ArtisanGuild
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Your Voice Heard
🕑 Added 2023-10-07 19:40:28 +0000 UTCHello dear Adventurers and Merchants!
Thank you so much for your comments and votes in our latest poll!
Even if the results are somehow going for one of the two options, we can't ignore what boith options votes and what they means. Based on the mixed feelings, opinions and comments (I promise I've read them all, and each of you brings up valid points), we will mostly keep things as they are now, but let's clarify how :)
Our Release Schedule
We will continue to release a unique set each month, each one with the usual number of units and heroes. That was the plan for both options of the poll obviously, while my question was "do you want more expanded sets through two months?"
Themed Sets on 2 Months
From time to time, if I feel a release needs it, I will make two sets themed on the same race or faction. This will not be staple, it could not happen in a year for instance, but sometime I'll do that if I think that it's requiered and it's a good moment to do that.
For example, like I did for the Mezzalfiends with heavy armored Mezzalfiends of the Gorge and Mezzalfiend Tricksters (City of Intrigues), featuring assassins, bards and illusionists among them; or the most recent Northmen (Northmen Saga I and II).
Why Sometime Themed Sets on 2 Months Works
With the Northmen, I wanted to create "Viking-like realistic warriors" with leather armor, scalemail, and not-so-fantasy weapons (bows, longswords, axes, and claymores). The second set gave me the chance to work on Berserkers who shapeshift into bears. Now, after two months, there's so much variety in the Northmen Saga that you can make a full party of heroes for your favorite RPG, or make a fleshed out campaign in the frozen lands; with so many northmen you don't need to reprint the same model again to populate taverns, villages, print northmen and northwomen heroes or guards.
The Noble Alfar Example
When I was sculpting an archer for the modular unit of the Noble Alfar, I thought it would be cool to make two sets: "Noble Alfar I" featuring the soldiers and paladins, and Noble Alfar II with scouts and assassins, just like Requiem Templars and Requiem Demon Hunters, Mezzalfiends I and II and Northmen Saga I and II. This would allow for a greater variety of units and heroes, allowing also you to make, for example, a full line of Noble Alfar guards (or small army) wielding shields or greatsword without worrying of making archers, thus obtaining more variety in the same thematic. However, I probably won't do that at this moment; perhaps in the future.
Future Plans
For now, let's focus on more variety. I'm working on the Noble Alfar because many subscribers have suggested that high elves are a staple and a similar looking population should be included in my world. After this set, I'll try to cover other unrepresented folk and monsters for a while.
As always, your feedback fills me with joy and inspiration to craft the best miniatures possible. Thank you for keeping me motivated and for continuing this incredible journey with me. Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!
Have a great weekend!
Andrea
Comments
Artisan Guild
Indeed! But due to our slot system I think an NPC theme would fit perfectly a Campaign, so I don't have time limit to dedicate to such different figures, tools and perhaps little scatter useful for that!
Artisan Guild
Thank you so much Nenad!
Nenad Savanovic
I'll take some Rhino riding Barbarians. Or some Rhino Barbarians O.o
Nenad Savanovic
All your releases have been top-notch for their time so no complaints from me. I will say in 2023 your releases were all S Tier. Keep up the good work!
Georgios Tsatsamis
Really love the touch on Northmen 1 and 2. Tottaly would love to see more Races represented that way E.G Wood Alfar, Thieves Guild . As always excellent work. A set with NPC's would be lovely.
Georgios Tsatsamis
Yeah been telling that couple times.
Lawrence N. Oliver
I hadn't thought about it before I read your comment but now that I think about it... a character based 2nd month of Bugbears would have been interesting. Bugbear Mage, Bugbear Rogue, Bugbear Paladin, Bugbear Bard, etc... etc...
Lawrence N. Oliver
I think it is a great idea not to lock yourself into one method or the other but to do a two month release when you feel the need. Though, lol, I would have liked to have seen a two month Elf release. Maybe down the road. But if you're considering requests... wink, wink... I'd still love to see some Halflings (as long as the proportions aren't like so many other designers, with little nubs for legs etc...) Or Some Goliath Barbarians with battle axes, riding rhinos, would be cool.
Keith Becker
I would really like to see some average small-town guards or a set of halflings.
Bryon Smith
I love this idea. A stone jaguar like in the movie El Dorado would be an awesome epic boss/terrain piece.
Andrew Welch
I'm the opposite. I play D&D, but want to get into wargaming as well. I love all the minis, so keep them all coming. Can't any mini be a D&D mini though with adding your own lore...just saying :)
Delin 20
I'd love to see an alchemy set! Like medieval goblins, dwarves and elves but decked out in alchemy steampunk artificer tech!
Eduardo Briones
I would love to see an aztec inspired army, with a Jaguar or a Snake epic boss
Artisan Guild
I have been thinking about that a lot, but I need to plan and sketch it very well to make it competing with more heroic sets, as it would share the same value (and could take more month to develop as figures can be of different races and vocations)
Eoin O'Callaghan
Would love to see more basic townsfolk, an unaligned faction of generic characters (chef, village chief, nobles, beggers, etc) which could be used as NPCs for D&D or even game objectives for Guilds!
Artisan Guild
Thanks a lot! Have you seen the dark dwarves I made some years ago, called Dumlok? They are Fire dwarves by their lore, but you can just not paint them with hot colors and you'll have cool dark dwarves :)
Rob Clark
Best possible scenario. There are definite sets that benefit from 2 releases, but some that are best with 1. Perfect!.
Rob Clark
Agree I love DnD but I have adapted so many of the AG minis already. Even something like the Ratfang minis, I just will use them as undead for a Necromancer that raises dead in the form of rat people. It's all flavor and I LOVE that my minis are 'different' when I DM. People have commented, "Oh, you always bring the best minis!"
Landon Shaw
I love the work you do and will support your Patreon either way. While the dopamine hit of a new theme is awesome, I love having the ability to populate an area with unique models. I trust your judgment and look forward to the future!
C
I'm just generally happy with the releases. Some I'm like "Oh well, not interested" but those are few and far between.
demonwombatofdoom
It was tough for me to vote, I like the 2 month release for the more player character races, but I would only like 1 month releases for monster like races. But I guess this is the best outcome, you doing what ever releases you feel like according to your inspiration level.
William Wilson
Wanted a Townsfolks and Animals set from your design for a while
Ted Cogley
love it
Mark Nold
Is the image a Dark Alfar???? On the multiple releases I love it. Heroes Infinite now has three releases for some. It works for me as : a) they improve. Artists get better. They think things over. B) I don’t print a whole release. I’d like more troop types. I’d like more heroes. C) they fit together in look and proportion. It’s really hard to mix and match artists. D) I love the special monsters. I’d love to see more . Displacer beasts? Chimera? Manticores? More please!!!
Mark Nold
I play D&D (5e, 1e and NX) and totally agree. I was thinking about Dark Dwarves. I wouldn’t want Druegar or even GW weird Russian chaos dwarves …, but an AG take on Dark Dwarves. Same with Drow, etc
Andrew Chenery
will be Patreon with you in either case :)
Andrew Chenery
Thanks Andrea,
Dusk
Honestly, that's another reason I stay with you : you listen to everyone and always try to find a way to satisfy all of your backers. Keep up the good work, I trust you to make it great either way.
B. Griffith
Sounds good! I liked the two-part fiend and Northmen releases (ESPECIALLY the Northmen), but I sure would NOT want two months of bugbears, so it's good if you do it when you feel it's necessary. On that subject, please don't wander too far off into D&D specific stuff. I know it seems like everyone plays D&D, but some of us actually hate that setting and still need a fantasy world full of your beautiful minis!
BanesShadow
Thank you for your attention to the elf community, that is all my wife wants to run and options have been very limited (your style has always been appreciated). Keep up the great work!
Paul Morin
Sounds like a good compromise
Adam Marafioti
I think this is a good approach. It lets you create more sculpts for the months that need the extra variety, without cutting the number of different theme in half.
Berserkrampage
I appreciate your candor on this, I really wish you would do two sets with these elves though, running an elf heavy campaign and I could use more options! 😉
Daniel Bergene
awesome! cant wait to see what you come up with!
A_G_S
Thank you for this update. I honestly value your thinking on how sets should be presented each month, despite how the voting went on the poll. As a long time patron since month 3 or 4 I am glad to see things continue as they are and hope it doesn't stifle your vision going forward with the monthly set variations rather than two monthly
Michael Swing
Thank you for all the amazing work you do each and every month! Looking forward to seeing how you expand out on whichever factions you choose to do so. If you haven’t thought of this already, a beastfolk themed release with some elk or reindeer-folk (maybe a herdstone that’s called the North Pole?) would be, I think, really cool.
Matthew Wells
I think folk were worried that the themed sets would become the staple and we'd only get 6 unique themes a year essentially. I think throwing them in everyone ans again when you feel like you need to is perfectly fine. I'd wonder if seeing that people would vote the same as they had previously. As I'm sure veryone else does, I love your work and you're the on Mini Artist I'll never drop.
Adam Ranck
You do fantastic work! I stay subscribed because of your quality and your own unique vision and style. Looking forward to seeing more!
Donut
You do amazing work and I'm very grateful for your craftsmanship and attention to detail. Personally, I like the variety because your work lends itself so well to to kit bashing. I frequently will mix weapons, shields, and gear from one set with another. I'm just excited to see the new and creative ways that you take your work.
Matthew Jones
I understand your choice, but I'd LOVE two month sets to become a little more common. I thought having more of a good thing would have been a good thing too.
aquas233
Thank you for all your hard work! I know communications like this are tough but I genuinely feel like you all listen to your subs more than a lot of places. Glad to see all the decisions you guys do and where y'all's logic comes from. Keep up the great work!!
John O'Brien
Some sets require 2 months, the Northmen definitely is a good example. I guess your sets so for, over nearly 2 years, have been so good, if you want to spread them out, that's cool
