Conversion Clinic EZ style



I hear what they say. They say, that Wizkids was robbed when it comes to the Origin Awards, that “FF” should stand for “Fantastic Farces,” and that $300.00 for a Masterpiece Batman is low But I say wrong, WRONG, WRONG! For $300.00, I’d be more than happy to paint you a “masterpiece”!

Welcome back to my ongoing argument with the whole wide world, I’m the Frontman, and this is Activation Click. In this week’s column, I’ll give you make take on Wizkids treatment from the powers that be at GAMA, tell you the EASIEST way to make a converted figure, and give a bit of advice to those who are “done” with the game.

FIRST TOPIC!!

(please click on comments below to continue...)

Masterpiece Pricing

Last week on ebay a Masterpiece Batman sold for around the range of 350.00. Some felt this was under-priced, as a Masterpiece Spidey went for more, approximately 500.00. I say both are way overpriced. First off, I have to say my comments are based on not seeing one of these figures in person, but what I’ve been able to see on-line, the paint jobs are well done, but not at what I would consider “Master” level. Now, before anyone gets the outside-the-tights underwear in a bind, I do not consider myself a “Master” level painter myself. Yes, I’ve placed in nationals, both at Gen Con and at Origins, but I haven’t take “Best of Show” prize yet at any competition. I’m very good, but not at the level of someone like a Jen Haley, who is a multi-time Golden Daemon winner. Last year, a figure painted by her went for 355.00 when sold on ebay, which is one of a kind, compared to the 50 or so Batman Masterpieces. Trust me on this one. Her painting level puts the “Masterpieces” to shame. See for yourself and look at coominiornot.com which is a site where you can submit your painted figures for judging by other painters. http://www.coolminiornot.com/browse/...ubmitter/haley is the link to Jen’s work. (And before anyone asks, Jen is someone I respect for her talents, but I’m happily married to someone else.)

GAMA Goofs a Got, err Lot!

As reported here on HCRealms, the nominations for the Origins Awards were announced this week in Las Vegas at the GAMA trade show.
http://www.hcrealms.com/forum/showth...8&goto=newpost While Wizkids did submit both the Galactus convention piece and “DC Heroclix: Unleashed” for consideration, both were not nominated by GAMA. This is something that GAMA is notorious for. Many a year, one game company over another “sweeps” the Origin awards, and blows off other companies that have put out excellent products. Three years ago, I was in attendance at GAMA and at Origins, and saw that John Kovalic had been nominated in quite a few categories for both his comics (Dork Tower) and for his work with Steve Jackson Games. Upon arrival at Origins, I felt I arrived at a Kovalic convention, not Origins. His art was everywhere, from the direction signs to the convention book. I’m surprised they didn’t replace the male/female photos for the bathrooms with photos of Igor and Gilly! Low and behold, John won almost every category he was nominated in. Now, I have no problem with John, in fact, he did quite a bit for me when I opened my own game store, namely donating hundreds of dollars of games and merchandise for contest prizes, promotions, etc. But it was pretty obvious John was set up to shine at Origins that year, and while he does deserve credit for his talent, it seemed to many that voting for GAMA awards doesn’t really matter, the awards will go to whoever the top dogs running GAMA feel deserve it. At the end of the day, fellow clixers, don’t sweat WK not getting the nod at GAMA; because it doesn’t really matter. Name the last time you bought a gaming product, solely on the GAMA award sticker being on it?

Frantic Fantastic Fans

Also reported this past week here on HCRealms, Wizkids has begun the promotion push for “Fantastic Forces” the newest Marvel set for Heroclix. Last time I said I was excited for the next set, then they announced the “large fig/double base” concept, and after my initial “Son of a….” response, I’ve come to think this might be a good idea. Heroclix, like any collectible game, needs to mix things up from time to time, so long as the game does not become bogged down with a new concept and rule set along with it. I don’t think the double base concept will become too unwieldy, but we’ll have to see what they do with it to make the game play remain fluid. I’m still excited, and hope for the best out of WK. Even Ultimates, a set I was totally down on, I found to be a great set upon release.

How to make conversions easily, quickly, and without any modeling skill whatsoever

Starting with the basics, some have asked me how to do conversions. The first way is quite easy. Remove the current figure and add something else. (Note, this does make the figure no longer legal for tourney play, but if you want to mix it up for some fun with just your friends, do these simple steps.)

First, find a figure that is roughly the scale of a Heroclix model. I found that pieces for board games, figures off of keychains, or from gumball machines will work well. I bought a set of “Lilo and Stitch” gumball figures off of ebay, with the intent of making each into a current figure within the Heroclix line. Next, get the appropriate figure out of your extra Heroclix figures. For example, I took a veteran Doomsday model that I had extra of. Using my X-acto knife, I pried the figure from the base and scraped off any extra glue remains. I then took one of the two Stitchs that come in the set (there is 626 as well as “puppy dog” version of Stitch) and then glued them in place. And now, I have a Disney character that can throw down with Superman!

I also took and replaced a D.E.O. agent with Cobra Bubbles, T.O. Morrow with Jumba, and a Science Police with Pleekly. I can’t really say what I’ll do with Nani, the extra Stitch, David, and Lilo. I did think Lilo would have been perfect on a Con Artist base, but the connotations of that are just plain wrong, given the piece’s nickname around here. J

You can also grab figures from other Wizkids games and use them. Atlantis Guild models are perfect, well, for Atlantean warriors that serve either Aquaman or Namor. That was one disappointment I had with Crimson Skies, with the figures being so much larger in scale that both Mage Knight and Heroclix. I’d still recommend grabbing the starter, even if just for the small map contained within.

Once you start converting, you’ll find yourself wanting to make more figures. I recommend having a good storage system once you start converting. A box lid is only good until you don’t want the figures getting beat up. I use a plastic 3 drawer set that sells at Target for like 15 bucks, and have all the figures standing. (It’s currently at 3 separate sets, but I might have to figure out something larger.) For anything I’ve really put a lot of work into, I pick up a standard figure case from your gaming store. Ultrapro makes a great two-tray carry case, which holds 22 figures a tray, 19 regular sized and 3 large sized/double base figures. It also has a side pocket for maps, dice, and rules. I use that to transport my figures to venues, leaving space for trades and any figures I pick up.

A major note of advice. Protect your figures, both converted and original from the elements. Don’t leave your pieces in a car in the heat or cold. Nothing is more frustrating than having half your figures looking like they are doing the limbo. If this does happen, use a hair dryer set on low to reheat the figure then hold the figure in its “proper” pose, and allow it to cool.

Next week, folks, I will have a basic painting guide on how to improve upon the factory paint jobs and spruce up your collection.

No More Goodbyes

Ok, here’s the closest you’ll probably see of a rant out of me in a long time. Once again, a new set is announced, and once again, players are lining up to announce their departure from Heroclix. Here’s a bit of advice. Just go. Sorry to see you off, but please, just go. Stop making goodbye threads, just go. This game is going along fine, and is developing new players; and while it hasn’t had the buzz its had since its initial release, name a game that has. No single contributor to this site should deserve a goodbye thread, unless its someone like BrotherMagneto, something like “I’ve been moved from Heroclix to Mage Knight, thanks for the memories.” But beyond that, I know I’m not the only one tired of seeing HCRealms having to waste bandwith on folks who supposedly leaving. Speaking of which, I’ve wasted enough bandwith on the subject myself. To you all, see you. To the rest of my fellow clix players, I’ll see you all back here next week for how to paint…..say, who should I paint? Respond to this thread or PM me suggestions, by Sunday evening, and I’ll work on that figure through to Wednesday, for an appearance in next week’s Activation Click. (R/E/V figures only please, no uniques or Super Rares)

Thank you for your thoughts and ideas. My sons and I, made a Mr. Incredible clix with a gumball figure and a Vet Hawk base (although we have considered a extra E Doomsday).

Masterpiece figures sell for so much because THERE ARE ONLY 50 OF THEM IN EXISTANCE, not because they have great paint jobs. They could have been unpainted and would sell just as high BECAUSE THERE ARE ONLY 50 OF THEM IN EXISTANCE!

GET IT?!?!

Your "conversion tips" are self-evident and anyone who hasn't thought of it already doesn't have the brains to play HC in the first place.

As for GAMA, your complaints hold as much interest as the "Goodbye" threads you insist we don't have the right to post. You are now as "guilty of wasting bandwidth" as the rest of us who are sick of Wizkids little tricks and games to make us spend more and more $$$ on poorly collated boosters.

As for Fantastic Forces, I will do what I did with the last three booster releases: Buy the exact figures and cards I want AS SINGLES on the secondary market at my LGS, saving a ton of money that the rest of you waste opening yet another OVERPRICED booster full of rookies and duplicates.

Hey, seriously, good luck on finding that Masterpiece Moloid.
Only 50 in existance!

"Gotta catch them all"..............suckers!

Cigarman

I collect football cards as my main hobby. Heroclix is a distant second compared to the time and money I've put into football cards. What does this have to do with HC? This --

I've sold card numbered to 50 or less of eBay, and they ain't worth squat. It's not until you get down to cards numbered to 10 or less before they are significantly higher in price (normally). I've sold a card numbered "2/5" for less than $30. To quote Cigarman (although, he probably won't like it), "THERE ARE ONLY 5 OF THEM IN EXISTANCE!" You would think something limited to 50 would mean something, but on eBay, it doesn't mean anything. Frontman is correct. There is no reason it should go for that high.

Let's look at a typical Topps football card (pricing based on the industry standard -- Beckett Football Price Guide). This past season, one of the sets Topps produced (Bowman Chrome) had a parallel numbered to 50. Here's the breakdown -

2004 Bowman Chrome Brett Favre base card = $1.00 - $2.50
2004 Bowman Chrome Gold Refractor (#'d/50) = 6X - 15X base value for Stars (non-rookies), so...

2004 Bowman Chrome Brett Favre Gold Refractor = anywhere from $6.00 to $37.50

Yes, $37.50 for a Brett Favre card individually numbered to 50. For that reason alone, a Masterpiece figure has no business bringing in over $200, let alone over $300.

Wow what is with the anger?

Oh, and excellent points in your review as usual, Frontman!

do you have a link to your paint jobs?

That Haley is AMAZING!!!!!

Your articles are a great read Frontman. Thanks.

Cigarman,

Dude. Take a chill pill and breathe bro. You're way too young to have such anger.

My point over the cost of Masterpieces compared to say Jen's figure is that Jen's is ONE of A KIND. Masterpieces, you are correct, there are only 50 in exsistance, 49 more than Jen's vampire. And, I'm sorry, Masterpiece figures aren't painted to the same level. That's not an insult at the painter, Jen just has more skill and talent. Dollar wise, if we wanted to honest, the Masterpiece should go for a lot less than Jen's figure.

As far as "obvious," just because 90% of the reading audience knows this already, it doesn't mean it isn't a viable point to make. As I said when I started AC, this will be a column for everyone, but sadly, I can't do that for everyone every time. This one is a basic concept, one down the road will take 4 or 5 figures and will be held together with glue, putty, and good ol' fashioned hard work.

Now, onto biz. In another thread I started for suggestions on a repaint project. (Yep, Cigar, I've got to start that simple. No point in jumping all of us into the deep end of the pool.) Until Sunday night, I will be taking suggestions at

http://www.hcrealms.com/forum/showth...8&goto=newpost

The best suggestion/suggestion with the most votes (and sorry, no nude female heroes. This is PG-13 afterall) will not only get the repaint treatment by me, but I will also hold onto everyone's screen name who made suggestions, and one will randomly win the figure I paint. I plan on taking two weeks to paint the figure, to give it proper attention instead of cranking it out over the course of 2 evenings (Monday and Tuesday) so next week's AC will not be the repaint column.

Yep, AC is now giving away participation prizes. You miss a week, you miss alot.

PEACE!!!

The Frontman

First SWS then Frontman, perhaps? Some people have nothing better to do and like flexing their "internet muscles."

I'm sure a disorder will be named after him one day.

Nice article, BTW.

I'm just beginning to learn how to work my digital camera with such a small scale. The painting column will be my first attempt to post up information/photos online.

And yes, Jen's got some skills.

The Frontman

I wish I had time to do more mods.

I'm kind of fond of the latest one I've done. I had a bunch of Vampire Lackeys, but no "lead vampire", so I did just what you have suggested - grabbed a MK figure, chopped off one hand and replaced it, and did my own paint job. It is not much, but it sure stands out from the lackeys

Check it out here: http://kirb.net/customs/heroclix.php

I hear what they say.................they say that someone that calls himself Cigarman (didn't he quit some time ago?) is trying to pick a fight with someone who calls themselves THE FRONTMAN. They say that one person is getting overly agitated by a thread. They say the person that started that thread regurgitates things that are blindly obvious.

Luke B. says you can call him The Lukeman, and still insists that if Frontman has the goods on modding PLEASE keep the article closer to home. If I want an OP/ED piece I'll pick up a newspaper And Cigarman should.............ah I don't know. I give up

I agree to some extent with Cigarman. Wizkids aren't trying to make a comic based miniature game, they are creating a corporate vaccum that sucks money out of hard-working people. With 3 figures a booster, they should be lowering the price not raising it. They are increasing their net profit. It is cheaper for them to make 1 slightly bigger figure than 2 regular sized figures. Wizkids are pimps who ##### out products that appeal to the fan-boy in all of us (everyone is guilty of being somewhat of a fan-boy). I am guilty of purchasing these cheaply perfumed #####s but I now only collect characters that I like. The only problem is that some people insist that some pieces are worth $60....Thor....KC Supes. That's ridiculous. Like any good drug dealer, Wizkids will continue to cut and lace their product to make us come back for more. As long as we keep throwing all our money at them, things will not get better.

P.S. This is not a "goodbye" post