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Hi guys
Firstly, Gynroch is most decidedly NOT a dragon. He's not meant to fly, even if he does indeed fly. He's meant to look wrong and un-natural.

Secondly, all you need to understand the Melusines is to research what a Sheela-na-Gig is, and what is missing (sorry - more accurately, what is there) on the Sheela-na-Gig on the Gigh-Bearer. If you don't get it after that, then there's no hope for you. Or again, more accurately, you've vindicated why sheela-na-gigs exist (which is more apparent every day that I see more reaction to them).

As always, our miniatures exist for a reason and you need to apply your brain to everything we do. If you don't understand that reason, then tough.


Regardless, watch out for a big, big announcement soon... we have big things to tell you all!

Cheers

Rob

Ah yes, the "well if you don't get it, then you're just dumb" argument.

Big things? There's another Melusine?! ~

Maelstrom Games wrote:Secondly, all you need to understand the Melusines is to research what a Sheela-na-Gig is, and what is missing (sorry - more accurately, what is there) on the Sheela-na-Gig on the Gigh-Bearer. If you don't get it after that, then there's no hope for you. Or again, more accurately, you've vindicated why sheela-na-gigs exist (which is more apparent every day that I see more reaction to them).

You appear to have confused "I think it's a bad design, badly executed," with "Duh, wha? What dud dat mean?"

If you want to be a successful company, it's best not to insult your potential customers simply because they criticize your product. If they truly don't get your product (which I don't believe is the case here), then it means you've failed to present it properly. If they don't like your product then your choices are to either take their criticism on board or trust that your creative vision is going to win out in the end. At no point does insulting your customers' intelligence just because they didn't think part of your line is the greatest enter into the effective advertising plan.

Maelstrom Games wrote:Hi guys
Firstly, Gynroch is most decidedly NOT a dragon. He's not meant to fly, even if he does indeed fly. He's meant to look wrong and un-natural.

Secondly, all you need to understand the Melusines is to research what a Sheela-na-Gig is, and what is missing (sorry - more accurately, what is there) on the Sheela-na-Gig on the Gigh-Bearer. If you don't get it after that, then there's no hope for you. Or again, more accurately, you've vindicated why sheela-na-gigs exist (which is more apparent every day that I see more reaction to them).

As always, our miniatures exist for a reason and you need to apply your brain to everything we do. If you don't understand that reason, then tough.


Regardless, watch out for a big, big announcement soon... we have big things to tell you all!

Cheers

Rob

I must say, this is a hilariously silly response. "[A]ll you need to understand the Melusines is to research what a..." fribbity-gibbety rigamarole. Why, it's all so simple!

The terrible hair that looks like extruded play-dough? Research!

Breasts like pasted-on volleyballs? Apply your brain!

Awkward pole-dancer poses? You don't understand!

At the risk of pointing out the obvious, if you want to sell torpedo-chested nude women miniatures, it's not exactly the mystery of the ages to realize no one went broke trading on big ta-tas. Beyond that, you've rather crudely ignored the fact that a lot of criticism isn't directed at the nudity, but the poor quality of the overall model.

Other makers are producing products just as "risque" as the Melusines. People embrace quality.

The Melusines simply don't look well done. No amount of condescension is likely to alter that verdict, and if you want to hang your hat on people investigating the Sheela-na-Gig, it probably behooves you to be a bit more up-front about what lesson you want people to derive from the history. Unless your point was, the historical Sheela-na-Gig was badly sculpted, ergo this is a kind of... homage?

re: Sheela-na-Gig... huh? So their comically huge breasts are supposed to ward off evil?

re: "...if you don't understand...then tough." This sounds suspiciously like the old student excuse of 'It's supposed to look like that' (which invariably means 'It's not supposed to look like that, but it was the best I could come up with and now I'm getting defensive.'), a fairly arrogant attitude at best.
You've shown that you can do horrible monsters and still have them look amazing; that's the gist of the comments - not that the concepts are bad/unworthy, but the sculpts do not live up to the very high standards that YOU have set.

Hmmm, I see lots on over exagerated vulvas, nothing on big norks! I guess I don't get it!

Early christian exagerations of female lust? Nope, not seeing that either....

Modern exagerations of male gammer lust... now that I'm seeing! :-)

That asside, I like the figures, some times you have to exagerate the sculpt to make it work at scale, and in general I like them and compliment the sculpter on a good job.

Druidic wrote:Hmmm, I see lots on over exagerated vulvas, nothing on big norks! I guess I don't get it!

Early christian exagerations of female lust? Nope, not seeing that either....

Modern exagerations of male gammer lust... now that I'm seeing! :-)

That asside, I like the figures, some times you have to exagerate the sculpt to make it work at scale, and in general I like them and compliment the sculpter on a good job.

I think they're supposed to be a reverse of the Sheela Na Gigs (which are warnings against lust). On Tecass's description, the term Sighle na gCíoch is used to describe her standard which I think roughly translates as Sheela of the breasts! Fitting for how they look.

Maelstrom Games wrote:
Regardless, watch out for a big, big announcement soon... we have big things to tell you all!

Looking forward to this. More concepts? Shieldwalls and troops? Game details?

Maelstrom Games wrote:Hi guys
Firstly, Gynroch is most decidedly NOT a dragon. He's not meant to fly, even if he does indeed fly. He's meant to look wrong and un-natural.

Secondly, all you need to understand the Melusines is to research what a Sheela-na-Gig is, and what is missing (sorry - more accurately, what is there) on the Sheela-na-Gig on the Gigh-Bearer. If you don't get it after that, then there's no hope for you. Or again, more accurately, you've vindicated why sheela-na-gigs exist (which is more apparent every day that I see more reaction to them).

As always, our miniatures exist for a reason and you need to apply your brain to everything we do. If you don't understand that reason, then tough.


Regardless, watch out for a big, big announcement soon... we have big things to tell you all!

Cheers

Rob

I've bought several of your products and I will continue to buy ones that I feel are awesome.. calling your customer stupid because they don't like some of your product and are telling you why is probably not the best way to go at it. Most of us are trying to help..

This thread certainly took a turn for the

I think our friendly Maelstrom rep needs to decide if he wants to just post pics of the new releases, or if he wants to interact with the community here and then act appropriately. If it's the former, fine. If it's the latter, also fine, but perhaps without insulting the customer base and the haughty "you're all stupid" attitude. After all, being a representative of a company in a public forum means one's behavior reflects on that company.



Applying my brain, to, say, everything shown on the first page of this thread, what I get is "Hey, Warhammer Fantasy miniatures sell real well. We'll make some of them ourselves!"

Not that there's anything wrong with that, I buy lots of "not-Warhammer" style models myself. And I appreciate that (some) of the newer models are trying to do something a bit more unique in the fantasy space, but let's not have huge pretensions of grandeur across "everything we do", eh?

Maelstrom Games wrote:Secondly, all you need to understand the Melusines is to research what a Sheela-na-Gig is, and what is missing (sorry - more accurately, what is there) on the Sheela-na-Gig on the Gigh-Bearer. If you don't get it after that, then there's no hope for you. Or again, more accurately, you've vindicated why sheela-na-gigs exist (which is more apparent every day that I see more reaction to them).

As always, our miniatures exist for a reason and you need to apply your brain to everything we do. If you don't understand that reason, then tough.

Not liking the miniature and not understanding the concept behind them are not automatically the same thing.

Claiming that they're supposed to be over-sexualised caricatures works if they're intended to be statues, but it doesn't make them look any more like actual women. The problem with the boobs is not the size... it's simply that large boobs don't look like that unless they're made from silicon. That and the hair affect the perception of these models, and no amount of explaining the concept behind them will change that.

You may very well have thought that your concept was solid, and that these miniatures fit that concept perfectly. If so, then congratulations, your sculptor obviously delivered. But dismissing any criticism as people just being too stupid to understand what they're meant to be is an outstanding way of alienating potential customers.

Guess we have to accept that GW has a skull fetish and Maelstrom has a penis/vagina/fakeboob fetish.
Some people like romantic movies, some people like erotic movies, some people like porn. A similar rule applies to buyers of female miniatures.

Hmmm... I want to get back to talking about monsters.



Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Fair points by everyone above, but I think the point's been made. We're all pretty universal on these last few models, but come on, the VORE!!!! Still trying to figure out what the heck I could use that thing for.

RiTides wrote:Fair points by everyone above, but I think the point's been made. We're all pretty universal on these last few models, but come on, the VORE!!!! Still trying to figure out what the heck I could use that thing for.

I had been plannng on picking one up to convert into a Great Unclean One.

Having since been informed that I'm an idiot who doesn't understand boobs, I'm not so sure.

If you do decide to, I will definitely want a link to that project!!

insaniak wrote:

RiTides wrote:Fair points by everyone above, but I think the point's been made. We're all pretty universal on these last few models, but come on, the VORE!!!! Still trying to figure out what the heck I could use that thing for.

I had been plannng on picking one up to convert into a Great Unclean One.

Having since been informed that I'm an idiot who doesn't understand boobs, I'm not so sure.

yeah, I have to say that this sort of thing does tempt me to order much more of my UK-based stuff from other sources instead.

Still trying to figure out what the heck I could use that thing for.

Size wise how would it measure up to a daemon prince?

insaniak wrote:

RiTides wrote:Fair points by everyone above, but I think the point's been made. We're all pretty universal on these last few models, but come on, the VORE!!!! Still trying to figure out what the heck I could use that thing for.

I had been plannng on picking one up to convert into a Great Unclean One.

Having since been informed that I'm an idiot who doesn't understand boobs, I'm not so sure.

Really?
Thats not what I read.

insaniak wrote:

RiTides wrote:Fair points by everyone above, but I think the point's been made. We're all pretty universal on these last few models, but come on, the VORE!!!! Still trying to figure out what the heck I could use that thing for.

I had been plannng on picking one up to convert into a Great Unclean One.

Having since been informed that I'm an idiot who doesn't understand boobs, I'm not so sure.

No no no! We're not idiots, we're just ignorant. Remember, "all you need to understand the Melusines is to research what a Sheela-na-Gig is".

Of course, "If you don't get it after that, then there's no hope for you"...

I once thought they were poorly sculpted women with hair like rope and stonkin great knockers, but now I know the fault lies not in the teats, but in me...

Because, you know, boobs iz serious business. You illiterate peons.

Snark aside, it's really a shame that the line is so hit and miss: there doesn't appear to be a lot in-between, it's either great (like the Vore), or embarrassingly bad (like the Melusines). In fairness to the individual sculptors, it doesn't even look like it's down to them: the same guy (James van Shaik) did the Melusines, but he also did some pretty impressive models like the recent dragon-man. (I would say "the guy with a name like clearing your throat, but in this context, that sadly doesn't narrow the field at all.) So I'm inclined to blame the concept.

Edit: Ooops, I was a bit too fair!

Turns out the dragon guy above is not Van Shaik, it's Roberto Chaudon.

That said, Shaik still has produced some far better figures then the Melusines; his Avatar Victorias for Malifeux are, imo, head and shoulders better in almost every way then the Melusines (note for one the difference in hair).

Thus, I'm still blaming the concept. Although yeah, perusing Shaik's photos, the long hair on his females is very hit or miss.

Anyone got painted pics of the boob chicks yet? Maybe they'll look better

Maelstrom Games wrote:Hi guys
Firstly, Gynroch is most decidedly NOT a dragon. He's not meant to fly, even if he does indeed fly. He's meant to look wrong and un-natural.

Dragon, Jabberwock, giant mutant chicken....I'm sorry but this is still a badly positioned model with the wing situation. As others have mentioned, this is such a range of extremes. I purchased The Terror of Fortriu and it has to be one of the best models I have ever owned in 27 years, the strippers with the snake like hair I will never purchase (unless the missus leaves me and my access to porn vanishes as well ).

Maelstrom Games wrote:Hi guys
Firstly, Gynroch is most decidedly NOT a dragon. He's not meant to fly, even if he does indeed fly. He's meant to look wrong and un-natural.

Secondly, all you need to understand the Melusines is to research what a Sheela-na-Gig is, and what is missing (sorry - more accurately, what is there) on the Sheela-na-Gig on the Gigh-Bearer. If you don't get it after that, then there's no hope for you. Or again, more accurately, you've vindicated why sheela-na-gigs exist (which is more apparent every day that I see more reaction to them).

As always, our miniatures exist for a reason and you need to apply your brain to everything we do. If you don't understand that reason, then tough.


Regardless, watch out for a big, big announcement soon... we have big things to tell you all!

Cheers

Rob

Bloody hell thats one freaking foolish answer , and speaking of using brains you should try that when you present your company and range on a public forum packed with potential buyers.
As a buyer I couldn't care less about the lala land you created and that your bad concept makes sense on that lala land... for me it's a bad concept period.( and badly sculpted, please bring back the competent sculptors you used to have...)

Two new Melusians from BoobLegions, actually rather good.




Edit: I realised that links to these were posted previously. Sorry.
Still they are not as bad (IMHO) as the other Melusians.

kendoka wrote:Two new Melusians from BoobLegions, actually rather good.

...
Edit: I realised that links to these were posted previously. Sorry.
Still they are not as bad (IMHO) as the other Melusians.

True, I'd agree they are not as bad as the previous ones. In much the same way that a pile of dog crap is easier to clean off the carpet then a mound of cow crap.

Still bad though.

Seriously though, breast harness's, rope hair and the simplest conversion for a pole-dancer I have come across. This stuff is designed to sell to an audience, and I suspect it's not an audience that spent a great deal of time studying the architecture of the British isles.

And you should make a habit of spoilering all booblord pics, making your post SFW and family friendly.

That's a good point Kroot - I edited the post in question to make it SFW...

Buzzsaw wrote:
Seriously though, breast harness's, rope hair and the simplest conversion for a pole-dancer I have come across. This stuff is designed to sell to an audience, and I suspect it's not an audience that spent a great deal of time studying the architecture of the British isles.

I was always giving the BreastLords the benefit of the doubt in relation to their hair - as in the pics of the figures are blown way up so the images we see are far bigger than the actual sculpts. Seeing the other pics of Van Shaik's figures, and the much better hair there does show me that he can do much better work. Looking again at the Sheilas, though - the concept sketch calls for "Extremely long, fine hair" - so he got part of it right, anyway.

Oh, and Rayvon. Perhaps your "thin skin" comment should have been directed elsewhere?

I'm absolutely nuts for that bloodmaw thing, as well as the giant croc. Still, $100 apiece! I can't swing that.

Chad Warden wrote:Anyone got painted pics of the boob chicks yet? Maybe they'll look better

I'll put some up as soon as I get them from the post office and paint them, which should be later next week.

Ouze wrote:I'm absolutely nuts for that bloodmaw thing, as well as the giant croc. Still, $100 apiece! I can't swing that.

Yeah, that's the boat I'm in...

New banelord spotted and its one I've been waiting for since I saw the concept! Another worthy addition to my Formorians: