Comment on the State of the Mongoose

[Bifford]

I'll just do a quick post to say that I love Legend and it's add-on books and the $1 / 67pence for the PDF is what originally hooked me in.

I've since expanded to print copies as I do prefer to bring a book to the table - though PDFs are great as I can load them onto my work computer or Kindle (though proper Kindle versions would be welcome as PDFs on one of those is a PITA) and view any time.

Matthew recently said in the Legend sub-forum that anyone who has bought the books can email him and he will provide links to get the PDFs free (and this applies to all future purchases too!!). I sent him the email but have yet to receive the links. I'm guessing he's either forgotten me or has a massive bag-log to get through!

It's also really nice to have the UK store within driving distance of me in Swindon. Though I can't do the Club Mongoose as I work Saturdays (and have tried miniatures and failed (WHF) so am not really interested in that side of things anyway) and Matt is a nice guy!

So keep the LEGEND expanding guys. I keep RPGGeek updated as much as possible with all new Legend releases to help you all out.

Sam / Bifford

 

[MongooseMatt]

Matthew recently said in the Legend sub-forum that anyone who has bought the books can email him and he will provide links to get the PDFs free (and this applies to all future purchases too!!). I sent him the email but have yet to receive the links. I'm guessing he's either forgotten me or has a massive bag-log to get through!

Links were sent, best drop me another line - but check your spam folder too, as the links will come direct from Drivethru, not me.

 

[Bifford]

Matthew recently said in the Legend sub-forum that anyone who has bought the books can email him and he will provide links to get the PDFs free (and this applies to all future purchases too!!). I sent him the email but have yet to receive the links. I'm guessing he's either forgotten me or has a massive bag-log to get through!

Links were sent, best drop me another line - but check your spam folder too, as the links will come direct from Drivethru, not me.

Sweet! I'll do that when I get home See now there is awesome customer service, right there! Season's Greetings to you and yours!!

 

[GamerDude]

I just spotted the SoM thread and sat here at 4am PST reading the entire thing... when my wife gets woken up by my yelling "holy SHIT!?"

I just saw my own name tossed out there on the Mongoose Infantry.

Matthew has been great working with those of us currently in the MI squaring away a new program, with improved bennies, clarifying things, etc.

The overhaul and rejuvenation of the MI is a team effort. Lots of feedback was solicited on various things, each time compiled and discussed with Matthew tying to find the best balance between the program benefiting Mongoose and the program benefiting the troopers.

So thank you Matthew not just for the opportunity to have a big impact on something important to Mongoose but for the mention as part of the SoM 2013.

Here's to not just one but many great years ahead for MGP!!


-*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*-
Al Beddow
Member Mongoose Infantry since 2003
Coordinator, Mongoose Infantry Demonstration Operations
-*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*-

 

[lastbesthope]

Will be keen to see if A:2089 does get a new lease of life, but I have heard thatsaid a few times before...

LBH

 

[August1]

Armageddon 2089 is still near and dear to my heart. I'd love to see it done again. I know it could have legs (big metal ones) if done right.

Here's hoping!

Hell, I'd even be happy to write for it if it gets off the ground.

-A

 

[TrippyHippy]

In Wellington (NZ), the one gaming shop left shut down this year.

I'm not sure, in fact, if there is any specialist hobby game stores (outside of Games Workshop) left in NZ at all. The reasons they cited was that the importing model was too expensive to compete with online purchases. It's true, actually, as ordering from Amazon or whatever (let alone downloading pdfs) were substantially cheaper without the mark up, and usually arrived a lot quicker than their delivery could match too. Ah well, some businesses don't survive in a changing world - in a sense I'm not as worried about this as much as it denies gamers a place to meet up or create gaming groups.

For the future, well if tablet technology keeps on developing as much as it has done recently, I'd be happy to have everything done electronically for a game like Traveller. I actually really liked the mini-supplements - one a month of these, and I'd be quite content actually. I'd probably subscribe to it if offered. If there is one game that thematically fits the model of reading data of a little black e-reading devise, then it's Traveller!

The other thing of note this year was the use of Kickstarter to promote big projects. Judge Dredd was mentioned as an obviously successful example, but there have been lots of long standing projects given an immense boost by the funding found through this method this year. People are apparently prepared to pay for projects they love, if the project involves some prestigious, unique or high quality product. The question is whether this is the type of market that Mongoose want to dive into? Old brands with a following seem to work best rather than new ones. Maybe producing a high quality 30th Anniversary edition of Paranoia for $100 base cost could work, for example, if there were lots of bells and whistles and stretch goals attached?

 

[Prime_Evil]

Based upon a recent post by James Mishler (from Bat in the Attic Games), I'd point to following long-term trends that will continue to affect the future of tabletop roleplaying games:

• The Internet and related technologies - most importantly PDFs, Kickstarter and Print on Demand.
• The collapse of the mass market for tabletop RPGs in favor of increases in niche markets for various games and genres.
• Tabletop RPGs and hybrid forms are increasing in numbers and diversity, but print runs for individual products are getting smaller. Indie developers are booming, but things are still bleak for the major publishers.
• The decline of traditional game stores in the face of stiff online competition.
• The hobby is having a lot of difficulty attracting new players - this may be connected to the disappearance of local game stores.
• The rise of the tablet and other hand-held computer devices.
• Crowdsourcing RPGs via Kickstarter and similar services (Indiegogo, et al) has proven to be economically viable for both niche and mainstream RPGs.
• The maturing of virtual tabletop technology which free gamers from having to physically get together to play table-top rpgs.
• The use of social network sites to build online communities. For example Google Plus is being used for a lot of tabletop gaming.
• The development of hybrid games that combine elements of tabletop RPGs with boardgames or miniatures games.
• The re-release of older tabletop RPG material in PDF or Print has revitalised many rule systems.
• There is an ongoing grassroots renaissance of older tabletop games and older editions - and it's starting to be recognised by the major players (WoTC, White Wolf, etc).
• The increase in importance of corporate and personal reputation. A number of companies that haven't managed customer goodwill effectively are in serious decline.
• The collapse of the tabletop mass market in favor of increase in niche markets for various games and genres.

 

[Apep]

The hobby is having a lot of difficulty attracting new players - this may be connected to the disappearance of local game stores.

We need to attract new gamers in (RPG's / War-games) but will only do so if it is something that interests new gamers. That means players and clubs have to be flexible and allow games that interest new players. (even if it means swallowing their pride and playing ccg's, cmg's etc).

FLGS can only operate if they can make a profit which is increasing difficult as the fanbase shrinks, costs rises (tax, property, advertising, wages......). Unless you are in a big city we have to accept that online shops will be the main source of purchases going forward.

Mongoose's Judge Dread line is a good example of a line which could attract a lot of players capitalizing on the well known brand. It is down to clubs and their members to support new players

 

[dragoner]

As always, mind your branding and 4P's.

 

[chaoschild]

Mongoose's Judge Dread line is a good example of a line which could attract a lot of players capitalizing on the well known brand. It is down to clubs and their members to support new players

I can vouch for this, 3 months ago I was the only one at my club who was really aware of JDMG and now we've got a solid core of players and are looking at a campaign in the new year. It shows that, given a quality set of rules and miniatures, you can go a long way with enthusiasm if you put the effort in.

We also have players looking at starting up some WWII naval games (since we already play WWII everything else). The new VaS rules can't come quickly enough.

 

[Prime_Evil]

I think miniatures have a sense of visual appeal and a immediacy that RPGs lack - it's easy to explain the concept of a game involving miniatures to a newcomer because they have a visual frame of reference to understand it. But it's hard to explain an RPG to somebody who has never encountered the concept before - and not many people have the time and patience to wade through a 250+ page rulebook unless they are already sold on the idea. Interestingly, many people use analogies with computer games to explain RPGs to newbies - which may be counterproductive as there are significant differences between the two genres and traditional tabletop RPGs are always at a disadvantage when taking on computer games on their own territory. These problems are one reason why some companies (notably Fantasy Flight and to a lesser extent Paizo) are experimenting with hybrid designs that combine elements of RPGs with design elements derived from boardgames or miniature games.

It would be great if Mongoose could leverage their experience in manufacturing miniature games to draw some fresh blood into the RPG side - tight integration between the Judge Dredd miniatures game and the Judge Dredd RPG would be an obvious place to start, as would a Rogue Trooper miniatures game / RPG package (hint, hint). Another option might be to release a new edition of the classic Striker miniatures game for Traveller, but market it as a miniatures game rather than as an RPG supplement and use it to draw folks into the OTU gradually. An even more ambitious idea might be to publish a fantasy miniatures game that plugs into Legend - with the rules from MRQII Empires to handle stuff at the strategic level.

 

[TrippyHippy]

What would be worth a Kickstarter, would be to make an all digital software version of Traveller - so that you could generate characters, starships, worlds and systems all with a computer or tablet.

If they can raise enough money, it could be made really slick and stylishly with graphics for starships and worlds created, for example.

 

[DamonJynx]

I think miniatures have a sense of visual appeal and a immediacy that RPGs lack - it's easy to explain the concept of a game involving miniatures to a newcomer because they have a visual frame of reference to understand it. But it's hard to explain an RPG to somebody who has never encountered the concept before - and not many people have the time and patience to wade through a 250+ page rulebook unless they are already sold on the idea.

Agree 100%.

I have the devils own time trying to explain the concept of RPG's to folk that ask. I now tell people, "Think of Lord of the Rings, the players are the characters and one of us is the narrator or GM. The GM 'narrates the story and when the characters interact or want to do something and there is a chance something bad/unforseen will happen if they fail, we roll a dice to see if they succeed."

If I were discussing Warhammer or something similar, I'd say, "You build an army based on lists and points, then attack each other using dice to see who wins."

That's an over simplification I know, but it illustrates Prime Evils point.

 

[Prime_Evil]

I think people sometimes forget what a strange concept roleplaying actually is - sheer familiarity can make it hard to step back and see the unique nature of our hobby clearly.

 

[Myrm]

Actually the most difficult concept to get over to non-roleplayers in my experience is the answer (or non-answer) to the question 'How do I win this game'.

THe basics of RPGs - you play this fighter, and its got lots of stats that you use to operate your abilities, you may have to make speeches for the characer you play, the board is described to you - all those fade into insignificance to explaining the lack of fixed win conditions and so the open-ended nature of those games.

 

[MongooseMatt]

What would be worth a Kickstarter, would be to make an all digital software version of Traveller - so that you could generate characters, starships, worlds and systems all with a computer or tablet.

If they can raise enough money, it could be made really slick and stylishly with graphics for starships and worlds created, for example.

Now, this is interesting - how many of you would go for something like this?

 

[MongooseMatt]

If I were discussing Warhammer or something similar, I'd say, "You build an army based on lists and points, then attack each other using dice to see who wins."

I just say 'toy soldiers'

 

[Prime_Evil]

What would be worth a Kickstarter, would be to make an all digital software version of Traveller - so that you could generate characters, starships, worlds and systems all with a computer or tablet.

If they can raise enough money, it could be made really slick and stylishly with graphics for starships and worlds created, for example.

Now, this is interesting - how many of you would go for something like this?

Please, take my money now sir. :lol:

It would be great to see a toolset that has cross-platform compatibility and can run on both handheld devices (iOS and Android) as well as most computers (Windows and Mac). Bonus points if it integrates with a virtual tabletop of some kind and / or supports some degree of solo play for when you're waiting for the bus.

Perhaps it could also have a Library Data feature that allows you to display content at the game table in something resembling an actual shipboard terminal. You might be able to sell expansions that gradually build up a comprehensive encyclopaedia of the Imperium, sector by sector...

 

[Cyporiean]

What would be worth a Kickstarter, would be to make an all digital software version of Traveller - so that you could generate characters, starships, worlds and systems all with a computer or tablet.

If they can raise enough money, it could be made really slick and stylishly with graphics for starships and worlds created, for example.

Now, this is interesting - how many of you would go for something like this?

While I don't play Traveler, I do think this is a good idea as well, it would also be nice if character maintenance could be done in it as well. Sort of like a 'lab' for 'heroes', *nudge nudge, wink wink, Say no more*.

(A Legend character generator/manager would also be good).