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2017/03/08 22:09:10
Subject: Press Gang offically disbanded by Privateer Press.
Yet another odd decision. Something terrible happened at PP about 2 years ago. Ever since they've been following the old GW path. This is like a movie where the hero falls to darkness and becomes the bad guy.
- Wayne
Formerly WayneTheGame
2017/03/08 22:25:06
Subject: Re:Press Gang offically disbanded by Privateer Press.
I've heard rumour that this could be a result of a lawsuit brought against WotC by MTG judges, who sued for wages and breaks etc? No idea on the veracity of such though.
I feel really bad for our local guy, he had applied to be a pg ages ago and they just delayed delayed delayed, feels like they did it because they knew this was coming now. Instead of telling him no they just strung him along. He's still going to run events because he's a good bloke, but it's a dog move by PP.
I wish I had time for all the game systems I own, let alone want to own...
2017/03/08 22:28:55
Subject: Re:Press Gang offically disbanded by Privateer Press.
This is a surprising move, and not one I saw coming to be honest.
I'm supportive of mk3. I'm supportive of c.i.d. I'm supportive of their move to gut and change their forums.
And I'm not gonna start crying that the sky is falling, or declare some kind of breaking point, but this is a very strange move, and not one I can agree with. Press gangers were a fantastic resource in terms of building community's and their enthusiasm. It just seems counter productive and self defeating.
Let's see where this goes...
greatest band in the universe: machine supremacy
"Punch your fist in the air and hold your Gameboy aloft like the warrior you are"
2017/03/08 22:40:53
Subject: Press Gang offically disbanded by Privateer Press.
Wow. If this is true, this is a big thing. I had a couple of friends still in the Gang just trying to get their Old Salt coins, and were then going to retire anyway. Guess this might have made their decision for them.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2017/03/08 22:41:24
2017/03/08 22:44:23
Subject: Press Gang offically disbanded by Privateer Press.
Zywus wrote: This was their version of GW's old rouge-trader / outrider program, Mantic's pathfinders etc. Right?
To just scrap such a institution with no advance notice... just wow.
They really do double down on repeating every bone-headed GW decision in the last decade don't they?
Yes. Their reasoning is they are basically shunting it off to stores themselves, but I find that bunk. The entire good part about it was that you could point to the local Press Ganger to learn the game, etc. and know they had a vested interest in helping people, not some random dude who might curbstomp a newbie or a group that can't be bothered to play a battlebox game with a new player to show them the ropes, etc.
As of the past two years, PP has made a ton of GW-lite decisions.
- Wayne
Formerly WayneTheGame
2017/03/09 01:52:28
Subject: Press Gang offically disbanded by Privateer Press.
There is probably a way to do such programs and make sure they're not abusive. But in many ways, over reliance on this old system has caused as much problems and quashed innovation in marketing.
Wizards may have triggered the issue with their practices, regardless of the lawsuit's success, but such systems are ramshackle and wholly dependent on individual PGs in areas, many of which aren't vetted to a decent level.
Given our PGS basically used it to get free stuff and play with his friends I am happy to see it go. Hopefully all the changes will make the game less of a bitchfest that it has become.
2017/03/09 02:32:20
Subject: Press Gang offically disbanded by Privateer Press.
So many bone headed decisions coming out of PP recently. They are not the same company that drew me in way back in MK I days.
Looks like my gaming dollars are going to continue to go to 30k and probably Malifaux and the Other Side for the foreseeable future. Saves me some time and money at least.
It's weird that I left GW many years ago for boneheaded decisions yet now I'm gravitating back to them as they seem to be righting the ship somewhat. And at least I'm having fun in 30k.
2017/03/09 11:07:22
Subject: Press Gang offically disbanded by Privateer Press.
PG, while not entitled to a real position of office in PP (afaik), may be viewed as the official face of PP in the gaming clubs. As such their behaviour and efforts have a direct effect on both sales and the company's public face to an extent. I can see some reason PP wanting to stick to them being answerable for their public face and sales and in this light I can see some reason behind the change in their forum policy - keep it strictly on point, be flawlessly exact (figuratively speaking), don't involve third parties interested in expressing their views on the game (good and bad) and somewhat have an impact on the game (PGs, forum members). For me, as an interested client, neither the forums change nor the PGs discontinuation have more negative impact than the real problem - their miniatures are at the absolute lowest bottom of the spectrum regarding the quantity/quality/price ratios. I couldn't care less for PGs and forums when 10 monopose plastic/resin menoth paladin guys of mediocre quality are priced at 43 quid.
2017/03/09 12:38:52
Subject: Re:Press Gang offically disbanded by Privateer Press.
Bellevue, WA — Privateer Press announced today the closing of its long-standing Press Gang program.
“The Press Gang has had an amazing and positive impact on the WARMACHINE & HORDES community during its run,” said Chief Creative Officer Matt Wilson, “but over the years, it has grown to a point that we do not feel we can continue to offer both the Press Gangers and our retail customers the individualized attention we were once able to.”
Privateer Press will continue to support the Press Gang program until it comes to a final close on April 30, 2017.
The company will continue to support a variety of Organized Play events, including several new events debuting this year, at conventions and through brick-and-mortar retail stores. Future event kits are planned with additional support, including premium exclusives available nowhere else. WARMACHINE & HORDES events can be run by anyone wishing to organize the events for a local community, including employees of retail stores. Retailers are invited to contact Privateer Press customer support at retailsupport@privateepress.com with any questions or to obtain help in organizing in-store events.
Privateer Press salutes the members of the Press Gang and is grateful for their support and contribution to the WARMACHINE & HORDES community.
Said Wilson, “The Press Gang will always be a part of Privateer Press history.”
About Privateer Press, Inc.
Privateer Press, Inc., is a privately held producer of entertainment and hobby brands based in the Seattle area. Its products include the award-winning WARMACHINE and HORDES hobby miniatures games, the award-winning Iron Kingdoms property and Iron Kingdoms Full Metal Fantasy Roleplaying Game, the Monsterpocalypse battle miniatures game, the Formula P3 hobby line, No Quarter magazine, and digital fiction through the Skull Island eXpeditions imprint. LEVEL 7 is the property of Matthew D. Wilson, used under license. To learn more about Privateer Press, visit www.privateerpress.com or contact the president, Sherry Yeary, at (425) 643-5900 or sherry@privateerpress.com.
About WARMACHINE and HORDES
WARMACHINE and HORDES are dynamic, 32 mm tabletop miniatures games set in the steam-powered science-fiction/fantasy world of the Iron Kingdoms. WARMACHINE and HORDES use the same rules and can be played independently or against each other, differing in the range of factions available in each game, and the manner in which each side wages war. In WARMACHINE, each player commands an army of detailed miniatures, including a warcaster, an elite soldier-sorcerer who possesses arcane power and the ability to mentally control a force of steam-powered mechanical automatons known as warjacks, and supporting soldiers. In HORDES, players command of a battle mage known as a warlock who can control an army of powerful warbeasts and warriors into combat.
CoreCommander wrote: PG, while not entitled to a real position of office in PP (afaik), may be viewed as the official face of PP in the gaming clubs. As such their behaviour and efforts have a direct effect on both sales and the company's public face to an extent. I can see some reason PP wanting to stick to them being answerable for their public face and sales and in this light I can see some reason behind the change in their forum policy...
As the face of Warmahordes in my local area, my local Press Ganger was not a positive influence, and in fact drove me away from playing the game at my local store. He is an elitist, WAAC player that never once tried to teach me how to play or demo the game, but all the new players were introduced and tutored by veteran players (my hat is off to a couple of those guys!). He is employed at one of the FLGS in my area, and would not support the game at the other store due to petty high school-level drama (long story, don't ask). And there was one time he flat out criticized me for buying a GW product from his store ("GW is never getting any of my money again!"). AND there was the time he wanted to load up in the car with several other veteran players, drive a couple hours away to another store in the state, and "screw with their meta".
As the face of PP, his was not a pretty one. I hadn't played Warmahordes in a while at the time he criticized my purchase, but I have not been back to that store since except for emergency paint, brush, and dice purchases. I mean, I'm not a true expert, but I don't think a store should criticize someone who is trying to buy something from them.
CoreCommander wrote: For me, as an interested client, neither the forums change nor the PGs discontinuation have more negative impact than the real problem - their miniatures are at the absolute lowest bottom of the spectrum regarding the quantity/quality/price ratios. I couldn't care less for PGs and forums when 10 monopose plastic/resin menoth paladin guys of mediocre quality are priced at 43 quid.
While that is a harsh comment, it does have a lot of merit. I don't feel comfortable calling someone the worst at something, but PP did have issues with cost in comparison to other miniatures companies, including GW. When their community goes on and on about how much cheaper Warmahordes is than 40K, that is true, but only if you want to play with a handful of Warjacks/Warbeasts and your Warcaster/Warlock. To invest in a proper army is more expensive than GW, since the price per model is identical or more expensive than GW, with lower quality materials and sculpts. Plus, some of the models are extremely difficult to put together in comparison to GW (why did you put the joint on the model's writst? GAH!).
I really hope that PP turns this around. The setting for the game is neat, and some of the factions are pretty cool. But with my personal experiences, I will be staying away for a long while.
2017/03/09 18:47:33
Subject: Re:Press Gang offically disbanded by Privateer Press.
Fwiw, this alone is (was) a violation of the PG application process. Store employees couldn't be PGs, and that he kept this under wraps brings into question his character. One of my local stores got smacked around pretty hard when PP found out that the newest PG was an employee.
Anyways, Old Salt here. Looking back this wasn't a huge surprise (losing the latest Quartermaster earlier in the year and half the company saying, "We'll share the load, no worries"). Still killed what little enthusiasm I had left for the game.
2017/03/09 19:49:38
Subject: Press Gang offically disbanded by Privateer Press.
If PP cancelling the PG program is really because of the lawsuit with WotC, then I don't blame them at all. If they were forced to pay PG's even minimum wage would probably break them. They may be waiting to see what their options are and institute a new program. It doesn't make any sense otherwise for them cancelling it.
I'm not prejudiced, I hate everyone equally
2017/03/09 21:07:38
Subject: Re:Press Gang offically disbanded by Privateer Press.
Fwiw, this alone is (was) a violation of the PG application process. Store employees couldn't be PGs, and that he kept this under wraps brings into question his character. One of my local stores got smacked around pretty hard when PP found out that the newest PG was an employee.
Anyways, Old Salt here. Looking back this wasn't a huge surprise (losing the latest Quartermaster earlier in the year and half the company saying, "We'll share the load, no worries"). Still killed what little enthusiasm I had left for the game.
To be fair, he was employed at the FLGS and a Press Ganger before the second store in our area even opened up. But it is still a conflict of interest, and he is one of the biggest reasons I am boycotting the store at which he works. Once the second store opened up, he should have stepped down from Press Ganger or something. But considering a *beloved* member of the local Warmahordes community got hired on at PP as a painter, who is a buddy to this particular Press Ganger and others still here, I am suspecting some petty drama, politics, and favoritism was being shown at several levels. I can only assume that is case, since I heard from folks at the second store that they had reported the local Press Ganger's employment directly to PP, yet nothing was done at any point.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2017/03/09 21:07:47
2017/03/09 21:53:37
Subject: Press Gang offically disbanded by Privateer Press.
The EU might not even get the store kits according to Jackson on reddit.
They just don't appear to actually have a plan in place and the entire last few weeks just seem liked a rushed mess. They kill a large part of the forums with almost no warning and then ditch the PG's with no obvious plan past North America.
It could all work out but it currently looks like they are flailing about in the dark, which does no inspire confidence in any company.
2017/03/09 22:07:32
Subject: Press Gang offically disbanded by Privateer Press.
I don't mind them getting rid of the individual factions on the forums - they really didn't see that much activity. Especially considering each faction was split between discussion and lists.
I'm not prejudiced, I hate everyone equally
2017/03/09 22:34:05
Subject: Press Gang offically disbanded by Privateer Press.
While this change is terrible news to the many dedicated press gangers out there, I don't think that this is going to change things much in terms of the status quo.
Back when I lived in middle of nowhere Canada, I was unable to join the Press Gang as I wasn't able to get the FLGS backing necessary at the time. Even though I was not a retailer, OR a press ganger, I was still able to get prize kits for use in running events direct from PP and run events for our nascent community... I think that situation is pretty much how Matt Wilson describes things will function after the Pressgang system runs down. I think this change won't put too much of a huge damper on PP's superfans - who will be enthusiastic boosters of the hobby regardless of Pressgang rewards, and instead weed out those who were in the system for the wrong reasons.
Granted, running events takes a lot of work, so I think it would be cool if the event kits had a turn-in code for the organizer to get some swag... like an exclusive "organizer shirt and or badge". Making the rewards exclusive, and not product, as well as having the code in the kit would stop the issues I've seen with some PG's artificially boosting their numbers by running dubious events just to earn product.
re: Future plans: Event Kits for Europe... I'd imagine that eventually, you'd buy them through the web-store, though I am not sure how their normal shipping works to non NA addresses.
This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2017/03/09 22:38:20
2017/03/10 10:28:07
Subject: Press Gang offically disbanded by Privateer Press.
re: Future plans: Event Kits for Europe... I'd imagine that eventually, you'd buy them through the web-store, though I am not sure how their normal shipping works to non NA addresses.
You can ship from the PP store to EU address, its how I used to order my prize kits before things got better with Bob/Cerberus taking over and doing great work for the EU scene. Only issue is import costs. And Royal Mail tax.
Its sad to be saying goodbye to being a PG, its been well over six years now, possibly longer (I know I made Old Salt, that's for sure).
Still, I think its been coming for a while now, and it lines up with some things in my life, so I am not as upset as some.
I've met some great folks through the PG, both in the EU and in the states, lets hope many of them continue to dedicate their energy to the future of the game...
...and you will know me by the trail of my lead...
2017/03/10 16:51:24
Subject: Press Gang offically disbanded by Privateer Press.