Pointless Views: Are You Playing With Yourself?
September 27, 2019 by warzan
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To answer the Topic: yes and no. And that’s all I have to say for now. Let the video commence!
*sigh* half way through and the video is buffering again like there is no tomorrow… But to answer the first one (and a half) question: If Warlord does not do it the GW way (passing players on to clubs) but incorporate other manufactures and provide hobby space I think it’s a win. And I really can only think of one miniature game that I would want to play that officially supports single player play and that is Fallout. Every other miniature game is two players. On board games it seems to be more common and I think it is a… Read more »
On Apps in single player formats: I don’t mind apps for that as long as there is an equal way to do it offline since one day every piece of software will stop working. But dice and tokens are “forever”.
Brexit Last Order. Crisps. Seriously. I love salt & vinegar crisps and no German manufacturer seems to get it right. I import a big box of them every now and again via Amazon… but if I had to think of something I’m with Justins dilemma: it’s not out yet. Skyrim from Modiphius.
Great show, will watch again! 😉
You know…the point about the app going away someday, is something everybody should be much more aware of. I think even (some of) the game companies that makes these apps, often don’t think about that. How their game can risk becoming ‘obsolete’, cause technology moved on to different platforms or was ‘updated’ so much your game can no longer run on it. I don’t think (some) game companies take into account the amount of upkeep and maintenance they have to do.
A lot of computer-based and/or digital elements from previous decades are still kept going now through the use of mods, emulators and the community. I’m sure that for a lot of app-based games there are going to be people who move the programs from mobile/tablet platforms to PC and the like in the future if it’s needed to keep playing the game.
Whilst I think that they need to consider the continued support of a product to keep it moving, I think if a game has a good enough community behind it there’s no real risk of it completely vanishing.
Key word here being “a lot” and not “all”. Yes, a lot is kept alive but not everything. And every “app-less” game continues to work after it’s OOP.
Yes agreed. But I think you nailed it…it requires a ‘big enough/dedicated’ community to ensure that. And that is in no way guaranteed. I don’t think it’s an argument against making apps. I am very much for apps. I just want people (including the creators) to be aware of this.
I would also be concerned about the longevity of an app. It fundamentally changes the nature of a game, especially solo play games and self contained games, if a part of it can effectively vanish and perhaps make the whole game defunct. Worse, the potential for it to vanish is somewhat random. For example, i have had some very good and useful apps (add-ons) on Firefox that simply stopped working over night because the latest version of Firefox did not support them in some way or other. Sometimes this was recoverable, but sometimes the app would have needed rebuilding from… Read more »
To add to the store conversation. So if Warlord does open a store, they do run the risk of local shops not carrying their product. Warhammer opened in locally a few years back, and now every gaming store in a 10 miles radius only carries paints. So you have drive halfway across town to find any Warhammer product.
That being said. In my area very few stores carry Warlord items. So they do have a chance to really do well.
Is that the independents’ decision or Games Workshops’?
They made the call as the proximity killed their sales. It wasn’t worth the shelf space and cost. Better to have things that sell on the shelf.
Now I rarely see people play at these stores.
Everyone plays at the warhammer store or locations a good distance away.
I want a few topics discussed over the coming weeks; 1) Campaigns – how many campaigns ever go the distance? How many games get played or at least get played before the campaign tetters out? Years ago I played out Bloodbath at Rorkes Drift, The tragedy of McDeath and The Grudge of Drong. Since then I’ve been in a dozen campaigns (in a number of systems; Necromunda, 40K, Warhammer, Hail Caesar, AOS, Saga,) all of which have died before finishing. How do people get them to go the distance? 2) Scale – the bulk of roleplay and wargamming seems to… Read more »
Excellent Topics! Thanks so much for these @horus500 🙂
@horus500 I can answer point 2 If your not,you should be ?
If you want to get into the reason why petrol stations, card shops, take-aways end up beside each other look at how economists have applied the Median Voter Hypothesis to spatial modelling – really fascinating stuff especially when it predicts that things like congestion charges, high price of car parking will lead to great number of businesses, rather than less. In terms of High Street, the location of GW Belfast, hidden at the back of Castle Court was shit – unless there were other reasons for GW to pick it like Gerry said. Last time I was in Belfast and… Read more »
I play with myself, for hours and hours on end, and enjoy it very much :p Not ashamed about it at all. Here’s a few examples. I currently have 3 campaigns going with KD:M. 2 with groups and one with myself. All 3 are very fun, and all 3 very different. I play 2 campaigns of Gloomhaven, 1 with a group and 1 with myself. Escape the Dark Castle, Massive Darkness, Stuffed Fables, Silver Tower…all games I’ve played solo. And these are just a few on my long long list Hell I even have The Solo Wargaming Guide. For me… Read more »
To answer what I have to snag before Brexit: Kings of War 3rd edition from Mantic.
Though I am not a Backstage member / Cultist – and so have not seen the video you are responding to here – and should like to add my support for the Solo Gamers amongst us in the On Table Top / Beasts of War community. A good Solo-Play Option for a boardgame and, hopefully, for miniature wargames, should become the absolute “must be included” Industry Standard for a new – and old – game. I have been in the hobby since 2006, collected, assembled and painted hundreds of models for Lord of the Rings, Warhammer Fantasy and 40k –… Read more »
I have something in the works concerning the topic (solo play). Now if I could only listen to the podcast. Please add the audio version, guys.
Assigned soon, apologies.
Thanks, mate.
All this talk of playing with myself reminds me of a joke…
Why did the sperm cross the road? I put the wrong sock on this morning.
Also I can also say with certainty that I still have 20/20 vision and don’t have hairy palms… those priests and their silly myths!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Thanks for the laugh Rob 🙂
@lloyd – I got a box of the Fireforge Living Dead Peasants this week from a shop in England. They are out in the wild you can get them now! They are lovely and going to grace my KOW army!
It took until nearly 46 minutes for @Lloyd to hit the nail on the head – a “video” game is a game you look at on a screen (the clue is in the name “video” game). So a tabletop game that uses a supplementary app isn’t a video game. However, @warzan immediately followed up with a very good point: the moment you have a computer being the opponent, the entire game can be created digitally. Last Xmas I took part in the Space Hulk Challenge and created a hybrid game, complete with sensors for detecting movement, and took time off… Read more »
I bought Kingdom Death: Monster purely to play by myself. At the time of the 1.5 kickstarter it looked like I was going to have to move to a new location so I would not be able to keep going to my gaming club. Combined with two young children I thought it was my best chance of keeping some form of gaming going. My 2018 resolution was to play through the game campaign once and over about ten months I played one evening per week and got as far as defeating the Watcher. I plan to play it again next… Read more »
On the subject of apps – I haven’t played a game that uses one. The prospect of one relating the story to me seems pointless. I’d prefer to read a book and look at artwork in a book. Any decision or tracking the app may do can be replaced by shuffling cards into deck or similar mechanics. Where I would use an app is purely to help with record keeping. When I played Kingdom Death: Monster solo I was spending about one hour of each session updating settlement and character sheets and tracking equipment. In the end it was one… Read more »
I have a small thing to say about physical stores compared to online stores and this comes from the owner from our local store.
He sells more in his physical store then he does on his online store.
People who come in the store searching for something and it is not in stock won’t necessarily go to the online store to buy. And people come in to buy something they want and might buy some extra things they weren’t planning on.
I do have to be honest and mostly buy online also because most games I play aren’t sold in my region.
I think Warlord opening stores is good thing. The highstreet is domininated by GW and its IPs. Warlord will bring historicals plus its various licenced IPs to the fore as well, it opens up a whole otherside to what is available and puts it in lin eof sight of random shoppers.
As an IT engineer of 20yrs+ experience…. keep computers off my tabletop! Last thing I want to do is come home, unwind only for it to break mid-game and have to go into “work mode” and fix the damn thing.
Brexit last orders?
Vallejo / Mig / Scale 75 paints
Gamer Grass tufts
I have to agree the opening stores for Warlord could be a bad move. I would advocate placing money to building a better online presence. Rebuild the web site, do more online video, create and build a community through a revamped multi media site which is dedicated to content. Make it a site much like OTT where people visit and stay. The high street model is failing and online is the new king, backed up by an army of great content. I’ve been hired by my company to do this going into 2020, I’m looking a new blog site, 360… Read more »
I mostly play against myself. I always loose. I am definitely very tough.
I played Rangers of Shadow Deep solo and I found it thrilling. It was great.
Now I wonder wether I will enjoy the new Frostgrave solo.
I like the random card events and the random hints. I use to improve the AI concerning the evil creatures by applying just common sense or adding an obvious caracter trait: aggressive, cautious..
The narrative is influenced by myself and corresponds to “my story”. Random events just gives it a bit of spice.
I don’t like apps in games,never have,never will.The inclusion of an app is the reason i don’t own the X-Com game and why i never backed ToL:Destinies.I don’t need an app to help immerse me in a game,the games artwork,subject matter,setting,cool heroes and evil villians are all i need to help me along on the journey of having as much fun as possible destroying/backstabbing/defeating my friends,regardless of whether i win the game or not.Will i be missing out on some good games because of my ” no apps ” stance…very probably yes,but would they still be good games without an… Read more »
Stand-alone FLGS are struggling on several fronts. Rents/rates, online competition etc. I think the Warlord/Mythicos model is an interesting proposition as log as they get the right value proposition that differentiates them from GW/Warhammer stores. Yes, the franchise model is also attractive.
Economies of scale from central purchasing (and pricing), rent negotiation etc gives it a chance.
Other Value propositions should include:
– centralised click-and-collect ordering service
– organised play
– local game community support
Thanks for the shout out, guys. I have added a list of manufacturers from the EU for all the Brits to get what they ‘need’ before B-Day.
I will have something to add to the solo play stuff soon(TM). Imho there is a lot of potential for companies.
I think Warlord should team up with other manufacturers that complement their line. More stores can’t be a bad thing.
To Stock up
Polystyrene cement with a brush applicator. I have about 4 years supply ( I sh1t you not).
you can buy it from chemical suppliers in bulk and refill your bottle. dichloromethane or methylene chloride
its crackerjack oops wrong decade
you win a cabbage
Lol
is it not management mandate to jump for straws look at the film studios if a space film is coming out before its out a second similar one appears form a rival.
You are in Europe as well!
We only will be part of the EU while you will leave the EU (maybe)!
But you will never leave Europe. Sorry guys
We wont let you down 😉
the best thing about playing solo play console/PC games is you can always win you ether win or if its hit the fan and everything is dyeing you can switch it off ?
You have to keep in mind your talking from the pointed view of UK in North America thing could be different