Friday Rant - command packs
This Friday Rant isn't an alternative to the Friday Poll :lol: But I can't be the only person who gets annoyed when a range includes rank-and-file in several different poses (e.g. standing, firing, advancing, charging etc) but does not have command figures to match. Most ranges will stretch to standing and advancing/marching command figures, and sometimes people like the Perries will give you "charging" command to go with the charging rank-and-file. But occasionally you come across a range that only provides command in one pose. What's prompted this rant is the fact that neither the Bicorne nor the Renegade ECW ranges have command in a post other than standing. There are one or two figures in their command packs that could, at a stretch, be used as walking figures, but all the standard bearers and officers are standing and pretty much all the other figures. Both ranges have a large number of rank-and-file packs thyat are advancing, marching, skirmishing etc. But all the command are just standing likes cows looking over a gate. I'm particularly surprised at Bicorne - given the huge range of figures, which I'm concluded allows it to stake a claim as the definitive 25mm ECW range, why on earth not just make 8 more figures for an advancing/marching command pack? It's officially SILLY!! :grr: :grr: :grr:

Giles, I'm behind you 110% on that one. Good Rant!

Completely agree Giles, and my sympathies. (Welcome to the nightmare world of 'conversions', to obliviate command figure ennui!)

nah sorry but I think its a realistic approach :coffee: Well its like this - I'm the commander right - yeah ok (*well its my garden and my toy gun or - I've got more gold braid than you) *delete as appropriate Ergo- Now you lot, go and charge them over there, yes those big mothers with all those pikes and don't forget them ye old tanks as well Colin and I,............. err I mean the Lieutenant and I will stand over here behind this wall while you do it Call us when the job's done (or in a modern setting it could be text me) I rest my case M'lord :) No need for charging command figures :)

Won't work. They might get away with that nowadays (though they'll never be loved...) but the farther back you go the more important it is as a leader to be seen out front.

If I can rant: I wish I could buy Perrys as single figures like Minifigs… but I can't. Rant over. Giles You could do some conversions – pike to officers etc But it is why I have most of my pike standing and they are easier to play with that way as well.

Next Giles will be asking for Pioneer troops that aren't leaning on their shovels like modern road construction crews. The Pioneers should be charging at the woods with bayonets fixed! ... on their axes! :eh: Actually, I agree with VB's position a bit; but I agree with Giles' rant more strongly. Command figures should be engaged in an activity similar to the troops they're commanding. It should be left to the hobbyist to match a command unit at rest with an advancing battalion, if he so desires.

Simon beat me to it, but I agree. While I share Giles' feelings, financial reality at some point rears its ugly head. The price of producing a miniature must be the same whether it be one of the Quality or one on the Hoi Polloi, but a manufacturer will never sell command figures at the same rate as the rank-and-file. If a company has the cash reserves to get away with a variety of command figures, then sure, but otherwise most manufacturers would- very reasonably- be hedging their bets.

1) I think we need to realise that the Perrys spoil us......because, err.....they can. 2) Wouldn't standing command be appropriate for firing/loading ECW types? It's really only the marching guys where they might look marginally out of place - and even then you can usually hide their stationery-ness with good basing.

Mainly because it costs money for each sculpt and it is more cost effective to pay, say £50-£100 for a sculpt that will sell in the hundreds rather than pay for a command figure that will sell in the tens. Supply and demand old chum. That is perhaps the main reason. Simon, I appreciate that point. But if a company is going to release a command pack of 6-8 different figures (and these two companies have done) why not have 3 standing and 3 advancing? Why have all one pose and none the other? Why go to the expense of releasing advancing rank-and-file if you're not going to produce suitable command figures for them? I'd have thought that a point would be reached where the additional command figures recovered some of their costs simply by more people buying into the range as a result of the greater coverage of command figures... But I'm not going to second guess those at the sharp end of figure manufacturing.

Simon, I appreciate that point. But if a company is going to release a command pack of 6-8 different figures (and these two companies have done) why not have 3 standing and 3 advancing? There's another side to that; if I want all my units in advancing poses, what am I going to do with the standing guys (or vice-versa)? Which is why when possible I always prefer being able to buy individual figures over packs, as I can with Front Rank.

Regarding the price issue - if sold in packs command figures are always more expensive anyhow...

- But if a company is going to release a command pack of 6-8 different figures (and these two companies have done) why not have 3 standing and 3 advancing? - I would be the one to rant, then! Most of my units are in standing poses, not only would I have no use for half the pack (as Stavka mentionned) but I'm also stuck using the same three command figs for all my units instead of being able to create variations.