"What percentage of figures get effectively used?" Topic

We all know the symptom of the proverbial lead mountain.
We all know fellow wargamers who keep on buying new figures, but never set up a game.
We all know we buy much more figures than we actually need.

So … what percentage of all bought wargaming figures actually ever sees action on a wargaming table?

I would guess 10%, but perhaps I'm optimistic.

If the number is even lower, is this a wargaming bubble? Do companies only sell us figures to be stored away, unpainted and unused, in storage boxes? Only to be sold off on the 2nd hand market several years later, and several times. Untill someone throws them in a pot to be melted to cast new figures? Ad infinitum?

Typo in the title … sorry.

I use a lot of my figures…say 50 percent. Just not very effectively! But we all have grandiose plans that require new purchases despite the size of the lead pile.

Native Americans used every piece of the miniature.

I guess it really depends. Of the miniatures that I have purchased, 99% of them will get painted (the remainder is left over minis from buying packs that don't match up with my army organization). That said, the number of minis purchased was so that I could conceivably field the maximum army size for the campaign, though most of the time, most battles will only use a fraction of that amount.

So, no, my painted minis will not always be on the table at the same time for every battle, but every painted mini will get used with regularity.

My Spanish Napoleonics have been used over thirty years, but only once effectively.

Mexican – A strict historical simulation then!

I would estimate only 25% of the miniatures sold get painted, and only a portion of those ever see the table. I am an outlier I think in that for all periods/genres I game I have complete armies ready to go – so no "just 8 more units." I add as I go.

That said I think the only collection I have that has never seen the game table is my Renaissance galleys – I have never been able to get any interest with others….

Most of mine get painted, as I tend to finish projects.
However playing time is another matter. I painted up some Front Rank Russian Napoleonics for a Borodino game and use them twice. Otherwise they sat in a box. Sold them off two weeks ago.

Define effectively used. I have a number of units that have been on the table without being effective.

My guess has always been about 20% of castings bought get painted and only half of those ever get on a table.

Most of mine get painted but less than half of them have ever seen combat. Those that have been used have been used in a lot of games perhaps 100+

50%

It changes over time for me. When I was younger, maybe 25% got,painted. What did get painted got used regularly.

Today, 95% gets painted, matching armies only, bought all at once, an army at a time.

I only have time to paint these days, so any army pair that does get used will probably make it to the table 2-3 times, if it is lucky. So, lots of almost unused complete armies.

I think at least 50% if not moe of my armies make it into battle on multiple occasions, rarely never or just once.

I think I can say that I have used almost all my figures in a game. However, How often after using them in that first game do I ever use them again…

100% of some very large armies. Once they're painted I make sure they get a run.

It helps that we do an annual mega-game at a local show were we trot out 1000-2000 figures.

All my figures do or will get painted. All get used, but only once a year. If I will put a game using most of a subject.

I would say that oit of the various areas I game, 10% of my figures go unpainted. I finish an army. Or units needed for a convention game, but then I stumble upon new sculptures that look great and I buy another unit. The problem is that I have enough units painted for a game that these don't get a lot of focus and tend to piecemeal painted when I ahve an interest in doing something with them.

The vast majority of my figures get painted, and I usually try and ensure that I put at least one game on which features said figures/vehicles.

Some things just provide capability (especially combos of heavy weapons for post 1900 units) so may or may not get used, depending.

I do have some things which have had to wait 30 years for their first game…. but that is unusual.

Pretty sure I'm getting 99%+ of all figures painted and on the table at some point. They dont all neccessarily get out very often, but I try and cycle through the whole collection over the course of a few years…

I have a float right now of about 15% of purchased not being painted and fielded yet. As I buy more and more that percentage tends to get lower. It's artificially high right now because I moved 18 months ago and didn't slow my buying rate while I pretty much went on hiatus from painting for almost 6 months. But I am catching up, both by pushing to paint and by not buying at steady-state rate.

Of the figures painted, 100%. Maybe some will sit out this battle or that but they all get used within the year. I have unpainted stuff, but that is quickly being worked through now that I am retired.

Let me look at one part of my collection, the Battletech stuff.
Owned 400+ pieces.
Painted about 70-80%
Played with in the last five years, no.
Effective usage rate, not looking good.

All of my painted figures have seen action at least once.
When I have newly painted stuff I always use them as soon as possible in a game.
My unpainted stuff is probably about 5% of my painted stuff at most (probably less, actually, the mountain is shrinking rapidly), so that's 95% get used for me.

Of my painted stuff, I think only some of the WW2 vehicles and the 6mm Napoleonic Russian Army, and my 1/4800 Napoleonic ships. Adding in the as yet unpainted stuff, that probably takes it to 10-15%.