What do you think of Zvezda's mini-sets?

[despertaferro]

I’m going to say something again.

From my point of view, Zvezda minisets are a good business.

Let me make you an example:

I normally do DBA armies. An average army needs 12 stands. Some good example of it would be 8 infantry bases and 4 Cavalry bases.

Infantry bases:
Lets say 2 psiloi bases (4 figures), 3 Warband, Archers, Auxilia or whatever with 3 figures bases (9 figures) and 3 Spears or Blades 4 figures bases (12 figures)
Total 25 infantry figures.

Cavalry bases:
Lets say 2 Ligh Horse bases (4 figures) and 2 Knights bases (6 figures)
Total 10 Cavalry figures.

Using Zvezda minisets as a cost reference:
5 infantry minisets (5 figures each) means 25 figures and 15 euros (3 euros x set).
5 Cavalry minisets (2 horsemen each) means 10 figures and 15 euros (3 euros x set)

So, using Zvezda minisets I would make a DBA average army for 30 euros with mostly unique figures and good quality.

Lets see with traditional sets. An infantry set has normally 12 different poses. If I need 25 and I want variety, I have to buy 2 boxes and repeat one pose. Lets put the cheapest price, some 10 euros each box. 20 euros for the infantry.
I don’t know any set with 10 different cavalry poses. Some have just 4, and at the most, maybe 7 or 8. Again, trying the cheapest, just one box and repeated figures.
10 euros one box, so 10 euros for Cavalry.

Using traditional sets I would make a DBA average army for 30 euros with repeated figures and variable quality.

Conclusion, in terms of figures the cost of an average DBA army would be the same using minisets or traditional ones. Quality aside.

But that’s just me and my needs, of course

[Jesse]

Most have already been said..but here goes. The miniset format is suitable for my needs. I don't wargame, only collect for dioramas so I only have a use for 1-2 figures in any given pose. The ideal would be of course the format Strelets have used in many sets, with around 40 figures all in different poses/versions.
A compromise might be if a producer makes a normal or big box with the most common poses for wargames (for example standing firing, marching etc) and then some minisets with officers, specialists and some alternatvie poses as a variety for the "mass poses" in their big sets. Don't know what kind of sales that kind of strategy would give. Most dioramists would buy more of the minisets and less of the big ones, and wargamers would buy both?