US gaming. Ahh!

[MrCrazy]

Ok this whole "US supplies will be limited" thing is making me pee my pants. I am planning to pre-order:

USMC Infantry squad
USMC Abrams
PLA Infantry squad
PLA type 99 MBT

I guess my question is: Are these units enough to actually play a half decent game? I mean I could buy one more infantry squad of each (and believe me I would if i could), but the cookie jar that holds my money seems to be empty..... :roll: Can someone let me know?

 

[Mr Evil]

tough one but id sayu youd probably need an extra unit of pla topps to makle the points evan, although this is complete guese work

 

[MrCrazy]

Oh yea. i forgot about the point distribution.. *sigh*

 

[dyssnowman]

I am planning to pre-order:

USMC Infantry squad
USMC Abrams
PLA Infantry squad
PLA type 99 MBT

I was looking at similar, though I was leaning toward two infantry squads for these two factions from the get-go. I remember seeing elsewhere that the game is fairly balanced with two squads on each side, and since you can field fire teams rather than full squads, it seems like that would give the flexibility to balance the points nicely.

 

[MrCrazy]

Bah! I couldnt help myself. I pre-ordered 2 squads of each. bloody mongoose! BF:Evo is like heroine....and its not even out yet. :x



I guess an empty piggy bank is better than no piggy bank.......

 

[Megatron]

Those units should be good for a small intro game maybe. I myself don't plan on using the actual minis (except maybe the tanks).

 

[MongooseMatt]

Hi guys,

If you just want to dip into the game, we would recommend getting two squads and one tank (various options for the armies mean that you should be able to adjust things so points values are within 10% of one another, regardless of what army you use).

This will give you around 700-800 points, depending on which army you choose (and don't assume that the PLA always cost less - their basic infantry squad may lack Land Warrior, but they have 10 men and a good spread of support weaponry!).

Once you get to grips with the rules, this will give you games of 30-45 minutes, depending on terrain (obviously, fighting on a flat desert when a Challenger 2 is about shortens games!). We tend to play games of 2-3,000 points, but with greater access to units. However, a good guide is that in an army of this size, we tend to use 3-4 basic infantry squads, 1-3 of the main tanks, and pad out with support units.

 

[Hiromoon]

So invest $85 in the game then...

 

[boomgoose]

So invest $85 in the game then...

Done! I just preordered 2x Infantry Squads for the EFTF, 1 Challenger and 1 MEA Infantry Squad. Now to hang on until late January.

 

[Hiromoon]

Good boy..


Now poppet, invest another $85 in the game.


mwhahahahaha :lol:

 

[Mr Evil]

wonder if mea or pla will get endless tide rule

 

[Jeff Cope]

Matthew's statement that US supplies might be limited so the best bet is to pre-order directly from them is causing a bit of backlash from US retailers, or so I'm hearing.

Retailers, already feeling a little burned by SST, are thinking "why should I order this product for my shop if Mongoose is telling consumers it might not be available and just order from them?"

I can see their point to a degree.

Seems to me some stock should have been allocated for US distributors. Maybe initial shipments would be slighted worldwide, but at least the game would be out there.

Ah well...any delay of release in the US is just giving me time to save money for my USMC forces!

Jeff

 

[MongooseMatt]

Matthew's statement that US supplies might be limited so the best bet is to pre-order directly from them is causing a bit of backlash from US retailers, or so I'm hearing.

We offered US distributors the same deal as we did those in Europe - pre-ordering in exchange for guaranteed supply and a very good rate. Only those in Europe (almost unanimously) took the offer and pledged support, likely a sign of the relative strength of the hobby games market on the continent.

At the moment, we are telling US distributors that if they pre-order by the end of the month, we will guarantee supply. However, if they choose not to pass on any pre-orders from retailers, or retailers prefer to wait and see, then we really are shooting in the dark and, given the investment required for models of this nature, there is really only so much we can do.

If people want to get in on this game, they really need to tell us now, while production is taking place. If not, the box sets are going to be snapped up by those who are currently waving their hands in the air and promising support.

 

[Quark]

Unfortunately I don't think the situation (in the US) is going to get better any time soon. Honestly, I can see both sides of the argument here. A lot of US stores are gunshy about MGP right now after the whole SST thing, so they're in no hurry to jump on the bandwagon now, but then, why should MGP plan on producing/shipping product to a non-supportive market? It's a viscious circle. The only way it will change is if the fans are able to generate enough interest at their individual stores to start turning the tide. I know I've tried at my LGS, but unfortunately the store owner has a new policy regarding mini games in general- Due to nearly constant and in some cases spectacular failures he will no longer stock minis games unless they come with some sort of money back garauntee (like w/the horror clix line). Good luck to everyone else trying to get this sucker off the ground in the US though!

 

[Hiromoon]

Actually, apparently the distributors didn't start offering BF:Ev till this month.


But I don't think there's going to be much call. In Virginia I'm the last MI guy...others either moved, left the program, or were washed out because of a SNAFU.

Other than that, there's still product sitting on the shelves at one store that's actually upset at me for not pushing the product, and I'm not even an employee there!!!

 

[Soulmage]

I was under the impression that the shortage would be an "initial release" issue, and that the game would be available in larger quantities in the U.S. at a later date.

Now I'm getting the impression that its just not going to be commonly available in the states period.

Which one is correct?

 

[Jeff Cope]

A lot of US stores are gunshy about MGP right now after the whole SST thing, so they're in no hurry to jump on the bandwagon now...

This is very true, at least in talking with some of the shops 'round here and from comments I've read online from other shop owners around the US.

Of course I'm not privy to the behind-the-scenes business mechanics and am certainly not trying to tell MGP how to run their business...but, to me, it seems like it would've been a better business move to run with SST: Evo first to show distributors/retailers/consumers that MGP was still committed to the brand (in fact, moreso than before even!) then to put SST on the backburner while focusing on BF:Evo.

Just my thoughts on the matter...

Jeff

 

[nezeray]

I'm one of the few MI in Kentucky, and I have very few people to play SST with. There are stores that are stuck with inventory while others have sold off at deep discounts their stock. I'm praying that when SST:Evo finally gets here that more people will start playing. Many people have said that if the propainted minis are as good as they look in the pictures that they'll start playing. They just have too much pewter and plastic on their shelves to work on already for other games that they do play.

Now BF:E I have a bunch of people who have preordered a squad and a tank. I wish that I had known that 2 squads and a tank was a better "start". I guess we'll be proxying until we can get more.

I definately agree that SST:E should have been first, most of my stores are waiting to see and don't plan to stock any minis until they get people playing.

I hope that I get my BF:E or the condensed rules for SST:E so that I can demo it at UKON in February.

Nezeray

 

[gorkamorka]

Matt,

I hate to be the one to break it to you, but our LGS markets are dying on the vine.

You all have the right to run your buisness any way you choose, but with the last couple of plays your company pulled, is it any wonder why there is such a hesitation?

Believe it or not, your little stunt with SST cost too much money for the slowly dying market here to begin with to place trust in a company that doesn't look like it is using alot of buisness sense.

I for one see lack of vision with your game to be a major detractor to sales and it's a little premature to be polishing laurals as to the how and why about sales in the states. SST = Mongoose.
I hope some lessons were learned with it, but if others feel as some of the people I spoke to about it, they will be very hesitant to shelve anything with the name on it.

I for one wish the game success, and am chomping at the bit for a few thousand dollers in purchase, but that can come to a screeching halt, if the bark is worse then the bite.

Please consider bringing some of the BF Evolution materials out prior to Christmas, Make a better effort to stick to release scheduals, and bring on a stronger support package as to Demo Programs, Bits sales, and Product quality.

If I were you, I would consider a stronger mail order sales program then trying to relay on lackluster LGS's to sell more product. Reestablish your reputation and accountability, then you can worry about trying to move product.

Good luck on the game, I'll be seeing it when I see it.

 

[Soulmage]

What about my earlier question??

I was under the impression that the shortage would be an "initial release" issue, and that the game would be available in larger quantities in the U.S. at a later date.

Now I'm getting the impression that its just not going to be commonly available in the states period.

Which one is correct?