shotgun-toting chipmunk said:This is going to be a long post, so please bear with me.
Some thoughts on where I'm coming from:
I love the near-modern warfare concept behind BF:Evo. The thought of playing with equipment that is either currently in production or just a few years away is what brought me into this game.
I love the rules. They are quick to learn yet in-depth, providing for a surprisingly wide array of realistic tactical options and considerations. A few things were a little quirky and could stand for some revision (ie smoke rules and ADS) but overall they are a great all-encompassing ruleset that doesn't bog down with details. Best of all is the utilization of unit cards so that players don't have to constantly flip through books throughout a game.
I love the models. Having “true 28mm” figures with realistic proportions is quite refreshing in a market where everybody wants to make everything bigger and beefier. As I've said before, there is not a single other company who makes modern or near-modern miniatures I actually like. (Kriegspiel came close, but still not nearly as good.) Prepainted is/was a huge selling point, and further fueled my enthusiasm. Still, I understand the issues at hand with them, and can patiently wait. Also, I really like the fact that they are plastic. Not only are they lighter and easier to transport, but they are much easier to customize than metal miniatures.
My biggest gripe was the lack of background material. I somewhat understand the concern on potentially upsetting people (national pride and what-not) but at the same time good background material is what moves any game to the so-called next level.
Some observations based on what I've seen at Evocommand:
There is no doubt that Evocommand is a fantastic resource, and a very active community. Several people have done a lot to expand on the game for their own enjoyment and that of others. It is still a community, so not everybody feels the same way on everything. Several players like the idea of more in-depth rules, while others prefer the simplicity offered by the existing rules. Some like to use MGP stats, while others prefer proxies with other armies and modified units. That diversity is great, and gives a lot of insight and options for games played "at home." There are some in the community that seem to feel that MGP basically dropped the game and left it up to them to carry on the torch, so to speak. I disagree with this view, but I certainly feel that the Evocommand community did in fact help keep the fire of this game alive.
Some thoughts on Option 1:
At first, this sounds kind of neat. Letting the fans have a say in the game and make it whatever they want. However, completely turning the game over has problems. For one thing, it smacks of abandonment. If the company gives the game to the players, and no longer produces models, what incentive could there possibly be for supporting it? Second, it opens up the potential for “too many chiefs syndrome.” Most, if not all, people have different ideas of what the ideal game is, and such disagreement would make it difficult to come to a consensus on what the actual game really is. Sure, this works fine for home games and the like, but will inevitably cause problems with tournaments, conventions, etc. There needs to be somebody at the helm of this ship if it’s going to succeed.
Some thoughts on Options 2 and 3:
To be honest these two sound rather similar. It sounds like Option 3 is saying to scrap BF:Evo for a completely new setting, with all new units and possibly redoing the rules. This does not sound good. Option 2 sounds like a less drastic version, keeping the rules with a few small tweaks and changing the background. This doesn’t sound terrible, as the rules really don’t need much tweaking beyond a few things in the Advanced Rulebook and there isn’t really much background to speak of. However, the important thing in my mind is to keep true the original intent: A game of near-modern combat. I don’t mind supposition, (this game contains plenty as it is) but let’s not go overboard. I want to be able to recognize this as a feasible near-future world. Making the Abrams the equivalent of a Chieftain does not sound particularly enjoyable. At that point we may as well just drop the post-modern designation and call it near-term science fiction. Of course, that isn’t to say that as time goes on we can’t go ahead and present new ideas, especially as new real-world developments occur.
At last, my thoughts on a good direction for the game:
Keep the game going in the current direction, but expand on it. Keep the setting, but create some actual background material. Create a story to put us ten, fifteen, twenty years in the future, basically something to set the stage for the game. I’d prefer an “alternate history” to “no history.” Continue the story with worldwide campaigns run by the Mongoose Infantry and possibly some supplements (ie campaign books). I’ve got plenty ideas to get things started if there’s any interest. Continue support with Signs and Portents, including unit cards, ideas for advanced rules, one-shot scenarios, and more. The worldwide campaign should also be presented in Signs and Portents (ie results, etc.). Also, with a good background, MGP always has the option to expand into a BF:Evo RPG!
Give us miniatures! I understand they can’t be prepainted yet, but keep the same scale, small bases, and true-to-life proportions of the current line. Provide troops, vehicles, and aircraft. MGP has already released most of the units that other companies also make; at this point most if not all new releases are unique and not available anywhere else.
I think something along the lines of an OGL in addition to the above is good as well. Allow players to create and potentially publish their own unit cards, factions, and supplemental rules. Just think of the success with the Quintessential Series: taking an established universe and giving the players the option to expand and go even more in-depth. I’d even say go one step further, giving really good projects the Flaming Cobra treatment. Just remember that these are additional options for home games. If it’s not in a Mongoose publication or Signs and Portents, don’t expect to see it in a sanctioned tournament or the worldwide campaign. Also, players would be able to publish projects MGP might not have the time or desire to invest in, such as other settings (ie Vietnam: Evolution)
The Bottom Line:
I love the current game. I see no need to scrap it or completely change course. Expand on the great product MGP has, give it better support than ever before, and keep it running strong!
Well done! I just want MGP to continue on and finish what they started. Painted or unpainted miniatures is fine by me. No one wants to see their miniatures obsolete after only 3 waves. This game rocks! Now continue it!
. This still allow us the use of Evo-command too? I think that a win, win situations. I hate lawyer right now :evil: . Can we add the lawyers as a faction (target number 2+ should be good for them with a 3+ kill score) :twisted:
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