Re: Adventurers' Guild

From: burgesmw@cnsvax.uwec.edu

Date: Sun, 09 May 1993 01:10:01 +0000

In article <1993May5.174526.19256@news.tufts.edu>, gharris@jade.tufts.edu (George W. Harris) writes:
> In article <1993May4.181341.7047@cnsvax.uwec.edu> burgesmw@cnsvax.uwec.edu writes:
>>
>>   RSI is far more money grubbing than most games.  To start DM, you have to
>>send in $5.00 just for the over-views and rules compared to AG's $3.50 for the
>>rules.  With DM you HAVE to play to find out about the game and what the
>>character sheets look like, etc.  AG has it all laid out in the rules.
>
> 	You're confused, or at least your information is out of date.  For
> Duelmasters, there is no charge for teh initial set-up and rules.  There
> is no charge for the initial character over-views.  Again, if RSI had charged
> me for the rules and the initial character set-up, I probably would never
> have started playing Duelmasters.  Since AG charges for the rules and the
> initial character set-up (or can you get a character set-up *without*
> spending the $3.50 for the rules), I'll probably never play AG.  They
> need to learn that the best way to attract customers is to give out free
> samples.  It may be the greatest game in the world, but if people don't
> try it, they'll never find out.

Ya got me here.  It has been over five years since I started DM and my
memory is a bit hazy.  Why exactly did you start playing DM?  Did you know
anyone playing it before you started?  Yes, the best way to get people to look
at the game is to offer free rules, but it can also be the way to go bankrupt.
When I see 'free rules' anywhere, I write for a copy if I am remotely
interested.  You get a lot of people who do the same thing.  Spending over two
dollars in postage everytime someone expresses slight intrest in your game can
be VERY costly.  For the first year and a half, the rules were free, but he
soon found out how expensive it can be to send out free rules.  Most people
start a game because someone tells them about it.  The best way to get new
customers is to have a good game that people will recommend to others.  If you
will not believe people who once played DM for a considerable time and say AG
is better and more of what you are looking for, then I don't know what would
convince you.

>>   You shouldn't talk about a game you have never played or seen and compare it
>>to a sorry game like DM.
>
> 	Hello?  I'm not talking about the game.  I'm talking about the company's
> marketing practices.  I think they're ineffective.  I know they're ineffective
> in getting me to try the game, and I'm not atypical in that regard.
>

I believe that the GM should persue a more vigorous ad campaign, but I
believe charging for the rules is fair.  There are not many companies left out
there that will give you rules for free because of the cost to them.  I don't
know why, but people playing DM seem to defend till the end.  I know I did.  It
is very weird.

> I played DM for over three years so I KNOW all about
>>the game and CAN compare them.  I also can compare the companies and believe
>>me, AG blows RSI away as far as customer service and adding innovations to the
>>game.  DM is STILL the same game it was eight or nine years ago.  Why?  Because
>>RSI doesn't give a damn because the money keeps coming in.
>
> 	So you say.  But tastes vary, and what you think of a game doesn't
> tell me anything about whether or not I'll like it.  If I had a chance to
> try, I would, but I'm not going to shell out money for something I know
> nothing about.  If I *could* compare, I might switch.  Since they charge
> for teh privilege, I won't bother.

I was also like this.  Why shell out money for rules?  But when you keep
hearing about the game and how much better it is, it should get your interest.
If your willing to pay $10.75 for 5 to 10 pages of fights, then I don't know
why you are hanging onto your money so tight.

I am currently trying to see if I can find a scanner, but if not, I will try
to get a copy of the rules on disk so I can post them.  I am doing this because
I hate to see people spend their money on DM when there are much better games.
It is hard to break from DM (I know how hard it is) but once you are gone, the
desire to play again starts to fade.

Matt

References

Adventurers' Guild
gharris@jade.tufts.edu (George W. Harris)
Tue, 04 May 1993 18:06:24 +0000
Re: Adventurers' Guild
burgesmw@cnsvax.uwec.edu
Wed, 05 May 1993 00:13:41 +0000
Re: Adventurers' Guild
gharris@jade.tufts.edu (George W. Harris)
Wed, 05 May 1993 17:45:26 +0000
Re: DM - Lifes in the arena is so unfair.
leeme@cnsvax.uwec.edu
Tue, 04 May 1993 06:10:13 +0000