I have this bookmarked to check out when I get home. ;)

Just to clarify, the goal of SaveSWM is to buy the rights and publish a minis game with cards, maps, and plastic figures -- hopefully with the same rule mechanics. This won't happen overnight, it will take a while.

This is separate from the Gamers initiative to keep the tournament scene going and to create virtual card sets. If you want to be part of that, please visit www.SWMGamers.com

Neither effort should hinder the other and there may be an overlap of people. Both are aimed at keeping the community alive. Get involved with one or both. Keep playing the game, support it at your local gaming store, buy the current WotC stuff, and show the next company (hopefully SaveSWM, maybe somebody else) that a SWM game can be financially viable.

Just the rights? Well, a number commonly thrown around is 100,000 for the SW License, seems about right for a multi year deal with LFL. Then add in however much WOTC wants for their game mechanics, lets say 10,000. Then there is the actual start up costs. Anyone able to set up manufacturing easily in China?

I would say a start up cost in the couple of million for a company to acquire the SWM rights. Of course, that assumes WOTC is willing to sell their game mechanics, which their message implied as a no.

Thing is, you don't build a factory. You contract out the work. WotC does not own a factory in China. Further, this isn't all up to WotC. It's up to Hasbro. There are a lot of ifs on it, but to say it's easily a couple of million, isn't necessarily true.

Bill is right: you would use someone else's facility to produce your product. It's called outsourcing.

The basic (and I mean basic) rundown would be like this: (process with the minimum investment)
First step, design the miniatures. Either yourself (if you can) or hire someone to do it. The stats are the easy part, the cards are a bit easier than the actual minis, but the miniatures themselves are what takes the longest to produce. Each one has to be designed and the designs/prototypes sent to a company that can handle making the molds. Each miniature requires molds to be created to produce them in-mass. The molds are usually then sent to the company that will produce the actual plastic miniatures. Plastic is then ordered and the production process begins. Once the miniatures are produced, then the painting needs setup. This may be done at another facility as well. (you also should apply for any patents once the designs are done)

While the plastic design is going on, the stats and cards are being designed and created. Again, this is much easier than the plastic components as it is just on paper stock and requires less lead time. Also in this step would be the booster boxes. Similar in process as the cards: design the artwork; have them printed; then assembled. Any promotional artwork and whatnot will be in this process as well. (usually done by a separate department) You will want to send this out before the actual product, hence the name "promotional". This can also be done digitally via the internet and save the cost of printing any said material.

Once the plastic miniatures are done (produced and painted), they will need to be sealed in the bags. Once that is done, the cards and miniatures need to be placed into the booster boxes and sealed. Then the fun task of shipping begins... (hopefully you took preorders!)
(again this is the BASIC idea of how it might be done with the minimum investment)

Ok, well back to the point, I doubt any of us have the $$$(no matter how much it is) to buy everything and start churning out minis again. Well, at least not without selling everything we own. ;)

Good thing I just finished building a Gammorean Cannon

You summed it up completely. People want to help, but in the long run, it won't be enough. BTW: That is a great movie!

I have a friend in the Ice cream business who does a lot of outsourcing to China. It isn't all that hard to do, however you do need contacts and quality control is off the outmost importance, meaning no lead paints etc!! Things like this will get your product into a lot of trouble, You have to stay on top of them. He goes to china at least once or twice a year to oversee and be seen.

And I should add this. A couple of million sounds like a lot of money, but it's really not nearly as much as you think. This would be by all stretches a "small business" and you don't need millions to start it. You need a couple hundred thousand generally upfront to get something like this going. Chargers is actually someone who knows a good deal about how these things work, I would take him seriously guys. There are others in the community who also have the kind of business experience, know how, and connections to do something like this, so it's not nearly the stretch it might seem to be.