Mechwarrior D20...anywhere in sight???

[Ranger REG]

Trust me, Classic BattleTech is alive and well. A German-based company, Fantasy Production, have the license (from WizKids) to published Classic BattleTech products.

In fact, ask your FLGS retailer if they carry Technical Readout: 3067, a new CBT product by FanPro.

As much as you probably hate this new game trend, it's gaining popularity, the same way TCG was gaining popularity back in the 90's. Now, I hate TCG with a passion (no offense, WotC, Decipher, and Upper Deck), but I do like minis, and clickable minis is the most affordable game compared to Warhammer by Games Workshop, who up until now, dominated the miniatures game category.

 

[Neo]

Trust me, Classic BattleTech is alive and well. A German-based company, Fantasy Production, have the license (from WizKids) to published Classic BattleTech products.

In fact, ask your FLGS retailer if they carry Technical Readout: 3067, a new CBT product by FanPro.

As much as you probably hate this new game trend, it's gaining popularity, the same way TCG was gaining popularity back in the 90's. Now, I hate TCG with a passion (no offense, WotC, Decipher, and Upper Deck), but I do like minis, and clickable minis is the most affordable game compared to Warhammer by Games Workshop, who up until now, dominated the miniatures game category.

Excellent i'm glad someone is producing the original universe and rules still it is far too good to die a death of obscurity.

Don;t get me started on Games Workshop excellent ideas, great fiction and art....... but they are money money money mad.... most adults can't afford their prices, so how they can claim their target audience is still children i don't know.

 

[Ranger REG]

Yes, you should thank WizKids for granting FanPro the license to continuing the Classic BattleTech line while they try out a different approach to revive the BT IP.

You have to admit, they need to reinvent, just like Wizards did with D&D.

 

[Neo]

Yes, you should thank WizKids for granting FanPro the license to continuing the Classic BattleTech line while they try out a different approach to revive the BT IP.

You have to admit, they need to reinvent, just like Wizards did with D&D.

Reinvent.hmm not sure i'd go with that, Rethink maybe... 3e for example is basically the same game it's always been just tidied up and reworked where it needed to be while maintaining the same old feel...a natural evolution of it if you will.

something similar for B/Tech and Mechwarrior would sit well with me, but turning it into a toy game..with clickable bases just killed the ambience the game had for me, so i still play the old version.... but the worry i had that the storyline which had been developed over decades suddenly ending was a concern but if fanpro are continuing with that, then Wizkids have redeemed themselves somewhat in my eyes.

I just kind have a problem with Toy and Card Game companies making RPG's and then treating them like they are toys, discontinuing them when they don't make zillions (which RPG's never do anyway), or dumbing them down to supposedly appeal to a broader audience (yet sacrificing the old one)....... still a few of them seem to be slowly catching on to the way the Genre and it's fan base works... theres nothing as loyal as an RPG'er so long as the quality and intent is maintained.

 

[HalfElfSorcerer]

On a Polyhedron thread from a while ago Erik Mona claimed he was trying to convince someone to do giant robots for Polyhedron magazine, so this might be in the works already.

 

[Ranger REG]

I just kind have a problem with Toy and Card Game companies making RPG's and then treating them like they are toys, discontinuing them when they don't make zillions (which RPG's never do anyway), or dumbing them down to supposedly appeal to a broader audience (yet sacrificing the old one)....... still a few of them seem to be slowly catching on to the way the Genre and it's fan base works... theres nothing as loyal as an RPG'er so long as the quality and intent is maintained.

That's the way business work. It cost a lot to make those books ... you get bills from printers, the employee's payroll, expenses that goes into the game's R&D. And you have to pay them in time. If sale is so slow -- money not coming in fast enough, then you have no choice but to dip into your own pocket. If sale is fast, you can pay your bill and payroll, and what remain is your profit, which you can then devote some back into the business' operation budget.

It's a risk you take when you put out your products. Some time you have to invest more in marketing your product through advertisements and whatnot, and that too cost money.

If you're a fan of the product, and want that company to stay in business making that product, then you should volunteer your service in pushing their wares. Word of mouth, inviting people to play your game are just a few suggestions that would help develop a bigger fanbase and patrons for the company's product.

 

[Neo]

That's the way business work. It cost a lot to make those books ... you get bills from printers, the employee's payroll, expenses that goes into the game's R&D. And you have to pay them in time. If sale is so slow -- money not coming in fast enough, then you have no choice but to dip into your own pocket. If sale is fast, you can pay your bill and payroll, and what remain is your profit, which you can then devote some back into the business' operation budget.

It's a risk you take when you put out your products. Some time you have to invest more in marketing your product through advertisements and whatnot, and that too cost money.

If you're a fan of the product, and want that company to stay in business making that product, then you should volunteer your service in pushing their wares. Word of mouth, inviting people to play your game are just a few suggestions that would help develop a bigger fanbase and patrons for the company's product.

Oh don't get me wrong i'm not being naieve, but i much prefer it when RP'ers are the ones producing the books....as theres always more important to them than just the $$$ and the books get the proper treatment and the genres the proper care... unlike Toy companies etc who have a tendency to look at games in a far more calculating profit motivated way.

Obviously at the end of the day everyones who makes a supplement, game etc.. is looking to make some money, but a Roleplayer takes pride in the production, their fans and the future and development of their creations.. theres just something far more appealing both in intent and quality to a product produced by an RP company of RP'ers who say "well it isn;t going to make us rich....but it is our baby and we've given it life and will continue to see it develop and prosper". As opposed to the calculating "well it isn't monopolising the attentions of the projected 80%+ of the 14-26 age bracket as projected as such the line will be discontinued all projects in development or planned for will be cancelled...the end... if you see what i mean ;o)

With regards to promoting a product i always have in the 22 years i have been RP'ing i have gotten many people into the hobby, even more into specific game genres and campaign settings.rulesets etc.... i have taught more people to roleplay and Gm than i can recall over those years and i wouldn't change one minute of it.

If i like a product or company i will happily speak well of them and promote thier products, i consider it my responsibility as a longterm roleplayer.

 

[Ranger REG]

While they take pride in their work, they also know this is a career for them, not a second job while they stuff grocery bags at the local supermarket. They cannot force all the customers to like their work, they can only pray.

Business people look at the market and see what the majority of the consumers want. That means the minority will have to bear with the majority.

 

[Neo]

Business people look at the market and see what the majority of the consumers want. That means the minority will have to bear with the majority.

would that that were true.... sadly Market research can and does sometimes gather misinformed or ill concieved results, as has recently been proved with one of my favourite computer games and the lack there of of a likely sequel ever....

Also as is also far too common, the notion of the Majority getting what they want while the minority grim and bare it is also quite rare. More often than not it is a noisy minority who get what they want, over the silent majority.

such is life i guess.