Starfinder Masterclass Miniatures Kickstarter Ends Soon!

Sculpting is 100% done (even though the tracker hasn´t been updated).

Update #36 shows both the Skittermander & it´s alternative (both looking great) version.

There are still 34 minis to be approved, if the tracker is accurate about that.
There are also quite a few sculpts to be shown, at least a dozen if my quick count is to be trusted.

Update #37 shows the two different Ikeshti Brood Minders and states:

100% of the sculpts are completed and the last batch is under review right now at Paizo.

I'm still sad that neither WizKids nor Reaper got the Starfinder licence to make the minis. Looks like it will be pawns and proxies.

I found out that my Humble bundle minis are delayed until later this year, so I checked to see how the KS is doing. The latest update is that six of the figures will ship in May. Which is ... not great. At that rate it would take years to fulfill.

I found out that my Humble bundle minis are delayed until later this year, so I checked to see how the KS is doing. The latest update is that six of the figures will ship in May. Which is ... not great. At that rate it would take years to fulfill.

Years to fulfill. That would make it a fairly normal Ninja Division kickstarter. I have a hunch that Paizo will put enough pressure on ND to make sure they fulfill this project before some of their older unfulfilled kicistarters.

Ninja Division will be making another shipment in June to get caught up on the miniatures shipments and will be continuing monthly shipments to ensure that the miniatures you've pledged for get in your hands as soon as possible.

-Jim

I haven’t seen a May shipment yet. Don’t know how long it was supposed to take to get to Australia. ND’s policy seems to be continually announce what’s about to happen, then not bother actually following up on delivery. I guess I’ll wait until the end of June and send them another email/message if I haven’t seen anything.

I haven’t seen a May shipment yet. Don’t know how long it was supposed to take to get to Australia. ND’s policy seems to be continually announce what’s about to happen, then not bother actually following up on delivery. I guess I’ll wait until the end of June and send them another email/message if I haven’t seen anything.

Did you get a shipping notice... Paizo shipments take up to 36 business days if it was shipped on May 1st today would be business day 34, so still wouldn’t be late.... I can’t assume ND paid for faster shipping.

No notice. They have apparently not finished the May shipment. My gripe here is there’s no information on how far along they are - just more assurances of future behaviour.

I don’t understand why Kickstarter creators make posts along the lines of “Things are still going great!” or “We’re going to ship a ton of packages this weekend!” instead of “We’ve shipped 19 packages this week, 543 of the May shipment remain”.

Lots of people are complaining about "sticky" minis.
The quality of the first wave minis seems questionable.
The pictures i have seen so far are not very promising either.
I'll reserve final judgement until i hold the prepainted minis in my own hands, which i'm willing to bet won't be on august 2nd.

Either way, i hope that Paizo can find another producer which is more reliable for future Starfinder minis, as a one year delay to make 15 prepainted minis is unacceptable.

Speculation on the Kickstarter is that the 'sticky' figures weren't left to cure for long enough and that it should be possible to leave them for a few weeks somewhere warm and dry to finish off that process which should remove the issue.

I haven't heard anything official confirming that though.

Steve, that's the report that I received from Ninja Division at PaizoCon as well. In the rush to get the first shipment sent out to backers, some of the minis weren't given sufficient drying treatment.

Thanks, Glenn. Hopefully it's no long term issue. From what I've seen the minis look terrific. I'm just a little annoyed at trying to get actual information from Ninja Division (rather than breathless announcements about how good it's all going to be in the future...).

Despite my irritability, I really appreciate Paizo continuing to post updates as you hear them. The only thing keeping the prepainted minis in my sidecart is the fact that you folk have partnered with ND, so there must be something to commend them. Communication with customers isn't it, unfortunately. :(

Ninja Division has stated on their Kickstarter page, that "wave two" of these unpainted minis is now shipping.

That wave consists mostly of the seven ICONICS & the "Sunrise Maiden" starship (plus the alternate space goblins).

So far it seems that only North American backers have received their minis, both Canadians & Europeans didn't.

My theory about Ninja Division using the kickstarter iconics resin molds to make (painted) plastic versions of their one year ago announced Iconics Packs 1 & 2 could be true, as these are supposed to release at Gen Con 51 in early august & late august in flagstores.

It looks like they've also adjusted how they are doing waves and are sending out stuff as they're ready. So some people have received parts of wave 1 and parts of wave 2 together. Others have reported not getting anything, not even a shipping notification.

As a bystander, the whole process has me covering my eyes and peeking between my fingers. I can't imagine what backers are going through.

I don't find delays/erratic delivery processes particularly stressful as a backer. I don't accept their approach to communication though.

They have this habit of posting Rah-Rah updates and finishing them with "Any questions? Email us!" However, when you do that they just cut-and-paste the update back to you (when they answer at all).

I've cancelled my prepainted minis preorders and would have got at least one case, probably two of any such releases down the track. Their unwillingness to answer questions and their habit of only communicating when there's good news means I won't be supporting them in future.

Fingers crossed someone else puts out a line of prepainted starfinder-compatible minis at some point. Until then, I'll stick to pawns.

It looks like they've also adjusted how they are doing waves and are sending out stuff as they're ready. So some people have received parts of wave 1 and parts of wave 2 together. Others have reported not getting anything, not even a shipping notification.

As a bystander, the whole process has me covering my eyes and peeking between my fingers. I can't imagine what backers are going through.

Yeah, I am very glad I opted to skip this Kickstarter, as tempting as it was. There were just too many concerning comments from their previous projects to give me much confidence. It looks like no Starfinder minis for me until they hit retail shelves, unfortunately. I hope it works out for all of their backers, but I would have been fuming had I been in their situation right now.

There are only 2,294 backers.
Shipping has begun in may, but no international backer and lots of american backers havn't received anything yet.
Most who have, received defective minis.

The worst thing for me, as a prepainted miniatures lover, is that there are no official Starfinder miniatures available.
I can't even order them, because there is no reliable street date given.
I have it on good authority that they won't reach Germany in august.

I have it on good authority that they won't reach Germany in august.

Authority or assumption?

Marco Massoudi wrote:

I have it on good authority that they won't reach Germany in august.

Authority or assumption?

I just received an update:

It seems a shipping company named "Aetherworks" is organizing the shipping to Australia and New Zealand, at least.
Check your spam folders anyone in "Down Under", maybe you are lucky and have a shipping notice from them. ;-)

Also next week another update (#45) should come, if Ninja Division keeps their monthly schedule...

Ninja Division is pulling back from Kickstarter

Ninja Division Co-Owner and Creative Director John Cadice practically says that they overextended and that the online toxicity is to blame for their departure.

I find that very nonsensical and my personal opinion is that most of their Kickstarter projects in the past have been scams, because they havn't been fulfilled.

I think that we won't see any Starfinder minis beyond the ones already advertised and hope that backers receive their unpainted resin miniatures.

I am extra glad I didn't back this now. Thanks to those who brought to my attention the previous failures of Ninja Division Kickstarter projects; without their help I would have ended up hundreds of dollars in the hole with little or nothing to show for it. My condolences to those who put up money in good faith and were screwed over.

There has been no new monthly update yesterday.
I now don't think there will be one until after Gencon.
I am however sure that Paizo will do everything possible to them to make sure that Ninja Division will keep up fulfilling what they have promised.

I am extra glad I didn't back this now. Thanks to those who brought to my attention the previous failures of Ninja Division Kickstarter projects; without their help I would have ended up hundreds of dollars in the hole with little or nothing to show for it. My condolences to those who put up money in good faith and were screwed over.

I think we’ll get our minis in the end. I just think it’s going to take some time and be a chaotic process.

They are sending people figures bit by bit (and they do look good, in hand). They’re just terrible at answering emails or stating a clear plan and then sticking to it.

Ninja Division is pulling back from Kickstarter

Ninja Division Co-Owner and Creative Director John Cadice practically says that they overextended and that the online toxicity is to blame for their departure.

I find that very nonsensical and my personal opinion is that most of their Kickstarter projects in the past have been scams, because they havn't been fulfilled.

I think that we won't see any Starfinder minis beyond the ones already advertised and hope that backers receive their unpainted resin miniatures.

One the one hand, it takes some nerve for the Creative Director to say the problem is "online toxicity", as if it spontaneously occurred and targeted them and not the result to missed deadlines and poor communication. It's galling to see language used by marginalized groups co-opted by some dudes that are just not good at what they do and don't get why people aren't happy with them.

On the other hand, Ninja Division definitely should get out of the Kickstarter biz.

I think Ninja Division is done as a company.
They still havn't offered any update to the Kickstarter & i can't imagine anyone buying anything from them ever again.

It will be really interesting to see/hear what kind of presence they'll have at Gencon.

Personally i have preordered the four ppm packs one year ago from my FLG store and the owner expects them at the end of august.

Ninja Division will be making another shipment in June to get caught up on the miniatures shipments and will be continuing monthly shipments to ensure that the miniatures you've pledged for get in your hands as soon as possible.

-Jim

It’s now the first of August. I have yet to receive any miniatures, let alone a shipping notification to let me know when I might expect them. I still want the miniatures I paid for, but at this point I really hope Paizo revokes their license and goes with a company that can actually deliver what they promised and communicates regularly with their customers.

Assuming Ninja Division survives as a company at all, I would be pretty shocked if Paizo works with them again.

Still no word whatsever, neither from a new update or Gen Con.

Is Ninja Division even present at Gen Con or did they bail?

Somebody wrote on the Kickstarter page that they asked ND at Gencon when shipping would commence and they had no idea.

At the Paizo booth he got the information that it would be in august.

Apparently Ninja Division sold Starfinder miniatures at Gen Con.

I don't know if unpainted, prepainted or both.

As there wasn't any july Kickstarter shipment and most of the backers didn't even receive the may & june shipments, they are not amused about this.

Also Gen Con is over but there hasn't been any update since june 27th.

I was told that they only offered unpainted minis that had already been completely fulfilled to Kickstarter backers.

I was told that they only offered unpainted minis that had already been completely fulfilled to Kickstarter backers.

Thanks for the info, Vic! :-)

My FLG store is expecting the pre-painted packs ETA at the end of august, that would seem to fit.

I was told that they only offered unpainted minis that had already been completely fulfilled to Kickstarter backers.

If Ninja Division told you that, then they lied to you. I backed at the $400+ all in level and I have received nothing from them yet. Not even an estimate for when I might get a shipping notification.

Vic Wertz wrote:

I was told that they only offered unpainted minis that had already been completely fulfilled to Kickstarter backers.

If Ninja Division told you that, then they lied to you. I backed at the $400+ all in level and I have received nothing from them yet. Not even an estimate for when I might get a shipping notification.

Exactly the same here. I am rather shocked that they made that statement.

Tejon Blalock wrote on the Kickstarter page:

So, This is what I've gathered so far, with fairly minimal digging:

Ninja Division Publishing, LLC
5311 North Glenwood Street
Garden City, ID 83714
Phone: (208) 286-4135
(found on Manta.com)

(also lists www.sodapopminiatures.com as a web address, which, when clicked, redirects you to ninjadivsion.com)

An email address, Store@sodapopminiatures.com, of potential use, was found on one of their previous projects, under the Soda Pop Miniatures label/banner/company/etc.

They currently have a resounding F on the BBB website, with 12 complaints and 3 negative reviews.

Of their 7 projects as SPM(Soda Pop Miniatures):

The First, Super Dungeon Explore: Forgotten King, shipped late, but still shipped.
(Estimated date of 12/2014, shipped approx. 7/2015)

Second project, Ninja All Stars, shipped. Comments were less than glowing, however.
(Estimated date of 12/2015, Shipped approx. 1/2016)

Third project, Super Dungeon Explore: Legends, Does not appear to have shipped at all.
(Estimated date of 12/2016, last project update was 6/27/18, last actual status update was 3/23/18, with 7 meaningless updates, not concerning the project shipping or it's status, in-between.)

Fourth project, Rail Raiders Infinite, was something of a mixed bag, leaning overwhelmingly into the negative, with some getting their pledges, and most getting little or nothing.
(Estimated date of 10/2016, last project update was 1/3/18, stating that Fulfillment Ongoing Worldwide, but most comments(most recent being on 8/7/18) still asking for info on their orders, or in the cases of those that actually received them, replacement parts for things that seem to have come broken/damaged.)

Fifth project, Way of the Fighter, was cancelled. An aside, the project was roughly 3k away from it's 30k goal, and had been active for 14 days before cancellation.

Sixth project, Way of the Fighter(again), has failed to deliver.
(Estimated date of 8/2017, last project update 6/13/18, no further news.)

Seventh project, Relic Knights, has failed to ship.
(Estimated date of 2/2018 has currently gone unfulfilled, last update is 7/25/18.)

The only project started under the Ninja Division label is this one, and, unsurprisingly, considering their other projects, is unfulfilled.

This is the first Kickstarter I ever backed; for it to be a colossal failure, is almost heartbreaking.

Bakunin wrote:

Vic Wertz wrote:

I was told that they only offered unpainted minis that had already been completely fulfilled to Kickstarter backers.

If Ninja Division told you that, then they lied to you. I backed at the $400+ all in level and I have received nothing from them yet. Not even an estimate for when I might get a shipping notification.

Exactly the same here. I am rather shocked that they made that statement.

I as well. Its pretty galling. I just hope that Paizo thinks twice about getting into a relationship with a company with such a bad reputation in the future. Erik Mona's statements at the beginning of all this during the Kickstarter brought me over the edge to backing, but it appears even Paizo can't get this company to act right.

We sold Starfinder Masterclass (unpainted) minis at the Paizo booth as well. As Vic said, all minis that were on sale at either booth were supposed to have been 100% fulfilled to all Kickstarter backers. No pre-paints were to be sold, no Kickstarter exclusives were to be sold, and no minis that had not already been 100% fulfilled were supposed to have been sold.

I'm very sorry that this happened and will investigate.

We sold Starfinder Masterclass (unpainted) minis at the Paizo booth as well. As Vic said, all minis that were on sale at either booth were supposed to have been 100% fulfilled to all Kickstarter backers. No pre-paints were to be sold, no Kickstarter exclusives were to be sold, and no minis that had not already been 100% fulfilled were supposed to have been sold.

I'm very sorry that this happened and will investigate.

I saw on a YT video that they were also selling the Worldscape HumbleBundle figures at GenCon. I hope this means we can expect them this month.

After investigating, what I have determined is that the only minis sold at GenCon were the Iconics that we have been selling (sporadically) over the last year. I do not believe that any new Kickstarter minis were sold. It is true that the Iconics are included in the Kickstarter, but we've been selling those all along as we've been able to get stock. My understanding is that those figures actually pre-date the Kickstarter but were subsequently included in it.

The Humble Bundle figures have arrived at Ninja Division's warehouse and their people are busily packaging them for shipment to Paizo. We'll ship them out as soon as we receive them, and yes we also hope that means later this month.

Thank you Glenn for getting back to us. While your reaction is not entirely satisfactory (the iconics were included in the Kickstarter and I did not receive any miniature yet) I can understand your stance.

Can you inform us whether Paizo will put any pressure on Ninja Division to improve their communication to the backers? I backed this kickstarter because Paizo was clearly supportive of Ninja Division’s campaign and I know I am not the only one.

Magabeus - that is something that I've asked for several times. It seems to help temporarily each time, but only temporarily.

We're still supporting them as best we can in order to help them complete all of their obligations. I just received word this morning, for example, that 3000+ humble bundle packages are on their way to Paizo. It is certainly taking longer than anyone wanted, but they're still making progress and I do still believe that everything will eventually be delivered to backers.

Hi Glen, i too want to thank you for providing some kind of information on the ND minis.

Do you have any word on the four Starfinder prepainted packs that can be ordered through Paizo.com?

My FLG store ordered dozens and the last info i have is that ETA is at the end of august, but that is 2 weeks old info and i don't know if that is still accurate.

Do you expect them to arrive in your warehouse in time for the september shipment?

Thank you for your time and have a nice weekend. :-)

It now seems that more and more backers are slowly receiving their first (out of two) shippments.

To me it seems that the different methods of shipping and the seemingly random order of who receives anything are a major problem.

The largest problem of course remains the almost total lack of communication from Ninja Division's side.
There hasn't been an update for 45 days...

We sold Starfinder Masterclass (unpainted) minis at the Paizo booth as well. As Vic said, all minis that were on sale at either booth were supposed to have been 100% fulfilled to all Kickstarter backers. No pre-paints were to be sold, no Kickstarter exclusives were to be sold, and no minis that had not already been 100% fulfilled were supposed to have been sold.

I'm very sorry that this happened and will investigate.

Dear Glenn,

Sorry to say, but I have so far received nothing from this Kickstarter. I am a European backer and if I just look through the comments on the Kickstarter page I have the feeling that I am not pretty much alone with this.

What bothers me more is the total lack of communication and no answers from their customer service to my emails.

I have just backed this Kickstarter because of Paizos good name and the hope for proper due diligence in respect to your licensing partners.I gave over 500 USD to a company because of that.

Please check just the Kickstarter comment section and see that this Kickstarter is really far from 100% fulfillment on the first delivery.

In my view this whole thing is damaging the brand and the success Starfinder had so far. In the beginning it was just Ninja Division, but with selling those minis and spreading false information about 100% fulfillment you damage yourself as well.

I got this as a reply to a mail I send them from the pledge manager, asking for information

Fulfillment is currently underway in the United States.

Provided that your final shipping payment has been submitted, you will have a shipment waiting in our shipping queue, ideally each month.

If you're not sure if your order is complete you can follow the link below.

Please sign in with the email you used to pledge and select this campaign to view your order.

If your payment has not been finalized, please submit it at soon as possible and notify us when it is complete.

If you are an international customer, more information on when fulfillment will begin in your region will be included in a future update.

In other words: very generic and non-US backers are treated like second-rate backers at best.

That's the same email that people have been getting for over two months.

American backers were the first to receive wave 1 minis, but most havn't received anything yet.
Canadian backers were the next.
Some Australian & New Zealand backers have their stuff.
There was at least one european backer who received something, though i don't jnow from which land.

Unsurprisingly (sadly) Ninja Division hasn't made good on their promise to ship wave 1 to all US backers by september 1st.

Yesterday Scott Davis/"Ninja Scott" sent out emails to backers saying that the 1,300 remaining wave 1 shippments will start going out on monday 10th of september.
Supposedly 500 were already packed.

I really want backers to get their minis, but remember: this is only wave one, which consists of twenty-one (21) different minis.

Wave 2, which consists of 39 different minis is supposed to reach backers by december 1st, but that is highly doubtful imo.

Hopefully, once all backers have received their wave 1 minis, the prepainted packs will be shipped to stores. They were originally supposed to be available in august 2017(!), but are atm scheduled for late september (i heard they won't make that date for Europe)...