Why do you buy Critical Hit products? (anonymous poll)

Why do you buy Critical Hit products? (please select up to THREE answers)

  • I am more or less a completist and just can't help myself.

    Votes: 4 4.4%
  • I believe that Critical Hit makes high quality products.

    Votes: 6 6.6%
  • I can't help buying a CH product if it is on a subject that interests me.

    Votes: 33 36.3%
  • I get entranced by the counters and/or maps.

    Votes: 26 28.6%
  • I generally just use them as game kits for design your own scenarios.

    Votes: 8 8.8%
  • I mostly play solitaire and things like balance don't matter to me.

    Votes: 19 20.9%
  • The errata, development and playtesting issues, real or alleged, simply are not a big deal to me.

    Votes: 12 13.2%
  • Sometimes I just want to spend money on ASL.

    Votes: 12 13.2%
  • It is easier to find Critical Hit products than some other ASL-related products.

    Votes: 6 6.6%
  • They do products on esoteric subjects.

    Votes: 39 42.9%
  • Critical Hit products can't be as bad as people say they are

    Votes: 9 9.9%
  • I don't really know why; I just keep buying them.

    Votes: 3 3.3%

  • Total voters
    91

Gunner Scott

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I think the internet on the whole breathed new life into wargaming and FRPG's. I DM 4 games online and if it was not for the ethernet I probably would not be binging on D&D. Ya see, the internet is not just for porn lol.

VASSAL breathed life into board wargaming, not just ASL. Its impact on the hobby cannot be overstated.
 

Manilianus

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I wonder what's the overall inpact on boardgames in time of pandemy. Contrary to what logic would suggest, tabletop RPG's which more than any other game requiem live partnera at the table, entered their rennaissance period with Roll20, Discord and other tools.

But ASL had his VASL long before.

That being said I guess that 99% of the reason why I've returned to the hobby is MMP alone.
 

von Marwitz

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I see it as my Retirement Cash Cow, baybee! Rodney told me if i just signed that piece of paper, eventually the royalties would come a-rollin' in!
Don't forget the young women that will flock to your side for the fame!

von Marwitz
 

von Marwitz

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I think the internet on the whole breathed new life into wargaming and FRPG's. I DM 4 games online and if it was not for the ethernet I probably would not be binging on D&D.
That's interesting. I have been mastering campaigns on Middle Earth using Rolemaster for about two decades. But for me FRPGs are something that work much better sitting around a table: You need those maps and old scrolls in your hands...

On the other hand, online is better than nothing. Due to real life thingies, the campaigns of old have ground to a halt some years ago, which is a pity. I only play FRPGs occasionally now - still at the table, but sometimes a player who can't make the trip joins in via the net.

von Marwitz
 

Gunner Scott

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I like online D&D play because I can play from the comfort of my home and smoke, drink and not have to drive so far to discover the group sux. 5E D&D aint too bad and can be modified to suit any dungeon masters tastes. You want to run a lord of the rings campaign? Just limit magic and races. too easy lol.

That's interesting. I have been mastering campaigns on Middle Earth using Rolemaster for about two decades. But for me FRPGs are something that work much better sitting around a table: You need those maps and old scrolls in your hands...

On the other hand, online is better than nothing. Due to real life thingies, the campaigns of old have ground to a halt some years ago, which is a pity. I only play FRPGs occasionally now - still at the table, but sometimes a player who can't make the trip joins in via the net.

von Marwitz
 

TopT

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I like online D&D play because I can play from the comfort of my home and smoke, drink and not have to drive so far to discover the group sux. 5E D&D aint too bad and can be modified to suit any dungeon masters tastes. You want to run a lord of the rings campaign? Just limit magic and races. too easy lol.
Virtual Tabletops (VTT's) have also made vast improvements in visual and sound immersion.

It is pretty decent to journey through an Underdark exploration while you have a caves sound effects playing in the background and only seeing what your light source(s) will let you see (ala VASL). Rules effect, Spell effects, and sound effects can be set to auto so you don't have to fiddle with that during game play. Meaning that if you cast a fireball spell, you see that fireball explode, your hear the fireball explode and the effects are automatically taken or you can roll the die if you choose. The immersion factor is much improved and not just for DnD but almost any role playing game/ boardgame that is supported.

Different VTT platforms have differing capabilities but right now Fantasy Grounds (FG) is starting to walk away with it as far as support and automation. Other VTT's have better map making abilities. Just as in VASSAL, the support (and strength) across any of the VTT's is in semi-volunteer's hands. Unlike VASSAL though, you most likely will have to pay a nominal fee for the added extensions that they produce and almost none of these extensions are cross platform compatible.

Just like VASL, discord has made the tabletop RPG's FtF experience a very good substitute. Not exactly the same but close. :)
 

kcole4001

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I'm just getting back into ASL so haven't actually bought any CH products, although I've looked at quite a few with interest. I never pull the trigger, however, for the simple reason that it is never clear what exactly I'm buying...CH posts one low-res picture of the product's cover, but no pix of the content (counters, boards, etc.) and usually a very general, vague very rah-rah description of what I'd be getting. I'll pass.
Kinda the same here: I've looked but the lack of promotional pics and info were not inspiring, provoking a search of opinions on the product, which were almost universally very negative.
And like with ebay or Kijiji, if the seller can't be bothered to provide decent quality and quantity of pics and descriptions, it's not worth the hassle.
The breadth and depth of negative opinion has to count for something, so I've never taken the bait.
Other TPP have done stellar work, so you know where you stand with them.

The past couple of decades have seen a real golden era of ASL product, both official and TPP.
I am curious if CH has seen the same level of increased engagement as others, I really haven't paid them any notice for years.
I'm not a hater, just haven't seen any compelling reasons to consider their product, especially now that there is so much available.
20 years ago it was different, before and just after MMP revived the official product there wasn't anywhere near the amount of products, and the subject coverage was similarly limited.
Not so now.
Has the increased competition been good or bad for CH?
I suspect bad, but you never know, and I'm sure there are still completists who want everything.
 
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