MBS Monthly Poll #1

[Ruckdog]

Welcome to the first MBS Monthly Poll! As discussed in Episode 7 of the MBS podcast, this is an opportunity for the MBS community to participate in the show. All you need to do is vote, and then comment below if you would like. The results will then be discussed during Episode 8, and any comments made will also be read aloud and discussed by Greg and I. 

[Dakkar]

It'll really vary meta-to-meta.

DSC and DZC fans have already made up their minds in most cases I've seen, based mainly on models or mechanics.

HOW they roll-out DSC will make a difference too. The stilted DZC rollout coupled with perceived overpricing effectively killed that game locally. I never bought in because buy in was too daunting against some perceived rules issues in the 1st edition. Ironically, the faction I thought would be overpowered (Scourge) had almost zero representation at Adepticon from my unscientific table walking.
I do like the idea of pick-up and drop off of troops actually functioning within games - I've never seen that effectively done in a sci fi game.

For DSC, the real question will be what NEW thing does it bring that other games don't have, besides awesome models? We all need a reason to switch. And even the thin background for Firestorm holds up better than the awkward DZC background.

I can't tell if Taskforce will help or hurt against DSC. I don't like the product, but it does seem to be accomplishing some draw in.

[Quickdraw]

I agree Dale.
It will definitely depend on meta. Like you said, DZC is literally non-existent in our area. I've never seen a game played at the store. The obvious initial appeal is to DZC players.
As far as Firestorm is concerned... from the discussions and videos we have seen the game play is worlds different than Firestorm.
In my opinion the Firestorm players that buy Dropfleet will still play Firestorm. It will just fit itself into a little hole in their larger gaming ponds.

[Landlubber]

Ah, these things are always hard for me to judge. My gaming experience on a weekly basis is limited to only one store, and on a monthly basis to only two stores. Based on my non-scientific observations at both stores, nobody plays Firestorm Armada or Dropzone Commander. 

Gamers are a fickle bunch. We can say all we want about rules, meta, fluff, miniatures, number of factions, support from both the company/manufacturer and the player community, but in the end none of those things matter. Probably because many of those things are subjective. For instance, I think Halo: Fleet Battles has a solid rule set, great backstory, and beautiful miniatures. And I can count on one hand the number of people at my FLGS who play. Firestorm Armada has good rules, good support from the company, decent background, great miniatures, and lots of factions, and I rarely ever see it played locally (unless it's at one of our MBS gaming days).

So, locally, I doubt it will gain any traction. I say this because there are two non-Star Wars fleet games on the shelf at my local hobby store, Firestorm and Halo Fleet Battles, and neither one seems to get hardly any table time that I've seen (although admittedly I'm not in the store every night).

These games obviously catch on in other places, but for some reason they just don't here. I can't figure out why.

[Ryjak]

Start by looking at what games did gain traction.  You'll likely see some commonalities.  People don't play games because it's a "good" game, they play because it's "fun" and "accessible".

[Dakkar]

People don't play games because it's a "good" game, they play because it's "fun" and "accessible".

Or as I think of it, "Gamer's suck" ;-) (Kinda like lamenting that voters suck ...)

It's quite obvious over time that you see mobs running here and there to snatch up "the next big thing", whether X-Wing or Guildball. The stuff that stick longer than 6 months to a year? Those tend to be the actual good games.

I think the actual number of gamers who treasure involved and complex games that also require miniatures assembly and painting has grown only slightly over past decades. It's just that the overall number of gamers, period, has grown - and a larger chunk of those now prefer the "accessible" games. But they're coming from video games and cards, and not a model hobbyist side - so something with a strong IP and no painting like X-Wing is natural crack! Heck, I'm not a painter type, and if I was starting from scratch and all these pre-paints were an option? That's what I'd play!
Mini gamers are also dispersed among a dozen systems now, instead of the old unified under GW situation. So it seems like those who play the games we like are few and far between, when compared to the larger herds.

As I've seen from low points for Malifaux or Warmachine, all it take is a good release push ...a good intro product to draw them in. Taskforce was a nice idea towards that, I just don't think it was well executed (IMHO).

Back to the topic, I think DSC will be even more niche for most. Those models CANNOT be easy to build, they're expensive, and the rules are no doubt as tough as the DZC rules. So while it might balkanize further the "Naval/Sci Fi mini Gamers" , I don't see it dominating anything. If I'm wrong, I'll be extra sad - not just for Spartan, but because I *really* don't find anything appealing in the DZC fluff.

[markymark1970]

Never played Dropzone so not sure how the rules work.  Eagerly awaiting my Dropfleet Commander stuff from the Kickstarter though.  The models look great.  I'll have to read up on the rules and bring them to the Colorado group and see what people think of the rules and miniatures.  Same with all these Star Wars Armada ships I've got. 

At this point, with so many options out there, all you really need is to agree on a common rules set, then everyone bring their favorite ships from whatever system they love, and atomize each other.

[Dakkar]

At this point, with so many options out there, all you really need is to agree on a common rules set, then everyone bring their favorite ships from whatever system they love, and atomize each other.

If Osprey follows their pattern (Frostgrave, Horizon Wars, etc) , they'll no doubt issue an IP-generic space combat game for use with any minis.

If you ever want to play SW Armada at one of the monthly meet-ups, I'm game. I don't own anything, but I've learned the system :-)

[Ruckdog]

That's something I've been keeping my fingers crossed for, as well! I recently picked up Osprey's Fighting Sail rules, and they seem quite good.

[markymark1970]

If you ever want to play SW Armada at one of the monthly meet-ups, I'm game. I don't own anything, but I've learned the system :-)

I'm game, a few others have mentioned it too.  I have yet to try X-Wing.

[Landlubber]

If you ever want to play SW Armada at one of the monthly meet-ups, I'm game. I don't own anything, but I've learned the system :-)

I'm game, a few others have mentioned it too.  I have yet to try X-Wing.

You have yet to try X-Wing?!?!?! Say it isn't so!!!! We may have to have a Star Wars day...

[markymark1970]

Star Wars day sounds like a total plan!