Reply To: Complexity for Complexity's Sake

[onlyonepinman 18109xp 0]

I am going to compare the new Rohirrim to the new(ish) Saxons from Victrix, which tend towards the more complex end of the spectrum of plastic miniatures (outside of GW), but also have fairly dynamic and interesting poses.  Saxons are also a nice comparator for the Rohirrim.

The worst case scenario I could construct from the latest set of Saxons was 7 components, and this is by deliberately selecting the options that require the most components for the sake of it.  In practice,  the average is more like 5-6 components per model.  But therein lies another failing of the Rohan warriors: the Victrix models have options, the Rohan models Don’t.  While some of the Victrix heads have multiple parts, in most cases you have multiple options, so you can create multiple different models using the same torso.  While this adds to the assembly time, it also adds some value in that a small number of body poses can be used to make a large variety of unique models.  An even more extreme example would be their Late Roman Infantry, which not only has even more flexibility as it can be built as Late Roman, Arthurian Britain or Goth infantry.  The Rohan models don’t have any of this flexibility or customisability – there are no options.  Each figure is comprised of a fixed set of parts and there are two of each model in the box which when built are identical.  Each helmet has only one face and each face is compatible with only one helmet.

I Don’t mind complexity if it adds value, in the case of the Rohan miniatures,  it adds nothing and so, in my humble opinion,  it actually reduces value.  There are no options,  no flexibility – just complexity, seemingly for its own sake.