Should WoTC try again with Chainmail?

[pawsplay]

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?

I'm all for physical product, but I"m not WotC. I'm just trying to read the wind.

 

[Lalato]

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.

There are other costs beyond plastic, or in this case cardboard. You have to pay designers to create the game. You have to pay developers to refine the game and make sure everything works correctly. You have to pay artists to create the art that goes on the tokens. You have to devote other resources for playtesting the game. Oh... and don't forget devoting resources to handle rules updates and errata.

The tokens have to make enough money to support all of that. I'm not sure that little cardboard bits can do that. Plastic minis failed in part because some of those costs plus the costs of raw materials made it less profitable in the long run. I'm not sure if cardboard tokens has enough appeal to make it worthwhile.

As for digital... I know I would definitely play a WotC supported digital version of D&D Minis. You can play online right now via VASSAL, but I never enjoyed the chintzy graphics of VASSAL. However, if you want to get a feel for what a token based game might feel like... try a VASSAL DDM match.

 

[VGmaster9]

Well regardless, it would still be nice to see them make a miniature wargame, whether it be on the scale of either Warhammer, Mordheim, or Warmaster.

 

[Glade Riven]

@ Lalato: Well, the Monster Compendium 4e tokens are awsome, and WotC just raided their 4e art to make them. If they wanted to, they could raid their Magic art archives or the old Dreamscape art to make more tokens. Yes, there are other costs, but WotC cancelled the minis wargame and then minis all together citing the cost of creating prepainted plastic figures.

 

[Lalato]

Don't get me wrong, I would love to have a WotC sponsored minis game. I just don't see it happening for the reasons I noted above. And I'm not sure how appealing a token-based game would be to minis players. I do wonder, however, if it would be good to have such a game offered through DDI.

 

[Stormonu]

No, chainmail was poorly concieved and carried out. I think The designers should stick to the board games.

Personally, I'd like to see a completely modernized version of the Dungeon boardgame, with minis and a custom izable dungeon board.

 

[Mark CMG]

Whether it fails or succeeds, I'm fine with any company bringing another medieval fantasy line of minis to the market, painted or unpainted, with a ruleset or without.

 

[Fifth Element]

@ Lalato: Well, the Monster Compendium 4e tokens are awsome, and WotC just raided their 4e art to make them. If they wanted to, they could raid their Magic art archives or the old Dreamscape art to make more tokens. Yes, there are other costs, but WotC cancelled the minis wargame and then minis all together citing the cost of creating prepainted plastic figures.

It's not necessarily that easy - we don't know what rights WotC has to that old art. They might only have the right to use them for their original use, and may have to pay again to re-use them.

 

[cyderak]

NOOOOOOO.........
Not token-based games.......
Doesn't everybody remember the HORROR that was......POGS!!!!

Annoying little turds.....those POGS.

That idea aside.......Wayyyyyyy aside and never to be spoken of again...... Why doesn't WOTC just use the existing Molds and re-issue the minis in a NON-random format. Just like the legendary encounters reaper line.

Up the ante on the paint jobs and release the basic of basic monsters used in RPG's today. Need an orc(or party of Orcs) just go buy them. No guess work when it comes to buying pre-painted plastic minis.

And don't include the stat card with the minis. Instant savings right there. If people want a skirmish game then just release a Skirmish Rules Book like Warhammer fantasy and 40,000 does. That way people have the option of using the minis for their campaigns or skirmish.

 

[TheAuldGrump]

NOOOOOOO.........
Not token-based games.......
Doesn't everybody remember the HORROR that was......POGS!!!!

Annoying little turds.....those POGS.

That idea aside.......Wayyyyyyy aside and never to be spoken of again...... Why doesn't WOTC just use the existing Molds and re-issue the minis in a NON-random format. Just like the legendary encounters reaper line.

Up the ante on the paint jobs and release the basic of basic monsters used in RPG's today. Need an orc(or party of Orcs) just go buy them. No guess work when it comes to buying pre-painted plastic minis.

And don't include the stat card with the minis. Instant savings right there. If people want a skirmish game then just release a Skirmish Rules Book like Warhammer fantasy and 40,000 does. That way people have the option of using the minis for their campaigns or skirmish.

Damn you sir, damn you!

I had forgotten Pogs, and now you've brought it all back to me!

*Begins weeping, and pulling his hair*

The horror!
The horror...

*Sob!*

The Auld Grump, who really needs to play Call of Cthulhu again....