"Rule Makers: Please Label Your Figures" Topic

This kinda falls under the heading: "Why didn't someone think of this before?"

I recently picked up a copy of "Witchfinder General". The company doesn't make its own miniatures so the pictures in the books are of models from other companies. Each picture has a tag listing the manufacturer of each figure and building in the picture.

I have never seen this before and think it is a very good idea.

The "Song of….." series credits the bulk of the minis used in photos at the beginning of the rule books. E.G. Song of Blades and Heroes says figures are from Mirleton, Song of Drums and Tomahawks credits Conquest.

Amen to that

I believe that they would have to somewhere or fall under IP infringement.

Yea, but they don't. At least not how it's done in "Witchfinder General". Most companies just add an acknowledgement of the manufacturers whose figures they used.

The way "WG" did it you didn't have to figure out which maker made what figures.

Actually, no, they don't have to. So long as the photo they use is original, and they legally own the figure, then, at least in the US, they are in the clear.

But it is a good diea, and the polite thing to do.

Many rulesets have a general statement somewehere in the credits listing figure manufacturers.

As for listing each figure in each picture separately: that assumes the rules writer/photographer knows what figure came from where. I guess most of us with sizable collections have similar problems, i.e. Most of us might have a general idea, but to know for 100% sure where each and every figure came from … ?

but to know for 100% sure where each and every figure came from … ?

I know where all mine came from.

I know where all of mine came from (apart from that mysterious maxim gun on a mule and those strange hard plastic 20m WW2 Germans), but I don't know who made quite a few of them as so many are second/third/fourth hand.

Many of the manufacturers aren't in business any more either, which isn't going to be hugely helpful to prospective purchasers, unless you enjoy scouring eBay for OOP figures.

Blitzkrieg/Cold War/Future War Commander rulebooks all acknowledged the miniature manufacturers in each photo.

I found this very useful.

I get permission from and credit the manufacturer at the beginning of the product. I haven't mixed manufacturers in one product yet, except for using my own creations, for which I usually apologize.