Minifigs USA Responds to "Roots" Editorial
Your editorial "An Open Letter to Figure Manufacturers" raises many important points and deserves a serious reply.
First, we have not "forgotten our roots," nor have we ever contemplated abandoning the historical wargaming market for an instant. In fact, I think it is fair to say that MINIFIGS is currently undergoing perhaps the most massive committment to historical wargaming it has ever undertaken. To illustrate what I mean, I'd like to mention some of our current and soon-to-be undertaken projects.
You may be aware that with the release of Napoleonics and English Civil War, we have offered the first of a whole new generation of 15mm historical figures and ranges which we are calling our "Super-Detail" generation. In coming months, there will be more releases in the "Super-Detail" generation: ACW; SYW; Renaissance; Dark Ages; Feudal Europe; The Crusades; Greek & Persian Wars; Macedonian & Punic Wars; Imperial Rome & Enemies. By the time we have finished what is already released or in the design stage, almost 2000 new 15mm historical figures will be available. We are not neglecting 25mm gamers either. As you read this, the first selections from our long-awaited Dark Ages 25mm Range are out under the `theading" THE NORMAN CONQUEST. More new 25's will be following shortly.
It is true that we have discontinued our old 15's and some 25mm ranges. Partially, this was to make production-space for our enormously popular The World of Greyhawk Fantasy Range. However, just as importantly, it was necessary to make space for the tremendous volume of new historical releases. Ranges which were popular with significant numbers of wargamers were never discontinued. We sincerely regret disappointing anyone, but any range, historical or fantasy, must register a certain minimum level of popularity or risk being replaced with one that does. In this regard, we are simply responding to a determination that is made by our customers. When a range is re-designed we always get some complaints from those who liked the old one. However, it's impossible to run duplicate ranges, and if we don't redesign periodically when we feel we can do better, then someone else will do it.
You raised five particular points in your editorial, and we'd like to respond to them point- by-point:
1-A "maintain new range for minimum of one year..." A good idea and one we will attempt to follow. However, no business can promise categorically to carry a money-losing product-line for that period of time. You can have loss-leaders within a range, but you can't have loss-leader ranges. Our proviso is that a particular range must equal or exceed a minimum sales volume on a quarterly basis.
1-B "90 days notice . . ." Another good idea but not a practical one. The nature of molds is that, in general, they do not deteriorate gradually, but go bad all at once as rubber rips-out with no prior notice. When they go bad, a decision must be made on the spot whether to remold. Retooling is expensive and the expense must be justified by the sales of the range in question. Again, if the range has fulfilled the minimum sales requirement over the previous quarter, renewal is automatic. I might add that it isn't in the interest of any manufacturer to issue a range that falls below a certain level of popularity. You can be assured that we will be making every attempt to issue new ranges which meet with popular acceptance, and if we are completely successful no range will ever be discontinued.
2 "Lines with fewer poses. . ." It's not really the number of poses, but rather the total number of sets available within a range. Sometimes more than one pose can be logically combined in a single set. . . i.e., four spearmen with spears at the present, and four with vertical spears. The great majority of historical wargamers buy their figures in shops. Many retailers are intimidated by ranges that have a large number of different sets and resist stocking them. That means those figures are exposed to far smaller numbers of wargamers. It is in the interest of manufacturers to keep the number of sets within a given range to a relatively modest number so the range gets into as many different locations as possible. That is why MINIFIGS in the U.S. has ceased its old practice of releasing a single rangUe such as the DARK AGES as one listing of 100+ figures. Rather such a range may be released as several different ranges . . . i.e., Norman Conquest; Franks & Moors; Steppes Nomads; Byzantium; etc. It doesn't mean that fewer figures will necessarily be available. It does, however, make it much easier for the retailer. If he can identify the specialized period of interest that his customers want. That way more wargamers see the figures. From a production point-of-view, it is also much easier for us to identify the relative levels of popularity of smaller ranges and respond accordingly, thus greatly improving our ability to supply our customers quickly.
3 "alloys . . . convertions. . ." We pride ourselves at MINIFIGS at using top-grade alloys which are tough without being brittle, and lend themselves to conversion if desired. However, in the question of alloys, all manufacturers are somewhat between the proverbial rock and a hard-place. The most consistent complaint of customers is the cost of figures. Unfortunately, the tensile-qualities of alloys relate directly to their cost. The more an alloy exhibits the qualities you mention, the pricier it is.
A manufacturer must strike a balance between casting his figures in alloy with the bestpossible tensile qualities and casting in an alloy which will keep his figures both competitive with others on the market and within the range of his customer's pocket-books. Believe me when I say the attempt to satisfy the demands of tensilequality and material cost is a constant and neverending problem, and one I would guess that no manufacturer has ever solved totally to his satisfaction.
4 "Always have both sides before release..." This is a good practice when a manufacturer is releasing a new period where no figures have been available from any other maker, or in a scale where they have not been available. It is hardly necessary if entering an existing market. However, I think it is good to avoid rebasing ranges piece-meal wherever possible.
5 "A year between release of lines . . ." Don't agree. Historical wargaming is not one market. It is many. The hardcore Napoleonics buff may have no interest whatever in the Renaissance. The manufacturer must be able to satisfy both ranges at whatever levels of popularity they enjoy. Also, given the fact that design-costs are very expensive, expecting a manufacturer to sit on a range for a year that is ready to begin earning back its cost is asking him to cripple himself financially. He also can't really cut back the number of figures he has designed by full-time designers. A manufacturer is only as good as his designers. And if a manufacturer can't provide their designers with enough work, they will go to someone who can. There is also the simple fact that the last thing wargamers want is for a manufacturer to hold back a new release a second longer than necessary.
Finally, in response to your last paragraph, if a range isn't popular enough for a larger manufacturer to offer it, there is no way a smaller one can. There are few hobby products available which de" pend on more primitive technology and a higher degree of labor-intensiveness for their manufacture than metal wargames figures. Manufacturers can only partially offset their high cost-of-manufacture by making many masters of the same figure and one-of-a-kind production molds. However, this greatly increases the design and production cost of each figure and can only be justified when the figure enjoys a certain high level of sales. To suggest that small makers concentrate on the least popular figures means that will either have to accept the high-cost of mass-production molds, or the much higher labor costs of non-mass-production molds, and do so in either case for the smallest possible return. If a larger manufacturer can't make a successful go of a range, then a smaller manufacturer hasn't got a chance.
If bv a small manufacturer, you mean someone who casts figures in his basement in his spare-time and makes his living at another full-time job, then in honesty I must tell you that we regard these people as unfair competition and would under no circumstances consider encouraging them. Unless a figure maker is a full-time business, his manufacture does not reflect the true costs of the figuremaking business. He doesn't have a payroll to meet, many different types of taxes and insurance to pay, factory overhead, and numerous other costs incumbent on a full-time business. He can offer figures at artifically low prices as a consequence. Now, at first blush, lower prices sounds good to us all. But if legitimate full-time businesses are driven out by parlor operations which sell at prices that don't reflect true costs, the figure supply in this country or any other would soon vanish. Cone would be the selection, the accessability, and probably the high degree of quality now available.
I've seen it happen time and again that a company will start out as a part time operation selling at prices that undercut the competition. If they are at all successful and demand for their product builds, theY then go full time. Inevitably, what next occurs is a price increase in line with prevailing industry levels which are in turn influenced by costs and the desire to remain competitive. There is no way a price increase can't occur once a company becomes a full time concern and recognizes the true costs of manufacture.
In any event, all any manufacturer can ask is that his competitors by prey to the same economic realities of the marketplace that he is. It doesn't make sense for a manufacturer to encourage anyone who is not.
1-A. A company protects itself by engaging in a minimum of market research and only introducing lines that they can be sure will be profitable for a year! Use info from magazine surveys, your distributors, store customers and flyer questionaires mailed out with each order.
1-B. In your 1-A you mention checking on sales volume every quarter. THAT is where you decide to give the 90 day notices (1 quarter!) On those occasions when molds break down too soon - you still make a new one to support the 90 day (or one year) offer. The law of averages suggests that you would not have to take a "beating" on more than one or two molds per year.
2. I am not sure you are addressing my point! Run the mold with 8 spearmen with vertical spear doing away with one pose - you use the mold half as much - it lasts longer and 1-B is easier! -- Dick Bryant
IMPORTANT NOTICE TO SOCIETY OF ANCIENTS MEMBERS
The Treasurer of the Society of Ancients would like to point out that he is receiving a substantial number of remmitances which are for an incorrect amount. The reason for this is because new and resubscribing members are adding the non-sterling bank draft on London charge when this does not apply. This additional charge does not apply to personal cheques, US, Canadian or other money orders and bank drafts payable through an American bank, (a US bank for US currency and a Canadian Bank for Canadian currency)
He would also like to add that when paying in sterling, subscribers should purchase a draft or money order for the exact sterling amount. This is often cheaper than taking the dollar equivilent and changing that into sterling.
STOP NON-MINIATURE ADVERTISING
THE COURIER is one of the best, if not the best magazine offered to historical miniature wargamers. More emphasis should be placed on historical miniature wargames, however. Some of the issues in the beginning had advertisements for fantasy figures which are in no way historical. I realize this problem has been corrected, but the miniature emphasis must still be looked into.
I am really surprised to find one who was so upset about System 7 winning the H.G. Wells Award at Origins '80 would allow advertisements for boardgames in a magazine devoted to miniatures. Please do not Bet me wrong, I enjoy some board games myself, but when I pick up a miniature magazine that is all I expect to see. You and I and the readers all know that historical miniature wargaming needs all the help it can Bet without THE COURIER offering alternatives.
Another misleading issue at hand is that of shifting all the blame onto the manufacturers for the lack of figures. I am not taking sides with the manufacturers at all, as they are just as slack in their interest as we are. So let us look at this problem within our own circle. When I subscribed to this magazine I was expecting to find some help in locating clubs in my area. To my surprise there were very few clubs listed let alone any in my area. I now belong to a club, but I had to find it in another magazine.
The question that must be asked is if someone else like myself comes along, or is even out there now subscribing and still does not belong to a club and has the interest. How long will it be before he finds a club or just gives up?
We want to expand the hobby so that the manufacturers will produce the miniatures we want. Yet we will not list our clubs in a magazine where we are sure to pick up more members. If we would only open our clubs and list them, to not only bring in new members, but create a demand for more historical figures. If there is a demand the manufacturers will have to cater to the market. I have Yet to hear of a business turning down a way to make a sure profit. The one way in which we could obtain members is at our finger tips if we would only respond.
With the editor's permission, I would like to challenge all to list their clubs or names and periods in which they Bame. Let us not sit back and complain and watch our hobby slowly diminish. Let us all make a move in the right direction and respond to The Courier's "OPPONENTS WANTED COLUMN".
If there are those of you out there that feel that you have all the members You want or if you are one of those people who say "let someone else write". Then you are more of a liability than an asset to this hobby! - Keith Mathias.
THE COURIER accepts boardgaming, fantasy and FRP advertising as we recognize the fact that many of our readers are interestecl in these types of gaming. We do not run articles in those genre and only review such material if it can be of direct use in Miniature Historical Caming.
Some miniature manufacturers will not lose any o~ portunity to tell us that the Fantasy figures market pays hr their Historical figure lines! We see nothing wrong, therefore, in letting FRP, boardgame and science fiction advertisements help pay for thi Historical Miniature Gaming Magazine! --Dick Bryant
PHIL BARKER COMMENTS
Pat Condray's letter in 11/2 prompts me to put my oar in. The bayonet was certainly the most impc tent weapon of the AMR as far as the British we' concerned, even if it did not do much actual damage. The reason was that the militia forming major part of the opposing army would not stand charged, but were willing to swap shots if they were not. Charging them after a single volley mad sense, especially since they lacked bayonets of their own more often than not. The AMR may b the only war in history in which the bayonet WAS decisive weapon!
I will support Pat in his further point, that fire was for practical purposes simultaneous in the 18th an 19th centuries, and will go a little further by saying that in practice, once the first massed volley or platoon firing had taken place, firing usuall degenerated into file firing as the faster men go ahead with their reloading.
Changing targets, adventure gaming as a title ma suit those manufacturers who churn out D & D figures rather than military types, but I don't se why the rest of us should pander to them. Thus, "public opinion" doesn't like the sound of wargaming. Should we care a darn what outsiders think? If they are unhappy about what we choose to call OUR hobby, tough lick. I would rather be incorrectly labelled as a warmonger than correct! labelled as someone who has not the guts to stand up and be counted. As far as manufacturers are concerned, wargamers ARE the public.
May I point out that of the British big four manufacturers, only one makes ANY fantasy figures, and the one finds a good proportion of it fantasy figures ending up in historical armies. If it comes to that, there are American fantasy figure among mY Goths and Vikings! As all but one have American subsidiaries at least as big as the entirely American operations, maybe the latters' bette ability to sell fantasy than historical is more due to their product not standing up to the competition.
GRAND TACTICAL RULES?
In reference to the so-called Grand Tactical Rule which have appeared in THE COURIER it is apparent that most rule writers feel they reach the "Grand Tactical" level solely by raising the figure to troop ratio from 1:20 to 1:50, 1:60, 1:90 or 1:100 Yet they still concern themselves, and those player who use the rules, with battalion formations which are in the realm of tactics. Grand Tactics is concerned with the role of Corps and, in some cases Divisions in battle. A Corps or Army commander not going to concern himself with whether a battalion is in line or column. If he did so with corps of 15 -20 battalions, he wouldn't have time for anything else.
His primary concern is the placement of divisions to insure the success of his mission. It is ludicrous to have a 1:100 figure ratio and then mount figures on a one or two-men stand one can play around with battalion formation. Rule authors first need to determine who they wan a player to be, a Corps, Division, Brigade, or Regimental commander, and then write the rules Grand Tactical rules need more command a control, and Division/Corps morale rules, and concern with battalion formations. I recommend David Chandler's The Campaigns of Napoleon, especially chapter 16, be read.
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