WARGAMES FACTORY joins forces with SLITHERINE

[Malidor]

I think I can see where the confusion is coming from, and to some extent it's driven by cynics. Once we've had a year or so of FoG events where no one is forced to exclusively use WF the noise will die down. Of course I'm working on the assumption that we won't be forced to use WF at FoG events, and at the risk of sounding like a cynic, this could change in the future.

I am just a "little" concerned about them being official. I hope we never get to the childish games workshop type approach where you can't use another manufacturers figures because they aren't official.

I know for an historical period that sounds plain daft but I have heard of some flames of war players refusing to play against people using miniatures from other manufacturers, I hope that is rare and does not catch on here.

I think that in a business model where the manufacturer produces both a game's rules and figures it is understandable that they would insist on complete 'brand loyalty' at events that they have organised/financed ~ and fair enough I reckon. If we don't like it we move on.

However, at non-endorsed events such as private games with friends or club meets (assuming it's an independent club) players really shouldn't be turning their nose up at opponents because they don't field the 'right brand' of figures. So long as your opponent uses figures of comparable period and scale I don't think you can feel justified in refusing to fight them.

Many years ago I had a friend who used toy tanks to represent Rhinos in Rogue Trader ~ it made my skin crawl to look at them but we had plenty of fun games regardless. I was a little indignant that I paid extra to buy the right models (and so can understand this response in others) but ultimately this reflects a lack of wisdom on my behalf!

[jdm]

We have no intention of forcing anyone to use WF figures, or for that matter any type of miniatures. To be honest I dont think we will have to. WF miniatures will speak for themselves.

Regards
JDM

[babyshark]

I think I can see where the confusion is coming from, and to some extent it's driven by cynics. Once we've had a year or so of FoG events where no one is forced to exclusively use WF the noise will die down. Of course I'm working on the assumption that we won't be forced to use WF at FoG events, and at the risk of sounding like a cynic, this could change in the future.

I can certainly say with real conviction that no event that I run will mandate the use of "approved figures" or any such GW nonsense, whatever Osprey or Slitherine might decide to say about it. Not that I feel there is any real danger of them trying to pull such a stunt. JD's quote in an earlier post pretty much sorts that issue out.

Marc

[WargamesFactory]

I'd like to second JD's statement above.

The figures and box sets that we (Wargames Factory) are producing are "officially licensed" for Field of Glory -- meaning that the boxes will clearly display the FoG and army book logos and the contents will be designed to match with "typical" FoG BGs.

As much as I would love it if EVERYONE were to purchase Wargames Factory Field of Glory miniatures, we're a company run by wargamers and WE play with nearly every brand and scale produced ourselves! I would never want to limit myself or anyone else in the enjoyment of the game.

That said, we'll be doing our utmost to produce miniatures that are SO tempting, SO finely done, and in SO many variations -- that you may well be TEMPTED to use them!

And, I'll leave you with this...who's to say 15mm plastic figures aren't in the future??



Thanks to you all for your enthusiasm for Field of Glory and our new line of hard plastics!

All the best,
Tony

Tony Reidy
CEO
Wargames Factory
http://www.wargamesfactory.com

[Malidor]

That's reassuring, thanks for the replies

I belong to the 15mm horde these days so I'll be very interested to see how they can look in plastic. Exciting days!

[miffedofreading]

A couple of points....

1) Wargames Factory - if you make 15mm plastics can you PLEASE make them the same size as existing 15(18)mm metals so they are compatible. That may sound silly but I have a lot of 20mm WW2 and a short while ago a company (beginning withV?) bought out some multipose hard plastic 20mm Germans and Brits (nominally official rpaid fire figures). I have some and they are superb figures, but much too big to mix with any metal 20mm figures so basically useless

2) OK I totally believe that no one will try and make Wargames Factory the exclusive supplier of figures for FoG, but perception is a strong thing and wargamers tend to panic easily. At the moment the "buzz" going around is that FoG is really cool and everyone wants a copy, pretty good considering no one actually has even seen a copy of the rules. The opposite is also true, if people start panicing over NOTHING, which really could easily happen, then the reputation of the product could be trashed overnight....

I will give you a brief example, I play the Mongoose babylon 5 space combat game. Around December someone raised a query about the direction the game was going on the forum, no one from Mongoose replied and within 24 hours it was a "known fact" that Mongoose had decided to discontinue support for the product and were in fact going insolvent. 3 days later the Mongoose CEO who had just been away for 3 days read the thread and was appalled how an innocent question that went unanswered for three whole days turned into the product has been discontinued and the company is insolvent!!! Neither of course true, he immediately squashed all those comments as totally silly. I found the whole thing hysterical, and a very good example of how rumours can get out of hand.

Personally I would put out a very nice official statement that although wargames factory figures are cool and fully endorced by FoG, we the publishers promise on our granny's dogs life that we will never allow a single manufacturer to become "exclusive" or something like that.

How about 15mm Biblicals, like the idea of real quality 15mm NKE Chariots?

[spike]

I'd like to second JD's statement above.

The figures and box sets that we (Wargames Factory) are producing are "officially licensed" for Field of Glory -- meaning that the boxes will clearly display the FoG and army book logos and the contents will be designed to match with "typical" FoG BGs.

As much as I would love it if EVERYONE were to purchase Wargames Factory Field of Glory miniatures, we're a company run by wargamers and WE play with nearly every brand and scale produced ourselves! I would never want to limit myself or anyone else in the enjoyment of the game.

That said, we'll be doing our utmost to produce miniatures that are SO tempting, SO finely done, and in SO many variations -- that you may well be TEMPTED to use them!

And, I'll leave you with this...who's to say 15mm plastic figures aren't in the future??



Thanks to you all for your enthusiasm for Field of Glory and our new line of hard plastics!

All the best,
Tony

Tony Reidy
CEO
Wargames Factory
http://www.wargamesfactory.com

Tony,

Are you going so far as putting correct 25/28 mm bases in the box with the figs?

Spike

[ars_belli]

I think I can see where the confusion is coming from, and to some extent it's driven by cynics. Once we've had a year or so of FoG events where no one is forced to exclusively use WF the noise will die down.

Agreed. It is interesting to note that two of the noisiest "cynics" on TMP are both frequent posters to the DBA Fanaticus Forum. While this of course may be pure coincidence, it might also suggest that at least some of the "confusion" on TMP is being driven in part by folks whose motives could possibly be less than 100% pure...

Cheers,
Scott

[rogerg]

That is a harsh description of a company that, whatever people may think of it, has vastly increased the number of games players. Bring on the FoG empire

[kabrank]

Hi

I like the idea of the box of figures also including the correct bases. Avoids having to cut out from card or going to another supplier for a separate bases order.

Cannot wait to see a release schedule

Kelvin

[Malidor]

Getting a few rectangular FoG bases in the box would be ideal.

Are other companies able to get a FoG license for their figures, or is the deal with WF exclusive?

[Klairuhnz]

I like the sound of what WF are trying to do, and even like more the possiblity of 15mm later on. I know if they do I'll be looking at stocking there product.

[CLAVDIVS]

I will be getting them as soon as I can keep up the very good work in the hobby chap's




Yours in the Hobby "CB"

[thrilliod]

maybe i missed it somewhere, but is there a release date for these figures? sorry for question if it's been answered 1000 times already!

[Vorkosigan5]

15mm plastic figures - excellent! Could I possibly request Medieval Scandinavians be put on the product list

[RichardD]

I too would love to know what the likely timeframe for their release is. I have started to order 28mm Marian Romans from Foundry, but bizarrely I prefer plastic figures (partly cost, partly weight, and partly that they resist chipping and bending better than white metal in my experience) - so switching plans to WF would suit me, but only if we're looking at a reasonable timeframe for their arrival.

[spr5858]

This is very interesting news. I always thought hard plastic was a better medium to work in anyway as its lighter, better for converting, and holds paint better, plus its cheaper. The only issue it has is the initial cost of the tool making something cottage industries cannot hope to achive. But once that is achived sprues can be produced for pennies

Which leads me on to my one concern. If Plastic Figures catch on they should be much cheaper then lead or pewter that is produced by the smaller companies. Could this mean in the future these companies disapear altogether, as they wont be able to produce on such a large scale and the be priced out of the market? I know I would be guilty of buying the Plastic Figures myself .

I think it was also mentioned before was "Will there ever be 15mm in plastic??, all my armies are in this scale and I would rather continue with it if possable.

Lastly will you be able to get Wargames Factory in the UK?? And if so have you decided on the stockist????

Steve

[hammy]

I was talking to a couple of the 25mm manufacturers in Sheffield yesterday and at the moment they are not sure if plastics are a good or bad thing. At least one of the 25mm companies was intending stocking wargames factory plastics so that they could sell a box or two of WF factory figures then sell the same person extra figures not in the WF range from their metal ranges. They can also sell figures to add variety to the WF offering.

It could be a win win, it might not be. The jury is out.

Personally I applaud WF and hope they deliver ASAP and keep delivering.

[jdm]

The figures will be readily available in the UK

JDM

[speedy]

I suspect that the high-set-up, cheap-production nature of injection moulding will mean that the plastic figure manufacturers will concentrate very much on the populist armies. If they take hold of that sector of the market, the metal figures manufacturers will probably concentrate on some of the fringe armies. If so, that's going to be good for everyone ....