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Well, I would love that if down the road, the alternative parts to the models become available in the model components section of the site. I feel that having them released at a later date so that people who got them through the KS would be able to have them for a while as an exclusive would be a nice compromise.

I just know that wanting to back something and being unable to at the time really sucks when you finally have the funds and can't put in for it. Looking at you Kingdom Death: Monster

 Azreal13 wrote:
RiTides, would it be fair to summarise your stance, in a broad stroke, as

"I want to buy them when I want/can afford them and not just when they're on offer?"

I think that is fair to say. I did just back the Mounstrous Mounts campaign, and as a bit of a Kickstarter addict, I'm backing a LOT of campaigns right now and have another about to open that I've committed to back (Minion). I know a lot of people say "Just put in 10 pounds", but that's why the required separate shipping is a killer- because it's really 20 pounds. I've said my piece, though, so will leave it to Mierce to take the feedback onboard for the future or not . I understand this campaign is pretty locked down... this was more of a "Where do you see this heading in the future / is there going to be a shift to go more to general retail" type of feedback.

 RiTides wrote:
See, this later comment put next to the first shows that you know exactly what I mean by wider release - "prospective stockist".

Well, I did ask whether you meant something else. I thought I knew what you meant, but assuming is never good online. It turns out I did know. What's your point here?

 RiTides wrote:
What I'm saying is, is that not only are so many campaign-only variants a possible put-off to people who plan to buy at retail,

Why on earth would they put people off retail? We offer a big range already (150+ miniatures, with another 150+ coming over the course of the next twelve months), for six kindreds (soon to be eight). I fail to see why offering exclusive miniatures (that will never be released to retail) on a Kickstarter project would put people off purchasing our other miniatures at retail. Why on earth would it?

If you want one of the alternates that much, just pledge on Kickstarter, or visit us at shows or events!

 RiTides wrote:
but you're actually doing the exact same thing to people who pledged for prior campaigns by not giving them access to buy them in the "KS only" section of the online store!

Again, they can simply back this project. They're used to Kickstarter, so they're more likely to do that, if they really want one of the project exclusive miniatures. I don't see why it's such a big issue. Yes, if you just purchase one, you pay postage, but you can hardly blame us for asking for the postage cost of a miniature. Additionally, you're only looking at that post cost from your perspective - it's expensive to ship to the other side of the world, and those in the UK/Europe don't pay so much.

Really, it's quite simple. If you want one of these exclusive miniatures, back the project. If you don't, don't back the project.

I get that you don't want to feel "forced" into pledging on Kickstarter, that's plainly evident, and you prefer to wait until retail; but equally, we like to offer project exclusives - for the many aforementioned reasons, but also so that people jump in on the project if they see an exclusive they fancy and thus ensure we unlock more (which will then benefit you in the end, because we'll get to release more to retail).

All of the reasons for including the alternates are perfectly reasonable to ourselves. I understand your points, but they don't outweigh the reasons we've spoken of to our mind.

 RiTides wrote:
And to go back to the first point, I would like to see more opportunities to buy your models at retail, not having to continually pledge to get them- and these models will never be offered at retail.

They won't be offered to retail, because of the reasons we mentioned earlier. Remember, too, that these alternates help to unlock other miniatures on the project that *will* make it to retail. Don't underestimate that.

 RiTides wrote:
Again, you're holding backers hostage to pledge for this particular campaign in order to have access to these items-

We're not holding backers "hostage" to anything. That's a strange turn of phrase. *You* choose to back, we can't make *you* do anything!

 RiTides wrote:
that's got to be a logistical nightmare, and surely just putting them up for access in the "KS only" section of the online store for everybody who has pledged for any campaign would be just as easy.

Why has it "got" to be a logistical nightmare? It isn't, because we've done it in the previous project, and we'll be shipping the alternates as part of Wave 4 with no issues whatsoever. Producing alternates is a simple process and cost-effective. Again, the alternates are there for specific, good reasons, that we've already mentioned.

 RiTides wrote:
What I don't like is the language about cost above. I will have to get out one of my agriosavrar and weigh them- they are a fraction of a fraction of an ounce. If I pledge for this new campaign for a single, man-sized model, I'm paying 10 pounds in shipping plus 10 pounds for the model, and am not allowed to combine it with any other package.

In our last shipment yesterday, it has cost us £8.61 to ship a package to the Rest of the World, and that's an average price over fifty-odd packages. When you add the cost of packaging materials and of course the labour involved, it comes to around £10 a package. I'm really not sure what you mean about the "language about cost".

 RiTides wrote:
So, what bothers me here is the pressure to continually pledge and get separate shipments.

There is *no* pressure from us. It's up to *you* to back, not us! We can't force you into doing anything.

 RiTides wrote:
What if I only wanted to pledge for existing items? I still need to pay shipping.

That's correct, because you're getting 20% off and we can't afford to give you the postage for free. In the last project you backed, Darklands: Monstrous Mounts, you got over 50% off. To us, it's very simple - you get a discount, you must pay postage. Otherwise, you're getting a discount plus another discount, and we do need to look at the bottom line.

 RiTides wrote:
And since you have not yet gotten that wider release, there's not a better way to get most of your items yet.

Again, 150+ of our miniatures are already in retail, and we're releasing at least eight "items" a month (which will include units of five) for the foreseeable. So by this time next year, there'll be around 350 individual miniatures on "wider release".

So I completely disagree with you.

 RiTides wrote:
Which leaves people in a cycle of continually having to pledge, to get exclusive parts, and for you to focus on casting whatever the "model of the moment is". The statement about you not casting up Wave 5 items when Wave 7 is shipping is quite telling! If you were planning to be restocking retailers, you would need to be doing that, anyway...

I don't get this. You are not in a cycle of continually having to pledge for anything. *You* get to choose what you back, we don't force you to back at all.

We're releasing eight items a month (one for each kindred) and this time next year there'll be 300+ miniatures. There's already 150+, more than many other wargaming ranges. What's the problem here?

As for your point about casting miniatures, we've cast well over 30,000 individual miniatures in the past twelve months. The lads are incredibly busy, all the time - fulfilling webstore orders, retail orders and Kickstarter orders - the latter being the biggest fulfilment. I'm not quite sure what you're getting at about the statement being "telling".

 RiTides wrote:
I have no doubt that you considered the options- but to me, it seems you considered them, and decided to plow ahead with your business model as-is!

We listen to every side of an argument as much as we can. We will always listen. It is our prerogative, however, to run our business how we wish.

 RiTides wrote:
What I'm saying is, I want to see an off-ramp to continually pledging for Kickstarters to keep up with your range- I would love to buy those Agriosavrar at retail next year, for example, or supplement the ones I got with the ones from this past year when released- but if you are only casting up the wave for each new Kickstarter, not selling your existing range to stores,

I don't know where you've got "not selling your existing range to stores" from; because we do that every week, as well as fulfil Kickstarter orders.

 RiTides wrote:
it seems the focus is just going to continue to be on "new new new" not with what is already released, getting it out there more, and getting the game adopted in actual gaming stores.

You do realise that GW, PP, Battlefront and others work on the "new releases" principle, yes? I.e., they offer something "new new new" every month? That's what we do, except the "new" releases have already been paid for and made their cost back thanks to the project.

Darklands is already in stores. We're actively working to recruit more stores. Stores will only purchase a range that offers new product every month to tempt buyers. That's happened over the past year with our releases, and is happening now.

I do not understand what the issue is.

 RiTides wrote:
To summarize, what I have a problem with is the pressure from your company to pledge for campaign after campaign.

Except that there isn't. We don't put pressure on anybody. You choose to back, you don't choose to back. It's *your* choice.

 RiTides wrote:
I am trying to give some constructive criticism, and I really hope it comes across that way! I have invested hundreds of dollars in your product- probably about $500 total. For me, this is quite a lot! So, I have been a big supporter in that sense. However, for myself and many others, Kickstarters are only a means to an end, and I would love to continue to support you without having to continually pledge for new campaigns. Thus, seeing so many "campaign-only parts", and not seeing as much of a push to go to regular retail outlets as I'd like, caused me to post here trying to verbalize (or textualize ) a feeling that a number of us seem to be having here.

I cannot force Darklands down retailers' throats. You're unhappy with the "pressure" of backing a project, yet you want us to "push" (i.e., "pressure") our product to regular retail outlets. Are you happy with pressure, or not?

At the end of the day, NO wargame is an overnight success. We sell to retailers already, but there's plenty of room to grow. That growth is happening. We continue to use Kickstarter to develop new miniatures and will continue to do so for some time. At the same time as that, we produce at least eight "items" per month that retailers can pick up.

What's the problem?

 RiTides wrote:
I love your range... and I think for it's long-term health, a new strategy will hopefully be considered next year to focus on getting a wider release (i.e. retail) and less focus on new models when you have so many sculpts that so many people would love to buy already... if they were sold anywhere but your site!

They're sold by many retailers in the USA and Europe, as well as our site; we have distributors in the USA and in Europe.

Even if we only sold our miniatures on our website, what's the problem there? Just purchase them from our website.

 RiTides wrote:
(And even on your site, most of it is not for sale, even models that were sent months and months ago to backers).

We can only offer eight releases per month; one for each kindred; if we just dumped fifty new products on the shelves, retailers would baulk and the releases themselves would get lost, and that's not even including the logistics of releases. Our releases need to be painted, photographed, cast in numbers, packaged and sent. There's only a certain amount of hours in a day for our painters, photographers and staff.

For a tiny company with a tiny amount of staff, I think we do pretty well to get eight releases a month out, to be honest.

 RiTides wrote:
Otherwise, you run the risk of people who feel they missed the boat and don't jump on later, and with so many campaign-only exclusives, even earlier backers might feel they missed the boat if you continue to release like this primarily in the future. The sculpts are fantastic, and would fly off the shelf of any FLGS... I really, really hope they get there

Except that they don't.

If we put the current project's items out to retailers now, we'd get about 10% of what we get from a Kickstarter project (probably less). That money wouldn't even cover the costs of the artwork, let alone the sculpts. Look, we go where the money is and where the customers are; I owe it to my staff and my family and my customers to ensure that Mierce has a future, and Kickstarter is where the money is for independent manufacturers like ourselves. I wish it were different, I wish I could magic up £100k out of thin air, but I can't.

Kickstarter projects are excellent, social beasts that not only provides our backers with fantastic new miniatures; they are also promote a great community and a place to speak to us, the developers, with immediacy - and crucially, we get to speak to our fans with immediacy. I really don't see what the issue with running Kickstarter projects is.

Look, I generally get where you're coming from (excepting the strange turns of phrase you're using) - you don't want us to do Kickstarter projects - but I have to say, I totally disagree with you on almost every point you've made, and because of sound reasoning that I've outlined for you. I apologise unreservedly if you are offended by anything I've said, but equally I am entitled to refute what I believe is wrong, and there's nothing I can do for you if you don't want to believe the sound reasoning I've put forward.


Right, I've spent enough time answering this and not working on the project...

Cheers

Rob

I personally think Kickstarter is the single best risk mitigation tool small, independent publishers have for anything, and I think all of them should use it.

But then again, I've also said I'd be 100% comfortable with Games Workshop using KS to launch "Specialist Games" type products, too.

 cincydooley wrote:
I personally think Kickstarter is the single best risk mitigation tool small, independent publishers have for anything, and I think all of them should use it.

Aye, it works out so nicely. RiTides , you don't have to back it, so don't feel pressured that you should - it's your cash after all and the models don't have any super special rules associated with them - just an alternative pose on an existing model. You'll always be welcomed if you do decide join in a campaign. If you want a single piece and don't fancy paying the postage then the old tried and tested method of getting an existing backer to add it to their pledge to spread the postage cost around works just as well.

 cincydooley wrote:

But then again, I've also said I'd be 100% comfortable with Games Workshop using KS to launch "Specialist Games" type products, too.

Why must you give me dreams and then crush them? New Epic and new BFG.........

Solid points on both sides of the debate

(between a 2 'sides' that both want darklands to do as well as it possibly can do lets not forget as both get passionate)

KS is clearly a big part of the game for the foreseeable future (and so it should be),

but looking at the way this has gone compared to the previous lot 3 KS in a year is probably too many as a significant portion of the core backers have hit a wall meaning less/lower pledges (no spare cash/wanting to wait for more stuff to be delivered/ks fatigue etc).... Although a big late surge could prove me totally wrong

I'd love to see the game in more stores (physical and online) too, the QS rules were a major step in achieving that full book will be another one but how realistic it is Mierce is probably best placed to know (ie what discount distributors are demanding compared to what's possible)

some of the US retailers doing really heavy discounts (probably to turn over stock that's not moving fast enough for their business model?, possibly stuff) is probably not helpful as it's training buyers to wait for these sales...

I've seen people (posting) who think even the KS prices are too high for just that reason while they will pay comparable boutique resin prices for stuff that never appears on sale

so balancing that step into distribution in a bigger way is always going to be tricky

The latest!

Update #36

Oct 9 2014

£97,500 - Torleik, Troll Warrior
Comment
2 likes

With the fantastic Gaanh - as well as the alternate Monstrous Commanders for the New Kindreds - now unlocked, we should celebrate with another stretch goal; and this one's for all you Norse lovers out there!



Torleik is a member of the Trolls of Norrheim, a unit of Trolls with two weapons rather than double-handed weapons; with the alternate Vörtun with two weapons already unlocked, that means the Trolls of Norrheim will be complete once Torleik is unlocked!

The Trolls of Norrheim are, of course, a part of the Norse Troll Monstrous Infantry Starter Host, so you don't have to pledge for him individually unless you want to. You could even just add £80 to get the Trolls of Norrheim as a unit on its won, too!

There'll be another stretch goal at £90,000, people... get pledging!

Mierce Miniatures wrote:
I apologise unreservedly if you are offended by anything I've said, but equally I am entitled to refute what I believe is wrong, and there's nothing I can do for you if you don't want to believe the sound reasoning I've put forward.

Like I said, just offering some constructive feedback and you're right, it's totally your call whether to take it or not. I am definitely not offended! I like to participate with creators and offer them my take, and I am very much looking forward to fulfillment of the Monstrous Mounts project that I backed

Speaking of normal releases, I've been eyeing up the Scecchus, Servile Fiend of Dis that is releasing on November 1st. I really love the daemon aesthetic you have (hence my pledging for Erebius on Behema in the Monstrous Mounts campaign!). Might have to treat myself to this one for the holidays

Hey guys I have some Mierce to sell / trade, Everything is in perfect condition afaik but I can check before I ship. I have

QS Rules
Full rule book (When released)
http://www.mierce-miniatures.com/index.php?act=pro&pre=mrm_dkl_bry_gwy_wld_101_000
http://www.mierce-miniatures.com/index.php?act=pro&pre=mrm_dkl_fmr_blr_wld_401_000
http://www.mierce-miniatures.com/index.php?act=pro&pre=mrm_dkl_ysn_kys_wld_102_000
http://www.mierce-miniatures.com/index.php?act=pro&pre=mrm_dkl_abn_ftu_wcf_131_000
http://www.mierce-miniatures.com/index.php?act=pro&pre=mrm_dkl_nor_sfg_wcf_501_000
http://www.mierce-miniatures.com/index.php?act=pro&pre=mrm_dkl_nor_sfg_mbs_601_000
Troll monstrous unit http://www.mierce-miniatures.com/ks2/reward_skirmish_hosts_unlockable.jpg
Manaan on foot http://www.mierce-miniatures.com/ks2/stretch_goals_50000_general.jpg

In trade I'm looking for Ysian Brutes & Carrowek on foot, Infernii (Fiends, Krull, Malicant, Scecchus), other mierce stuff considered, BNIB condition. I'll trade like for like webstore price or sell for whatever I paid + actual shipping cost (except Blood maw, I'd prefer to kkep it than sell at the price I paid, but will trade on above conditions)

@JWBS- No problem posting that here, although if anyone wants to take you up on it please work it out via PM or direct them to a swapshop / etc thread.

-------------------------

Okay guys, as I try to do, I just put my money where my mouth is and pre-ordered Scecchus!

This had me looking at Roberto Chaudon's progress on the other servile fiends of dis on his excellent blog:

http://robertochaudonblog.blogspot.com/

A few pics! I don't think we've seen the standard bearer before, right? It looks really good (first pic below, and plenty more on the blog)






I love them, but can someone PLEASE tell Chaudon to make the last one left-handed as I think there is still one left to go to complete the unit, right?

Looks like the Standard Bearer is a lefty!

Actually, I never thought about that... if you had to hold a standard twice your height, would you put it in your primary hand or not .



More views spoilered:

Still, I'm hoping the last guy has the axe on the left or in a slightly different pose from the 3 other grunts, who all have theirs held in the same direction as Scecchus.

That demonic standard-bearer looks awesome. And with that pose, I can see lots of great conversions where he holds up the carcass of some decapitated enemy general or something. I like it!

RiTides - I was kidding! He probably isn't left handed!

I'd be sure to have my weapon in my 'main' hand after all...

I'll vote for more lefties though - especially on Demons.

What would be more appropriate than a left handed denizen of the Infernal regions!

The demons are really starting to grow on me.

Hell, so are the trolls for that matter.

I thought I was satisfied with the reptiles and shaggy mammals, but it seems like I might not be.

I've already get three viable forces, with my Ysians shaping up nicely as well. Do I really need to add another kindred to the mix?

*sigh*

 RiTides wrote:
@JWBS- No problem posting that here, although if anyone wants to take you up on it please work it out via PM or direct them to a swapshop / etc thread.

Cool, cheers man.

Yep definitely Fiends for me this time (added bonus they'll be produced faster than many of the other monstrous infantry units)


Are these worms? Don't look like veins or hairs and I can't see them on the other guys.

I'm thinking they're scar tissue?

Damn, some of these monstrous hosts are getting sexy... they're trying to break my infantry only plan. How devilish, or Infernii or them.

I had a quick browse over the quickstarter rules last night and I'm really into them seems like a mix of 3rd edition WFB and Warmachine.

I'm really looking forward to playing this and well the minis are the best on the market, really looking forward to some cavalry or centaurs (without rocks on their backs, I just find models with rocks on their backs a bit weird).

I believe we saw some Ogre Centaur type units previously. I can't rightly remember.

If you have any questions, Giraffe, don't hesitate to let me know. I've demoed the game a considerable number of times.....

Another Jutes concept:



Many noted her ample nature, to which Mierce replied with:

Creator Mierce Miniatures 8 minutes ago

I'll do an armoured alternate Mildryth for you guys, how's that, hey?

Oh she's nice.

I notice that the Jutes are the only new kindred without a second Greater Beast option, a non Spider one would be cool.

Hurrah for man camels!!

They're most excellent and shall be one of my picks

(even though they will be a bit smaller than Djizu according to Rob.... Boo!)

Smaller KS2 update - not much to show as there's not much left to sculpt:

Darklands: New Kindreds and Updated Musters!

Hello everyone! It's Friday, yeah!

Before we get on to the proper update, here's a short missive about our current Kickstarter project, Darklands: New Kindreds - it currently stands at £92,000, but there's only THREE DAYS TO GO - so you've not much time to back it and grab yourself some fantastic miniatures - there's tons already unlocked, and you can push it further!

Back to Darklands: First Edition. Again, this week we don't have much... this project is nearing completion, which is officially A Good Thing, if A Little Sad.

So this week there's:
news of our current Kickstarter project, Darklands: New Kindreds
images of miniatures sculpted by Stéphane Simon;
news that Wave 2 fulfilment is almost complete;
a list of what miniatures should be sent in Wave 3, and when Wave 3 will occur;
updated lists of sculptors and sculpts;
updated, downloadable versions of the current QuickStarter Rules, Muster Rules and Kindred Musters;
anything else you can expect from us over the next few months.

Onwards!

Hrafnen Crew

This week there's just one miniature update for you, and that's for the Hrafnen Crew by Stéphane Simon!

The Hrafnen Crew are getting there; with three complete there's just two to go now, and Stéphane should get those done pretty quickly!

The Holumann banner bearer, Snorri Snorrison, is now complete and he's looking fantastic.







With the hardest miniature of the unit now done, Stéphane should be able to get the remaining two done in time for Wave 3 shipping... but we'll see!

Wave 2 shipments are ongoing!

We estimate we're around 90% through the orders containing Wave 2 items so far. We've combined Wave 2 items with QuickStarter Rules (which are now all sent) as well as any existing miniatures from Darklands: Monstrous Mounts (which aren't all sent) - but we do think that, by the end of next week, Wave 2 will be complete.

Where's My Wave 1 and Wave 2 Stuff?

As always, please don't be upset if your orders have not yet been shipped, even if your order is currently in "packing" - please be patient while the boys get your miniatures cast and sent.

Now, if you believe you have an old Wave 1 order that hasn't yet been shipped and are wondering why, many orders only have one shipment wave item and thus will only be shipped when everything in those orders is ready. You can mitigate against this by purchasing a Wave 3 shipment item, of course - so the power's in your hands!

Here's an up to date list of what we think will be shipped when.

With Wave 2 almost complete, attention turns to Wave 3 of course, and we know a little more about what will and what won't make it into Wave 3 (notably Cnebba and Equitus Durio).

What we will do, to give the sculptors a little more time (and to organise printing of Con I Modius), is push Wave 3 back to November (to sit alongside Wave 4) and thus maximise what we can send to you all before the Christmas break. We do apologise for this, but sculptors do live in the real world and they do have real life issues that impinge upon their time. Even so, we think they've done awesome so far!

We'll keep this list updated every Friday.

SHIPMENT WAVE 0: complete for this project.

SHIPMENT WAVE 1 (beginning end of June): Dúngal on foot - Dúngal on pony - Ciniod - Itaina - Domnech - Bagseg - Eadric on foot - Aldhelm - Leofwen on foot - Broga - Urien on foot - Ffion Ferddig - Angedern - Mag ap Mag - Ieuan Longshore and Taranau - Erebius - Mananaan on foot - Idruaada - Daarkan - Naraa - Gaarwäg- Scecchus - Thelliatiss- Ágriosávra- Eikovra - Myrkranio - Knútr on foot - Knútr on horse - Birna - Víthar - Rollo Iron Head - Jörmungand - Crom on foot - Annik - Zethag - Gondard (Gondard - Ekk) - Brugg - Uhtred Uhtredson - Finnan - Danilo Cruz

SHIPMENT WAVE 2 (beginning August): Timoth - Caedoc - Agathae - Velchior - Djiuzu - Baagath's Herd (Baagath - Blaart - Chuwaa - Ungaa - Rapraag) - Praach - Xontór - Thoth - Hanokh - Dawn of Khthon (Myrinna - Syntyss - Thillia - Phyllidii - Elthissi) - Mälmord - Seza

SHIPMENT WAVE 3/4 (beginning November): Eadric on horse - Hrōr - Urien on horse - Carys - Con I Modius (Modius - Gellius - Tiberius- Livia - Severa) - Mananaan on horse - Hrafnen Crew (Vidkun the Brave - Snorri Snorrisson - Gunnar Half-Shield - Jan - Undrik ) - Crom on horse

SHIPMENT WAVE 5 (beginning February): Equitus Durio on Foot - Equitus Durio on Horse - Cnebba - Gesith Unit - Trytheorn - Rikkard - Maximus

Now, if items do slip into Wave 4 or 5, we'll either combine those items with shipments from Darklands: First Edition II or Darklands: Monstrous Mounts, should you have anything from those projects, or we'll ship them free of charge.

Oso is done for Monstrous Mounts unfortunately I can't copy the pics from my phone. The Behema has slipped to Wave 5, though.

Oso looks spectacular. That's another one I need to buy some time down the line.

Kids today and their phones... Not as functional as one would have thought!

Update #20

Oct 10 2014


Oso and Darklands: New Kindreds!
Comment
3 likes

It's been a little while since the last update on Darklands: Monstrous Mounts, but we have an excellent one today because we can show you a completed miniature as well as remind you all about Darklands: New Kindreds!

Before we get on to the proper update, here's a short missive about our current Kickstarter project, Darklands: New Kindreds - it currently stands at £92,000, but there's only THREE DAYS TO GO - so you've not much time to back it and grab yourself some fantastic miniatures - there's tons already unlocked, and you can push it further!

All righty... this week we have:

news of our current Kickstarter project, Darklands: New Kindreds;
sculpt work in progress updates from Aragorn Marks;
a list of what miniatures should be sent in Wave 4 and later, and when Wave 4 will occur;
a list of sculptors and sculpts for this project;
downloadable versions of the current QuickStarter Rules, Muster Rules and Kindred Musters;
anything else you can expect from us over the next few months.

Let's begin!

We fell upon the news that Aragorn Marks had left Games Workshop with total glee, for we always worked well with him back in the day and we love his professionalism and skill. So we gave him Ciniod on Aurogg to do, as well as other things - and that means the Aurogg itself, Oso, has to be done first... and he is. Er, done. Have a look!

The speed of Aragorn Marks is quite something to behold, for Oso is complete... and utterly fantastic. Remember, too, that's he's damn big - he's on a 100mm base!





Needless to say, as he's completed, Oso will be shipping as part of Wave 4, if you've purchased the correct shipment wave items, of course... which means he's completed ahead of schedule!
Here's an up to date list of what we think will be shipped when.
It won't be long now until Wave 4 begins, and we're also combining Wave 4 with Wave 3 items from Darklands: First Edition.
With regard to Darklands: First Edition, Wave 1 shipments are complete and Wave 2 shipments are almost complete; if you backed Darklands: First Edition, please don't be upset if your orders have not yet been shipped, even if your order is currently in "packing" - please be patient while the boys get your miniatures cast and sent. Bear in mind, that Wave 4 shipments will continue from November into December and probably January 2015; we will try to get everything out as soon as we can, but there's a lot to ship - and as always we will prioritise orders in date order; i.e., if you ordered early, you'll get your stuff sent early.
We'll keep this list updated every Friday.

SHIPMENT WAVE 0: almost complete for this project; we estimate that all the existing miniatures will be shipped by the end of next week.
SHIPMENT WAVE 4 (November 2014): Oso.
SHIPMENT WAVE 5 (February 2015): Ciniod on Aurogg - Erebius on Behema - Brontull - Ágriosávra on Sávrakh - Krekkek - Beb on Pig-Bog
SHIPMENT WAVE 6 (April 2015): Birna on Fellhrafn - Vaenhildr

Items in bold will DEFINITELY be sent in that wave as we have the sculpt; items in italics are in progress and should make it into that wave, but we don't yet have the sculpt.

Here's the big list of who's sculpting what and when for Darklands: First Edition II! Please bear in mind that this list may change over time, so don't take it as set in stone until the first work in progress shots appear.

Dan Cockersell: Dan is currently sculpting Erebius on Behema and after he's done he'll sort out Brontull.
Allan Carrasco: Allan should be sculpting Birna (although that is not confirmed yet), but not the Fellhrafn she rides of course.
Roberto Chaudon: Roberto will be sculpting Birna's Fellhrafn and the monstrous beast version, Vaenhildr, as well as Ágriosávra on Sávrakh and Krekkek.
Benoît Cosse: we have great delight in announcing that Benoît will sculpt Blunt-Claw on Goz-Horror and of course Back-Cracker!
Aragorn Marks: with Oso complete, it shouldn't be long before Ciniod on Aurogg is done, either!
Stéphane Simon: it's just Beb on Pig-Bog for Stéphane!

Not too many sculpts from this project, but awesome ones all the same...

We thought this would be a good idea, as things are cracking on - a list of completed sculpts, in kindred order! Completed sculpts are in bold; in progress sculpts are in italics.

ALBAINN: Ciniod on Aurogg - Oso
BYZANTII: Erebius on Behema - Brontull
KHTHONES: Ágriosávra on Sávrakh - Krekkek
NORSE: Birna on Fellhrafn - Vaenhildr
VRAS: Blunt-Claw on Goz-Horror - Back-Cracker
YSIANS: Beb on Pig-Bog

Let us know if we've missed anything!

Update #91

Oct 10 2014

Darklands: New Kindreds and Updated Musters!
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It's Friday, and with three days left to go on Darklands: New Kindreds, here's your usual Friday update!

Before we get on to the proper update, here's a short missive about our current Kickstarter project, Darklands: New Kindreds - it currently stands at £92,000, but there's only THREE DAYS TO GO - so you've not much time to back it and grab yourself some fantastic miniatures - there's tons already unlocked, and you can push it further!

Anway. This week we have:

news of our current Kickstarter project, Darklands: New Kindreds;
sculpt work in progress updates from Olivier Bouchet and Roberto Chaudon;
a list of what miniatures should be sent in Wave 4, and when Wave 4 will occur;
an updated list of sculptors and sculpts for this project;
updated, downloadable versions of the current QuickStarter Rules, Muster Rules and Kindred Musters;
anything else you can expect from us over the next few months.

Let's begin!

This week we have final images of the fantastic Craven Fiends of Dis from Roberto Chaudon, and a virtually completed Abhorrent from Olivier Bouchet!

The amazing Roberto Chaudon has completed and parted up the Craven Fiends of Dis!


Kaius, Obeisant Fiend of Dis


Drubal, Menial Signifer of Dis


Bacchus, Lowly Fiend of Dis


Kolkhus, Lowly Fiend of Dis


Luco, Lowly Fiend of Dis

Olivier Bouchet has continued his work on the Abhorrents of Ys and they're looking amazing already!

Zunur is about complete, and he's looking great. Olivier is fast becoming our go-to guy for left-field monstrous infantry... Roberto's certainly got a rival!



Such is Olivier's speed, we are confident that the Abhorrents will be a Wave 5 shipment.

Here's an up to date list of what we think will be shipped when.

It won't be long now until Wave 4 begins, and we're also combining Wave 4 with Wave 3 items from Darklands: First Edition.

With regard to Darklands: First Edition, Wave 1 shipments are complete and Wave 2 shipments are almost complete; if you backed Darklands: First Edition, please don't be upset if your orders have not yet been shipped, even if your order is currently in "packing" - please be patient while the boys get your miniatures cast and sent.

Bear in mind, that Wave 4 shipments will continue from November into December and probably January 2015; we will try to get everything out as soon as we can, but there's a lot to ship - and as always we will prioritise orders in date order; i.e., if you ordered early, you'll get your stuff sent early.

We'll keep this list updated every Friday.

SHIPMENT WAVE 0: complete for this project.
SHIPMENT WAVE 4 (beginning November): Oghu Guardians (Grubog - Pabogg- Drudd - Skrugadd - Undagg) - Skyclad Ciniod - Skyclad Itaina - Gromi (Gromi - Gromi with two cleavers - Armoured Gromi with two cleavers) - Gomagg - Sweordsman Timoth - Cæna - Loyal Guard, Teulu Unit (Cynog - Lleu Gryf - Gerallt - Dafydd - Emyr) - Feral Agathae - Tykho - The Eye Ascendant, Warriors of Baalor Unit (Aanan - Ulaan - Lungaarn - Coraat - Paara) - Helmed Naraa - Marked Galagaak - Craven Fiends of Dis (Kaius - Drubal - Bacchus - Kolkhus - Luco) - Trolls of Töheim, Armoured Troll Unit (Vörtun, Gjöll, Unnolg, Gurrir, Nisurl) - Kill-Head Flint-Fang - Akkaz - Sáthach
SHIPMENT WAVE 5 (beginning February): Spears of Dun Durn - Umaer Drast - Young Magágg - Armoured Hrōr - Eoric's Pack - Rēoc's Pack (Rēoc - Brega - Hædo) - Tonsured Caedoc - Warriors of Dyngonwy, Rhyfelwyr Unit - Forwyn Carys - Quintus Crito - Brunchaath on Gooracx - Slaughterers - Enslaved Ágriosávra - Khallas - Corpse Takers - Ravener Birna - Hrókr - Abhorrents of Ys (Gorz - Kell - Relguss - Ingenga - Zunur) - Ax-Crom - Flesh-Scavengers (Gondard - Ekk - Yrag - Bil - Flesh-Pile) - Shadows of Carn Bran - Uhtred on Horse - Max Schüte's second Descendant
SHIPMENT WAVE 6 (beginning April): Oghu Keepers (Brugbad - Dungabad - Lobeg - Bogad - Rubeg) - Geraint on Ceffyldraig - Parawn - In III Judas - Srók - Thórrir -

Items in bold will DEFINITELY be sent in that wave as we have the sculpt; items in italics are in progress and should make it into that wave, but we don't yet have the sculpt.

Here's the big list of who's sculpting what and when for Darklands: First Edition II! Please bear in mind that this list may change over time, so don't take it as set in stone until the first work in progress shots appear.

Olivier Bouchet: Olivier has begun work on the Abhorrents of Ys, Abhorrent Unit, with Zunur getting the treatment first.
Stéphane Camosseto: Stéphane has begun work on Eoric's Pack, Werwulf Unit, although there's nothing to show yet; and then it's Armoured Hrōr...
Allan Carrasco: Allan will be sculpting Ravener Birna and Thórrir.
Roberto Chaudon: Next for Roberto are the Corpse Takers, Hrafnmann Unit; Enslaved Ágriosávra; Khallas; Parawn; Hrókr; Geraint Nerthol on Ceffyldraig and Srók.
Benoît Cosse: we've given Benoît the remainder of the Slaughterers, Krokodar Unit, Brunchaath on Gooracx and the Young Magágg and Umaer Drast alternates.
Yannick Fusier: thanks to his awesome work on Bagseg, we've given Yannick the Oghu Keepers, Oghurithne Unit - and he's already begun work on them, with Rubeg finished and Lobeg in progress!
Christian Hardy: We have now given Rēoc's Pack to Christian! He has almost finished Rēoc, and then it's Brega and Hædo to complete the unit.
Patrick Masson: Patrick will be sculpting Uhtred on Horse, to match his foot version.
Hector Moran: excitingly, Hector will be digitally sculpting In III Judas, Demilegionary Incaendium and Quintus Crito.
Olivier Nkweti: Olivier has almost completed the The Eye Ascendant, Warriors of Baalor Unit; and after those he will be digitally sculpting the Warriors of Dyngonwy, Rhyfelwyr Unit, and the Spears of Dun Durn, Gairlom Unit. In total, four units for Olivier with the completed Teulu Unit, but such is his work rate and professionalism, we think that's no trouble for him.
Juan Navarro Pérez: Juan has begun work on Forwyn Carys and will sculpt the alternate version of Caedoc, Tonsured Caedoc.
Stéphane Simon: the Shadows of Carn Bran, Shadow-Drune Unit and Ax-Crom - as well as Yrag, Bil and Ekk's Heap - are the sum of Stéphane's work for this project.
Ernst Veingart: the sculptor of Mjagnir, Ernst has almost completed a "miniature" that will dwarf Mjagnir the Jötunn - Gomagg, the Albainn Giant!
Unknown: we don't yet have a sculptor confirmed for Max Schüte's second Descendant, but we hope to confirm him (and have artwork for it) soon.

Tons of sculpts!

We thought this would be a good idea, as things are cracking on - a list of completed sculpts, in kindred order! Completed sculpts are in bold; in progress sculpts are in italics.

ALBAINN: Oghu Guardians (Grubog - Pabogg- Drudd - Skrugadd - Undagg) - Skyclad Ciniod - Oghu Keepers (Brugbad - Dungabad - Lobeg - Bogad - Rubeg) - Skyclad Itaina - Spears of Dun Durn - Umaer Drast - Gromi (Gromi - Gromi with two cleavers - Armoured Gromi with two cleavers) - Young Magágg - Gomagg
ANGELCYNN: Armoured Hrōr - Eoric's Pack - Sweordsman Timoth - Cæna - Rēoc's Pack (Rēoc - Brega - Hædo)
BRYTHONIAID: Geraint on Ceffyldraig - Loyal Guard, Teulu Unit (Cynog - Lleu Gryf - Gerallt - Dafydd - Emyr) - Tonsured Caedoc - Warriors of Dyngonwy, Rhyfelwyr Unit - Forwyn Carys - Parawn
BYZANTII: Quintus Crito - In III Judas - Feral Agathae - Tykho
FOMORAIC: Brunchaath on Gooracx - The Eye Ascendant (Aanan - Ulaan - Lungaarn - Coraat - Paara) - Helmed Naraa - Marked Galagaak
INFERNII: Craven Fiends of Dis (Kaius - Drubal - Bacchus - Kolkhus - Luco )
KHTHONES: Srók - Slaughterers - Enslaved Ágriosávra - Khallas
NORSE: Thórrir - Corpse Takers - Ravener Birna - Trolls of Töheim, Armoured Troll Unit (Vörtun, Gjöll, Unnolg, Gurrir, Nisurl) - Hrókr
VRAS: Kill-Head Flint-Fang
YSIANS: Abhorrents of Ys (Gorz - Kell - Relguss - Ingenga - Zunur) - Ax-Crom - Flesh-Scavengers (Gondard - Ekk - Yrag - Bil - Flesh-Pile) - Shadows of Carn Bran - Akkaz
SELL-SWORDS: Uhtred on Horse, Sáthach
DESCENDANTS: Max Schüte's second Descendant

Let us know if we've missed anything!

The last fiend looks great, just like the art, although that means not left-handed

Update #38

Oct 10 2014

£107,500 - Iqqud, Dromedon
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Fresh from smashing another stretch goal, £92,500 (which means the alternate Sorcerers for both new and old kindreds are unlocked!), here's another...



The Dromedon known as Iqqud is a mighty camel-beast of the Byzantii, a big fella who stands on an 80mm base and knocks out your enemies with a big swing, or maybe a big spit. Who knows? It's your choice when you field him!

Increase your pledge by £32 to get a hold of him on his own, and remember - once he's unlocked, the Byzantii Dromedus Monstrous Infantry Starter Host is unlocked too!