Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

My name is Michal (NT) Zajac, i`m a fanatic miniature digital painter - create high-quality 2D Models "Flat" (Front and Back) - PNG and PDF files print ready for role-playing and wargaming (scale 28/32mm).
I have kindly question: What do you think about old Fashioned "Flats" with "new Face" is there anyone out who still use then for play?

Regards Michal

I've never played with flats but I bet there are some people using them. British comic actor Deryck Guyler, long dead, but at one time the chairman of the Society of Ancients, had a huge collection of 54mm flats. He can't have been the only one.

I actually think flats could make a comeback if someone invented a way of painting them automatically. It must be possible, as they are ... pretty flat.

I can see there being a market for them. A modern service run through the net could even introduce custom painting systems so that you could fill in the colours on a digital design spot on the website and get them printed to order and shipped out to the customer. So instead of just pre-painted or "standard army colours" you'd let people have some creative control.

The problem is that you're really looking at a niche of the customer base and one that might not be as internet active as some others (I thinking more older games, but not exclusively).

I figure if you've got very solid game mechanics it could work, but you're looking at a lot of work to reach out and find your market. Marketing is going to be touch but critical. The other aspect that would be tricky is working out ways to increase sales per customer. Unless you went for a board-game approach (which is a heavily oversaturated market as it is); then chances are you'll be wanting to draw out as much sales potential per customer rather than mass sales.

Thanks for reply,
let me show you what i'm talking about:




so if you can see those flats are not like other on market

so if you can see those flats are not like other on market

Not sure what the market for flat tokens looks like, so what makes these different?

I use flats all the time. They are easy to store, easy to transport, but also easy to make.

I think the biggest challenge is that I can go out and make my own flats very easily, so why buy yours?

the same way thinking why buy 3D minis like all can have flats for free. Answer is simple - improve your game and it's easier, faster more handy, and 3 dolars for 25 miniatures its not a lot. minis come: WIth base, in scale, 4 colour schemes
sample:

These are pretty high quality flats, first time I've heard the term. We used to use something similar for playing Battletech, for a while it was hard to get the minis and this was a simpler option.

I could see people paying to get a set of these.

I think they would find the best market among RPGers. These are absolutely awesome looking!

If you haven't already done so, you may want to see the competition. Here's a good site:

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse.php?keywords=miniatures&x=0&y=0&author=&artist=&pfrom=&pto=

Yeah, the original battle tech starters and 'reinforcement' boxes all came with them.

Paizo has several boxes for pathfinder- 300 'pawns' for $40 in the Bestiary 2 collection, 100 for $25 in their upcoming one for the 'Age of Ashes' Adventure Path.

IIRC, the Order of the Stick guy had some seasonal themed ones done for D&D.

I woould just like to make sure we are all talking about the same thing when we use the term "flats".

Originally, a "flat" was a 3D metal miniature, usually 54mm, produced in a two piece mould. it was flat in the sense that it had two sides and an edge, if you get my meaning. a bit like a coin. The sides had texture and detail on them, and could be painted.

Those are the kind of "flats" which Deryck Guyler and others used for their wargames.

I assumed the OP was making that kind od flat, though perhaps in modern materials.

There is another kind of playing piece which is the stand-up cardboard token, which usually comes ready printed.

There are also sheets you print onto paper, cut out and assemble. There are some examples in my gallery.



What are we talking about in this thread?

Did you create those stand up tokens you posted?

Yeah, to me "flats" are what Killkrazy mentioned, more of a 2.5D pressed miniature - made of metal. That's what I think of when you say flat, now...standee? That's what I'd call the basic 2D printed colour paper or card cut-outs.

I think 2D standees are more popular for role-playing games than wargaming. Role-playing games are more likely to use a simply token to indicate where a creature is, and they're seldom played on full 3D environments. There have been some very successful and popular boxes of standees from Pathfinder. Role-Playing games are also likely to include hundreds of possible creatures/races to encounter, so the standee idea is far more applicable.

To the OP, you may want to have your product have multiple name tags or search terms so folks can find 'em.

Just a quick check on various sites has these types of figures listed as flats (even though you can print them on paper or cardstock and they're not made from metal), paper miniatures, miniatures, pawns, tokens, standees, figures, etc.

If some people like flats, they like flats. If there is a market so be it.
I wouldn't buy any, and don't like them at all, but that is just me.