MaxMini.eu - Mutation Set

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**Przemas**

New set by new sculptor (Filin)

:

I`ve just casted first "masters" and they`ve turned out beautifully, so the set should get into the store next week

**Malika2**

Hmm, to be honest I don't really like the weapon arms, only the real tentacle is cool and the heads.

However the two other tentacles could have a potential if lots of them grew out or some creatures stomach or something!

**WarlordGaz**

They look rather good, I like the heads and weapon arms.

**Cannerus_The_Unbearable**

I love the Chaos mutation sprue this is (presumably) based off of, and consequently love these.

**LunaHound**

Love the concept , looks alot like the Chaos Marauder arm in warhammer online

**MagickalMemories**

They're EXTREMELY nicely done sculpts.
Personally, I don't see any of the "weapon" arms as necessary. Not sure what the hand would be used for, either.
The arms on the left side are cool. Tspecially the octopus-like tentacle.

The outside heads are already done by GW so, IMO, unnecessary.

LOVE the center head, though.

Too bad there really just isn't much market for these, as far as I can see.

Eric

**Ozymandias**

Except for Chaos player looking for original bits. But yeah, other than that target market, no market.

**BrookM**

I'd love to see these on a model for comparisons

**Malika2**

By the way (I assume the peeps from MaxMini are reading this), why doesn't MaxMini produce its own miniature line rather than just bits. I mean they have the skills for it!

**Savnock**

Malika2 wrote:By the way (I assume the peeps from MaxMini are reading this), why doesn't MaxMini produce its own miniature line rather than just bits. I mean they have the skills for it!

I disagree that there is any need for them to do so- there are plenty of great miniature lines out there, but great adaptation bitz like Maxmini's are a very useful and rare commodity. Making them easily compatible with GW minis takes cohones, and I for one appreciate it.

**Malika2**

I'll just quote doghouse on this one because I couldn't have said it any better:

"You Gotta Take Control!"

There is a growing trend at the moment for creating bits to support GW minis. To be honest there is money involved in this but you are always going to be playing second fiddle to GW and running the risks of IP violation which can shut a company down pretty darn quick.
The best way forward to create your own unique miniatures line and therefore your own IP.
You're also doing free market research for them. If a product you are making does well they can steal the idea quoting IP law and if not you are filling a gap in their product line for them.

It's kind of like if someone says "Hey you look like Tom Cruise!"
You can dress like him, talk like him, walk like him, but you are never going to be him. He's the one making money from being tom cruise after all and all you're doing is giving the guy free advertising.

Same thing applies with GW, you can imitate them but at the end of the day your product is never going to outsell their's and every conversion kit they buy they're going to buy a bucket load of GW minis to add the bits to and continue to play 40k.

By establishing your own IP you also have marketing avenues that you can explore, like merchandising t-shirts, hats, anything cheap to make that you can sell for a price.
The goal is of most hobbyists is to make an army and most small miniature companies go under before they get started mainly because they approach from a hobbyist mentality.
You need first and foremost to be businessmen.

To succeed you need a reason for people to buy your miniatures and the best framework for this is with a solid and coherent game system.

**darkkt**

Awesome scuplts - and nice option for those seeking a 'different' customisation.

**winterman**

I'll just quote doghouse on this one because I couldn't have said it any better:

I am sure they measure 'success' in much different terms then GW. Which is something the quoted person completly misses.

These places aren't trying to be GW or PP -- with all the infrastructure and BS that comes with such a thing. Like if they invested heavily in rules and their own models and hope someone buys them after much promotion and investment in money -- they could then have their own t-shirt line? Who gives a rats ass about t-shirts? If a few guys can come together and make a product people will buy, and not get sued, then more power to em. It is a niche market that is needed and I wish them success.

**aka_mythos**

I'd also like to point out that there is a certain amount of reality that they can't compete with GW. Its a bit of "if you can't beat them join them."

MaxMini aren't really in the business of producing miniatures. They produce bits. That said, if all a company wants to do is bits, selling bits for the best selling company has a higher return over other gaming companies.

**Clang**

love the fly head - a selection of fly heads would be fabulous for Nurgle marines

**Lagduf**

I'm just popping in to say that MaxMini does some great work. I got a few sets of those Pirate Ork heads, and in finally seeing them in person I was astounded by the quality. Great stuff.

**Ahtman**

LunaHound wrote:Love the concept , looks alot like the Chaos Marauder arm in warhammer online

This was the first thing I thought as well. It would be interesting to make a Marauder army using that aesthetic.

**two_heads_talking**

Ahtman wrote:
LunaHound wrote:Love the concept , looks alot like the Chaos Marauder arm in warhammer online

This was the first thing I thought as well. It would be interesting to make a Marauder army using that aesthetic.

I was thinking the same exact thing. combined with the GW sprue, the combinations just exponentially grow.

**Agamemnon2**

winterman wrote:
I'll just quote doghouse on this one because I couldn't have said it any better:

I am sure they measure 'success' in much different terms then GW. Which is something the quoted person completly misses.

There's also the small detail that directly competing with GW is financial suicide. Just ask Rackham, Mongoose and Urban Mammoth.

**Malika2**

Warmachine, Darkson Designs, AT-43 and various other ones are still around...

**Agamemnon2**

It's hardly a sure thing. You pays your money and you takes you chances, and maybe, just maybe, you don't end up joining VOID, Warzone and Hell Dorado in the lost games' graveyard.

**Malika2**

I don't know if they failed because they "tried to compete against GW" or anything like that. I think they failed for the same reason as 80% of all small business fail (in the first year), lack of serious planning/strategies/research, taking a too heavy workload (being the sculptor, caster, salesman, manager, distributor, etc at once) and stuff like that.

I doubt GW could close down a company such as MaxMini for IP infringement, but they are skimming on the edge when it comes to that. Other than that, it's companies like these who GW probably will look at as to how to expand their own range. So if lets say such smaller companies end up selling tons of evil dwarfs to Warhammer players GW will at a certain point realise that they should start producing Chaos Dwarfs again. It's basically a free marketing research service these companies end up delivering to GW.

Doesn't take away the fact that I do like companies such as MaxMini and others for the cool stuff they have to offer.

**Oldgrue**

There are a lot of small companies that create accessory kits for certain models as their sole business. Star Trek and Star Wars come immediately to mind. Taking this approach to GW product is a solid idea for an additional revenue stream.

It just means the have a limited growth potential.

**jmurph**

I'm sure they posted their excellent new bits in order to get a critique of their business model. :-/

Excellent stuff! I like the fly head alot- wish I had some for my plague marines. The arms and tentacles also rock!

**Malika2**

I'm not criticising their business model, I'm just saying that they have a lot more potential with such skilled sculptors!

**Mad Doc Grotsnik**

Is probably a lot more profitable to run it as a alternative bitz source than produce entire models.

I assume they case in metal? IF so, then they can cram more bitz onto a mould than complete models, meaning overall, fewer moulds need be made to meet demand etc.

I think it's a cool thing they do! Not sure GW would be terribly bothered, seeing as they are offering parts which happent to fit their models. As long as they aren't using GW registered trademarks and names, they are doing precisely nothing wrong, illegal or even dubious.

**BrookM**

They cast in resin iirc.

**MagickalMemories**

Ozymandias wrote:Except for Chaos player looking for original bits. But yeah, other than that target market, no market.

The problem with that is that i doubt many people are going to want to spend this kind of money for mutation bits when GW already has mutation bits taht would be less expensive.

Sure, I know there are people who would spend the money for less common bits... but they're not that plentiful, I'd wager.

Eric

**Ian Sturrock**

I picked up a set of Maxmini's Pirate Ork heads to use in the "son's birthday Flash Gitz Secret Project", and they're absolutely fantastic -- they have a lot of detail, and a lot of character.

**Cannerus_The_Unbearable**

MagickalMemories wrote:
Ozymandias wrote:Except for Chaos player looking for original bits. But yeah, other than that target market, no market.

The problem with that is that i doubt many people are going to want to spend this kind of money for mutation bits when GW already has mutation bits taht would be less expensive.

Sure, I know there are people who would spend the money for less common bits... but they're not that plentiful, I'd wager.

Eric

I know I'm just one, but I'm actually ordering the GW Chaos Mutation Sprue and some MaxMini ones too. The quality of these sculpts already wowed me but the testimonials form other people put me over the edge.

I doubt people in the "toy soldier bitz" market are that entirely frugal to begin with. I love mono-pose marines to fill out squads, but my champs have to look good