Lets get some perspective:
Urban Mammoth, creators of the Urban War and Metropolis Series of games/ minis.
Here is their catalog for current figs.
http://www.urbanmammoth.com/acatalog
Their figs are allright. Softer metal. Much harder to convert as they don't have the variety of GW. Good example of good quality figs.
Take notice of their prices. These are current prices.
Privateer Press: Hordes, Warmachine, etc.
They don't sell figs online (except special figs and parts.)
Here is a parts page. Very similar to GW's bits in type, and price.
http://store.privateerpress.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=121
Prices for figures are approximately the same as GW. Maybe a bit less.
All Metal, little converting to do. Small line of figs in comparison to GW.
Fair quality of sculpts.
Rackham: Confrontation etc. AT-43.
Here's CCG Armory's sale items.
http://www.ccgarmory.com/at43.html
AT-43 is about the same as 40k/ WFB. Prepainted.
Flexible plastic, hard to convert. Sculpt quality varies as does the paint-job.
Mongoose Publishing -Battlefield Evolution: Modern Warfare.
http://www.ccgarmory.com/unstmaco.html
Bit more expensive than GW. Prepainted plastics. Fair quality sculpts, fair quality painting.
Lets look at Historicals:
Essex: http://www.essexminiatures.co.uk/frames25anc.html
For Normans, you are averaging 1.5GBP per figure. These are 25mm figs, and the quality is ...frankly...crap in comparison to GW or PP, or Rackham. You need a LOT in order to play historicals.
The Foundry: big seller of figs.
http://www.wargamesfoundry.com/main.asp
Here's a roman collection as an example:
http://www.wargamesfoundry.com/collections/IR/1/index.asp
8 figs for $21. All the same, questionable quality sculpts. You can get a force to play with for $147. For the Warhammer Ancients Battle game system this would be a tiny force.
There are tons of sites and miniatures manufacturers. Tons of games.
What's the difference?
GW produces a full-hobby product: figures that are easily modified, customized, and kitbashed. Average to high average prices. Paints, brushes, basing materials, accessories. Cases, everything you can think of to have essentially three hobbies: Collecting, Painting/ Converting and playing a game (which is regularly updated with player input) in a well developed game universe that is so well loved. Books/ novels, comics, video games, ball caps, t-shirts, key-rings, dog tags, pendants, watches, posters. You have a full time staff who is available almost every day to answer stupid questions as well as give advice. Stores all over so people can play in-store, and get advice and congregate.
I think GW is producing more for only marginally more per fig. Producing Much MUCH more.
Inflation is one small part. Commodities play another part (oil and tin). Paying for the GW game support mechanism is a big chunk.
Yes, GW is a company, in business to STAY in business and making money in order to keep making money. I can't fault them for that. What sets it apart is that it is staffed by people who love the product and want to see it succeed by keeping it fun and growing (opposed to stagnating. ).
While I appreciate folks opinions on GW and the expense of their hobby...folks just have to realize that hobbies are expensive in general...designed for disposable income expenditures. While many people may feel GW is a behemoth running rough-shod over the gaming industry, raking in piles of cash...I feel they are a company trying to balance survival with cool products. I've had nothing but positive experiences in dealing with GW in the past, I enjoy their products, their customer service and all the little doo-dads GW produces to keep me hooked on the games.
Cheers!
El.
