Re: Turn Prices?

From: bradac_56@my-deja.com

Date: Thu, 06 Apr 2000 00:00:00 +0000

> I dont agree with that statement at all.  The hard-core wargamers
have *left*
> the hobby for computer games and the re-emergence of board games.
Thats why
> close-ended wargames are so hard to sell these days.  The core of the
hobby is
> made up of eager 'middle ground' PBMers who love *both* combat and
roleplay.
> That's why the big open-ended games, Quest, B.S.E., DungeonWorld and
so on are
> all still going strong.

I don't agree *completely* with your statement ether (aint that
a surprise <g>).
I currently play in Midnight Games Legends II Systems (Fantasy War
game) and I shell
out $40(US) to $50(US) bucks every two weeks (3 game turns every 14
days) for a
Computer/human moderated mixed game.

MG averages 100 players a game with about 6 to 7 running games
an any one time.
Plus the royalties from its 4 License companies.  The reason it does so
well is two fold:

1.) At it's core it's a Hard Core War game, unless your have vast
army's
    don't think about winning.

2.) Since allot of it is handled by a computer they've added allot of
role-playing
    type quests that the RP type player's love.

3.) Since turns are sent in by email and parsed by a program (that a
human GM
    oversees) that generates the battles and dice roles it's easy for a
few
    GM's to run 3 to 4 games apeace.  Which equals low overhead.

My actual point is, ... the war gamers haven't left, were just
playing war games.
*MOST* completely hand moderated games only call themselves "War games"
(I haven't'
played in yours so I can't say and won't lump you in that category).
So me a
really good war game and I'll stick with you forever.  Show me allot of
role-playing
fluff and shoddy turn delays and I'm gone.

***********************************************************

In article <20000406065048.27888.00000005@ng-fa1.aol.com>,
  madcentral@aol.com (MadCentral) wrote:
> >>I think either a fiver or three and a half quid is an over-inflated
price
> for what you normally get in a standard IF/RPG turn. I justify that by
> comparing what 3-5 can get me on the High Street.<<
>
> But thats silly.  How can you compare them.  For a fair comparison,
try writing
> to loaded and get a quote from them for a PBM turn published *just
for you* in
> their magazine.  If its cheaper than 3-5 I'll eat my hat.  (Not that
I have a
> hat.)
>
> >>There are VERY FEW people willing to pay anything for RPG PBMs
because the
> cost (say) of ten turns at 35 quid can't be justified when the game is
> likely to fold on turn 11.<<
>
> There are a *lot* of people prepared to pay 3-5 and *more* for a good
IF
> hand-mod turn.  The folding is certainly an issue, but it usually
occurs
> because initially enthusiastic GMs realise they aren't earning
enough.  Games
> that run for a decent length of time can easily build a reasonable
one-man
> business that'll pay a tenner an hour, with a bit of clever design.
>
> >> The future for paid-for turns is almost certainly
> Computer-mod Wargames etc -<<
>
> Well, I certainly agree that if you want to 'move up' and earn more
in your PBM
> business then computer-mod games are the way to go.  (Its what I did,
after
> all.)  But its also perfectly possibly to run and earn a decent wage
on IF too
> and you are wrong if you think nobody will pay high fees for such a
turn.
> Loads of people are crying out for a regular, reliable IF and they
won't balk
> at a �5.00 or �6.00 turnfee at all.
>
> >> the core of the hobby these days comprised of people who see
roleplaying as
> a skill-less art best left to University
> Students and twelve-year olds with their CCG/Top Trump games.<<
>
> I dont agree with that statement at all.  The hard-core wargamers
have *left*
> the hobby for computer games and the re-emergence of board games.
Thats why
> close-ended wargames are so hard to sell these days.  The core of the
hobby is
> made up of eager 'middle ground' PBMers who love *both* combat and
roleplay.
> That's why the big open-ended games, Quest, B.S.E., DungeonWorld and
so on are
> all still going strong.
>
> >>I earn a good living doing a proper job that I hate, and spend a
portion of
> my spare time balancing that out by doing the hobby (GMing) which I
love.<<
>
> Me too. <grin>
>
> >>People who attempt to do the same but in inverse invariably fail
and annoy
> the faeces out of their players.<<
>
> Very true.  IF GMing is a tough job and 'burn out' can occur.  Many
people who
> try it are living on cloud nine and find it out too late.  But the
fact that
> many people who shouldn't be doing it then fail doesn't mean it can't
be done.
>
> Personally, I would pay �5.00 for a good, ongoing reliable IF as long
as there
> were plenty of other players in it to interact with (at least 20 or
so).  If
> you decide to run one, let me know!  I'd be interested!
>
> Steve T.
>

Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.

References

Re: Turn Prices?
"Roy Pollard" <plod@proweb.co.uk>
Wed, 05 Apr 2000 00:00:00 +0000
Re: Turn Prices?
madcentral@aol.com (MadCentral)
Thu, 06 Apr 2000 00:00:00 +0000

Referenced By

Re: Turn Prices?
"Roy Pollard" <plod@proweb.co.uk>
Wed, 05 Apr 2000 00:00:00 +0000
Re: Turn Prices?
madcentral@aol.com (MadCentral)
Thu, 06 Apr 2000 00:00:00 +0000