"1806 Prussians: Let's Get This Campaign Going" Topic

The FG Miniz 1806 Prussian crowd funding campaign has nearly hit the half way point towards its goal as of today. There are 40 days to go as of this writing so it appears that the campaign is attracting attention and gaining some support

link

I'm in for about 180 figures as of now and will probably commit to more shortly, so I'm putting my money where my mouth is when I give this new range my endorsement. Who will follow me?

You can join the campaign for as little as €25.00 EUR, so please join in as every little bit counts.

Pro Gloria Patria

Der Alte Fritz

Sorry DAF it's a no from me. Personally I will put my money into the likes of Perry, Front Rank, OG and other more traditional, mature and risk free options etc than into what is for all intents and purposes is a "ponzi" scheme. I don't buy the Kickstarter or Indiegogo at all in any shape or form.

My question is this: Why couldn't this company obtain the necessary funding from the bank? and / or Why couldn't this company do what any other business normally does and that is create, produce and sell…..?

However, once the figures are available to buy through traditional methods I will happy to purchase…..

I wish them luck, but it's a no for me.

Well Marcus, old bean, for starters, Perry, Front Rank , OG and others do not make 1806 Prussians in 28mm…

Secondly, FGM already has the musketeers and grenadiers made so you are assured of getting some figures, any figures, for your money, i.e. they are already well down the road at this point, rather than starting from a dead start on the project. To me, this removes most of the "risk" that you have identified. I think that it is a bit unfair to state that someone is running a ponzi scheme when you have no evidence that the principals are dishonest. I understand that you might be uncomfortable with this process, and that's OK, but let's not label and prejudge people before the fact.

Finally, crowd funding is a new financial tool that is available to people who want to start a new range or add to existing ranges. It is one of several funding options for an enterprise and one would be foolish to dismiss it simply because it is new and different. On the contrary, its seems prudent to me if a new enterprise can attract what amounts to equity capital, rather than taking out a bank loan and incurring debt and making interest payments on such debt.

DaF – under this scheme, does one commit to spend, or actually hand over money?

And they are rather nice aren't they :-)

Ambitious and serious hobbyists that are trying to get something started deserve support per se.

I won't get around to paint 1806 Prussians within the next few years, but having a growing (and rather good-looking) range available is worth some of my cash.

Marc,

You will actually hand over the money. If you go to the link provided by DAF you'll see what levels you can commit to. There was another thread that I started where the person who is running this explains how it works.

It is pretty simple, you 'buy' a level or grouping of figures to help fund their startup business. You will be repaid with the figures you ordered. Since no new company has committed to produce 28mm 1806 Prussians (and I've contacted ALL of them personally) this is a godsend to those of us that want to see this greatly overlooked period of Napoleonics on the gaming table.

The nice thing about this part of the Napoleonic period is that if you are currently set up to game the 1805 Austerlitz with enough French then you're good to go for the 1806 and even 1807 battles – think Eylau, Friedland, and others besides the Jena & Auerstadt battles. Plus there could be numerous small battles based off the historical actions of the retreating Prussians such as those with Blucher or Yorck.

So in closing there has been a large gap in the Napoleonic period that people have not gamed for one reason or another and now we have an excellent opportunity to fix that.

DAF,

Hopefully I will be gainfully employed again soon and I will commit to FG Minz then.

18th C Guy: I will save some of my figures for you. I hope that there is a new job for you right around the corner.

I'm a 15mm player so the new range isn't for me – I already have my 1806 Prussian force started with AB's BUT I do want to endorse the comments about early Prussians. Wonderfully colorful army – very rewarding to line them up on the table. They were involved in some great battles with the French. At both Jena & Auerstadt a tough, bloody contest continued for many hours before a result was achieved. Davout's elite veterans suffered 30% casualties so the Prussians they fought did some things right. With a good set of rules reflecting the toughness and strength of the rank and file and the inadequacies of the Prussian officers above Brigade level you should have a lot of fun with 1806 Prussians.

The campaign has now surpassed the €4,000.00 EUR mark. Looking good!

Der Alte et al:

I'm in for about 180 figures as of now and will probably commit to more shortly, so I'm putting my money where my mouth is when I give this new range my endorsement. Who will follow me?

Likewise, and I expect to make further commitment(s) in the remaining six weeks.

Finally, crowd funding is a new financial tool that is available to people who want to start a new range or add to existing ranges. It is one of several funding options for an enterprise and one would be foolish to dismiss it simply because it is new and different.

I agree and am currently signing on to a similar project for the 18th century in 28mm. These enterprises represent at this time, IMHO, the most realistic hope for comprehensive ranges in (woefully) ignored eras.

The campaign has now surpassed the €4,000.00 EUR EUR mark. Looking good! thumbs up

Amazing, good show.

I just KNOW I shouldn't ask the question, but…

WHAT 18th CENTURY PROJECT???!?

Ed

I think Cheriton is speaking about Warfare 's project on the Great Northern War: I follow this one too as this subject is very interesting

cheers

Franck

I think Cheriton is speaking about Warfare's project on the Great Northern War: I follow this one too as this subject is very interesting

Sorry, it is a private project at this time and it is not for me to give specifics.

Cheers,

Tease!

Ed: you can read more about it on the League of Augsburg site.

Erf Sorry I did not realize it was not a public project at the moment.

Cheers

FRanck

Anyone can read about it on the League of Augsburg site, so it can't be too private at this point.

Franck:

Der Alte is correct, I meant that I didn't feel free to provide details or URL. That is the leader's decision to make. Wasn't any transgression on your part.

Anyone can read about it on the League of Augsburg site, so it can't be too private at this point.

Thanks, Jim, for taking the time to clarify, I didn't convey the meaning I had in mind.

Cheers,

GNW by Barry Hilton is awfully tempting. I feel a new historical period coming to Hesse Seewald soon.

What time period in total do these figures cover I.E. 1800 – 1807?

Grognard,

Yes, they cover 1800-1807. Perfect for the 1806 & 1806 campaigns.

DAF,

Have you checked back with Musketeer Miniatures' GNW line lately? It is pretty much done for Russians & Swedes.

I think that I will wait for the Warfare Miniatures range to go into production.

BTW, the 1806 Prussian program is up to EUR4,700 today compared to its target funding of EUR7,000.

You mean 1806 & 1809 Campaigns?

You mean 1806 & 1809 Campaigns?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No, 1806 and 1807 Campaigns.

If you play some what if!! You could have them come in on the side of the Austrians and Russians in 1805.

The campaign is now up to €4,815.00 EUR with 28 days to go.

Come on lads, the Duke of Brunswick needs your help in stopping Old Bones Apart. You can join the campaign for as little as €25.00 EUR. I just made another contribution today!

Today's tally is €4,965.00 EUR We are getting closer.

DAF – are they all your own contributions :-)

You know, if you keep tempting me I just might have too – even though I do this period already in 1/72.

No, I think that I'm around EUR300 but a couple of times I have tacked on a EUR25/35 order to boost the contributions over one of the "thousand" milestones.

I hope that we can bring this puppy up to EUR7,000 so as to unlock some of the other figures planned for the range.

It is now up to EUR4,997. Someone needs to contribute EUR3 to hit the EUR5,000 level.

Sorry DAF, am I reading this right, they will need €15,000.00 EUR before doing cavalry?

Marc, I totally agree that some cavalry among the first wave might have been more helpful than a mounted colonel. Then again, I'm glad about the latter since I don't much like his colleague on foot…

My understanding is they will do all of these eventually anyway, but without funding up front we could be looking at several years here.

Still, from the overall response so far it would seem that 1806 Prussians are less in demand than forum mentions may imply?

On the contrary, I am quite surprised that this army is raising so much money.

What, you don't like them ?

On second thoughts, if given the choice I'd opt for gunners before cavalry, so as to field the infantry with their battalion guns at least.

Isn't that always the case – "we" forumers clamour for something, but are we representative of the buying public? I see this with my first true scale, 1/72. People cry out for the "next thing" and then the manufactuer says it has not sold well, so won't make the rest (ie the cavalry and artillery). I have a lot of incomplete armies as a result of that.

But back to these guys. I asked because I had assumed that 5,000 euros would buy a lot of stuff, but it turns out that it doesn't. Obviously, sculpting and moulding costs must be a lot higher than I realised. And makes me appreciate the Minden range even more (or DaF's own AWI venture – both privately funded from what I can see).

I had toyed with joining in (even though it is not my scale) just to see it happen, but it sadly appears to be a long way off a complete project/range. Happy to be convinced otherwise though.

Marc: I'd estimate that 5,000 euros would yield about 20 figures based on direct non-metal costs (sculpting fees, master and production mould expenses). This is before you even start spinning your first figure or taking into account any marketing expenses or legal expenses (to incorporate your business, etc.).

With any new range of figures, it's always a question of whether or not the range will "have legs" and be developed into a full line of figures comprised of everything that you need to wargame the particular period. Gamers are understandably reluctant to buy in if they are concerned that the range will turn into an "orphan range" (i.e. incomplete). In most cases, time will eventually tell the tale about the staying power of the company and its willingness to invest in expanding the range.

I take comfort from the fact that FG Minis already has a head start on the development and production of the basic infantry figures. While I have not physically held one of their minis in my hand, eyeballing the pix suggests to me that I can use them with my existing collection of Elite Miniatures 1806 Prussians. At the very least, I can augment my existing forces with figures that are more contemporary and up to date in terms of sculpting style, detail and pose variety.

That said, I'd very much like to see this range get up and running because I like the sculpting style, the figure detail, and it fills an historical niche that has been neglected, yet is still in the mainstream of Napoleonic wargaming. I think these guys are going about it in the right way: they've got a good sculptor, probably the best caster in the industry, and they seem to have a good plan for the development of the range.

Wow, someone dropped an €800.00 EUR donation into the project and it is now up to €5,797.00 EUR!

Don't stop now boys, we need to raise an army to stop old Bones A Part.

The campaign is up to €6,296.00 EUR today, so it is looking good for hitting thr initial €7,000.00 EUR level.

Today's tally is €6,321.00 EUR

Don't stop now boys, keep the line moving!

Pro Gloria Patria

Fritz

Don't stop now boys, keep the line moving!

Will be doing so mid-week…

Cheers,

Today's tally is up to EUR6,370 with 19 days left in the fund raising campaign.

Onward!

Pro Gloria Patria

Fritz

EUR6,579 as of April 5th. Only 15 days left in the campaign. Don't stop now boys, onward

Pro Gloria Patria

The campaign surged over the €7,000.00 EUR goal level so this puppy officially has legs!!!!!

Now, let us see if we can hit the stretch goal of €10,000.00 EUR which would unlock the jagers and the foot artillery. Wouldn't that be wonderful

The campaign has raised €8,153.00 EUR with seven days to go. The initial funding goal of €7,000.00 EUR has been reached and now it is closing in on the first stretch goal of €9,000.00 EUR, which would unlock the jagers. At €10,000.00 EUR, the artillery gets unlocked.

I really really hope that the campaign raises the funds to unlock the artillery. We are so close.

As I understand it, if you join the club NOW this will permanently lock in lower prices for both current and future figure issues. Plus, you don't have to take all of your figures upfront as infantry.. If you want to wait until the cavalry goes into production, then you can still do so and get the benefits of the commitment level that you sign up for. That's interesting to me as I can buy some infantry now and get some cavalry or artillery later, at te current investor price.

I really really hope that the campaign raises the funds to unlock the artillery. We are so close.

One thing that remains unclear to me. Supposing we reach €8,750.00 EUR by April 20 do 75% of the jagers become unlocked?

As I understand it, if you join the club NOW this will permanently lock in lower prices for both current and future figure issues. Plus, you don't have to take all of your figures upfront as infantry..

Yes, very generous of Franck (et al)

Cheers,

Supposing we reach €8,750.00 EUR EUR by April 20 do 75% of the jagers become unlocked?

Ooops, that should read €8,500.00 EUR above, sorry. Majored in History and International Relations, not (obviously) math.

It is now up to EUR8,812 with 4 days to go. The EUR9,000 level will unlock the Prussian foot artillery crew and 6-pd cannon. Now we're talking!!!!