What new product would you wish to see done?

[Aries]

The game is huge now so what. What do you see as missing all the same?

Of course a good eManual is an easy default itme, I think we all want that. I don't expect that wish to come true though sadly.

One of my main complaints is training new players, there isn't anything in place realistically yet.
I have heard rumbles of a into ASL, but I can't say I have seen anything myself.

Right now the new fan is stuck with buying the full manual and several major modules just to see if they like the game. Thats a huge leap though. We are talking about a 200+ price tag for what amounts to a starter kit.

200 bucks US might not seem like much in some ways, but it is substantial when talking about a starter kit for a major game.

The pieces all exist, it's not like anything new had to be made, the powers that be (MMP) merely need to decide to re package a modest assortment as a sampler.

I would like to see something like son of ASL or Return to Squad Leader made.
Remember how Squad Leader had 4 multipurpose friendly boards and a smattering of the popular units and the most obvious charts provided with all the games most needed counters?
And the rules were laid out to teach the game in a useful manner.

Paratrooper was sold to us as a demo module, but that it rediculous. It can't function by itself, so it never served its purpose.

We need at most 2 boards worth of terrain.
If they are actually designed so they are 4 pieces not the 2 panel boards that fold the usual way, but made so that the top end pieces can be swapped from board to board, they create 4 boards with the expense of 2.

The game only needs to demonstrate, so counter mixes could be cut down drastically.

You could include the Germans/Russians/Americans/British/Japanese and be able to show the games most dominant nations in usage.

You wouldn't need 26 of this squad and 26 of that squad either. It's a demo game. 5 squads of any type would be fine. And you would only require the primary types in any amount.
Again it's a demo, so who cares if there is only one conscript squad counter. The same could be said about support weapons as well.

As the game is after all Advanced SQUAD leader, I am not totally sure much attention would be needed to be paid to vehicles and ordinance.
I would want a modest intro manual written as if only squad combat was envisioned.

Remember it's a demo, if a person wants all the rest, might as well just buy the actual manual eh.

Currently the biggest hassle is the manual is just a manual. You can't do anything with it beyond read it. 100 bucks (canadian) and you get an intimidating manual and no game.
A counter mix could be created, it is just a matter of wishing it done (I would think).
Right now though, the counter mix is strewn over several hundreds of dollars worth of serious purchase requirement game product.

I think we could get a good deal more enthusiasm for a 100 dollar product that was complete game with manual, and basic assortment from the whole design. If the person likes the game, they can always get into the deluxe experience later.

[Aries]

Wanted to post this separate to keep the notion distinct from the preceeding one.

In spite of fate being kind and giving me a full set of Annuals, I think it would be cool if the contents of the Annuals were all combined in a unified book all inclusive. It would not have to be hardcover or expensive though, a softcover modest binding would be fine.

It would put the contents of the Annual back into circulation in a practical manner though.

I think producing a softcover compilation once every 5 Journals would also be nice too.

I looks like we won't be stopping anyone wanting the Journals any time soon, but actually getting the Journal regualrly is not always as easy for all of us.

[Chris Milne]

It would put the contents of the Annual back into circulation in a practical manner though.

I looks like we won't be stopping anyone wanting the Journals any time soon, but actually getting the Journal regualrly is not always as easy for all of us.

My first post on this forum - hi!

I think MMP are covering the first intention with the Out of the Attic line. It covers more than the Annuals, but picks up the best of the OOP scenarios and articles. Probably better than a direct reprint of the Annuals, since from MMP's point of view they get sales from those of us that have the Annuals, and from the gamers' point of view you avoid some of the guff that filled a few of the Annuals (you really want the SL scenarios from the early Annuals?)

In terms of getting the Journal - you should be able to subscribe to it directly from MMP, I believe.

[Priest]

Well to start my rant again, the product that I would like to see the most is to release the British mods. This is one of the most glaring omissions in the game, that one of the major combatants in WWII is not presently repesented is kinda.....well. To be honest while iASL is a good idea I feel that it can wait until FKAC and WoA are released.

[Dr Zaius]

Well to start my rant again, the product that I would like to see the most is to release the British mods. This is one of the most glaring omissions in the game, that one of the major combatants in WWII is not presently repesented is kinda.....well. To be honest while iASL is a good idea I feel that it can wait until FKAC and WoA are released.

Priest, are you talking about re-releasing West of Alamein? The British are included in that module.

Well, I thought Paratrooper was a good idea, but maybe there needs to be a more comprehensive introductory module. I guess $100 dollars is a lot to shell out for a product you're not certain you will like. Perhaps a simplified tutorial version of the basic rules could be printed in a format similar to the ASL Journal. Include 2 mapboard with it and some basic counters and it could probably sell for $30-40 I imagine. That might be enough to get new people interested in the system.

I would like to see some more historical modules. The Normandy beach landings could be a good subject for this or perhaps Anzio. Of course you can never go wrong with eastern front stuff so Kursk could be an idea. The problem with doing historical modules on the eastern front is what maps to use? Stalingrad was an obvious choice, but where do we go from here?

[Dr Zaius]

My first post on this forum - hi!

I think MMP are covering the first intention with the Out of the Attic line. It covers more than the Annuals, but picks up the best of the OOP scenarios and articles. Probably better than a direct reprint of the Annuals, since from MMP's point of view they get sales from those of us that have the Annuals, and from the gamers' point of view you avoid some of the guff that filled a few of the Annuals (you really want the SL scenarios from the early Annuals?)

In terms of getting the Journal - you should be able to subscribe to it directly from MMP, I believe.

Milne, welcome.

Tell me more about the Out of the Attic line. I don't have any of these and might be interested in them.

[Aries]

Ahh forgot about Out of the Attic (just goes to show MMP will benefit from us here and enjoy having more than just their store front wanna be site which is not a dynamic source of late breaking news or old bits of information).

Although I won't say I don't like Out of the Attic, I guess I was thinking in line of something like a nice reprint of the actual Annuals for those that want them, and in a nice one shot purchase. I guess people would miss out on the inserts, but hey, there has to be some perk left for those of us that got there first :)

I agree 100 bucks does not make yer average demo sampler hehe. But then I guess I was thinking demo sampler and ASL Lite all wrapped up.

For King and Country and West of Alemein are what was once just the unified WoA module for those unaware. And it has been languishing on the not quite finished list unfortuately. There was a lot of heat over what to do next, and there is a large lobby group supporting various elements of the "Core Mix".

The problem that has beset MMP, is they are a small operation that is just now I think realistically catching their breath from reviving an entire line of one of the biggest ticket items in wargaming.
While a good lot of us already own the stuff, MMP as a company had to go out and get the stock all entirely re printed from a standing stop (I don't envy them that burden let me tell you).

If the last two years are any indication though, Historical Modules have an audience as even fanatics like me have been unable to keep up with them heheh.

[Priest]

@ Don

The current plans of MMP is to release the British in two mods, the first one that may be out next year is "For King and Country", I guess that this will be the British in Europe. The second mod (not even a rumor on this one) will be WoA.

[Dr Zaius]

@ Don

The current plans of MMP is to release the British in two mods, the first one that may be out next year is "For King and Country", I guess that this will be the British in Europe. The second mod (not even a rumor on this one) will be WoA.

So they're planning to split the British into two releases? Why would they want to do that? Just about everything you needed to play the British was in WoA. What's going to be released in King and Country that we have not already seen? Forgive me, I'm a little out of date on ASL, but I'm catching up quickly. :devil:

[Priest]

I don't know, maybe they are planning on doing more with the British. If you want a complete listing of all the projects that MMP is doing, go to the MMP website. Just above the gold "Cyber cash enabled" button is the word "status" in blue. Click on this and then click send, within a few minutes MMP will email a majodomo to you detailing all their current projects.

http://www.emotipad.com/emoticons/PC%20Punch.gif

[da priest]

So they're planning to split the British into two releases? Why would they want to do that? Just about everything you needed to play the British was in WoA. What's going to be released in King and Country that we have not already seen? Forgive me, I'm a little out of date on ASL, but I'm catching up quickly. :devil:

Nope, the Brits are not going to be split up. All the Brit OOB will be in the soon to be released module with Chap H, and additional Brit scenarios from several sources(Annual, General, etc) not in the previous WOA.

The "new "WOA" will include the desert "control" counters, rules and boards only.

[Priest]

That is interesting news.

[da priest]

Oh! and I wouldn't be me if I didn't say:

For the next product:

GREEN MEANIES NOW!!!

AoO to finish the system!

[Dabulamanzi]

For me - more Historical Modules !!

Not necessarily the huge ones like RB and KGP but something a little more manageable. PB was along the right lines - 8 secenarios and low counter density. With the larger ones the commitment to play for 6 months to a year (or more) is a bit to daunting.

Something a little more generic would be fine - a fight over a village (any time/any place) or a bridge. As each turn is supposed to represent - what - 2 minutes each scenario is only 10-20 minutes long so a fight over the course of a day or 2 should be fine.

Obviously to make it an HASL it would need to be a specific place (what about the Russian village from ....er.....By Flame and Shell (?) in the deluxe module -that was supposed to of changed hands several times)

PB was close - but I'd like some flexibility on troop purchases etc - after all thats where half the fun is (or it is for me anyway)

Oh yeah - I'd like it hand delivered to me - tomorrow - by Britney Spears wearing a thong - with a six-pack in the other hand

[Dr Zaius]

For me - more Historical Modules !!

Oh yeah - I'd like it hand delivered to me - tomorrow - by Britney Spears wearing a thong - with a six-pack in the other hand

Indeed Sir! You didn't mention what kind of beer you would like. :nuts:

I agree about the historical modules. These are some of the most fun to play because of the great maps and extra attention to detail. I don't think it is really practicle for most gamers to dedicate their limited resources to a RB campaign, but smaller campaigns are doable.

MMP has some great new HASL products lined up. Be sure to check out the new Warfare HQ interview with MMP coming soon!

[Dabulamanzi]

What kind ! - why free sir - free !

A scenario is fun for the few hours it takes to play. A campaign is fun for the few hours it takes to play each scenario AND fun for every hour that I spend thinking about purchases, deployment, strategy and the look on my opponents face when I spring a suprise on him :surprise:

[Dr Zaius]

How about the fighting in the Huertgen Forest? That seems like a good place for a HASL module to me. Lots of small intense firefights in unique terrain.

[Priest]

Something about Guadalcanal or Okinawa might be nice.

[da priest]

Something about Guadalcanal or Okinawa might be nice.

Y'all mean somethin' like this-here module?:

Operation: Watchtower Guadalcanal Historical Study :rolleyes:

[Chris Milne]

CH did something on Okinawa, did they not? Though I hear it's crap.

I'm still waiting to get on to playing some of Dan Dolan's Kakazu Ridge stuff from J2 :(