Dwarf Army funding campaign!

[Karak Norn Clansman]

The more I think of it, the more disappointed I am because it'll probably be unsound economically for me to support AoW at this time. Your models are top-class, real competition on the market is essential, and I'm a Dwarf collector to the core. I've spread the word to friends of mine, but none of them are Dwarfers although they own some AoW heroes.

[Purplebeard]

I would love to get involved in this project but I just cannot afford it right now. It sounds fantastic though.

I think that the different/fun stuff could perhaps be mixed in a bit more with the vanilla warrior types. I know it would be unrealistic to do all of the unusual stuff first, but mixing up the order a bit would generate more interest IMO.

Personally, I would really like to see the Ancestor statue near the top of that list.

[Little Joe]

I just pledged for 50 dwarfs from AoW and hope to see this project work. Dwarfs were my first fantasy army and mine could use some fresh ideas and top notch new sculpts (they could also use some paint).

I am also looking forward to the rules AoW come up with.

[loveless]

Personally, I would really like to see the Ancestor statue near the top of that list.

I would have instantly pledged if that were the case.

At the moment, I probably won't pledge at all - the stuff I'd be willing to pay "extra" (boo shipping) for is all low on the list and there aren't a horde of benefits like similar projects.

[Little Joe]

Actually the shipping did make me wonder, usually they ship for free at these levels. And plastic cannot be that heavy...

[Bael]

I'm watching this with interest but won't be able to commit to any funding until later in the month, if at all. I hope it all gets released though, and this is the first of many army projects from AoW.

[decker_cky]

I think perks like if funding reaches a certain level, everyone who chooses $95 and up gets a free currently existing model, and if it reaches a higher level, people who chose $190 or higher get some other free bonus. I think the project will get funded, but I'm not sure it'll get up to the higher bonuses without additional incentives.

A sidebar with the ability to add metal heroes and plastic slayers to your pledge would help too.

[Valrak]

Donated, great site, great models.

[fritsk]

I pledged for a few dwarves as well.
The problem for AoW is that their production costs per unit are (except for the plastic berserkers) not 'almost zero'. This means that they are not in a position to offer many perks that would attract people looking for a good deal. In other words, they'll only attract people who want to help getting some dwarves made.
And as a non-US company they can't use kickstarter, which doesn't help with exposure.

[eldargal]

I'm torn, I'd like to support them but I've little interest in more Dwarves nor their Chaos Warriors though I'd like to support it to encourage them to do more for Elves and whatnot.

[Schmapdi]

I'm torn, I'd like to support them but I've little interest in more Dwarves nor their Chaos Warriors though I'd like to support it to encourage them to do more for Elves and whatnot.

They really do need a $5 or under "here I'd just like to help out" pledge level. Unfortunately - they seem reluctant to make any changes to the perks as-is. I think they've written it off already.

[Caiphas Cain]

Yeah that doesn't look like it's going anywhere fast. It's lacking benefits that Mantic has on their kickstarter.

[decker_cky]

I think it should reach the $20k regardless, meaning successful, just without the entire army funded immediately. If there were some changes made, I think it could blow past that mark in spite of the disadvantages of indiegogo, funding most of the parts of the dwarf army.

[eldargal]

I think it is a little unfair to say they have written it off already, in my experience AoW have never been particularly good communicators. With 25% time expired they are at 30% of the minimum goal, not too bad if that rate continues. Not as impressive as the Studio McVey and Mantic kickstarters I agree.

[Tonny]

Yeah that doesn't look like it's going anywhere fast. It's lacking benefits that Mantic has on their kickstarter.

I haven't really checked out kickstarter or indiegogo, benefits are nice, but more important is what they want to produce. I am not a dwarf player, I am all for buying the occasional dwarf, but a whole army is to much.

It also amazes me that so many people are investing in Mantic's Kickstarter? I still think the majority of their models are imo ugly. I think I am in the minority here. *shivers*.
They seem to offer a lot of freebies? Doesn't this cost them also money?

I am curious how these kickstarters things will turn out for Mantic and other companies that use it.

I think I only would invest in such projects when Perry mini's should do this for plastic Romans/Dark Ages/ HYW.

[AlexHolker]

It also amazes me that so many people are investing in Mantic's Kickstarter? I still think the majority of their models are imo ugly. I think I am in the minority here. *shivers*.
They seem to offer a lot of freebies? Doesn't this cost them also money?

While they've backslid quite a bit since then, they've built up a base of quite a few plastic kits from their earlier years. That means they have room to give people cheap miniatures, while AoW's turn to WarCast means they have no breathing room.

If I was Felix, I would not have started this campaign, but I'm biased. I would have started a campaign to make plastic Witch Elves, with proper stretch goals. Failing that, I would have made sure that this Dwarf campaign had a few "upgrade" Stretch Goals that each swapped a WarCast regiment for a plastic regiment, a few that gave contributors freebies (taking advantage of the lower cost of plastics), and put a character in the $190 deal so that it actually makes a full army.

[Tonny]

While they've backslid quite a bit since then, they've built up a base of quite a few plastic kits from their earlier years. That means they have room to give people cheap miniatures, while AoW's turn to WarCast means they have no breathing room.

If I was Felix, I would not have started this campaign, but I'm biased. I would have started a campaign to make plastic Witch Elves, with proper stretch goals. Failing that, I would have made sure that this Dwarf campaign had a few "upgrade" Stretch Goals that each swapped a WarCast regiment for a plastic regiment, a few that gave contributors freebies (taking advantage of the lower cost of plastics), and put a character in the $190 deal so that it actually makes a full army.

I do like the direction Mantic is taking with their goblins. Full of character!

Yes, a campaign to make plastic Witch Elves would probably have been a huge succes.

[Schmapdi]

I think it is a little unfair to say they have written it off already, in my experience AoW have never been particularly good communicators. With 25% time expired they are at 30% of the minimum goal, not too bad if that rate continues. Not as impressive as the Studio McVey and Mantic kickstarters I agree.

I actually think they'll make it - but just the bare minimum. Which means it has basically become a kickstarter for Crossbowmen, Veterans (i.e. Dwarfs with GWs) and Treasure Hunters. Which isn't that exciting. By "written it off" I was just combining the pessemism/disappointment expressed by Felix on the AoW boards with their apparent unwillingness to tinker with the perks that just aren't sellling.

I'm keeping fingers crossed that they'll make enough to get the Bear Warriors made. Since they are just a few grand past 20k. I may still kick in $50 myself if I think they are going to be super close. I would like to see all these (sure to be pretty great) dwarf kits be made.

[loveless]

Well, I had a much longer message, but scrapped it as I started thinking.

The asking prices aren't bad - the shipping is annoying, but not terrible. They do quality work. There's just little incentive to advertise it - the more contributions, the larger the selection pool of models. Ho hum.

They should have gone for something more modest and grown from there - seemed to have worked well for Bushido, Relics, Sedition Wars, Kings of War, etc.

I want AoW to succeed, though. I just don't think they handled this in the best way.

[decker_cky]

Almost at the $7,500 pts mark to open up crossbowmen - so that should be open tomorrow.

Already mentioned I think AoW will reach the $20k mark, but not much more. Overall...that should be seen as a success since it will essentially be a solid release funded by the crowdfunding.

[PLANNED] Dwarf Warriors: 20 multi-component WarCast miniatures regiment of regular Dwarf warriors armed with weapon & shield
[PLANNED] Dwarf Thunder Warriors: 10 multi-component WarCast miniatures regiment of Dwarf warriors armed with pistols
[PLANNED] Dwarf Iron Guard: 20 multi-component WarCast miniatures regiment of elite armoured Dwarf warriors armed with hand weapon & shield.
[PLANNED] Dwarf King: Metal miniature
[PLANNED] Dwarf Doomcrushers: 20 multi-component WarCast miniatures regiment of elite Dwarf warriors armed with two handed hammers.
[PLANNED] Living ancestor: Two animated giant stone statue of a dwarf ancestor (WarCast)
[PLANNED] Dwarf Master Builder – Metal miniature
[PLANNED] Dwarf mortar and crew: 2 Dwarf warriors and mortar (WarCast)
[YEAAAAH!] Dwarf Champion kit (choice of several weapon combos): WarCast miniature
[$7.500] Dwarf Crossbowmen: 10 multi-component WarCast miniatures regiment of Dwarf warriors armed with crossbow.
[$15.000] Dwarf Veterans: 20 multi-component WarCast miniatures regiment of regular Dwarf warriors armed with two handed weapons.
[$18.750] Dwarf treasure Hunters: 5 multi-component WarCast miniatures regiment of elite Dwarf adventurers.

All that released in the next 6 months is huge already, and is an ambitious plan. I have faith in Felix doing them justice, so there should be a great looking alternative to GW for making near complete dwarf armies. Being in Warcast, the core for certain should look better than the GW plastics (I'm not a fan of them) at a likely comparable price, and it will be no contest for the price on the elites. From that perspective, even just reaching $20k is a huge success, and the bigger sales will flow in when people see the models (as they did for the slayers and chaos warriors).

After those choices, it's more 'glam' options to spice up the army, but the important stuff is covered aside from a few war machines, which are easy to source from other companies.

edit: Looking again, I think this would benefit heavily from 150 and 200 model options. 100 models, bought as the core of a force would look something like this:
20 Dwarf Warriors
10 Dwarf Thunder Warriors
20 Dwarf Iron Guard
20 Dwarf Doomcrushers
10 Dwarf Crossbowmen
20 Dwarf Veterans

That's already 100 minis, and you want to add the fun stuff, war machines, build bigger units (hordes?), etc...