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GalakStarscraper

Sarcos Countdown

Everyone likes to see where the end of the rainbow is ... even if it is a ways away.

So a countdown ruler to show you how close we are to commissioning the Sarcos team.  When the ruler is completely blue ...
the debt will be paid off .... we'll be calling Clint to get the sculpting started.

As noted ... this is going to take most if not all of this year to get to
that point ... but this will show you how its going.

The ruler's full length represents the Impact! debt as 12/31/2008
that we've agreed to pay off before working on our next full Elfball team.

Ruler as of May 12th:



And a Contest as well:  DON'T GUESS NOW!!!
ANY GUESSES NOW WILL BE DELETED FROM THE THREAD.

But when the bar is completely blue ... we'll allow 2 weeks for guesses
as to how much each mm on the ruler represented.   Person who gets the closest without going over
will win a free 12 player Sacros Elfball team.   Again ... might be a bit before we do this contest since the ruler
has to be fully blue first ... but its something to look forward to.
jolt

How long was the ruler before the end was covered in blue?  It looks to be about 38.5; is that accurate?  I ask because it will be hard to make a guess without knowing how many mm lines were on the ruler to begin with.

Neat contest idea, btw.

jolt
Dark Lord

I love Impact's contests. Hilarious, it's best way to keep transparency and to keep people around.

I love them, even tho I never win.    Even when I cheat!  

Now I have to get some cash together and place a big order and measure how much the blue moves and then do some math.    
jolt

Dark Lord wrote:

Now I have to get some cash together and place a big order and measure how much the blue moves and then do some math.    


That only works if he's using a base 10 counting system.  These game designers are a devious lot!  

jolt
Dark Lord

Well it also assumes that I could actually do math.  
Lychanthrope

Dark Lord wrote:
Well it also assumes that I could actually do math.  

Art majors; devious, but....  
GalakStarscraper

jolt wrote:
How long was the ruler before the end was covered in blue?
Figuring out the original ruler length is part of the contest.  

Galak
GalakStarscraper

jolt wrote:
Dark Lord wrote:

Now I have to get some cash together and place a big order and measure how much the blue moves and then do some math.    


That only works if he's using a base 10 counting system.  These game designers are a devious lot!  

jolt
It also only works if he was the only order between updates (which will be like once or twice a month (not daily).

Galak
Xtreme

Thank you for this, now I have something to watch, I can't wait for the Sarcos team.
GalakStarscraper

Ruler updated today because I felt like updating it.  

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(and I had the total debt as 12/31/2008 calculated incorrectly-sigh)

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Galak
bouncergriim

GalakStarscraper wrote:
Ruler updated today because I felt like updating it.  

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--------------

--------------

--------------

(and I had the total debt as 12/31/2008 calculated incorrectly-sigh)

--------------

Galak


Thanks for that  
jolt

Lychanthrope wrote:
Dark Lord wrote:
Well it also assumes that I could actually do math.  

Art majors; devious, but....  


I'd make a comment but as an English/Theatre major I really can't say anything.

GalakStarscraper wrote:
jolt wrote:

How long was the ruler before the end was covered in blue?

Figuring out the original ruler length is part of the contest.  

Galak


Bah.  This contest is clearly rigged.  We American neanderthals still use the Imperial scale mostly; not your fancy-schmancy Metrics.  
GalakStarscraper

Ruler updated
Dark Lord

Wow! If the last 5 days are average it should take you around 130-140 days to pay off the partner debt! That's pretty good!

Also,    I remembered that Tom once sent me an email or a PM that said how much the debt...or roughly anyway.

I searched but I can't find it!    I gotta start archiving everything Tom says.  
Cephalopod

The post he made didn't mention an exact number, but he did say what kind of car one could choose to buy with that much money if one were so inclined. Personally, I'd save up a little more and get a Tesla, but I'm crazy like that...
Thadrin

Is the ruler updated for the ridiculous amount of stuff I bought at the DO yet?
(6 MK humans, a Tantor, A Dwarf TD counter, a Goblin Forge Dwarf and some base rings).

Incidentally - I used my Thunder Hammer dwarf team at said event.
GalakStarscraper

Thadrin wrote:
Is the ruler updated for the ridiculous amount of stuff I bought at the DO yet?
(6 MK humans, a Tantor, A Dwarf TD counter, a Goblin Forge Dwarf and some base rings).

Incidentally - I used my Thunder Hammer dwarf team at said event.
No update for the DO has been made yet.

Thank you for the purchase Thadrin!!!!

Galak
GalakStarscraper

No update at this time as February is one of those normally expensive months for us.

Had to restock 75% of our range of figures.  Have to pay for the GenCon booth.  Had to buy bases (13000 ordered).  Had to restock all the tokens and carrying cases.   But several big orders in the works.  So right now it hasn't moved down from where it is ... but February is an unusual month for us normally ... so don't lose heart.

Galak
Norse

Thadrin wrote:
Is the ruler updated for the ridiculous amount of stuff I bought at the DO yet?
(6 MK humans, a Tantor, A Dwarf TD counter, a Goblin Forge Dwarf and some base rings).



Thads, the cost to produce a single mini in terms of concept sketch, sculpting and casting runs into the high hundreds or low thousands of dollars depending upon the scale of the mini.  While I am in no way dismissing your purchases or your support of Impact! (or any of our loyal customers for that matter) I think you need to be aware that the TOTAL sales from the DO perhaps contributed 1% to the total cost of producing a team of 12-16 unique models...

I just wanted to give everyone a reality check about just how expensive it is to run a miniature company and just how frustrating it is for us as well..

we have had the Sarcos sketches for around 18 months and the Timberline Elf sketches for over a year and I doubt either team will see the light of day until 2010 or 2011...  
brownrob

Well, when you do sculpt them, then there will be about £70 coming from me to buy both teams, as i think the sketches rock!

Can you deuct that as a future sale then? ;)
GalakStarscraper

brownrob wrote:
Can you deuct that as a future sale then? ;)
I know Heresy does pre-sells ... and to be honest if you are in danger of bankruptcy ... its a good idea.

But Impact! normal businss ops are actually okay ... and pre-sells are dangersous things in terms of customer happiness ... we just need to dig a bit out of the hole we are in from setting up the company as if you really compare our inventory to other miniature store and then realize we've only been open for less than 3 years ... you'd realize there was some massive investment happening.

I'm looking forward to Impact! working as a vendor for Rolljordan as that will put new figures in the store this year while we sort out the debt.

Stay tuned because while February was expensive ... I don't see March and April sharing that problem.

Galak
mattwhile

Will the sales of Rolljordan's figures count towards the Sarcos countdown?
GalakStarscraper

mattwhile wrote:
Will the sales of Rolljordan's figures count towards the Sarcos countdown?
Our profit margin on them ... yes it will

Galak
Norse

so buy frogs from us to get crocs quicker..  
mattwhile

That's my plan   .
brownrob

so the proposed toad team, is that still being sculpted? i was told it was cancelled?

They could make a nice Sarco variant team, but needing some leviathan figure...
Cephalopod

brownrob wrote:
so the proposed toad team, is that still being sculpted? i was told it was cancelled?

They could make a nice Sarco variant team, but needing some leviathan figure...


How about using the Leviathan for that figure. Toads and frogs, together at last!  
Stout Youngblood

brownrob wrote:
so the proposed toad team, is that still being sculpted? i was told it was cancelled?

They could make a nice Sarco variant team, but needing some leviathan figure...


That was an early April fool's joke.
Thadrin

Norse wrote:

Thads, the cost to produce a single mini in terms of concept sketch, sculpting and casting runs into the high hundreds or low thousands of dollars depending upon the scale of the mini.  While I am in no way dismissing your purchases or your support of Impact! (or any of our loyal customers for that matter) I think you need to be aware that the TOTAL sales from the DO perhaps contributed 1% to the total cost of producing a team of 12-16 unique models...


I think I needed more of these:            

I didn't think a purchase in the region of 30 euros or so was going to make a big dent. I was more rueing my own inability to stop myself buying the stuff you guys are making.

I mean, really, did I need to buy those humans when the idea was to paint them to match my Thunder hammer Dwarfs and possibly have an all-Impact! Colleges of Magic team that I'll never use?

Glad I bought the Base Rings and the TD marker though. Just wish I'd been a bit more careful picking out hands for the Goblin Forge Dwarf...I have two of the same hand!
Norse

that's what happens when you buy from a shoddy company..  

PS - my heart leapt when you mentioned my Colleges of Magic rules - the BBowl world at large appears to have ignored them..  
Thadrin

Norse wrote:

PS - my heart leapt when you mentioned my Colleges of Magic rules - the BBowl world at large appears to have ignored them..  


Tell you what...assuming you make it over in the summer I'll try and get said Humans painted in time (on top of the team I'm painting for Tulips as is) and we'll have a friendly game of CoM rules.
Even if I fail the painting I could bring a painted CoM team, as I can wrangle my Chaos Humans into a Grey college team.
WallyTWest

26.6

Can we have an update?
GalakStarscraper

WallyTWest wrote:
26.6

Can we have an update?
26.7 as of this morning ... should be below 26.5 by end of month and I'll update it then.

Galak
GalakStarscraper

Ruler updated as of today.  Its been 7 weeks since it moved ... but its moving again now.

Galak
jmw23

Any idea when you'll be distributing the Frogmen team from RJ?  I have a crazy hunch those will be a big hit.
GalakStarscraper

jmw23 wrote:
Any idea when you'll be distributing the Frogmen team from RJ?  I have a crazy hunch those will be a big hit.
As soon as he finishes the team.  I don't mean that to be evading the question ... but since we are acting only as a distributor on that one ... its very difficult to say.

Galak
Nekosluagh

Well, I have made my contribution now. Black Widow team, Deadling team, Widowmaker, Deadling chef, and base Elfball set.

This may be the best 120 I have spent in a long time.
brownrob

Nekosluagh wrote:
Well, I have made my contribution now. Black Widow team, Deadling team, Widowmaker, Deadling chef, and base Elfball set.

This may be the best 120 I have spent in a long time.


I love the Deadling chef! I like Tom de Wulfs sculpting, especially his werepoodles :) lots of fun to paint, i find they almost paint themselves  
GalakStarscraper

Ruler updated for April 8th.

Tom
mattwhile

Nice to see it keep moving.
GalakStarscraper

Updated for May 1st

Tom
Babs

Probably should have it's own thread - but given the news that RollJordan's frog team will be sold through here - count me in for one personally and about three as prizes for various gaming tournaments.
GalakStarscraper

Babs wrote:
Probably should have it's own thread - but given the news that RollJordan's frog team will be sold through here - count me in for one personally and about three as prizes for various gaming tournaments.
As soon as RJ gets the figures in ... he'll be shipping a good stock to us.  We'll have them in the store within a couple weeks of him selling them.

Galak
Stout Youngblood

I will definitely be getting a team. Maybe more if others from my league wants one, too.
GalakStarscraper

Updated for May 12th
Xtreme

Wow, was that a big jump or do I need to clear out my history more often.  Seems like every time I checked it it bairly moved, and now it leaped.
Dark Lord

Xtreme wrote:
Wow, was that a big jump or do I need to clear out my history more often.  Seems like every time I checked it it bairly moved, and now it leaped.


Must be the Legacy Team sales.  
GalakStarscraper

After a great deal of crunching numbers on our debt and what makes sense for Impact! and its owners ... we are moving 50.7% of the debt to a long term payable instead of short-term.

What that means is that this amount will be divided by 24 and paid to the owners monthly after the short term debt (shown by the ruler) is paid off.

However this long term payable will not stop us from pursuing new teams ... it will just slow us down from doing lots of new projects as it will put a drain on our resources for those 2 years ... but it will mean that over 1/2 our debt is not a dam holding back all new major new projects.

So we didn't suddenly get 50.7% of our debt paid ... just became willing to have that amount paid off long term instead of immediately before doing the Sarcos.

Thanks!

Tom
Dark Lord

But we're still guessing on the original amount, right?
Darkson

Off topic, I know, but this was the "Ad by Google" showing for me on this page:
Quote:
Ads by Google
Debts over £5000?
Take our Online Debt Help Test & find out your options Instantly.



   
GalakStarscraper

Dark Lord wrote:
But we're still guessing on the original amount, right?
Yes

Tom
Xtreme

Darkson wrote:
Off topic, I know, but this was the "Ad by Google" showing for me on this page:
Quote:
Ads by Google
Debts over £5000?
Take our Online Debt Help Test & find out your options Instantly.



   


And this was mine, interesting choices.


by
Google BBW Chatroom
Meet Local BBW Singles. Create Your Profile & Find Love or Friendship!
www.BBWPersonalsPlus.com
GalakStarscraper

The Sarcos meter is now null and void.

As of this morning we've agreed in writing to share the rights to the figure concepts with Rolljordan Miniatures who will sculpt and produce them for both of us to sell in our stores.

We enjoy working with Chris at Rolljordan very much and look forward to seeing how his company brings these sketches to life.  

Since in effect this makes the meter zero (even if the debt is still there) ... I'll still allow the contest to kick off.   So feel free to put your guesses as to how much each notch of the ruler represented in US Dollars.  Closest match after a week without going over will win a full 12 player Elfball team from the figures when they are completed.

Galak
Dan Titan

\o/ Do we have to PM you or shall we write it here as usual?
GalakStarscraper

Dan Titan wrote:
\o/ Do we have to PM you or shall we write it here as usual?
write your Guesses here  all guesses must be in $10 increments.  You can guess the same number as another person.

Tom
Dark Lord

$110.00
Torg

$120
Ted Striker

$200
neverworking

$210
Sturmjarl

I guess $130.
sann0638

$220.  Did you mean you can or you can't guess the same as someone else?  What if two people win, do they both win a team?

Might be worth modifying the OP, too - just an idea.

Mike
Dark Lord

[spam]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3PV34CzYWM
[/spam]


Now y'all got that noise in your heads!! Mwha ha haha!  
jmw23

$130.  Interesting turn of events!
axiom

I guess $170.

Great to hear how it's panned out. Very much like rolljordan's figures and I'm sure he'll do a great job
Crank Case

Well if the ruler was 28cm which is 280 mm then I'd guess each millimeter was $85 or $23,800.
Nyarlathotep

I'm going to guess $100.00.
GalakStarscraper

sann0638 wrote:
$220.  Did you mean you can or you can't guess the same as someone else?  What if two people win, do they both win a team?

Might be worth modifying the OP, too - just an idea.

Mike
You can guess the same as another person and I'll give teams to both if that number wins.

Tom
sebco

Well, if I understand well, a notch is 1 mm. If yes, I'm in with 180$ a notch !  
GalakStarscraper

sebco wrote:
Well, if I understand well, a notch is 1 mm. If yes, I'm in with 180$ a notch !  
yes 1mm is a notch.

Galak
GreedySmurf

Good news for the new team.

As to the competition, I'm going to go with $210
Darkson

$170
bouncergriim

$140, bob.
Jelmer

$175
Dan Titan

make it $150
brownrob

$80
mattwhile

Probably OTT but I'll go with $250.
Mad Jackal

$160
lahatiel

$150
solarflare

$200
Quermitt

I'll go for $ 210.

Great that RollJordan is doing these! The sketches are so good it would be a very long, long, terribly long wait before we could get them ...
Lychanthrope

$350
Miyuso

I'm going high  

$380 per notch!
Lychanthrope

I was going to go higher then that, but everyone else's low bids caused me to rethink and go lower.  
SillySod

$600

I predict that you are all millionaires I assume that editing our estimates is considered bad form?
Dark Lord

My bid was based on research that I did.  

After the announcement I'll tell how I got my estimate.
brownrob

When you mean research Eric, you really mean you snooped round Toms house and found out he was having a secret affair with the milkman, so you made him tell you the amount, so you will win?

It will be interesting to see if Tom confirms or denies this allegation!  
GalakStarscraper

No Eric is referring to the fact that I have in the past made hints about how much the loans were to Impact! from its investing parnters ... I'm guessing that is the research he was discussing.

Galak
Dark Lord

Xtreme

$115
SillySod

Xtreme wrote:
$115


IIRC it has to be $10 increments.
jmw23

Hint, BMW.  If I cared enough to really try, I'd have done the same thing!
Boromir_and_kermit

My guess is $170

Ben.
Xtreme

SillySod wrote:
Xtreme wrote:
$115


IIRC it has to be $10 increments.


Thanks I'll go with $120 then.
Crank Case

If it's increments of ten then I guess $85 becomes $90 for me.
brownrob

do we get to find out today?  
Stout Youngblood

Whoops! I forgot to enter a guess. If I am still able to participate my guess is $220.
GalakStarscraper

brownrob wrote:
do we get to find out today?  


Yes you do.

Mattwhile wins with his guess of $250 per mm.

So congrats ... when RJ has the figures completed we'll get you an Elfball team of them to you.

I was kinda hoping that when I typed this email we'd be out of debt ... ah well ... keep ordering stuff ... and we'll be able to announce that some day as well.

Thanks for everyone who stopped by the forums to take a guess!

Tom
brownrob

Congrats mattwhile!
mattwhile

Wow. Thanks.

Will have to get off my arse now and buy the Elfball game I've been meaning to buy for a while.
SillySod

Nice guess matt, I'll have to play you at a tourney if theres ever enough spare time... maybe in the great yawning gaps between games at the GT next year

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