Re: Just a thought (a little long)

Roger Gerrish wrote:
> 
> Kevin Pavlick wrote:
> 
> > But why can't we MAKE them "official", thereby creating more product
> > and grabbing more players.	It was said on more than one thread that
> > alot of games start at the game store shelf.  Is a new game going to
> > get passed over that has JUST a set of rules, when the games next to
> > it has rules and multible supplements?  We all know how great the
> > system is, but how does a newbie know (especially considering that
> > they all come shrink-wrapped)?
> 
> I don't think the above reason is any justification for a new
> supplement/s, I may be in the minority here but as a wargamer when I
buy
> a game it is not dependant on the amount of supplements available,
> (maybe with an RPG it helps), how many people out there felt they
> should'nt buy SG2/DS2because it did'nt have as many supplements as say
> Battletech. I think you may be doing 'Newbies' a disservice.
> 
> Surly the only reason for new supplements is the desire by memebers of
> this list (a small but representitive group of GZG players) to have
some
> more rules with the 'OFFICIAL' stamp on it.
> I have to agree with Allan Goodall in that the best method is to
produce
> a 'fanzine' type document which may or may not be commented on by Jon,
> containing  ideas from the list (God knows how you decide which).
> It may be that when the OFFICIAL GZG products come out Jon may use
some
> of the ideas, then yes, you will get your names in the credits.
> 
> Anyway, will be interesting to see what Jons comments will be...
> 
> Regards........Roger
I tend to disagree with the above about supplements. In many stores you
have all the miniatures games in one corner, with the exception of THAT
(EE) game, which takes up a whole wall. New players; looking at the
disparity; go for the games which are better supported, have better fan
base and have a wide array of miniatures. If you go into your local game
store, or worse, some other kind of store that merely sells games on the
side, who do you find? A FT, DSII, or SG player waiting to greet you at
the door and guide you to the best series of SF miniatures games ever?
Or the weenie who has paupered himself buying Evil Empire merchandise
and wants to tell everyone about their dark chaos horde of Imperial
space marine orcs? It takes exposure to increase a games popularity and
the blunt truth is that shelf space rules! The more you see of a game
the more likely it will be that you will pick it up. For most people
that means not only what they see on the shelves, but what they hear
from the people they game with, or meet at the game shops.
BTW: I have been thinking for a long time about doing a magazine, either
as a fan project or for $, that dealt with SF and fantasy miniature
gaming. SF&F minis have been the red-headed stepchild of both "regular"
wargaming and role-playing for way too long. If this interests anyone
out there, someone who would like to do the same thing please contact me
at:    John D. Hamill
       finnmaccool@earthlink.net