Expansions

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All Forums >> [Current Games From Matrix.] >> [World War II] >> Lock ‘n Load: Heroes of Stalingrad >> Expansions

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Expansions - 6/7/2005 7:03:12 PM

benpark

Posts: 3884
Joined: 8/12/2002
Status: offline

Any plans for Eastern Front?

Also, I would be interested in mini-expansions, with content like new counter sheets, scenarios and mapboards.

That is-after computer Ln'L

_____________________________

"Fear is a darkroom where the devil develops his negatives" Gary Busey

Post #: 1

RE: Expansions - 6/7/2005 7:58:26 PM

ravinhood

Posts: 3891
Joined: 10/23/2003
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I'd like a nice Jersey/T-Shirt to wear with the Unit Graphics on them. Tanks, Infantry, Leaders with "specialized" naming so I could put my name on the counter. Stuff like that. heh

(in reply to benpark)

Post #: 2

RE: Expansions - 6/10/2005 4:56:45 AM

rickbill

Posts: 16
Joined: 6/10/2005
From: Camarillo, CA
Status: offline

Here's my vote for the Eastern Front.

BTW, are British units included in LnL:BOH? Re: Pegasus Bridge or Scottish Corrider scenarios?

(in reply to ravinhood)

Post #: 3

RE: Expansions - 6/10/2005 12:43:16 PM

markhwalker

Posts: 951
Joined: 1/29/2005
Status: offline

Expansions? Such as ANZAC Attack? Yes, we have discussed them.

Yes, we have discussed plans for the East Front. We have tentatively planned to put up P500 on a couple of LnL titles. Whichever reaches 500 pre-orders first, goes into production first.

No Brits in Band of Heroes... it's about the 82nd and 101st in June 1944.

Best,
Mark

(in reply to rickbill)

Post #: 4

RE: Expansions - 6/10/2005 6:13:00 PM

rickbill

Posts: 16
Joined: 6/10/2005
From: Camarillo, CA
Status: offline

<rant>

I understand and appreciate the objectives of the P500 concept - many a fine game company have met their demise due to the inability to move inventory. But, please appreciate the consumer side of the P500 approach. Companies taking the P500 approach are counting on the gaming community's patience (they offer a game to the community and expect a certain level of preorders for a >$50 game sight unseen and then they'll begin development/production. So as a gaming consumer, I am expected to commit a significant portion of my gaming budget and wait 6 months to a year for a game which could very well be a dog). I don't think I'm the only one with whom this approach is wearing out its welcome. So, if you can find a way to develop and release your product while the others are playing the P500 game (while still not committing to a large risk due to overstocked inventory), you may actually steal their audience.

I personally believe the genie you have in your bottle is your affinity to the VASSAL community - if you treat VASSAL expansions to LnL as digital download products (similar to Across the Dnepr) and move forward with the development phase of the product (especially since the system is in place), the sales will be there. As people play the VASSAL module they will tout the benefits of LnL:BoH and its expansion sets on newsgroups, BGG and the such. Then, you will see a tidal wave of support and a clamoring for the production of boardgame materiels which will put LnL on the events listing of the major game conventions and on the table of gaming groups around the country and so on and so on.

So what's my point? If you are going to join the battle, fight it with shock and awe! From what I've seen so far;
1) you have a good system which addresses the "I don't want to play the game with my head buried in a rulebook" crowd
2) you have taken advantage of advantages of leaders and individuals upon moral and combat effectiveness
3) you have accounted for "heat of battle" effects without bogging the player down in the details
4) you have embraced the "tanks, I want tanks" afficionados
5) I think the "interactive novel" portion of the game may help bring in another part of the community but the historical tacticians will probably be able to get past that as long as it is not integral to the gameplay.

So, when you attack this market, you should be prepared to quickly send in the reinforcements to secure the bridgehead! Because, I think the most positive response you can/should expect from the community will be "Great game, what's next?" Bring on diverse LnL units (early german, russian, british,& lots of tanks, artillery and air support) as soon as possible - even if these units were only initially released for the VASSAL community. Since LnL is a system, leave it open and let the gamers take it to the different fronts. I know a lot of ATS gamers who have bought the ASL historical modules just so they can use the maps and the scenario cards. The same could (and quite probably will) happen with LnL.

[stepping down from soapbox]

</rant>

(in reply to markhwalker)

Post #: 5

RE: Expansions - 6/15/2005 2:10:46 PM

markhwalker

Posts: 951
Joined: 1/29/2005
Status: offline

quote:

So, when you attack this market, you should be prepared to quickly send in the reinforcements to secure the bridgehead! Because, I think the most positive response you can/should expect from the community will be "Great game, what's next?"

Yeah, that sounds good, except that the "reinforcements" cost about 40K a pop. Guess wrong on a couple of those, and any game company will be sucking wind big time.

VASSAL is a very cool concept, it's how we did almost all of the play testing, but VASSAL only mods? Frankly, I'd have to see it to believe it. The problem there is the time-money continum. VASSAL saves production costs, but saves me NONE of the development time or costs. VASSAL only mods may happen in the future, but right now they are not a priority.

Finally, I hear you on the P500. All I can say is this. There will never be a LnL "dog." I mean, if you like the system you like the system. Nor will it take us a six months, let alone a year, to put out a P500 LnL title. Five months at the outside, usually in four.

BTW, that wasn't a rant on your part. I thought they were well considered opinions.

Best,

Mark

(in reply to rickbill)

Post #: 6

RE: Expansions - 6/15/2005 7:47:04 PM

rickbill

Posts: 16
Joined: 6/10/2005
From: Camarillo, CA
Status: offline

I see your point.

Well, I for one am hoping you introduce Russians, Brits and '41/'42 Germans before you set out on your quest for the Computer LnL holy grail!

I must tell you that my first exposure to LnL was by looking on the VASSAL server and seeing LnL being played almost every weekend for quite a while there! A game which I can find opponents for is more likely to get purchased then one I can't!

So, at the risk of wearing out my welcome, here's my LnL wishlist:

- variety of tanks/AFVs (like ATS)
- variety of support weapons (like ASL)
- infantry types (like ASL)
- historical maps/scenarios (or at least get the first three on my list so I can play with existing terrain/scenarios)

My small-unit theater interests center around the following areas in order of interest:

1) Kursk
2) Early Barbarossa (i.e., Dubno, Kovno,...)
3) Ardennes (both '44 and '40 - but '40 scenarios seem to lack playbalance for some odd reason!)
4) Stalingrad
5) Normandy (emphasis on airborne ops - I guess because I'm a TAC airlifter by trade)
6) North Africa
7) Arnhem (kind of odd how I'm drawn to the two strategic blunders at Stalingrad and Arnhem!)

Thanks for listening

(in reply to markhwalker)

Post #: 7

RE: Expansions - 6/16/2005 4:14:00 PM

markhwalker

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Joined: 1/29/2005
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Ardennes in 1940? Interesting that you should mention that. Watch Matrix's P500 stuff toward the end of the month.

(in reply to rickbill)

Post #: 8

RE: Expansions - 6/16/2005 7:19:23 PM

rickbill

Posts: 16
Joined: 6/10/2005
From: Camarillo, CA
Status: offline

Where can I find Matrix's P500 stuff?