Thanks Gunter. I know, you know!
The following requests have already hit me re GNW:
Cossacks
Turks
Danes
Ski Troops
Snapphanne
Saxons
Swedish Firing line
Russian pikemen kneeling
Boyars
Streltsi
Polish Winged Hussars
Polish Pancerni
Polish Infantry
None were in the original plan which is still to release:
Swedish Cavalry
Swedish Personalities and generals
Swedish Artillerymen
Swedish Grenadiers
Ragged Swedes
Swedish casualties
Russian Dragoons mounted
Russian Dragoons dismounted
Russian Grenadiers
12 additional Russian codes(60 different figures)
Russian Artillerymen
Russian Personalities and generals
This thread demonstrates the gap between commercial reality and wargaming aspiration. Very often, the well intentioned requests focus on a specific individual need for a gamer or club. Although the manufactured product may be exciting to sculpt and paint, the commercial potential beyond selling a few (or at most a few dozen) packs is at best unknown and at least totally impossible.
It may sound like this thread is pouring cold water on new ideas but the truth is actually the exact opposite. Clever reworking of existing sculpts, dollies and poses maximises the opportunity to produce new stuff.
With regard to the 'crowd funding' route I do not favour it as I have seen and heard of too many melt down situations with the 'ideas guy' drowned in a tidal wave of admin and over subscription. Highly stressful, frustrating for the cash contributors whether 20 euros or 2000 euros.
I was able to access a degree of funding from a small group of about 12 people to help with the start of the GNW range and that was successful. I have not yet re approached the original group to see if they wish to continue to fund. We raised a reasonable amount initially with Warfare being of course the largest funder and matching ++ the combined contributions of all other funders. That allowed us to get 21 packs of Swedes done. The Russians and anything subsequent are solely funded by Warfare(ie me) currently.
My real job gets in the way often and at the moment, communication wise, I am barely keeping my head above water.
What has the GNW achieved in sales? Well, the sales have be encouraging but not outstanding. The range is still 'in debt' ie initial outlay costs not recovered but cushioned by the big success of other Warfare codes. I will continue with the development process as planned. We are creating some wonderful stuff at the moment.
So, as Gunter says.. Gunfreak... stick with it, buy bits and pieces as you need as this allows us to keep going. If a couple of hundred other people do that every two or three months you may well get your Norwegians!