(11-07-2012, 10:51 AM)Shad Wrote: It's clear that laser-cut counters cost more per sheet, how much more I don't know. AP is unable to put together enough cash to pay for a die-cut run and then sit on that inventory while it trickles out. They gain flexibility with laser-cutting but trade-off part of their margin. This is reasonable, I think.
My concern with the 300 copies is based on my belief (perhaps erroneous) that the vast majority of sales occur right when the new game is released. With no evidence whatsoever, I would be willing to bet that something like 80% of total Saipan sales in a three year window would occur in the first 2 months.
Now I may be completely wrong in which case there's really no need to worry. But my observations of our community structure and my gut tells me the total number of Saipan games in circulation a year from now won't break 600 regardless of how many AP can pay to produce in advance.
Imagine, though, if a game never goes out of print. Need a copy? Just get it laser cut. That paradigm shift would be unheard of in wargames. The big problem then is keeping some semblance of control over the number of games.
From what I heard (again, for whatever that's worth), there's not much cost benefit to big runs of laser print counters. Therefore, the cost is directly related to the number of counters. And there's no such thing as "backorder". If someone wants something that you don't have a copy sitting on the shelf, send the file to your printer/cutter and a few days later it's ready to ship.
I do wonder though, what's the quality control issues with the laser cutter? What percentage of sheets aren't shippable due to scorch marks?
