The sculpts and their creators...

[voNvinGeLimeR]

First of all I would like to say that I think Wizkids is doing a very good job in
bringing so many of our favorite characters to the game and I enjoy and
support the work wholeheartedly.

However...

I am also aware that the same core team of sculpters have worked on
all three sets released thus far:
(Jeff Grace/Dave Summers/Steve Saunders/Tim Prow to name the main ones)

Each of these guys have been responsible for some of the best figures we've
seen as well as some of the worst. Why so inconsistent a level of quality?

It's clearly impossible to please so wide a fan base in regards to character
representation 'sculptwise' for every figure...but what's going on?

I'm not gonna get into bashing specific figs. from the sets...that's counter
productive finger pointing and yoU all know who yoU are anyway.

...anybody else feeling this?

I'm going by the poster credits i've read and compared briefly at stores.
Does anyone have a formal list of sculpting credits for the three sets thus
far?...would be a great help.

Just to restate...I am not bashing Wizkids but simply asking for a stronger
degree of quality control within their ranks.

[Drashia]

I'll make a list this evening, unless someone beats me to it...

[voNvinGeLimeR]

Thanks Drashia,

By the way I love your maps man...my buddies in
particular enjoy the detail in Castle Doom.

Keep up the great work!

[GoldenAge]

I always thought the sculpts were pretty good (not great but good). That is until a friend of mine who's heavy into Warhammer/40K brought some sculpts in for me to see. Wow, what a difference! The Warhammer stuff was awesome.

So, I have a question: Is it the material that the HeroClix figs are made out of that reduces the detail or something else?

[voNvinGeLimeR]

The most quality consistent set I think we can agree is HyperTime and
those figs seem to be made from a harder plastic fiber than most of the
Marvels.

Don't know whether this affects the level of detail in the sculpting
process or not. Anyone know for sure?

[skforeman]

i think that the marvel characters have a slightly higher level of complexity to their costumes. if each fig is given about the same amount of time for the sculpt, maybe the quality will go down on the more complex figs. does this even sound plausible?

oh, and as for the faces of the female chars., maybe if the sculptors stopped trying to make the female chars' breasts as pert as lara croft's, maybe the detail would be finer. ;)

[skeevo666]

or the A$$e$ sculpted so pert you can bounce a dime off of 'em :p

[AshenFang]

I know what you mean, being a collector myself, and no longer playing. I'd personally rather the figures I collect have a good sculpt over any concern what they cost, powers, etc.

Oh, and someone mentioned Warhammer40k, etc. I play the game, but if you can find it, check out the french game, Confrontation's, mini's.. they are some of the best things I've seen out there so far. (Part in due to the paint jobs, granted.)

[StellarX]

With regard to AshenFang's comments re: Confrontation miniatures -

These are indeed truly beautiful miniatures and some of the finest fantasy sculpts ever to be produced. Unfortunately, they are slightly larger in scale than most other minis. Their prices also compare to GW rip-off prices (the only GW stuff I buy these days is the cheaper plastic kits).

Each mini comes with a gameplay card (in French, unfortunately, unless you are - er - French) for the game of Confrontation itself. They sport absolutely beautifully painted versions of each figure, guaranteed to suck you into buying.

Of course, the unpainted, grey, metal fig will just end up in your figures drawer/cabinet along with the other thousand or so that you intend to get around to painting one day...

;-)

[Paptimus]

Yes, Confrontation definitely has some of the best sculpts I've ever seen (for those who know the game: most Dirz figs, Alahan cavaliers, etc...). GW also has great sculpts, but the quality has declined, since Jes Goodwin doesn't sculpt as many figs as he used to (Why, Jes? Why? :( ).
Heroclix' figs aren't as good as them, but they're cheaper, and painted (though sometimes quite badly). In IC, for example, there were some good looking figs (Spidey, regular and Unique, was really great), and awful ones (like Juggy, or the SHIELD medic). The same goes for CT (good: Nightcrawler, bad: Mr F., of course) IMHO, the DC set was awesome, and Unique Batman is one of the best figs I've ever seen. Sculpts and paints were top-notch, and the girls were really well done (like Harley Quinn, or Catwoman). Though it seems X-Plosion won't be better than the other Marvel sets, I hope the next DC set will be as good as the former one. I can't wait to see Hal as GL...
And Heroclix has a great (and decisive, IMHO) advantage over both Warhammer and Confrontation: it's easy to play and very fun.

[Melkoloran]

U Batman is far and away my favorite sculpt out of all HC figs. When you compare that to the pic of Psylocke, you wonder if they same people are even working on these projects.

[Aron]

Actually most of the sculpts have been pretty good IMHO.. usually the only problem is with say, the face painting or the fact it only holds to the base with one foot etc

[Drashia]

StellarX: you don't need to be French to read it ;)

Celtos minis have been really impressing me alot lately. The other stalwarts are Excalibur, Reaper and GW. GW plastics are (imho) the best out there, though, with their cost, I'm still reluctant to mod too much. My last major mod project cost me over 150$

[greenhornet]

Vonvingelimer has raised a very good issue, and basicly I agree. Fortunately, so far my favorite characters(except for Cap) have been well represented in sculpture. Then again I guess it can come down to your own personal opinion.

HeroClix is one of the greatest games of all-time, without a doubt. But if the Wiz Kid crew could just "up thier game" a little bit, when it comes to the sculpts (especially the favorites) it would be for the greater good.