The Taproom

Well Gildor, I do not doubt that your actions and communications have resulted in positives for both Mithril itself and the loyal fan base. Thank you for persuing this with vigor. It worked. I would not miss the GF as I am not a member though I like the idea for special and limited figures. Clearly less expense is better for the Mithril buying public, but this also benefits Mithril from pricing themselves out of the market (whatever that really is for them) and will be more attractive for new and future fans. I like the ‘spreading the word’ ideas people have had and expressed here. Mithril should get in shape to ride the waves of interest created by the pending Hobbit movie, the release of that other company’s new gaming system (which calls for lots of minis) and, hey, aren’t the chaps at this other company going to have their TE license expire? I really like Presto’s idea for many reasons. The old Fellowship was fan centered and people made suggestins all the time (for better or worse:|). Do we need a single figure released every month? I would like to harken back to the days where every few months there was a new series. Maybe it’s too labor intesive and costly for everyone. The old Fellowship offered input and was in some cases this was realized. I like the on-line Tengwar idea, too. There are many talents and Tolkien experts right here. Personally I trust Chris’ vision of ME and would be confident that he would go places that will interest fans as always:)

I totally agree with Barliman.

I think it was your open letter (and some other words spoken to the company), which ‘forced’ them to do something. So do not worry, I have not boycotted the boycott, just waited and saw what would happen, if almost no one would suggest anything and just send my suggestion, when it was clear, that the prices were only raised a little bit. I think most members have done that- well not all, yes.

Do you really think, master Gildor, it is a decision between marketing and GF? I do not think so, Mithril even made advertising (if you could call it like this) with the GF- possibility. On the one hand I would say, yes kill the GF- thing, let us have more M-figures. For me the GF-figures are luxury figures and some I do not like to much for that awful prices.
On the other hand, the GF has increased the company’s output of lead stuff and some figures are quite nice. But couldn’t some figures they be realized as normal M’s??

I think these are controverse thoughts. If Mithril would really produce many more M’s, yes I would say, kill the GF in that way, give us vignettes again. It could be done in the way, that Chris collects our suggestions, decides, which he could do and then we could vote every 3 or 4 month, which vignette we want to see (o.k. could also be done with individual figures). We would then have reduced costs and some nice collectables again. So we have then 3 or 4 kits to buy each year. Could that be a solution?
Just an idea in the morning, so be kind of some mistakes in that foreign language……

NAMARIE
estel

Yes Barliman, with one of those pink umbrellas and other ‘floaters’. I’m sorry about the mess while you were away-all Nob’s fault;)

Yes, master Gildor, I totally agree, especially what you said about the importance of the GF. Mithril has built too much around it. Do you think my idea of changing the GF would be an idea which should be presented to Chris & Lars?

You are also right, that the normal M-figures should be more important, less expensive and much better promoted as these are the figures other customers would like to buy.

Let me throw in just anotehr point: Once I made exhibtions to show-off Mithril figures in large dioramas. This was always successfull in the way, that many people were interested in that figures. They assked me from where to get the figures and which figures they can buy. The M-figures were at an acceptable price, but the GF was not something many people liked to much after they got to know how expensive the figures are. Others had problems with the homepage and order system- remember these customers are new ones. So Mithril has to think about how they could make it easier for ‘newbies’ to order and not to produce high-priced-for-elites-only-figures. That would be a point supporting your idea of reducing the GF.

Beside that: Inspiring discussion, I like it! It was necessary years before, but maybe the time has come NOW to change things. This website is great to discuss that and give arguments some weight.

puuuh, very difficult to reply on these many thoughts . . .
KILL THE GF ? My goodness, what suggestion is that?
Seems to me that the hounorable members get these white eyes like the sharks when they bite a seal . . .
Why should there be only ONE figure a year? How should that work ? What is the problem with the GF ?
The GF can stay equal beside the normal ranges. Absolutely no problem. You can decide to buy a single figure for 20 € or not.
Gildor said, that the GF has become the main focus of Mithril for quite some years now. That´s right.
If this doesn´t work the company would´t have raised to a double release per month. Think it over!
But mithril has do think right over which quantity of release makes sense. If mithril is not able to do economic basics, then . . .
The point of economic viability is already been discussed here.
Why should there be only ONE figure a year? How should that work ? TWO figures a month? For sure too many. As well for that price!
I totally agree to you, Gildor, concerning the characteristics since the GF was released. But what does it mean? Why do mithril put an eye closer to that-for costumers VERY expensive- GF-line in that scale ?!?!?!
Having it reduced and taken on a secondary importance compared to the regular range would be wise to Mithril….That´s right.
If the company doesn´t know how to operate in a economic way, we should tell them ! The politics and unability facing economic basics breaks my nerves a little bit.
Master Barliman: I need a triple scrumpy with two pink umbrellas, yes pink ones, please . . .
OH, my paint is getting dry . . .

You mentioned that “tropical houmor ” Master Barli.
Well, you should give a huge hump of primer to that company we trust in.
Maybe the releases should release a bit faster . . .

Now that’s certain… when master Barliman was away… he went to tropical countries, in the Far Harad maybe or somewhere around the sea of Rhun maybe…. Such exotism is not common in Endor…. that must come from elsewhere.

as for the debates… i think we have to be less extreme…. to either carry on with the GF, the way it is currently is a long-term economical mistake…. (or disaster) …. A single one per year is a too little for such a vivid and active community such as ours…

But Mithril should not write things in marble in times of economical and financial disorder… things should be able to be more flexible, to change …. make “experiments” in terms of marketing and economy…

two GF a month… they are just trying to reduce their latency and get back on a correct backlog… Once they have managed to reach the current month suggestion it will once again be one figurine a month… that’s mathematic.

I would agree that GF has to carry on the way it is currently IF the economical health of mithril was better… and how to judge if it is good or bad is easy : you just have to see the price of figurines themselves… Having customers is the only key to survival for companies in this world… when you only rely upon your regular customers to survive, that means you are dying… that’s the basics of economy….

Mithril staff is not extensible and I doubt they have lots of money to invest in recruiting up-to-date specialists in website making or in worldwide active marketing and promotion… that costs too much money… So they have to do it themselves with the employees they have… To do so, and assuming energy and human working time is not elastic, they need to switch their priority and reduce or cease doing one thing to be able to concentrate on another…
Either Michael is not using his full potential at webmaking or he lacks some knowledge or Lars is not wanting that things change (that would be a grave and stupid problem) either ways, he has to put his hands deeply in remaking, or rebuilding something more ergonomic more convivial… about the website
Now people at Mithril, those in charges of the sales shipments or things like that (Mary-Ann it was, but she left for pregnancy some time ago I read somewhere) they need to concentrate on marketing and promotion techniques and be in touch, once again on an aggressive way… with their contractual distributors or direct retailers…
Lars has to accept that Chris makes promotion campaigns and that means use some, or even quite a big part of his working time… not SCULPTING, but doing promotional tours accross europe at least… (which thus means, less production for a time at least) Chris suggested this himself already, but Lars does not seem to even want to consider a bit of it….

That’s why I’ve never been FOR a death of the GF… but a temporary pause…. necessary for Mithril to really focus on important other matters…. but anyway, such a pause would not occur if Lars Edman does not want it so and is slowly willingly … or -excuse me- stupidly killing Mithril…