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Well, afetr another visit at this other place.
Let´s invite The Man here in this homelike inn, having a nice comfort drink inbetween such many kind peolpe.
And then, let´s convince him to leave that company in the mists of time and make his business for his own.
I think, I am not the only one whose reason for buying and painting these miniatures is the love for "a company".
Instead, it is the love of The Man´s skill! And nothing more!
Last edited by rita.de (Sun, Nov7 2010 5:21pm)
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rita.de wrote:
Well, afetr another visit at this other place.
Let´s invite The Man here in this homelike inn, having a nice comfort drink inbetween such many kind peolpe.
And then, let´s convince him to leave that company in the mists of time and make his business for his own.
I think, I am not the only one whose reason for buying and painting these miniatures is the love for "a company".
Instead, it is the love of The Man´s skill! And nothing more!
I do indeed buy the figures because of CT's subtle touch, and passion for the subject - wouldn't it be great if The Man could get the licence and produce under his own banner, but then I guess that there are many other considerations to bear in mind not least CT's livlihood - I would guess that PA may be happy with any sculptor to keep their own ranges going, not necessarily CT if it came to the push.
I would also urge some caution about drawing CT into the argument purely on the grounds of what we DO NOT know about what goes on behind barred gates. My loyalty is to The Man, not the company, who are not so deserving anymore of such passionate followers - I still cannot get an answer to confirm if my oreder of 10.10.10 actually got through or not; a NO would be better than nothing at all. But they have been busy haven't they
.
A good post Gildor, I hope it is taken seriously and not dismissed with arrogant disregard - I guess like a lot of us L.E.'s request a while back for ideas on how to promote Mithril were either a smokescreen for doing nothing, or just a carrot to dangle in front of people who take the product more seriously than the company does.
Chris, if you can go it alone may the goodwill of Elves, Men, Dwarves and all free folk be with you 
Last edited by ddaines (Sun, Nov7 2010 5:39pm)
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Theobald wrote:
Huoomm ... you forgot to mention them trees, Master Ddaines ....
And the barrow wights.......... (although I'm not sure if I am a ´free folk` or not ...............) 
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And the men of Bree. Even the sober ones.
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I addressed the problem and called for a boycot in the MS boards....
and even ACCUSED mithril of Lying... it will be mister Edman now to be very angry after me... but he wants a fight... let's see what a mere Human, not even of the Dunedain can do against a Noldo born on Valinor....
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Theobald wrote:
Huoomm ... you forgot to mention them trees, Master Ddaines ....
And of course THEM TREES, Barrow Wights, Men of Bree, I guess even the orcs and trolls and others whose like we will not see again if it all goes t*ts up
, My apologies 
Last edited by ddaines (Sun, Nov7 2010 7:55pm)
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At least we're in the right place to have a drink afterwards.
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your points are good ones master Estel , indeed these could be added to my own comments on the official boards but you are free to post or not 
my points are : mithril is lying to us when they say Chris is overbooked by a huge workload... that is not right... he even had to rely upon freelance "not figurine related" small jobs to gain some money, along with selling his own stocks and producing new ranges under Phaeton Design... How can Prince August make us believe that we can't submit mounted figurines, vignettes, or even release armies if Chris is overbooked...
How would Chris have sculpted the entire White Council set if the MS did take all his time??... that's purely "grotesque"...
they simply do not want to produce things that would risk being not sold... because of their outrageous price... which is only outrageous because they don't have a regular market... (offer and demand rules...)
If MS are put on standby... Mithril will have to choose.... risking regulars.... or publicly reveal that they had not desired to do anything but MS for a long time and so they will stop producing Tolkien figurines...
indeed Mithril can threaten us collectors to stop their brand... but I doubt it will stop Chris from producing figurines... it will even leave him the opportunity to get back the licence for himself and choose another firm than Prince August to distribute his productions if need be...
Maybe it is time that Mithril dissociates from Prince August after all.....
I know some customers.... not only collectors here... would prefer and be satisfied with very slow MS releases... and won't defend my action because it would kill their beloved Mithril...
but what is Mithril without Chris?...
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So seems that all of us have similar thoughts about mithril policy. I hope only that Lars would not decide to quit everything, and in connection with this decision, that CT would not have enough money to pay license or that he would not find interesting company to use his sculpting skills to do figures. He could put figures on market through his company but what would be name of each of those figures... certainly not names from LOTR or Hobbit since the license in not so cheep, and finally, than we would have no more CT figures it all. And I like my collection only because those figures representing Tolkien characters not other reasons. I do not want to collect other figures only because of they are "some fantasy RPG or history miniatures". There is lot's of this in the world in this moment and I do not like it. ... With regulars or not (every year 10 figures for reasonable price) + 12 MS and other from my point of view and my financial possibilities to invest is almost enough. And yes Mithril without Chris is nothing... and with other sculptor I will definitely quit spending money on this hobby.
Last edited by Thingol (Mon, Nov8 2010 7:51am)
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Zoetrop seemed a bit perplex about all this affair in the german topic on the official board...
I wrote to him in private , in english, but maybe some german people could speak with him, Theobald or Rita.de ? I tried to explain him some crucial points...
if M-regulars are not safe in terms of income , well why not changing completly the Mithril production on a large and wide range?
Mithril could be produced on a "fellowship" basis, requiring registration to be able to buy ANYTHING they have.... that would mean , no need of distributors, no need of retailers , Web based only... if they want it so
this way they could control their production... they should also learn on how to reduce their cost of metal... as it seems their own metal is far more expansive that any other figurine brand... maybe they could use some chemistry in changing slightly their alloy to make it more affordable..
BUT with a LOT of advertising and promotion all over the social networks over the internet to be able to touch the market
and then events, real ones, with figurines for promotions, dioramas etc etc... I gave all those ideas already... but no answers
I have thought of MANY things....
but no answers... I'd like Herbert to understand that nothing else can be done at the moment than an honest and "face to face" debate with Mithril boss, in terms of strategies... not "suggestions of what to produce next"... that is secondary...
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Everything is correct written here... but the crucial point in this case is not to mixed love and business.... if we do this more than Lars expected, than we would be without mithril figures it all..... That is what Herbert means is and I think that would finally happens....
I hope it would not….
Last edited by Thingol (Mon, Nov8 2010 7:52am)
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Even if I am a mithril fan since its creation (we are not so many left are we ?), I remain a customer to the company's eyes. 
So, what can customers do to preserve their passion alive if the man in charge himself does not care about his products and his customers?
This is far behond my will and skills. I fear we cannot force any decision about LE strategy.
As Master gardener pointed out, business cannot be mixed with collector's passions.
Maybe some investment from outside world (even China
) could be more helpfull...
If mithril would die, I would stop buying and save money.
Still, I have enough painting/diorama projects to do until CT finds a new way to provide new Tolkien related releases on the market. 
Last edited by Milo (Mon, Nov8 2010 9:44am)
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I don't expect us to be able to change anything Milo...
I expect Chris Tubb to do so when time comes... trust it or not, he is more in our side than on Lars' side...
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Thanks to you Master elf, we still can drink in the pony. Who wants a drink ?
C'est ma tournée. Santé ! 
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A lot has been said and very interesting thoughts in between. Master Gildor you mentioned the price for metal... Mithril doesn't buy the alloy more expensive then other companies do. Do you really think Lars buys metal for PA and Mithril from different supplyers? lol To much of a business man I think. Mithril as a company is as I mentioned before more designed as a write of for PA. Well, that's what I think anyway. If you serious about making money with a company and ignore every positiv idea and proposal to strenghten that company to be more efficient, well, what's left? Either no interes, or this company is only used to work in the minus.....
Now I need a drink too!
Cheers my friends!

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Simple incompetence is another possibility, of course.
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Would be strange to be very incompetent with one company and successful with the second.....
I do believe in fairy tales...

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Let´s have a drink for Master shadyt! A troll champion is such a magnificent suggestion . . .
I think I will overthink my plans of boycott . . .
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well the metal they use is the same as others... but Prince August... in FRANCE is known for their side material lately
I have not seen ANY Prince August miniatures around , of late.... only paints, and diorama material, and raw metal...
it is interesting to note that the price of 3 or 4 metal bars is the same as the price of MS figurines... even less... but with so much metal you can make more than five figurines....
Indeed there is the price for "sculpting" for "mould building", for "casting", and "packaging"... but sculpting is the same for one... or a thousand, mould building too... casting... with spin moulds, they make several in a single passage.... and packaging... is cheap...
Indeed, if a figurine is sold in batch of 100... the price is bigger..... if sold in batches of 1000 the price is lower... because ... same mould... same sculpture... same casting process.... same packaging....
I begin to wonder if Mithril FACTORY is still a FACTORY or a "trader workshop"....
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I had a look in the GF lol, you are so right Gildor. They must think all of us a sheep after some of the replys....
I have to be thankful to be able to suggest a mini and then hopefully get it for 20 bucks.... lol Great deal. NOT! The suggestion is limited (only single figure) and so is the range.... Very annoying indeed. The most impressive MS so far are either the mounted or the vignette ones. Well, that's my taste anyhow!
The metal is for sure the smalest cost regarding the production of a figure. 20 grams of metal, very high calculted = 50cents (I get a better metal cheaper)
The labour for sculpting and casting is more the cost you have to take in consideration. But go with a MX 2000 Euro for the design of the mini including 30 castings of a rider. Everything paid for and still some profit made, otherwise they wouldn't offer it for that price, and the cost of additionals minis for 2.50 Euro, it really justyfies the price of 20 Euro for a MSor 7 Euro for a M. Don't you think so? LOL
I guess I have said enough after a bottle of wine and I'm going to bed now.... Good night and don't let the bed bugs bite you... 

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This is what I called CALCULATION
I hope is universal
I wish you good morning after this bottle of wine... I hope you've sleeping well and dreamed sweet dreams....
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I wonder if Grond is an agent of Lars... well, sorry if there are people here who support him, I know Thingol may like him but I don't...
I can't understand how this person can have such a behavior and such comments at a moment like this.... Well next time I think I will write to him in private and cease to be polite at all... that's enough
I smote him.... on the official boards
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Sorry Gildor but I do not like Grond or any kind of Grond... or Gronds and anything like that.. I 100% support your opinion and I had left my comments where is possible to recognize my attitude, here and on GF forum.... so please.... dear mithril friend... I have seen his comment and I think its cursory and futile... and this is it... I'm become part of your community on MMP and for me this is enough.... cheers !
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Does it make sense, to leave the open place . . .
I think it is BETTER to leave the open place . . .
Last edited by rita.de (Mon, Nov8 2010 8:41pm)
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