Should WoTC try again with Chainmail?

[pawsplay]

If I were WotC, I would probably be more inclined to reinvision Chainmail as a computer strategy game, possibly with online collectability a la M:tG.

For that matter there is every reason to suspect WotC would like replace the whole miniatures biz with a decent visualizer that could be used with laptops or tablets.

 

[cyderak]

If I were WotC, I would probably be more inclined to reinvision Chainmail as a computer strategy game, possibly with online collectability a la M:tG.

For that matter there is every reason to suspect WotC would like replace the whole miniatures biz with a decent visualizer that could be used with laptops or tablets.

Its pretty sad when alot of people I'm hearing from are saying that its a good idea to switch to a digital alternative.

Comic Books, RPG Books, Magazines ........ Are raw materials getting that expensive or are the profits not big enough for investors?

 

[Knightfall]

I'd rather have WotC re-envision the Chainmail setting, The Sundered Empire, as a 4e setting. It wouldn't have to be connected to the Greyhawk world (i.e. western Oerik) although that would be a plus for me.

 

[VGmaster9]

No, that would be just pointless. It would be much better if it was its own universe, just like D&D and MTG. While D&D is a roleplaying game and MTG is a trading card game, Chainmail would be a miniature wargame, simple as that. A newly invented version of Chainmail wouldn't be a set of rules for D&D miniatures, but a completely new game built from the ground up. Think of it as an American equivalent of Warhammer, but with not too many similarities.

 

[Knightfall]

No, that would be just pointless. It would be much better if it was its own universe, just like D&D and MTG. While D&D is a roleplaying game and MTG is a trading card game, Chainmail would be a miniature wargame, simple as that. A newly invented version of Chainmail wouldn't be a set of rules for D&D miniatures, but a completely new game built from the ground up. Think of it as an American equivalent of Warhammer, but with not too many similarities.

The problem I see with that is that Chainmail, as a brand, is strongly linked to D&D. It would be risky for WotC to sever that link.

Chainmail, on its own, isn't as widely known as D&D and MTG are and a mini wargame not tied to D&D would likely fail. It's like [MENTION=6616]Maggan[/MENTION] said, "They would basically disregard all things they are good at to try to compete in another field where they have little or no experience."

WotC doesn't have a good track record with minis.

I think Hasbro would have better luck marketing and selling a line of D&D-based toys than WotC would have with a new version of Chainmail.

The Sundered Empire, however, would be good as a board game in the same manner as Conquest of Nerath. Plus, it is something that WotC has already committed to put on the market.

I'd like them to design similar board games for Planescape (i.e. The Blood Wars), Spelljammer (i.e. The Unhuman Wars), and Greyhawk (i.e. The Greyhawk Wars).

However, I'd still prefer WotC to concentrate on creating campaign settings and useful, fluff-driven supplements for D&D.

 

[Croesus]

Then this game wouldn't be for you. It wouldn't be some collectible miniatures game like Heroclix, this would be an actual wargame. Like I said, it would be like Warhammer, Battletech, and Heavy Gear, which all require miniatures to be painted.

While I can see that your idea is not for him, I do think that there might be a market for those of us who simply won't spend the time and effort required to hand paint minis, or the money to have someone else do it for us.

In fact, I suspect that given the market lead that GW and others already have, a resurrection of Chainmail should target those who aren't being served by the unpainted minis offerings.

 

[Cergorach]

Chainmail miniatures never were pre-painted, so I'll leave the pre-painted discussion to another recent thread.

I see no reason why WotC would need or want to kick GW on it's behind in the miniatures market. They would be like any other competitor, and instead of taking it's queues from GW it should take it's queues from Privateer Press, they started with a few factions and a limited amount of miniatures to create a skirmish game, over the years it has evolved to a large range with a lot of factions. And battles are getting bigger and bigger.

But to be honest, as long as WotC is owned by Hasbro, they shouldn't attempt it. Hasbro has a whole other vision on what are good margins, what is a good product and how many sales a succesful product make.

Also, now is not the time to release a large new fantasy miniatures game/line, there's The Hobbit by GW next year and that is going to get a lot of attention.

But if there where a Chainmail skirmish game, use things that make the D&D brand 'unique' in the market. Gnolls, monsters, etc.

But the need to buy D&D minis has diminished, other manufacturers make excellent miniatures that are very good fits for almost all of the iconic D&D monsters (and some not so iconic monsters). Not to mention the glut of cheap prepainted plastic (nearly indestructible) miniatures that the bowls of WotC spit out over the last few years.

 

[VGmaster9]

Also, now is not the time to release a large new fantasy miniatures game/line, there's The Hobbit by GW next year and that is going to get a lot of attention.

A new GW game, huh? Sure is news to me. Is it a new major game or will it be part of the Specialist Games?

But if there where a Chainmail skirmish game, use things that make the D&D brand 'unique' in the market. Gnolls, monsters, etc.

I guess so, it would be pretty unique as a D&D game.

 

[Lalato]

You can still play the D&D Minis skirmish game. Why not just play that... and if you want to paint... then just repaint them.

Check Hordelings: Miniatures Enthusiasts -- Forums for a forum that focuses on the D&D Minis skirmish game... and look in the Crafter's Corner forum for examples of repainted minis. Basically, DDM is still supported, just not by WotC.

WotC tried a wargame (DDM), it didn't work out. Instead of letting it completely die though, they let the DDM Guild take over the support. So now DDM is fan supported. For details try http://www.ddmguild.com/.

 

[Glade Riven]

I'm going to go out on a limb with this idea, but...what if WotC released a wargame that used tokins? Like the really nice ones from Monster Vault. Costs are kept down, and if it takes off deluxe (unpainted) minis can be eventually part of the product line.