We all have seen the start of promising ranges of figures that we are dying to get. However, we also have seen a lot of ranges disappear or never reaching completion (meaning game able without heavy substitution from other manufacturers)
We often hear from Manufacturers that they have put a few of the figures out, but there is not enough support to quickly finish the range or even move forward with it.
First poll question. Yes /No
If you see a new range of figures that your are interested in do you
1 Purchase as they are released?
2 Wait for the range to have more than 50% of the figures needed in the range to game before you buy into the range.
3 Do you wait until the range is complete?
The idea of pre ordering or subscription buying has been used by board games for quite a while now, not many miniatures ranges have taken this rout the only one that I can think of is Eureka with their 100 and 200 ranges.
I have always thought that with the power of the interconnectivity of the net to bring people together that this would be a great way to get a range produced. The idea is that an entire range of figures would be produced, with the manufacture, at least some what, sure of enough purchases to make the range.
Second Poll Question, this is assuming that the company is at least reputable and well known and that the sculptors work is a known factor in the range and perhaps the driving factor.
Yes/ No
1 Would you be willing to pre order a complete range of figures? This would be something along the lines of say 300-500 USD commitment to a complete range of figures, which would be completed in 12 to 18 months. You would commit to the stated amount but would be billed as the figures are released.
2 Would you be willing to "invest" in a new range of figures and that investment would be considered credit to the range of figures created. So you could put in say 100 USD and during the 12 to 18 months production takes you can purchase 100 USD worth of any figures from the Range, at a say 10% discount over final list price.