Scott,
I think there are much deeper reasons for the shrinking of the community.
1) Boardgames themselves are no longer the norm. Everything is on the PC. Even ASL... without VASL we might be looking at a very dead hobby, or at least one limited to playing the same one or two opponents for life unless you're able to travel to a convention. New gamers are picking up computer games, not board games. Our hobby is like a tennis player using a John McEnroe-style wooden racket (circa 1980) trying to compete against guys with composite graphite rackets with the enlarged hitting surface. We're archaic.
2) The complexity of the game itself, combined with the price, is a huge mitigating factor. No one in their right mind wants to spend $50-100 on just a rulebook, especially one that is totally useless without another $30-infinity spent on whatever modules are needed to play. No one in their right mind wants to read a rulebook that's the size of the Warren Report. It's a niche hobby, and those aren't the type of things that stick around long. The fact that it's still alive at all is, in itself, amazing, and a tribute to what a great game ASL is.
3) Once taking over from AH, MMP has indeed struggled. But I honestly think they're doing the best they can. Maybe their idea of "right and wrong" differs from yours, but I do get the feeling they're at least trying. AH bailed for a reason... the boardgame market is slowly dying, and it's premier line (ASL) is not exactly a money maker. With the combination of high production costs and small market, I imagine it would be difficult just to break even. MMP is able to keep some costs down because they in fact are not a "company" as much as a bunch of hobbyists keeping ASL alive as their second job. While Curt makes a decent (okay, insane *lol*) living doing what he does, I have no idea what Brian and Perry and Keith or anyone else at MMP does to pay their bills. It isn't MMP that's keeping their kids in A&F, that's for sure. So it goes both ways... they keep costs down by not having a fulltime operation to be concerned with, but this effects their ability to be as productive as maybe we'd all like, because it is in fact 100% secondary to whatever puts the food on their dinner table.
I think there are many things that could be done better. I also know that without MMP, it would be far worse. Am I happy that it ain't perfect? No way! But I do understand the "big picture" enough to know it could be a lot worse. There is no one else that can step up. TPP know this. You don't see the HOB or (don't hit me Priest!) CH operations jumping in and saying they could do it right and begging for the Hasbro contract. There are reasons for that. It sucks, but that's life. Do you want slow, aggravating, sometimes OOP for way too long ASL? Or would you prefer no ASL at all except what can be found in bargain bins and on eBay?
Here are my simple (or not *lol*) suggestions to MMP to make things tolerable:
1) Put the RB is electronic format, and make it free. I've posted elsewhere about this, so I won't bore you with the details about why it makes both marketing and economic sense. For those who want printed copies, make them available on demand only, at cost (which could be quite high if they're only printing 5-10 at a time). The hardcore will ante up, the average player will download.
2) Fix the mess with the core modules. Each should contain the countermix for one (or more, in cases like BV or GH) combatant, and then meet two simple requirements. First, it should clearly state which other modules are necessary for COUNTER purposes (i.e. Yanks requires BV in order for the Ami's to have some Krauts to shoot at). And second, it should contain any mapboards necessary to play the included scenarios unless they are in a required-for-counters module (i.e if a Yanks scenario needs board 20 from BV, that's okay because you need BV for counters... but if a scenario needs board 8, it should be in the dang box. You shouldn't have to buy other modules for boards, only for counters!) It's okay to have the same boards in multiple modules (see next item). We'd rather pay an extra $2 for a needed board than $55 for a whole other module! And what to do about the WoA/FKaC mess, I have no idea *lol*.
3) I love the new boards as a cost-saving measure. I hate them as an exclusive option. Put them in the modules the new way to keep costs down. But PLEASE offer them in mounted form on the website. Like the printed RB it may be a very limited market that wants them, but for god's sake don't take the option away! ASL is the exact type of hobby that should have both a "mainstream" product that is reasonably cost-effective and some "high end" options for the hardcore. Oh, and while we're at it, how about making the coloring consistant, so that each terrain type on every board looks the same as another.
4) Commit to the core, and let the world know that THAT is the focus. If MMP never put out another annual/journal, never did another HASL or HS, never so much as issued another new "official" product, I DON'T CARE! Just get the core right, and concentrate on getting it out to the masses (SK's are a great idea, but they need available "real" ASL behind them to grow the hobby, else you end up with two distinct niches as some have mentioned). If time or profits allow for a new HASL or Journal or even just a scenario pack, GREAT! But if not, at least support the core 100% and without fail. TPP will give us plenty of of toys... MMP should first and foremost concentrate on ensuring the core stability, and only then extend itself where possible.
Okay, I'm tired of blabbing, and you're tired of reading. It's not my company, so they don't have to listen to a darn thing I say. Scott is not my son, so he can continue to shout as much as he wants. It'd just be a whole lot nicer if it weren't so angry and vengeful.
Darrell
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