What should not be used for customs?

[Wild_Imagination]

Hopefully this is a short list, but what should the customs not use?

Are clear set characters that may be branded or patented to not be used? (Lone Ranger, Kwai Chang Caine from Kung Fu, Zorro, Pikachu, Don Quixote, etc.)
Should figures that are easily recognized not to be used? (Stormtroopers, Pokemon, Popular Anime characters, DC or Marvel superheros, Hobbits, etc.)
Should all figures be rebased? ... Should new style of bases be used? ... Could the original bases be kept?
Should bases that would cover 3 or more hexs not be used?
Will Valkrill not be a general?
:confused:
Will we not be allowed to make 'scape terrain, or stationary figures that have a hex base?

[White Knight]

Do the figures have to be pre-painted?
Do the figures have to be plastic? Or can they be pewter or lead?

[Utgars_General]

Do the figures have to be pre-assembled?

[Chardar]

I think you're missing the point of customs. You can and people have for years been using whatever they want to make customs. Use whatever you enjoy using. The only real limit is your imagination, and wallet.

[jschild]

Indeed, I've finally given up trying to get the Zombies of Morriden.

So I got these guys x4

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110535315643&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT#ht_818wt_906

So i can finally "have" them. As to making actual custom figures, Just look around Ebay and such and look for things that fit your needs.

[Utgars_General]

I'm not 100% sure, but I think this thread is to voice worries about figures that may be used by the C3V and the limits that they, personally would want.

After all, this is the C3V sub-thingy. Whatever is in here has got to relate to the C3V.

As a matter of fact, I'm making 40k-based customs right now, but none of them meet the criteria in any of the posts here. (Maybe not the stationary figures... that's still being thought out). But, yeah. I use whatever I feel like, even nothing sometimes.

[robbdaman]

These are just my opinions and are nothing official.


Are clear set characters that may be branded or patented to not be used? (Lone Ranger, Kwai Chang Caine from Kung Fu, Zorro, Pikachu, Don Quixote, etc.)I think it is hard answer to this although obviously any copyrighted concepts really wouldn't be akin to the generic nature, background and lore that Heroscape is and has developed since the beginning. Mythology/history however are already a part of many ideas in Heroscape so that would likely continue.


Should figures that are easily recognized not to be used? (Stormtroopers, Pokemon, Popular Anime characters, DC or Marvel superheros, Hobbits, etc.)Miniatures that represent iconic or pop culture figures may be hard to separate from what is being created by C3V. I'd say the short answer here is that any figures are already in use elsewhere (such as C3G) and figures that can be easily recognized as something else would best not be used.


Should all figures be rebased? ... Should new style of bases be used? ... Could the original bases be kept?That depends on whether the base can fit the required needs for it's size and gameplay. If the base a figure comes with works then there is no need to rebase anything, plus its not like that is something that can be enforced. All that really matters is that a base fits within the confines/measurements of a hex or hexes.


Should bases that would cover 3 or more hexs not be used?This has been discussed many times over the history of customs and most agree such a creature creates maneuverability issues. In my own testing such creations only work if they can fly. I don't think C3V will say no, never but I would guess no one will go out of their way to make such a figure.


Will Valkrill not be a general?Valkrill is a general, that is officially part of Heroscape now. I don't see C3V changing that.


Will we not be allowed to make 'scape terrain, or stationary figures that have a hex base?Why not? This hasn't changed since Heroscape customs began.


Do the figures have to be pre-painted?
Do the figures have to be plastic? Or can they be pewter or lead?
Do the figures have to be pre-assembled?Pretty sure the answer here is C3V will be open to any miniatures that fit the scale, look and desires of a created custom. It has already been talked about that in order to find a perfect fit it'd be best to open the door for all ideas. This doesn't mean that when creating a custom that trying to find a plastic, pre-painted and pre-assembled to scale figure won't be attempted first.

[Utgars_General]

Thank you! that should clear up worries for many people.

Not that I would doubt you guys, of course. :D

[dok]

My personal opinions.
Disclaimer 1: I speak for myself only and have no official capacity here.
Disclaimer 2: These opinions speak specifically to the C3V project.

Are clear set characters that may be branded or patented to not be used? (Lone Ranger, Kwai Chang Caine from Kung Fu, Zorro, Pikachu, Don Quixote, etc.)I don't think the patent/copyright issues are the driving factor here - it's more the issues you bring up next. At any rate, Don Quixote is a 400 year-old character in the public domain and isn't in the same boat as the other three you mention.

Should figures that are easily recognized not to be used? (Stormtroopers, Pokemon, Popular Anime characters, DC or Marvel superheros, Hobbits, etc.)Hobbits exist in many fantasy stories - unless they have an obvious LotR look to them (elven cloaks with leaf brooches or somesuch), I don't have a problem with Hobbits in C3V.

As for the other, though, I feel that figures that are clearly evocative of another fictional canon should not be part of the project. We have entire custom projects devoted to converting those games to the 'scape system.

Setting aside purely visual markers, I'd even be leery about introducing figures named, say, King Arthur, or Jason and the Argonauts, into 'scape. Note that Heroscape's Gorgon is named Sudema, not Medusa. Sure, it's an obvious anagram, but this just goes to show that the designers' approach to Valhalla-scape was to avoid explicitly referencing other works of fiction, or even mythology. I think the C3V should mimic this approach.

Should all figures be rebased? ... Should new style of bases be used? ... Could the original bases be kept?Provided you use the right number of hexes (i.e. single-hex base or double-hex base), there's probably some wiggle room. There will probably be an "accepted" base for every figure, and it will almost certainly be one of the current bases used in Heroscape (small D2/D3 bases, standard small/medium base, DW9k base, large single-hex D3 base, narrow double-hex base, or wide double-hex base). How much variation is allowed from those will be in the hands of individual players or TDs.

Should bases that would cover 3 or more hexs not be used?We already have one figure that covers more than 2 hexes - the Marro Hive. So yes, it's allowed. But if the figure isn't going to be immobile like the hive, there's going to need to be some well-thought-out rules.

Will Valkrill not be a general?Valkrill is a general. Whether more figures will be designed for Valkrill remains to be seen. Personally I think we should design figures for Valkrill, but institute a "all text referring to Utgar also applies to Valkrill" rule.

Will we not be allowed to make 'scape terrain, or stationary figures that have a hex base?Stationary figures are allowed, as I said above. I'm not sure terrain will fall within the scope of C3V but I suppose it could.

[Wild_Imagination]

I think you're missing the point of customs. You can and people have for years been using whatever they want to make customs. Use whatever you enjoy using. The only real limit is your imagination, and wallet.

I thought the main goal of C3V is to create official customs that would be accepted for use in major conventions (Like Gen Con, BGG Con, and Essen). ... and potentially used as fodder / themes for any company that may restart Heroscape.8)

That was why I thought that some things like patents, brands, and identifiable sculpts should be addressed up front before the designing is too far down the line to switch directions.

[Sherman Davies]

I thought the main goal of C3V is to create official customs that would be accepted for use in major conventions (Like Gen Con, BGG Con, and Essen). ... and potentially used as fodder / themes for any company that may restart Heroscape.8)

Not exactly. The goal of C3V is simply this: to create and playtest a cohesive group of customs that has been designed to work with all official units, as well as each other. No more, no less. Whether or not they get accepted for use in the tournament scene is incidental.

[Wild_Imagination]

These are just my opinions and are nothing official.


Should bases that would cover 3 or more hexs not be used?This has been discussed many times over the history of customs and most agree such a creature creates maneuverability issues. In my own testing such creations only work if they can fly. I don't think C3V will say no, never but I would guess no one will go out of their way to make such a figure.

I was very curious about this since I got some Star Wars Mustafarian Flea Riders I think would be great for an Aquilla mounted squad, but the base turned out to be fairly wide... 3" in diameter and the legs prevent any sort of a peanut reshape. Since they are flea type creatures, they would jump instead of flying.
http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i75/Wild_Imagination/41MustafarianFleaRider.jpg


Will we not be allowed to make 'scape terrain, or stationary figures that have a hex base?Why not? This hasn't changed since Heroscape customs began.

Some may have noticed some very nice custom terrain on eBay for features to influence game play. So I thought there may be some that would like to design custom game terrain features ... of course if possible some source for more Heroscape regular terrain is never a bad thing. :D

[IAmBatman]

Great answers here, robbdaman, dok, and Sherman. :thumbsup:

[Confred]

My take on Iconic / Copyrighted figures:
Don't use them.
-HOWEVER: Knockoffs are acceptable and encouraged. Some official figures are 'definitely' inspired by others.
for example: You can make a guy with a chainsaw for a hand, just don't call him Ash. Such cameos can be fun.

Repaints are unavoidable, but do avoid heavily modded figures.
Use existing figures, painting them when desired. Creating your own means Hit Zone inequalities.

[robbdaman]

My take on Iconic / Copyrighted figures:
Don't use them.
-HOWEVER: Knockoffs are acceptable and encouraged. Some official figures are 'definitely' inspired by others.
for example: You can make a guy with a chainsaw for a hand, just don't call him Ash. Such cameos can be fun.

Repaints are unavoidable, but do avoid heavily modded figures.
Use existing figures, painting them when desired. Creating your own means Hit Zone inequalities.

We have no problems utilizing or repurposing figures that may fit the bill for what we are looking for but as I stated before figures that have a certain look will likely be avoided for the most part unless they are meant to represent a parody or tribute to an idea. Still any customs we make as a result will be named differently and will likely not be exactly the same as what we are mimicking.

Repaints are more likely over mods at this time and we will always try to make it as easy as possible though this may mean figures that require assembly as well as painting. If and when we get to that situation, tutorials will be created to make the process streamlined.

[Schulzy]

If the C3V were to be all "Hew, we're going to make a Star Wars expansion nao wif stormtroopers and loljedi..."

I'd be okay with it.