Lead has become Politically Incorrect in the hobby lately and manufacturers have become like lemmings in their leap over to pewter and other non-lead alloys. While the debate is still going on over the health effects of lead figures, there is something unnerving about the price increases we are seeing as a result of it.

Many manufacturers have taken advantage of this opportunity to "sky-rocket" their prices along with the change to pewter. And they use any number of excuses for why they have these price increases. We are told that the price per pound of pewter is almost twice that of lead, and this is true. But what is not told to the consumer is that you get almost twice as many pewter figures per pound out of that metal as you do from lead, which makes up for the price difference! Just check those new pewter figures with the same figure in lead, and you will see what I mean--there's a big weight difference).

Another excuse is that the molds wear out faster when using pewter. But how difficult can it be to make a few extra copies of a mold? Other factors are the cheaper metals being put into figures, for which the manufacturers have come up with new names for these weird alloys. Come on, give us a break! If you don't believe me, how come price increases have been so erratic, with prices going up from between just a few percentage points and 40%? How come some manufacturers have not increased their prices at all? They're all using the same materials (or should be), operating in the same business environment, and have the same manufacturing requirements.

Please don't take me as some kind of socialist. I believe in capitalism and understand the need to make a profit. But what is happening now will hurt the future of our hobby, and destroy any chance for increased interest in it. Games with large numbers of figures will be rare and even rules like DBA may be considered too figure-intensive by many, especially new gamers, to be within their price range. And without attracting "new blood" into the hobby, there will be no future for us or the manufacturers. I see more gamers flocking to the "flea market" sections of conventions, with fewer new purchases from the vendors.

If you have seen the prices of your favorite figures sky-rocket, do something about it. Get your fellow gamers together (an undertaking in itself!) and write the manufacturer. Tell them that you don't like what they have done, and that it will have a negative impact on your future purchases. Maybe if the hobby has a consumer revolt, there will be some price roll back. Remember, the hobby you save may be your own. Happy Gaming.