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WizKids has partnered with Wizards to make a new line of D&D minis to release alongside Next.
WizKids to Debut New Dungeons & Dragons Miniatures
How do you think this will affect Pathfinder Battles? Or is having another competitor, albeit the same manufacturer, good competition?
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How do you think this will affect Pathfinder Battles? Or is having another competitor, albeit the same manufacturer, good competition?
My guess is likely "not" and more pre-painted fantasy miniatures is good for everybody. :D
How do you think this will affect Pathfinder Battles?
They need more staff and hopefully the staff will get more practice before working on the Pathfinder Minis.
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If anything I suspect this may decrease the pressure to make staple but unexciting minis. Wolves for instance are useful in bunches but it's kind of hard to use up a slot for random animals when you could do some special and exotic monster.
Well, with a second company churning out minis, if the other guys produce a wolf mini, that may help support the decision to not do one yourself. Both sides will be looking at what's already available, but I suspect there's more pressure on WotC to ensure there are more... common... sculpts out there because of their name. They won't want people turning to Pathfinder Battles to pick up their skeletons and zombies and the like.
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Argh!!!,
Been trying to track down how they will be packaged. Will it be similar to the way Pathfinder is and there will be a very good chance of getting a complete set when buying a case.
They had a reddit Q&A, on the news. Was disappointed that most questions were not even about the new D&D minis, and when the question I was looking for was asked, they flopped on the answer! grrr...
So a Couple of note from the reddit
Q: 1. Will there be random packs that I can buy as a case?
How likely is it that I'll be able to get a complete set if I buy a case? (With Pathfinder Battles, I heard this was about 99%.)
2. How large will the sets be, both in terms of sculpts and in terms of number of miniatures per case?
3. How will rarity be broken down? How many common figures, how many uncommon, how many rare?
4. There have been a lot of complaints about your packaging, in terms of environmental friendliness, ease of opening, and protection. On protection in particular, frequently miniatures get loose and rattle around, breaking everything else inside the box. What are you doing to address this?
A:1. Yes.
2. We never guarantee collation. (What kind of answer is this?!!!)
2. About 45-50 figures. There will be 128 figures per case. The sculpts will vary in size. Obviously these are the rough stats we are working with right now and they may be subject to change, depending on ongoing discussions with WotC.
3. This isn't finalized at this point.
4. We're always working with our factories to improve our packaging both in terms of protection and environmental friendliness. We know it's important.
Q:Will you continue making Pathfinder Battles miniatures?
A:Of course we'll keep making Pathfinder Battles minis! Paizo is a very close partner and we love working with them. They're great.
Q:The D&D minis, any planes for some of the off the wall creatures no one else makes minis up because they are Wizard's IP?
I'm specifically thinking about a Thri-kreen mini for a PC.
A:Can't comment specifically Thri-Kreen, but this license gives us access to all of WotC's D&D IP. So, pending approval, we can work with any of their creatures. Stay tuned!
Q:Can you talk in any detail about how many will come in what sorts of packs and the like? I enjoy blind pulls, but I know others enjoy seeing what they get. Will there be a mix?
A:There will be visible and blind packs, very much like our Pathfinder line.
My predictions:
-- Everyone will play nice for a while, and it will be great for minis collectors to have so many more minis coming out. But, human nature being what it is, I think there are eventually going to be serious problems that emerge with 2 competing companies sharing the same manufacturer. If one of the two companies comes up with some sort of innovation that makes their minis more attractive, and Wizkids is producing them, what's to keep that innovation from just moving to the office down the hall and get absorbed into the minis getting made by Wizkids for the other team? This is going to make it hard for either company to really differentiate themselves, and I bet that eventually leads to trouble.
-- I'll also bet that WotC's first new set is pretty cheap comparatively, as they try to get customers they lost to Paizo to give them another look and win back some market share. Maybe competition between the two lines might even pull down prices for a while. But I'm not banking on it lasting, especially with Wizkids standing in the middle of it all.
-- A (to me) really interesting question is whether WotC will start from scratch with a new set that supplies lots of basic minis that show up in all sorts of adventures, or whether they'll basically see this as a continuation of their old line. I think that Hasbro will probably be conservative and push them toward the former strategy, but I think they'd be better served to make more minis that are unusual and draw on D&D intellectual property. We'll see!
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Did not see that coming. You would think that Hasbro would be pretty darn good at making what amounts to small plastic toys without relying on a third party. :)
I would not assume doing 50 million small toys would be the same as doing less than 500k small figures and painting them and packaging them in random boxes. I could see where WizKids would have the advantage of an exisiting process and set up vs Hasbro having to change one of their other vendor's over to do it.
Wow this comes at a surprise. This will definitely lead to bad things. Paizo is already putting out 3 sets a year. With a D&D set only saturates the market even more. You can bet that there will be some D&D IP minis to increase its attractiveness.
My fear is that this will lead to a pricing strategy in order to undercut the Pathfinder Battles line. If I were a competitor that's how I would be thinking.
The only market I see benefiting is the secondary market which is great for me but maybe not so much for others.
I guess the only thing left is for Wizkids to do is start selling the mini's on their website themselves for a higher profit.
Not sure if anyone's heard but HASBRO profits on boys toys are down, while the RPG/Mini market isnt that significant every bit counts to shareholders.
You can bet that there will be some D&D IP minis to increase its attractiveness.
Did not see that coming. You would think that Hasbro would be pretty darn good at making what amounts to small plastic toys without relying on a third party. :)
I wonder whether it's a risk mitigating strategy. Earn a modest licensing fee but take no risk if the sales tank (didnt DDM end up losing them money?)
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You can bet that there will be some D&D IP minis to increase its attractiveness.
My initial information is indicating that there will be a strong Forgotten Realms theme to the first set.
You can bet that there will be some D&D IP minis to increase its attractiveness.My initial information is indicating that there will be a strong Forgotten Realms theme to the first set.
I haven't read the info on the WotC boards carefully, but I too saw something that suggested their first set of minis would be heavily slanted towards backing the first campaign arc they publish for D&D Next, which will indeed be Forgotten Realms stuff. And this only makes sense, I suppose!
Well, this is all going to be very interesting! I hope it turns out to be a good development for gaming as a whole, but it isn't obvious to me that's how it will play out.
CEO
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My fear is that this will lead to a pricing strategy in order to undercut the Pathfinder Battles line. If I were a competitor that's how I would be thinking.
From the solicitation that we got from our distributor, the D&D minis are going to cost around $15 more per brick than Pathfinder Battles minis. At list price. Of course, retailers are free to price them how they see fit.
-Lisa
TOZ,
When arranging the licensing agreement, the licensee can make a stipulation to a producer to ensure the retail cost of the item is between certain amount, after taking into account production costs - which may be the same as the other licensee, or different depending on difficulty of molds, sized or plastic used or even paint schemes - these are things that affect the pricing range the most.
From the solicitation that we got from our distributor, the D&D minis are going to cost around $15 more per brick than Pathfinder Battles minis. At list price. Of course, retailers are free to price them how they see fit.-Lisa
Interesting.
I wonder what would be increasing the cost to produce D&D minis over PFB.
Makes me wonder if WizKids is using a higher end procedure with design and creation with the D&D minis.
Or could that be an additional cost WotC would be implementing?
Or could that be an additional cost WotC would be implementing?
It could be as simple as the licensing agreement. WizKids doesn't appear to be a mere manufacturer here... they're a partner. "You want to put our brand on your boxes, we demand this fee be paid." Now, yes, when WotC themselves orders a case from WizKids for distribution, they can sort of write off that licensing fee, but every case sold through distribution would have it applied.
Kind of like branded shirts and stuff. WotC may be applying a larger overhead than Paizo.
Ah yes, a higher licensing fee. That would make sense, should have thought of that.
Not sure why I automatically assumed it had to do with manufacturing. Need more sleep. :)
RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
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My predictions:
-- Everyone will play nice for a while, and it will be great for minis collectors to have so many more minis coming out. But, human nature being what it is, I think there are eventually going to be serious problems that emerge with 2 competing companies sharing the same manufacturer. If one of the two companies comes up with some sort of innovation that makes their minis more attractive, and Wizkids is producing them, what's to keep that innovation from just moving to the office down the hall and get absorbed into the minis getting made by Wizkids for the other team? This is going to make it hard for either company to really differentiate themselves, and I bet that eventually leads to trouble.
i'd just point out, semi-sarcasticly, the devestating effects this has had on the Heroclix line, I mean having two comprting companies sharing the same manufacturer...
i'd just point out, semi-sarcasticly, the devestating effects this has had on the Heroclix line, I mean having two comprting companies sharing the same manufacturer...My predictions:
-- Everyone will play nice for a while, and it will be great for minis collectors to have so many more minis coming out. But, human nature being what it is, I think there are eventually going to be serious problems that emerge with 2 competing companies sharing the same manufacturer. If one of the two companies comes up with some sort of innovation that makes their minis more attractive, and Wizkids is producing them, what's to keep that innovation from just moving to the office down the hall and get absorbed into the minis getting made by Wizkids for the other team? This is going to make it hard for either company to really differentiate themselves, and I bet that eventually leads to trouble.
You know, I totally hope you're right! And both companies are run by grown-ups who already know each other, so maybe everyone will play nice. And of course, as a consumer, I'd be happy if competition brings down price or lifts quality the way it's theoretically supposed to. It's just a funny kind of competition when one company is playing on both sides, and I think it's reasonable to worry about how that works out....
Well the PF line is already very strongly tied to the ongoing APs. That allows for a couple of sets a year to tie in directly into a captured market for the APs (which by the way works fantastically... I have all my precious little demons from WotR sitting on the table at home at present :)
WotC have indicated that they may be looking to do the same - quote from link: 'The new line of miniatures will complement the mega-event that coincides with D&D Next’s release, Tyranny of Dragons, and will feature a slew of heroes and monsters for roleplayers to utilize.'
From the AMA: 'Our initial release will support the first D&D storyline arc from Wizards of the Coast. We haven't started development on the second set yet.'
From the Tyranny of Dragons preview site:
The cult has a new face and a new mission. It seeks to free Tiamat from the Nine Hells and bring her into the Forgotten Realms. To accomplish its goal, the cult needs five ancient dragon masks and the support of evil dragons everywhere. The cult leaders—each one a "dragon whisperer"—have reached out to the evil dragons of the Sword Coast and earned their allegiance.
Meanwhile, evil dragons in cahoots with the cult seek to amass a treasure hoard worthy of their dark queen, not by plundering their own hoards (of course) but by stealing money from cities, caravans, good-aligned dragons, merchant ships, and other sources. Their ravenous hunt for treasure throws the Sword Coast into upheaval. Neverwinter, Waterdeep, Baldur’s Gate—no city is safe from their depredations.
The situation is dire. However, the Sword Coast is far from defenseless. Powerful factions are ready to rise up and put an end to the tyranny of dragons. Adventurers throughout the Realms must join forces to face Tiamat, destroy the Cult of the Dragon, and prevent the rise of a new dragon empire. In their hands, the future lies.
So most likely Tiamat - or at least an avatar thereof incoming... plus unfortunately moar Drizzt and pals.
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... plus unfortunately moar Drizzt and pals.
I remember a time before Drizzt. It was a good time. A time where all drow were evil and we could kill them on sight. Now we have to first see if they are a two handed fighter who has somehow turned good and is on our side. </silly old man rant>
On a more serious note, I am looking forward to this new "era" of PPM. Pathfinder and D&D figures both killing my budget and filling my shelves. :-)
From the Tyranny of Dragons preview site:
** spoiler omitted **So most likely Tiamat - or at least an avatar thereof incoming... plus unfortunately moar Drizzt and pals.
Y'know what? I can really, REALLY get behind a storyline like that. And I think it'd be cool (really COOL) if Tiamat was a Gargantuan case incentive. I mean, that's just down right AWESOME!! (Err.. that is would be down right awesome ... I have no special insights, just think if WotC and Wizkids "continue" the Gargantuan mini case incentive ... Tiamat at that size would be absolutely fantastic.
Dean
The only thing disappointing about the Tyranny of Dragons direction... is that it's a partial re-hash of what's already been done.
It's in the Sword Coast, has Drizzt, is eerily familiar if you've read the Red Hand of Doom... etc.
And on the minis front, will likely have a fair degree of overlap with War of the Dragon Queen from the previous DDM incarnation.
BUT that being said, I think WotC is starting to rectify some of what they lost in 4th edition by more tightly allying the ruleset and ancilliaries with ongoing events / adventures.
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RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
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From the Tyranny of Dragons preview site:
** spoiler omitted **So most likely Tiamat - or at least an avatar thereof incoming... plus unfortunately moar Drizzt and pals.
" Tiamat, the queen of evil dragons, has languished in the Nine Hells for millennia. The cult believes that the time of her return is at hand."
So wait, it's been millennia since the Godswar and Tiamat was on the prime like all the other gods and killed Gilgleam?
Or is D&D next the Flashpoint of D&D where they just thow the entire universe out the window? "D&D Next. Doing to 40 years of gamer history what DC did to Wally & Donna"
From the Tyranny of Dragons preview site:
** spoiler omitted **So most likely Tiamat - or at least an avatar thereof incoming... plus unfortunately moar Drizzt and pals.
" Tiamat, the queen of evil dragons, has languished in the Nine Hells for millennia. The cult believes that the time of her return is at hand."
So wait, it's been millennia since the Godswar and Tiamat was on the prime like all the other gods and killed Gilgleam?
Or is D&D next the Flashpoint of D&D where they just thow the entire universe out the window? "D&D Next. Doing to 40 years of gamer history what DC did to Wally & Donna"
Not to defend the New 52, but Donna Troy's continuity was messed up waaaay before Flashpoint. ;-)
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Publisher, Chief Creative Officer
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Or could that be an additional cost WotC would be implementing?
I don't have any idea, of course, but I wouldn't be surprised at all to learn that WotC gets a higher royalty percentage on their licenses than we do. That could account for some of the difference in retail price, I suppose.
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RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
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From the Tyranny of Dragons preview site:
** spoiler omitted **So most likely Tiamat - or at least an avatar thereof incoming... plus unfortunately moar Drizzt and pals.
" Tiamat, the queen of evil dragons, has languished in the Nine Hells for millennia. The cult believes that the time of her return is at hand."
So wait, it's been millennia since the Godswar and Tiamat was on the prime like all the other gods and killed Gilgleam?
Or is D&D next the Flashpoint of D&D where they just thow the entire universe out the window? "D&D Next. Doing to 40 years of gamer history what DC did to Wally & Donna"
Not to defend the New 52, but Donna Troy's continuity was messed up waaaay before Flashpoint. ;-)
True, given she was spawned from a writer's misunderstanding. But I grew up with Donna, and they could have fixed it. :-)
I was more referring to the "pretending it never existed" aspects.
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From the Tyranny of Dragons preview site:
** spoiler omitted **So most likely Tiamat - or at least an avatar thereof incoming... plus unfortunately moar Drizzt and pals.
" Tiamat, the queen of evil dragons, has languished in the Nine Hells for millennia. The cult believes that the time of her return is at hand."
So wait, it's been millennia since the Godswar and Tiamat was on the prime like all the other gods and killed Gilgleam?
Or is D&D next the Flashpoint of D&D where they just thow the entire universe out the window? "D&D Next. Doing to 40 years of gamer history what DC did to Wally & Donna"
Hell, you don't even need to go back that far. Scales of War, the AP that WotC did for 4th Edition, was about Tiamat and her designs upon the Prim...er, world. The world. At the end of that, the PCs killed Tiamat. So, yeah, they're retreading the same ground again.
I'm sort of OK with this, since that means they're on familiar ground, but at the same time, it fills me with the same problem I'm feeling with all of the 5E stuff. They're not breaking new ground. They're just trying to relive the glory days, when there were fighting men and elf was a class.
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My fear is that this will lead to a pricing strategy in order to undercut the Pathfinder Battles line. If I were a competitor that's how I would be thinking.From the solicitation that we got from our distributor, the D&D minis are going to cost around $15 more per brick than Pathfinder Battles minis. At list price. Of course, retailers are free to price them how they see fit.
-Lisa
Strangely enough, Miniature Market is offering a D&D case (with promo figure) for $40 less than a case with promo of Reign of Winter.
Or could that be an additional cost WotC would be implementing?I don't have any idea, of course, but I wouldn't be surprised at all to learn that WotC gets a higher royalty percentage on their licenses than we do. That could account for some of the difference in retail price, I suppose.
Yes, that's what Anguish was saying above. Not sure why I was just focused on manufacturing.
Thanks Erik.
Strangely enough, Miniature Market is offering a D&D case (with promo figure) for $40 less than a case with promo of Reign of Winter.
The fun part of being a retailer is that you can set whatever price you want. It's a matter of deciding how much of a profit you're willing and able to make, and if however much you're selling it below MSRP is worth it. Apparently it's worth it to them. :D
From the Tyranny of Dragons preview site:
** spoiler omitted **So most likely Tiamat - or at least an avatar thereof incoming... plus unfortunately moar Drizzt and pals.
" Tiamat, the queen of evil dragons, has languished in the Nine Hells for millennia. The cult believes that the time of her return is at hand."
So wait, it's been millennia since the Godswar and Tiamat was on the prime like all the other gods and killed Gilgleam?
Or is D&D next the Flashpoint of D&D where they just thow the entire universe out the window? "D&D Next. Doing to 40 years of gamer history what DC did to Wally & Donna"
Hell, you don't even need to go back that far. Scales of War, the AP that WotC did for 4th Edition, was about Tiamat and her designs upon the Prim...er, world. The world. At the end of that, the PCs killed Tiamat. So, yeah, they're retreading the same ground again.
I'm sort of OK with this, since that means they're on familiar ground, but at the same time, it fills me with the same problem I'm feeling with all of the 5E stuff. They're not breaking new ground. They're just trying to relive the glory days, when there were fighting men and elf was a class.
I strongly agree. I feel like WotC is very much trying to relive glory days and repeat things that worked for them in the past. I also feel that where they are (sort of) trying new stuff, they are copying what has worked well for others-- partnering with WizKids, making an aerial skirmish game heavily based on Attack Wing/X-Wing/Wings of War. It doesn't do much to get me excited. Anecdotally, it's doing even less to get a close friend (who loves 4E and refuses to play Pathfinder) exited.
I strongly agree. I feel like WotC is very much trying to relive glory days and repeat things that worked for them in the past. I also feel that where they are (sort of) trying new stuff, they are copying what has worked well for others-- partnering with WizKids, making an aerial skirmish game heavily based on Attack Wing/X-Wing/Wings of War. It doesn't do much to get me excited. Anecdotally, it's doing even less to get a close friend (who loves 4E and refuses to play Pathfinder) exited.
I think you could make a pretty good argument that Paizo's product line has started to looked more like Wizard's circa 2004 or so. Not identical, to be sure, but both had pre-painted plastic minis, inexpensive terrain options, and frequently crunch releases. I think it's just a product mix that works well, especially for very tactical RPGs.
Edit: Though as previously stated, I am surprised that they're not doing the minis themselves this time.
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Chief Technical Officer
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Strangely enough, Miniature Market is offering a D&D case (with promo figure) for $40 less than a case with promo of Reign of Winter.The fun part of being a retailer is that you can set whatever price you want. It's a matter of deciding how much of a profit you're willing and able to make, and if however much you're selling it below MSRP is worth it. Apparently it's worth it to them. :D
I remember there was one online retailer—but I don't recall whether it was Miniature Market—that sold the first Pathfinder Battles set at just a hair over their cost, and then gradually decreased the discount with each subsequent set.
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You know, I've been thinking off and on about what Wizards has been doing wrong, and I've come to the conclusion that the intellectual property they're sitting on is in some ways a curse. They feel like they have to use it, because, hey! It's classic stuff, and it's valuable! How can you *not* use it? But it's also stuff we've seen before and done before, and that's not what brought us to the game in the first place. Playing the classic adventures in the classic campaign worlds was so exciting the first time around because it was *new*, and felt like really uncovering new territory. But how many times can you run the Tomb of Horrors, even if you use a new ruleset each time? It's fun to introduce new players to it, but there's nothing quite like discovering a completely new game world, both for the players and for the DM. Wizards seemed to understand that when they ran the contest that generated Eberron, and I bet Paizo will eventually work up a new campaign world as well if they keep enjoying long-term success. But I really think that it was beneficial in the long run for Paizo to *have* to work up a new campaign world of their own, and I think it's a big source of the excitement they've continued to generate. But the more big campaigns like WotR answers the big mysteries that have haunted the setting, the more it's going to feel like we've been there and done that. Campaign settings like Greyhawk and Forgotten Realms, much as I love them, are already well into their dotage. At this point, they're holding Wizards back. Drizz't again? Really? Kind of sad.
Campaign settings like Greyhawk and Forgotten Realms, much as I love them, are already well into their dotage. At this point, they're holding Wizards back. Drizz't again? Really? Kind of sad.
Old settings can still be great... IF there's new, non-world breaking, non-super-NPC focus, etc... rather than... "We have to rehash Elminster and Drizz't's argument about the corruption in the system while fending off 1000 Orcs and Tiamat after she's broken a nail".
But yeah, Drizz't.... again??? Isn't there room for some new heroes to make their way in the Realms without there being a cataclysm of the gods, a sinkhole the size of the Moonsea, or One of the Lords of Waterdeep getting a boil on their bum?
Campaign settings like Greyhawk and Forgotten Realms, much as I love them, are already well into their dotage. At this point, they're holding Wizards back. Drizz't again? Really? Kind of sad.Old settings can still be great... IF there's new, non-world breaking, non-super-NPC focus, etc... rather than... "We have to rehash Elminster and Drizz't's argument about the corruption in the system while fending off 1000 Orcs and Tiamat after she's broken a nail".
But yeah, Drizz't.... again??? Isn't there room for some new heroes to make their way in the Realms without there being a cataclysm of the gods, a sinkhole the size of the Moonsea, or One of the Lords of Waterdeep getting a boil on their bum?
Part of the problem is that Drizz't Do'Urden has a VERY large fanbase and he sells consistently. I agree that he's getting to be old hat at this point, but he's an Iconic FR figure. He sells novels, which in turn pull in new gamers is the WotC theory. Why they consistently go back to him instead of mining their other novels for heroic figures (Alias, Elaith Craulnober, Olive Ruskettle, Cadderly Bonaduce, Dragonbait, the Harpers, etc.) Problem is most of their heroes are in only 3 to 5 novels, where as Drizzt is in 15 and counting. Much as I dislike the fact that they're mining that piece of ground again, I can understand the why of it.
Strangely enough, Miniature Market is offering a D&D case (with promo figure) for $40 less than a case with promo of Reign of Winter.My fear is that this will lead to a pricing strategy in order to undercut the Pathfinder Battles line. If I were a competitor that's how I would be thinking.From the solicitation that we got from our distributor, the D&D minis are going to cost around $15 more per brick than Pathfinder Battles minis. At list price. Of course, retailers are free to price them how they see fit.
-Lisa
Hey Nikosandros, it doesn't happen to say what the promo figure is for the D&D case, does it? :)
I remember there was one online retailer—but I don't recall whether it was Miniature Market—that sold the first Pathfinder Battles set at just a hair over their cost, and then gradually decreased the discount with each subsequent set.
I believe that was troll and toad. But they've gone up in price gradually both in case offerings and on the secondary market for single minis.
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Soooo... we're getting the different areas of the Forgotten Realms divided into five major areas, each one invaded by a Dragon Highlord, sorry Dragon Cult Leader, and his dragon armies of dragons and dracon... dragon-men, while a group of heroes including a few humans, a dwarf, and even a kend... halfling, try to stop them. And there will be dragonla... uh... dragonaxes, too. Oh, and Drizz't was there too.
Brilliant!
Soooo... we're getting the different areas of the Forgotten Realms divided into five major areas, each one invaded by a Dragon Highlord, sorry Dragon Cult Leader, and his dragon armies of dragons and dracon... dragon-men, while a group of heroes including a few humans, a dwarf, and even a kend... halfling, try to stop them. And there will be dragonla... uh... dragonaxes, too. Oh, and Drizz't was there too.
Brilliant!
LOL, I had the same thought as well.
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I am surprised that they are putting their foot back in this pool. I would like to say that I will not buy them, but I most likely will. It largely depends on what figures they make. I started collecting plastic crack back when it started in 2003 I think. Now I really should think long and hard if it is worth buying a case or just a few figs. I am a fan of the Paizo mini's but I wish they would release the sets a little closer to the AP release. We will be 2/3 done with the Reign of Winter AP when the AP set comes out. If both companies produce three sets a year, it will be too much and even foolish spenders like myself will have to rethink our plans.
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I feel like I am the last one to just learn about this?
More selection of miniatures is great, however for cash-strapped collectors, it does feel like market saturation.
To my understanding, WizKids (with consultation from their licensed partners) sets the release schedules based on their expected sales forecasts. I suspect in time they will need to balance the release schedules for both the D&D minis and PFB minis, as the target market is the same.
It will be interesting to see what develops. I only want to buy "quality" figures, and I know I am not alone. Haphazardly dabbing on 3 different colors of paint (or less) does not make a quality looking miniature, regardless of the sculpt -- something WotC did towards the end of their past lines of D&D and Star Wars minis. I am uncertain what direction WotC will give WizKids in this regard.
When the paint quality waned a little on the Paizo minis, Paizo brought this concern to WizKids. Paizo is very concerned about the appearance of their minis.
I look forward to seeing the end product, but I fear that I will not have the cash flow to support 2 separate pre-painted miniature collection lines. I may have to end up choosing the one which makes the better quality miniatures.
On a side note, many of you may be familiar with my Pathfinder Minis gallery website (www.pathfinderminis.com). As a side project I have been working on gallery site for all brands of pre-painted miniatures. It is still a work in progress, but now seems as good of time as any to start promoting it: (www.minisgallery.com)