I saw your new Goblin artwork today, it looks good. I'm sure the minis will be good too. You know what? No one cares. You know why? Because you can get better Goblins right now from Games Workshop.
You see, Mantic, Games Workshop owns Goblins. They have that mess locked down. They made so many Goblins they literally had to go and invent different types of Goblins, Gnoblar, just as an excuse to make more Goblins. Then they went and made Gretchin, more Goblins, and snotlings, aka Goblin Goblins.
Do you understand Mantic? Games Workshop made Meta-Goblins
Why would you then turn around and make Goblins unless you were prepared to stage some sort of Goblin-revolution (Goblinution?) You're a business, and as a business I presume you're interested in making money. Why in the world would you try and engage GW on the Goblin front? I'm not saying never make another Goblin ever again, but you need an angle that GW hasn't considered.
IE: I'm in good shape; I'm a martial artist, a marathon runner, and a weight lifter. Does that mean I'm qualified to challenge the world pushup champion of 2011 to a pushup contest? Hell no. Hell no. If I need to beat that guy, I'm challenging him to a game of chess.
One of the biggest advantages you have over GW is that you are a small company, which means you're faster and more reflexive. If GW is busy making the best Goblins ever in a Tolkien-esque setting, get your butts in gear and make a Roman-Legion inspired Goblin force. Show the world what would happen if the Goblin King was an ingenious inventer and blacksmith, who manufactured the best armor and weapons the old world has ever seen. For the love of god, set those little bastards on fire and make an army of Magma-Goblins.
But there they are, some beautiful renders of Goblins that look exactly like GW's. It makes me sad to see them, knowing that someone who had a real love and talent for his or her profession designed these soon to be forgotten models.
Yes, your product is cheaper. Yes, Games Workshop is an evil mega-corporation. Yes, people who are obsessed with GW are elitest jerks. You know who else has these same problems?
Apple.
You don't see the i-Pad/Phone/Pod going anywhere do you? Not happening. Apple did it first and Apple continues to do it best. Sony, Microsoft, Samsung; it doesn't matter how big the competition is or how deep their pockets are, they can't beat Apple at the iPod. So what do they do? How does a company like Sony stay afloat if it's doomed to fail against Apple at making a mobile music player with mass appeal?
They diversify away from what Apple can do.
Just the same way you did Mantic, the exact same way you made a hard-right in 2011 with the Forge Fathers. Now there are some models that have staying power. It was brilliant, filling an existing gap with a product that a lumbering giant like GW was far too slow to cover. You have space-dwarves all to yourself, a total win.
And then you put out the corporation, which looks exactly like the Imperial Guard.
Stop.
And now you're getting ready to do some Goblins.
It.
I want to see you do well Mantic. I want there to be a third miniature company out there on the level of Privateer Press and Games Workshop. But if you keep picking a fight with the biggest kid in the school yard you're just gonna keep getting a black eye. You've got a insanely talented core of dedicated guys and the resources to do something amazing that the world will remember. Stop retreading the same ground and start blazing your own path.
Just stop it.
Love,
-James
