"Why do so many manufacturers make Zulu War figures? " Topic

Perhaps it's just me, but it seems that virtually every manufacturer has a Zulu War range… is the market for miniatures of this single campaign really so huge?

I realise that – mainly due to Michael Caine and Stanley Baker – the Zulu War has a certain "special place" in most people's minds, but I am still amazed that so many manufacturers can (presumably!?) make money off the miniatures. For a start, most players building a British force will only need a fairly small number of figures, and secondly, I would suggest that the Zulu War doesn't really lend itself to great wargames.

Or am I missing something?

Zulu War doesn't lend itself to wargames? I think you're missing something.

A classic period to warmage, hordes of Zulus against the thin red line. Heroic bravery and the invasion is a campaign that can be gamed from large battles to skirmishes

Never mind the fact that you can split your zulu army in half and do zulu civil wars with the addition of some boer figures here and there for the later ones, or not for the earlier ones.

There are lots of fun actions to game within the war itself too.

damosan

Feel free to enlighten me?

Lowtardog

OK – so the horde moves forward a few inches a turn, and the thing red line rolls each turn to see how many they kill… and – err…

Don't get me wrong – I am fascinated by the Zulu War and have visited all the battlefields. I am just amazed that so many manufacturers seemingly make cash off the figures

I think a few movies had something to do with it

"Why do so many manufacturers make Zulu War figures?"

Why not?

Pictors Studio

Fair point, though I am not sure how popular the Zulu civil wars are?
I suppose also the British figures are 'classic' colonial ones, and will find themselves fighting all many of tribesmen, either on Earth or Mars.

Mike Snorbens

Because presumably they have to make money and therefore it would strike me as a bit risky for a manufacturer to add yet another range to a conflict which is already so well covered.

Why so many make the Zulu War figures really is a puzzlement. I suppose Patrick is correct about the movies. I wonder, however, if these lines are cash cows or simply pet projects. I think one could do the Battle of Rorke's Drift in every possible scale from 2mm to 54mm. This campaign is not my bag although many in our club simply love it. Three of the guys in our club have figures for this battle in various scales.

ACWBill

Good post.
I would be interested to learn how much profit manufacturers make a profit off these lines, but I suppose they must make something. I note that two new companies (Wargames Factory and Empress Miniatures) have opted to produce Zulu War figures straight away – is there really room in the market, I wonder?
I suppose WF has an 'angle' given that plastic Zulus could be cost effective, but how does one really break into a market which would appear to be completely saturated?

*I would be interested to learn how much profit manufacturers make off these lines…

If you had ever played a Zulu Wars game, especially one out of Mark Fastoso's excellent Skirmish Campaigns style book you'd know it isn't just "the horde moves forward a few inches a turn, and the thing red line rolls each turn to see how many they kill… " There's obviously a lot more to the games or so many people wouldn't play them!

It's a high point (or low point…depending on how you look at it) of Victorian colonialism – being iconic it's the first campaign anyone casually thinking of 19th century colonial gaming is likely to come up with.

By contrast the Boer war was messy and disease ridden and generally "less fun" to game (although you do get armoured trains). It was also Europeans against Europeans over who'd get to run part of Africa – so doesn't have the dash of "Imperial power against plucky natives". Also don't have nice red uniforms. So despite the film Young Winston, not as popular as zulus.

Maybe if they'd made MAORI ! rather than ZULU ! that'd have made a difference too.

Oh – and for very early gamers – zulus could easily be converted from the Airfix Tarzan's Jungle adventure figure set – leading to a large(ish)number of zulu armies….as metal overtook plastics in the early 1970's the manufacturers would look around and see what was popular at the time – hey, lots of people have zulus…….once one firm has zulus, everyone wants to compete ('cos it's clearly a popular period) and so range upon range follows on.

nazrat

I was responding to Lowtardog's description of a battle.

I would also say that is pretty much what would happen during any refight of Rorkes Drift or Ulundi. Isandlwana can't really be re-fought without completely hamstringing the British player and forcing him to make nonsensical decisions. The siege of 'Gin-Gin-I-love-you' will see the British player occupying defensive postions and simply rolling dice to fighting off a horde, so that pretty much leaves Hlobane.

That said, the point wasn't really whether or not the period is 'great' or not, but rather that it simply strikes me as being swamped with manufacturers, all keen to get a piece of what cannot really be an enormous pie.

I suppose WF has an 'angle' given that plastic Zulus could be cost effective, but how does one really break into a market which would appear to be completely saturated?

By providing something that the current ranges do not offer, to draw in people who would have interest but are not satisfied with what is currently available? This "something new" could be:

- superior quality compared to existing ranges
- cheaper price per model
- new scale
- improved modelling opportunities (eg. multi-part hard plastics)

A new range can actually create a new demand for itself, if it provides some of these new aspects. And if a topic is already popular, then it is likely to be easier to create such "new demand".

And for reasons why Zulu War might be popular:
- There are Brits involved (any conflicts with Brits involved is more likely to have better miniature coverage).
- The British models can be used for a number of other colonial conflicts.
- Historically, the campaign was not too one-sided (with both sides suffering losses).
- Certain films of reknown.
- Plenty of printed material available. In English.

Griefbringer

From a far more practical point of view:

If you make Colonial British for the period, you'll end up needing some opponents for your range. The Zulus require relatively few sculpts to round out the army. They don't have guns or cavalry, lots of exotic weapons, etc. So they represent a relatively small investment.

Griefbringer

Good post and some interesting ideas. I would suggest that the 'something new's you offer are equally applicable to any other range, but I take your point nonetheless.

I suppose an other option for a new company is to pick a very obscure war / campaign, produce a range of figures for it and, by so doing, hope to stimulate a market – so maybe most decide that going for a small slice of a known market is a better option?

20thmaine

Good post and I bet 'Maori!' would have been a pretty good film!
I am probably in a tiny minority here, but I think the Boer War is actually more interesting to wargame – hidden units, interesting weaponry, well-matched forces etc.

I agree the Boer War is more interesting but having gamed it you cant get people interested.

Zulu War is a staple of gamers methinks like WW2, Napoloeinics ancients and in particular Romans etc, and ACW you only need to look at the constant stream of relases to know it must be a large market where they are bound to pick up some of the trade rather than as you have siad try and forge into a new less popular period.

I also think a lot of companies make the bread and butter lines above to fund new and exciting projects

Hi Bulldog69 -- I don't know about everyone else, but we made them at Wargames Factory because I love the period!

"Zulu" with Michael Caine was one of the ingredients in my early life that started my interest in history and on the road to being a wargamer. (It helped that one grandfather was a reenactor and figure painter and the other taught me how to mold lead figures!)

I have a framed print of Alphonse de Neuville's "The Defense of Rorke's Drift" over the mantle in my office soon to be joined by a Martini-Henry.

There's something about this small war that defines the entire colonial experience. In two days, Britain's army saw one of its greatest defeats and one of its greatest (albeit small) victories at Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift. Victorian arrogance and courage on display all at once.

All the best,

Tony

Tony Reidy
Wargames Factory
wargamesfactory.com

A lot of good points has already been made on this subject, but I would still like to add my 2 cents…..

First at all, I think that the "British"-factor is quite prominent. It is a British conflict and therefore has the attention of especially the British part of the wargaming market. And because of the language and cultural similarity, there is quite a spin-off on the American market as well. Take a look at non-English speaking manufactures from fx. France, Italy or Russia and you will not find the same focus on this particularly war.

The second major point is that the conflict was quite unique in being a "civilized" old school colonial elite force pitted against a Horde-type "savage" army. (Heck! It almost sounds like space marine against Genestealers!) The conflict is furthermore a conflict between technology and bravery. It is rather difficult to point to any other major of medium sized conflicts with the same setup and where the outcome was so much in the balance.
The Maori war, the Opium wars, the Taiping rebellion and the Boxer uprising springs to mind as contestants to the same kind of setup.

regards
Thomas

Althought I enjoy gaming the Zulu War conflict, I have to admit I was surprised as well to see a new metal range and new plastic range coming out for this. With what I already have invested in this period I am not going to change to any new scales or manufacturers. If something comes along that will "fit" in what I already have I might be tempted to purchase soemthing here or there, but I would not be willing to start over. However for new comers to the period I supposed these new ranges will be very welcome.

I would prefer to see something totally new available, like a "Planet of the Apes" range.

Fifty4

Thanks for the input, and I think you might have just answered my question.

Like you, watching Zulu as a youngster was something of a life-changing event for me! Amoung various other colonial and Rhodesian memoribilia, I have a Martini Henry and a Lee Metford hanging in my bar, together with an enormous painting of the Last Stand at Isandlwana – so hopefully that will convince everyone that I am not 'against' the period!

I like the colorful uniforms. That's enough for me. It works for fantasy miniatures.

Bulldog,,

Lol,, I read your last post,and seems you answered your own first question…

Also, not sure but perhaps its a two part question..

the first dealing with economics,,and the answer seems self evident, so many manufactures cannot be doing it just as a labor of love, so it must be because it makes money.

the second part would be just why anybody would game the Zulu Wars period. Thats way more complex,, and could be asked about any period.. But,, again, you seem to have answered that one in your last post.

are you thinking of gaming this era? I do believe you are interested in the Boer wars,,,and the brit uniforms of the first Boer war are pretty compatable with the Zulu era,,so call it a two-fer-one period concerning the brits.

anvil

Good points above, but a couple more:

First, like Napoleonics, you can always find a use for "just one more unit" of anything in the Colonial period, and certainly for large army like the Zulus. You know: "Sure I already have 2,000 painted and 500 primed, but why not a few of these new ones?" (personal experience)

Second, at least in the USA, the Zulu War (and Colonials as a whole) have greatly benefited from being supported by one of the true classics of wargaming rules, The Sword and the Flame. For something like 30+ years it has been the gold standard of Colonials, and provided great games that are often seen as a "break" from more detailed treatments of different periods.

"Because presumably they have to make money and therefore it would strike me as a bit risky for a manufacturer to add yet another range to a conflict which is already so well covered."

Only true with a new range of figures. Once they have passed the break even point on the sculpting of masters and mould production then any sales only incur the cost of raw materials and time. And since it costs the same in time and materials to spin up any one mould, it matters not a whit which range the figures in the mould are for.

Mike Snorbens

All ranges were new at some point, and therefore someone still made a decision to invest the time and money.

anvil1

Not really – my post certainly confirms that I think the period is interesting, but doesn't really explain why so many manufacturers produce ranges for it. And though I am hugely interested in the conflict, I wouldn't consider it one which I would find suitable to wargame.

I am with Nycjadie – I like the white helmet/red jacket/blue trousers

I think that the number of high profile movies like Zulu plus the Sword and the Flame have been huge parts of the popularity of this period – there are certainly other smallish wars that would be equally interesting

AS AN ASIDE:
I remember a movie a long time ago about New Zealand settlersand Maori's. According to Imdp it was "The Seekers" or "Land of Fury" in US with Jack Hawkins and Glynnis Johns. Not quite the same effect as "Zulu". Scale or imagery has got to have played a role in placing "Zulu" so strongly in people's recollection.
Good movie sales might play into good miniature sales: "Gettysburg", "Longest Day", "Kelly's Heros", "Star Wars". Can't explain VSF and forget "The Patriot".

Man of Few Words

Would that be the same Jack Hawkins who played the Reverend Otto Witt in Zulu?

Its like any period, not really much different from some of the more obscure (and some very unobscure) ancient periods… How many lines of 1066 Normans and Saxons are there?
How many Waterloo Napoleonics, for a week long campaign?
How many Jagdtigers?
If you are a good scenario designer you can have a lot of fun with it..if you are an unimanginative then it will be boring.

christot

Should I assume that abuse is aimed at me?

I think that the movie "Zulu" has more to do with the popularity of the period than any other factor that I can think of. A small group of men in red coats and white (tan actually) pith helmets fighting off a brave hoard of Zulus stirs the imagination. Toss in a few rounds of "Men of Harlech" and some great acting and you can see why the film hooks people into the period.

The point about about the Sword & The Flame rules is a good one too. Those were the first set of rules that I ever played with and I have fond memories of them.

Finally, wargaming periods seem to go in 10 year cycles (more or less). It seems like a new range comes out every decade, providing a fresh look at the period. I believe that a new range can attract/rope in new gamers who haven't built up their own collections of figures. Those who already have Zulus and Brits may want to add some of the new figures to their existing collections. In some cases, the new range of figures is so good that we are moved to mothball our existing collection and start all over again with the new figures (new poses and new production technologies).

Since the period hasn't received treatment from plastics as yet, it would seem to be a natural subject for a plastic range.

Good Lord No!!

Der Alte Fritz

I completely agree that 'Zulu' is mainly responsible for the popularity of the preiod (indeed, I said so in my initial post).

What I am more interested in is the decision process which a manufacturer goes through when working out which new range is worth investing in. Tony from Wargames Factory suggests he is 'following his heart', and has (perfectly understandably) decided to make figures for a period he enjoys, presumably hoping that this will translate into sales. I wonder if this is the prevailing attitude in the hobby, or do any manufacturers do some form of market analysis and research? Does anyone have a clue how many players game a given period, or how much they spend on it? Do manufacturers simply react if they get a number of requests? Or are the majority of ranges made pretty much on a hunch?
Anvil1 tells us that manufacturers 'must' be making money from their Zulu War ranges. I hope he is right, but where are the figures to back up this statement? As in any industry – and especially in one which is something of a 'cottage industry' like wargaming – just because a company offers a product, that doesn't automatically mean that it will prove profitable so to do.

For all the interesting points that Griefbringer made earlier about cracking into a market, given the massive range of choice available for (eg) the Zulu War, it must be very difficult to produce a range which is so good (and yet so afforable) that it tempts current players of a period to re-do their armies. This would suggest that the target market for a new range is limited to new-comers to the period and to providing 'extras' for existing players, and the jam must get spread pretty thinly, I would have thought?

"All ranges were new at some point, and therefore someone still made a decision to invest the time and money."

True, but some Zulu Wars ranges have been around so long that when they were new there weren't that many around, so the investment decision was much easier than it might be today.

I suppose another option which I hadn't thought of until now is that perhaps a sizable percentage of wargamers should be more accurately decribed as 'collectors'. These fellows will see that a manufacturer has released a new range and – if it is a period they are vaguely interested in – they will buy a few units just for the fun of painting them up, possibly knowing in their heart-of-hearts that they will never see action on the table top?
Given that the Zulu War is undeniably a 'popular' period of history, perhaps these collectors can be counted on to buy at least a few figures of any new ranges which are produced?

Mike Snorbens

Fair point, but that very fact would – if I owned a miniatures company – put me off investing in developing a range for the same period. As you suggest, it would seem to be a bold decision to embark on cracking the Zulu War market now.

I think extra crispy has the right idea from a business perspective. There is no point in producing a colonial british line if they don't have opponents. I expect most folks tend to order everything from one manufacturer just out of convenience.

And if someone buys a pack of brits, they just need so darn many packs of zulus.

The allure of owning the latest greatest new figs is very powerful. Look at what the Perrys have been able to do with the AWI and Waterloo. I think that a lot of people consider upgrading or renewing their existing armies and are ripe targets for new product ranges.

Along these same lines, I would imagine that the Old Glory 2nd Generation range will be very successful. Does anyone really need more ACW, AWI or Napoleonic figures? Probably not, but when they see the new figures they will want to own them or replace parts of their existing collection. The amount of time from the release of the current Zulus to the last company that released a new Zulu range could be the key to succcess.

Does anyone have a clue how many players game a given period, or how much they spend on it?

AFAIK nobody has any sort of accurate estimate on how many miniature gamers there, nor of the total annual sales of the miniature companies.

it must be very difficult to produce a range which is so good (and yet so afforable) that it tempts current players of a period to re-do their armies. This would suggest that the target market for a new range is limited to new-comers to the period and to providing 'extras' for existing players

New players into a period are probably a lot better target than those who already have an established army – they will buy more, instead of moaning about the incompatibility of the new range with their existing tange.

Griefbringer

Bulldog69,
Are you trying to establish a link between the late Jack Hawkins and successful miniatures lines?
Actually, I was surprised at the number of military characters he played, according to Imdb.
He was also in the original movie "League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" but it shares only the tittle with Sean Connery'sversion.

To paraphrase Colour Sergeant Vaughan in "Zulu"

"Because we're cast son, because we're cast."

I gotta admit, 95% of my Zulu era Brits are Foundry, as are my Zulus. All bought about 20 or so years ago. I bought "TSATF" in 1979 as well. I did buy some Black Tree Zulu leaders and a few packs of BT Zulus about 5 years ago when I put on a game @ H-con. I haven't played a Zulu game since then, but as of late, all of the new Zulu releases have me scrambling for my rules, the scenario book I got for TSATF, building a kraal terrain piece and wondering how many more Brits & Zulus I need! So, I guess that could answer your question. I've got plenty, but I'm buying more! One thing I would like to see for both sides are CASUALTIES. I like to have at least one casualty for every 2 or 3 figures that actually fall on the field. "Someone pot that fellow…"
Peter

"Isandlwana can't really be re-fought without completely hamstringing the British player and forcing him to make nonsensical decisions."

This isn't true, I don't think. Well maybe it is if you do the whole battle, but it is very possible to game different parts of the battle and with various scenario conditions you can have a pretty dicey game. So you could do the left forward part of the British army trying to shoot down as many zulus as possible as they race past without being overwhelmed by the ones coming at them. Or the retreat of the cavalry back to the main formation and so on.

even if you just do the main camp you can try to see if the British can inflict enough casualties before being overwhelmed.

As someone who has just purchased some Empress Figures, here is my rationale (in no particular order):
"The Film"-hell I watched "300" & it got me thinking!
Information-there is a lot of it so I can get painting & gaming!
Its a visual thing for me-see "The Film". Both sides look great.
New manufacturers normally raise the standard of what has gone before-years of waiting for the range that will do my dayreams justice have finally arrived etc.
Nostalgia-I originally used ESCI plastics, had FUN with old rules (TSATF!) and the older I get…….

Pictors Studio

I am not sure how interesting and demanding a game would be where one has control of a firing line which has to shoot down as many zulus as possible. What else is there to do but roll dice each turn?

Perhaps I should explain the thinking behind my statement. If I was put in charge of the British for a re-fight of Isandlwana, on the first turn, I would strike the camp (which Pulleine never did), and pull all my companies and both guns back onto the ammo wagons and form some sort of a square / laager.
Now of course, these things don't happen by remote control and I shouldn't expect this to happen instantly. However, the battlefield was comparitively small and, in reality, there was nothing stopping Colonel Pulleine getting at least a few of his companies back to his ammo supplies reasonably quickly. I certainly wouldn't have pushed one of my companies completely out on a limb like he did, or have allowed my sub units (like the rocket tubes and the NMP) to be scattered all over the place, remote from the camp.
So, as I said, the scenario designer would have to put something in place to hamstring me in which case I am either stuck fighting the battle as Pulleine fought it ('that company is only released for movement on the roll of a 6' or some other such artificially contrived rubbish), or, if I allowed to take control, I simply set up me forces in and around the camp (perhaps even a laager) and roll some dice all afternoon. Alternatively, if the scenario designer decides I have just teleported in from another planet and am not allowed to set up my forces, I simply pull all my men back into a square and, again, roll dice for an afternoon.