funded Reaper Bones 5: Enthusiasm and Commentary thread

[Cyradis]

Meanwhile it took me a week to figure out a data entry error in my research spreadsheet, and in the meantime I went down a rabbithole of That Might Prove Weird Author Right.... nope. Just me getting some rows mixed up.

 

I tend to be in support of not doing things that might break a system.

[Guyra]

Speaking of specialized systems, they are also often made to work with other systems the company utilizes as well. They might need to export data as a specific file type with a very specific data set, update a database a completely different system reads from, etc.

 

Excel is great for a lot of things. But something I realized quite early in my IT career is that even if you can do one task faster(or otherwise better) than the already in place systems, the already in place systems have either a lot of automation that you didn't account for, or has some necessary, irreplicable functionality that you didn't consider to be important, but turns out to be crucially needed.

 

Companies often needs to use highly specialized software, and that highly specialized software is usually there because the company has some very specific logistical/administrative needs, or they have highly specialized machinery that requires factory made programs or they won't function. So then, any new systems needs to work with these highly specialized ones that are already in place, so more tailored systems are made. And in the end, you might be able to do that one thing in Excel - but only the specialized system will be able to work and send the data through the entire pipeline, and with less manual work.

 

Again, Excel is a pretty good tool that can do a lot of things. Personally, I love it! But there is a reason why programmers gets paid to develop specialized systems, with teams working for months or even years, and that reason is usually that existing software isn't capable of doing the job that's needed(or doing it efficiently enough).

 

So if Reaper's specialized system can't do a certain thing that's really only needed during what is considered an enormous, global shipping crisis, then consider that the function wasn't ever needed before this. Nor would it otherwise ever have been. On the other hand, it probably does what it's created to do, and also probably does it a lot better than Excel would, when looking at the whole picture.

[PhantomAsh]

10 minutes ago, Guyra said:

Speaking of specialized systems, they are also often made to work with other systems the company utilizes as well. They might need to export data as a specific file type with a very specific data set, update a database a completely different system reads from, etc.

 

Excel is great for a lot of things. But something I realized quite early in my IT career is that even if you can do one task faster(or otherwise better) than the already in place systems, the already in place systems have either a lot of automation that you didn't account for, or has some necessary, irreplicable functionality that you didn't consider to be important, but turns out to be crucially needed.

 

Companies often needs to use highly specialized software, and that highly specialized software is usually there because the company has some very specific logistical/administrative needs, or they have highly specialized machinery that requires factory made programs or they won't function. So then, any new systems needs to work with these highly specialized ones that are already in place, so more tailored systems are made. And in the end, you might be able to do that one thing in Excel - but only the specialized system will be able to work and send the data through the entire pipeline, and with less manual work.

 

Again, Excel is a pretty good tool that can do a lot of things. Personally, I love it! But there is a reason why programmers gets paid to develop specialized systems, with teams working for months or even years, and that reason is usually that existing software isn't capable of doing the job that's needed(or doing it efficiently enough).

 

So if Reaper's specialized system can't do a certain thing that's really only needed during what is considered an enormous, global shipping crisis, then consider that the function wasn't ever needed before this. Nor would it otherwise ever have been. On the other hand, it probably does what it's created to do, and also probably does it a lot better than Excel would, when looking at the whole picture.

 

To tack onto this; we DO know that Reaper uses those scanning guns to 'fulfil' each order, don't they? I remember watching videos on the last Kickstarter; they were almost using a point of sales system to scan each item pulled and automatically deduct it from an order. The bins had barcodes that they were scanning. That alone indicates to me that Reaper would need to use a custom build - or at least premium bought - software of some kind, to intricate in their scanning system. I don't think you can run a point of sales system out of excel.

[The Steve]

5 hours ago, Chris Palmer said:

 

Here you go. Looks like a good match to me. 

THANKS BRO!!!!

OMG YES!

[Sirithiliel]

i dont' mind waiting

 

what i don't like (and i KNOW this is not reaper's fault you don't have to tell me off about it) is just the uncertainty

 

considering the container is already months late, i imagine we're looking at more months of a wait, possibly half a year, possibly a year, who knows? that's what bothers me. And i KNOW it's not Reaper's fault, but that doesn't mean i need to smile and be happy and jump around in joy becuase it's not their fault. I'm still disappointed, i'm still going to be disappointed. 

 

unlike you all, i don't have a huge mound of miniatures to sustain me lol. I know they're just 'toys' but that doesn't make it any easier to know that i could be waiting for so long to get mine, while i get to see everyone else rejoicing in theirs and telling me to calm down and stop being disappointed while they play with their new toys. Easy for them to say, i imagine, they'd be acting quite differently if it was one of their items held up

 

oh well. i'll just stay away from the forums again until i see some email update about the container

 

that is, if the update is even emailed. might just be included in a twitch video eh?

[ratsmitglied]

1 hour ago, Guyra said:

Speaking of specialized systems, they are also often made to work with other systems the company utilizes as well. They might need to export data as a specific file type with a very specific data set, update a database a completely different system reads from, etc.

 

Excel is great for a lot of things. But something I realized quite early in my IT career is that even if you can do one task faster(or otherwise better) than the already in place systems, the already in place systems have either a lot of automation that you didn't account for, or has some necessary, irreplicable functionality that you didn't consider to be important, but turns out to be crucially needed.

 

Definitely - my paid employment is all about data ingest, data transformation, and interoperability of data systems. Because of the nature of the data we are lucky enough to be able to pick a data standard and make sure that the data meets that standard, but all our systems are interlinked in such a way that there is no way it could be managed with Excel and manual processes.

 

34 minutes ago, Sirithiliel said:

I know they're just 'toys' but that doesn't make it any easier to know that i could be waiting for so long to get mine, while i get to see everyone else rejoicing in theirs and telling me to calm down and stop being disappointed while they play with their new toys. Easy for them to say, i imagine, they'd be acting quite differently if it was one of their items held up

 

oh well. i'll just stay away from the forums again until i see some email update about the container

 

that is, if the update is even emailed. might just be included in a twitch video eh?

No arguments from me on this, I agree that it's easy to tell people to calm down and wait, but for those of us who are waiting it's incredibly frustrating, and not helpful. I try and make sure that the only time I tell people to calm down and wait is when it's in my main job, where sometimes it takes literally days for a process to run, so waiting is ALL you can do.

[kristof65]

2 hours ago, Cyradis said:

I tend to be in support of not doing things that might break a system.

This. So much this. 

I'm frustrated too, as I'm also waiting because of the Busts and the Campground Scenics I ordered.  I'd love it if Reaper had a way to do a split shipment, even if was sending me just my (non-gitd) ship now, since they're in a separate box. 

But on the flip side, I would much rather wait than ask Reaper to do something that would break things, and make the situation worse. 


I am glad, however, that at least one of the items holding up my order is something I really, really wanted - the Campground.  Because I'd be a thousand percent more frustrated if it was just the busts, since I only got those on a lark. 

[Sirithiliel]

10 minutes ago, kristof65 said:

I am glad, however, that at least one of the items holding up my order is something I really, really wanted - the Campground.  Because I'd be a thousand percent more frustrated if it was just the busts, since I only got those on a lark. 

 

that's my problem for me. I got 1 item off the list, dragonfolk. And they were a last minute addition becuase 'why not'

 

now i'm cursing that 'why not' buy. They weren't something i particularly needed, didn;t want them enough to be part of my main order, i just tagged them on at the end and am paying for that now haha

[ksbsnowowl]

The Rune Wights were one of my favorite things in the whole Kickstarter. I was planning to buy more copies, except they got turned off before I could afford to do so. Bummed I’m having to wait on my order, but that’s life. 

[kristof65]

2 minutes ago, Sirithiliel said:

that's my problem for me. I got 1 item off the list, dragonfolk. And they were a last minute addition becuase 'why not'

 

now i'm cursing that 'why not' buy. They weren't something i particularly needed, didn;t want them enough to be part of my main order, i just tagged them on at the end and am paying for that now haha

I feel for you. 

On the upside, when you finally do get the order, you can take it out on the little buggers.    "Hold up MY order will you!"  

[Dan Goodchild]

I just saw a comparison between the original Yephima and the new one from Greek Odyssey.

While the size difference is dramatic, I noticed that her club didn't seem to get the super-sized treatment; it looks to be about the same size as the original.

If that's true, then my hat goes off to Gene Van Horne. Through simply not changing the size of the club he'll have implied that little Yephima has grown up.

[Adrift]

1 hour ago, Dan Goodchild said:

I just saw a comparison between the original Yephima and the new one from Greek Odyssey.

While the size difference is dramatic, I noticed that her club didn't seem to get the super-sized treatment; it looks to be about the same size as the original.

If that's true, then my hat goes off to Gene Van Horne. Through simply not changing the size of the club he'll have implied that little Yephima has grown up.

That’s an awesome take. Plus, not every individual of every species or race is going to reach the maximum potential. So if I have two cloud giants of differing size, so be it!!

[AussieAusborn]

I may be a day late, but I won't be a dollar short! Here are pics of everything I ordered, with minimal commentary:

 

Townsfolk

I tried to show how minimal the moldlines are with that last pic.

 

Hench-Women

If you got this set, don't make the mistake I did and assume the beg on the cart's wheel is leftover sprue: it's actually so it can slot into the base. I cut mine off before I realized that.

 

Here's one with two of the hench-women, one of the townsfolk, and one of the skeletons from Gallowgard for size reference. The green archer is from Warlord games , and the blueish barbarian is Goldar, an older Bones figure.

 

Encounter at Gallowgard

Most of the skeletons were multi-piece, which surprised me. In a few places, the 'mortise and tenons' were fairly shallow and troublesome to secure. Still, there's some really great design in this set, and I'm glad I got it.

 

Here they are next to some Games Workshop skeletons.

 

War Mammoth

Dat's a biggun.

 

Farflinger Trebuchet

When assembling this, do yourself a favor and attach the two pieces that make up the arm of the trebuchet before sandwiching it between the supports; the key-slot connecting the arm pieces only works in one orientation, so I had to remove it and flip it around. Luckily I wasn't using superglue and insta-set, like I normally do.

 

Shavynra the Slayer

Be aware that Shavynra has a small tongue piece, and I can see it being lost easily. You might want to glue it in as soon as you get it, just so you don't lose it.

 

Valfuryx the Vile

Probably my favorite piece of the whole Kickstarter. I love the design, and the pose and face just ooze personality.

 

Ildraedis the Devourer

 

To all of those who are waiting on their orders, especially those who have delayed items: I feel your pain, and I'm sorry you have to live with that uncertainty. I do think you'll be very happy with everything; these are some of the nicest figures Reaper has produced, IMO.

 

Cheers!!!

Edited July 4, 2021 by AussieAusborn
clarification

[Lidless Eye]

2 hours ago, Dan Goodchild said:

I just saw a comparison between the original Yephima and the new one from Greek Odyssey.

While the size difference is dramatic, I noticed that her club didn't seem to get the super-sized treatment; it looks to be about the same size as the original.

If that's true, then my hat goes off to Gene Van Horne. Through simply not changing the size of the club he'll have implied that little Yephima has grown up.

The club is slightly longer, but overall finer with more small details, like the arms of the statuette have gaps between them and the main part of the club.  

It's a sculpt off the same concept but two different sculptors, and also factors in improvements in the casting process...several of the details in new Yephima would not have been possible in Bones 1.

[Ratmaster2000]

4 hours ago, Sirithiliel said:

i dont' mind waiting

 

what i don't like (and i KNOW this is not reaper's fault you don't have to tell me off about it) is just the uncertainty

 

considering the container is already months late, i imagine we're looking at more months of a wait, possibly half a year, possibly a year, who knows? that's what bothers me. And i KNOW it's not Reaper's fault, but that doesn't mean i need to smile and be happy and jump around in joy becuase it's not their fault. I'm still disappointed, i'm still going to be disappointed. 

 

unlike you all, i don't have a huge mound of miniatures to sustain me lol. I know they're just 'toys' but that doesn't make it any easier to know that i could be waiting for so long to get mine, while i get to see everyone else rejoicing in theirs and telling me to calm down and stop being disappointed while they play with their new toys. Easy for them to say, i imagine, they'd be acting quite differently if it was one of their items held up

 

oh well. i'll just stay away from the forums again until i see some email update about the container

 

that is, if the update is even emailed. might just be included in a twitch video eh?

I don't see it being a half a year or more, hopefully just a month at worst. Trust me, the port wants those containers out as much as we do. Their job is moving freight, and they lose money ever day stuff doesn't move. Soon as they get it, everything will stop, they'll unload the container, and we all move to the front of the line (because everything else has been pulled, if I am understanding right what they are doing), missing stuff pulled and off our stuff goes. If people in (insert whatever wave they are on) are already getting their stuff, and our stuff is already pulled, we will get our stuff pretty quick.