Was doing my rounds online the other day and decided to check in on one of the older card-stock terrain companies online that has been very very quiet for almost a year. Turns out they are out of business. They may not have been the pinnacle of design, but they got me into the hobby. I see one of the designers started a new site of his own and the quality is a marked improvement, to be certain.

So, with that, farewell Microtactix.

(Hope since this is a company thats no longer around, this wont be an issue.)

That is a real shame. I really liked their stuff

EDIT: I did a little searching, and their stuff is still currently available on RPGNow, but the company's website is down. Do you have it confirmed that they are out of business, or could it just be that they have allowed their domain hosting to lapse? Also, could you PM/Email me with a link on the new company you found info for please?

Cheers,

Arabin

Well then, that just means WWG need to step up and offer the their versions of the products we'll not be able to get for much longer... like a nice range of trees. I know there is the one in Dinas Fford, but we need more...

Arabin

It's never a good thing to see the competition go. It's also never a good thing to see the market flooded...

In the short history of cardstock RPG terrain we've seen an interesting battle unfold. The market started off with very few rudimentary offerings in the early 2000's. WWG came on the scene in 2002 and attempted to shift accepted quality standards a bit and take it somewhere it hadn't yet ventured. When people saw the momentum we created at RPGNow it started something of a fever pitch in the market. Then around 2-3 years ago it seemed everyone and their dog was giving terrain or tiles a try. Once those involved realized that the market wasn't quite as big as they thought it was, or just how much work was involved, many retreated. That was also about the time when ugly pricing wars started up (terrain makers offering ridiculously low pricepoints to outdo the competition...a very bad and destructive strategy to the market in general). WWG decided to leave the rat race and go solo around that time as well.

I am all for competition BUT only if that competition has something original to bring to the table. This has always been my issue with our market; you either create with originality or you copy each other into obscurity. Sure, build that dungeon or modern street set but at least have the originality and vision to give it your own unique spin. Microtactix had their own way of doing things as did WWG but the same can't be said for many others. I have seen far too many knock-offs out there and this is ultimately why this niche market has reduced down to what it is today. You don't get far in the terrain biz by repeating what others have already done (unless you already have money behind you).

I have no doubts that new card terrain makers will come and go though. It always looks tempting or easy on the outside but few really understand just how involved the business is. There is a payoff here but you have to have dedication and surprisingly high quality standards to make it pay. And be prepared to step up your game when new competition arrives

One thing to note about Microtactix is that I saw them every year with a small booth at GenCon Indy. I don't know how they managed it, but they did, and more recently a certain overweight Dragon started doing so too. I know we've spoken about it before, but it's definitely something WWG needs to find a way of tapping into.

I do wish the guy who left there to start on his own all the best luck. So far, I haven't picked any of his sets up, but he is certainly improving, and with a different style. The company that produced the desert fort and village, and more recently the Japanese style temple, is also interesting to watch.

It's nice to see a few original creaters in the same arena as WWG and Ebbles. I personally feel those I mentioned, other than the Dragon, compliment each other, and do not conflict yet. Microtactix also complemented the market, and were only really let down by more cartoony textures, and strange scale choices (25mm I think).

Hopefully their products will remain on RPGNow for those that are interested. Would be a shame to see them either become unavailable or start appearing free.

Arabin

So Glenn Williams didn't work for Microtactix? Any word from anyone that did/does work there?

Arabin

Nothing that I've seen unfortunately. I'll have to see if I can find an e-mail anywhere...