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 McDougall Designs wrote:
how about conversion sprues for the other sets, like the romans, or turning the einherjar into heavily armored fantasy dwarves?

That's a tough call for me. Honestly, for the einherjar, I think they're too sci fi for a fantasy sprue but they could highly benefit from an upgrade sprue with some additional sci fi close combat weapons (chainaxes and power hammers), some veteran/leader heads (such as an unhelmeted long-bearded head for a Not-Living Ancestor and a full-facemask horned helmet like the old Squat warlord or hearthguard) , and maybe a shoulder-mounted heavy weapon.

 Smokestack wrote:
Here is a GW Greatsword, a GW state troop, A fireforge northman, and a Conq Arquebusier and a a Conq swordsman. Forgive my crappy picture taking.

I have more pictures of the conquistadors and Warlord landsknechts using conquistador bits at the Wargames atlantic forum... here: https://wargamesatlantic.com/community/xenforum/topic/60988/my-first-conquistadors

Thanks for the photos, they look brilliant, size is fine, and detail is very sharp.

That box is perfect for anyone wanting to do an Empire or Dogs of War force. I can see the following units can be made from it:
Spearmen/Pikemen.
Handgunners.
Halberdiers.
Swordsmen/Duelists
Crossbowmen.
Great Swords.

Only models it can't make for Empire infantry are Free Company and Archers.

Very tempted to pick up 6 or 7 boxes in the future for a full infantry Empire/Dogs of War force. If they make a mounted Conquistador box that can make Pistoliers I may buckle.

 stonehorse wrote:

 Smokestack wrote:
Here is a GW Greatsword, a GW state troop, A fireforge northman, and a Conq Arquebusier and a a Conq swordsman. Forgive my crappy picture taking.

I have more pictures of the conquistadors and Warlord landsknechts using conquistador bits at the Wargames atlantic forum... here: https://wargamesatlantic.com/community/xenforum/topic/60988/my-first-conquistadors

Thanks for the photos, they look brilliant, size is fine, and detail is very sharp.

That box is perfect for anyone wanting to do an Empire or Dogs of War force. I can see the following units can be made from it:
Spearmen/Pikemen.
Handgunners.
Halberdiers.
Swordsmen/Duelists
Crossbowmen.
Great Swords.

Only models it can't make for Empire infantry are Free Company and Archers.

Very tempted to pick up 6 or 7 boxes in the future for a full infantry Empire/Dogs of War force. If they make a mounted Conquistador box that can make Pistoliers I may buckle.

cavalry are on the release schedule and planned. I look forward to adding them next to the infantry box on my webstore and shelf.

I just had another upgrade sprue idea; for the Aztecs

Make a sprue of Eagle Knight heads and left-handed macuahuitl arms with the same sleeves as the Jaguar Knight arms. Enough to turn all the Jaguar Knights in a box into Eagle Knights and also give the option for dual-wield macuahuitl warriors.

Oh, and maybe another back banner so all the Jaguar and/or Eagle Knights can have them.

 KidCthulhu wrote:
I just had another upgrade sprue idea; for the Aztecs

Make a sprue of Eagle Knight heads and left-handed macuahuitl arms with the same sleeves as the Jaguar Knight arms. Enough to turn all the Jaguar Knights in a box into Eagle Knights and also give the option for dual-wield macuahuitl warriors.

Oh, and maybe another back banner so all the Jaguar and/or Eagle Knights can have them.

based on extant information, a 2 handed variant of the macahuitl is more likely than a dual wield.

 McDougall Designs wrote:

 KidCthulhu wrote:
I just had another upgrade sprue idea; for the Aztecs

Make a sprue of Eagle Knight heads and left-handed macuahuitl arms with the same sleeves as the Jaguar Knight arms. Enough to turn all the Jaguar Knights in a box into Eagle Knights and also give the option for dual-wield macuahuitl warriors.

Oh, and maybe another back banner so all the Jaguar and/or Eagle Knights can have them.

based on extant information, a 2 handed variant of the macahuitl is more likely than a dual wield.

But dual wielding is cool. And there are historical examples, such as the Hyoho Niten Ichi Ryu {School of Two Heavens as One} of Miyamoto Musashi using both katana and wakazashi, and fighting in the Florentine style, with a long sword and off-hand dagger.

"There's something you should know."
"What's that?"
"I'm not left-handed either."

As regards option sprues, they need to increase the possible builds with existing kits, without being too expensive. While I did buy two of the Death Fields upgrade sprue, I purchased it for the SMGs, and only secondarily for the pickelhaubes. There are plenty of 3D printed heads out there that are cheaper should I need bulk quantities for an army. The melee weapons option mentioned earlier is a good one. Yes, Victoria Minis has close combat arms, but they are resin. Plastic versions would be superior for added conversion potential.

 McDougall Designs wrote:

 KidCthulhu wrote:
I just had another upgrade sprue idea; for the Aztecs

Make a sprue of Eagle Knight heads and left-handed macuahuitl arms with the same sleeves as the Jaguar Knight arms. Enough to turn all the Jaguar Knights in a box into Eagle Knights and also give the option for dual-wield macuahuitl warriors.

Oh, and maybe another back banner so all the Jaguar and/or Eagle Knights can have them.

based on extant information, a 2 handed variant of the macahuitl is more likely than a dual wield.

You know what? I'd be fine with that too! Just as long as there's 10 heads so that one sprue can update 1 box of Aztecs. Things like a two-handed macahuitl option or a fancier shield for a champion would be just be icing on the cake.

 KidCthulhu wrote:
I just had another upgrade sprue idea; for the Aztecs

Make a sprue of Eagle Knight heads and left-handed macuahuitl arms with the same sleeves as the Jaguar Knight arms. Enough to turn all the Jaguar Knights in a box into Eagle Knights and also give the option for dual-wield macuahuitl warriors.

Oh, and maybe another back banner so all the Jaguar and/or Eagle Knights can have them.

This is a good idea. +1 I would get these. Especially if there was some bits to turn one of the aztecs in to a priest or spell caster of some sort...

 Smokestack wrote:

 KidCthulhu wrote:
I just had another upgrade sprue idea; for the Aztecs

Make a sprue of Eagle Knight heads and left-handed macuahuitl arms with the same sleeves as the Jaguar Knight arms. Enough to turn all the Jaguar Knights in a box into Eagle Knights and also give the option for dual-wield macuahuitl warriors.

Oh, and maybe another back banner so all the Jaguar and/or Eagle Knights can have them.

This is a good idea. +1 I would get these. Especially if there was some bits to turn one of the aztecs in to a priest or spell caster of some sort...

To be honest guys what I was calling a triple alliance upgrade sprue, including:

Taxcalan heads

Potentially some Zapotec specific heads

Eagle warrior heads

1 skull/demon faced helmet head (for the lord of the House of Darts)

Various pāmitl back banners

Some alternate weapons.

For what I had in mind for a conversion sprue for the aztecs.

With this frame you would be able to make every extant troop type that we know of.

If this is extremely popular, I might rethink the order in which I was planning to finance these sprues

These sound great, but I think the biggest thing to consider for a sprue is that one will be enough for a single box.

Using the Aztec Knights as an example; the box has 10 of those bodies, so the sprue should have 10 of a single heads. A sprue with 3 Eagle Knight heads and 4 Zapotec heads won't help someone who wants to make all Zapotec or al Eagle Knights.

Or at least, that kind of concern is what I'm getting from other people's comments; too mixed of a sprue turns people off to it.

If the option is a sprue with a mix of Zapotec and Eagle heads or no sprue at all, how does that affect the calculus? A $5 sprue with 3-5 eagle heads and weapons might not be great for someone who wants Eagle knights and nothing else, but how many customers who buy upgrade bits won’t find value in at least some of the other bits, or be so tightly budgeted that they won’t buy any heads rather than spend slightly more for the Eagle heads when they really need those particular heads?


I admit, I don’t understand the mindset.

That's a very good point too, Bob. I was thinking of the complaint that their weren't enough Not-Krieg heads on the Deathfields sprue.

I guess it depends on how big the sprue is and how much you can fit on it.

 KidCthulhu wrote:
These sound great, but I think the biggest thing to consider for a sprue is that one will be enough for a single box.

Using the Aztec Knights as an example; the box has 10 of those bodies, so the sprue should have 10 of a single heads. A sprue with 3 Eagle Knight heads and 4 Zapotec heads won't help someone who wants to make all Zapotec or al Eagle Knights.

Or at least, that kind of concern is what I'm getting from other people's comments; too mixed of a sprue turns people off to it.

On the flip side, if they make a kit too specific, it might be for exactly 3 people. I don't know the market for the Aztecs and how they sold, I'm assuming they are doing pretty well if a plastic upgrade sprue is in discussion, but right out the gate the upgrade sprue would likely have a smaller market, as the primary people outside of building those specific Aztec designs will be the tiny handful of people who want to put the heads on say Cadians or the like. The people who want the stuff exist, but the more specific the niche is, the smaller number of people will buy in to it.

Considering how mixed the Aztec box is, a mixed upgrade sprue is making more and more sense.

I hope they include priest arms (one hand with obsidian knife, the other hand holding a human heart).

Surely Aztecs II (with full bodies and whatnot) would sell better than an upgrade sprue?

Hum, Aztec Command/Special Weapons box.

Death Fields Aztecs......

 Kid_Kyoto wrote:
Surely Aztecs II (with full bodies and whatnot) would sell better than an upgrade sprue?

Why would you waste space on bodies instead of getting more interesting bitz

 McDougall Designs wrote:

 Kid_Kyoto wrote:
Surely Aztecs II (with full bodies and whatnot) would sell better than an upgrade sprue?

Why would you waste space on bodies instead of getting more interesting bitz

Because a box with bodies is instantly useful. A box with arms means I first have to buy an Aztec box, build and paint it, then love it enough to buy more AND a box with just arms to get more variety. Oh and where ever I buy from has to stock both.

The Death Fields upgrade was specifically aimed at 'turn historicals into sci fi' and expands the number of potential customers. An Aztec upgrade would appeal to fraction of Aztec customers, a much smaller number.

But Aztecs 2 could offer some more characters and poses and might increase the number of customers, as well as bringing back existing Aztec buyers for more.

I mean yeah, I'm an amateur and just going off my gut, but I can't see a sustainable market for most historical upgrade sprues, a second box just seems the better buy.

Alternately make upgrades available as STLs, especially if the sculptor has some that didn't fit on the sprue.

 Kid_Kyoto wrote:

 McDougall Designs wrote:

 Kid_Kyoto wrote:
Surely Aztecs II (with full bodies and whatnot) would sell better than an upgrade sprue?

Why would you waste space on bodies instead of getting more interesting bitz

Because a box with bodies is instantly useful. A box with arms means I first have to buy an Aztec box, build and paint it, then love it enough to buy more AND a box with just arms to get more variety. Oh and where ever I buy from has to stock both.

The Death Fields upgrade was specifically aimed at 'turn historicals into sci fi' and expands the number of potential customers. An Aztec upgrade would appeal to fraction of Aztec customers, a much smaller number.

But Aztecs 2 could offer some more characters and poses and might increase the number of customers, as well as bringing back existing Aztec buyers for more.

I mean yeah, I'm an amateur and just going off my gut, but I can't see a sustainable market for most historical upgrade sprues, a second box just seems the better buy.

Alternately make upgrades available as STLs, especially if the sculptor has some that didn't fit on the sprue.

WGA sure seems to know there's a demand for making a second box for the same kind of unit, and not just a bits sprue, since we've gotten a second Grognards Box, and very soon we're getting Canon Fodder II and Partisans II.

Probably only for there best selling kits though.

Do it like PSC does with their Hanomags and Bren carriers. Release an upgrade sprue and sell it boxed with the original sprue at a slightly higher price.
A box 1.5 you could say. Purists only buy the basic box and others pay premium for the box with options.

Also two are for women which need fairly different bits.

So, an Aztec Command Sprue? Would there be any interest in Aztec women, as well?

Kid Kyoto, would you be more interested in a sprue that has fewer bodies and more bits (like the command section of the Grognard heavy weapon sprue)?

Guys, I was just posing this as an idea. Please don't read too deep

 KidCthulhu wrote:
Considering how mixed the Aztec box is, a mixed upgrade sprue is making more and more sense.

I hope they include priest arms (one hand with obsidian knife, the other hand holding a human heart).

I agree with this. The Aztec box seems to be in need of a bit of help.

I do wonder how well the WGA Aztecs will kitbash with the North Star Ghost Archipelago tribals.

 McDougall Designs wrote:
Guys, I was just posing this as an idea. Please don't read too deep

Yeah, I figured you were gauging interest. I also know it's safer to make a small upgrade sprue than a new unit box.

I know we're just gaffing but it's an interesting discussion.

The quick answer is I'm not interested in Aztecs, full stop. I mean yeah I could be, but it's no where near the 'maybe I might paint them someday' threshold, much less top of my list. So an upgrade sprue would add nothing to my temptation.

But generally I think separate upgrade sprues will always sell less then full sprues and nothing short of a tippy top selling model kit can support an upgrade sprue.

 Garfield666 wrote:
Do it like PSC does with their Hanomags and Bren carriers. Release an upgrade sprue and sell it boxed with the original sprue at a slightly higher price.
A box 1.5 you could say. Purists only buy the basic box and others pay premium for the box with options.

This I could get behind, or even phase out the original box for an upgraded one.

 BobtheInquisitor wrote:
So, an Aztec Command Sprue? Would there be any interest in Aztec women, as well?

I'm hugely interested in Aztec women.

er... perhaps that phrasing is suggestive on second read, but I'll live with it.

But innuendo aside, anything to get more plastic women suitable for historical and fantasy purposes is greatly desired by me.

Carlovonsexron wrote:

 BobtheInquisitor wrote:
So, an Aztec Command Sprue? Would there be any interest in Aztec women, as well?

I'm hugely interested in Aztec women.

er... perhaps that phrasing is suggestive on second read, but I'll live with it.

But innuendo aside, anything to get more plastic women suitable for historical and fantasy purposes is greatly desired by me.

Due to Aztec warfare being a male exclusive (generally speaking - there is reference to a snake priestess who would be in the command structure) this may be a harder sell.

I could see a separate non-combat sprue, but the thing here is that would have to justify thousands of sales