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Hi just bumped into dan the big lad who worked at mealstrom
When merice minitures split from mealstrom him and 2 other staff as well as tim fisher move too
My worry is if rob lane raised over 100000 from kick starter why did he make 2 of his staff redundent in the last month

Dan and another lad called wrighty
is there still a money problem

Yeah, I also heard about this on another forum that they were firing staff and closing up the company. Not surprised that Rob Lane is planning to do a runner with the money and close down Mierce.

I warned people not to pledge on that Kickstarter when it was posted on Dakka, but unfortunately my forum posts were deleted, as were lots of other posts from other members which were very politely warning other forum members about it.

Hope people didn't pledge too much money on it, the thing is because Mierce were delivering orders promptly at the time everyone said "oh its okay they're not like maelstrom", but the thing is that's how ponzi schemes work.. the first few people get their orders and everything looks fine, but then as soon as a lot of money gets parted with, they do a runner.

I tried to point this out but everyone kept saying "no it's fine, everyone won't lose their money like they did with maelstrom"... and now it's happening all over again.

Absolutely, completely and utterly predictable result. I (and lots of others) said it would happen, and it has. Everyone who defended them should learn a hard lesson here I think.

 scarletsquig wrote:
Yeah, I also heard about this on another forum that they were firing staff and closing up the company. Not surprised that Rob Lane is planning to do a runner with the money and close down Mierce.

I warned people not to pledge on that Kickstarter when it was posted on Dakka, but unfortunately my forum posts were deleted, as were lots of other posts from other members which were very politely warning other forum members about it.

Hope people didn't pledge too much money on it, the thing is because Mierce were delivering orders promptly at the time everyone said "oh its okay they're not like maelstrom", but the thing is that's how ponzi schemes work.. the first few people get their orders and everything looks fine, but then as soon as a lot of money gets parted with, they do a runner.

I tried to point this out but everyone kept saying "no it's fine, everyone won't lose their money like they did with maelstrom"... and now it's happening all over again.

Absolutely, completely and utterly predictable result. I (and lots of others) said it would happen, and it has. Everyone who defended them should learn a hard lesson here I think.

That's an awfully high horse you've climbed on off the back of one rumour that may, or may not, have any bearing on Mierce's financial health.

I too remember the comments in the Mierce Kickstarter the thread, and it doesn't surprise me comments were deleted as the 'polite' warnings were so loud and persistent that they drowned out that which was relevant in that particular thread.

Not saying it was wrong to warn people then, and I'm not saying you're wrong now. I'm certainly no Rob Lane sympathiser, albeit I was only out to the tune of a princely £3 when Maelstrom folded, but until there's more info I would keep my powder dry.

Edit: Just noticed they've released new pics of sculpts today over in N+R, not the actions of a company turning out the lights, not yet anyways.

I'm not concerned if I'm wrong, in fact that would be really good news.

I would be concerned about being right and not speaking my mind about it, though.

It's not like I'm making personal attacks or anything, just stating the obvious based on the available evidence, and that evidence is that Mierce are firing their staff members who were supposed to be working on the Kickstarter stuff right after taking 100k+ in cash.

People are welcome to draw their own conclusions. If you have money pledged, I would advise doing anything you can to get a refund while you still can if you still have money tied up in that company. Once they go bankrupt and Rob steals the money away to some other temporary company (like he did with Maelstrom > Mierce, leaving hundreds of people out of pocket), there will be nothing you can do to legally get your cash back.

I've lost money to online webstore scammers in the wargaming business before, and am very keen to make sure it doesn't happen to anyone else.

As you say yourself, Rob Lane stole £3 out of your pocket.

Firing is very different from making redundant.


Besides, iirc one of the things that contributed to Maelstroms demise was Robs apparent reluctance to wield the axe when it was needed, meaning he retained too many staff after trade fell away due to the ROW embargo. So it could be a sign he's learned from past mistakes.

There's way too many factors in play to read anything into this just yet, especially if the staff were fired, as that would undermine the credibility of anything they said.

Were these key staff members? Maybe paying people he didn't need was part of his initial problem?

Redundant posts were deleted from the original thread, there were many sources spelling out the situation, including myself in the KS comments.

Let's wait and see I guess.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
I would take the fact that they are clearly still paying sculptors as a very positive sign.

 plastictrees wrote:
Were these key staff members? Maybe paying people he didn't need was part of his initial problem?

Redundant posts were deleted from the original thread, there were many sources spelling out the situation, including myself in the KS comments.

Let's wait and see I guess.

There's only what?.. 3 people in the company to start with?.. not sure how two of them could possibly qualify as disposable. Definitely an alarm bells sign, as it means they're struggling for cash one way or the other, which shouldn't be happening with a massive bank balance full of kickstarter cash. The lack of a public statement by Mierce themselves is concerning.

Id be more worried if they had used quickstarter for all the funds. As it is though they opened the website up to orders. Although the original pledge payment may be lost as it was through KS, the extra payments will be chargebackable though card companies. They didnt have to do that.

Also as Azreal said, they have been revealing new sculpts and updates. Im not concerned yet.

May 20th is new dispatch date. The only KS ive had that delivered on time was the Game gears brushes (and to be honest they were very disappointing) lets hold our horses before defaming MM just yet.

I've already gotten one shipment of my Mierce pledge, which was most of it, as I pledge for a lot of pre-existing stuff. It's all incredibly high quality.

To be fair, doesn't Tim Fisher own Mierce now? Rob Lane is the director. The company is managed by others and has a totally different bank account/business crap/etc.

New sculpts keep rolling in, suclptors are getting paid, the Darklands dice just got made, etc...

I'm fairly certain all parties involved want to make sure Mierce sticks around, as it looks like it's actually a profitable venture. The quality of the figures I've gotten (basically, the best miniatures I've ever seen and owned in 20+ years), the quality of sculptors hired, the quick responses to any questions I've asked... they're making a lot of customers very happy. As soon as the next round of KS stuff ships in a few weeks, they'll have a customer for life from me.

But that's how companies turn their public image around, like CMON did after the New Wave business.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Wait, I re-read the initial posts and now I'm trying to figure out what people are talking about. Maelstrom laid off people? How would that affect Mierce?

Isn't it just a bit of a misunderstanding, though? Maunsfield gaming (the store split off from Maelstrom) did indeed go into liquidation/enter receivership or something to that effect (gee, somehow folks didn't quite trust a mr. Lane endevour this time around...) and perhaps this staff member got laid off from there?

Kickstarter money =/= profit.

In fact it can often equal loss in cash terms, once one factors in rising postage costs and the additional challenges of meeting higher expectations.

It's great for Mierce to have raised the cash, but only post-KS sales will support the company in expanding.

R.

A company that Rob Lane is involved in; I mean what could possibly go wrong?

 notprop wrote:
A company that Rob Lane is involved in; I mean what could possibly go wrong?

Indeed. I had issues with maelstrom and am convinced lane is a viper as a result, I'm concerned as to why all the negative posts got deleted as well.. Did he bung a moderator?

It's like the miniature war gaming version of the parliamentary expenses scandal or the Iraq war enquiry!

If I get banned for this post, consider me our doctor David Kelly!

I would imagine the majority of the initial shipments of sculpts from the kickstarter where existing sculpts from an already existing stockpile. Pretty much kick starting a fire sale. It will be up to how the liquidation of maelstrom, which it looks like maunsfeld may have been drawn back into, progresses. It's entirely possible that mierce's assets including the kickstarter money could be lost to creditors. I only hope some very talented freelance sculptors got paid in advance.

So... They probably payed ten thousend of dollars for NEW sculpts from world wide known artist and THEN decide to keep the rest?

Seriously?

RoninXiC wrote:
So... They probably payed ten thousend of dollars for NEW sculpts from world wide known artist and THEN decide to keep the rest?

Seriously?

My thoughts exactly. Ignoring the fact that the OP is named Troll1 and probably trying to stir up a firestorm there's far too much conspiracy theory guessing going on and less reasoning. It seems like a lot of effort to go to, to "scam our cash". So far, Mierce has Set up a Kickstarter, Commissioned sculptors (which are producing real miniatures that can be seen as both WIP's and finished resins both from Mierce and the commissioned Sculptors own blogs. Hell, even Aradae Mawr is number 1 on CMON's top minis of the week list here: http://www.coolminiornot.com/topweek) and finally commissioned painters (It's a fair guess to say Sébastien Picque and Ben Komets have been commissioned to paint these). Not forgetting artists like Stefan Kopinski who has produced concept artwork for the minis and as well as artwork for the quickstarter rulebook.

That's an awful lot of effort to go to. Though I will admit it sounds like they do want our money - in exchange for stunning resin minis and an interesting take on European history through a potentially fun looking war game

So again, people got laid off from the retail store?

The retail store has nothing to do with Mierce Miniatures at this point.


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UNCLEBADTOUCH wrote:
I would imagine the majority of the initial shipments of sculpts from the kickstarter where existing sculpts from an already existing stockpile. Pretty much kick starting a fire sale. It will be up to how the liquidation of maelstrom, which it looks like maunsfeld may have been drawn back into, progresses. It's entirely possible that mierce's assets including the kickstarter money could be lost to creditors. I only hope some very talented freelance sculptors got paid in advance.

Mierce = different company. I know a lot of people don't like to understand this due to Rob Lane's association, but Mierce was sold legally. This is how things like LLC's and such work, and even people like Donald Trump do this so that one failed venture does not take all the other companies with them.

Of course, I could be totally wrong, and Rob Lane is some evillll mastermind that separated Mierce only to tricksie us again with a Tim Fisher puppet and a Kickstarter and he's so brilliantly deceiving us that they've been constantly posting works in progress of new figures, sending out shipments, getting dice made, paying sculptors... what an evilllll dude, I bet you his evilllll plan will also including sending us the new figures, too, so he'll keep deceiving us 5ever!!!

First of all im troll 1 because trolls are my favourite fantasy figure
2nd. If you read what i wrote dan and the other one moved to merice when it was split from mealstrom
3rd where do poeple get the idea that rob lane isnt the owner of merice Tim fisher runs it put all of it is owned by rob lane
4th wasnt the last release just a mix up of old skulpts


Automatically Appended Next Post:
First of all im troll 1 because trolls are my favourite fantasy figure
2nd. If you read what i wrote dan and the other one moved to mierce when it was split from mealstrom
3rd where do poeple get the idea that rob lane isnt the owner of mierce Tim fisher runs it put all of it is owned by rob lane
4th wasnt the last release just a mix up of old skulpts

Troll1 wrote:

4th wasnt the last release just a mix up of old skulpts

One was and one was a brand new sculpt. Also, if you see the news and rumours Mierce thread, people have begun to receive the Kickstarter funded models.

I'm still unsure what's going on.

The only thing I've read is that the game store is closing and the staff were let go. The game store wasn't Mierce.

The last like 20 sculpts are all brand new from the KS. People have already started getting the new KS sculpts (such as the minotaurs, etc)

All the updates and news are public (on the other dakka thread, or on their KS updates, or on the Mierce forum)

I understand that rob lane seems wans to a make a go of mierce miniatures as evidenced by the effort that has been put in, however it has not been proven that mierce has been safely ring fenced from the creditors. I personally want to see everyone get what they ordered and for the artists involved to all be properly paid however I think it is wise that people are vigilant with regards to what is happening. In offering regular updates and the split shipping mierce are definately doing the right thing to allay concerns, however some things may well be out of their control.

Troll1 wrote:
First of all im troll 1 because trolls are my favourite fantasy figure
2nd. If you read what i wrote dan and the other one moved to merice when it was split from mealstrom
3rd where do poeple get the idea that rob lane isnt the owner of merice Tim fisher runs it put all of it is owned by rob lane
4th wasnt the last release just a mix up of old skulpts

1st. What's Merice?
2nd. You call yourself Troll because 'they're you're favourite' yet have only ever posted in regard to MG and MM related subjects, and speak like you're an authority without qualifying why.
3rd. People get the idea that Rob lane doesn't own MM as they may not be aware that an owner of a business doesn't need to actually be involved in running it maybe?
4th. As someone who speaks with apparent authority of what's gone on, shouldn't you be better informed of their releases?

UNCLEBADTOUCH wrote:
I understand that rob lane seems wans to a make a go of mierce miniatures as evidenced by the effort that has been put in, however it has not been proven that mierce has been safely ring fenced from the creditors. I personally want to see everyone get what they ordered and for the artists involved to all be properly paid however I think it is wise that people are vigilant with regards to what is happening. In offering regular updates and the split shipping mierce are definately doing the right thing to allay concerns, however some things may well be out of their control.

Sure, of course, people should be vigilant with regards to what is happening. But on one hand we have information about the gaming store laying off employees, on the other hand we have Mierce constantly updating, paying it's sculptors, and sending out KS pledges (including new sculpts). And where is this information? We've got third hand info in the OP and then Scarletsquig saying he saw on another forum something (where? link?). It'd be one thing if it was credible, and Mierce wasn't posting stuff or paying sculptors or sending product; but it's literally the opposite right now.

UNCLEBADTOUCH wrote:
...however it has not been proven that mierce has been safely ring fenced from the creditors...

Even if that's true, I can't see many wargaming companies who'd pass on the opportunity to own the IP with a stunning range of sculpts and a small but growing customer base (Administrators would be keen to sell the IP to recoup costs and debts). They'd be stupid to buy the IP and then not fulfill the customers orders. Fulfilling them will only lead to good vibes and positive feedback.

So some staff were sacked, so what ?
This is hardly a cause for concern.
Also i dont believe the op, he has only ever posted in rob lane threads, im guessing he is as his name suggests.

blingman wrote:
So some staff were sacked, so what ?
This is hardly a cause for concern.
Also i dont believe the op, he has only ever posted in rob lane threads, im guessing he is as his name suggests.

And, if nothing else, the spelling is dodgy. ('Cause trolls go big fingers and have trouble typing?)

The Auld Grump, more ogre than troll, am I....

Fact is that a numerous of new miniatures have been shipped to customers. There are several pictures around the net proving that. The new minotaurs, "Glaun", etc. There are also lots of WIPs for new concepts from well-known and respected sculptors. I've been in contact with a few that confirmed that they've received payment for commissions.

This thread is an obvious trolling attempt, most likely by someone who lost out in the MG fiasco. I have, myself, received part of my order from the KS.

 DiabolicAl wrote:
quickstarter

Excellent . I'm going to have to call it that from now on!

About Mierce, I also was wary of it and posted about it warning folks. But scarletsquig, not all those posts were deleted- in fact, we had pages of discussion about it! A lot of folks decided to take the risk, and so far, everything I have seen seems to indicate that things are being sculpted and shipped.

It doesn't mean that will always be the case, but there doesn't seem to be any crisis going on right now (despite the above rumor) from what I have seen.