Perhaps I am misunderstanding, but are you advocating price based off of in-game utility? I agree that adding the pilots in should not be a straight blister price increase (economy of packaging and all, providing some savings), but I don't think I would advocate pricing structure based off utility, that way lies madness. One thing I wonder, (and this is just me wondering out loud, because I have no way to know what factors into CB's business decisions, although I suspect it is more involved then throwing darts at an idea board.) the TAGs might not have pilots included because they are trying to keep the boxes below a specific 'impulse buy' level. As you, and others have said, TAGs don't seem to be very popular. If they were also one of the most expensive box sets to buy, I doubt it would help their sales. I know CB has stated a desire to reduce SKUs, but it is probably not the only factor they consider in designing a product, so sometimes the SKU thing might be overwritten by other concerns. Just a thought.
Pilots were added at some point in N2. Back then pilots had crappy stats, pistols, and we're not specialists. Rem presence pilots flat out did not exist. Pilots were rarely used, much less than even now. Pilots were mainly seen as hvts or just as display pieces, CB has the bootleg pilot line. Pilot rules as currently know them we're added in ITS 8 or so. Most tags predate the updated rules. CB hasn't gone through and repacked all tags, probably due to logistical reasons. People are free to buy most tag pilots standalone with a few exceptions.
No, I'm advocating based off actual production figures. TAGs "don't seem to be very popular" because they're in all metal and aren't exactly shaking down doors in terms of how you can actually take them. But that's on the game mechanic side of things. It's not worth one actually mentioning at this point. People have suggested large numbers of ways for them to alleviate SKU bloat, they ignore it. Whether it ranges from alternate arms or suggesting larger 'starter set' sizes for specific factions or multi-model blisters--it's ignored in favor of doing things their wrong way. I'd point that we're seeing a fricking Kamau Hacker blister but I figure most people are aware of releases enough to understand that for a group claiming to want to "reduce SKUs" they're failing miserably at it. This isn't true. Look at the number of TAGs: Raicho(new no pilot) Szalamandra(new no pilot) Geckos(new-ish; no pilot) Iguana(has Operator) Anaconda(has Operator) Avatar(has 'pilot') Guijia(new--no pilot) O-Yoroi(old--no pilot) Marut(old--no pilot) Seraph(new-ish no Crabbot) Scarface(old--didn't include Joe but did include Cordelia) Sphinx(old--no pilot) Maghariba(new-ish no pilot) Tikbalang and Uhlan(new-ish no Crabbot) Squalo(new-ish no Crabbot) Sphinx(old, no Scindron) Xeodrons(new-ish, no 'pilot') Overdron(new-ish, no 'pilot') Gorgos(old-ish, no pilot) A large chunk of those are NEW with no pilot figure included--and it's not a question of 'repacks' at that point. They could have futureproofed things to prevent needing to repack things down the road. They want their dollar bills. That's all it is.
Are you seriously advocating that CB take business advice from forum users!? Sure keep tabs on your fan base to get an idea of what might be well received, but I don't think it is a good idea to take business advice from the peanut gallery. Actual sales data probably has far more value then some random musing of some geeks that have too much time on their hands. And while some of the forum users suggestions might be good ones, they are not going to be implemented overnight. Businesses move at a glacial pace, product can be in development for years before it is released. It amazes me, your persistence on insisting that CB is doing everything wrong. I admit they have made some missteps, but they are hardly the calamity you characterize them as. Well duh. They are a business. But are they trying to earn those dollars by building a community, and offering them a solid product at a reasonable price, or are they trying a 'churn and burn' method to milk dollars from nerds with little to no effort. I maintain they are attempting the former, but I can guess at your opinion.
Yeah, not happening. That's the thing. Or I can order directly, with that very device, not doing any extra steps *shrug*
Considering "the peanut gallery" also includes store owners and actual customers(read: "not the peanut gallery")? Might not be the worst place to look. Or at all, as several of them had been suggested when Campaign: Paradiso came out. Also worth noting that by all accounts, they don't have the actual sales data that would be meaningful. Seriously? Most of what they're doing other, larger companies have already done and had to recover from. If you don't think abandoning Sectorials partway through their resculpts/introductions to focus on "the new hotness" is churning and burning, I don't know what to tell you kiddo. Hence SHOULD. People always whine and whine about these supposed price increases that would happen but I don't hear them saying one goddamned thing about having to spend cash on the models separately. Why? Because they're like you: suckers. Cool. And then you're here whining about not having a community or place to play. *shrug*
[Sarcasm] you're right! Why should I pay for CK on lunakhod when I already got plenty of CK from Moran? [Sarcasm]
Except he said 0-1 he won't use, specifically Tinbots and Pilots, so your attempt at sarcasm fails utterly.
Because they can choose not to. An option that exists which you advocate to remove. Here at my place lack of active players seems to be more of a problem than lack of places to play. The latter live off MTG first and foremost anyway vOv
Karkata looks like a weird, gangly thing that's stolen from Shasvastii rather than anything "cool". It should look more like a Yudbot to feel like it belongs to Marut. And it doesn't even look like the animal it takes its name from. While Crabbot is the cutest PanO model ever and anyone disagreeing with this should be wary of pincer-stabbings. Not retiring the Szally pilot model and repacking it with new Szally is a huge wasted opportunity. Just like there being only one Gecko pilot model.
I'm happy not aving a szally pilot packed with my szally. This pilot is very meh, barely good enough to be a bootleg. Need resculpt. Naow !!
@kanluwen customers and store owners are still the peanut gallery. The majority of LGS I've been in are terrible businesses and thank god they have mtg to keep the lights on. I'd take any of their ideas with the largest grain of salt. Random customers and their advice is gonna be equally taken large grains of salt. I assume you don't own your own business but if you ever do decide to please don't take business advice to heart from those who don't own their own business.
Definitely Khawarij (or something totally new with the same armour, but that's less possible ;) ). And I think it can be a Khawagirl, so maybe a box? ... About the pistol - it's not breaker, 'cause they are bit different and bit nicer ;) PozdRawiam / Greetings
