Which creators does NOT sell through Comixininos or Impact?

[Steam Ball]

Sooner or late these accesories appear in the usual shops, but seem to be missing from the above lists. Shipping is also "meh", but good source for early news.

[Milo]

I think this is actually a golden age in BB miniatures. Not only do we have the 2nd and 3rd edition GW BB range still largely available used via eBay, but there are 2-3 other third party options for nearly every race available. Between official, 3rd party and conversions, you could go to a tournament with as many as 4-5 different sets of minis for each race, and there's a wide variety of prices available too. It is a shame that GW is not making their teams available via retail or mail order anymore, but it's not the kind of crippling blow that it would have been a few years ago.

My only request would be that more miniature suppliers would switch to high quality, cheaper resin casting like Impact, while still keeping the white metal as a more expensive option.

[willy]

and the cost of minis shipped from Spain

At least the difference in shipping from Spain, Italy, the UK or the US is inconsequential for Australians - we get !censored! over equally. I'm kind of happy when stuff gets made in China (eg Kickstarted board games), because for us its not "The Far East", its local

Actually, I've found shipping from Spain to pretty damn expensive. The high shipping cost from Spain has stopped me from ordering from Comixininos a couple of times now as, once shipping was added in, I just couldn't justify the cost.
Now that's not Comixinino's fault. They can't help that. But it still sucks!

Hi all , is true , send orders to USA or Australia is very expensive (from Europe) , if you buy in direct me all orders +100€ shipping cost free all world (but I tremble) . I have more bonus , store can not this gift ,the problem is not only the price, but also the days it takes to get .
I need australian store !!! Australia is a fantastic place to have an online store, many players who buy teams .
For 2014 I need also american store or distributor with all Willy-miniatures 100% catalogue , I prefer Impact! but now only 20-25% other option Coolminiornot .
I want all my models are sent, easy, cheap and fast to all players

My only request would be that more miniature suppliers would switch to high quality, cheaper resin casting like Impact, while still keeping the white metal as a more expensive option.

Yes , manufacturers have been able to make very good miniatures, now we also make them cheaper ,is complicated money for the sculptors 14-16 different models ... for 35$ each team (prize minorist , for stores 20$ ) .

NOTE : resin is the best material ¿ok? , metal is good material ... resin-plastic is medium or bad material . Resin IS NOT resin-plastic . Sorry my english is horrible.

[GalakStarscraper]

I prefer Impact! but now only 20-25%

We plan on next year restocking Willy's full catalog. I just emailed him last week and told him we had a project that went overbudget in October and had to use all our money we use to buy figures from him and Greebo to pay that bill. I'm refilling that account as quickly as possible and will be fully restocking him as soon as that is done. I tried to explain that ... my error if I was not clear.

Tom

[GalakStarscraper]

Sooner or late these accesories appear in the usual shops, but seem to be missing from the above lists. Shipping is also "meh", but good source for early news.

Steam Ball we have those items ... here:

http://www.impactminiatures.com/index.php?option=tokens

Just need to get images up of the Lunch Box and Jewelry Ball. The Steel ball is part of our current Ogre KickStarter and will go in the store after I ship out the reward level for that just wanted the Steel balls and Bonehead markers.

Tom

[Slinky]

NOTE : resin is the best material ¿ok? , metal is good material ... resin-plastic is medium or bad material . Resin IS NOT resin-plastic . Sorry my english is horrible.

I am personally not a fan of resin figures. The prices on them are usually not that much less than metal and they are normally much more fragile.

I have purchased the Trollcast figures from Impact! and they are not at all like normal resin figures in a good way. In my opinion, if Trollcast is what Willy is referring to as medium or bad material than I would have to disagree. I very much like the weight of a good metal miniature but I have found the Trollcast resin to be just as good a material for miniatures as metal and would personally say "metal is good material ... resin-plastic is good material also". I have returned already to his store to get new teams in Trollcast as well as backing their current Ogre KickStarter which will be in Trollcast resin.

However from what I understand from the KickStarter updates of several projects that Trollforged is working with, they are not accepting new clients at this time. This was confirmed recently by someone that asked MK1881 if they would make their figures in Trollforged resin. And since the Trollcast formula is a special developed formula by the owner of Trollforged, I am not sure it is reasonable for everyone that keeps asking other companies to cast figures like Impact! does. If it was that easy I'm quite sure that Necrom would have used Trollforged to create their Amazon team that is so very far behind schedule.

So while I agree that if you just want to get a team without spending a lot of hard earned cash that Impact!'s Trollcast teams are a great option, everything I have read seems to say that for now that option is unique to Impact! just because Trollforged is not accepting new clients at this time. Other resin formulas are much different and the moulds are much more expensive normally than my understanding of the methods that Trollforge uses.

So Milo, your request makes sense and I've seen many other members of TFF request the same of other companies but I do not think it is a matter of not being willing to do it so much as the company that makes that formula is not offering it to any other company right now.

[willy]

I have purchased the Trollcast figures from Impact! and they are not at all like normal resin figures in a good way. In my opinion, if Trollcast is what Willy is referring to as medium or bad material than I would have to disagree. I very much like the weight of a good metal miniature but I have found the Trollcast resin to be just as good a material for miniatures as metal and would personally say "metal is good material ... resin-plastic is good material also". I have returned already to his store to get new teams in Trollcast as well as backing their current Ogre KickStarter which will be in Trollcast resin.

ok is your opinion

However from what I understand from the KickStarter updates of several projects that Trollforged is working with, they are not accepting new clients at this time. This was confirmed recently by someone that asked MK1881 if they would make their figures in Trollforged resin. And since the Trollcast formula is a special developed formula by the owner of Trollforged, I am not sure it is reasonable for everyone that keeps asking other companies to cast figures like Impact! does. If it was that easy I'm quite sure that Necrom would have used Trollforged to create their Amazon team that is so very far behind schedule.

No , you have not reason , I have in my hand miniatures testing amazon necrom and miniatures trollforged , testing highest quality "trollforged" and necrom said "No , I have perfect model 100% detail and 0% bubble" necrom testing 5 or 6 manufacture resin .

So while I agree that if you just want to get a team without spending a lot of hard earned cash that Impact!'s Trollcast teams are a great option, everything I have read seems to say that for now that option is unique to Impact! just because Trollforged is not accepting new clients at this time. Other resin formulas are much different and the moulds are much more expensive normally than my understanding of the methods that Trollforge uses.

resin is the best material this miniature resin madehttp://shop.kingdomdeath.com/ excelent miniatures , excelent material , excelent detail, but trollforged is plastic or plastic-resin no resin , please , Do you have eyes? is diferent .

So Milo, your request makes sense and I've seen many other members of TFF request the same of other companies but I do not think it is a matter of not being willing to do it so much as the company that makes that formula is not offering it to any other company right now.

I want made cheap teams (now testing) but trollforged not have a good level, it lacks quality .

[Steam Ball]

Steam Ball we have those items

You are one of the usual shops.

[Slinky]

but trollforged not have a good level, it lacks quality .

How about adding the words "in my opinion" because it is definitely not an opinion shared by everyone. Definitely not me.

I realize English is not your first language but call me amazed that you felt the need to basically state that Impact! produces poor quality figures. Just within the last week we've had these two posts from on TFF from people that have recently purchased the Trollcast figures

The Trollcast resin reproduces great quality details, and I didn't have any bubbling like was common with GW's FineCast. I'm thoroughly satisfied with my purchase, and recently placed an order for the Amazon team and two of the Trollcast Big Guys. I may even wind up buying another set of the Sarcos because my son has adopted them and doesn't seem willing to let me play with this one.

these resin ones are amazing! I did buy the Amazons and won the Gnome Contraptions at GenCon bowl so I do have some Impact Trollcast resin teams and love them!

And no, Tom did not pay me to say that! It's just the truth.

You are definitely allowed to have your opinion Willy and you personally can feel the product is not good. It just bothers me that you would make a statement like that about another company like it was a fact.

[GalakStarscraper]

Steam Ball we have those items

You are one of the usual shops.

Fair enough ... guess I don't consider myself that.

[willy]

because it is definitely not an opinion shared by everyone. Definitely not me.

All people think this material http://shop.kingdomdeath.com/ is the same trollcast Are you sure

but call me amazed that you felt the need to basically state that Impact! produces poor quality figures

I want to explain "resin" is a material and trollcast is other material , for me resin is the best and trollcast for the moment no , If tomorrow I see others models perhaps change opinion . I go to Notthingam for tournament NAF Cup 2014 I can see all brands all materials ...

Just within the last week we've had these two posts from on TFF from people that have recently purchased the Trollcast figures

there are players who have spoken well and others who have spoken evil, speak no evil when they are always attacked (as you to me now) and when they speak well received applause.

You are definitely allowed to have your opinion Willy and you personally can feel the product is not good. It just bothers me that you would make a statement like that about another company like it was a fact.

I always my opinion , but please trollcast is not resin ¿ok? I speak materials no speak others company .

[Steam Ball]

You can jump to the if you are in a hurry. I was a bit bored instead.

Trollforge is a spin cast product, custom formula or whatever, polymer. Other brands are also testing such method, as it gives the option to use metal casting machinery with an alternative to metals.

Other brands use more traditional polymer casting approaches, and even so they vary, as not everyone do the moulds the same way even for the same kind of part (say a head, you can do two part or single part mould, you can put the sprue in different places, etc), and then fill them in different ways too. Some use nothing or maybe vibration, others vacuum, pressure or both. Maybe some have the same supplier (it's common for small business to relabel things, the silicione I can buy in reality is Bluestar, pots say "local supplier"), but not always the same, and you can add extras to get different results (pigments, fillers, mould release, etc). Damn, some even use wire armatures inside the molds as reinforcements.

While yet other group use other polymers with metal molds (Mantic restic, Privateer new plastic, Sedition Wars restic, Reaper Bones, etc) but still not classic plastic injection. And again, they can do it differently, even from one batch to another; Mantic changed the formula from the first Dreadball miniatures to the last ones, and their restic is different to Bones.

It's a pity some brands just hide the name or use fuzzy names, as that hits them and everyone else, companies or customers. Just confusion about what glue works or if can be fixed by how water or if you should use a blade or file or a special file to clean up. Bad press if one fails, and false expectations if there is a success as it doesn't have to spread across companies. Just like not two pewters have to be the same, even inside the same miniature you can get different alloys (one for big parts like body, other for small thin ones like arms, and other for flat thin ones like capes). "Resin" for example got a bad name from the times of polyster resin, as it's brittle and when filled it was like rocks, but now many use polyurethanes and those approach a very "polystyrene plastic" behaviour, and are a charm if properly cast. Dropzone Commander staff loves to smash the miniatures against walls to demo their "resin" is tought.

And then there is the quality check phase, which can hit any product, metal or traditional plastic or restic style plastic or any polymer cast in any way. Missing details or deformations can happen in any process, even high pressure injected plastic (the classic method, big sprues, sometimes non perfect gets passed, look for fat parts with small bubbles or shrink signs, probably in non important zones as it will be hidden when assembled).

Product quality should be measured for the things you get, or if there is an error, what you get as replacement. One "scifi legionaries & green dudes" brand got some bad reviews because for some time, even the replacements were full of miscasts, and recently they started to send ok to great miniatures. And we all know how good Finecast has been... some pro painters stopped accepting comissions and seems GW will cancel it in the near future.

As some say, one data point doesn't make a graph. Maybe if you got one two order full of crap (same brand, not different brand with similar named product), then bad service, and forums are full of people with the same experiences, it means you are not an acceptable 5% error (bad luck) but a nasty >25% and the product is better avoided.

But I thought we were making a list of BB compatible products, in general, not yet another "I got bad steak, and the fish knife is useless, so all steak sucks!" kind of thing.

[Milo]

Aww, geez, I feel partly responsible for this big argument, with my request that more items be available in cheaper materials like resin/Trollforged/plastic.

I understand where Willy is coming from. Certainly there is a difference in attitude about metal substitutes from supplier to consumer. Suppliers have to deal with rejected models due to bubbling and other defects, it may cut into their profit margin, and ultimately they and their brand will be evaluated based on customer reviews of the models they produce. Additionally, I think there are more casters available to handle white metal production, which makes it easier on the suppliers from a variety of ways.

Consumers see a lower price for these alternative materials, which is appealing, and many suppliers -- like Impact and Willy -- have excellent customer service, swapping out any defective models quickly and easily. So it's natural for us to lobby for these alternative materials. Unfortunately, in order to offer that customer service, the suppliers wind up eating the cost of any defective models.

I see Willy's point -- there's an entirely different set of concerns regarding alternative materials for the suppliers than the consumer. I do think his limited english makes him sound like he is being harsher than he really intends to be.

Ultimately, both sides have a shared love for Blood Bowl. Unlike a lot of other miniature games, BB does not require a significant investment in models, which makes it less of a moneymaker for suppliers than some other games. You can legitimately get started in BB for about €150 -- a €100 white metal team, about €40 for a custom field from ff-fields, maybe another €10 for block dice, and the rules are free. That's still a lot to sell someone who is brand new to the game on, but at that point they really don't ever have to spend another red cent and can play practically forever. From a "bang-for-your-buck" perspective, BB is great for the player but not so great for the miniature manufacturers.

When I said that I'd like to see more lower price, alternative materials teams, it was for the purpose of lowering the barrier to entry to make it easier to recruit new players. I think both the consumer and the supplier benefit from having more players in the game. Hopefully we will get there eventually. Impact is producing some great teams for new coaches -- both the Lizards and Amazons are very good "starter" teams from both a miniature and rule standpoint.

Willy, in contrast, I think is producing some really great higher end models. I think you can put their models side by side with the original 3rd Edition GW models and you'd be hard pressed to find a singleone where GW was superior. Both companies are really using crowdsourcing effectively to keep production times and costs down, meaning they can deliver more teams faster to us the consumers.

That's what I was talking about when I mentioned it was a golden age for BB minis. I didn't even mention Greebo, Gaspez, Shadowforge, Meiko, and a number of other suppliers.

I do wish there was one high-quality web store which would showcase all of these models, perhaps allowing drop-shipping directly from the different manufacturers rather than having to maintain a huge stock on hand like Tom does. Good shopping cart, order management, quality photos of the minis, etc. Something like Amazon.

[serg-natos]

Note: If you compare with GW's finecast, bubblegum is a better material

[Duder]

In regards to the original topic, Black Army Productions has a halfling and a fishman (slann, humans, chaos alteratives?) team available which I haven't seen listed any where.