Pathfinder Battles: Heroes & Monsters Brick

Since you do have digital sculptures, why not load the images in a database and allow people to treat it like a fantasy shopping cart? They could input how many of each they might like to buy and you would benefiot in the following ways:

Please read this post. (It begins "The problem isn't being able to predict sales, it's being able to justify the costs of a low-volume product.")

Also, since you mentioned digital sculptures, I'd just to to point out that the Pathfinder Battles line uses both digital and traditional sculpting methods.

1) What will be the color of the plastic on these? I ask because I know that the DDM used black, but I like the white that was used for the black dragon sculpt.

WizKids will use whatever makes the most sense. (Given that the bases are black, black will usually make sense.)

The black dragon we showed at Gen Con was a digital output, which is why it was white. I'm pretty confident that it will make the most sense for the production dragon to be molded in black.

2) Do you know yet if any of these sets will utilize clear plastics for specific figures?

Quite probably. I'm not sure if there will be any in the Heroes & Monsters set, but there will be a couple in the Rise of the Runelords set list that would benefit from it.

As an aside, if you were to do a gargantuan green dragon, and it just happened to come packaged with a white-haired, black-robed, wizard-y looking guy-much like a certain gargantuan white dragon came with a certain white-haired, black-skinned, ranger-y looking guy-that would, frankly, rock. I know of course that the names inferred herein are proprietary, but you could just leave those out and let us draw our own conclusions. : )

We don't play those sorts of games with other people's IP.

Lisa Stevens wrote:

WizKids is working on trying to get some wings on the chimera. Stay tuned!

-Lisa

Whew! That would be better. I was really working hard there to justify a wingless Chimera.

Thanks much for that update.

Later,

Mazra

New sculpt pictures came in to HQ here and they look amazing! Chimera problem solved. Not sure when we will be able to show pics to y'all though.

-Lisa

So now that I ordered 2 cases, am I obligated to post pics on facebook and make my friends jealous enough to buy their own when they arrive? :P

So now that I ordered 2 cases, am I obligated to post pics on facebook and make my friends jealous enough to buy their own when they arrive? :P

Yes. Yes you are :-)

Later,

Mazra

New sculpt pictures came in to HQ here and they look amazing! Chimera problem solved. Not sure when we will be able to show pics to y'all though.

-Lisa

Very cool!

Any idea when we will have the Black Dragon option for case buyers?

Thanks,

Mazra

New sculpt pictures came in to HQ here and they look amazing! Chimera problem solved. Not sure when we will be able to show pics to y'all though.

I have removed the old pic.

Nanakago wrote:

1) What will be the color of the plastic on these? I ask because I know that the DDM used black, but I like the white that was used for the black dragon sculpt.

Reaper will use whatever makes the most sense. (Given that the bases are black, black will usually make sense.)

Concerning sense: Reread your post (especially the quoted part) and find out which word makes none! ;-P

The black dragon we showed at Gen Con was a digital output, which is why it was white. I'm pretty confident that it will make the most sense for the production dragon to be molded in black.

OK....Curiosity sufficiently piqued. What is a digital output?

Thanks,

Mazra

Vic Wertz wrote:

Nanakago wrote:

1) What will be the color of the plastic on these? I ask because I know that the DDM used black, but I like the white that was used for the black dragon sculpt.

Reaper will use whatever makes the most sense. (Given that the bases are black, black will usually make sense.)

Concerning sense: Reread your post (especially the quoted part) and find out which word makes none! ;-P

That's me, always mixing up names. Fixed. Thanks, Sebastian!

OK....Curiosity sufficiently piqued. What is a digital output?

It's sort of a 3-D print-out of the digital model. (WizKids actually uses a different term, but I can't recall what it is. I still think of them as SLAs, but I *know* that's not the term they use...)

KaeYoss wrote:

Vic Wertz wrote:

Nanakago wrote:

1) What will be the color of the plastic on these? I ask because I know that the DDM used black, but I like the white that was used for the black dragon sculpt.

Reaper will use whatever makes the most sense. (Given that the bases are black, black will usually make sense.)

Concerning sense: Reread your post (especially the quoted part) and find out which word makes none! ;-P

That's me, always mixing up names. Fixed. Thanks, Sebastian!

ooohh... That is mean...

After having a few hours to cool off I still feel betrayed by Paizo. First the insanely horrid Humans of Golarion (cmon the least you could've done is told us on the cover that it was just a C&P job from Inner Sea Guide! Trap-splat books seem like a WotC thing and not a Paizo thing! I've come to expect exciting new material from Paizo and the book was a complete disaster in that regard.) and now this. It seems like everytime a ICV2 report comes out Paizo starts to shift closer and closer to the "Screw the customers, we're getting money!" mentality that WoTC has.

Please just stop it. Nobody wants to buy randomized miniatures and your product isn't enhanced by it one bit. It's just 100% customer screw. I don't care how well-done you think the miniatures are, I'm not buying them randomized.

However, Paizo has served me well in the past and my former claim of not buying future books was uncalled for. As long as Humans of Golarion was a fluke and the rest continue to be grandslams, I'll continue to buy books. Just consider me in "Red Alert" status here folks. Paizo has raised some red flags and I'm not entirely enthused about the direction they seem to be taking.

Please don't say "Nobody wants to buy randomized miniatures" unless you are 100% sure about that factoid. (It's different if by "nobody" you mean YOU don't want to).

I for one (and it seems there are plenty of others... not long ago Pathfinder Battles was #1 on the top-selling list here @ paizo.com) am looking forward to it, and plan to pre-order soon. (Again, it's okay if you are not) just don't 'assume' that everyone shares your opinion.

Because, quite frankly I don't. (Share your opinion). ;)

Mazra wrote:

OK....Curiosity sufficiently piqued. What is a digital output?

It's sort of a 3-D print-out of the digital model. (WizKids actually uses a different term, but I can't recall what it is. I still think of them as SLAs, but I *know* that's not the term they use...)

Thanks for this. I could see this as potentially game-changing in the world of miniatures. If they could ever perfect a method to blend different color plastics in the process, then you could do away with the high cost of hand painting. Sorry for being off topic, but this is fascinating.

Later,

Mazra

Soooo....Any news on the possibility of getting the black dragon. I am in the definately buying these category but with shipping I will most likely buy from a local shop. If , however, the Black dragon was available I'd buy here - it is rare for any special addition like the Dragon to be available in Australia - I've never seen a special offer here in any of the lines - heroclix, DDM etc

KaeYoss wrote:

Vic Wertz wrote:

Nanakago wrote:

1) What will be the color of the plastic on these? I ask because I know that the DDM used black, but I like the white that was used for the black dragon sculpt.

Reaper will use whatever makes the most sense. (Given that the bases are black, black will usually make sense.)

Concerning sense: Reread your post (especially the quoted part) and find out which word makes none! ;-P

That's me, always mixing up names. Fixed. Thanks, Sebastian!

Don't even joke about something like this. Seriously, don't. I'm not jesting.

OK, so I preordered a case the first day and I've been checking the discussion thread periodically for updates to information, and I have a couple questions. Please forgive if ignorance abounds in my post.

1. The Black Dragon currently has no price, and there is no way to order said Black Dragon?

2. Are the minis going to be subscribable?

3. If it's decided to make a subscription out of them how will people who have already ordered be handled? Will we have to cancel our current order, and re-order?

4. I know some effort is being put into cases getting a 'complete set' (no guarantees, I understand), but how is this going to work as more sets come out? The next set is going to have 60 minis (or at least I believe that's the number that's been tossed around), and with a case containing only a total of 76 boxes it seems like it'll be rough to keep it distributed. What if a set comes out that has 13 large minis in it? The case would have to come with all 12 larges as unique, and you'd still be out one that you'd have to scrounge for.

5. Is there a place where this information will be posted without having to dig through 1000 posts in the discussion thread?

I'm sure a couple of my questions seem a bit goofy, but I'm very interested in getting every single mini that comes out, so I want to make sure I get as much information as I can as soon as I can.

3. If it's decided to make a subscription out of them how will people who have already ordered be handled? Will we have to cancel our current order, and re-order?

I beleive they said that if there is a subscription, and if you have one, any benies would be 'retroactive' to this set, but I don't want to go hunting for a link.

OK, so I preordered a case the first day and I've been checking the discussion thread periodically for updates to information, and I have a couple questions. Please forgive if ignorance abounds in my post.

1. The Black Dragon currently has no price, and there is no way to order said Black Dragon?

2. Are the minis going to be subscribable?

3. If it's decided to make a subscription out of them how will people who have already ordered be handled? Will we have to cancel our current order, and re-order?

4. I know some effort is being put into cases getting a 'complete set' (no guarantees, I understand), but how is this going to work as more sets come out? The next set is going to have 60 minis (or at least I believe that's the number that's been tossed around), and with a case containing only a total of 76 boxes it seems like it'll be rough to keep it distributed. What if a set comes out that has 13 large minis in it? The case would have to come with all 12 larges as unique, and you'd still be out one that you'd have to scrounge for.

5. Is there a place where this information will be posted without having to dig through 1000 posts in the discussion thread?

I'm sure a couple of my questions seem a bit goofy, but I'm very interested in getting every single mini that comes out, so I want to make sure I get as much information as I can as soon as I can.

Most of this was answered at Future of Paizo seminar.

1. Not yet, Paizo is gathering the specifics and will let us know how to get it once they know how the Black is being handled.

2.There will be a mini subscription, they are still working on the details.

3. If you have pre-ordered and then subscribe the system will just change your pre-order into your subscription, at least that was Erik's understanding.

4.It will be determined for each set (they are hoping Rise of the Runelords is going to have a Gargantuan Rune Giant, so who knows). I expect RotRL to not have a single mini per pack, so that would change the distribution per case again.

5. Usually when they have press releases it is in the news section on the right of the messageboard.

Also the non random packs were mentioned again so we should see those announced at some point.

2.There will be a mini subscription, they are still working on the details.

3. If you have pre-ordered and then subscribe the system will just change your pre-order into your subscription, at least that was Erik's understanding.

Did Erik say there will be a minis subscription? I was at the seminar and where both Erik and Lisa said they were really trying their best to get something set up for a subscription for the minis, but there was nothing I remember where they indicated there would be a subscription actually happening.

Don't we already have Gargantuan giants?

Or are those colossal? ;-)

Justin Franklin wrote:

2.There will be a mini subscription, they are still working on the details.

3. If you have pre-ordered and then subscribe the system will just change your pre-order into your subscription, at least that was Erik's understanding.

Did Erik say there will be a minis subscription? I was at the seminar and where both Erik and Lisa said they were really trying their best to get something set up for a subscription for the minis, but there was nothing I remember where they indicated there would be a subscription actually happening.

Erik said, "We are currently working on the best way to do that...I think there is going to be a lot of different options to subscribe to the thing"

Lisa said, " We worked our darndest to figure out the subscription, before we made the announcement."

I may be interpreting that wrong, but it sounds like it is in the plans.

EDIT: And then Lisa did say "Short answer there is going to be a subscription."

Ah yes, I do remember Erik saying that now! Yes, you are right, it sounds like there will be a subscription for it. Just to wait on the specifics for it now. It’s something I would sign up for myself.

Typewriter wrote:

OK, so I preordered a case the first day and I've been checking the discussion thread periodically for updates to information, and I have a couple questions. Please forgive if ignorance abounds in my post.

1. The Black Dragon currently has no price, and there is no way to order said Black Dragon?

2. Are the minis going to be subscribable?

3. If it's decided to make a subscription out of them how will people who have already ordered be handled? Will we have to cancel our current order, and re-order?

4. I know some effort is being put into cases getting a 'complete set' (no guarantees, I understand), but how is this going to work as more sets come out? The next set is going to have 60 minis (or at least I believe that's the number that's been tossed around), and with a case containing only a total of 76 boxes it seems like it'll be rough to keep it distributed. What if a set comes out that has 13 large minis in it? The case would have to come with all 12 larges as unique, and you'd still be out one that you'd have to scrounge for.

5. Is there a place where this information will be posted without having to dig through 1000 posts in the discussion thread?

I'm sure a couple of my questions seem a bit goofy, but I'm very interested in getting every single mini that comes out, so I want to make sure I get as much information as I can as soon as I can.

Most of this was answered at Future of Paizo seminar.

1. Not yet, Paizo is gathering the specifics and will let us know how to get it once they know how the Black is being handled.

2.There will be a mini subscription, they are still working on the details.

3. If you have pre-ordered and then subscribe the system will just change your pre-order into your subscription, at least that was Erik's understanding.

4.It will be determined for each set (they are hoping Rise of the Runelords is going to have a Gargantuan Rune Giant, so who knows). I expect RotRL to not have a single mini per pack, so that would change the...

Yes to all that (and all of that info has also been provided on this thread as well).

(And Rise of the Runelords will have multi-figure boosters. and the number of boosters in a brick and the number of bricks in case will also change.)

Vic Wertz wrote:

Mazra wrote:

OK....Curiosity sufficiently piqued. What is a digital output?

It's sort of a 3-D print-out of the digital model. (WizKids actually uses a different term, but I can't recall what it is. I still think of them as SLAs, but I *know* that's not the term they use...)

Thanks for this. I could see this as potentially game-changing in the world of miniatures. If they could ever perfect a method to blend different color plastics in the process, then you could do away with the high cost of hand painting. Sorry for being off topic, but this is fascinating.

Later,

Mazra

Just to be clear, the 3D printing process is used to create prototypes only (including the materials used to create the steel molds that are used to create the production figures). The figures you buy will not be 3D printed (that process is far too expensive and inefficient).

(And there are 3D printers that produce multi-colored output, but it's really not a substitute for painting.)

Just to be clear, the 3D printing process is used to create prototypes only (including the materials used to create the steel molds that are used to create the production figures). The figures you buy will not be 3D printed (that process is far too expensive and inefficient).

(And there are 3D printers that produce multi-colored output, but it's really not a substitute for painting.)

Thanks Vic for the additional input. I guessed as much. But in looking at these computer generated 3D modeling that can now be done, I saw where the machines that did this were getting less expensive to obtain. That had me thinking. And though we may not be there yet, I could see a time in the not too distant future where miniatures could be fully made using a computer process and in quantity. This could revolutionize quite a few types of production. Not to mention, eliminate the current reliance on Chinese labor.

Later,

Mazra

Vic Wertz wrote:

Just to be clear, the 3D printing process is used to create prototypes only (including the materials used to create the steel molds that are used to create the production figures). The figures you buy will not be 3D printed (that process is far too expensive and inefficient).

(And there are 3D printers that produce multi-colored output, but it's really not a substitute for painting.)

Thanks Vic for the additional input. I guessed as much. But in looking at these computer generated 3D modeling that can now be done, I saw where the machines that did this were getting less expensive to obtain. That had me thinking. And though we may not be there yet, I could see a time in the not too distant future where miniatures could be fully made using a computer process and in quantity. This could revolutionize quite a few types of production. Not to mention, eliminate the current reliance on Chinese labor.

Later,

Mazra

In a decade it's likely that a 3D printer won't be a uncommon sight in many homes.

I saw a show once that speculated that advanced 3-D printers could be used on long distance space flights (Mars+) to spot manufacture spare parts for broken machinery.

Vic Wertz wrote:

KaeYoss wrote:

Vic Wertz wrote:

Nanakago wrote:

1) What will be the color of the plastic on these? I ask because I know that the DDM used black, but I like the white that was used for the black dragon sculpt.

Reaper will use whatever makes the most sense. (Given that the bases are black, black will usually make sense.)

Concerning sense: Reread your post (especially the quoted part) and find out which word makes none! ;-P

That's me, always mixing up names. Fixed. Thanks, Sebastian!

Don't even joke about something like this. Seriously, don't. I'm not jesting.

That's not a joke. It's an honor.

So very upset by the Randomization. I understand completely from a business point of view, but that still doesn't mean me as a consumer can't be upset by it.

My reason for it was with the other produced miniatures line you end up with some miniatures you have NO IDEA what you're EVER going to use them for and other miniatures you wish you had more of. The idea of spending money on the possibility of getting that goblin you want (because goblins are usually common and plentiful in game worlds and as miniatures) just doesn't seem as worth it.

Also if they start being no longer produced then you start seeing specific miniatures prices spike to astronomic costs just so you can get more of those older sets. Take for instance skeletons, you almost always need more than one on the field, but if you didn't get them while that set was in production you could end up paying $10 for what used to be a common miniature.

Sad face...mixed with a bit of joy.

Or, you could see that the announcement includes mention of 6-figure "Encounter Packs" and reason that goblins and skeletons would be obvious choices for such a product. If you're looking for goblins and skeletons, I suggest not losing any sleep about Heroes & Monsters, because you will shortly be getting both of those things without having to buy a single random miniature.

Or, you could see that the announcement includes mention of 6-figure "Encounter Packs" and reason that goblins and skeletons would be obvious choices for such a product. If you're looking for goblins and skeletons, I suggest not losing any sleep about Heroes & Monsters, because you will shortly be getting both of those things without having to buy a single random miniature.

So where I pre-ordered 2 cases, I should get lots of goblins and skeletons?

Or, you could see that the announcement includes mention of 6-figure "Encounter Packs" and reason that goblins and skeletons would be obvious choices for such a product. If you're looking for goblins and skeletons, I suggest not losing any sleep about Heroes & Monsters, because you will shortly be getting both of those things without having to buy a single random miniature.

Are the minis that are most likely candidates for the encounter packs less likely to take up "space" in the random sets?

So where I pre-ordered 2 cases, I should get lots of goblins and skeletons?

I would imagine so. More goblins that skeletons, because there's more than one goblin in the set, and only one skeleton.

In a decade it's likely that a 3D printer won't be a uncommon sight in many homes.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's what they said about flying cars. Where's my freakin' flying car?

Are the minis that are most likely candidates for the encounter packs less likely to take up "space" in the random sets?

Not necessarily.

The commonality of creatures in the Heroes & Monsters set is based largely on their commonality in the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game. To take examples from the actual set, an orc warrior would be a common, because most encounters featuring them likely feature several. Most encounters featuring a lich, on the other hand, feature only one lich. So the lich in Heroes & Monsters is rare.

If we decided to do a "lich's lair" encounter pack, that pack would include a repainted (and possibly slightly resculpted) lich and whatever other minis from the set would be most appropriate for a lich-y encounter.

Generally speaking, Encounter Packs won't contain more than one of a figure that is classified as rare in the random sets. But a lot of minis from the random sets will probably never show up in an Encounter Pack at all.

So you will be offering the best of both worlds? A randomized set to make this venture viable and for sickies like me that actually like opening a randomized case of boosters; and adventure packs that sell the monsters individually. When you factor in that Paizo and other retailers will be bursting boosters and selling every miniature individually, that should ELIMINATE any need to complain. We should all be ecstatic about the new minis heading our way. So that would leave the sad sacks out there that just like to complain for the sake of complaining. Enough said!

Later,

Mazra

Robert Little wrote:

Are the minis that are most likely candidates for the encounter packs less likely to take up "space" in the random sets?

Not necessarily.

The commonality of creatures in the Heroes & Monsters set is based largely on their commonality in the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game. To take examples from the actual set, an orc warrior would be a common, because most encounters featuring them likely feature several. Most encounters featuring a lich, on the other hand, feature only one lich. So the lich in Heroes & Monsters is rare.

If we decided to do a "lich's lair" encounter pack, that pack would include a repainted (and possibly slightly resculpted) lich and whatever other minis from the set would be most appropriate for a lich-y encounter.

Generally speaking, Encounter Packs won't contain more than one of a figure that is classified as rare in the random sets. But a lot of minis from the random sets will probably never show up in an Encounter Pack at all.

Sounds good to me. For both your randomized and encounter pack plans.

I plan to continue preordering both, or get a subscription for both when that gets finalized and announced, unless they both end up falling under the same subscription plan.

In a decade it's likely that a 3D printer won't be a uncommon sight in many homes.

Yeah, then, maybe. Right now, the 3D paper is just too expensive.

minis from the set would be most appropriate for a lich-y encounter.

Fruit vendor?

Nanakago wrote:

As an aside, if you were to do a gargantuan green dragon, and it just happened to come packaged with a white-haired, black-robed, wizard-y looking guy-much like a certain gargantuan white dragon came with a certain white-haired, black-skinned, ranger-y looking guy-that would, frankly, rock. I know of course that the names inferred herein are proprietary, but you could just leave those out and let us draw our own conclusions. : )

We don't play those sorts of games with other people's IP.

I was going to respond to this yesterday with much the same sentiment. Not only does that seem like a decidely non-Paizo move, but personally there are already half a dozen or so iconic paizo characters that I would much rather see (the flashback to the fight against the umbral dragon in plague of shadows, for instance). As a fanboy, I would much rather have sets from novels I'm geeking out about now, rather than sets I would have loved ten years ago.

Vic Wertz wrote:

Nanakago wrote:

As an aside, if you were to do a gargantuan green dragon, and it just happened to come packaged with a white-haired, black-robed, wizard-y looking guy-much like a certain gargantuan white dragon came with a certain white-haired, black-skinned, ranger-y looking guy-that would, frankly, rock. I know of course that the names inferred herein are proprietary, but you could just leave those out and let us draw our own conclusions. : )

We don't play those sorts of games with other people's IP.

I was going to respond to this yesterday with much the same sentiment. Not only does that seem like a decidely non-Paizo move, but personally there are already half a dozen or so iconic paizo characters that I would much rather see (the flashback to the fight against the umbral dragon in plague of shadows, for instance). As a fanboy, I would much rather have sets from novels I'm geeking out about now, rather than sets I would have loved ten years ago.

Agreed, although I would love to have a Gargantuan Green Dragon. Well and a Red.

What I would really like to see is a Tarrasque.

Of course it’s something you would only encounter once in a campaign (if you do at all), but a Colossal or even Gargantuan dragon you aren’t going to encounter all that much more often, either.

Besides, it would just be SO cool to see that colossal monstrosity on your gaming table, and also since it’s never been done.

I removed a bunch of stuff that's either sniping or nonsense; I'm frankly not sure which, but either way, it's not adding to the conversation in a useful way here. Please keep it on topic in the product threads.

That goes for flying car talk too.