furniture range discussion
MMP › Mithril in Middle-Earth › The Secret Vaults of Angrenost › furniture range discussion
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November 27, 2010 at 10:13 pm #13589
Certainly, Master Tree, we don’t think alike about this matter. I’ve stated my point already, so I have nothing more to say. I maybe wrong or right, time will tell. In the mean time I’ll continue my growing weird collection of weird miniatures, including some Mithril’s of course.
November 28, 2010 at 1:18 am #13591fact is… in the last discussions pages (here and elsewhere) many other companies were mentionned in order to compare the design …
From the beginning, this was off topic as the design is one thing…. the marketing is another…. One is free to buy OR not something that pleases him or not when he sees it… but he has the choice… in the case of Mithril people don’t have the choice because mithril is simply not present…
having godly crafted figurines won’t help at all if nothing is done to advertise, promote, distribute…. and this has nothing to do with design
November 28, 2010 at 3:57 am #13593Mithril designs work because they look like something someone might wear. Cloth falls over muscle, sometimes shapelessly.
I recently bought a number of Reaper figures for a Dungeons and Dragons campaign. They have far more detail and “heroic” dynamism and cinematic poses, but they are effectively rock video images in metal. Cool, if you like that sort of thing. Perfect for D&D 4E. Not much good for Middle-earth. The subdued Mithril imagery works perfectly, like an Alan Lee painting.
November 28, 2010 at 4:07 am #13594But anyway…
There’s some odd disconnect going on. Mithrils 32mm moulds are of the same scale as (and inspired by) Mithril. The PA fantasy range is promoted even less than Mithrils, even though its one of the most prolific legacy range of miniatures available. There’s literally enough there to use for almost any fantasy gaming world. Mithril seems to get the love, if not the attention.
Thus Mithril branded PA material might actually work. They would not be subject to MEE approval (its a chair!). But sold pre-primed in the pretty mithril blisters might be a winner.
Chairs and other scenery are useful for RPGing with minis, wargames and diorama making. The prices for the Prancing Pony Range of tables and chairs are way beyond the price of most people. But they are useful things to have. Hell, they don’t have to make new furniture – they could well sell the tables and chairs from the Unexpected Party and White Council and Elf Princess set.
November 28, 2010 at 12:43 pm #13595and Prancing Poney (if they still have some moulds somewhere, and MANY MV from the past which has tons of furniture…
oh and by the way I don’t like a lot of reaper… like many others quoted before, it looks like a 3D model inspired by a comic book… that’s the main problem… they all looki like coming from comics… with ‘artful design’ but not realism…
Some will then wonder why I prefer Ted Nasmith , John Howe, or Alan Lee… well, their design look… like all those characters once existed… they are like you and me… they are “realistic”… that may indeed NOT be the “new tendancies” in the universe of figurines but I think that’s why we are all here supporting Chris Tubb art, more than Mithril itself (I remind you that we have threads concerning Phaeton works, Grenadier works by C.T….)
as far as 54mm is concerned though, Andrea is and will remain the best, according to me (for Fantasy, with their Warlord Saga) but even the warlord saga 32mm looks like.. comic books and I don’t like them at all…
Master Ent found the exact word to describe all of them…. they look…. weird, and unrealistic…
We can’t support the fact Mithril would become “weird” can we? But I’ll support the idea about the furs, (though you’ll have to admit that the feathers texture from the last MS Gandalf & Gwaihir was far better than the former eagles, but the forthcoming wolf-rider, as seen in the mail from Michael from Oct 15th lacks fur, still the figurine was not complete…)
November 28, 2010 at 8:37 pm #13603…. I just like C.T. sculpting design… without big words and comparisons…. but is it or is it not discussion about furniture…. I as collector and potential diorama builder… would like to see furniture range… That’s one of the reasons why I’m suggest on our recent pool Green dragon inn…. but I would like to see some furniture from the mighty chambers of Gondor… of from elvish courts…. and about those links and painting…. for me is too pointless painting eyes and wrinkles on those small figures.. it look ridiculous…. like carnival….
November 28, 2010 at 9:14 pm #13606Indeed such a range would have great appealing for diorama builders, but I wonder if the majority of Mithril’s customers belong to that category. About painting eyes… that’s a matter of choice such weathering with pigments, use cenital lighting, add light effects, simulate textures and so on. I wouldn’t call this ridiculous, but that’s me (yes eyes are painted even if they’re on shadow).
November 28, 2010 at 9:21 pm #13608This is completely another thing Master Arthadan…This is what for me is magnificent painting job… but on link before I’ve seen bad painting job…..
November 28, 2010 at 9:41 pm #13610Well, I have had several problems with “staffage” from other manufacturies.
I tried many things but came to the conclusion, that most of them are not appropriate to The Man´s style.
So for me I can´t wait for releases like that. I do agree to what Gavin pointed out: mithril already produced “furnitures”.
So let´s produce them in a single way . . .November 28, 2010 at 9:46 pm #13611Oh Master Arthadan, again a very helpfull link!
To what kind do the majority of mithril customers belong? Are they really all collectors?
We know not really much from eachother, don´t we. Master Theobald often explains, that he IS a collector. As far as I am concerned, I am surely NOT.
So, interesting to know, your deepest passions fellows . . .PS: but that isn´t your work Master Athadan, isn´t it ?!
November 28, 2010 at 10:03 pm #13613That’s a good idea, Master Archer! I think it could be helpful for Mithril to know better what their customers use the miniatures for:
– role-playing
– skirmish wargaming (I think large battles are beyond the scope, unless you want to spend your lifetime doing conversions or you play with repeated figures)
– dioramas and vignettes
– Just for treasuring them in dusty blisters due to lack of time, like mePerhaps a pool in the Mithril page could be the better way, as it will reach more people.
P.S. No, Master Archer. I study with professional painters to improve my technic, but I’m way behind that level. Here you can see what I was working on, but I think I won’t have time to go on painting him for a few months.
November 28, 2010 at 10:58 pm #13615But the cloak´s pattern look very professional . . . You should find your time for going ahead!
November 29, 2010 at 12:00 pm #13621Thanks for your kind words, Master Archer! I’ll try to find some time in Christmas.
November 29, 2010 at 1:08 pm #13623Not bad for a beginner!:lol:
Just teasing Master Arthadan, Not bad at all for a unfinished mini! 😎
November 29, 2010 at 1:15 pm #13624Looking forward to see the finished Figure.
I guess we also could use some animals, not only furniture!
For example:
Horses without saddle, oxen for carts, deer and boar for hunting scenes…….November 29, 2010 at 3:14 pm #13630yes animals were among the ideas
also, about what I am, I suppose by the time everybody here knows that I am 1) a collector 2) painter 3) RPG player 4) diorama afficionados without skill nor place to make any (in this order)
I only display what I have painted, all unpainted ones remain in blisters, waiting to be painted (by lack of glasscases… and I usually assemble figurines after the small parts are being painted, so I could not display an unassemble figurine, or assemble it before painting…)
I don’t do wargames, though I enjoy very good batlescenes … but I won’t buy several of each references to make an army… or any kind of redundancy.as for the last pic you submitted Arthadan, well it is not ridiculous, but I consider it weird nevertheless… the size of hands , the overbuilt muscles on the arms I can’t image a person with his hands as big as his head, that’s a problem of proportions… Except for those arms and hands the figurine could be ok, but there’s a lot of painting work that adds to the feeling…
November 29, 2010 at 4:09 pm #13638That is great to hear Master Gildor!
I hope we’ll see some animals in the near future.November 29, 2010 at 7:00 pm #13654Master Arthadan…. nice painting job…. You need to be persistent and continue improving your painting skills… and what you are doing that you do not have time to complete this figure ?
and about animals Master Gildor…. this is great idea and I will support any additional activities around the issue of these figures….
November 29, 2010 at 7:59 pm #13659I am not 100% convinced if Mithril need to get involved in furniture making if they are not prepared to use resin to produce the stuff. As Artadan states there are a lot of companies out there that do make some nice stuff, and I don’t think resin is a considered option at the moment.
Having said that if Mithril were to produce Tolkien themed/recognisable furnishings/accessories that I could use for dioramas and small scenes then I would welcome them because I collect Mithril Miniatures for this very reason as I have absolutley NO interest in wargaming or RPG or whatever
Sadly a well sculpted or a soft detailed face makes not a lot of difference to me these days as me old eyes ain’t what they used to be
November 29, 2010 at 9:36 pm #13666Quite the conversation here.
First, I would buy a Prancing Pony sign even though I could make and paint one myself easy enough.
Second, I know Arthadan’s point of view with regards to detail on a sculpt. It does make the painting of a figure so much easier if the sculpt is good. I find myself not liking a lot of figures because they are too “busy” – just too much stuff on them. I like the more simple style of Mithril figures, but do agree that a little more detail and texture (within reason, of course!) would be nice and would get the attention of a wider audience. (Do you know jarhead, Arthadan?? I really like his Massive Voodoo blog!) What Arthadan is saying is that there are so many companies out there to choose from, that a company really has to excel to stick out. I would go into more detail, but it isn’t about furniture. :rolleyes:
Third, (and still OT), perhaps it would be a good idea to have a poll on the official Mithril forum so they know their audience. Though, instead of wargaming as an option, categorize them as “makers of large scenes”or something like that. We don’t want to give GW any fodder to complain. Let’s see…
Collector
I buy just the ones I like
Make small scenes
Buy multiples and make large scenes
Role playing
Painting
(Check all that apply)Fourth, I think Thunderbolt Mountain is quite reasonable price-wise…
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MMP › Mithril in Middle-Earth › The Secret Vaults of Angrenost › furniture range discussion