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ArbeitsSchu wrote:A great deal of the EW stuff is interchangeable between theaters. An even greater deal of what would be needed to do a Pacific release already exists as well (as I pointed out.)

And yet, BF is *still* putting out new figures for Blitzkrieg. The Pacific would - at least initially - see the release of a completely new brand army, and possibly two depending on when the Chinese were added to the mix. You'd also need new uniforms for the infantry, new rules for the different types of terrain in that hemisphere (it's been noted on the official forums that Vietnam might actually be a good lead-in for Pacific as it gives BF a low-cost excuse to experiment with different types of terrain appropriate for the region), and make sure that the Japanese lists are competitive with LW European armies.

Would it have been so complicated to release an "Italy" book, instead of splitting Italian campaigners lists between two different (big and expensive) or more books? And yes, Cassino is just going over more of the same ground, because BF already DO everything that turned up anywhere near Cassino.

"Big and expensive"? Hardly. 'Dogs and Devils' is a standard LW campaign book, which isn't all that big. It also introduced a lot of new miniatures sets, including 90mm US guns, 1st SSF, and more. Cassino will almost certainly include lots of Commonwealth forces, which haven't been seen since Festung Europa.

In any event, whether the lists are split into one or two books is irrelevant. What consumes time and resources are the figures themselves. You're going to be looking at the same number of new figures regardless of whether Indian infantry (assuming that they're in Cassino) figures show up in the second book or the only book.

And if they have time to do a Vietnam spinoff, they could easily be doing other things as well. They have been happily RE-releasing books with mild layout changes or in new bindings, and meanwhile all those people who could have been buying BF Pacific gear are shopping elsewhere.

Vietnam apparently started out as a bit of amusement on the part of the company. A bunch of them apparently watched 'We Were Soldiers', and got an idea. And when the boss came back from a trip he discovered that they'd already done pretty much all of the work for the system. So the decision was made to go ahead and release it as a one-off for players.

And then it sold REALLY, REALLY well...

Fast forward to this month's Wargames Illustrated, the rules included with it, and the new miniature sets being released this month.

Vietnam's doing well. And it requires only a little bit of effort on Battlefront's part. Or in other words, Battlefront is merely following the money, which is what companies are supposed to do (they're businesses, after all).

Anywho, my point is that if BF want to do a plastic release, they could do worse than follow the GW pattern of going "BOOM, NEW PLASTIC STUFF, and here, a new ruleset and theater and everything shiny tacked on." But no...its decorative bases...

Except that as I've been trying to illustrate, it's not as easy as you seem to think it is. They're currently juggling three different time periods in Europe, all of which are going to get attention every single year (this year's MW release is limited to a campaign system that it shares with EW Africa, but BF has announced that MW will be getting a proper book every year starting next year). The vast majority of effort is going into putting the miniatures out. And stuff often doesn't carry over. Uniforms change, requiring infantry resculpts. And equipment changes, requiring small variations in minatures. That Matilda model that you used for your Blitzkrieg-based BEF list isn't the same model as the Matilda that was used by the 8th Army in North Africa. That means that you're going to need lots of new models. And that means that you're looking at another long series of releases.

This winter will also see the release (FINALLY!) of Bulge, which is going to introduce a lot of new stuff for the US (M36, M24, Jumbo, EZ8, and more), and a few new items for the Germans (almost certainly winter uniforms, for starters). And while the exact format hasn't been explained yet, we're probably going to be looking at multiple books, much as was the case with Normandy and Bagration.



Also, with regards to the bases, I'd have to double check but I wouldn't be surprised if they're being handled by GF9. Remember that BF acquired them around the same time that they picked up Wargames Illustrated.

How is the Matilda model used in France not the same model used in NA?

Aldramelech wrote:How is the Matilda model used in France not the same model used in NA?

Unless he means the Matilda I rather than the Matilda II...

Battlefront owns Wargames Illustrated?

You're conflating "easy" with "effective sales". It all grinds down to that. GW have been doing it for years to reasonable effect. "Here are the brand new brilliant plastic whatevers with new techniques that make them better, released with a new book/new edition and all the other malarkey." The point of making it a new theater with at least two new forces would be to use that as a platform to produce new ranges in plastic, be it infantry or armour. So thats your whole Japanese range in plastic, whilst the greater part of the British/American stuff already exists, or could also be plasticked if they were that way inclined. Use the Nam range as an example: New period, new toys, new sculpts, new ticky, new shirty. Could have been used to launch a new material as well, if they were so inclined. (Not saying the SHOULD, just that they COULD.) So, moving into the future, we postulate that Nam allows playtesting for a Pacific Setting, and thus the rules are not so much of a leap of faith. Whole new ranges created in plastic, whilst other existing ranges are supplemented with it. It isn't rocket science. It would also mean that BF are not trying to compete directly with other companies already selling the "standard stuff" in plastic, who are liable to be well established quite soon.



As for the rest: To maximise profits, splitting areas and lists across books is just a marketing ploy and yes, North Africa is definitely a BIG EXPENSIVE BOOK. Do you work for BF marketing or something? No power on earth will convince me that Siciliy and Italy should be in the NA book for any other reason than bumping up sales...

I can only assume that you are thinking of the A11 Matilda, because the A12 is the same tank. If we hadn't left them sat in France, then they would have been quite literally the very same tank. I seem to recall Wavell commenting that Winston never grasped that tanks don't just roll off the ships and in to action. They need de-greasing and re-painting for a start.


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Kilkrazy wrote:Battlefront owns Wargames Illustrated?

Which is why Maelstrom in the UK don't stock it any more. Bit tightarsed of BF IMO.

Big P wrote:

Aldramelech wrote:How is the Matilda model used in France not the same model used in NA?

Unless he means the Matilda I rather than the Matilda II...

Maybe, but that statement wouldon't make sense either as BF make both.

Aldramelech wrote:

Big P wrote:

Aldramelech wrote:How is the Matilda model used in France not the same model used in NA?

Unless he means the Matilda I rather than the Matilda II...

Maybe, but that statement wouldon't make sense either as BF make both.

Far as I can tell, the only tank that DIDN'T end up in the desert was the A11. All the other BF EW British tanks served there, including the carriers and Vickers lights.

I think we are getting distracted though. It isn't really relevant what BF are planning to do with "The Bulge" or their financially-driven publishing process, or even the times when they go "hobby" and do something unexpected. The whole point is that if BF want to get on board the Plastic Express which is already leaving town without them, they should be thinking on a more eye-catching scale than "bases". Certainly they are going to have to put some thought in to the fact that they are getting undercut on an epic scale.

Oooh. Plastic carriers would be sweet. So my wishlist is: Carriers, Softskins. And anything else that doesn't really merit "tank" prices and gets fielded in numbers. And I would kill for a BIG sprue of stowage. Mmmmm, stowage.

Had a long conversation today with PSC at the Exeter show. Sherman's will be coming within the next couple of months and there will be two different box sets, one with cast hulls, one with welded hulls with options within each box to do several versions. Later there will be a third box with late Sherman's with HVSS. He is quite keen to get Stugs out as well as they are his favorite vehicle.

I asked if he was intending to do 15mm Russian arty and he said yes, defiantly.

On display were the new 20mm 45mm ATGs which were outstanding!

Bought some of the plastic PZ IV yesterday, so I await the post with some interest. I'm rather hoping they sit well next to Forged In Battle PZIV, because Pig and BF tanks certainly don't. Having seen the size difference between the PSC T-34 and the BF version, I think I should be on to a winner, because the difference there is about the same.

Still, I want to see the trucks rolling out.

And arrive they have. Very nice casts, very detailed, as I expected give what is possible with plastic that isn't so easy with resin or metal. They look to be a little longer than FIB, and when I've built one, I'll do a real size comparison. I might have to lift Hauptman Verbrennen from the FIB tank and stick him in a bigger one and sell on the others. Not sure yet.

We demand.... Pictures!

Not built any yet. I'll post a size comparison for all four producers that I have when I've built the plastic ones. So that will be Peter Pig, BF, PSC and FiB. I think that only leaves Old Glory and QRF that I haven't got a sample for. Its slightly tempting to get one of each just to see.