Post
by barr7430 » Sat Apr 30, 2011 10:22 pm
Generally speaking I am in agreement with David's comments.
Probably a good time to make some comments of my own..
R2E has been a slow burn, quiet success for Clarence and I but has not yet reached its true potential in my opinion. Its initial negative press was in most part due to ill informed comment on TMP and then an overly quoted, very poorly written review in Miniature Wargames which I understand led to that author finally hanging up his pen in the public arena (can't say I am sorry about that). Other reviews in the early days were not based on playing the rules but on reading through them.
With the benefit of hindsight I would change certain aspects of the book's layout (nothing to do with Clarence's layout out and graphics work but rather my writing style and chapter content) but almost nothing in terms of content and mechanics.
People who play the rules quickly release their relative simplicity and the logic around which the core mechanics revolve. Of course I or the other 'experts' cannot be present everytime someone wants to try the rules.. unfortunate, as I would happily invest time assisting every gamer if I could! And the perception of complication is a barrier as David points out (less so now though than at the beginning)
The successes so far are for me:
1. The number of copies sold.. now over 800
2. The reaction of players when they actually play a game
3. The change in tone of web comments towards much more positive and reasoned perspectives. The rules have far more frequent positive press now than ever before.
With regard to 'entry level scenarios' quite a few are already in print in WI..
1815 Genappe
1815 First contact on the Sambre
1806 Lubeck
1812 Shevardino
A larger scale scenario for Borodino with appear soon. Of course, you can never have enough material to publicise and promote rules but Clarence and I are only two blokes with very busy work and family commitments and do not have the manpower or financial muscle that can be put behind such as Black Powder or Napoleon. All of Foundry's commercial muscle could not, it appears save the latter from hugely negative press nevertheless.
So, what can be done to further promote Republic to Empire?
AARs of course. These need to be frequent and accessible. I will be happy to have all/any uploaded into this forum, or alternatively uploaded into the WARCHEST. A scenario book is also a great idea and is planned but I would be equally happy if someone else wanted to take the lead in writing or compiling such a book either for PDF release or printing via Wordtwister Publishing. I would act as Editor.
The high profile of Lasalle was achieved by the ubiquitous Sam Mustafa appearing to practically live 24 hours a day on TMP. That was good promo for his book but of course Lasalle is now out of print with I understand no plans to reprint. So, this too is a possible promo route with frequent AARs uploaded to the various TMP Boards and a more active response to questions, comments, criticism and ideas in that place.
If anyone out there seriously or casually wants to take up any of these activities both Clarence and I would be more than happy.
William Keyser, David Sharpe and others have already come up with variants, house rules and suggestions which I am very comfortable to support if anyone wants to take them a little further and pull it all together.
If you are out there and you want to do any of the following please get in touch:
1. Contribute AARs or scenarios in any scale for upload to the WARCHEST.
2. Start a positive information campaign via various gaming Fora.
3. Pull together scenario PDFs or even discuss working on a scenario book for the Napoleonic Wars in general or a specific phase of the war.
REPUBLIC TO EMPIRE has plenty of legs to run, if you want to keep the flag flying we'd be happy too!
B
"If you think you can, or if you think you can't, you are probably right"
Henry Ford
