Chat Log?

[vogless]

Has anyone seen the May 20 chat log? Are they still planning on doing one?

[Moderator Kayn]

I spoke to Gaelin just the other day and she is editing it and will let us post it, so yes.. its coming.
Be patient, those things are messy to edit. : )

Mod Ka'yn

[vogless]

OK. Thanks!

[Moderator Sinister]

Should be up by tuesday...

[vogless]

Thanks again for the update.

[series]

edit? so we get the censored version?

[Keldar]

edit? so we get the censored version?

There was quite a bit of off-topic chatter mixed in with the good stuff. I'm sure Gaelin is working to make it easily understandable and in logical order.

[admiral_yamoto]

i love off topic conversations! :D

[sherminator1]

Hey we're proffesionals.

[Keldar]

Find chat log here.......

http://boards.avalonhill.com/showthread.php?t=4790

[Der Panzinator]

Here is a condensed version of the A&A chat with the A&A mini discussion extracted. There was a lot of mixed conversations so this should help get all the pertinent info about the new game.

Enjoy! :D


Rich_Baker {enters}

Rich_Baker: Hi, folks.

moderator_kayn: Welcome Rich.

Rich_Baker: Thanks, Gaelin!

moderator_sinister: And Rich Baker who will talk a bit about A&A minis.

smo63: Just an FYI on the Miniatures...they will NOT be in the AA area for GCI. They will be in the mini area. So, if you guys are interested in both...you need to make a decision.

squirecam: Rich, can you explain a bit about the mini's game?


Rich_Baker: Basically, the A&A minis game is a fast-paced, action-packed shoot 'em up using 15mm scale pre-painted plastic miniatures. The game system is fairly simple, but the devil is in the details--many units have various special abilities...

newpaintbrush77: What, so A&A minis is like D&D minis, but with A&A models?

Rich_Baker: Some abilities are quite historical in nature and represent unit capabilities that things "should" have... Other unit specials are a little more, well, generous and creative, for good game play. But nothing is really wacky or out of character for a WW 2 game. So the simulation value is moderate, game play is high, collectability should be high.

moderator_sinister: Rich, is infantry represented by 1 solider on a base?

smo63: Rich, who is the designers of the AA minis?

Rich_Baker: Gah, you're burying me!

Rich_Baker: First off: I'm the lead designer on A&A minis. My team included Jonathan Tweet, Paul Barclay, Devin Low, and Aaron Forsythe.

Rich_Baker: We got great help from a bunch of other folks in Wizards R&D.

Rich_Baker: As far as units represented on a base...

smo63: Excellent...when we will get a peek regarding the new game?

Rich_Baker: It depends. For vehicles, you're definitely talking about 1 at a time. So the Tiger mini is one Tiger tank. Most infantry guys, we sort of assume that the mini represents a fire team... say, 3 or 4 guys. But it's not explicit, and to be honest, it's not real important in game play.

moderator_sinister: How 'bout fighters?

Rich_Baker: Not quite yet, but we're hoping soon. We love those old warbirds too.

keldarnic: As far as game play mechanics, does it closely resemble any of the mini-games currently in existence?

Rich_Baker: Hmmm....

[Der Panzinator]

Rich_Baker: Turn sequence is pretty simple: I move, you move, then I assault (either move again or shoot), then you assault, then casualties are cleared. Resolution mechanic for attacks isn't like anything I've seen.

Rich_Baker: Your attack is rated by range category.

squirecam: How about distance and terrain features?

keldarnic: what will the playing field be?

Rich_Baker: So you might have 10/8/6 dice for short, med, long range.

newpaintbrush77: Sorta like Memoir 44 then?

Rich_Baker: Roll the appropriate dice, you score a hit on a 4, 5, or 6.

Rich_Baker: So you'll rack up some number of hits, then compare them to target defense.

baloo: Would something like artillery have, say, none/8/4 ?

smo63: Are there cards?

Rich_Baker: Some things modify the attack roll.

italian_general does prefer 12 sided dice. More pip variance, and roll easier.

Rich_Baker: Baloo > yes, you bet. Mortars work a lot like that.

squirecam: How many "sets" are available. How many are needed to play?

Rich_Baker: We decided to use the range-varying attack, because armor penetration vs. tanks is hugely dependent on range.

Rich_Baker: We decided that was a bit of real-world consideration that needed to be reflected in a game that's about tanks fighting tanks at its heart.

baloo: Italian>Six-siders have the advantage of most players already owning about a zillion, whereas only weirdoes like me have more than one or two d12s.

keldarnic: How is distance measured?

italian_general: One sec, is there a link to this A&A Minis?


keldarnic: Rich, in A&A minis, what will the playing field be, and how will distance be calculated?

Rich_Baker: Keldarnic, we use a 4-panel map with big, 2-inch hexes. You can configure the map in a variety of ways. Short range is 1 hex, medium 2-4, long 5-8.

Rich_Baker: Some units can shoot farther.

smo63: How is damage determined?

baloo: Can multiple units be in one hex?

moderator_sinister: so the first edition of mini will feature land units?

moderator_sinister: Is there talk of adding sea battles?


moderator_sinister: Are there any more questions for rich? About the A&A minis?

moderator_sinister: I was wondering if we will see sea units someday?

Rich_Baker: Not immediately, Sinister.

smo63: When will we get a peek of the new mini game? I have been searching on the web with no luck.

keldarnic: Rich, in the minis game, in what manner will it be sold or marketed to make it collectible? Will there be rare pieces? Blind booster purchases?

squirecam: Yes, Rich, how many sets are available and how many are necessary to play the game?

Rich_Baker: I've fiddled around with designing WW2 naval minis before, and the scale is pretty out of whack with the scale we've got for the minis game.

Rich_Baker: The minis game is randomized and collectable.

smo63: Will one be able to collect a whole set or will it be more like Magic?

Rich_Baker: The first set is 48 pieces, so you should have an easier time completing the Base Set than you would a Magic set.

moderator_sinister: Randomized meaning I might get Japanese artillery and American infantry?

Rich_Baker: Sinister, Yes.

moderator_sinister: So you can be historical OR mix and match units?

Rich_Baker: The Starter Set is basically not randomized--you get a certain amount of German, British, and US pieces--but there is one rare in the starter.

jhadred: Are naval and aviary units in separate packs? or will they be combined with infantry and armor?

smo63: Did you answer the question about cards...like D-Day, or booster cards?

smo63: Booster meaning enhancements, not packs...

Rich_Baker: Sinister, Yep, exactly. We have broad guidelines for army-building that would let you put Germans, Italians, Japanese, and Rumanians in the same army...

moderator_sinister: Qill there be generals like Patton and Rommel?

Rich_Baker: But we also give you some "historical" guidelines to adhere to, if you prefer, in which case you wouldn't be able to include Japanese in that army.

Rich_Baker: Cards... each mini has a stat card, sort of like the D&D miniatures do.

smo63: So there are no draw cards for enhancement purposes or the like...

Rich_Baker: Sinister > No individual people yet like Rommel or Patton, but we have more generic commanders, like "SS Captain" and "Red Devil Captain."

Rich_Baker: Or the Russian Komissar, who can shoot his own guys to motivate the rest.

[Der Panzinator]

Rich_Baker: You'll certainly get lots of very specific units in the minis game...

moderator_sinister: tell us rich. What are some of the cooler models? I mean introducing extra or additional rules.

Rich_Baker: In the Base Set? Hmmm... the Tiger, Jagdpanther, Panther, Sherman Easy Eight, Churchill Crocodile.

moderator_sinister: Not just the plastic.

Rich_Baker: Got it...

moderator_sinister: This is going to sound stupid coming from a history major, but what is a churchill crocodile?

Rich_Baker: A Churchill tank, with an enormous flamethrower in the hull.

Rich_Baker: Could hose down something 100 meters away.

Rich_Baker: And it still had the 75mm cannon, too.

moderator_sinister: oh that's sweet

italian_general: cool

Larry Harris: It's an alligator with a British accent.

Rich_Baker: The Russian KV-1 is a cool tank, it takes an extra hit to kill. In the early days of the war the Germans had nothing that could deal with one, really.

keldarnic: Rich....can you give specifics about the starters and boosters as far as price and piece count?

Rich_Baker: Keldarnic, I'm going from recollection, so I may not get it right.

italian_general: The Russian KV-1 could only move half a city block, and at a foot a minute LOL

Rich_Baker: But I think the starter has 10 non-randomized pieces, the map sheets, some dice, a random rare mini, and goes for something like $20.

Rich_Baker: Linda, you remember the exact price on that?

moderator_sinister: thought it was 24.99?

smo63: Yep...

Rich_Baker: That sounds right, my bad.

Rich_Baker: I'm just a game designer, I don't have to sell the darned thing.

moderator_sinister: Rich, how much playtesting has been done?

squirecam: Linda, just have to say that weiss/hickman are still my favs.

Rich_Baker: The boosters have a rare vehicle, one (or two, don't recall) uncommon vehicles, an uncommon commander, and some number of commons, about $15.

butchohare1: Will the boosters be packaged a la heroclix?

Rich_Baker: They're opaque, you don't know what you get, sorry.

butchohare1: grrr

linda_cox: $24.99 is the SRP - and Weiss Hickman are great.

Rich_Baker: Thanks, Linda!

moderator_sinister: Rich has to leave soon, any last second questions?

Rich_Baker: Sinister, Yes, we playtested a lot. Lots and lots. Until our fingers bled.

butchohare1: well I'm wondering about the total number of rare units.

smo63: Hey Rich, thanks and take care...

Rich_Baker: Butch, it's 15 rares in the Base set.

[Der Panzinator]

keldarnic: Thanks Rich!!

butchohare1: I mean how rare? Will i have to cash my 401k?

butchohare1: just cause i cant see what I'm buying

Rich_Baker: Rare means you only get 1 per booster, but you're guaranteed 1 a booster.

squirecam: butch - you'll have to trade. think pokemon !!!

butchohare1: well I'm not a trader. I'm a player and not too good either

keldarnic: tradin' is good fer ya.

Rich_Baker: In all honesty, we expect that you'll see a flourishing secondary market on these, too.

Rich_Baker: Your local hobby shop will have a few Tigers, a few Churchills, whatever, under the glass counter.

keldarnic: Are the sculpts turning out good?

Rich_Baker: Keldarnic, I sure think so. I'm pretty impressed with the tanks. Turrets swivel, and guns elevate.

keldarnic: Sounds great!!

butchohare1: nice

butchohare1: now do the Germans have winter camo and desert etc?

Rich_Baker: Not as much as I'd like -- I'd love to see a winter camo SS Panther soon.

butchohare1: yea ill prolly repaint mine anyways.

Rich_Baker: When we do a few more minis, I hope we'll get some more "finicky" camo schemes, really unit-specific stuff. But that's pretty expensive.

Rich_Baker: Hate to say it, folks, but I need to get going.

moderator_sinister: Rich THANK YOU!

danzigdagger: Rich, I have a small question.

Larry Harris: Rich - good to see you again.

Rich_Baker: Sure, Danzig, shoot.

moderator_sinister: Once again everyone rich baker, developer for A&A minis.

keldarnic: Thanks Rich for your candid answers.

linda_cox: Thanks for the invite Sinister - I'm on my way out too but I'm so glad that everyone stopped by to chat.

danzigdagger: Is there a url where I can read more about what you do?

Rich_Baker: There's something on the Wizards website about authors and game designers, but I couldn't begin to tell you where to find it or how current it is.

Rich_Baker: Everybody, thanks for listening -- Larry, great to chat with you -- g'night, Gracie!

Larry Harris: That was fun.


danzigdagger: wow I learn new about the a&a mini

Larry Harris: You don't have to go home but you can't stay here.

wizo_gaelin giggles.

wizo_gaelin hands the keys, and broom to kayn.

moderator_kayn: Bah. I knew I'd get the broom.

======END LOG======

[elindo]

Did anyone else feel that Larry didn't contribute a whole lot of info beside asking repeatedly what everyone else wanted? Maybe he was digging for info on where to go next but my guess is he's already got that given all the past board discussions on the future of A&A...

[Der Panzinator]

I agree. It was kinda weird that his response was always "what do you want?" :confused:

Maybe he has some secrets up his sleeve and can't share them yet.