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With the release of the new Ariadna Scout with the AP sniper rifle, CB has dropped two of the existing scouts. The AP sniper rifle was replaced, but now you cannot get a scout with an e-mauler. Why would they do this?

Likely cause the replacement to the other is coming along shortly.
But if you still want the other one you will still find it in stock for awhile since unlike GW, CB doesn't require that stores take old models off the shelf when replacements are released.

I do hope that is the case, although I'd have preferred if they finally did up a scout with the boarding shotgun, as we already had a sniper and e-mauler models. Plus, it would have been nice to have some diversity, rather than just a single sniper scout. I could have also done without the price increase, but whatchagonnado? (Not unlike GW afterall, hmm?)

http://infinitythegame.com/forum/index.php?/topic/22261-discontinued-future-references-discontinued/

This is a thread that tells you upcoming discontin...ues??

But I get what you mean. With some that are stopped as a new replacement has been released, fair enough but can be a tad annoying dropping others. There is always a bit of a lag from them being discontinued and suppliers running out so there is normally still an opportunity to get them if you are prepared to get it right then.

Another common thing they are doing is box sets. I get the idea behind but I prefer it separately from a purchase POV. Take tomcats, now in a box of 3 + remote, but I'm only ever going to field 1 at a time so...

That's where I come in

The E/Mauler scout was a very old model that also suffered from the burden of being a very unpopular weapons load-out; Both the Ojotnik or the E/Mauler are heavily derided for being under-useful and over-expensive.

It may be they were just plain low on stock and decided to pull it rather than do another casting run (as suggested above, it might be there's a replacement on the way).

It could point to a new model further down the line. CB are in the process of updating a lot of 1st and 2nd edition models to be in line with Human Sphere and Campaign Paradiso for people starting the game with N3.

Another good example is when the new Kum were released, not only were both old boxes discontinued, but Izzat Beg was as well. CB have (I think?) confirmed we're getting more new Kum, both Izzat and the Kum girl have been mentioned. Speculation is both of these will be in a box, like Asuka and the Aragoto hacker. But for now, they're gone.

Remember that this just means they are ceasing production/distribution.

They have not recalled those models. You can still hunt them down if you are so inclined.

I get that it is not a popular model. But I suppose it brings up a general point. There are tons of minis that have rules, but no accompanying model to represent them. Because of this we are forced to proxy the ones we actually want to use. I just don't see the point in taking away a model that is already done up, and has rules, when there are so many others that don't even have a model.

Hopefully we see a new and better looking ojotnik/e-mauler mini, as well as a scout with a boarding shotgun. Obviously, there are many many more we'd all like to see. I just hope that CB don't put all the new stuff in big boxed sets, with a bunch of stuff that we don't actually want. I really liked being able to buy standalone blisters at a time for 6-7 quid, to try out something new, rather than spending 25 quid for one model and a bunch that I don't actually want.

Why discontinue?

Because moulds for metal castings wear out.

Because sculptors improve over time - and tastes change also.

That said, my favourite sculptors tend to be the ones who have settled into their "niche" and continue to do what they are good at.

 Barksdale wrote:
I just hope that CB don't put all the new stuff in big boxed sets, with a bunch of stuff that we don't actually want. I really liked being able to buy standalone blisters at a time for 6-7 quid, to try out something new, rather than spending 25 quid for one model and a bunch that I don't actually want.

This is a separate issue. There's a few reasons for the move to boxes.

First and foremost, it reduces SKUs. This makes it a lot easier for stockists, both old and new. New stockists won't be as lost when trying to figure out what to carry, and old stockists won't have to give over so much shelf space.

Second, it makes releasing full link teams a lot easier. Have a look at the way the Hassassin Muyibs were released compared to the Sekban. Would you rather 5 blisters spread over nearly 2 years, or 1 blister with a special weapon and a box with everything else spread over a few months?

Third, boxes sell better than blisters. Plain and simple. The combination of a more substantial product and prettier packaging means most will pay for a box (and really, you are saving money with the boxes).

 -Loki- wrote:


This is a separate issue. There's a few reasons for the move to boxes.

Sure.

 -Loki- wrote:

First and foremost, it reduces SKUs. This makes it a lot easier for stockists, both old and new. New stockists won't be as lost when trying to figure out what to carry, and old stockists won't have to give over so much shelf space.

I'll give you this. I think it's the only one that holds weight though.

 -Loki- wrote:

Second, it makes releasing full link teams a lot easier. Have a look at the way the Hassassin Muyibs were released compared to the Sekban. Would you rather 5 blisters spread over nearly 2 years, or 1 blister with a special weapon and a box with everything else spread over a few months?

Oh come on mate. Sorry, how is it easier to design, make moulds and cast the exact same miniatures if they are released in a boxed set rather than individually? There no reason why those blisters can't be released on a similar schedule.

 -Loki- wrote:

Third, boxes sell better than blisters. Plain and simple. The combination of a more substantial product and prettier packaging means most will pay for a box (and really, you are saving money with the boxes).

How is this good for the consumer? What if I want multiples of a model, but it is only available as one part of a £20-£25 set? I realise that some people offer a service to break down the sets But the popular models go quickly. Besides this, the point still stands. Why doesn't CB do it like this? The demand is obviously there.

 Barksdale wrote:
Oh come on mate. Sorry, how is it easier to design, make moulds and cast the exact same miniatures if they are released in a boxed set rather than individually? There no reason why those blisters can't be released on a similar schedule.

This has two problems. One, they only do one release per army per month. If they stuck to the Muyib method, that's three releases over three months, if the faction didn't skip a month, of getting one unit. This method at least cuts it down to two, and one of those gets you one of every main weapon (at least so far).

Then, it ties back to my first point. That's an additional SKU to order, maybe more (look at Myrmidon links if they want a WYSIWIG spitfire) for stockists to stock.

 Barksdale wrote:
How is this good for the consumer? What if I want multiples of a model, but it is only available as one part of a £20-£25 set? I realise that some people offer a service to break down the sets But the popular models go quickly. Besides this, the point still stands. Why doesn't CB do it like this? The demand is obviously there.

What if I want 3 of the female Ghulam rifle? I have to buy the blister 3 times!

Sorry, the multiples of single models argument only holds water if you want every single release as a single model blister.

That is something I as a consumer do not want, because single models cost more (example - 4 model box costs me $36au, single models cost me $14au. Do the math).

 Barksdale wrote:

 -Loki- wrote:

Third, boxes sell better than blisters. Plain and simple. The combination of a more substantial product and prettier packaging means most will pay for a box (and really, you are saving money with the boxes).

How is this good for the consumer? What if I want multiples of a model, but it is only available as one part of a £20-£25 set? I realise that some people offer a service to break down the sets But the popular models go quickly. Besides this, the point still stands. Why doesn't CB do it like this? The demand is obviously there.

Because Corvus Beli is a business. Businesses exist to make money. Fortunately, Corvus Beli has decided to use the "make the consumer buy more, but at a cheaper per-unit price" approach. This is beneficial for collectors and other customers who want a range of sculpts/loadouts for a unit. It is beneficial for those who want a linked team, and are willing to proxy some weapons as generic rifles. It is good for Corvus Beli, as customers who would only buy one model are now forced to buy multiples. It's good for stores, who reduce the amount of "Dead" blister on shelves. It is bad for customers who want only one model of a unit, or multiples of one sculpt.

Well, I guess I'll just need to become a collector. Good thing almost all the miniatures are gorgeous, even if I'll rarely use them.

That's what I do.

Though it's beneficial in that I have very, very rarely used the same list twice. I'll usually actually just make a list out of the latest models I've painted and sprinkle in other painted models to complete the list.

As has been pointed out you can still get older Shao-lin, Ko Dali and Morlock Gruppen with a quick web search - am sure these miniatures won't be any different!

As Loki said, from speaking to a trader I think the main reason for the change is to reduce the number of SKUs for retailers. I think at present stores looking to stock Infinity have looked at the stock list and started crying - CB realise this and are seeking to make their product list more manageable.