Well now, aren't THOSE interesting.
10 tanks vs. 10 tanks, and a set of rules... There's some fresh thinking!
(Of course, I'm not sure how happy I'd be facing 10 Panthers with 10 T-34/85s. Rather have 20 T-34/85s. Or thirty. Sixty? Can't have too many.
New Item: Battle Box
Moderators: dnichols, GHQ, Mk 1
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Mk 1
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New Item: Battle Box
-Mark 1
Difficile est, saturam non scribere.
"It is hard NOT to write satire." - Decimus Iunius Juvenalis, 1st Century AD
Difficile est, saturam non scribere.
"It is hard NOT to write satire." - Decimus Iunius Juvenalis, 1st Century AD
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ACWBill
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Battle Boxes
These are exactly .80 below the price you would pay for buying 10 Shermans and 10 Panthers straight from the catalogue.
"I was worse scared than I was at Shiloh" - Sam Watkins
Perryville, KY - October 8, 1862
Perryville, KY - October 8, 1862
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tstockton
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IMHO, a big step in the right direction! It's the kind of packaging that should generate more point of purchase sales to the "uninitiated" and curious... and thus, get more recruits for our fine hobby!
My two cents worth...
Regards,
Tom Stockton
My two cents worth...
Regards,
Tom Stockton
"Well, I've been to one World's Fair, a picnic, and a rodeo, and that's the stupidest thing I ever heard come over a set of earphones. You sure you got today's codes?"
-- Major T. J. "King" Kong in "Dr. Strangelove"
-- Major T. J. "King" Kong in "Dr. Strangelove"
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Rusty
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An interesting buy indead. I saw those and got me thinking a great idea for someone that is looking at getting into the hobby. I would say that maybe (Bit rusty on the rules) but 10 Pz IV would have been a better box with either the T-34/85 or just T-34's
Either way a great idea GHQ. (Of to ponder what to purchase)
Either way a great idea GHQ. (Of to ponder what to purchase)
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dougeagle
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I wish I had known earlier about the PanzerIV vs Shermans as I just recently bought 10 Panzer IV's and 10 Shermans. 
But, I do want some Panthers, but wish that the T-34's were more of the T-34/76 for the earlier portion of the Eastern Front and not the later period with the T-34/85's. Oh well, still a great idea though.
But, I do want some Panthers, but wish that the T-34's were more of the T-34/76 for the earlier portion of the Eastern Front and not the later period with the T-34/85's. Oh well, still a great idea though.
Doug
A goal is not always meant to be reached, it often serves simply as something to aim at.
Bruce Lee
A goal is not always meant to be reached, it often serves simply as something to aim at.
Bruce Lee
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Hauptmann6
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madDdog67
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I just ordered the Sherman/PzKIV one...along with 2 combat commands, and a bunch of other stuff. It made it easier just to add that to the shopping cart instead of doing it the other way.
I agree that the packaging is very attractive to someone who's new to the hobby, especially since you get rules as well. Since it's self contained, you don't have to buy anything else just to get a taste of what GHQ and the miniatures hobby in general have to offer.
It made it easier just to add that to the shopping cart instead of doing it the other way. I agree that the packaging is very attractive to someone who's new to the hobby, especially since you get rules as well. Since it's self contained, you don't have to buy anything else just to get a taste of what GHQ and the miniatures hobby in general have to offer.
"Life springs from death, and from the graves of patriot men and women spring live nations."
Patrick H. Pearse
Patrick H. Pearse
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8ball
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Didn't someone suggest this or something like it, in the "Using GHQ with FOW" thread?
It's a good idea, but proper marketing is the key. I'd take a closer look at creative pricing. Many people have "magic" barriers for their purchases which often occur at the $10 breaks. $35 + $5 S&H is $40. It's a tried and true constant in price marketing that $39.99 looks like a lot less than $40. $34.99 looks like a whole lot less. I know this is how it is with me. My wife asks how much I spent, and "thirty-something-or-other" is a lot easier to explain away than "fourty-something-or-other."
Assuming that these are intro sets designed to grow the hobby, then a more aggressive pricing package might be a good idea. Instead of starting high, and end up sitting on a bunch of overstock, why not set the intro price at the lowest possible level? What's the worst that could happen? That you sell out in a few days, and get up to your eyeballs in back-orders? Not only would this keep the staff busy, but the more sets sold, the greater the number of new customers. If orders are strong, simply apply the law of supply and demand, to creap the price up to a more profitable level.
Simply speaking, you don't want to kill a good idea with a price that's too high.
It's a good idea, but proper marketing is the key. I'd take a closer look at creative pricing. Many people have "magic" barriers for their purchases which often occur at the $10 breaks. $35 + $5 S&H is $40. It's a tried and true constant in price marketing that $39.99 looks like a lot less than $40. $34.99 looks like a whole lot less. I know this is how it is with me. My wife asks how much I spent, and "thirty-something-or-other" is a lot easier to explain away than "fourty-something-or-other."
Assuming that these are intro sets designed to grow the hobby, then a more aggressive pricing package might be a good idea. Instead of starting high, and end up sitting on a bunch of overstock, why not set the intro price at the lowest possible level? What's the worst that could happen? That you sell out in a few days, and get up to your eyeballs in back-orders? Not only would this keep the staff busy, but the more sets sold, the greater the number of new customers. If orders are strong, simply apply the law of supply and demand, to creap the price up to a more profitable level.
Simply speaking, you don't want to kill a good idea with a price that's too high.
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Rusty
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Yes most people probably do collect only one side, but if you are like me with a shortage of gamers it can help to have two sides, especially if you are looking at introducing gamers to this hobby.
To be honest i dont think that they are following the GW principle, ok yes GW have the boxed sets but why shouldnt GHQ especially for those looking at getting into the game, two freinds could buy the box together one takes the Germans the other Russians for example. These box sets provide a fast way for new people to get into Micro Armour.
As for better stats i think that GHQ has better game mechanics and in most cases keeps it fair and Historical, so it remains Historical. They have developed a nice set of rules which some people may say their not to their liking but they are to me.
So i still say good on GHQ for doing what they have done
To be honest i dont think that they are following the GW principle, ok yes GW have the boxed sets but why shouldnt GHQ especially for those looking at getting into the game, two freinds could buy the box together one takes the Germans the other Russians for example. These box sets provide a fast way for new people to get into Micro Armour.
As for better stats i think that GHQ has better game mechanics and in most cases keeps it fair and Historical, so it remains Historical. They have developed a nice set of rules which some people may say their not to their liking but they are to me.
So i still say good on GHQ for doing what they have done
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Xveers
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Some of GW's marketing practices are quite smart. After all, if they didn't work they wouldn't be here. I think the concept of selling small battle boxes like this is an excellent way to get people into the game, as it gives a purchaser a pair of small forces to play and experiment with as well as a force they can loan to other interested players to get them hooked.
This is particularily important for less well known games like microarmor (I'm comparing them to such giants as GW and D&D, where just about every gamer knows of someone else who plays or a group that plays).
This is particularily important for less well known games like microarmor (I'm comparing them to such giants as GW and D&D, where just about every gamer knows of someone else who plays or a group that plays).
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8ball
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I agree with X-man. GW and FoW are the pack leaders. Certainly their model is not going to work with everything. But they sure have been able to take it for a ride.
Hey cama, it was probably your post that I remember regarding the Battle Boxes.
The wierd thing is that I haven't seen any kind of promotion outside of this forum. How ya gonna grow the hobby and hook new players when the only ones who know about these things are us old curmudgins(sp)? I check in on The Miniatures Page every day. I see all sorts of Mom & Pop businesses hawking their latest releases. I never see a GHQ comment promo. As a matter of fact, lately I've seen a lot of coverage for that Odzial Ozmy guy showing his 1/600 scale stuff. I think it's a free service, isn't it?
Aw. What the heck do I know.
Hey cama, it was probably your post that I remember regarding the Battle Boxes.
The wierd thing is that I haven't seen any kind of promotion outside of this forum. How ya gonna grow the hobby and hook new players when the only ones who know about these things are us old curmudgins(sp)? I check in on The Miniatures Page every day. I see all sorts of Mom & Pop businesses hawking their latest releases. I never see a GHQ comment promo. As a matter of fact, lately I've seen a lot of coverage for that Odzial Ozmy guy showing his 1/600 scale stuff. I think it's a free service, isn't it?
Aw. What the heck do I know.
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Mk 1
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I applaud the battle boxes as a concept.
Yes, many gamers will want to focus their collecting on one side of a given conflict. They are already served by other GHQ offerings. If you want to kick-start the process of collecting an army, buy a Combat Command. I have been collecting GHQ micros for more than 30 years, and yet when I wanted to start building an Italian force just over a year ago I started with a combat command.
The issue here is giving new prospective players a running start at the hobby. When I started (oh so long ago), I had to collect both sides of the conflict I wanted to game (WW2 Eastern Front). I didn't know a circle of micro-armor gamers that I could just plug in to. I had to develop my own opponents. Ever walk up to someone with half a chess set, and them if they want to play? No. You want to get a friend to join you in a new game, you have to give that person some playing pieces.
When I started playing cold war scenarios I also had to collect both sides. If I want to play modern scenarios of current hot-spots I don't know how I would ever put together a game with only USMC. So I have USMC, French reaction forces, 3rd World African forces, Middle-Eastern Arab forces, and Chinese forces.
I think providing units on both sides, with rules, is a good idea. Someone else does it too? Not a problem. Nothing wrong with learning from others in the industry. Besides, no one else does it in 1/285th / 6mm, do they?
But ... I think the idea can still use some refinement. I think a battle box would be better if it was more like the sample packs or combat commands than the unit packs. Not meaning it should be a random draw (as the sample packs are described). But that it should be a mixed force.
OK, for a Battle Box to be an "introductory" kit we want to keep it to tanks only? Fine. Still, rather than 10 T-34/85s vs. 10 Panthers, it would be better to have 5 T-34/85s, 2 IS-2s, 2 ISU-152s, and a BA-64, versus 2 Panthers, 3 Pz IVHs, 3 StuGs, a Nashorn and an SdKfz 234. Or something like that. Add some spice to the first-time gamer's experience!
It would do well if they were organized to match a scenario that was included with the game rules, based on the 1-to-5 (1-to-platoon?) game scale of the GHQ rules. The TacNews issues have some very interesting and well written articles. Continuing on the example above, a TacNews-like description of a campaign (like Bagration) could be provided. Then a specific fictionalized (or factual) scenario, like "Tank Clash on the Road to Minsk, June, 1944" or some such, could become the basis of the Battle Box, with all the tanks for both sides, per the scenario, provided.
With this, the newbie can play a meaningful game with what comes in his box. He has his background, his scenario, his rules, and his gaming pieces.
I would consider that to be a very cool way to give gamers a running start in the hobby.
Yes, many gamers will want to focus their collecting on one side of a given conflict. They are already served by other GHQ offerings. If you want to kick-start the process of collecting an army, buy a Combat Command. I have been collecting GHQ micros for more than 30 years, and yet when I wanted to start building an Italian force just over a year ago I started with a combat command.
The issue here is giving new prospective players a running start at the hobby. When I started (oh so long ago), I had to collect both sides of the conflict I wanted to game (WW2 Eastern Front). I didn't know a circle of micro-armor gamers that I could just plug in to. I had to develop my own opponents. Ever walk up to someone with half a chess set, and them if they want to play? No. You want to get a friend to join you in a new game, you have to give that person some playing pieces.
When I started playing cold war scenarios I also had to collect both sides. If I want to play modern scenarios of current hot-spots I don't know how I would ever put together a game with only USMC. So I have USMC, French reaction forces, 3rd World African forces, Middle-Eastern Arab forces, and Chinese forces.
I think providing units on both sides, with rules, is a good idea. Someone else does it too? Not a problem. Nothing wrong with learning from others in the industry. Besides, no one else does it in 1/285th / 6mm, do they?
But ... I think the idea can still use some refinement. I think a battle box would be better if it was more like the sample packs or combat commands than the unit packs. Not meaning it should be a random draw (as the sample packs are described). But that it should be a mixed force.
OK, for a Battle Box to be an "introductory" kit we want to keep it to tanks only? Fine. Still, rather than 10 T-34/85s vs. 10 Panthers, it would be better to have 5 T-34/85s, 2 IS-2s, 2 ISU-152s, and a BA-64, versus 2 Panthers, 3 Pz IVHs, 3 StuGs, a Nashorn and an SdKfz 234. Or something like that. Add some spice to the first-time gamer's experience!
It would do well if they were organized to match a scenario that was included with the game rules, based on the 1-to-5 (1-to-platoon?) game scale of the GHQ rules. The TacNews issues have some very interesting and well written articles. Continuing on the example above, a TacNews-like description of a campaign (like Bagration) could be provided. Then a specific fictionalized (or factual) scenario, like "Tank Clash on the Road to Minsk, June, 1944" or some such, could become the basis of the Battle Box, with all the tanks for both sides, per the scenario, provided.
With this, the newbie can play a meaningful game with what comes in his box. He has his background, his scenario, his rules, and his gaming pieces.
I would consider that to be a very cool way to give gamers a running start in the hobby.
-Mark 1
Difficile est, saturam non scribere.
"It is hard NOT to write satire." - Decimus Iunius Juvenalis, 1st Century AD
Difficile est, saturam non scribere.
"It is hard NOT to write satire." - Decimus Iunius Juvenalis, 1st Century AD
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Rusty
- Posts: 78
- Joined: Tue Sep 20, 2005 12:03 pm
- Location: New Zealand
Now thats what im talking about, MK 1 you have some very good ideas. GHQ have the base ideas and you have just expanded on them well done
I am in the same boat as you were once with no gamers into micro so i will have to eventually build two sides to get more people interested. I like the way that the combat commands are set up (Some of them at least) with a combined approach to the force selection.
I also agree with your thinking rather than just one tank type mix it up a little rather than 10 vs 10 of one type of tank.
Keep those ideas coming MK 1 maybe GHQ could look at your suggestions
I am in the same boat as you were once with no gamers into micro so i will have to eventually build two sides to get more people interested. I like the way that the combat commands are set up (Some of them at least) with a combined approach to the force selection.
I also agree with your thinking rather than just one tank type mix it up a little rather than 10 vs 10 of one type of tank.
Keep those ideas coming MK 1 maybe GHQ could look at your suggestions