New BL Blog-Finally!!

[Old Dwarf]

I got so tired of waiting for a BL update I just preordered on Sat.
Call to Arms at Thoughthammer,just for something BL'orish
to do.

Now I see DoW will have it for preorder next week ,but
the update is nice & I can put out more $$ for the Dwarf &
Gobbo boxes.

The Epic Expansion will also be available for Pre order next week
but I wonder if I need it.I have 2 BL games & the Web
Rules so I don't think so?But what are the Relucant Allies Rules
it mentions?Do you need to purchase the expasnsion to get them?

OD

[cbs42]

To be honest, I've cooled a lot on my BattleLore fever.

The game still kicks ass, but the company needs to understand that the interaction and communication with the fanbase is FAR MORE IMPORTANT than the release of new products and expansions. Keeping the hype afloat is the most important thing a company can do when launching a new product. Consumers are much more tolerant of a company that constantly communicates (but is slow to deliver products) than the other way around.

I still have high hopes for this game system, but the company needs to re-evaluate the importance of constant regular communication with the game community.

I'd rather get weekly updates saying "hey, we're falling a bit behind because of these issues" than wait a month (or more) to hear "you're going to love what's coming out sometime soon."

DoW reps have repeatedly uttered the mantra that "we'd rather spend time developing the products that making blog entries." That's the WRONG attitude. Spending 30 minutes making a blog entry will more than pay for itself through continued public interest in the product.

Again, I love the game and love the company.

DoW is TOP NOTCH.

But they need to remember why they're top notch -- because they have a history of top notch customer service and communication.

[universalhead]

Hey cbs42, don't you think you're being a little harsh? DoW aren't a big company and they have a lot on their plate - I know how long it takes just to do a simple packaging job, let alone designing components, controlling quality from far-flung suppliers, printing, delivery, distribution - all the myriad tasks that go into the development of a game or game supplement.

Considering the short time the game has been out, I think the communication has been far and beyond that of the normal games company, not to mention finding the time to support and stay in contact with this site!

I mean, what else was there to say? We knew Call to Arms, Epic and the specialist packs were on their way. I think one month's silence why they turn their energies to actually getting these products on the shelves is fair enough. In the meantime, you can visit places like BattleLoreMaster.com to find out any tidbits of info, or grab the latest summaries/reference sheets, see pics, get sneak peeks etc.

Given the choice between constant blog updates (about what, I wonder?) and the product coming out sooner and better, I know which one I'd pick.

Besides, there's plenty of BattleLore to enjoy while we wait!

[erichautemont]

We know when we fall behind. Sometimes it just happens, even if we don't like it. People get sick, others take some vacations, etc. Not to mention that it is not "just a matter" of taking a half hour to post an update (it's easy to forget but we do everything in three languages at once minimum, which makes things a bit more... complex shall we say).

So yes, there has been (and will continue, I'm sure) to be times when communication is less than optimal. It is usually the result of a conscious trade-off, and in most if not all of instances, I am confident the choice we make is the less worst one for our community as a whole, if not the right one from everyone's perspective.

This being said, we will continue to try and keep people engaged on a regular basis. Some of it will be in the form of tools we will be progressively releasing to the end user community, to help sites such as this one get the exposure they deserve. But more news on this later.

eric

[universalhead]

See, how's that!? After 49 minutes an unsolicited response from the CEO of the company. Now that's customer communication!

[ZiNOS]

I prefer to get the products on the selves and not new blogs that say that the product will be delayed (reminds you of another company that produces good games ).

Keep up the good work BUT PLEASE BRING CALL TO ARMS IN GREECE QUICKLY!!!!!!!!!!

[Zeek]

Should the company name be "Days of Wonderful Customer Service," or "Days of Wonderful Customer Interaction." How about "Days of Wonderful Customer Communication!" "Days of Wonderful Community Correspondence."

Too many choices........lets just stick with DoW!

[Old Dwarf]

The answer Eric provided on the DoW BL Forum about
people with 2 games being taken care of was also right on.

Nevertheless the lack of Info on BL this past month has
impacted on enthusiam(at least in my group),I'm sure
once CtA & the troop boxes are out it will upswing again.

I think the biggest "hole"in BL is what is this alternative
Middle Ages like?The one off grames get a little stale after awhile
& it would be nice to know how DoW is going to flesh out te BL world.

OD

[cbs42]

Head, the harshest thing I said was that I don't think DoW is actively communicating on a regular enough basis. I also said that "I love the game and love the company" and that "DoW is TOP NOTCH." That's harsh?

My concern just stems from the fact that this site has been on a slow but steady decline in activity. I mean, I'm the #6 top poster here and I regularly go weeks between posts (especially lately). Also, many of the forums here haven't had a single post since January or earlier.

Please understand that my frustration comes from my love of the BattleLore game, and my perception that it appears to be losing steam rather than gaining it among the gaming community. Hopefully that's just a false perception on my part, but I fear not.

Regardless, I'm sure there will be a resurgence of interest once regular products start rolling out. The only point I was attempting (and apparently failing) to make with my initial post is that DoW should not underestimate the power of regular press releases to the fanbase, even if they don't contain a payload of juicy new details. Simply saying "hey we're still moving forward" on a regular basis can have powerful effects on keeping the hype afloat.

[universalhead]

Don't worry cbs42, I'm not coming down on you, just the casual Aussie vernacular there (mixed with a bit of Buffyism).

I don't think we're in steady decline here, there just isn't much to discuss right now. Things will go in peaks and troughs as new releases come out and as people have more 'tools' to work with in the game. Right now we've pretty much talked out the basic game.

I'm sure things will pick up when there's more stuff out!

And remember, when compared with the average games company (or company, for that matter), DoW practically camp out in our loungerooms.

[geudens]

The answer Eric provided on the DoW BL Forum about
people with 2 games being taken care of was also right on.

Nevertheless the lack of Info on BL this past month has
impacted on enthusiam(at least in my group),I'm sure
once CtA & the troop boxes are out it will upswing again.

I think the biggest "hole"in BL is what is this alternative
Middle Ages like?The one off grames get a little stale after awhile
& it would be nice to know how DoW is going to flesh out te BL world.

OD

I appreciate the efforts made by Eric, but (as I understand it) DOW wants to make a big issue of BL over the next couple of years. (Un)fortunately, in the world of the Spoiled Wargamer this means lots of info, pics, teasers etc are expected. Companies who respected this marketing rule (e.g. GW, the Flames of War people) kept their audience spellbound; those who didn't do so failed...

I think it really would be enough for most of the impatient BL adicts (not me, I can wait...) to have a (small) blog entry envery week, perhaps nothing more than a pic of the painted version of the dwarven piper, half hidden behind a rock or some bush (if you catch my drift...).

Rudi

Rudi

[izzieszoo1]

To whomever cares;

I have to weigh in on this little treatise backing UniversalHead.

With all due respect to those who commented on communication from DoW or the lack thereof, I believe that everyone who commented out of frustration is a fan of this exceptional company, however you're growing inpatient due to excited expectation, I say good for DoW!

I would rather see this company continue to surprise us with another great product, instead of worrying about updating us on a daily/weekly basis telling us what they worked on after lunch. Expected information turns to fluff and hype and little substance, I say give me the substance and save the fluff for shareholders.

DoW I believe is the type of company that would rather focus on gaining the family as its main fan base. Though it is expecting some throw offs from the GW/AA/Flames of War clubs with its BL series, I think its looking way ahead by meeting with new designers for new ideas and updates to existing creations. Even though me and my kids are new to this "hobby" I see DoW continuing with their focus on what appeals to the likes of us, the family environment, creating something that will have playability years from now.

From what I have read current producers thought to have a solid base have shown some instability due to the fact that the fan base is frustrated with the rising cost in trying to "keep up with the joneses" so to speak, I believe these companies eventually head in the desperate direction of creating the same old product, packing it in a new container and selling it through the local Walmart, the fan base then withers and moves on to the next big hype, only to dump more money into a cash cow that doesn't satisfy the "gaming desire". How long do these companies hold up before MB or Parker Brothers take them into the fold and makes them family? Then what happens to the creativity?

DoW has created many games that even though they are several years old they are still taken down once if not twice a week and get play time, friends are calling asking if its game day? They are played with the same vigor as if they were just purchased, I would like to see my childrens children enjoying the same games with the same creative aspect that me and my kids are playing.

Finally I believe the most fun comes in the patient innocence that my kids show when we play our games, wondering with excitment on what is coming next, what will DoW have for us the next time.

I hope that DoW will continue to keep us guessing,wondering and dreaming of what new world will they create for us next.

My apologies for rambling, inproper grammer usage, and my appreciation for your patient ears, rebuttle is appreciated.

Respectfully,

P.

[Pipisongo]

I was going to side with the persons asking for more updates but that last post has many strong points. As do the ones asking for more frequent updates. This is a healthy discussion. I will call myself neutral and reflect on the issue:

I believe it all comes down to the personality of the BattleLore player. Those of us who spend a lot of our time surfing the internet for news (read hype) on our hobbies will be disappointed at DoW. Those who are not internet junkies have no need for such news. They have better things to do than read up products that are not yet even available for purchase. I wish I were one of them, but sadly I’m not. I mean seriously. Why is it that so many of us want to read hype? What are we to gain? I spend more time than I would like to admit surfing the net for hype, and therefore I wish I had more BL-related things to read. I especially crave BL background story. But in all honestly I would conclude that DoW has it right. I think it is us, the hype-junkies, who need to change. It’s time to unplug ourselves from the internet.

My own rebuttal: (Yes. I’m feeling like Gollum today)
Of course by that reasoning the people who are satisfied with the drips of news we get should have no business posting on forums, since they have better things to do. Also, from an interview somewhere on the internet Eric stated that the DoW games would have a “strong online component". I believe regular blog entries fit that bill. Finally, is it not ironic that we cannot get regular Blog entries but we do get frequent responses to our posts by the CEO? I hate to bring this up because I love DoW and would not like for Eric to change his posting habits, but it just does not make sense.

[universalhead]

Finally, is it not ironic that we cannot get regular Blog entries but we do get frequent responses to our posts by the CEO?

The difference being a blog entry takes a while to write, correct, to add pictures to, to check that it is releasing the right info at the right time etc, whereas a forum post takes a few seconds.

It’s time to unplug ourselves from the internet.

As much as I'd hate everyone to do so (it would sort of defeat the point of this site!) this is an excellent point. Not everyone checks Boardgamegeek ten times a day (I'm so ashamed) or works in front of a computer all day.

I hope that DoW will continue to keep us guessing,wondering and dreaming of what new world will they create for us next.

Hear hear! It's the same with film trailers - I have to force myself not to watch the damn things because they give too much away and spoil the surprises of the movie.

All that said, I've been hearing the flutterings of a Raven's wings lately ...

[cbs42]

How long do these companies hold up before MB or Parker Brothers take them into the fold and makes them family? Then what happens to the creativity?

Ok, now that is officially the scariest thought of the month. Here's hoping that DoW maintains its independence! Although, I can only imagine how hard it would be to turn down a nice fat check from Hasbro with lots digits on it...

I think it is us, the hype-junkies, who need to change. It's time to unplug ourselves from the internet.

I'm not addicted... I can quite anytime I want...
If fact, I'll quit right now. Err... well, maybe after one more World of Warcraft session.