Maksim's Blog: |
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MaksimSmelchak
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Post subject: Maksim's Blog:  Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2005 9:05 am |
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PLANETFALL: Playtest game - 15 November 2005
Hi Guys,
Today I ran a short playtest scenario earlier today (15 November 2005) using Planetfall through a game module for Traveller that I designed. My friend Dean and I playtested a short encounter between four Imperial grav tanks facing eight Zhodani warbots. It was fun
and the game system worked out really well. We managed to play five turns in about an hour, which was remarkably good considering I was teaching him along the way.
I'm still mastering my digital camera (and a new computer as well), but I'll try to take photos for the gang.
The game is just shaping up wonderfully and I've gotten support from so many different sources... other gamers, my local community, my local gaming clubs, miniature manufacturers, science fiction license
holders, etc., etc.
I think that I can have the game adequately playtested and published by April 2006 if not sooner.
I'll be concentrating my efforts towards finishing the "Planetfall" rules and developing the "Planetfall - Traveller" game module.
I'll be writing up a more detailed battle report for the playtester's forum and hope to have it posted before the end of the day on 16 November 2005.
Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.
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MaksimSmelchak
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Post subject: Maksim's Blog: Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2005 9:08 am |
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| Quote (primarch @ 16 Nov. 2005 (01:32)) | Hi!
But Maksim, does it REALLY matter? DO you really NEED so called "official" support?
Why let the effort go to waste if Fanatic/GW doesnt care?
I dont understand this. If you like Epic A, test the list, complete it and make it available.
People WILL dowload them and use them.
Primarch |
Hi Primarch,
I guess I'm just in a negative loop about E-A. Losing Chern to E-A pessimism has really hurt. He was my primary gaming partner for E-A and it stinks that he is so disheartened with SG. He won't even play it any more.
The bad part about the lack of official support is that without official support, we don't get any more minis.
Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.
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MaksimSmelchak
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Post subject: Maksim's Blog: Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2005 9:11 am |
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| Quote (wargame_insomniac @ 15 Nov. 2005 (19:37)) | Maksim,
I hope your pessimism is unfounded. But I can't say for sure!!
Wish you good luck with Planetfall. And I hope that in time your efforts on the 'Nid list will bear fruition.
Cheers,
James. |
Hi James,
I hope that my pessimism is unfounded as well.
And I'm very happy with the 'Nid list as is although it needs more development.
Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.
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Mojarn Piett
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Post subject: Maksim's Blog: Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2005 9:12 am |
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But Maksim, does it REALLY matter? DO you really NEED so called "official" support?
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No, but I think that when doing things like this it is important to know _what_ exactly is it you are doing. Are you doing an official list (with all the limitations coming with such work) OR purely a fan list where you have greater freedom. That will pretty much set the overall direction of the list.
EDIT: Great news on the planetfall.  My apologies for still not having contacted you on the subject, I have had a REAL bad case of RealLife? attack including, but not limited to, changing my car (and spending several years' mini budgets on that), our baby catching cold (= no sleep), the preparations for our daughter's birthday and the war bunker project. 
_________________
I don't know and I let who care. -J.S.
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MaksimSmelchak
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Post subject: Maksim's Blog: Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2005 9:14 am |
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| Quote (Dwarf Supreme @ 15 Nov. 2005 (18:49)) | Maksim,
I'm sorrry to hear that you have become disheartened, but it is perfectly understandable. Not getting a response from the powers that be at SG is disconcerting. I can certainly see why you would rather expend your creative energy on Planetfall. |
Hi DS,
I don't know what to say. It's been about a month or more... possibly two months since I last wrote SG. That's a long time and I intentionally don't think about it so I won't dwell on it.
I don't feel that I'm out of line to expect an E-mail response from them for a project I work on them out of my own generosity. I don't get paid for my work on that list and the most compensation I can expect is possibly a free copy of the book.
I just don't know what to think.
Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.
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MaksimSmelchak
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Post subject: Maksim's Blog: Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2005 9:20 am |
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| Quote (Mojarn Piett @ 16 Nov. 2005 (08:12)) | No, but I think that when doing things like this it is important to know _what_ exactly is it you are doing.
*** Are you doing an official list (with all the limitations coming with such work) OR purely a fan list where you have greater freedom? ***
That will pretty much set the overall direction of the list.
EDIT: Great news about "Planetfall." ? My apologies for still not having contacted you on the subject, I have had a REAL bad case of RealLife? attack including, but not limited to, changing my car (and spending several years' mini budgets on that), our baby catching cold (= no sleep), the preparations for our daughter's birthday and the war bunker project! |
Hi Mojarn,
I was doing an "official" list, but it looks like it is turning into a fan list. If it does turn into a fan list, I'm throwing out all the useless constraints that the 40k committee has imposed on me. We'll have Trygons if I make a fan list.
Thanks for the congrats regarding "Planetfall." I'm very pleased with the project. I think it's going to be a great success.
I absolutely understand anout REALLY bad cases of RealLife? attacking. I've had a few lately myself.
The "war bunker" project is your hobby room, right?
It's been awhile since we last chatted and I can't remember what the "war bunker" project is anymore.
I'm a few Beetleback Titans away from finishing your project... must get motivated... 
Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.
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Steve54
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Post subject: Maksim's Blog: Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2005 9:23 am |
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In Sheffield we have a group of 4-6 epic players who play every monday at the GW Gaming centre. Between us we can field Codex SM, IG, Siege, Tyranid, Ork, Black Templar, White Scar, Speed Freek, OGBM, AMTL, Eldar and Chaos armies. On the night that we play epic is the dominant system in the centre.
I have increasingly come to feel that all our group needs from GW is the Gaming centre that we play at.
This website is now the centre of Epic armageddon as far as I am concerned.
The debate and playtesting in conjunction with the army champions on this site provide such a firm basis for army development that I see no need for studio support - whatever the tyranid, tau, eldar and L&D forums produce on this site I would regard as official. We use our own rules - the EA rules with the 'experimental' rules which have been playtested by the Epic community but the studio show no signs of officially adopting and we will use the army lists developed on this site regardless of whether they are officially supported.
I would urge you not to lose heart - we don't need GW - of course I would like to see more minis but I'm not holding my breath, we have the epic community which appreciates and values the development the army champions spearhead and is perfectly capable of taking epic forward.
NetEA anyone?
_________________
www.epic-uk.co.uk
NetEA NetERC Human Lists Chair
NetEA Chaos + Black Legion Champion
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Great!
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I don't know and I let who care. -J.S.
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MaksimSmelchak
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Post subject: Maksim's Blog: Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2005 4:16 pm |
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Hi Steve,
| Quote (Steve54 @ 16 Nov. 2005 (08:23)) | | In Sheffield we have a group of 4-6 epic players who play every monday at the GW Gaming centre. Between us we can field Codex SM, IG, Siege, Tyranid, Ork, Black Templar, White Scar, Speed Freek, OGBM, AMTL, Eldar and Chaos armies. On the night that we play epic is the dominant system in the centre. |
That sounds great. Imagine that too... the "dead" game filling the hall!
| Quote (Steve54 @ 16 Nov. 2005 (08:23)) | | I have increasingly come to feel that all our group needs from GW is the Gaming centre that we play at. |
I understand how you feel, but I don't want to feel that way.
I signed on to help make E-A a success and I don't want GW to make bad decisions and become the bad guy. I guess I want to believe. They're not helping either.
| Quote (Steve54 @ 16 Nov. 2005 (08:23)) | | This website is now the centre of Epic armageddon as far as I am concerned. |
I've felt that way for a long time now.
Iain's Epicomms is the "PLACE" to be an Epic fan.
| Quote (Steve54 @ 16 Nov. 2005 (08:23)) | | The debate and playtesting in conjunction with the army champions on this site provide such a firm basis for army development that I see no need for studio support - whatever the tyranid, tau, eldar and L&D forums produce on this site I would regard as official. We use our own rules - the EA rules with the 'experimental' rules which have been playtested by the Epic community but the studio show no signs of officially adopting and we will use the army lists developed on this site regardless of whether they are officially supported. |
I can see this.
| Quote (Steve54 @ 16 Nov. 2005 (08:23)) | | I would urge you not to lose heart - we don't need GW - of course I would like to see more minis but I'm not holding my breath, we have the epic community which appreciates and values the development the army champions spearhead and is perfectly capable of taking epic forward. |
Minis? You mentioned it, but we can't produce minis with GW owning the license. And that's the hold-up for a fan project moving beyond free material... We can't make minis for profit and making minis otherwise is tough. Minis are not cheap to make.
| Quote (Steve54 @ 16 Nov. 2005 (08:23)) | | *** "Net E-A" anyone? *** |
Don't let Primarch hear that one. His inner anarchist is always looking for an excuse to get out! LOL
Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.
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Dwarf Supreme
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Post subject: Maksim's Blog: Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2005 4:21 pm |
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| Quote (Steve54 @ 16 Nov. 2005 (08:23)) | I would urge you not to lose heart - we don't need GW - of course I would like to see more minis but I'm not holding my breath, we have the epic community which appreciates and values the development the army champions spearhead and is perfectly capable of taking epic forward.
NetEA anyone? |
I echo Steve's sentiment. We only need GW for minis, and even then, who knows what other companies will produce in the future that will serve as reasonable proxies.
NetE:A... it's not a matter of "if", but rather "when." I believe there is enough interest to support it when GW inevitably cans E:A. Keeping that in mind, any work done on a Nid fan list really isn't wasted effort, at least in the long run.
Maksim, congrats on the success with Planetfall so far.
_________________
"I don't believe in destiny or the guiding hand of fate." N. Peart
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Legion 4
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Post subject: Maksim's Blog: Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2005 4:35 pm |
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The way things are going for E:A ... it has "Morphed" into NetEpic ! F/Orks in Feb '06, based on Jervis's e-email to me, will be "telling" ... a portent of things to come ... IMO the F/Orks will be tha last E:A Army released ... after that ... maybe a piece here and there ... Maybe F/W will make a few odds & ends. But IMO ... NetE:A is 'ere !
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Legion 4 "Cry Havoc, and let slip the Dogs of War !" ... "People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."
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MaksimSmelchak
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Post subject: Maksim's Blog: Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2005 4:40 pm |
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Hi DS,
| Quote (Dwarf Supreme @ 16 Nov. 2005 (15:21)) | | Quote (Steve54 @ 16 Nov. 2005 (08:23)) | I would urge you not to lose heart - we don't need GW - of course I would like to see more minis but I'm not holding my breath, we have the epic community which appreciates and values the development the army champions spearhead and is perfectly capable of taking epic forward.
NetEA anyone? |
I echo Steve's sentiment. We only need GW for minis, and even then, who knows what other companies will produce in the future that will serve as reasonable proxies. |
Yes, but proxies are not a specific mini line set out to support a game.
My new game "Planetfall" will be near unique in the I'm pitching a game without a specific mini line to support it. There are others, of course, but noone is setting out a plan quite like I am undertaking.
We'll see what happens.
Generally speaking, rule books without supporting mini lines have not done well in the gaming / entertainment market.
That's one of the reasons why my initial goal is to break even. Trying to guess what a profit margin could be is very problematical in this position.
| Quote (Dwarf Supreme @ 16 Nov. 2005 (15:21)) | | NetE:A... it's not a matter of "if", but rather "when." I believe there is enough interest to support it when GW inevitably cans E:A. Keeping that in mind, any work done on a 'Nid fan list really isn't wasted effort, at least in the long run. |
You guys, are right, of course.
I suppose that I just don't want to face up to GW canning Epic. I want to have faith. They just keep letting me down though. I suppose that my expectations of SG, GW and E-A have been unrealistic. I may be expecting too much of them. I really don't want to believe that though.
| Quote (Dwarf Supreme @ 16 Nov. 2005 (15:21)) | | Maksim, congrats on the success with Planetfall so far! ? |
Thanks!
However, I know better than to count the birds in the bush as ones in my hand yet. PF still has a lot of playtesting and development to undergo before it will be ready for publication.
Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.
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primarch
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Post subject: Maksim's Blog: Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2005 8:29 pm |
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| Quote (Dwarf Supreme @ 16 Nov. 2005 (10:21)) | | Quote (Steve54 @ 16 Nov. 2005 (08:23)) | I would urge you not to lose heart - we don't need GW - of course I would like to see more minis but I'm not holding my breath, we have the epic community which appreciates and values the development the army champions spearhead and is perfectly capable of taking epic forward.
NetEA anyone? |
I echo Steve's sentiment. We only need GW for minis, and even then, who knows what other companies will produce in the future that will serve as reasonable proxies.
NetE:A... it's not a matter of "if", but rather "when." I believe there is enough interest to support it when GW inevitably cans E:A. Keeping that in mind, any work done on a Nid fan list really isn't wasted effort, at least in the long run.
Maksim, congrats on the success with Planetfall so far. ? ? |
Hi!
Its been a peculiar thing, that while lots of people like the idea of a "netepic" sort of movement, none besides the one that already exists has sprouted up.
Why?
It was mentioned for epic 40k, but never materialized. It is mentioned for Epic A, yet I see no real effort for it to be made. It seems there is a paralysis or lethargy waiting to see what GW/Fanatic does with it.
What does it take for everyone to realize that Epic A HAS BEEN DUMPED. Sorry for the shout, but really, isnt it obvious already that beyond Jervis (and even he has been scarce lately) DOES NOT CARE.
What does it take for Net-Epic A to be born? Does anyone care? Who will lead it? Where will it go?
Mind you such a project is not as easy as some think. It takes commitment, organization and long term strategic planning. But its not impossible.
There are WAAAY more people now creating and playtesting Epic A than when NetEpic was created. In that sense you have a LOT of work already done.
Yet no one steps up to the plate.
Why?
Seriously I'd like to know, WHY?
Primarch
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