"Gruntz Update - No TMP coverage?" Topic

I am feeling rather sad and neglected. Despite being a supporter and paying advertiser on TMP, they have never featured launch news on Gruntz or any of my news updates posted to them. I also shared news about my new Imperator mech with Bill with photos but it never made the home page of TMP.

I have given up trying to get a feature about Gruntz into the news thread about any of my releases. Other 15mm Manufacturers and rules producers do get the limelight in the main news thread but all my news submissions (sparingly submitted by the post option and email) have been ignored.

As a small one man band of a starting games publisher I am always keen to share news and I am upbeat about the great support I get from the Gruntz community. It is just shame I don't get coverage on TMP news.

So with my soap box moment over I thought I would share my own news that Gruntz has been doing very well on Wargames Vault and has been in either first or second sales position since release in July this year and now counts as an Electrum seller.

In terms of development I had some very fine artwork created for the rules which has now made it into reality in the form of the Imperator Mecha which will be on sale before Xmas (details to follow soon).

Imperator.

Work is underway on V1.1. of the rules which includes over 5 Months of feedback from players. This second release is a set of tweaks and minor performance changes and will also be available in print on demand version. All owners of v1 of the rules will receive a free PDF of the full new 1.1 rules which include several new artworks and modifications to the points builder.

The Gruntz forum has also become a very active place to share rules ideas, updates profile cards (for various sci-fi and modern miniatures) and great photos of paint jobs like these CMG models.

There are lots of other great paint jobs and guides for basing, airbrushing etc in the forum which is here: gruntz15.proboards.com/index.cgi

Here are some samples from Rules and Imperator design.

You can see the rules and video details on the basics of play here: link

One day I might be lucky enough to feature on the home page of TMP but until then I will share news in the message threads. Any feedback and comments welcome regarding my reckless self-promotion!

If it makes you feel any better, I've seen all your posts on Tabletop Gaming News, and I signed up for your yahoo group (which I don't read as often as I should) because of your posts here. You're not under my radar, at least.

That beer was refreshing! :) Beginning to feel better now.

Hey I thought that was a beer – it was popcorn, potentially nicer but I prefer beer.

i'm a big fan of gruntz. imo, its a better system than tomorrows war.

Well thanks for the comment John, I appreciate the support – I did not want to start a battle of systems though. I was just trying to draw attention to the lack of main news about Gruntz, I just can't get TMP to feature anything about the rules or mini's.

Big fan and supporter, always glad to see you get news on TGN. I keep my eye on your blog and the Gruntz forum.

Jeff

I was under the impression that the news system is a fairly automated ordeal.

I am looking forward to seeing the new rule version, I very much like the first one.

To answer your immediate question…

To allow me the time to continue finishing the Hobby News upgrade, I will not be running the full "24 stories per day" that TMP usually handles, and I will only be accepting stories from advertisers for now.

TMP link

I'm sorry, but I only have so much time, and right now I'm letting current advertisers get the few Hobby News opportunities I can process, while I continue to work on finishing the upgrade.

I think there is human interaction after you submit the article. Posts I made a year or more ago were tweaked and text edited after I submitted details.

I was under the impression that the news system is a fairly automated ordeal.

Yes and no. On TMP, stories get edited by a real human being (me, at the moment). Formatting can now be done by authors, and the server handles some of the formatting automatically, but the final formatting gets a pass from a real human being (again, me). Photos are often submitted in the wrong size or don't come in via the submission system, so a human being (me) resizes them (I've never found an automatic system that could judge image quality.) And then a human being (me) schedules the stories, which is usually a pretty simple process, but I try to space out certain types of stories.

@The Editor. I submitted two articles about Gruntz after signing up as a paid advertiser. I was advised to wait for an update to the news system but ended up giving up after about 10 emails and I then unsubscribed from banner ads.

I think I must have missed the slot.

However I stand corrected now – I did not realise that all TMP news was paid advertising only.

That's very nice of you to offer the free Pdf. of your rules update, along with the pics.

Glad to see at least one company is willing to stand by its customers with free rules updates, etc.

The mech looks nice too.

You can post news items for free at the link below whenever you like. Posts are published automatically and immediately and the latest headlines appear on all 7,000+ pages of the site to the 5,000 or so daily visitors.

link

@The Editor. I submitted two articles about Gruntz after signing up as a paid advertiser. I was advised to wait for an update to the news system…

Yes, that was during the earlier stage of the Hobby News upgrade, when I was running only three Hobby News stories per day. Unfortunately, I didn't get to yours at that time.

However I stand corrected now – I did not realise that all TMP news was paid advertising only.

That is not intended as permanent policy, but it is the current situation.

While we have your attention… I tried to setup an advertising account for that reason. No response from you and I PMed you about it. Not sure what else I need to do.

A lot of us are one man bands and feel your pain. Maybe its time to get a few moderators involved from the community. I'm sure the line for volunteers would be long.

Thanks for letting us know about the revised version of the rules. I look forward to reading through them. I like what I have read of the current edition rules, but have not had time to play them. I think they may mike a nice game in addition to Tomorrow's War when the players want a point system based game. It's always nice to have options.

The Imperator Mecha looks great. Keep up the good work.

Jeff

Yay for the print on demand option! I'll have to keep an eye out for it when it comes out.

@Editor – Thanks for taking the time to respond. I will certainly continue to support TMP and share news. Hopefully you will have systems and support organised in such a way that you can take non-advertiser news on a more regular basis. TMP was always the indie game site of choice for hobby news and continues to be one of the best sites for valuable gaming information.

Robin,
i believe you have furnished an excellent model for future rules writers in how to accomplish the improbable with hard work and style.
i remember following your fledgling rules from the beginning
your decision to let everyone be involved throughout the process, the free access to the in progress rules; the you tube videos of play testing; the inspirational peeks at your terrain boards…and the you tube videos of hobby ramblings, painting, sculpting; and now new 15 mm mech models.
All this just to say congrats on accomplishing so much with gruntz even without proper advertising.
if anyone wants a lesson in how to build a following in a stylish and classy way, look no further
you ,sir, are an inspiration
looking forward to more great things,rules,models etc

As a supporter and paying advertiser, how come your membership is listed as basic member? You may want to have Bill fix that for you.

@ CPT Jake: I let both lapse after trying for 3 Months to get an advert on (correction news article not advert). I don't have a current desire to sign up since they did not bring me any benefit or news features on Gruntz. I have had on and off membership since before 2004 and I am sure I will sign up again soon though, it is certainly a good site to support.

So with my soap box moment over

Well obviously not…

Mark

Well, in Bill's defense the News function is now working normally for advertisers. I think his biggest challenge is so many of us want to post News stories that it's hard to have a story run for more than a few days on the front page (although you can now find it on the News story pages again). This means non-advertisers are likely not to see any action there for a while.

It IS worth advertising here. Although I believe that Bill needs to reexamine his policy about what and whom he lets do free sales pitches here. I see no problem listing generic sales notices or new product releases. However, pictures in posts regarding specific items for sale devalues the advertisers position and should not be allowed IMO.

I have followed you and the rules progression since the start. i became a convert later in the game but was always impressed with your website and especially your videos. You've done a great job with Gruntz!

Thanks,

John

I was glad to advertise a month ago…. Not sure now that I can't even get a response from my application. Figured it would be setup in days not weeks.

I see a lot of high quality traffic from this site and don't mind supporting it with some advertising cash. Normally I would not care. If you don't want my cash fine. However, the restrictions on the News System make me feel like I am being denied a service I want to pay for.

John leahy wrote:

Well, in Bill's defense the News function is now working normally for advertisers.

If it's just open to advertisers then it's not news is it?

It's advertising features.

Its more like a closed Beta… Advertisers are just a logical group to include in the closed beta. The majority of users don't submit news. Mostly effect non-advertising manufacturers.

Of course some of us are trying to purchase Beta keys to the system and not getting through…

I do agree with Derek H. From a journalistic view if TMP is only currently listing news from paid advertisers it is a magazine of adverts rather than regular hobby news but it looks like Bill is trying to address it by automating more of the process.

However I have my own vested interest of wanting to share news on a commercially available set of rules, so I can't complain! If I want to share news about product I should be paying for the banners! It makes sense that anyone with a commercial reason to share news should be paying for it. It is a complicated subject though because everything leads back to something someone is trying to sell, even news about free rules might result in a link to a battle report which includes models from a particular supplier giving them a free ad.

So yes JohnL has a good point and I should really avoid pushing out a big message like this one because it is unfair use of the message threads which should be focused on discussion items not mini-adverts. But how do you stop a fan of a particular game system posting dozens of photos which are a direct promotion of a game system – who is going to ask them if they were given a free copy of the rules or models to run the article?

Also the other view is what the members want! I actually want to see the latest models in 3d, followed a Month or so later with the real miniature from different games companies. It is the sort of news all miniature fans want, so even though it is a sales promotion item, it is still going to be an interesting hot topic – but what if that company sharing the news is not a fully paid up advertiser (like me)? Should we not share any product related news in the discussion areas and stick to other stuff.

Then my other problem is the fact that 99% of my posted news and video guides are based on other company product.

I think I would like to see a clear message from Bill on the usage and where and what advertisers can do – I am very happy to follow the rules if they are fair and well moderated. It is such a good site for news and information and one of the most important sites on the web for a miniature gaming fan like me!

I only heard about your new sculpts and such from my TGN RSS news feed, and I've been looking for 15mm mechs, so yes there is a news problem.

At some point there will be a technology driven sea-change in miniature wargaming news on the net, as the venerable dinosaur that is TMP is passed over by more nimble reporting sources. The recent news (and news talk) clog here has brought that into high definition. Let's hope the upgrade has a real impact.

Like many TMP readers I also saw Gruntz news on TGN. I sure wouldn't mind seeing quick updates on Gruntz here in the TMP message boards as these boards are very active and there is always lots of lively discussion on gaming updates. Don't be shy about posting you products, lots of others do it.

Doh! I only just now realized that this Gruntz is the same Gruntz that those nice British fellows have been going on about on those episodes of Rottenlead on YouTube. I'd been looking forward to their game and then a bit dismayed that this other one by the same name was getting talked up on here lately and thinking, 'Oh, they're gonna have to change the name when they finally come out with it…'

I learned of Gruntz from a friend. I see all the latest Gruntz news on TGN. I have watched all of Robin's Youtube videos, and even after years of bring a gamer and painter, have adopted two of his painting techniques (outlining with Devlan Mud, and using weathering pigments).

I come to TMP for the forums only.

I've seen you at shows so the TMP stuff is irrelevent to me, really.

John T

The Imperator looks nice. Any chance someone will produce the Grumner tank pictured at the bottom of page 6?

I am working on the tanks.. Not started yet but something I have been in discussion with the artist on. It is a little sensitive on the design because he is a lead design artist for Playstation so I don't want to get caught up in copyright, although I have permission to use the art in the rules.

Sorry to hear your troubles with getting exposure on this venue. I frequent the message boards all the time, more so than the front page. I am also a member of the Gruntz Yahoo group and and have just joined the Gruntz forum.
Our club playtested Tomorrows Wars and have played many games of Gruntz, and like both systems. Both systems have their strengths and weaknesses.

Man that sucks that you've been having problems!
But tbf; i check your site daily for news.
I do the rounds, here: MiniReview, TGN, Dropship, TinySolitarySoldiers, Gruntz, GZG and Baccus. Passes 10 minutes and means i never miss releases :D
No hurry up and get me some Mechs!

Keep up the grand work dude.
Ben.