Petition for a re-scaled Nekima model

[Sybaris]

Most old time forum members know me for my particular "crusade" with a certain character from the Malifaux setting since the first edition. Nekima has been the center of my efforts ever since i came here, a few years ago. I’m going to allow myself some « camera time » here, simply put.

 

For this new edition, a new set of rules was created for Nekima, replacing a bloody bad, half-cuddled sheet we had for 1st edition for way too long. This time the character is far more useful than the one before. So many posts were made in the test forums to get there…again, so much passion for an isolated, yet iconic model. Niche perhaps, but quite a few masters don’t get close to this kind of reaction. 

 

So we got the new rules, then we got to see the model itself. For one i completely trusted Wyrd to do great on Nekima, i never even asked myself if they could fail that part. Then we saw the sculpt and art. Sure, they changed the feel of the character, but were good enough to stand in for the awesome art piece that was used in the first edition. 

 

The new miniature itself pre-released during the black friday, however, is not fitting in my opinion. I guess i am not alone. The 10$ rebate gotten through the whole outrage does not solve the main issue.  Since discussion threads have been locked…time for debate is apparently over, so the last piece i’ll leave here is a petition for support to Nekima.

 

I for one believe that Nekima is an iconic piece and character of Malifaux's setting, and that she deserves a model that fits the description of the character, rather than a discounted dwarfed product, so i am leaving this petition here…for people to show support to this idea if they agree.

 

Be it through a special edition model, a replacement model, a kickstarter to solve the scaling issues (perhaps not just with this model, many still need a fix)…I believe something needs to be done about it and that is why i voice my plea.

 

P.S. Note that, by principle, the petition is there for people who do support the request. If you don’t support it, just don’t post in it. It's not that your opinion doesn't matter, but simply that typically people who sign petitions don't argue on the paper. It makes things cleaner and besides...if not enough people come in and support it , it will die on its own anyway. I've put the thread in the neverborn forum to avoid making too much of a fuss with it.

[LordZombie]

You got my vote. Not sure if it will even really matter, but at least you put up a good effort and your voice was heard. 

[zFiend]

You have my vote.

[birdbath]

I would buy a Nightmare/alt Nekima model in a flash if it was big enough.

[jonahmaul]

You have my vote too.  I knew the official announcement thread got locked but didn't realise that the other one (or more got locked too).  Wyrd are usually excellent in their customer service and community engagement so those kind of things leave a sour taste in my mouth (they remind me of one of the reasons that I jumped ship from a certain other company that regularly did similar things).

[Math Mathonwy]

You have my vote.

And my ax!

[Ikvar]

I will wholeheartedly sign this petition

[Mastershake]

Not sure what this whole affair will be worth at the end of the day, but why not.  Bought the original Nekima, then a replacement when that one suffered irreparable damage, then the new one.  If they drop a nightmare/re-scaled whatever version that's appropriately sized I'll grab that one as well.

[decker_cky]

I'd get behind a Nightmare Nekima. I think the new model is fine as the default model. 

[SpiralngCadavr]

Yep, the current one isn't ideal, but doesn't need a re-sculpt. I think a Nightmare edition is a nice solution for those who want giant Nekima back.

[HalcyonSeraph]

I'd just like Wyrd to admit when they have scale screwups, instead of only admitting the ones they can't possibly get away with pretending were on purpose. 

 

If it were just Nekima, that would be one thing. But we've had the amazon Viks, the ludicrous Brass Arachnid, the kneeling Death Marshall, the tiny Sorrow, the kneeling Samurai, the female MPP kit, the deformed Watcher, the Young Lacroixs, and on and on. I can't imagine how badly Brewmaster & Co were out of scale if it caused them to actually refuse to sell it and send it back to China. And that's not even mentioning the smaller but still pretty annoying stuff like Howard Langston not fitting on the usable space of a 50mm. 

 

If all those mistakes they didn't own up to were not actual mistakes, then they have a serious problem with the design to production pipeline and have had that problem for what, two years? If they seriously intended to make their 50mm Ht 3 model smaller than an existing 40mm Ht 2 model is that really better than it being a mistake? Same for being apparently unable or unwilling to make a kneeling model that doesn't tower over his standing buddies, or having multiple models apparently scaled to the perspective of the box art. 

 

Wyrd, seriously. You have maybe the best ruleset in the business, and I love your game, but you just can't get out of your own way when it comes to making models that people will actually build with their hands and play with and get excited about. 

[RatsInTheWalls]

The current model is fine as a default, but I would buy an up-scaled nightmare edition in a different pose. 

[Kapten Vendetta]

I have to agree, I do not play Neverborn, and don't intend to start, but I've heard - since coming to this game in late April this year - that Wyrd was the bees' knees regarding community interactions, a company that actually - no really - ACTUALLY listened to the concerns of the community, and it would be a shame if this would to be proven false (over time) as scaling issues and what-not occurs with every other release, it seems (not as bad, but disheartening non the less).

 

The main reason I left the-company-that-shall-not-be-named after close to 20 yrs. was the feeling total disregard of the community, and i mean TOTAL disregard, which made me feel that the time and monieses I spend on miniatures should go to a worthier game, voila! Malifaux.

 

I personally feel that a single mini here or there isn't the end of the world, but there are quite a few now, and it is off-putting to me as a gamer/collector to shy away from using all my death marshalls becouse one of 'em is so obviously miss-scaled as to be ridiculous. And that, is something that would make me not buy a box of X; knowing that a mini is "wrong", in terms of scale or 3d render perspective issues or what have you, and at the end of the day that's one box worth of monises less in the bank.

 

And no, Wyrd (or any other miniature company) doesn't "owe" me - or any gamer/collector - anything simply because I support their company, but a healthy ear to the ground as it were, is never a bad thing for any buisness.

[Jimbobovalsocks]

I don't personally care about Nekima. I think the model looks fine and since I don't play Neverborn, I'm unlikely to buy her. However, I really encourage Wyrd to act now to sort out the repeat scale issues. I love the game and the models but it is a real turnoff for me that the scale keeps getting messed up and will probably be a big enough issue for me to jump ship if another company comes along with a great game, proper plastic models and no crazy scaling issues. Wyrd, please! Don't ignore it. Please listen to the community and please work to sort this out.

[valhallan42nd]

My personal feeling on the matter is that the current Nekima is fine, but that she's also a fine subject for a nightmare sculpt. I'll probably buy both once I delve more into my Neverborn collection.

[Justin]

I have to agree, I do not play Neverborn, and don't intend to start, but I've heard - since coming to this game in late April this year - that Wyrd was the bees' knees regarding community interactions, a company that actually - no really - ACTUALLY listened to the concerns of the community, and it would be a shame if this would to be proven false (over time) as scaling issues and what-not occurs with every other release, it seems (not as bad, but disheartening non the less).

The main reason I left the-company-that-shall-not-be-named after close to 20 yrs. was the feeling total disregard of the community, and i mean TOTAL disregard, which made me feel that the time and monieses I spend on miniatures should go to a worthier game, voila! Malifaux.

I personally feel that a single mini here or there isn't the end of the world, but there are quite a few now, and it is off-putting to me as a gamer/collector to shy away from using all my death marshalls becouse one of 'em is so obviously miss-scaled as to be ridiculous. And that, is something that would make me not buy a box of X; knowing that a mini is "wrong", in terms of scale or 3d render perspective issues or what have you, and at the end of the day that's one box worth of monises less in the bank.

And no, Wyrd (or any other miniature company) doesn't "owe" me - or any gamer/collector - anything simply because I support their company, but a healthy ear to the ground as it were, is never a bad thing for any buisness.

Hi,

I'm the current lead designer of Malifaux. I read and respond on these forums all the time (to the point that starting a post with "hi" feels really weird). I don't work on production, so I can't address anything about scaling issues directly. But I can tell you that if you post here that there is a very good chance it will be read by myself, Aaron who is in charge of the RPG, or the owners (Nathan and Eric). I assure you, we all care what you think and take it seriously. You also have relatively good odds of getting a response from us.

So I think that the particular critique you give, of us being disengaged somehow, is unfair. Particularly so since the company has officially responded to this issue and adjusted the pricing and given a partial refund.

That said, I understand we have had some scaling issues and I'm sorry for them. The brass arachnid is a good example of this. However, that doesn't mean that every model which gets complaints is necessarily a mistake. For example, I personally appreciate the kneeling figures being larger as it makes them more obvious on the game board and easier to paint. Just as there is a certain suspension of disbelief in game mechanics to make them actually work (if I designed guns to work like they really do, models could pretty much shoot what they could see, but play would be less interesting, as an example) I think a certain suspension of disbelief is sometimes also required to get the best sculpt.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying there aren't issues. Simply that sometimes legitimate choices are sometimes labeled as mistakes whenever there is disagreement about the aesthetic.

In addition to that, I know the miniature making process itself is more complicated than it would seem. Wyrd is trying to reduce the number of pieces on its sprues to make them easier to assemble (as this has been a common complaint) while still trying to keep things affordable. And there are costs in places you wouldn't expect, such as in how long it takes the pieces to set and cool. So, what I'm saying is, just because we are still working to resolve the issue you are passionate about, doesn't mean we aren't also working on other issues which are sometimes working against us in that area (such as simplifying while keeping costs down, trying to enhance quality control while getting things out faster, etc).

I don't claim to know what was a scaling issue and what wasn't. I don't know if Nekima's size was inentional. As I said at the start of this post, I don't work in production. But I know the people who do, and they are very hard working and talented people with many demands on them which pull them in different directions. I do not envy them their tasks or the tough decisions they have to make. And they do hear you.

Also this: http://wyrd-games.net/community/topic/105286-your-favorite-thing-about-malifaux/

[SpiralngCadavr]

The note about suspension of disbelief/board presence/ease of painting regarding non-vertical minis is very interesting. I'd never thought about that angle. If that's always been the intention, I wish Wyrd had stated that earlier, since, while I disagree with it, it would have certainly justified it.

[Kapten Vendetta]

So I think that the particular critique you give, of us being disengaged somehow, is unfair. Particularly so since the company has officially responded to this issue and adjusted the pricing and given a partial refund.

 

Hi, wow, that is a bit Wyrd...

 

It was not my intent to suggest that you do not listen to the community, but rather (from experience) a fear that not doing so might lead to a rift between the core and the maker, as it were. Which in turn might lead to enough negative sentiment generated as to put one of the game itself, regardless of rules or models.

 

Been there, done that, and as I sit here, slowly drifting into this twilight age I like to think that whichever game I choose to spend my last weezing, ever-so-slightly-stained-with-pee-underwear years with, is actually a game that won't unplug me at the first sign of dementia, and then move on to a younger, less calcified version of yours truly...

 

...Yeah... That made no sense at all.

 

In summary: I for one appreciate you taking the time to respond, irregardless (yes, American Dad made it a word...) of outcome. So, thank you Wyrd!

[Justin]

The note about suspension of disbelief/board presence/ease of painting regarding non-vertical minis is very interesting. I'd never thought about that angle. If that's always been the intention, I wish Wyrd had stated that earlier, since, while I disagree with it, it would have certainly justified it.

I don't know if it is the intention.

I just know I, as a fan of miniatures, prefer it.

[SpiralngCadavr]

I don't know if it is the intention.

I just know I, as a fan of miniatures, prefer it.

Sure, either way, it's always cool to read unexpected angles like that.

[tmod]

New Nekima is badass but small, old Nekima was badass but impractical; I have room for a third sculpt in my collection! I support this wholeheartedl, and would buy a larger version in a heartbeat. Nothing wrong with the current one, but a big one in plastic would be awesome. I also think there would be a market for a large female demon in plastic for non-Malifaux players, but what do I know...

Also, great comments Justin! As I've stated in other threads, I also prefer kneeling models to be taller than standing models, helps them stand out on the table. But too much is definitely possible (*hrmph* Young LaCroix *hrmph*)...

[scarlett fever]

I don't play Nekima (yet...) however I wholeheartedly support addressing her scale in some manner. It seems like a good precident to set.

 

While I can understand the desire that models shorter in millimetres should be larger in volume so that they have more presence individually on the table, it gives me brain ache to look at them together in a crew. Rules abstractions are fine but one of the reasons I'm drawn to Malifaux figures is the realism and attention to detail in the new plastics compared to other miniture companies, some really beautiful and dynamic figures. Scale issues just give me a cerebral hammer to the head that ruins the suspension of disbelief.

Just my 2 cents and I'm fully aware that we all approach and experience the hobby in different ways.

[asrian]

X <--- I made my mark. That'll be 30 silver.

[Uktena]

These kinds of threads kill me a little bit inside.  I can totally get behind any conversations voicing distaste with models, rules, etc; even the ones I disagree with.  I think being able to speak back to the creative team behind the product we pay money for is super important and particularly beneficial when they are open to input like Wyrd can often be.

 

Petitioning them to change an already existing item in the inventory is just unrealistic and disingenuous.  The key difference to me between a big thread complaining about things, and an attempt by the community to pressure Wyrd into taking a financial loss for something a vocal portion of the player base dislikes is the word "petition".  One is I believe healthy for the production crew, so they can get a sense of what is and what is not working.  It has led to some improvements in their modeling planning.  The other just seems petulant - what makes sense about resculpting a brand new model for a minor size preference (not an issue - it is just a simple preference.  The model looks fine otherwise). 

 

What are you expecting?  That they would junk the Nekimas they've already made and waste who-know's-how-many thousands of dollars in labor, material, and design just to meet a minor preference?  Would they buy back the ones they've sold?  Give out an equal amount of free models to players who already bought one?  The regular sized M2Nekima would just be on ebay tomorrow for half price and then Wyrd will really have taken a loss.

 

There have been design decisions I particularly disliked just like the rest of you.  There are even threads where I've gone in and loudly complained.  I've never tried to apply pressure to the company to get my way because I'm not the only person playing and it just seems tasteless to me.  Sorry for the rant, I don't like coming to the forums to be negative because I think it feeds back into the community, and it's threads like these that make me think that way.

[Ikvar]

Thank you so much for your input Justin, both I and I am sure everyone else are happy to hear your view on this matter. It would however be even more awesome if you could get someone from your production department to finally answer the simple question, if the scale is as intended or if they made a mistake. 

 

A simple yes or no answer could put all of these doubts to rest- we might not be happy with the answer we get, but at least all the bickering and discussions can be put to rest.

 

And I have no doubt you guys are listening to everything we say and complain about, which is why I am proud to be a henchman and spread the word of Malifaux... even if we dont always agree on everything