complete Base Boss by Reaper

[DixonGrfx]

I would be interested in the original RPG bases (74035, 74036, 74037) in clear. I suppose that if the 74035 were available in various colors, it would be handy when setting up mobs of monsters. "I am targeting the bugbear on the green base."  Ect...

[Erk]

I'm really surprised the warmachine standard 30mm lipped base isn't an option.

 

Still probably gonna get me some bases.

[Darsc Zacal]

I'd want the clear bases so that the details of the gameboards and/or tiles that are underneath aren't obscured, so with that in mind coloured transparent bases wouldn't be of much interest to me.

Size/shape wise I'd prefer round 20,25,30,35mm bases that would fit typical human shaped or slightly smaller miniatures. Miniatures that are larger I'd likely want to have a more elaborate base for anyway.

 

And I can understand why Reaper would want to return to Kickstarter. My own opinion here...

First is advertising. Whatever the cut that Kickstarter takes is made up by the large exposure and backer base a Kickstarter project brings. As popular as Reaper is, running a promotion on their own just isnt going to get that.

Second is its been a long standing policy that Reaper doesn't sell directly to the public at a discount. That's what the retailers are for.

Since Kickstarter already rubs some retailers the wrong way, I can only imagine their reaction if Reaper were to offer discounts through its own online store. I'ts best to support the retailers that support you.

 

Edited to add that I wouldn't want the clear base obscured by lettering as shown in the sample pic either. That sorta defeats its purpose.

Edited August 24, 2016 by Darsc Zacal

[TGP]

For cloud bases the letteting would make no difference if the cloud was right on the surface of the base.

 

20mm rounds in Blue would be good for for splash markers. Just combine with a white golf tee and done.

[kristof65]

Greens

If you guys could mix a green that was a near-perfect match to "gaming table top ubiquitous grass green" you might be onto something. Bases for AoSkirmish, WHFB, and Warmachine in that color would give a gamer the option of a base that would look pretty good on their usual club/store table without having to do much (or any) work to base their army. (Ork / Orc armies might be all over this as well.)

Now that TGP mentions this...

 

Most of my gaming bases get Woodland Scenic's Blended Turf added to the top. A close enough match on the green would really look good.

 

20mm rounds in Blue would be good for for splash markers. Just combine with a white golf tee and done.

Ooh - even better would be turning the base upside down, so that it flared out. Edited August 24, 2016 by kristof65

[Reaperbryan]

If the molds are already made, why bother with Kickstarter, who will take a cut? A limited time only promotion, with value packs at Kickstarter prices, seems like a much better business decision, and an easier delivery method as you won't have to wait for the backer list to be provided, not the funds transferred.

 

You've got the emails from previous KSs, plus your own mailing list. I wouldn't figure that there are many people left out of those two groups.

 

I am backing a current semi-similar KS where they are offering quite a bit of reminted coins, and very few new. For them, they wouldn't be able to cover the costs to make another run of coins, so it makes a little sense there to crowd fund.

 

Just curious if the golden glow of a Kickstarter is blinding a better choice. Now, I can only assume this has been taken into account already, and I've missed something. Now, I'm not looking for any business info. It's just one of those things where I watch somebody do something and wonder why.

 

It's fair to wonder why. Here's the thing, these bases, this project, it's going to happen. We're committed. Just like the original launch of bones - we introduced the line before the KS launched, and we committed to more releases. Kickstarter enabled us to pay in a short time for a large number of tools. 

 

And with this, it's the same. We've invested resources into making it happen. And without kickstarter, it will still happen - eventually. But just getting the tools made is only the start. We need just a bit more to happen before we can conceivably make this a product we sell, and we do technically have the ability, if we pace ourselves, to release these all across the next year or so. But if we take this to kickstarter, we can release them all and not have to wait. We can offer a better deal to you, because we didn't have to show as much restraint. We can dedicate resources to other projects. There's a lot of parts of the company that we free up by asking for your help - and that's what it boils down to.

 

There's a lot of fiddly logistical details that are involved in producing this many new things, and a lot of expenses that come with that. We're just looking for help with that side.

 

 

 

Two thoughts:

 

Clears

If I decide on clear, I want it crystal CLEAR without the obscuration of incised lettering. And I know there's no turning off the lettering (part of the mold and all).

 

The base in the picture would be nice to include with a clear figure that was going to serve as an invisible character marker. But, that is a really small niche.

 

Greens

If you guys could mix a green that was a near-perfect match to "gaming table top ubiquitous grass green" you might be onto something. Bases for AoSkirmish, WHFB, and Warmachine in that color would give a gamer the option of a base that would look pretty good on their usual club/store table without having to do much (or any) work to base their army. (Ork / Orc armies might be all over this as well.)

 

The comments regarding the lettering on the clears is amazingly valuable feedback. We weren't 100% sure internally whether that was an issue - for me, for example, it isn't. I don't particularly mind. But I'm continually reminded I'm not the average consumer.

 

Opaque colors is something we'd discussed, but again, we run into the issue of needing +40 skus every time we introduce a color, and some people like green and some like brown and some want desert storm tan and  and  and andandandand

 

Either way it's clear more research is due before we commit to a firm decision re: colors.

[CashWiley]

Wait...clear bases?

 

Dangit.

[nakos]

 

 

 

The comments regarding the lettering on the clears is amazingly valuable feedback. We weren't 100% sure internally whether that was an issue - for me, for example, it isn't. I don't particularly mind. But I'm continually reminded I'm not the average consumer.

Opaque colors is something we'd discussed, but again, we run into the issue of needing +40 skus every time we introduce a color, and some people like green and some like brown and some want desert storm tan and  and  and andandandand

 

Either way it's clear more research is due before we commit to a firm decision re: colors.

 

 

Just curious, but how many bases per batch need to be made to make running that batch profitable to you? Off the top of my head, I'm thinking of the cost of clearing out the previous color/material, the cost of raw materials of different colors, storage cost of keeping raw materials on hand for each color, and I'm sure there are more. Having 40+ skus for each color is definitely not feasible for physical storage, but (and this is why my question above) what about digital skus for mold on demand colors? 

 

I'm thinking right now, keeping all those additional colors on hand for Thomas isn't feasible if they won't be part of the physical product line. But if the colored weapons sprue mold comes to the US would it be feasible to have the digital skus then for mold on demand?

 

I'm guessing that these have been thought about too.

[DixonGrfx]

I would still buy clear bases with the lettering. It's not so big an issue as to turn me away from it as a viable product. Now, if on the other hand there are bases of similar quality at a similar price-point and without lettering, or if the lettering was tiny and along the edge, that would be my preference.

[ced1106]

Whaddya say?

 

BGG has a strong interest in clear bases, because they let players see the board while not doing the additional work of painting a base.

 

But, as said, the lettering and slot may be problematic. Also, LITKO makes clear bases, and Beadaholic makes silicon buttons that can be used as bases.

 

For modellers, a lipped clear base would be useful for water effects. I guess the best reason for clear over black is that you can always paint a clear base in an opaque color like black, but not the other way around.

 

Maybe, we could have, in a future KS, have clear inserts as well for ice and whatnot?

[kristof65]

Opaque colors is something we'd discussed, but again, we run into the issue of needing +40 skus every time we introduce a color, and some people like green and some like brown and some want desert storm tan and  and  and andandandand

 

Either way it's clear more research is due before we commit to a firm decision re: colors.

I understand the issue about the storage of multiple SKUs, but I wonder about the feasibility of "limited edition" colors only available as a one time deal through the KS project?

 

Offering X number of color choices for bases through the Kickstarter only might give you a means of gauging popularity of any given color & base size combo for addition as a future non-limited product? 

 

Just a thought. 

 

ETA: I'm interested in Black bases, and clear bases.  When it comes to colored bases, I'm not really interested in the sort of transparent colors such as you offered on the Bones weapons - I just can't think of a viable use for them.   Solid colored bases I might have an interest in, but primarily that interest would be for just the 25mm base sizes, and then more so of the RPG base (I love that base) than any other style. 

 

That's my preferences, and may or may not be in line with the average consumer. 

Edited August 24, 2016 by kristof65

[Doug Sundseth]

Lettering:

 

Prefer not. Since you probably want to sell these internationally and need(?) the "Made in USA"  part, recommend either putting it right in the center, where many minis would cover it from view from the top, or on any of the surfaces of the edge of the base (vertical inside, bottom of the edge, or vertical outside). Vertical outside would be least desirable, but because it could be removed with tools, could work.

 

Color:

 

Any one other color would be useful. For opaque, some sort of brown would be most useful to me (exact shade not so important). For clear, either blue (for water) or red (for visibility and faction marking) would be most useful, but any second color could be used. Caveat: I'm probably not the target market for translucent bases, since I'm fine with bases not matching the terrain.

[CorallineAlgae]

I'm using clear 3/4" & 1" bases for Zombicide. I'm not sure that Reaper could make them as good as the laser cut clear acrylic disks sold on eBay (around $10 for 100), at least for that specific purpose. The Reaper bases have a rough texture that is excellent for normal black bases, but makes a clear version less transparent.

 

Like ced1106, I would be very interested in some 20, 25 & 50mm clear lipped round bases. Other sizes would be nice as well. We could have so much fun with water effects on those, as long as there were no slots. I haven't seen any versions of clear lipped bases anywhere. The flat clear disks are easy to find. These might be different and useful enough to pull in some real interest. I'd definitely get some. 

 

Edit to add: Lettering would definitely matter to me. I wouldn't buy clear bases with lettering. It would change from an immediate buy to a probable skip. 

Edited August 24, 2016 by CorallineAlgae

[Gadgetman!]

Wouldn't it be nice if it was possible to mount a coloured disc underneath the clear bases?

[Reaperbryan]

 

 

 

 

The comments regarding the lettering on the clears is amazingly valuable feedback. We weren't 100% sure internally whether that was an issue - for me, for example, it isn't. I don't particularly mind. But I'm continually reminded I'm not the average consumer.

Opaque colors is something we'd discussed, but again, we run into the issue of needing +40 skus every time we introduce a color, and some people like green and some like brown and some want desert storm tan and  and  and andandandand

 

Either way it's clear more research is due before we commit to a firm decision re: colors.

 

 

Just curious, but how many bases per batch need to be made to make running that batch profitable to you? Off the top of my head, I'm thinking of the cost of clearing out the previous color/material, the cost of raw materials of different colors, storage cost of keeping raw materials on hand for each color, and I'm sure there are more. Having 40+ skus for each color is definitely not feasible for physical storage, but (and this is why my question above) what about digital skus for mold on demand colors? 

 

I'm thinking right now, keeping all those additional colors on hand for Thomas isn't feasible if they won't be part of the physical product line. But if the colored weapons sprue mold comes to the US would it be feasible to have the digital skus then for mold on demand?

 

I'm guessing that these have been thought about too.

 

I'm not entirely sure what you mean by mold on demand. Are you asking about the idea of os putting a stock number on the site and then producing it only when it is actually sold? Or producing the minimum viable amount and only restocking when sold?

 

There's a lot of factors, not the least of which are the time to change a mold, and the time to change the material. Changing the mold is the far far easier of the two, and takes also the least amount of time. Changing the material ... this is not a simple nor a quick process. As such, the minimum run to make it worth changing a mold over is a very different number than the minimum needed to ask our laborers to change the barrel. A Mold run minimum is measured in at least 4-6 hours, a material run minimum is measured in plural days. (meaning we could conceivably run 2 molds in one 8 hour shift, but would be very unlikely to run more than 2 colors in an entire week- and honestly, more like 1 color per week)