Darklands Kickstarter - Mierce Miniatures

[GnomesofZurich]

Just wanted to let everyone here know about the Darklands Kickstarter Mierce Miniatures started up yesterday. I've backed the company for a starter set of Monstrous Infantry (likely the Tarvax). I'm well aware of the company's past affiliation with Maelstrom Games and that there may be some uncertainty about the company, it has come up in the comments section, but I'm hopeful this will work out well.

Little information has been released yet about the Darklands ruleset, other than that it will be a skirmish game (not sure yet how the huge Banebeasts will be incorporated into it), and the fluff looks interesting. I like that it is set on an alternate Earth in 650 A.D., and that it gets away from the stereotypical dwarves, elves and orcs common to so many other settings.

If that sounds at all interesting, go take a look!

[Timbor]

Good sculpting indeed, but I have too many projects on the go to invest in a new one.  Especially one with such expensive miniatures.  Lots of quality, yes, but that also means longer time to paint. 

Yeah, as for the Maelstrom thing... knowing (according to internet people) that Rob Lane, the previous owner of Maelstrom, who lied to and cheated legions of loyal customers, is also the owner of Mierce miniatures makes me not want to support the line on that principal alone.  Not to mention that if something went wrong and the miniatures were not delivered, the estimated time for delivery is after the time paypal would not refund my money.  I was lucky enough to get my cash back from paypal last time, I'm not playing that game again...

[Sterling Moose]

expensive miniatures

My thoughts exactly.  Lovely figures but way outside my price range, and then to find an opponent too!

[beefcake]

This will probably take place of the gates of Antares for me. I may drop my funding to that one.

[Elk101]

They are indeed nice figures, however, as I would only use them to paint up they are too much for me and I'm not prepared to let go of the whole Maelstrom thing either. They're not getting any more of my money.

[Major_Gilbear]

Rob Lane robbed me of £200 - he can fuck right off if he thinks I (and other he stiffed like me) are going to support his KS.

So yes, whilst Mierce Miniatures bought Bane Beasts from Maelstrom Games and are technically separate entities, the guy who was the director of MM was also the director of MG, and he "purchased" BB from himself using the money that he stole from customers and suppliers through MG (which is why MG couldn't fill any orders and consequently went bust).

Oh, and he's still the director of Mierce Minatures!

Sadly, it looks like the project will be funded, but I strongly urge people to think carefully about who they are supporting if they are thinking of pledging.

[Timbor]

Yep, no love for Mr. Lane around these parts it seems.  Sadly, in today's world of faceless commerce people are more concerned with the product than the people behind it.  If they like the way it looks and are confident it will arrive, they will buy it.  I know lots of people swore to never buy Wargames Factory stuff after that whole fiasco, and yet they still seem to be doing ok (yes, I know, most people shun them for the low quality, but theirs is a quantity-over-quality philosophy).

I just hope the kickstarter delivers its promises for the sake of any ignorant supporters who do not know the history.  For those who know and take their chances... well lets hope they don't get burned.

[Colonel Tubby]

Rob Lane robbed me of £200 - he can fuck right off if he thinks I (and other he stiffed like me) are going to support his KS.

So yes, whilst Mierce Miniatures bought Bane Beasts from Maelstrom Games and are technically separate entities, the guy who was the director of MM was also the director of MG, and he "purchased" BB from himself using the money that he stole from customers and suppliers through MG (which is why MG couldn't fill any orders and consequently went bust).

Oh, and he's still the director of Mierce Minatures!

Sadly, it looks like the project will be funded, but I strongly urge people to think carefully about who they are supporting if they are thinking of pledging.

As the saying goes 'Fool me once...' so he won't get another penny of my money either.

I'm surprised he's still able to hold a directorship?

[gharak]

A bit of a weird kick starter as he appears to be just asking for £5000 without any details of what he is doing with it.

Looks more like jumping on the kick starter train to get a was of cash in.

G

[Paleskin]

It's a no from me for oodles of reasons!

[leonmallett]

It is already a success, but I wonder how many of those buying in are even bothered that it *may* be argued the MM minis lione was built on not paying suppliers what was owed, or leaving many, many customer orders unfulfilled.

[Elk101]

Rob Lane robbed me of £200 - he can fuck right off if he thinks I (and other he stiffed like me) are going to support his KS

This sums up my feelings on the matter rather well.

[leonmallett]

This sums up my feelings on the matter rather well.

I have thrown in £1 to allow me to comment; will be withdrawn before it ends. Got called 'troll' for my troubles, but at least i managed to air some feelings. The facts is many do not care that Lane has ripped off so many suppliers and customers, which has in effect helped fund this line.

[Timbor]

That was  my point exactly - people either don't know or don't care.

Though I think I figured it out - with Maelstrom Games now defunct, Mr. Lane has run out of funding to keep his Darklands line moving as there are no more funds to embezzle.  That is where Kickstarter comes in... 

As for what the funds are being used for, I think I read it is being used to fulfill outstanding customer ord... er I mean it is supposed to be used to launch the rules to their new wargame and fund the production of more miniatures.  Pretty standard fare for up and running companies.  Antimatter games did the same for DeepWars, which I supported.

I just hope I don't have to say 'I told you so' to any of the supporters in the future if their shipment never arrives...

[leonmallett]

That was  my point exactly - people either don't know or don't care.

Though I think I figured it out - with Maelstrom Games now defunct, Mr. Lane has run out of funding to keep his Darklands line moving as there are no more funds to embezzle.  That is where Kickstarter comes in...  

As for what the funds are being used for, I think I read it is being used to fulfill outstanding customer ord... er I mean it is supposed to be used to launch the rules to their new wargame and fund the production of more miniatures.  Pretty standard fare for up and running companies.  Antimatter games did the same for DeepWars, which I supported.

I just hope I don't have to say 'I told you so' to any of the supporters in the future if their shipment never arrives...

To be honest, I think the minis/MM customers are safe. The main costs was in sculpting, which was covered by the transition of the minis from MG to MM.

Casting then is fairly inexpensive (having had some resin cast up recently, I can safely say that).

Outstanding orders to the non-Maelstrom companies will be covered by Lane's shoddy business acumen. I do wonder if they acquired some stock from MG, but that will only ever be idle speculation.

MG is set adrift without resolution. Maybe, just maybe, Lane hopes to be able to pay off the main creditors (now Wayland, and HMRC if anything is owed there; maybe some other suppliers) if the KS is sufficiently spectacularly successful, just as a  hope to avoid being barred from directorships. But even then, I suspect the individual customers like ourselves will be left with nothing for our losses.