Name: Slavic Fantasy Miniatures

Link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1098010653/slavic-fantasy-miniatures/description

Type: Miniatures with Game

Scale: 32mm

Material: Choice of Resin and Pewter

Status: Funded

Created by: Jared Anderson

Location: Arlington, VA

I was requested to do this particular Kickstarter from a friend. Overall the models are well sculpted, though one miniatures face looks a bit off and undefined. One thing I do like is most of the models are sculpted, several with painted examples shown. This is refreshing to see.

From their low goal and limited number of tiers available they appear to be hand pouring the miniatures or going with a local US/EU company which makes their August 2016 shipping goal achievable, even overly padded, possibly to deal with a spike in popularity.

This is relaunched Kickstarter, cancelled for unknown reasons. Jared has backed many projects, but this is the first one that he has run. It does appear that he has a good understanding of Kickstarter, he is still unproven, though I will be highly shocked given its numbers if there is fulfilment problems, except time.

Deraj Studios is a new tabletop gaming company producing a unique line of 32mm scale fantasy miniatures inspired by slavic folklore.

These miniatures are being cast in the highest quality resin, and are expected to be delivered in August of 2016. We are also casting the miniatures in high-quality pewter, as a separate option for backers to choose from. Each miniature comes with a 30mm round-lipped base.

So far with this line our sculptors have included Kamil Smok Milaniuk, Przemysław Szymczyk and Patrick Keith, whose iconic style has been proven many times including throughout his own line for Counterblast. As shown in the images below, our sculptors are able to create miniatures incredibly close to the original concept art.

The pledge levels range from the $2 to $200. With a decent mix of variety thrown in, though some of it doesn’t make a lot of sense. I’ll cover that below.

At the $2 Lost in the Woods level level were you receive a download with a gallery of photos of the artwork and a download of the full beta rules for Portals: Worlds Collide that are emailed to you at the end of the campaign. Maybe I missed it but I can’t find where they talk about the non-beta edition rulebook and if you get it anywhere. The get everything, Leader of The Resistance level costs $200 (resin verson) or $170 (pewter version) in this you receive:

• digital Art
• digital Beta Rulebook
• x3 Militia miniatures
• x1 Militia Veteran miniature
• x2 Usurpers
• x2 Grenadiers
• x1 Dragoslava
• x1 Baba Yaga
• x1 Baba Yaga’s House (always resin)
• x1 of each Unlocked Stretch Goal miniature

For a single model (barring some of the specials) you will be paying $12 plus $3 shipping for the US/EU. This is not a great deal, at all. At best $15 for a single minis is average to below average.

At the $200 level you’re getting the standard models for right at $7 to $8 including the stretch goal minis, once you subtract Baba Yaga and a Baba Yaga’s House ‘miniature’. This is about where I would expect pricing to be.

Problem. I do not see Baba Yaga and a Baba Yaga’s House ‘miniature’ as being worth $135 to $140. At 5.5 inches the house, made out of resin, seems well over priced when compared to compareable models,  which ruins the price per minis of $7 to $8 on the $200 package.

Sadly you can not get an “Everything” package that does not include Baba Yaga and a Baba Yaga’s House ‘miniature’. Best you can do is Unlikely Heroes which is $100 (resin)  $85+5 (pewter) for 11 militia or add-ons for a price per miniature of $8 to $9. It’s also silly that there is a shipping price on the pewter includes shipping but the resin doesn’t.

In closing overall the models do look good and their price point is about average.  I like that the beta rules are included but it could have been better explained if the actual rules are going to be free. I love the fact they include cut outs and quickstart rules for free so you can try the game out.

The bad; I think it was a mistake to go with two materials, or making the two materials different prices, it clutters the entire Kickstarter up and causes the casting process to become much more involved with the making of additional moulds which is pricey. Also there seems to be continuity issues through out the Kickstarter with how things are referenced. Referencing back to a previous pledge level, which then references back to yet another pledge level when both of them combined is a total of four items is also an annoyance. Lastly, just add the shipping into the cost of the models as the US/EU shipping will likely cover 90% of your target audience. $85 + 5 is easily just made $90.

Ultimately the bad points, mattered little. At $8 to $9 a model with a game at $100 is about average, maybe slightly below. The models looks good but it’s nothing that really grabs your attention as being unique other then the high priced Baba Yaga and her house.

To have went up a grade. I would have liked to see the price per miniature go down a little or inclusion of some unique minis that aren’t stretch goals, inclusion of an “Everything” tier that didn’t include the witch, and be a little clearer about what’s going to go on with the game after.

Minor issues to be addressed, look into having someone copy edit ahead of time. There were a lot of little things that could be fixed with a few go overs. Quit separating shipping, there is no need for it.

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