Posts made by FieldMarshalGames

In regards to the Field Marshal Games Pieces Project discussed above, I have started a NEW THREAD for all interested in being a part of this.

Please follow the link and take part in the POLL.

Thanks

Jeremy

Hello All,

This is a continuation of the discussion posted in the following thread: http://www.axisandallies.org/forums/index.php?topic=12929.0

To keep this organized I decided to make a New Thread specific related to this project to keep it on track.

We had been asked by members of the community in the above thread to look into making new game parts for AAA games and AA50 in particular.  We have spent alot of time working on this and have found a factory that is willing to work with us on making these.  We are ready to move forward but the costs are enormous and high enough to sink our small company if the project is not a hit.  The mould cost alone is the biggest challenge and risk as it is very high.  In addition, to do this right and make a set that would be a hit with all AAA players we had to do it BETTER than WOTC and add some new pieces to make it a wider appeal to more players.

Here is what we would like to do:

A COMPLETE set would include over 1000 pcs and have full sets for all six (6) Nations: ITALY, GERMANY, USA, UK, USSR, JAPAN.
Each game part would have a new sculpt and address the quality / quantity and color issues we have discussed in above thread.

Each NATIONAL SET WOULD INCLUDE: (Including ITALY)

26 Infantry
12 Artillery
12 Armour
12 Fighters
9 Bombers
12 Submarines
12 Destroyers
9 Crusiers
6 Battleships
6 Aircraft Carriers
12 Transports
NEW
6 Bunkers / Pill Boxes
3 Commander Units
12 Half tracks
12 Trucks
3 Task Force Markers (Like Pacific)
3 ********* Special Suprise

Each National Set would have 171 pcs, and complete set would have 1026 pcs

Here is the deal;  We aim to at least break even on this one if we go for it.  We are dumping all COMBAT DICE sales into this new project. If there is still interest we will accept PRE-ORDERS to help off-set the costs of this project.  We will ask the community to “put the money where your mouth is” and help get this off the ground as the cost is in the tens of thousands!  If for any reason the project is canceled we will refund these pre-orders 100% and give those involved a “Thank you very much” gift for the trouble.  If we get enough pre-orders to launch the project we will include MORE UNITS to those who, through their patience and support allowed this to happen - at no additional cost of course.

Please complete the POLL above, leave us your comments here and tell your friends! We can gauge the interest in the project and move forward if possible.  I expect (just a quote) that the COMPLETE SET will retail at $59.99 USD.

Thank you for all your support of FMG!

Jeremy

http://www.fieldmarshalgames.com/

I run a game group and we try to do themes.  Eg:  We play Samurai Swords (shogun) and have Saki and Japanese strings in the background.

When it is my turn to pick a game I set the AAA theme with WORLD AT WAR doc running on the TV (mute) and a mix of 40’s music and GI JIVE radio broadcasts.

I know it sounds strange but it makes for a great game day.

FYI: if you want to find these old wartime radio shows check here:
http://www.archive.org/search.php?query=GI%20Jive%20AND%20mediatype%3Aaudio

I have completely sold out of these and drained two other suppliers.  I contacted WOTC and they said there was no initial plans to re-print it!

ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!

This game was so popular I could not keep it on the shelf and I was shipping it all over the world.

They said they were “looking into it” and maybe they would do another run for the Holidays…  WAKE UP PEOPLE…  it is only spring!!!

I guess they don’t like making money OR they are just plain stupid over there.

I have a factory that is willing to do the pieces project for us.  I will be making an announcement this weekend once I have all the details ready.

It’s going to be good……  I promise!

ITALY and CHINA dice will be ready in about a month.  production delays have set us back.

We will be putting all future COMBAT DICE designs on hold for awhile as we are now working on the Pieces project.

http://www.axisandallies.org/forums/index.php?topic=12929.0

I will post here as soon as ITALY and CHINA are ready to ship.

Thanks!

Can’t wait to see pics of this.  I will be AWESOME!

@Shakespeare:

Will the color of the Italian units be a new color?

PLEASE!!!

We will make sure each nation is clearly distinguishable.  I will post colours once they are confirmed.

Once again I would like to thank you all for your aid and your great ideas.

We are getting closer to production, we have found a factory that will make the product for us.  What we need now is the following:

OF THE STANDARD UNITS (ALREADY INCLUDED IN THE GAME).  How many of each type should be included with each nation?

I know the community was upset by the configuration given in the AA50 game (To few Italian INF, to many Russian Carriers etc)

Can you post and try to agree on what this configuration should be for each nation?
Can we try to come to some sort of agreement?

Looking forward to what you can all come up with.

Thanks

We will have our FIRST SAMPLES of the Expansion DICE in a week.  I will post pictures here.  Once I approve samples production and shipping time will be 30 days.

Just wanted to keep you all in the loop.

I have to go with #5 GERMANY WINS AIR WAR OVER BRITAIN

#1, Japan was in need of Rubber and Oil, attacking Russia would not have met any of these needs for her empire.  Also, Japan was already involved in one LAND WAR IN ASIA…  why start another.
#2, This would only have prolonged the conflict in Africa.  Italy never had the military might or industrial output to win a prolonged war with the British empire.
#3, This too would have prolonged the war but USA and UK would try again with thier mas industrial might and command of the seas.  The Russians would still be moving towards Berlin in the East!
#4, This would have been decisive for the Pacific war, atleast in the short term.  But it would not have affected the war in Europe.

#5.  Had Germany WON the Battle of Britain, England would have to surrender under constant bombardment or invasion.  Germany would have gained the British fleet OR it would have been lost to the Allied cause like the French fleet before it.  USA would not have the base of England for operations in Europe and this would have lead to the collapse of the British Empire to the Gain of Russia, Germany, Italy and Japan.

@PelierBay:

yes i will buy these too. I had just bought the other one’s. Will we be able to buy these alone or?

If you already have a set of COMBAT DICE we will offer this expansion to you at a discounted rate.  We will contact all cusotmers with this offer once the DICE are complete.

We will get this off the ground.  Everyone must understand that this is a HUGE process with great deal of expense and risk.  I am reading every post here and I check every day.

Thanks for all the great ideas.

Once I get a decent quote on cost of this project I will finalize the unit types and numbers.

@tin_snips:

@Imperious:

new fighter-bomber plane in 4 new sculpts, except don’t need German or American ( already have stuka and P-38)

so just make a mold from these existing pieces?

For our own Legal protection we can not just “copy” the existing units.  We have to make new sculpts and/or change the existing units in some way so they are unique from the WOTC pieces.  Also we want to make them BETTER than these existing units.

@Black:

IL

Earlier FMG said he was planning on making the following units.

So far I think these should be:

a) The Truck or Half track unit
b) The bunker unit
c) The commander unit
d) The Rocket unit (Maybe… I just think it is cool)
e) Transport Plane
f) Other…Huh (we will all figure this out)

Letter “C” says “The Command Unit”.  This is what I was asking about.  I know what a bunker unit is but not a commander unit.

Personally though, I think bunkers are worthless.  Look how much time and money Germany spent building the Atlantic wall.  And how long did it hold off the allies, one day.

I am not sure if the COMMANDER unit is covered in this forum (Im sure it is somewhere)  There are several expansions (One that I am creating) where you can purchase a COMMANDER.  This unit gives the army attached to it special abilities and access to certain DOCTRINES.

It adds something to the game as WW2 was full of clashing commanders, Rommel - Monty… etc…

If I make the unit I will publish all these ideas at that time.

@dinosaur:

Oh yea, baby!

I got my dice and now I just  got one question …

When will you have Chinese and Aussie dice on the street for AAP.

The dice look great.  I can use my black dice for AA fire, but I want the others ASAP for AAP!

Great job.

ITALY and CHINA dice will be released soon.  Other expansions will follow.

I very happy to hear everyone is enjoying the dice!

Thanks

Hello all,
     I have been watching the thread daily.  Thanks for all the great ideas.  Next weekend I will be meeting with Craig at the Niagara Board Game weekend, there we will go over all these and discuss the best options.

I appreciate all the help being given here and EVERY idea is a good one, unfortunately…  I am not a millionaire so we will have to keep the scale of the first Edition within reason and cost limits.

My Goal so far is the following:  (I am still working with factory on cost)

1. To make a FULL set for each Nation in AA50.  Better quality and greater quantity than provided in the stock game.  These can fully replace the stock units OR complement them.

2. To add two additional colors for expansions ie; BLUE for France and one other color with general sculpts to be used as Neutrals or other nation as required by expansion.

3. To add some new SPECIAL Expansion units to the game.  “Why would some one buy this?” Something new will give the set greater appeal to the general public and and help pay of the cost of the production investment.

So far I think these should be:

a) The Truck or Half track unit
b) The bunker unit
c) The commander unit
d) The Rocket unit (Maybe… I just think it is cool)
e) Transport Plane
f) Other…??? (we will all figure this out)

This list is not final.  But after reading the entire thread this is my starting point…  which I am sure will evolve.

Makes sense to me.  The start date for European theater and Pacific theater are slightly off on the first turn.  For the purpose of balance and to give the first turn the feel of the Axis Blitz of 41.

These are all GREAT ideas!  We are going to boil them down to a set in a week or so after everyone has had their say.

Does anyone have any sculpts for these units?  (All sculpts/ models will be returned after production)

Thanks

@LT04:

Comment about legal issues:

A good friend of mine is a lawyer that specilizes in business / corperate law.  When I presented our case (pun intended) he said look at what the company Mad Catz does with Nintendo Wii, Microsoft X-Box 360 and Sony Playstation.

They simply make “tools” that work with those systems that the owning companies do not.  They don’t pretend to the official company they got there logo’s stamped all over their products.

He also said the same goes for aftermarket parts for vehicles.  He reminded me of what my company did this year.  My company wanted to buy fog light upgrades for 6 new Toyota Tundra’s we bought this year.  Toyota doesn’t make any such kit.  You get it from the factory with or without them.

We purchased aftermarket kits through a local Toyota dealer and they installed them.

Long post short:  You / we just can’t come across like we are the official Avalon Hill / WOTC / Harris Game Design groups.  We have to clearly state that we are (or Field Marshal Games in this case) is who they are and are not pretending to be another legal entity.

LT

Thanks for looking into this for us.  It was a big help.  Being “the little guy” I dont want to kill this company on one product.  I have also been advised that you can use the term “for (Enter product here)” and you are safe.

Also you can’t use any copyright LOGOs, art work etc…

My mind is being set at ease.  I am excited to get moving on this.