Waiting For Mail

Last I heard from Warlord Games was that my order was processing still. I’m a little surprised, actually, since my copy of Black Powder seemed to arrive quite quickly after it was released. I know that I’m ordering from the UK and I am in Canada, so hoping it would have arrived by now is a little optimistic. Still, I would have liked to receive a shipping notification at the very least. Oh well, it will give me time to paint the last two test miniatures for my Wargames Factory review. I’m also going to continue using the miniatures to test different techniques, like washing which I rarely use.

To me washing seems pointless. I would wash because I want to quickly shade a miniature, but first I need to basecoat, then wash, then re-apply the basecoat to get rid of the blotchyness that washing creates, then highlight. That’s an extra step over what I already do. Still, I will give it a change, maybe once I have a workable technique I will change my mind.

I noticed the other day that I am not the best customer the industry can have. My preference to buy only as many miniatures as I can paint in a reasonable time frame works for me, but if everyone were like me, wouldn’t that kill sales?

A friend is getting into Flames of War and I was helping him. It’s his first foray into the hobby so he needed brushes, paints, tools, etc. At the hobby store he picked up the starter set with five tanks, some scenarios for those tanks and the main rules in mini-rulebook form. I also had him pick up the Quartermaster’s Paint Set instead of one of the smaller set. Partly because they didn’t have the German Armour set, and also because the Quartermaster’s set has the right mix of paints that he’ll be able to make any shade he needs. He also wanted to pick up a blister of infantry, as that’s the next progression suggested in the starter set. I had him hold off. In my opinion, a miniature you can’t start painting is a waste. Also, since he’s just getting in there’s a chance he may painting disagreeable. Finally, we have hour lunches and work five minutes from the hobby store, so he can always get the infantry whenever he needs it.

I know I’m starting him down the right path, but I can’t help thinking that all those people blowing big wads of cash on massive bulk purchases that end up abandoned in their closet as they drop another wack of dough on the latest and greatest are paying for the selection I enjoy. If everyone were like me manufacturers could probably only afford a single pose, and to only offer the most popular units.

Tyler