deep and Easterling "M" releases that we might never see (except maybe as limited releases like the Half-orcs and Dwarfs some day). So if these won't be made full "M" series figures, what chance can there be for the Dorwinions? This suggestion might be the only Dorwinion figure ever released by Mithril (there are none so far)--that would make it "MS" or "Mithril Special." I like named figures too, and think Girion (very Nice suggestion ) or Mauhur (who I also suggested often) would be great if they win, and will buy either of them. But the Dorwinions are "Named" just not as a specific person, but rather a Race of People.
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Post by twrich on May 22, 2011 6:20:20 GMT
Yes, a fine red, no doubt!
But the vote is far from over . . . .
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Post by twrich on May 21, 2011 3:03:54 GMT
Thank you aelfwine for the excellent illustrations. I think it would be great to finally have a representative of the Dorwinions by Chris and Mithril.
I envision the Female Wine Merchant attired in a long dress with a shawl and perhaps head scarf; holding a bottle of wine as if showing the color to a prospective buyer. But really, if it should win I would be happy with Chris to sculpt it any way he thought best.
For that matter, I would be happy with any of these suggestions. We are certain to have an excellent figure this month no matter which idea wins the vote.
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Post by twrich on May 5, 2011 4:39:56 GMT
I suggest:
[glow=red,2,300]FEMALE DORWINION WINE MERCHANT[/glow]
Chris can make her any way he thinks best.
HWolf, the detail about Thor is a very compelling commentary! Have a karma, just in case we keep it.
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Post by twrich on Apr 30, 2011 6:53:47 GMT
It seems that there is one (or a small group of) immature individual(s) who like to be nasty if they think none of us (except Michael) know who they are. I'm sure Michael has better things to do than babysit the bullies among us. This type of behavior, smiting members repeatedly for no valid reason, certainly doesn't help the Fellowship grow (which we need to keep Mithril alive and prices down), and that is the real problem with these childish actions.
I agree with Barli that it would be best if it was exalt only, but Michael has stated that the feature is both or none. There are members who have really done great things to help promote Mithril, and been recognized by others through karma. Perhaps it is not fair to them that the actions of one or a few irresponsible members abusing the system result in a vote to wipe out the recognition they've been given.
At first I was going to vote to eliminate the feature, or not vote at at all. When my karma was being knocked down every day, all I could think about was how a new member might feel if they were being anonomously bullied--they would probably just leave the group, and no one would ever know why.
There are reasons to keep it, and reasons not to. But in the end, it really doesn't matter. We all have differing relationships amongst ourselves, and someone's karma number doesn't really influence that.
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Post by twrich on Apr 28, 2011 3:34:51 GMT
Thank you for your kind support friends, 5 karma points restored in a day is a nice gesture.
But I do agree with Theo that a poll should be taken by Michael to see if we want to 1) keep karma/smite as it is, 2) keep them but identify those who give/take it; or 3) eliminate it altogether.
It looks like the Ent fighting the Half-Orc has won. I can't wait to see how Chris scupts this excellent idea.
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Post by twrich on Apr 26, 2011 17:37:47 GMT
Perhaps this is not the place for this, but I've noticed that there is someone out there in the fellowship who doesn't particulary care for me. I've watch my Karma get knocked down from the mid twenties to 18 now, over the past couple of weeks. Whoever it is can knock me down to negative 10 and I wouldn't really care, I don't particularly care about karma ratings and such, but still, this is childish.
What I'm concerned about is the future of Mithril and the Fellowship. We're trying to attract new members, and the last thing this Fellowship needs if we are to survive is someone (or a small group of people) using karma to try to "punish" others who they don't like or don't agree with. This has happened to other members in the past, as well. Perhaps we should get rid of "karma" altogether, or require people to reveal themselves when they add or subtract it from another member?
Perhaps someone is still mad at me for passing Chris's message along last year asking members to cease certain activities. Perhaps it is someone else. Whoever you are, if you have a complaint about me, have the courage to mail me directly. Otherwise you are no more than a coward who hides in the dark.
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Post by twrich on Apr 22, 2011 17:44:18 GMT
Yes, the Dorwinions are a tranquil pair, not showing such "action" as the other two. But I suggested them as I fear there is little chance to have an M series of these, and to my knowledge they are the only group of people mentioned by Tolkien in the books that have NO representation in the Mithril line--perhaps I am mistaken?
I'm actually surprised that they made it into the second round of voting. Wouldn't it be nice to make something new?
But I will be happy for either of the other two great ideas as well.
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