"What happened to Ral Partha Battlesystems ???" Topic

Many, (many many) years ago these 15mm figures seemed to be everywhere. I mostly remember them in Virgin games. Lovely Wemics and Windriders. For a long time they and Essex had the only 15mm Fantasy available.
(Oh and TTG)

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Then….
I have always wondered…what happened to them?

Does anyone know where they went? And I hear stories of moulds destroyed, sunk on a boat etc etc etc. But what really happened?

I have wondered there is still a Ral Partha, but why no Battlesystems?

Weren't they a licensed range? Like old the classic Ral Partha AD&D stuff once TSR was sold to Wizards of the coast I guess all the old licensed ranges would have been discontinued.

The Prince is correct.

Unfortunately, TSR never really supported, nor advertised, their BattleSystem game rules. The 2nd Ed. rules were published around 1990, along with a BattleSystems Skirmish game, which was similar to 4th Ed. D&D: mini's game with a light veneer of RPG over the top. The 2nd Ed. rules sets are pretty good, IMO -- I still play them both.

The 15mm product lines were officially licensed by TSR, and the story is that the license agreement stipulated the molds be destroyed when the contract expired, unless they negotiated new terms. They are gone, never to return, AFAIK. Cheers!

Although they don't show them on their website, Iron Wind has had loose 15mm fantasy figs in drawered bins at the last few cons. I think at least some of them were Battlesystems figs. You might want to inquire of them what they may still have to offer.

Those are figs from an estate not direct from Iron Wind.

What Sgt Slag and John Leahy said.

When RP lost the license, after a certain agreed-upon date, *all* TSR-licensed minis, no matter the scale, were melted down (heartbreaking, I know) and all molds and masters were verified destroyed. Some of the original sculpts were saved, though, and some of those found their way onto the secondary market.

I know wargaming is a business as well as a Hobby but it is still hard to believe that anyone involved is such an ******* that he would demand that original moulds be destroyed instead of just forbidding their continued production.
Sculpture is art even if it is only 15 or 25mm high. You would not demand that an artist burns his older paintings just because he ist now working for another Company.

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I'm with the Steam Flunky.

If you are not happy with the thought of someone using your IP after the licence expires (especially a product you've not supported), why not keep the moulds and masters in the attic/basement?

As they come up rarely on evilBay at times, they are nearly $5 USD-$10 per figure.

Maybe the better option is to lobby/nag/beg someone such as Splintered Light or 15mm.co.uk and suggest items such as the Wemics etc.
( I know Splintered Light do already have excellent Lion range, as does the Laserburn range)

Such a shame as I clearly remember agonising over getting Battlesystems 2ndEd when it came out. Being a skinny kid at the time, £$£$ was very limited and I was so tempted to get it at the time, but worried if it didn't work. Sadly didn't, got Empire IV instead.

Wow, we used to be able to go to Partha's factory and buy Battlesystem figs by the pound. You bet I did so!

You guys won't get an argument from me. Like I said, heartbreaking.

In TSR's defense, though, they had been burned several times over the years by licensing the minis to a company, then switching the license to a different company, then having the original company re-release the minis under different names, thereby undercutting sales of the new line of minis.

For example, I have in my collection an Amber Hulk, an Umber Bulk, an Umber Beast, a Brawn Hulk, a Rock Burrower, a Burrowing Hulk, a Lumbering Hulk, and a Hooked Hulk. Any guesses as to what D&D/AD&D monster they all represent?

It's either the Flumph or Duckbunny. Can you give another example?

Why should a hobby business NOT act like a regular business?
Just because some guys "really really really" want them?

Contracts are contracts and when they have an expiration date, it's for a reason.

No reason why a hobby business shouldn't different to a regular business. I would really like to have more of the small business's be more viable and regular.
That way they could support their owners/sculptors/painters/designers who would be able to continue putting out product, (I hope).
Much in the way the Perry Twins have done with Foundry or Battlefront.

Beautiful figures yes,I have some in my collection.That being said,its time to move on,there are some real beauties currently available right now from other companies.