Much has been written in THE COURIER during the last two years about the declining number of historical figures available to the wargamer. Well, take heart fellow wargamers it isn't nearly as bad as you thought.
Before we get into the good news, let's take a quick look at the bad. in recent years we have seen a remarkable growth in the size of companies manufacturing miniature figures. Unfortunately this growth has been attributed to the gigantic growth of the fantasy figure market and the apparent decline in the number of historical figures available to the gamer.
This "fact" needs some explanation. It is true that numerous manufacturers have discontinued many historical lines or have curtailed the expansion of existing lines. Most of these lines were dropped because they became economically expendable. A line of miniatures become expendable for several reasons.
First, a line of figures become expendable because of cost factors. Those of us who have been in the hobby for 10 years or more remember the days when the 30mm figure was the only game in town. With the exception of Jack Scruby all of the companies making 30mm figures have either disappeared or have shifted to a smaller figure. At first the scale was 20mm but was soon replaced by the popular 25mm.
The next step in the process is the decline of the 25mm in favor of the less expensive 15mm. As companies moved to the next smaller scale it became obvious that the cost to retool and redesign a 1,000 figure line was not practical.
A second reason for the decline was the inability to produce and stock an unpopular line of figures. Going back some five years we can see some reason for the current situation. In those days most manufacturers worked out of their basements or had shops of two or three people.
Many companies were part time ventures (which was fine until someone got married or moved across the country). Today the larger companies have payrolls to meet, overhead, stock requirements and hundreds of other odds and ends that are the bane of the small business owner. Not everyone will agree, but this growth has actually lead to a better quality product and has afforded greater availability to the consumer.
The disadvantage to this system is that the manufacturer cannot afford to stock a line of marginal sellers. Now I know that we all have favorite periods we would like to see produced (five years ago I suggested that the Marlborough period would be the wave of the future) but business is business.
Let's face it gentlemen when when was the last time you spent $500.00 on an American Revolutionary War Army? None of the companies that we are dealing with are very large to begin with and lines that do not sell cannot be produced or stocked.
If you can accept the above then what is about to be written will be good news for you. Historical figures and gaming is coming back (it never really left). The days of 78 different periods are probably gone for the most part, but there are increasingly positive signs:
1. Historical gaming figures related to fantasy gaming will continue to survive in 25mm. If you are a Middle Ages or Dark Ages fan this is your golden age. Fantasy figures in 15mm which can also be used in historical gaming have not sold well and will not be developed in the near future.
2. Look for continued growth in key gaming areas, namely Napoleonics, armour, and American Civil War. With the possible exception of ancients all other lines will be a sideshow to the real action. Remember companies will make what sells.
3. We will witness a decline or freeze in the number of fantasy markets available to the manufacturer. Since any good businessman will gravitate to where the sales are. took for some exciting innovations in historical miniatures designed to draw a grown-up fantasy market into historical gaming.
4. Look for prices to stabilize as the buying public works less from impulse and more from a quality versus price comparison. We will not see price wars, but cost will be a definite factor.
The bottom line is that manufacturers know that the number of buyers in the historical field will be less, but they hope to make up the difference in volume. And with a few exceptions watch the concentration to be on the most popular periods.
Finally, let us take a company by company look at what is available to the historical gamer. The results may surprise you.
GRENADIER: Has over the past three years discontinued all of their historical lines. Look, however, for some new developments down the road.
RAL PARTHA: Has increased their historical lines to include Renaissance and have added to the Greeks and Romans in 25mm. Their Napoleonic line is now being produced by RAFM in Canada.
HERITAGE MODELS: Has increased its middle ages line in 25mm. Also has increased its Napoleonics line. Has discontinued its ancient and WW II lines in 15mm.
SCRUBY MINIATURES: Jack still makes just about anything you want in any scale. Has figures in 9, 20, 25, and 30mm.
SUPERIOR MODELS: Make figures primarily for fantasy gamers, but their knights are super for Middle Ages play.
HINCHLIFFE: Has a wide variety of 25mm figures. Along with Scruby are now the big 25mm manufacturer for historical figures. All major and most minor periods covered.
MARTIAN METALS: Has a line of pirates and knights in 25mm.
MIKE'S MODELS: Exclusively 15mm with a rapidly growing line covering Ancients, Renaissance, ECW, Napoleonics, Seven Years War, Colonial and others. More arriving monthly. For the historical gamer this is one company to watch.
MINIATURE FIGURINES: Has discontinued most of their 25mm figures and old 15mm figures. Have recently began to produce a fine line of "super detailed" 15mm figures. First marketing approach to bridge the fantasy/historical wargaming gap. Napoleonics, Ancient Macedonians, Colonials and Old West still produced in 25mm. Good selection of middle ages figure in 25mm found in their fantasy line.
STONE MOUNTAIN MINIATURES: Maybe the best kept secret in the industry. Produces a very nice line of 25mm ACW and 20mm ARW.
My apology if I have left anyone out. But this was meant to prove a point. Of the ten companies listed above three cut lines, but SEVEN increased the number of historical figures they produced. And of the three that cut lines two have increased other lines dramatically.
While we have lost several favorite figures or lines I believe that not only the quality of the average figure has improved, but also the quantity is also better than ever. I don't expect everyone to agree with me, but when have they ever?
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