Heroclix metals

[Shadowdragon]

I would really like to see metal Heroclix figures. I know people are worried about the lack of interest in the Mage Knight metals and that the same lack of interest might me shown in Heroclix metals. I don't think this can be used as an argument against making Heroclix metals though. I can see why not many people would be interested in getting Mage Knight metals. They can't really be used in other games and they couldn't be used in Mage Knight (the bases the metal miniatures came with didn't have stats on them) unless you wanted to take the plastic miniatures off their bases and replace them with metal versions, which I'm sure not many people would do. Really the only ones who would be interested in buying them were those who just wanted to collect them, which wasn't very many people. But Im sure that there are a lot of people out there who would love to be able to buy metal miniatures of their favorite comic book heroes and villains, either just to collect and paint, or to use in other games. There are several super hero rpgs made by Marvel, DC, and other companies that metal Heroclix miniatures would be perfect for. Just because Mage Knight metals flopped doesn't mean Heroclix metals will as well. In fact, I think Heroclix metals would sell extremely well.

Just my 2 cents.

[whiteperegrine]

...given the poor showing of Mage Knight metals I definately wouldn't hold my breath for HeroClix metals. I know in my shop people avoided the metals and bought the cheaper plastics that looked the same. in addition, the metals also proved to be harder for customizing versus the plastics. not to mention that many of the plastics were painted up just fine and the idea of not having to paint a fig being a bonus... if the need to repaint a fig was present it was usually due to it becoming a 'special character/figure'.

so, can we expect to see metal heroclix? nope, not in my opinion especially when one can by the plastics cheaper and they work just as well for repainting...

[Wyldstaar]

They'd have to be crazy to try that again. Also, your argument that the MageKnight figures weren't good for other games isn't true. MageKnight uses the same sort of characters as D&D and other fantasy games. The problem was the price. One metal figure with a useless base cost a dollar or two less than a 5 figure booster pack! At my local store, a lot of D&D gamers bought MK. They bought the regular version though, not the metal editions. The regular ones are cheaper, and pre-painted. While they wanted better paintjobs on the figures, they were happy to settle for poor yet adequate paintjobs at a cheap price. The different DMs all wanted to focus on certain styles of figures, so they traded amoung themselves. They didn't even play MK, they just wanted to use the figures as standard gaming minis.

Wizkids tried a second time with MageKnight Unlimited: Painters Edition. This set included 5 unpainted plastic minis with actual dials for them. The set failed despite the cheap price and inclusion of dials.

The reality is that most people, while they are more than willing to complain about poor paint jobs, aren't willing to do it themselves. Some lack the skill to do it. Some lack the time. Some lack the patience. Some have the time, skill, and patience, but don't care enough to actually go to the trouble. In the end, the number of people who genuinely want to have these minis don't want them badly enough to make the project worthwhile to Wizkids. After two failed attempts, Wizkids has figured this out.

[Shadowdragon]

So how come hundreds of other companies make metal, unpainted, miniatures which sell just fine. Not everyone wants miniatures made from cheap plastic with bad paint jobs. The Mage Knight metals looked a hell of a lot better then their plastic counterparts. The only reasons they didn't sell is because they were to expensive (as Wyldstarr said) and because most weren't very useful outside of Mage Knight. Sure some could be used in other games, like D&D, but similar miniatures can be found from other companies for a much lower price. The miniatures in Heroclix can't be found anywhere else (except some really old, really badly sculpted, sets). Who else makes miniatures of Daredevil, Batman, the X-Men, and all the other heroes and villains from the Marvel and DC comics (and soon even the indi comics). I still think Heroclix metals would sell a lot better then Mage Knight metals did. Maybe I'm wrong, maybe the majority of people are just fine with the plastic miniatures. All I know is that most people in my area would much rather have more durable, more detailed, metal miniatures, even if they have to paint them themselves (or get their friends to paint the miniatures for them). Wizkids can always have the miniatures usable in Heroclix by having the stats on the bases that come with then metal miniatures.

[YouCan'tStopMe]

I'd buy Heroclix metal figs like they made for MK....The thing is would wizkids make them? would anyone buy a metal thug? Did Wizkids make Metal Uniques for MK? Anyway good question, you never know..........

[Shadowdragon]

OK so maybe the unnamed figures shouldn't be made into metal, or maybe they should come two or three to a pack or something.

Yes, Wizkids made metal versions of the MK uniques. What would you rather have, a metal unique for, what, $3-5, or a plastic unique for $20+? If you like the collectable aspect and you like playing the game you buy the plastics. If all you want is a few of your favorite characters you buy the metal ones (and get only the ones you want). Wizkids could even put usable dials in the metal packs so that they are still usable in the game.