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[Largo_W]

Limited Editions have the additional boost of having something everybody else doesn't. Thats it. And I like it.

[Gimp]

Limited Editions have the additional boost of having something everybody else doesn't. Thats it. And I like it.

The question becomes; which boosts are more important for the game?
The boost from those few who get the limited edition figure? 
The boost from all the fans who get a new general release figure?
The negative boost from the fans who lose out?
The negative boost from the stores that lose out?
 
The stores and the fans are the lifeblood for Anima.  I'd prefer that stay strong.
 
Of those that get the limited edition figure;
Some of them will be scalpers, looking to take advantage of the situation.  Rather than support the game, they'll be sucking off funds from players by selling through E-bay.
Some will be jerks, that somehow think getting the figure makes them special, and can turn off potential players with their attitude about it.
Some will be fans that simply wanted the figure enough to buy it.  The collectible aspect may or may not appeal to them.
 
A general release figure would still apply to the last group, yet eliminate the negatives from the first two, and add all the other fans that would buy the figure happily.  All without engendering the negative feedback from stores and fans that were left out.
 
They're charging more for LE Celia because they have less to sell to recoup expenses.  Selling more could also make it easier on the fans, because they could profit through volume over price.
 
I look forward to seeing the paint jobs some people are going to do on this model.  If it were general release, it would join my set of figures I have in multiples, because I can picture multiple paint schemes I'd like to try.
 
Instead of selling me multiple copies, they're likely to sell me none, because they won't make enough to get them to me. 
 
Once I've broken my chain of getting all the figures, it also becomes much easier to decide a figure is not that cool, and since I'm feeding multiple games, I'll skip that one, too.
 
The collectible mentality works in two aspects: 'get the limited special ones,' and 'get them all.'
 
Anima has great sculpts, but other companies do, too.  Anima charges more than several companies, but they give good quality, and gaming aids.  The 'get them all,' concept helps overcome the price issue as well.  Once that is eliminated for collector/players through the LE release, it can't be regained.
 
Limited edition figures are a positive for a few, but a negative for many more.

[Mroq]

Some of them will be scalpers, looking to take advantage of the situation.  Rather than support the game, they'll be sucking off funds from players by selling through E-bay.
Some will be jerks, that somehow think getting the figure makes them special, and can turn off potential players with their attitude about it.
Some will be fans that simply wanted the figure enough to buy it.  The collectible aspect may or may not appeal to them.

1. Jerks will always be jerks. No matter what you do.
2.I like LE's and that does not make me feel special, but it does make the mini special to me.
3. LE Celia in particular is so nice I may even field her, bacause 1st one I didn't like and I didn't want her in my squad.

I think that ther eare three groups of people:
1. Those positively influenced - jerks, collectors, and all the others
2. Those negatively influenced - people getting angry because they didn't get the mini, people angry because it's limited and saying they will not buy it BECAUSE it's limited, etc
3. Those who doesn't care. These are the biggest group. Normal players, who will try to buy her if they like her, or not if they don't like her.

The miniature games hobby is just a hobby, and a true passion of very few. I, for example, am a passionate guitar player. After my girlfriend and guitar, there comes a job, thoughts of marriage, own home and family. Anima:Tactics, as much as I love this game and as much as I will try my best to make it heard of in Poland, is a way to spend time with friends over a beer. Better than any computer game.

I did manage to order two Celias LE, one for gaming and one for collectible purposes. If I didn't get it, I wouldn't even care - grats to all that did.

Being angry over something like that, saying that Limited Editions are bad influence for a fandom.. truly, what a fandom would it be for a LE miniature to brake it... I'd rather have 10 loyal fans than a 100 of ones that turn away because of that.

[Hiro]

I'd rather have 10 loyal fans than a 100 of ones that turn away because of that.

But then you would not have a business because you would not be making money.

I still fail to see the reason why this new version of Celia can't be massed produced. Why does it have to be an LE?

[Gimp]

I don't expect limited edition figures to immediately break the game.  I've seen wasted resources break a game, but it normally takes time to kill a good game with bad decisions.
 
I expect limited edition miniatures to erode parts of the fan base for a small game company that can't afford to alienate any of its fan base. 
 
I also expect limited edition miniatures to erode game store support, because game store owners are not fond of companies bypassing them, and as such, can easily reduce their support for a game company that is not supporting them.
 
As noted, a lot of players won't care, but those players that won't care are also the players that simply enjoy the game, without being the more passionate supporters a game needs to thrive.
 
Mroq would fit my third category, where he likes the figure enough to buy it, and happens to enjoy the LE aspect.
 
I wouldn't fit in any of Mroq's categories.  I'm not angry that the miniature is there, I'm disappointed that Anima is shooting itself in the foot when it still hasn't grown to be that big of a company. 
 
I've been gaming for over thirty years, and haven't seen many companies do well with the limited edition concept.  The figures can sell, and sell well, but it tends to foster more bad feelings than good.  The smaller the company, the greater the impact of any negative feelings.
 
I'm happy for all the people that ordered LE Celia because they thought she looked so cool.  I look forward to seeing the paint jobs some of those people will use on her, because they should look fantastic. 
 
I don't care if people feel the limited edition aspect makes the model special to them.  Their opinion is fine for them, and I can't say its wrong, because it's an aesthetic.  It's no more wrong than the opinions on which general release models look great or lousy.  People are welcome to disagree with my opinions, but my opinions are right for me.  I can happily disagree with those who feel otherwise.
 
I don't want to see Anima alienate any of its fans through marketing decisions.  Limited edition figures are a feel good for a few, but a negative for others, when there is no real reason to use them. 
 
Applying the resources used for a limited edition model could have instead made an alternate sculpt for anyone who wanted to buy one.  A few people would have lost out on the feel good moment of getting a limited edition model, but nobody would lose out on getting the alternate sculpt they might want.  The model could be used in a pre-release for CMON's painting contest, with a later general release, and people could still get the limited option feel good high if they wanted it.
 
Beyond that, no stores could feel that Anima was slighting them by giving an online option the first shot and lion's share of a miniature offering, when the stores are where Anima is really being pushed by fans.
 
I'm not bypassing the online LE Celia option because I'm angry.  I'm bypassing the online LE Celia option because I feel it treats fans and stores poorly, and want Anima to understand that opinion.
 
Gaming is for fun, and should be.  When players feel used or abused, they don't have as much fun with a game, and reduce their investment of time and money.  When stores feel used or abused, they see less reason to push a game, and reduce their investment of time and money.  Both mean less emphasis on Anima, and can hurt the game's growth. 
 
Even a small change can have large ramifications down the road.  I have several very good games I still play that are no longer in print because of company choices.
 
I don't want Anima to become one over choices that are easily avoided.

[Aajz_Solari]

While I'm not in favor of limited edition minis, I went ahead and ordered this one.  More because I like the mini than because I want to feel "special" (if a little toy soldier makes you feel special, you got issues). 

[Hiro]

While I'm not in favor of limited edition minis, I went ahead and ordered this one.  More because I like the mini than because I want to feel "special" (if a little toy soldier makes you feel special, you got issues). 

Indeed. Hence a return to my question, why does this new Celia need to be an LE?

[Aajz_Solari]

My guess would be that it's the same reasons as PP did for their alternate Eiryss sculpt (since the same arguments and counterarguments were made about that): to create some extra excitement about the game.  Doesn't necessarily mean it's 'good' excitement, but it's excitement nonetheless.

[Hiro]

So its a cheap ploy to create excitement. I want this new Celia to be available to everyone, not just the lucky few.

[planeswalker]

I step out of the shadows to voice my opinion in something I feel is important:

I'm also against LEs for all the reasons aforementioned, but still I think  the situation is not so grave, because the mini _will_ be available in regular stores after the CMON contest sale. Perhaps at a reduced stock, but I think that if the mini is so popular so as to completely sell out, it would be an unwise marketing move not to release more copies. After all, the stress on the LE thing was that it was initially available *only* in CMON. Apart from that, I'm not sure it's going to be that much different from all the other minis.

My two cents, anyway. And into the shadows I step again...

[Mr. Murder]

I'm not a big fan of LE miniatures myself either and I agree that it seems to have more of a negative impact on a game then a positive 1. At least there smart enough 2 make them alternative mini's for 1s that already exist so it doesn't bother me 2 much. What I reeely hate is when company's make LE models that there r no normal models 4. Then only a few "elite's" r able 2 use them in a game and every1 else misses out on the chance. If Anima Tactics r going 2 continue 2 make LE model's then they should stick 2 alts of mini's that r normally available. I think that wI ould b there wisest decision IMO. I picked up 1 and only 1 4 myself because it leaves more available 4 every1 else. If every1 only got 1 or 2 then there would b more 4 every1 but there's always those jerks out there that get a bunch of them so they can sell them off latter and make a profit. I reeely hate those type of people!

[Gimp]

I step out of the shadows to voice my opinion in something I feel is important:

I'm also against LEs for all the reasons aforementioned, but still I think  the situation is not so grave, because the mini _will_ be available in regular stores after the CMON contest sale. Perhaps at a reduced stock, but I think that if the mini is so popular so as to completely sell out, it would be an unwise marketing move not to release more copies. After all, the stress on the LE thing was that it was initially available *only* in CMON. Apart from that, I'm not sure it's going to be that much different from all the other minis.

My two cents, anyway. And into the shadows I step again...

Unfortunately, if they're calling it a limited edition figure, casting more would not be an option, or it would not be limited edition any more than the rest of the line.  We could hope for an option with a different barrel or something, but that would be about it for further availability.
 
Whether the 'limit' is high enough that everyone who wants one now could get one is open to question, but the comments that CMON's success with orders may result in shorting stores does not bode well for that.  Online sales are not likely to be anywhere near the majority of sales for the normal figures, and only CMON fans or forum members can spread the word about the figure's availability until it's gone.
 
My reason for bringing this up is to try and convince Anima to not keep doing this.  I have no disappointment in fans who bought this lovely figure.  My disappointment is in Anima doing their supporters a disservice. It's a bit late to stop, now.
 
I simply don't want Anima to shaft its players and stores that are fans by doing it again.

[Ten No Ryuu]

Frankly, I passed on this sculpt because I don't particularly care for it.  Playing with your clothing doesn't seem very "battle ready" to me, and I want my models to have dynamic, action-oriented poses.  The only action this sculpt makes me think of is of the "red-light district" variety. 

As for the Limited Edition discussion, I feel that this game is much too small for limited releases.  I feel that, for a company having problems with getting models released on time, releasing "bonus" models in the form of Limited Editions is a poor use of resources. 

I'm not against alternate sculpts as a possibility in the future, once production fully ramps up.  Right now, I have limited funds to spend on entertainment, so I save money for models I really want to put into an army.  If a model would just sit on the shelf, then for now, I simply won't purchase it.  With the economy still in the gutter, I'd bet many others are in the same boat as I.

[Aajz_Solari]

Playing with your clothing doesn't seem very "battle ready" to me, and I want my models to have dynamic, action-oriented poses. 

Ditto.  Indeed, it is her pose in this mini that relegates her to display purposes while the original sculpt gets all the action.  Not that my painting is good enough to actually display, you I'm sure you get my meaning.

[Zeru]

I plan on using her simply because I found the original mini far too bland.

Although she doesn't look like she is headed into battle with this mini, I think it reflects Wen-M's artwork amazingly well, and that is the reason I started collecting minis for this game.

Not exactly like Sophia, Evangaline, Bael and Coredlia have "battle-ready" poses either.

Then we have the other side of the dynamic that goes too far with the whole "action-pose" theme like; particularly several of the minis with the dreaded(at least to me) "one-legged" pose. 


That said, I love far more Anima minis then I dislike, and everyone has their personal preference as far the the types of minituares they like.

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As for the LE aspect of this mini, I too hope they eventually make it part of the full range, as it is a beautiful mini imo.