Errr ... anyone know what's happening in Magister Miletum world? There was a plethora of sales, and a plea for a buyer for the company, but they've just popped up on Facebook, bright as a button and bold as brass.

So, like a brass button.

Have they been sold or continuing with the old management? 

Not sure, I placed a small order of bits but there wasn't much avalibld on the site

AFAIK, Magister Militum intend to sell the stock they have but not make or acquire any more while they seek a buyer for the business.

Real life has become to busy for them to continue, apparently.

Quote from: fsn on 19 January 2024, 03:26:54 PMErrr ... anyone know what's happening in Magister Miletum world?

Quote from: Ithoriel on 19 January 2024, 07:32:16 PMAFAIK, Magister Militum intend to sell the stock they have but not make or acquire any more while they seek a buyer for the business.

That's my understanding too, they've not been able to find a buyer yet so they're continuing to sell their existing stock (mainly third-party by this point) but not casting anything from their own ranges.

Thank you.

Sad to see them wither away.

Quote from: Leon on 20 January 2024, 12:50:12 AMThat's my understanding too, they've not been able to find a buyer yet so they're continuing to sell their existing stock (mainly third-party by this point) but not casting anything from their own ranges.

Somebody ought to buy their 10mm range, if it is sensibly priced.  It would be a pity if it disappeared.  I wonder how much they want for it?

Quote from: John Cook on 20 January 2024, 11:50:33 AMSomebody ought to buy their 10mm range, if it is sensibly priced.  It would be a pity if it disappeared.  I wonder how much they want for it?

I know someone who put them n a decent and serious offer for Chariot Miniatures range. They want to sell the lot, not partition it off
He also said they have a lot of obsolete and redundant stick like previous boardgame editions.

I'm confused by what they want. I heard they wanted to sell the lot as a going concern but this was on the Facebook page:
'Seeking a buyer for Magister Militum, as a whole or individual ranges.'
(My emphasis).
I'm not in the market for any of the business, but I guess it is confusing for those thinking about what they really want.

Thoughts from a potential customer's perspective.

 * Will only sell "all or nothing" seriously reduces the odds of finding a buyer. Higher bar for costs, capacity etc.
 * I've seen a few favourite ranges change hands. There's often been a significant associated price hike.
 * MM Have a large portfolio including some very popular stuff, other stuff that I suspect shifts very few units.
    * MM want to cash in on all their investments.
    * Potential buyers will prefer the popular stuff and not want the "trash".

The 10mm stuff fills a few gaps in Pendraken's range, but the figures don't mix well.
The MM figures are quite chunky (in the style of 1970s 25mm Minifigs) and stand on thick bases (increasing their height by a MM or two).

Sometimes this doesn't matter.
When I used Mamluk lancers as a proxy for Rajput lancers, they joined a bunch of Pendraken Indian foot.
It's often easier to mix one manufacturer's horse with another's foot.

The other example was adding MM Tribal archers to assorted Pendraken African tribal foot.
There is a real dissonance between the "bodybuilder" physique of the archer scouts and the more slender build of the shield bearing warriors.

Not sure I know what the Chariot Miniatures range is.  Is the 10mm range?  There is probably far too much duplication between MM's 10mm range and Pendraken's anyway to make it a sensible investment.  The two ranges aren't really compatible in style, I agree, but I don't mix figures from different manufacturers which solves any problem in that context.

Chariot was a well regarded 15mm range.
It covered the Bronze age and very early Iron age armies of the Fertile Crescent.
It's sometimes called the Chariot age.
Occasionally Biblical - through the era begins and ends earlier.

Egypt, Early Greece/Anatolia, Assyria, Babylon, all prior to the rise or Persia.
And the pesky tribes and smaller nations that threatened them.

Fairly slender "true" 15mm figures.
Usually in single poses which looked remarkably similar to illustrations in.
Armies of the ancient near east 3000BC - 539BC. by the two Nigels.

They show their age with the single poses, but provide excellent coverage of the soldier types in WRG lists, and plenty of different armies.

They did some decent fantasy figures too

Quote from: Lord Speedy of Leighton on 20 January 2024, 12:56:11 PMI know someone who put them n a decent and serious offer for Chariot Miniatures range. They want to sell the lot, not partition it off
He also said they have a lot of obsolete and redundant stick like previous boardgame editions.

When they first announced the closure/sale they were looking to offload the whole business as a going concern, but I think the amount of stock/ranges, plus the elevated sale price for all of it, put off any potential buyers.  They've then decided to partition the business into chunks (so all of the 10mm ranges is a single batch) in order to find a buyer. 

I assume that the ongoing sales are reducing the third-party stock and making it more viable to sell those on too.

Quote from: John Cook on 20 January 2024, 11:50:33 AMSomebody ought to buy their 10mm range, if it is sensibly priced.  It would be a pity if it disappeared.  I wonder how much they want for it?

There are certain 10mm ranges that we've expressed our interest in, but the price for the whole 10mm batch is way out of our budget.  If they get to the point that they're happy to partition it down a bit, we'll have another conversation.

I'd really like to see you chaps take over their Goths (no other good 10mm around that I know of), their Sassanids (the Pendraken range are very good, but the Persians need more variety), the Indian Maiden Guard, and their armoured Successor elephant (a wonderful figure, that). I've got them all myself, but there's a future to be considered, and I have more grey hairs every day amongst those that remain on my head at all.

I'm sure Mike will likewise express a longing to see the chariot-age stuff saved for posterity.

Quote from: Leon on 21 January 2024, 12:28:54 AMWhen they first announced the closure/sale they were looking to offload the whole business as a going concern, but I think the amount of stock/ranges, plus the elevated sale price for all of it, put off any potential buyers.  They've then decided to partition the business into chunks (so all of the 10mm ranges is a single batch) in order to find a buyer. 

I assume that the ongoing sales are reducing the third-party stock and making it more viable to sell those on too.

There are certain 10mm ranges that we've expressed our interest in, but the price for the whole 10mm batch is way out of our budget.  If they get to the point that they're happy to partition it down a bit, we'll have another conversation.

Well, their prices when in production were elevated in comparison too.  Just out of interest, if it isn't 'commercial in confidence', how much did they want for the entire 10mm range?