Well, I’m back again after European travels and a lot of make-up chemistry labs.
First and best, my trip to Paris was a smashing success. It was hard to leave, and I’m planning on returning in a couple of years, as soon as I can save up the rather large amount of money required.
Secondly, the price increase news was very unwelcome. It’s a tough issue to get my head around. Clearly, we all love Mithrils and what they represent of TOlkien’s works, so it becomes an emotional situation. On the other hand, Mithrils are a luxury item, that we are not forced to buy and can quickly go by the wayside if our circumstances in life become more difficult.
Similarly, Prince August/Lars/Mithril aren’t required to sell us anything at a price of our choosing, but one would hope that a sense of loyalty and fellowship would promote less mercenary business tactics.
Unfortunately, Mithril, and specifically Lars, have a long history of curious, if not downright questionable, business decisions. Most notably, is the lack of ability or desire to more agressively market their products to gamers. It seems as if lately they’d been doing better, with the Salute figures, and the Witch King for the online game.
Although I enjoy them, I found the current trend of army-type releases an odd way to go, given licensing issues with GW and TE. It seemed like another golden age of Mithril releases, with the frequent M series coupled with more interesting single subjects from the Gold Fellowship. Too good to last unmolested I guess.
As far as a “boycott”. economic reality has essentially forced one upon me already, without any political meaning behind it. I haven’t ordered anything since the corsairs, and am having a hard time justifying the price of a lot of Fellowship releases. Given that I’ve just spent approximatley the value of my entire Mithril collection on the aforementioned trip to Paris, I guess I’ve decided to take my discretionary spending in other directions.
I plan on saving up some extra money this summer to “catch up” on my Mithril collection, but at the current price point, the truly excellent chaps from Helm’s Deep will have to wait a lot longer. I’ll wait years until they go on clearance sale, which they will eventually.
Collecting Mithrils is a great hobby and has led us all to form a global community based on our common interests. Once the financial cost becomes so great that it becomes a source of stress, then that enjoyment is greatly lessened and becomes tainted by doubt and regret. So I guess it is up to each of us how to spend our time and money. Regardless, I hope we can keep this truly special community alive and thriving, even it if there are no new Mithrils to discuss, and it is just to share our painting and modelling achievements from our current collections.
With that, I’ll have a pint and then off to mow the lawn!
