"Mighty Armies.. Feedback needed! Seriously, read this :)" Topic

We have been moving forward with several ideas in the Mighty Armies world. We take feedback seriously, from rules to armies and more… so we are looking for some more feedback.

1) Right now MA is really a build your own army ruleset but we have had alot of stores asking us to offer pre-made armies (where we give the stats on a card or something) as our box sets. Sort of play out of the box type armies.

One of the main reasons that we hear alot of these requests are for in-store tournements and demos. I think the requests are reasonable but I wanted to get your feedback.

2) We have had alot of players and stores asking for some sort of quickstart rules in the army boxes. Just the basics, move, shoot, ect.. Thoughts?

We welcome any feedback. Right now we are planning our 2014 MA schedule and tournements, so we would like to get feedback ahead of time.

Thanks!

RebelMike & The RebelCrew
Rebelminis.com

#1) Don't you already have Boxed sets? Putting a stat card in the $30 USD box seems reasonable. Maybe even include the necessary magic/special rules on the reverse side.

#2) Things like Campaigns and Army Design rules are perfect for the main rulebook. It makes sense to include Quick start rules in the starter box BUT I think this could lead to higher print costs and waste.

How about this: because we are talking about a miniatures army that must be at least assembled people will not be busting open the box in the store to start playing like they would with Magic the Gathering cards. That being the case, how about putting a Quick Start PDF online? If you're printing new box art, include a QR code to the PDF download.

Ideally, the free PDF and a stat card from the box form a useful produt.

If a store wants rules on hand, they can print out a copy or two for the gaming area.

It'd probably make people more likely to buy it because a box set screams, "This is all you need to start!" I am more inclined to buy something like that than something where I have to figure out what to buy.

#1 – I have to agree with Mr Elmo on this one, Mike. It seems like a good idea to add stat cards to the boxed sets. It would be great for beginners, as they can just get their models on the table and play against a friend without having to figure out an army list.

#2 – I also don't think that quickstart rules in the boxed sets would be worthwhile from a cost/waste point of view. It's another product that you would have to print up lots of, and quickly becomes something that ends up in the bin if people buy more than one boxed set. If you were making a starter box with two armies in, maybe you could include a copy of the rulebook in that case.

It may be worth throwing in my 2 cents to point out that one of the best things about Mighty Armies is the flexibility to build any army you can think of from whatever models you like. One need never face the same army list twice.

Never played in a Mighty Armies tournament myself, so I may have the wrong end of the stick here, but it sounds like the use of standard army lists strictly determined by cards from the boxes would kill off that flexibility and fun in the name of tournament play?

Of course, I am aware that if the tournament format only calls for 'out of the box' armies, I've made a bit of a fool of myself…

Probably not what you want to hear but most of us use your figures for other rules systems like Hordes of The Things. It would be easy to make full armies available for those rules with full options possible too (ala DBA starter type of armies?)

I actually need to try your rules system out one of these days. HoTT is okay but I prefer something with some sort of attrition mechanism as I hate seeing a unit go a whole game without suffering ill effects after multiple combats, etc.

Starter armies are great and make a good way for someone to buy a bunch of figures when they don't know what they want. I have had friends buy DBA starter armies but had no plans to play those rules. They just wanted to buy a good mix of figures to start painting on.

I'd wage that people using Rebel figures with other systems is EXACTLY what Mike wants to hear :) Sure he isn't up selling you to his rule set but your still buying them and using them around other people who will then buy more figures.

You might also consider a short Youtube video walkthrough for the game. I'd guess that that would get more people interested then a pdf. You could offer both and put a QR code on the packaging for the video that then has a link to the PDF. You could even monetize the video to justify the release of your basic rules. Your ultimate goal would be to introduce people to your rules and get them to buy them. So it works as advertising as well. They buy the package for HotT and get a quick intro to the MA rule set. People don't need to see much of a rule set to get an idea of the elements that they might like or not like. We all have out pet mechanics.

Isn't an all-in-one box (with expansions) how Mongoose marketed MA before y'all took it on? Seems like a fine idea to have set started sets, but as others have noted, I would not want to see that at the expense of the roll-your-own army concept. I'm also not sure I like the idea of a slimmed down set of rules, but I suppose it could work. I would think it would be possible to put the full rules (perhaps in a pamphlet format) in the box for little more expense.

Doug

It'd probably make people more likely to buy it because a box set screams, "This is all you need to start!"

This.

Like ancientsgamer, I tend to buy minis and use them for whatever rules I happen to be playing, but for curious browsing shopper folks, it's nice to have some general sense of what you're buying into, especially if you don't have a lot of minis gaming experience (or baggage!).

I think including stats in pre-made armies would be great. I don't think the rules or even an intro set should be included as that would cut into your profit margin. The stats could ideally be printed on the back cover. This would be an awesome way for me to push MA in my local store, where everyone who's played my MA games love it, but don't commit to buying into the game without starter armies and rulebooks.
Please post updates on what you've decided as I'd like to get MA onto the store's shelves.
                                   -Edgar

I use the MA rules, but I don't use Rebel miniatures, as I prefer to play in 10mm, so boxed sets of figures with special rules mean little to me.

In addition, one of the reasons my gang like MA compared to some other fantasy mass combat rules is that it does not suffer from the dearth of special rules for each and every faction. If my players want to create a special unit, they can use the army building guide and add abilities as they see fit.

I'd certainly welcome a revised edition or an expansion with an option to choose from faction specific rules,but I'd prefer them to also be available to the build your own players as an option in the army building rules. For instance, a specific rule could have a fixed point cost, or each army might pick one positive trait (fleet of foot – infantry move +1 inches) and one negative trait (primitive – no artillery, Chariots or Shooting 2 units).

I'd also like to see the typos on the quick reference sheet cleared up….

G.

I don't think the intention is to have mandatory army lists as such, but packaged armies that are user friendly.
My own collection is made up of 28mm miniatures from other manufacturers but I've also started building up armies using my 15mm historicals to which I'll add fantasy miniatures. My group has found that the pre-made lists already available hold their own just fine to any list we've come up with.
Mike's statement said that stores are asking Rebel Minis to "offer" pre-made armies. I think that is already covered with what's available now but would need to include the actual stats on the card. 
The DIY would and should, IMHO, remain.
I too, would like to see a revised edition with all points and typos squared up.
I believe it's been stated all special rules cost one point each with certain stackable ones such as Shooter to require the first level as a prerequisite.

Now, about that sci-fi version….

Well what is wrong with the MA reference sheet that you already offer, looks like everything needed to play there.

As far as army stats go maybe a 50 MM square card for each until with the info on it. Or just do a reference sheet for each army that you would have in the boxed set.

I'm using MA with 6mm and have come up with my own army lists based on what's already out there and the 1st edition homebrew generator rules, so for Q1, I'm ok with things as they are, but understand why others might want more army lists.

For Q2, I think MA is pretty rules-lite as it stands, I'm not sure quickstart rules are needed (but then I don't buy army boxes, so…).

Chris

If you are boxing the army in a printed box, print the unit stats on the back of the box?

I could see the cards and even the quick reference sheet you had or have being included in a box in brick and mortar stores. It might even persuade random players to pick up 15mm! But otherwise dont really see any other changes needed. Because of the base thing some of yours is for MA, others for HOTT so i can play both. lol.

Some good feedback!

I think we will move forward on the stat cards for a basic play out of the box army. We may also try and figure a way to do custom army build on the back of the same card. We just need to figure this out :)

I think for stores and tourney's we may go with 2 styles of games, out of Standard(out of the box) and freestyle (Build your own). That way I think we can make the new players feel that it is easier to get into the game. I'll talk with the demo teams and get thier feeback.

@CorSecEng- That is a good idea(you tube). I am going to look into that.

@Capt Flash- Yes, we need to fix that sheet. I'll add that to the list.

Thank guys!
RebelMike
RebelMinis.com

I agree that including a stat card in the box with the armies makes sense.

It isn't the be all end all of that army, but does give an example of how to stat it out.

I have several sets of the Mongoose quick start rulebook, and found that after the first or second they got very redundant.

@ Dave- Yes, I got some emails along those same lines…

Maybe one in the starter box with two armies?

RebelMike
Rebelminis.com

"Maybe one in the starter box with two armies?"
Mike, That could be an idea. Maybe a 50% off the cost of the rules to include it. An excellent idea, actually.

Well I really like Rebel Minis and Mighty Armies. I think the game will grow in popularity in time. I haven't started playing yet but I have a few armies in the works. Some of my points may already be addressed. I am sort of out of the loop. Anyways,

I'd like to see the pdfs for the various army lists (there was one for the dwarves, with the War engine etc) compiled somewhere easy to find.

I'd also like to see more magic spells etc. More army variation as well. Although I am sure there are many lists and mods out there that I just haven't found yet. But this stuff can come later.

For the minis: For Rebel Minis or Splintered Light, I'd like to see Warband style sets. Various different models together like Ral Partha's Demonworld/Blighthaven gig. Not going to lie, I am in love with Demonworld at the moment and using them mainly. And now they have their warband sets. Warbands are essentially sampler sets because each model is different. I think it is just an awesome thing.

I'd also like to see some more online battle reports. Hopefully I'll have some to add soon :).

I am optimistic about Mighty Armies. I don't want to start a flame war or anything, but I predict there will be a drive into scales other than 28mm. MA should grow once more word gets out. I've yet to actually play MA but it looks really fun. I mean come on, you can build an entire army for the cost of one box of 10 warhammer figures. You literally can do it. And the 15mm figs from all the companies are stunning.

Cheers for the great game Rebel Mike!