I'll just give yall the low-down on the last Overlord run instead of beating around the bush:
The FX-Sabers forum community wanted another run of Overlords, but this time, it was going to be a community project. Design, funds, blades, and electronics came from me, machining was done by another forum member, and assembly was done by two other forum members. Everyone involved was a highly esteemed individual with years of history in the community.
Everyone did what they were supposed to do except one of the people entrusted with assembly. He basically went awol and vanished with hilts, electronics, and money. It took months to track him down and we didn't get back even half the parts. Of course, Ultra Sabers stood behind the project, so I had to compensate for all the stolen parts out of my pocket alone. No one else involved with the project had to bear any of that burden. Everyone either got their saber or got a refund. I did the best I could to make things right. But that wasn't enough.
Many of the people who didn't get a saber (and got a refund instead) turned on me quite viciously. People who were supposedly my friends declared they would never buy another Ultra Sabers product again, even though the Overlord run was not a normal Ultra Sabers product.
The only person to lose money on that project was me, but I lost alot more than that. I never imagined there could be so much betrayal and friends lost over a $142 saber and the experience caused me to retire the Overlord indefinitely and withdraw quite a bit from the FX-Sabers community.
On a side note, I'm very pleased that the community on Saber Forum is shaping up to be such a friendly and welcoming group of people. This isn't a community filled with pessimists or butt kissers, and some of you certainly are hard to please sometimes (you know who you are
) but overall, it seems everyone's intentions are honest, and yall approach me in good faith wanting only from me what you are entitled and nothing more. Frankly, that kind of attitude only makes me want to give more and more to this community. More rewards, more discounts, more contests, more random giveaways, etc. Maybe an Overlord run could also be a good way to show my appreciation...
Alright, lets brain storm this: If I do another run of Overlords, the design should be a little different to distinguish it from the earlier runs, while retaining the styling that defines an Overlord. I have a few changes to the emitter and pommel in mind that I think will make the saber more appealing. All the work should be done in-house like our other sabers so you'll get the same quality, price, and shipping times that you have come to expect from Ultra Sabers.
I could work up some renderings in Solidworks and show yall what I have in mind. Keep in mind, though, this isnt a project I could tackle immediately. I have a bunch of other stuff already in the works that will have to come first. I may be able to have these available by Christmas, but let's not count chickens quite yet.