Is the nipple in the middle the stand/flight base?

And nice to see my table isn’t the oly one with paint spattered on it.

No, there are NO bases in this photo. Hopefully to have those shortly to show off…and yeah, Tara wasn’t exactly happy about that paint splatter…

I would literally pay MORE money to be able to get some sprues rather than pre-assembled and pre-painted. I understand that others want pre-paints and they’re welcome to them, but I would pay a premium price for the sprues. I’m sure I’m not the only one.

Maybe an online-only special on the Battleshop (like the Thor and Loki models)? I have money. Please, take some.

I’m with MEP on this!

Count me in the “I’d pay more” bucket!

Agreed- the ability to do some conversions and such would be very cool.

I think I’d be happy assembling and painting these myself if it would keep the price down, especially since they are only assembled and *primed* as opposed to being a complete paint job.

I’m loving these models. Would really want to make them mine, so sprues or sprue option would be perfect

Yep, if there’s an option to buy them unprimed and still on the sprue I’m there… so totally there.

You can also count me in the unprimed, unassembled camp.

I am not interested in prepainted or the game at all, but might get the sprues just for the models sake.

Please let me buy them on sprue!

Yes! for buying sprues outside the box.

can I add my name to the many, ignore what the guru’s are saying in terms of profit margins for individual pre-painted units.. you will sell far more of these if you market them as on the sprue unpainted kits. The potential for kit bashing and converting are endless, brilliant concept, please just don’t go the pre paint route……

Absolutely respect those that want pre-painted in the box, but clearly as can be seen here there is a clear market opportunity for additionally selling the sprues separately. You can add my name to that growing list.
I would likely as not pass over this game if the models are only available as pre-painted, but would certainly give more thought towards getting it if I knew the option was there to assemble my own.
Look forward to seeing this continue to develop up until release.

Agree. I think a majority of the gamers interested in this game are miniature hobbyists. We prefer on the sprue- for the same price or less, it doesn’t matter. We like the work involved to get our models the way we want them.

However, pre-paint will not deter me from buying this game if given the chance…I’ll just repaint as needed anyway, even if lightly primed.

Save yourself some time, money, and manpower, though.

I agree with the vast majority of users here and would actually consider not trying the game if was only available as pre-painted. The Sprues look great hope our voices will be heard and the sprues will be made available

yep im tired of pre painted, i wont even think of buying if they are nope nope nope!!!

Me to.
You can also count me in the unprimed, unassembled camp.

Pre painted is good. Fast to play.

BUT : i’m a painter, a good french painter, and i wante to make my home fleet. Bleu Blanc Rouge
Blue White and Red wine.

Weren’t there originally supposed to be 8 ships in the boxed set?

I’m in the minority here, would rather have them bee pre built and painted. At the very least I would like to have them just prebuilt, I hate cutting, gluing and sanding. No interest in that.

Ideally, it would be cool to have something like Dustactics. Minis for hobbyists to build and paint. And minis at a different cost for quality paint jobs for just gamers who don’t want to paint.

Not sure is that is possible to do.

I’d like to point out that we, the current online Lev community, are a self-selecting minority, rather than a representative slice of the entire potential market. I would really like to be able to spend time painting these miniatures, but wouldn’t have the time and probably (after years of not having the time) wouldn’t have the skill. For me, and likely others, pre-assembled and pre-painted miniatures are a requirement to pick up the box.
I can understand the desire to have access to these impressive miniatures for assembling and painting but I’m not sure why the lack of them would make you decide not to try the game.

Looking Great!

Can’t wait to buy the game.

Having said that, I will state that I am 100% certain that I will repaint the miniatures to my taste. I have no fear of pre-paints, it is really not a problem… really! So I encourage those who are put off by pre-paints to set your worries aside. You will be able to repaint without loss of detail.

Nevertheless, I must join the chorus of folks who are pleading that the minis be offered “on the sprue.” Not only will it allow people to mod the mini’s but it will also allow them to use other rule sets. VSF is not a really huge community, but those involved are very creative. Selling the minis alone will tap into that creativity and their efforts will widen the games appeal and the companies profit.

Either way, have been watching developments here for a long time and now that it is starting to jell, I must say, well done and looking forward to release.

I would prefer to have it all. Prepaints and sprues both. If sprues only means more ships faster then I vote for sprues.

Not interested in the game or prepaints. Very much want sprues sold separately.

The debate between pre-painted and non-painted had been going on for more than a year before the company decides to go with lightly painted. The fact is that the market for non-painted only targets a shrinking market share. There is far more people who are willing to play games with pre-painted miniatures. Lightly painted still allows you to put on your own painting scheme. So, the company made a decision to suite various groups. It is like Dust Tactics. Miniatures are primed well for you to start painting and people has made outstanding painting scheme. Its premium edition is better done than most of you can do. When Earth Reborn decided to market its miniatures unpainted, the enthusiasm rapidly dropped. The game is not getting way less popular than as expected. At one time, the original company for Tannhauser put out the metal version of the figures due to player’s demand, only to find out that the market sale for these was so limited that no one cares of these metal figures nowadays. At one time, Rackham put out a poll to see whether people wanted painted figures. In the first month, those against was in the lead 2-1. By the 3rd month when more people were aware of the concept, those who favored painted figures won by a large margin of 3 to 1. I cannot understand why some people cannot even accept lightly painted figures. If you are a good painter, some light touch and highlight will easily make the miniatures look exceptional. I am sure that some of you are exceptional miniature painters and you should not have any problem doing it. Finally, there are those who want variations on their figures. A space battle system with construction rule may be better to accomodate your need.

I think that there is clearly a market for the company to sell both its prepainted miniatures and unpainted unassembled sprues. I realise that the priority will be to launch with their prepainted sets, but I can see no valid reason not to make the sprue kits available seperately at a later date (hopefully not to long after!). If they do a short run of sprues to test the water that will at least give them the opportunity to see if the demand expressed above materialises into actual sales.

With respect I think Consumer choice should be demand led, not based on polls and like many of the posters above I would like to purchase sprues. But I know I will also purchase at least one boxed set.

Didn’t mean to start an avalanche of comments (or a debate really). I completely understand why the boxed set is shipping with prepaints and I think it’s probably the right choice. I was simply wondering if there was any possibility of getting sprues available separately, and to address the issue of scales of production and cost (which is always an issue with plastic production) I was even willing to pay a premium for the option.

I know that deviating from the planned production scheme is costly, and even more so when catering to a niche audience. I’m just offering the possibility that some would be willing to take on that cost in the form of a premium pricing model. Still interested in Leviathans regardless of how that turns out.

Guess I just don’t get the value of *primed* only “pre-paints.” I can do that with a $5 can of Grey Krylon from my local craft store in a couple of minutes, so what is the value of that?? To me, not much.

Prime a whole army and you cann see whats the difference.

I’m with the group that accepts prepaints, but would like the option to buy raw sprues as well. I’ll buy it all!

I have a bundle of Popsicle glued in the general shape of a leviathan. This nicely handcrafted piece of artwork can be yours for the affordable price of $69.99 USD. Can send payment to my paypal account. You did say you will buy it all, Weirdo.

I have said before, “I can live with out having to deal with putting together really small parts.” So the prepaint – preassembled is no big deal. And lets face it, from a marketing point, its “The Right Choice.”
“Open Box, Read Rules, Roll Dice!” A great selling point.

But I have to echo what some have said here, putting together and painting your own models does just that, it makes them “YOUR’s”. Something worked for is always more appreciated.
I say, stay w the preassmbled – prepainted in your Core Game Set(s). This will ‘hit the I want to play right out of the box” market.
But if at all possible, PLEASE, give us “reinforcements” sold by the sprue.

After all, I dont know many gamers who dont know “someone”, who would be glad to build and paint their “reinforcement” Sprue sets for a small price, and in some rare cases, just for the fun of the building and painting.

We all know you cant please everyone, but I think this would come pretty darn close.
Keep up the great work.. and those Imagi-nations banners waving.

I have said before, “I can live with out having to deal with putting together really small parts.” So the prepaint – preassembled is no big deal. And I feel from a marketing point, its “The Right Choice.”
“Open Box, Read Rules, Roll Dice!” A great selling point.

But I have to echo what some have said here, putting together and painting your own models does just that, it makes them “YOUR’s”. Something worked for is always more appreciated.
I say, stay w the preassmbled – prepainted in your Core Game Set(s). This will ‘hit the I want to play right out of the box” market.
But if at all possible, PLEASE, give us “reinforcements” sold by the sprue.

After all, I dont know many gamers who dont know “someone”, who would be glad to build and paint their “reinforcement” Sprue sets for a small price, and in some rare cases, just for the fun of the building and painting.

We all know you cant please everyone, but I think this would come pretty darn close.

My appologies to all for the “double post”.. it was unintentional.

I’m still new at navigating this blog site and uncertain how to, if you can, edit after you submit. Apparently Not.

Fantastic discussion, guys! Love seeing this. Instead of my usual numerous replies directly in here, there was enough great discussions I felt it appropriately to simply generate a very thoroughly FAQ to publish as a new blog…especially as we can finally announce some additional details. Check in out: http://monstersinthesky.com/2011/06/03/leviathans-faq-frequently-asked-questions/