Answering your comments on the Viking release and what's up next
Added 2021-05-27 02:19:57 +0000 UTCHey guys and gals!
Thank you so much for your incredible feedback on the Viking release! In this video, I go through every comment and answer your questions and suggestions about what we should do in the next few coming months.
- Benoit
PS: Also, below is the the full line-up of the June release - Viking Gods and Heroes in low-rez (2Mb). You can also grab the Hi-rez image (8Mb) here: https://i.imgur.com/gmtf10X.jpg
Comments
These Vikings are the reason I joined your Patreon!
Jon Letham
2021-06-16 01:56:56 +0000 UTCI know you said you don't see a market for Spelljammer models but I think you'd be surprised by the response if you offered it - Spelljammer is a pretty niche setting, so I don't think many people will ask for it, but given the models you've made, I think a whole bunch of beautiful and useful Spelljammer models would totally be a great introduction to the setting for the many people who've likely never heard of it - they just don't know they want it yet!
Daniel Richards
2021-06-06 15:48:46 +0000 UTCAbsolutely you should point out the flaws in the prints and they should fix them. My intention is not to argue, for this is a fan board, just as the name says "patreon". I am still a big fan of Heroes Infinite and I forgive the mistakes. I just want to make sure that in our universal efforts to point out flaws and inefficiencies, that the management does not translate that to mean they should be harder on the staff or act like a corporate environment where making money is the most important thing, not the art. I suggest to Heroes Infinite, maybe hire a couple more technical and QA staff to help things along with the files, but for goodness sake, don't change what you're doing just to appease everyone. When I feel like that has happened, you may indeed make more money, who knows, but it wont be from me.
Scott Jeffs
2021-06-03 01:45:18 +0000 UTCHey! Great to hear from you! :) I feel like you guys are in this tough spot where we want you to sculpt ALL THE THINGS. To your credit it seems like you want to sculpt ALL THE THINGS. But there's like 50 million niches to fill and you're right, you have to do what sells. There's an adage about bellbottom jeans that in the 70s everyone wore bellbottoms because that was all you could buy. There have been similar phenomena with Call of Duty and WoW clones and high deductible health insurance. So, just so you know, I'm in for the long haul. You're my only Patreon, and almost the only thing I print. That's because you're all I need to print. I don't have a particular need for any one thing and you guys keep it varied enough that I know if there is something I want, you'll get there eventually. So don't worry about me none. You do what you have to to stay in business. I was surprised to hear you weren't into the Greeks. It felt like it was one of your more successful months. Some of the Vikings are hit or miss for me. I'm not into antlers, but the models I do like, I like A LOT. And you know what? I can just cut the antlers off if they really bug me (I won't, but I _could_). Oh! and I just noticed the runes on the cloaks. Nice touch! Going to be a blast to paint. I'm rambling now, keep on being awesome. Really looking forward to what you've hinted at in the coming months.
eyflfla
2021-06-02 01:42:42 +0000 UTCIf you message them on Patreon, they'll get you a link. It's an extra step, sure, but it's not a total loss.
eyflfla
2021-06-02 01:32:08 +0000 UTCMissed another month damn
Iucking fdiot
2021-06-01 18:23:07 +0000 UTCWhen you look at "troops" for these themes (like the mythology ones) why not consider the elves, dwarves and such as a set of troops. I get the cool monster thing, but just as a thought for ticking multiple boxes. Though personally I'm back for the terrain more than the minis.
John Pope
2021-06-01 11:00:57 +0000 UTCYes, I've had a nightmare month and not gone back for the uploaded files, thinking that I had until the end of the month OH WAIT, NO. The link expired on the 30th - darn!!!
Andrew Prowse
2021-06-01 09:00:44 +0000 UTCYeah, I've been trying a couple times a week to get this months and it never worked. I'm out. and won't be back.
Andrew Tate
2021-06-01 04:57:00 +0000 UTCEqyptian set still has missing LYS files and Sekhmet supported and unsupported has messed-up teeth. But it seems more important to charge ahead with everything new than fix the current issues, I assume.
virtualmorrigan
2021-06-01 04:44:15 +0000 UTCI have had days of issues downloading files and i have been here since the start. I was buying from Raging Heroes before this started.
PheonixKnight
2021-05-31 19:26:10 +0000 UTCYeah it seems like it's really cool that you've had the experience that you have, but that doesn't discount other people's negative experience. You got all your models? Cool. So should others not be upset then when they don't get their models? Since you got yours, you just don't believe others had troubles, or you just don't really care? Telling a company what you like and dislike, and what you are interested in, is paramount to keeping a company in touch with its clients needs. If a company went on its own never listening to complaints then their product could quickly become terrible. Stop simping for a business.
Power.
2021-05-31 18:19:25 +0000 UTCWhat isn't fixed?
Scott Jeffs
2021-05-31 17:30:54 +0000 UTCExcept that they are not fixed yet. But whatever, keep in the flow I guess
virtualmorrigan
2021-05-31 17:16:51 +0000 UTCThank, yes I did get them all. I have decided that the best time to actually download the files is mid month. I am with the crowd in wishing that when they release at the beginning of the month that everything should be all there. But I work in the software industry and the expectiations of perfection are impossible to meet. Especially if you are talking about art like this stuff here is, it's art. To put pressure on the artists to make beautiful and fantastic figures with a deadline is already bad enough, I give them a break and just go with the flow, download later in the month and by then the bugs are worked out. Not a big deal, the price is still worth it!
Scott Jeffs
2021-05-31 17:07:11 +0000 UTCI have to question your assessment that representations of the "toughest girls of the galaxy" haven't been here at Heroes Infinite. I think if you go back and look at all the releases here, and of course at RH, you'll see a whole lot of tilt towards "toughest girls of the galaxy". Which is fine! I've got plenty of minis that still have men as the primary soldiers, leaders and heroes and I don't need any more of those. I do praise Heroes Infinite for the more balanced gender approach they have been coming out with LATELY. But if they had tried to do Zeus as a female that would have felt too cheesy feminism, I'm glad they didn't do that.
Scott Jeffs
2021-05-31 17:00:34 +0000 UTCSo your 100% sure you got all the files from May? There are several models missing files, also some sculpts are not what they appear to be in the photos. You might want to go through and check every single file before the end of the month. Oh wait.....thats today and files are a mess There are also a lot of "fixed" files. So depending when you downloaded your files may have which ever issue was fixed.
Michael Felske
2021-05-31 16:05:02 +0000 UTCI politely suggest just let them do their business without our unnecessary comments on how to run their business? These guys are putting out some of the best stuff to be found anywhere, period, there's no need to try to direct their art dept decsions, they are Heroes Infinite art dept decsions, not yours. In 8 months I have not once had any problems downloading their stuff. There are now two ways to download the files and the new download system that works great, try it! I haven't once found a rollout of minis that wasn't some of the most spectacular stuff anywhere even for themes I do not think will ever see a gaming table (like neon punk) they were still easily worth the $10 to print and paint just for fun! Think about it, it costs $10 just to eat at a fast food restaurant. Heroes Infinite, just block out the noise and keep doing whatever you think is best, stay true to who you are when you began, and don't worry about these comments.
Scott Jeffs
2021-05-31 15:35:52 +0000 UTCI've been skipping my downloads in anticipation of the site, don't fail me now...
Christopher Barnes
2021-05-31 01:29:44 +0000 UTCWhen is that back-up site coming you were speaking of???
Christopher Barnes
2021-05-31 01:28:38 +0000 UTCI'm not dropping this because of art style. I enjoy what these guys do immensely. I'm doing it because the rollout and download options are sloppier than I'm used to. I might check back in the future. I love the designs. But geez, these DL options are awful.
Charles Atkins
2021-05-30 14:34:57 +0000 UTCYour first paragraph is completely correct, and coincides 100% with my point. Your second paragraph deserves recourse - I never suggested the absence of TGG style was the cause of lost subscribers so that can be discounted. Also, your assertion that I am just trying to advocate 'more boob models' is also completely false - I am now confirming that is not the intention of my initial comment. Plus I have absolutely no intention of redirecting the patreon away from its core, I am simply adding a shared view to the comments that is in no way coinciding with the perverse and baseless accusation you are making. Everyone has a place to express their views on art here in a civil manner and if you disagree that is fine, but what is not fine is asumptuously accusing someone of perverse intentions.
Reavernator
2021-05-30 02:58:36 +0000 UTCWell except this patreon has never been geared towards the "toughest Girls of the Galaxy" style of art. Ive been collecting from the start on this patreon and its simply not predominantly the style you suggest it is. Yes im sure their main website carries those products... but the patreon has never really focused on that content. So I'm not sure how they lost subscribers for not providing content that they never supplied in the first place. Your entire point seems basically predicated on "i want more boob models!" and thats grand... i aint no prude, but literally this patreon has never been geared that way... so if anything its you who is trying to redirect the patreon away from its core and towards art that appeals to you.
Atieno
2021-05-30 01:20:00 +0000 UTCSpeaking of the lost subscribers, I have had talks with many folk who joined this patreon from the beginning - they mostly share the same opinion that they joined due to the unique art style of RH that most companies don't have the guts to express due to concern of being 'cancelled'. I'm referring to the style of your "Toughest Girls of the Galaxy" art, ie, the courageous expressions of femininity that at the time, only RH made available. I know this may sound narrow minded to some people but this is how art works. If there is a concern about losing 'family friendly' subscribers as a result of making the TGG style, then you can look into a 'family friendly' option, or even a separate "FF" patreon tear.
Reavernator
2021-05-30 00:23:36 +0000 UTCKnights are a simple theme that I’m excited to see you guys CRUSH. You’re going to rock July 🤩
Jessica Finneman
2021-05-29 22:19:31 +0000 UTCBonjour, j'adore vos figurines (j'ai toute la collection des KST, des jailbirds, presque toutes les dark elves et les lust elves, et je suis le pareon depuis le début). Cependant, je déteste ce moment dans le mois où je télécharge les fichiers. Vous aviez parlé de mettre à disposition les modèles sur un site. Savez-vous quand ce sera disponible ? Ce qui serait génial, ce serait de pouvoir avoir une liste des modèles avec illustration et de pouvoir les télécharger un par un à volonté. En tout cas, merci pour ces magnifiques figurines !
lyzech
2021-05-29 08:44:04 +0000 UTCOne think I would like to see occasionally is videos showing assembly of certain models. Ex the wizard Christmas was confusing to print multi part pieces. Also a video showing a bit how you print them. Scale recommendations and tutorial for setting up the center pieces would be amazing! As someone said. FDM for terrain is a good option so showing how you set up the prints would benefit us! Also easy loyalty option could be an option to get a past release that was missed pre-joining Patreon.
Will Green
2021-05-28 23:46:38 +0000 UTCTry in Private / incognito window of your browser
Raging Heroes
2021-05-27 22:13:20 +0000 UTCWell, sorry I caused you a bit of a pause there with my comment on the last post. I don't regret having said my piece but at the same time I feel that perhaps there could have been another way to put it which would still have communicated my disappointment as a long-time supporter of Raging Heroes in positive and constructive terms. I don't know how to explain this from a business case perspective but I do feel like every time you all walk another step down the path of "well, the popularity poll said do more X, so here's some more of us doing X for you!" you give up the creative direction of saying "Guys, we are so excited about Y, Z, and 1-2-3; come along for the ride of us having fun!" You're banking too hard on the details carrying you through in a crowded market and you're not just details, y'all have vision and design sense too! I'm not entirely sure what you're seeing on your end of the business and I don't really need to be privy to that information but it really feels like there were a lot of comments saying the same thing and no real answer as to why you all don't then revel in doing those things except for "we will make a statement about sci-fi later" - it's not exactly a scientific sample set, but I counted a lot of comments talking about steampunk and cowboys, more than were excited about certain other vote-popular ideas I have seen crush dreams of unique content elsewhere also.
Gregory Morris
2021-05-27 21:51:59 +0000 UTCHi there, I have been with you since the pirates and i love the rewards getting bigger and better. However I do have a few suggestions. First of all, since a lot of people have been with you since a long time and I for one am no longer able to keep track of where all the models are and if I downloaded them. Now i know you already have a sale on MMF. Would it be an idea to fullfill the patreons though MMF? I know a lot of companies already do it such as AVG, OPR , Highland miniatures. For us patreons this would make it a lot easier. Secondly, now with all the terrain comming out, would it be possible to also provide the terain models in pieces suitable for fdm printers? Lastly, and I cannot stretch this enough, keep up the good work!
wimpiewombat
2021-05-27 19:05:23 +0000 UTCBenoit and the HI team: First, love you guys, and love the work you put out every month. It's frankly amazing. After listening to Benoit's video, I have a suggestion: What if the Loyalty Reward wasn't a huge single model? What if the Loyalty Reward was HI's chance to pitch future release ideas? Sometimes we don't know what we want until you guys do a version and we see it. (African Fantasy, perhaps?) Perhaps a quarterly Loyalty Reward could be a manageable number of figures (probably rebuilt from existing models) showing what a example model from a new theme might look like. These models would give us a chance to see future releases, and possibly vote or give feedback on which ideas get the most support. Then, if that theme releases in the future, leave our Loyalty model as a unique extra figure for that set, so veteran supporters have a cool extra for their support. Just an idea to help you pitch to us the things we don't know we want yet. We love your work, and can't wait to see more of it. Thank you guys.
Dustin Ballard
2021-05-27 18:04:58 +0000 UTCThank you for your answer! It's a shame that ores for drakkar are not feasible, but I completly understand, that it is just not feasible. As for Barbarians, I though more about chaos marauders vibe of barbarians, but you are right, current Viking release have some great barbarian vibes!
Pawel
2021-05-27 15:33:49 +0000 UTCGreat video, love getting some insight in your process. You've been doing a tremendous job in creating some of the most unique miniatures out there. If anything I think a lot of people are here because of this, wether the theme each month is particular interesting to them or not. It's mind blowing how much work you must be doing each month. Here are some suggestions to ease the workflow! Maybe delving more into parts 2 and 3 for releases would save some time in having to do research and at the same time rewarding the time spent on doing that research. More of a theme would be a benefit to both players and creators. I for one would love to see more stuff like Deep Sea part 2, Egypt part 2, Vikings part 2 or even a Greek theme part 3. Also, instead of doing a lot of different kind of troops, maybe you could save some time and just add more different poses or weapon types on existing troops. Whatever you do, I'm excited to see what the future brings for Heroes Infinite. Thank you for all the hard work!
Kristian
2021-05-27 14:33:34 +0000 UTCOh yea, Dark Elves of the Spider Queen for sure!
Ron Purvis
2021-05-27 14:08:42 +0000 UTCGreat video, thanks for being so upfront and communicating your process so well, I really appreciate it and I wish more artists and companies were so open to suggestions from their communities! Also love these Vikings and can’t wait for the knights!
Aubrey Ramage Lay
2021-05-27 13:37:19 +0000 UTCCan't get the video to play. I even downloaded the loom app thinking that might help. No luck. Video just gets stuck loading but never does.
Erik Waring
2021-05-27 11:41:42 +0000 UTCThank you for the video and the great communication, Benoit. I have not been that keen on a Wild West theme, but I think the style you and your colleagues have will convince me to like it. As many people have suggested maybe a Firefly type of theme would work to attract both Wild West and Sci-Fi fans, I don't know. I didn't realise the Patreon platform was so delicately balanced and how easy it is to lose backers so quickly. So, I will leave the planning up to you and just sit back and enjoy the wonderful models you produce for us, with your styling I'm sure I will love whatever you chose to sculpt. 😸😸😸
nightlurker
2021-05-27 10:38:59 +0000 UTCThanks for the video and update. It's great that you film these to communicate with us. Ya'll rock. And again my apologies if I bother you with the pleading for Sci-fi. I can tell it bothers you to have to tell us you can't do. Respect. It's just my favorite mini sculpting company taking on my favorite genre will always be on my wishlist.
Oz Wainerdi
2021-05-27 06:38:19 +0000 UTCAlso as someone who is an armored fighter in the ACL and works with horses, and been "knighted" twice in a LARP(its basically a lifetime achievement award) I've very excited about the knight release next month. Need a pudgy/muscley one with a glaive so I can paint up myself. :)
Oz Wainerdi
2021-05-27 06:31:31 +0000 UTCLooking great. I was unsure about the viking theme and wasn't sure if I'd print much, but wow. These, like always, are amazing. So yeah I'll be making room on my shelves for a bulk of these.
Oz Wainerdi
2021-05-27 06:27:45 +0000 UTCDraugr! Draugr! Draugr! 😁
Joshua Rosenblum
2021-05-27 06:14:50 +0000 UTCTLDR; You guys rock! Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I look forward to continue supporting each month. (the long version...) Thank you for taking the time to do this video Benoit. I greatly appreciate hearing your comments to our feedback, your thoughts on what might make a good set or why some things would not, and understanding the direction you're taking for the future of this Patreon. I firmly believe that you and your team put heart and soul into making each release something special, and you also take time out of your very busy schedule to connect with your supporters. So, in my opinion you guys go above and beyond in every facet of this Patreon - the artistry of your "product", the videos, the "customer" interaction and communication, etc. - while a lot of other Patreons get only one or two things right. I think it's partly because you've been running a business in the industry for quite some time, and partly because of your passion...it definitely shows. Secondly I wanted to comment on your part on the Creative Direction side. It seems to me that you personally put a lot of effort into every release, not just the sculptors, and that your passion and creativity is a driving force. If that is true, I want to applaud your efforts as well because I know that takes a LOT of creative and emotional energy to do that month after month, yet somehow you still manage to pull off incredible releases again and again. To be completely transparent on my side, I am only interested in about 2/3 of the themes you guys come up with - like I wasn't really interested in the sci-fi theme, the vampire theme or any of the mythological themes - but I support for those months anyway for several reasons, such as: artistry (top notch) and sculpts that I know I'll find a way to use somehow; the value is incredible (probably double of most other Patreons); your connection with us (such as this video); and the passion and excitement I think you guys have for each release...I just like supporting fantastic, passionate artists. Even though I'm not really interested in 1/3 of the themes, you still manage to make those releases fantastic, and I usually get at least a few pieces I can use anyway...definitely worth the price of admission. Finally I wanted to comment on a couple of things you mentioned in the video.... - ..."I don't want to brag..." You and your team have earned bragging rights!! Knowing your stuff is awesome and being excited to talk about it is something I look forward to. Perhaps once a quarter you and your team could do a video where you talk about what went into some of the pieces you're most proud of, where the inspiration came from, your thoughts on the creative direction, etc. ;) - ..."trying to please everyone..." You know there's a saying, "Try to please everyone and you will please noone." Come up with themes you and your team want to work on, and that you know there's sufficient market for, and go for it...I know it will be awesome. Don't apologize for not being able to, or for not having the desire to, do this or that. If you made it to the end, thank you for listening. Cheers!
Rob Leonard
2021-05-27 05:22:51 +0000 UTCThanks for your replys in this form. That's great. But could you please read the answered questions too? I dn't know if it's only me, but I listened to it while doing stuff and so I didn't get what was the actual question :D Also, for me, sometimes the video was kinda blurred so that you can't even read the questions.
Mergoth
2021-05-27 04:45:05 +0000 UTCYou've done extremely well on the mythology themes. None of these appeal naturally to me, and it's easy to do them in the same lame version everyone else seems to favor, but you managed to lift them up to a higher level by creative reworking and staying true to your style. Also, the different sets mix easily, and I can use them out of their original context, always a big plus :-)
Gavin Butstraen
2021-05-27 04:04:27 +0000 UTCwell said, couldn't agree more
DMmeepo
2021-05-27 03:54:25 +0000 UTCIt's a difficult tightrope to walk between producing things that are most likely to be widely popular even if you don't feel very passionate about them, and things that are considered "risky," but are also more fun for you. This is just my two cents, but I think that not just going over themes that everyone and their brother also covers is a good strategy. I understand how you felt about doing the Greek and Viking stuff, and how some ppl are less than enthusiastic about Knights, but lots of other ppl want them anyway because they can be used in DnD and games like that, so naturally, it seems worth it to do them. And you did a great job! But what really drew me to Raging Hero minis was the originality brought to the Lust Elves and Void Elves, how distinct they are from other similarly-themed minis. Making that sort of thing, that really stands out as something that hasn't been done before, or at least not in that way, is what gets the really loyal fanbases imho. Mashing themes and genres together, or approaching something conventional like Steampunk for example, from an unexpected angle, like using a slightly different era, or Steampunk based on the fashions and culture of turn-of-the-century Tibet, something like that. That's why I got so excited when I discovered how magical Mayan cenotes are, because they don't feature much in depictions of their culture despite being so significant to Mayan mythology. It gives a fresh twist to what ppl tend to think of as the Mayan civilization~
Alayna
2021-05-27 03:48:23 +0000 UTCOne tip I can give about avoiding making bland, boring minis that have been done to death elsewhere is to add themes within that month. For example, say we're talking about goblins. Obviously there's millions out there already but there are millions of 'plain' goblins. How about 'fire' goblins or 'elemental' goblins or samurai goblins or viking goblins. Even rarer would be something like goblin nobles, goblin deities, modern goblins (like lawyers and bus drivers). I'm not sure I would want that last one haha, but you see what I mean. And I think the same could be said about everything you've already done or plan to do. You could even mix things up in one month so 'goblin month' could have a variety of themes within that single month so like 2 or 3 minis of each fantasy/scifi/steampunk within one month. While I do appreciate authenticity and trying to please that market, I can definitely also appreciate unique things. As a customer who plays mostly DnD when it comes time to get a dnd goblin I'm usually looking at sculpt vs price however, when you're the only guy who sells a goblin cow catapult and goblin pig cannon, I'm probably gonna go with you if I like the sculpt. Also just to throw out a request, I'd love to see more vessels especially exotic ones like one that was just released, sky ships, spelljammer stuff, underwater ships or submarines, faction related vessels like a viking submarine or goblin airship or something like a sky coach pulled by aerial creatures (while keeping people in mind who have small printers like me with my elegoo mars). Maybe monster related vessels like a mind flayer frigate, or a round rolling beholder tank. Also I've always dreamed of owning a massive golem made entirely of corpses, and a massive golem made from a castle like a castle robot with a ballista arm and catapult shoulder and draw bridge chest something like that. If you've made it this far thanks for reading :).
DMmeepo
2021-05-27 03:28:23 +0000 UTCHow about some Chinese or Japanese Heroes?
Impossible Emporium
2021-05-27 03:09:28 +0000 UTC
