Vignettes and costs etc.

[ddaines]

Reading through a few posts out there that refer to what has been produced so far in the GF range, and how the costs have been understandably prohibitive to some members (I think we all forget at times that there is life beyond a hobby), should we perhaps take time to reflect on what we have in terms of a unique opportunity to influence miniatures of a subject dear to our hearts, balanced against what we might lose if members cannot fulfil their obligation because of the expense factor.

I for one love the vignettes as they do offer that little bit extra, but then I am a diorama/scene modeller in most cases. BUT I would be happy if for instance a decision were to be made/agreed to suspend vignettes, or at least cut down on the number of opportunities to suggest them per year, and limit suggestions to more affordable single figure releases. Yes, it is us the members who suggest the ideas and vote for them (vignettes and all), but perhaps we may be making it unintentionally difficult for some to keep their heads above the water.

I still strongly believe that the majority of figures released through the GF are, and will be, those that would not realistically see the light of day were it not for us members coming up with the ideas due to the uniqueness of the ideas, and is probably not a cost effective way to build 'Game Units/armies' in great numbers.

I suppose what I am trying to say here is that I very much like the idea of the Gold Fellowship, I have been delighted with ALL figures that have been released, and I would prefer not to lose this exclusive little club that we have. If it is a case of more single figures at lower prices to keep it accessible to the majority then perhaps it is worth considering how we can ensure this.

Of course I have no idea how things stand with the GF in terms of is it working from Mithril’s point of view, we seem to have had no warnings of dire sales etc. so hopefully all is well, but I do detect difficulties perhaps with members being able to collect all figures within the required timeframe; incidentally if a member buys two of a release does that go towards the total that we are required to purchase over the year – it may get someone off the ‘hook’ so to speak.

Hope that all makes sense.

[Hammershield]

It makes perfect sene and I agree.

[barliman]

Ditto.

I have to admit that when I first 'joined up' I naively thought that all the figures would be singles, since I had no reason to suppose otherwise - the thought of vignettes never even crossed my mind, and they weren't so much as hinted at anywhere in Mithril's promotion. Consequently their cost (dare I say expense...) came as something of an unexpected surprise.

I need hardly add that every figure and every vignette has been a worthy winner, and I'd be happy to possess them all, but Real Life and bank balances dictate otherwise. I'd personally feel more comfortable if the number of vignettes was reduced to four or even just three per year - that way the less affluent amongst us (a category in which, alas, I have to include myself) would only have to buy one expensive vignette at most in the course of a year's membership.

It will be very interesting to see how everyone else feels now that an entire year of the Fellowship is behind us and we're at the point where memberships are due to be 'renewed' for another 12 months.

Good forum strand to have started, Dave. It's a subject that needs to be aired.

[Axe99]

I back this - while I am fairly relaxed either way, I think there's a risk of members pricing themselves out of the fellowship by voting for ideas they like (and those vignette ideas are very nice), but then realising that they can't afford them. As noted above, I guess we'd need some indication from the members and/or Mithril whether this is the case or not - the other idea that's pretty sharp is Aelfwine's 'joint membership'.

[twrich]

Hello Everyone, Hi Michael:

I also feel that the prices of some Vignettes, although I collect them all, are prohibitive for some members, as fabulous as the pieces are. Perhaps as members we could put additional restrictions on our vignette suggestions. For example, for all Mithril selections from the first round of voting during a Vignette Month that advance to the second round, perhaps Mithril could add a price range. If "X" is going to be e29.95 to e34.99, and "Y" would cost e44.95 to e49.95, perhaps that would sway some votes. Also, this would encourage more single-figure and mounted suggestions, which are allowed during any month where Vignettes are also allowed as suggestions.

So far it doesn't appear that the single suggestions that are selected for production are too expensive. Let's have more guidance on prices from Mithril, if we can, and leave every other month open to Vignettes, and all months open to individual suggestions. This might also result in more "useful" membership releases.

What does everyone think?
twrich (buhman)

[barliman]

That would be one way of handling things - if Mithril were able to predict in advance what Chris might have in mind for a particular design: but could they? It seems unlikely - I doubt that even Chris would know how he was going to handle a specific challege at such an early stage. It would be far less complicated to simply reduce the number of vignettes.

[Axel]

I agree that "vignettes" - exceeding two figures in interaction, like "Faramir and Eowyn", or "Eomer and Aragorn" (to come someday ) - like "Boromirs death", "Sauron", or ""Thorin and the Arkenstone" should be limited to 2-3 per year. The usual Fellowship mini should be a single, a rider or two minis in interaction. We could also add one 54mm mini per year, to revive the old christmas mini.

Apart from that, and to satisfy both the needs of diorama builders and the more elaborate aspects of LoTR, we could either vote for or simply use a them for single miniatures. Lets take the "Council of Elrond", or "The Black Gate" as themes that showed up lately somewhere. We could suggest single minis out of these scenarios for a single month, and would thus, if over years, build up a complete scene that would never otherwise see the light of Mithril.

Take, eg., the council. Gandalf, Elrond, Aragorn, Glorfindel, Gimli, Boromir, Bilbo or Frodo are just the most popular of the adherents. If one of these per year sees the light, we would have a council in around 10 years (adding some generic elves and the odd dwarf). So what, we are patient :-)

[Theobald]

I want to support the idea of decreasing costs because of vignettes in this Gold-Fellowship. - Though I (fortunately) am not in trouble with that I would like everybody to think of collectors with smaller pockets.
Isn't this called "Fellowship"?
So we also have to think of everybody being part of it. And that is what we really should care about. This is why I think this discussion is very important.
Of course, I wouldn't like to miss any of the releases of the last year - and, believe me or not, I like all of them.
But things have to be thought over again, I think. Huuooommm

[twrich]

Hey barli and all,

Perhaps what we need is some response from Michael about the ability of Chris to estimate prices. If that isn't realistic, then perhaps we need to ask for a price limit on Mithril Vignettes. I like the idea of Chris being able to take an idea, like Beorn and Bolg (and others), and create a masterpiece from his imagination. But if the price is prohibitive to some members, and Mithril had a price limit to begin with, perhaps we would have ended up with Beorn and Bolg as two individual pieces, without the Base with the fallen orcs. This might not be as "grand," but if more sold than the current pieces as produced, perhaps that would be better for Mithril in the end.

If we knew the approximate cost of a suggestion at the start of the second round of voting, we would be more informed as a membership in our final choice. I am sure that Chris wants to produce pieces that we can afford, but some scenarios are not "better if cheaper."

I will alert Michael to this thread, if he hasn't already seen it.

[bombadil1963]

Hi everybody,

I hope it´s not too late for this discussion. It should have come a lot earlier. Take me, for example! I´m a kind of collector who´s looking for and picking only "special" minis. And unfortunately I don´t like every suggestion of the last year. So if I want to stay a member I must buy minis I really don´t want to! The price is a point, too. The relation between prices and my problems is 1:1. The higher the price the more problems I´ll have. As I mentioned before, there is a loving wife and some nearly grown up children who are denying my hobby.
I´m trying to find a solution for this dilemma. I hoped to find it in exchanging disliked fellowship figurines with other collectors who refuse to join in the Gold Fellowship (because of the obligate orders). But this way has to proof it´s security and worth: today I´m still waiting for my first exchange-minis (since one week. . .)

[savage727]

Excellent points made by all and I concur with them.

[Axel]

I just managed to put together seven fellowship minis I got last week, and I simply have to admit that the larger vignettes, like Sauron, Beorn and Thorins death, offer so much more then the single minis that their increased price is definitely worth it.

Small vignettes also probably collide less with possible M-releases. I can imagine the "King of the Death", "Cirdan" or even Halbarad as M-minis, but Beorn or Thorin will probably not find that many takers out of us core-collectors.

Personally I would like to see the number of vignettes on the same level (increased, if anything), though I realize that they are indeed costly, and the fellowship has to be commercially viable for Prince August before all other considerations. I went on preorder for two each to enable the fellowship to continue...

[twrich]

Axel, I agree! Especially regarding potential future "M" releases.