What kind of counters/figures do you want to see for TFT?

[Dranic1980]

Even though I have been using 25mm metal and plastic figures since 1983 for other rpgs like D&D, I find that the excitement and nostalgia of collecting and getting new flat, color, cardboard counters for TFT is the only way to experience TFT the way it was meant to be, especially due to facing and game mechanics. I really love the larger-sized and thicker counters that come in the Legacy Edition. I think they are perfect as is. Using 3D figures for TFT feels sacrilegious to me, like cheating on my wife with the secretary. Lol.

[malchidael]

While I understand the love for the classic counters, I absolutely love minis, and have since I first set eyes on the Grenadier Specialists set back in the day.

The TFT-specific basing for multi-hex creatures can be managed in multiple ways - I've had success with plasticard bases for cardboard heroes, and have even 3D printed some base adapters for popular cardboard & pre-painted plastic minis.

Having said that, I fully expect Steve Jackson Games to stick with the classic counters. They already sell the original cardboard heroes in PDF to cover the stand-up paper mini niche. And I'm OK with that (although if they kickstarted Death Test 3 with a full set of plastic minis, pre-painted or not, I'd be OK with that, too)

[larsdangly]

There's a reason why the demo team from SJG has been working up cool models and mini's to show off the game. They are just fun and and interesting to look at. The lookyloos at conferences see that, but players at the table enjoy it as well. So, I'm expecting miniatures are going to be part of the TFT landscape, whether SJG produces some or we all just adapt them from existing commercial products.

[malchidael]

Originally Posted by larsdangly

There's a reason why the demo team from SJG has been working up cool models and mini's to show off the game. They are just fun and and interesting to look at. The lookyloos at conferences see that, but players at the table enjoy it as well. So, I'm expecting miniatures are going to be part of the TFT landscape, whether SJG produces some or we all just adapt them from existing commercial products.

No argument on that - I'm a huge fan of minis, and they're part of my TFT landscape.

But, designing and producing minis is an expensive proposition, and since it's not one of SJG's core focuses, I just don't see them investing in that, and sadly don't see a large enough market to partner with a minis company (esp. with how good they are with cardboard minis).

I'd love to be proven wrong, however :)

Fat Dragon Games recently kickstarted a new batch of 3D minis - as part of their stretch goals, they added the Octopi they produced for SJG to the mix. I didn't sign up - not enough minis I was interested in, but I'm hoping to see the Octopi for sale at some point.

[JLV]

Originally Posted by malchidael

No argument on that - I'm a huge fan of minis, and they're part of my TFT landscape.

But, designing and producing minis is an expensive proposition, and since it's not one of SJG's core focuses, I just don't see them investing in that, and sadly don't see a large enough market to partner with a minis company (esp. with how good they are with cardboard minis).

I'd love to be proven wrong, however :)

Fat Dragon Games recently kickstarted a new batch of 3D minis - as part of their stretch goals, they added the Octopi they produced for SJG to the mix. I didn't sign up - not enough minis I was interested in, but I'm hoping to see the Octopi for sale at some point.

On the other hand...they've done two sets of Ogre miniatures now; and Car Wars 6 looks like it will come with miniatures.

[DarkPumpkin]

Interesting results...seems that sticking with flat counters may be the best way to go.
They have a lot of advantages:
*already the default
*popular with the base (around half of us at least)
*built-in to the rules
*point of difference from other games on the market
*cheaper to produce
*transportable and convenient
*ties the game back to its late 70s roots

So while I'd be happy to see official chipboard counters continue to be a part of new releases, I'd also like to see some official plastic minis. In a similar way that Ogre has the two options. It could be done as a tie-in/license with another company or in-house, I guess that's a business decision. But I'd love to have some spiffy 28mm plastics for TFT-native creatures.

[larsdangly]

Whatever does or doesn't happen with mini's, I assume, and hope, that SJG will continue to pump up the line of cardboard markers, which really are the best option for game play, as they stack, can have precisely the right shapes and orientations, can be adapted to all sorts of figures and terrain, and are cheap and quick to produce.

[camazotz]

I'd be happy with one of these two options, in order of preference:

1. hex-stand based pre-painted minis (I gotta be honest with myself, if they aren't prepainted I probably won't buy them)

2. figure flats that are hex-shaped

A third option, similar to Pathfinder Pawns or the figures in DFRPG would be stand-up figure flats with hex stands.

The hex stand would help with facing and therefore seems like a necessary feature to me.

[camazotz]

Originally Posted by larsdangly

Whatever does or doesn't happen with mini's, I assume, and hope, that SJG will continue to pump up the line of cardboard markers, which really are the best option for game play, as they stack, can have precisely the right shapes and orientations, can be adapted to all sorts of figures and terrain, and are cheap and quick to produce.

This! Definitely this.

[Cat]

Other = 28mm chibi miniatures.

OK, I know I'm an outlier here, but my largest collection of fantasy miniatures now are chibi style and a joy to paint! I'm not expecting SJG to suddenly veer into chibiland, but I'll be looking at whatever cephalopods come along with an eye towards conversion; I'm sure that with a little greenstuff they can be made cuter and with bigger eyes.
=^,^=

To date, I believe there is only one cephalopod chibi on the market, a Cuttlefish Mage.