ME One nation choices

mepbmlist
#1

Hi

I believe we should turn the discussion around so to come up with a way to
make people interested in playing the less interesting nations by some other
way than increasing the payment for the interesting ones. Here is one
suggestion:

1) The more games you attend the less the cost per game
2) If you play more than one nation per game the less you pay for the second
nation
3) The cost can never be reduced below 3£ and are of course following the
general price development

This might make people want to play more and they will become less
interested in a particularly nation since they might want to attend another
game playing whatever nation.

Cheers
Lars Bagge

#2

Hi all,

I'm sure this list has already discussed the idea of lowered prices
depending on the number of games you play in (around the time ME
games was looking to charge more for players not using automagic). I
don't think this is really an option since they don't make much money
on the game anyway so as was said before a price reduction for more
games isn't really an option for them (and I agree with them on this
point). Would it really work anyway? If a player insists on one
nation in one game then I think they are just as likely to insist on
one of the more powerful nations in their second reduced price game.
I don't think it would encourage players to take up the less desired
positions in their new games.

If a player insists on only one nation at game start rather than
giving 3 possible nations then they should be penalised in some way
but I really don't think it should be a cash penalty imposed by ME
games. Someone mentioned the idea of making them wait, if they really
want that position so much they will be prepared to wait - if ME
games finds it difficult to fit them into a game because of their
single nation choice then it's only fair to push them back to the
next one.

I'm quite interested in hearing how many players do just give one
nation choice? Do the same players insist on their first nation
choice every game or does it tend to be a one off occasion for them
because they really want to give a particular nation a try? The
second instance is more understandable but if there are players who
routinely just give one nation choice at game start then that really
is unfair on the rest of the player base (anyone want to own up to
this sort of play on this list?). I tend to be a lot more flexible
but then again the downside to this is that I ended up with the Rhun
Easterlings in my latest 2950 game :wink:

Cheers,

Chris Guise

Hi

I believe we should turn the discussion around so to come up with a

way to

make people interested in playing the less interesting nations by

some other

way than increasing the payment for the interesting ones. Here is

one

suggestion:

1) The more games you attend the less the cost per game
2) If you play more than one nation per game the less you pay for

the second

nation
3) The cost can never be reduced below 3£ and are of course

following the

general price development

This might make people want to play more and they will become less
interested in a particularly nation since they might want to attend

another

···

game playing whatever nation.

Cheers
Lars Bagge

#3

Hey didn't I mention the $$$$$$$$$$$$ thing already, LOL

···

----- Original Message -----
  From: Lars Bagge Nielsen
  To: 'mepbmlist@yahoogroups.com '
  Sent: Wednesday, November 26, 2003 7:42 AM
  Subject: RE: [mepbmlist] Re: ME One nation choices

  Hi

  I believe we should turn the discussion around so to come up with a way to
  make people interested in playing the less interesting nations by some other
  way than increasing the payment for the interesting ones. Here is one
  suggestion:

  1) The more games you attend the less the cost per game
  2) If you play more than one nation per game the less you pay for the second
  nation
  3) The cost can never be reduced below 3£ and are of course following the
  general price development

  This might make people want to play more and they will become less
  interested in a particularly nation since they might want to attend another
  game playing whatever nation.

  Cheers
  Lars Bagge

  Middle Earth PBM - hit reply to send to everyone
  To Unsubscribe: http://www.yahoogroups.com
  Website: http://www.MiddleEarthGames.com
   
  Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

#4

Maybe if the Nations that were least picked, somehow became more appealing ???

···

----- Original Message -----
  From: hugecrisis2002
  To: mepbmlist@yahoogroups.com
  Sent: Wednesday, November 26, 2003 8:14 AM
  Subject: [mepbmlist] Re: ME One nation choices

  Hi all,

  I'm sure this list has already discussed the idea of lowered prices
  depending on the number of games you play in (around the time ME
  games was looking to charge more for players not using automagic). I
  don't think this is really an option since they don't make much money
  on the game anyway so as was said before a price reduction for more
  games isn't really an option for them (and I agree with them on this
  point). Would it really work anyway? If a player insists on one
  nation in one game then I think they are just as likely to insist on
  one of the more powerful nations in their second reduced price game.
  I don't think it would encourage players to take up the less desired
  positions in their new games.

  If a player insists on only one nation at game start rather than
  giving 3 possible nations then they should be penalised in some way
  but I really don't think it should be a cash penalty imposed by ME
  games. Someone mentioned the idea of making them wait, if they really
  want that position so much they will be prepared to wait - if ME
  games finds it difficult to fit them into a game because of their
  single nation choice then it's only fair to push them back to the
  next one.

  I'm quite interested in hearing how many players do just give one
  nation choice? Do the same players insist on their first nation
  choice every game or does it tend to be a one off occasion for them
  because they really want to give a particular nation a try? The
  second instance is more understandable but if there are players who
  routinely just give one nation choice at game start then that really
  is unfair on the rest of the player base (anyone want to own up to
  this sort of play on this list?). I tend to be a lot more flexible
  but then again the downside to this is that I ended up with the Rhun
  Easterlings in my latest 2950 game :wink:

  Cheers,

  Chris Guise

  > Hi
  >
  > I believe we should turn the discussion around so to come up with a
  way to
  > make people interested in playing the less interesting nations by
  some other
  > way than increasing the payment for the interesting ones. Here is
  one
  > suggestion:
  >
  > 1) The more games you attend the less the cost per game
  > 2) If you play more than one nation per game the less you pay for
  the second
  > nation
  > 3) The cost can never be reduced below 3£ and are of course
  following the
  > general price development
  >
  > This might make people want to play more and they will become less
  > interested in a particularly nation since they might want to attend
  another
  > game playing whatever nation.
  >
  > Cheers
  > Lars Bagge

  Middle Earth PBM - hit reply to send to everyone
  To Unsubscribe: http://www.yahoogroups.com
  Website: http://www.MiddleEarthGames.com
   
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

#5

One alternative would be for players to form the own core group of 2-
4 players and play in multiple games. This should give you more
nation choices and I assume you could choose who received what nation
within your group.

#6

Hi all,

  I'm sure this list has already discussed the idea of lowered prices
  depending on the number of games you play in (around the time ME
  games was looking to charge more for players not using automagic). I
  don't think this is really an option since they don't make much money
  on the game anyway so as was said before a price reduction for more
  games isn't really an option for them (and I agree with them on this
  point). Would it really work anyway? If a player insists on one
  nation in one game then I think they are just as likely to insist on
  one of the more powerful nations in their second reduced price game.
  I don't think it would encourage players to take up the less desired
  positions in their new games.

  If a player insists on only one nation at game start rather than
  giving 3 possible nations then they should be penalised in some way
  but I really don't think it should be a cash penalty imposed by ME
  games. Someone mentioned the idea of making them wait, if they really
  want that position so much they will be prepared to wait - if ME
  games finds it difficult to fit them into a game because of their
  single nation choice then it's only fair to push them back to the
  next one.

  I'm quite interested in hearing how many players do just give one
  nation choice? Do the same players insist on their first nation
  choice every game or does it tend to be a one off occasion for them
  because they really want to give a particular nation a try? The
  second instance is more understandable but if there are players who
  routinely just give one nation choice at game start then that really
  is unfair on the rest of the player base (anyone want to own up to
  this sort of play on this list?). I tend to be a lot more flexible
  but then again the downside to this is that I ended up with the Rhun
  Easterlings in my latest 2950 game :wink:

  Cheers,

  Chris Guise
  RD: Well then, you at least got a game! Of the guys who put down WW only, all but one of them are still waiting (and serves them right!).

  Richard.

  > Hi
  >
  > I believe we should turn the discussion around so to come up with a
  way to
  > make people interested in playing the less interesting nations by
  some other
  > way than increasing the payment for the interesting ones. Here is
  one
  > suggestion:
  >
  > 1) The more games you attend the less the cost per game
  > 2) If you play more than one nation per game the less you pay for
  the second
  > nation
  > 3) The cost can never be reduced below 3£ and are of course
  following the
  > general price development
  >
  > This might make people want to play more and they will become less
  > interested in a particularly nation since they might want to attend
  another
  > game playing whatever nation.
  >
  > Cheers
  > Lars Bagge

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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

···

----- Original Message -----
  From: hugecrisis2002
  To: mepbmlist@yahoogroups.com
  Sent: Wednesday, November 26, 2003 1:14 PM
  Subject: [mepbmlist] Re: ME One nation choices

#7

Hi all,

    I'm sure this list has already discussed the idea of lowered prices
    depending on the number of games you play in (around the time ME
    games was looking to charge more for players not using automagic). I
    don't think this is really an option since they don't make much money
    on the game anyway so as was said before a price reduction for more
    games isn't really an option for them (and I agree with them on this
    point). Would it really work anyway? If a player insists on one
    nation in one game then I think they are just as likely to insist on
    one of the more powerful nations in their second reduced price game.
    I don't think it would encourage players to take up the less desired
    positions in their new games.

    If a player insists on only one nation at game start rather than
    giving 3 possible nations then they should be penalised in some way
    but I really don't think it should be a cash penalty imposed by ME
    games. Someone mentioned the idea of making them wait, if they really
    want that position so much they will be prepared to wait - if ME
    games finds it difficult to fit them into a game because of their
    single nation choice then it's only fair to push them back to the
    next one.

    I'm quite interested in hearing how many players do just give one
    nation choice? Do the same players insist on their first nation
    choice every game or does it tend to be a one off occasion for them
    because they really want to give a particular nation a try? The
    second instance is more understandable but if there are players who
    routinely just give one nation choice at game start then that really
    is unfair on the rest of the player base (anyone want to own up to
    this sort of play on this list?). I tend to be a lot more flexible
    but then again the downside to this is that I ended up with the Rhun
    Easterlings in my latest 2950 game :wink:

    Cheers,

    Chris Guise

    > Hi
    >
    > I believe we should turn the discussion around so to come up with a
    way to
    > make people interested in playing the less interesting nations by
    some other
    > way than increasing the payment for the interesting ones. Here is
    one
    > suggestion:
    >
    > 1) The more games you attend the less the cost per game
    > 2) If you play more than one nation per game the less you pay for
    the second
    > nation
    > 3) The cost can never be reduced below 3£ and are of course
    following the
    > general price development
    >
    > This might make people want to play more and they will become less
    > interested in a particularly nation since they might want to attend
    another
    > game playing whatever nation.
    >
    > Cheers
    > Lars Bagge

    Middle Earth PBM - hit reply to send to everyone
    To Unsubscribe: http://www.yahoogroups.com
    Website: http://www.MiddleEarthGames.com
     
    Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

  [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

        Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
              ADVERTISEMENT
                
  Middle Earth PBM - hit reply to send to everyone
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

···

----- Original Message -----
  From: Paul Moreno
  To: mepbmlist@yahoogroups.com
  Sent: Wednesday, November 26, 2003 2:01 PM
  Subject: Re: [mepbmlist] Re: ME One nation choices

  Maybe if the Nations that were least picked, somehow became more appealing ???
  Yup, as I said, if a game is only waiting for Rhun Easterlings, it is better for everybody if Harle offered an incentive for somebody to pick it up, eg a discount or a couple of free turns. Harle recover their outlay because the game starts quicker (instead of waiting weeks if not months), and Harle also gain the goodwill of the guy who picked Rhun up because he got a good deal.

  Richard.

    ----- Original Message -----
    From: hugecrisis2002
    To: mepbmlist@yahoogroups.com
    Sent: Wednesday, November 26, 2003 8:14 AM
    Subject: [mepbmlist] Re: ME One nation choices

#8

At present I am not 100% sure what the situation with players paying for turns is. Would they pay more if things were run better? Would players pay less if they had the opportunity (Easy answer yes). BUT if that meant less service, less variants etc would they then pay less? If by reducing the costs would players run more nations? Don't know and no easy way to find out.

PBM is a shoe-string industry - we're seeing many PBM firms go to the wall as they cannot earn enough money - and despite a leading player in the field with Harlequin we're not what I would call rich by any stretch of the imagination. (Out of the 5 ME staff there are NO car owners for example). Out of the 10 Harl/ME staff there are 2 car owners - a beat up 13 year old Fiesta in both cases. That's the reality of running PBM...

Clint

···

Hi

I believe we should turn the discussion around so to come up with a way to
make people interested in playing the less interesting nations by some other
way than increasing the payment for the interesting ones. Here is one
suggestion:

1) The more games you attend the less the cost per game
2) If you play more than one nation per game the less you pay for the second
nation
3) The cost can never be reduced below 3£ and are of course following the
general price development

This might make people want to play more and they will become less
interested in a particularly nation since they might want to attend another
game playing whatever nation.

Cheers
Lars Bagge

Middle Earth PBM - hit reply to send to everyone
To Unsubscribe: http://www.yahoogroups.com
Website: http://www.MiddleEarthGames.com

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

****************************************************************
                    ME Games Ltd
Mailto: me@middleearthgames.com
Website: www.middleearthgames.com

UK: 340 North Road, Cardiff CF14 3BP UK
US: EpicMail, PO Box 801, Wexford PA 15090-0801, USA

Phone Times: 10am-6.30pm UK Time (BST);5am-1.30 (EST)
UK: 029 2091 3359 (029 2062 5665 can be used if main is engaged)
(Dial 011 44 2920 913359 if in the US)
UK Fax: 029 2062 5532 24 hours
US Fax: 1-503-296-2325 (preferred)
US Phone: 412 302 2505 EST 10-5 Weekdays
US alternate Fax: 775 535 2171 Fax 24hrs
****************************************************************

#9

At present I am not 100% sure what the situation with players paying for
  turns is. Would they pay more if things were run better?

  RD: Overall, I think you run things very well. I can't think of much that you could do better.

    Would players
  pay less if they had the opportunity (Easy answer yes). BUT if that meant
  less service, less variants etc would they then pay less?

  RD: I think you mean 'play less' not pay less, after all, you set the prices. Possibly - I like to play variants.

    If by reducing
  the costs would players run more nations? Don't know and no easy way to
  find out.
  RD: Oh but there is - the limiting factor on how many games players play is set by TIME rather than cost. Cost is a factor, but even in an ideal world, with perfect health and earning in excess of 75k per year without working for it, there is only so much time that any player - even an addict - can devote to gaming. I think I currently have 5 active nations but I would not, even under the most favourable circumstances, want to increase that to more than 7.... but hell, I'm an addict!

  Richard.

  PBM is a shoe-string industry - we're seeing many PBM firms go to the wall
  as they cannot earn enough money - and despite a leading player in the
  field with Harlequin we're not what I would call rich by any stretch of the
  imagination. (Out of the 5 ME staff there are NO car owners for
  example). Out of the 10 Harl/ME staff there are 2 car owners - a beat up
  13 year old Fiesta in both cases. That's the reality of running PBM...

  Clint

  RD: You've obviously discovered that the quickest way to get rich in this country, unless you're an illegal immigrant and preferably a black lesbian paraplegic dwarf, is not to run a car.
  It's not the cost of the car, although that is significant. It's the cost of maintaining it, insurance and petrol, plus parking fees and fines if you are caught by a speed camera going 4 mph over the limit, plus the cost of windscreens and any other excess you choose to bear. A while ago I had my car broken into. I had fully comprehensive insurance including windscreen cover but the windscreen cover carried a compulsory £50 excess.

  Because I'm an awkward b*d and I was able to show that the windscreen repair people didn't come out within the timescale implied in the contract, I got my £50 back, but by God I had to chase 'em for it. Next time, when I lost a windscreen to a pebble flying up off the road, they came out within 24 hrs so I couldn't claim my £50 back that time.

  You guys at Harle are obviously totally irresponsible. If we all threw our cars away, we would all have loads of money to spare and Gordon Brown would have to find another way of taxing us! Oh, and you think the trains are overcrowded now?

  Richard.

···

----- Original Message -----
  From: Middle Earth PBM Games
  To: mepbmlist@yahoogroups.com
  Sent: Wednesday, November 26, 2003 7:11 PM
  Subject: RE: [mepbmlist] Re: ME One nation choices

  >Hi
  >
  >I believe we should turn the discussion around so to come up with a way to
  >make people interested in playing the less interesting nations by some other
  >way than increasing the payment for the interesting ones. Here is one
  >suggestion:
  >
  >1) The more games you attend the less the cost per game
  >2) If you play more than one nation per game the less you pay for the second
  >nation
  >3) The cost can never be reduced below 3£ and are of course following the
  >general price development
  >
  >This might make people want to play more and they will become less
  >interested in a particularly nation since they might want to attend another
  >game playing whatever nation.
  >
  >Cheers
  >Lars Bagge
  >
  >
  >Middle Earth PBM - hit reply to send to everyone
  >To Unsubscribe: http://www.yahoogroups.com
  >Website: http://www.MiddleEarthGames.com
  >
  >
  >Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

  ****************************************************************
                      ME Games Ltd
  Mailto: me@middleearthgames.com
  Website: www.middleearthgames.com

  UK: 340 North Road, Cardiff CF14 3BP UK
  US: EpicMail, PO Box 801, Wexford PA 15090-0801, USA

  Phone Times: 10am-6.30pm UK Time (BST);5am-1.30 (EST)
  UK: 029 2091 3359 (029 2062 5665 can be used if main is engaged)
  (Dial 011 44 2920 913359 if in the US)
  UK Fax: 029 2062 5532 24 hours
  US Fax: 1-503-296-2325 (preferred)
  US Phone: 412 302 2505 EST 10-5 Weekdays
  US alternate Fax: 775 535 2171 Fax 24hrs
  ****************************************************************

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              ADVERTISEMENT
             
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

#10

    Would players
  pay less if they had the opportunity (Easy answer yes). BUT if that meant
  less service, less variants etc would they then pay less?

  RD: I think you mean 'play less' not pay less, after all, you set the prices. Possibly - I like to play variants.

Nope PAY less was correct. The pertinent bit is that if the price was cheaper for turns would players pay more games? Would it then be worth our while doing so?

    If by reducing
  the costs would players run more nations? Don't know and no easy way to
  find out.
  RD: Oh but there is - the limiting factor on how many games players play is set by TIME rather than cost. Cost is a factor, but even in an ideal world, with perfect health and earning in excess of 75k per year without working for it, there is only so much time that any player - even an addict - can devote to gaming. I think I currently have 5 active nations but I would not, even under the most favourable circumstances, want to increase that to more than 7.... but hell, I'm an addict!

Basically if we could run the game at the best price for the best game (or multiple games) that's where we'd like to be. I know it's called market research but it seems very hard to get the "right" figure of turn cost vs games run.

   You guys at Harle are obviously totally irresponsible. If we all threw our cars away, we would all have loads of money to spare and Gordon Brown would have to find another way of taxing us! Oh, and you think the trains are overcrowded now?

** Thanks for those words of support Richard - much appreciated. :slight_smile: (Who said players don't have a sense of humour?)

Clint