• Official Q&A

    He doesn’t want one set for $500.  He wants ten sets!

  • '10

    @Bierwagen:

    I’m in!

    I too spent the big bucks on “The War Game” pieces.  They are quite nicely done, unfortunately not to the same scale – and my US player refused to play with Tigers.

    Perhaps the folks over at FieldMarshalGames are willing to stick thier necks out and get some nicely sculptured pieces made.

    Anyone know Jeff well enough to get him to tell us what landmines to avoid when starting down this path of creating custom scultpures?

    I have read this entire thread.  I have been moving towards making this product since the release of COMBAT DICE.  It will take about 6 months to get the product to market.  Others may do it but Field Marshal Games is committed to doing it right… the first time … for the AAA community  (Whatever the cost).  We have been working on another project (TOP SECRET) but I think because of this tread we are going to push the pieces project ahead now.

    The issues we have are the following:

    a) We need to make all the parts at the same time (Cheaper that way), including base set and the “expansion pieces”.  We need the community to agree on a set WITHIN REASON. The bigger it is the greater the cost.

    b) We need sculpts!  We can up-scale or down scale any part but we need sculpts.  If we have these we can move forward faster.  We are willing to give a FREE or discounted set to anyone who aids with this.

    c) We need legal council; Will our company be sued into non-existence if we make these?  Any professional legal council from the community would be appreciated.

    Those of you that know us, are aware we are just fans who make cool stuff…  not a huge company making lots of $$$.  The end product is something we are happy to use on our own game tables, and breaking even is OK!

    Please contact me Jeremy [at] Field Marshal games (e-mail) if you can aid in any of the above and if you would be interested in getting a set OR even placing a pre-order to get this moving.

    Thanks


  • Oh my god!  I need to change my pants.


  • That sounds pretty sweet.


  • i think the base set just needs to cover the re-modeling of all of the pieces that come with AA50. also keeping in mind that some people don’t have some of the other games (AAE, AAB, etc) to pull pieces from


  • If I place a pre-order, must I pay the bucks now ?

  • '10

    @Adlertag:

    If I place a pre-order, must I pay the bucks now ?

    We will not start taking money until we have everything ready to go fro production.  I will start ANOTHER thread about this project when the time comes.  For now we just need to address the issues I stated above.  Any help would be great.


  • @FieldMarshalGames:

    c) We need legal council; Will our company be sued into non-existence if we make these?  Any professional legal council from the community would be appreciated.

    Excellent.

    I believe that I’ve read a post from Imperial Leader that states that if you are making your own sculpts, ie, not simply copying, that you would be completely in the clear legally.  And not that I’m wanting to confirm/deny IL’s legal counsel status, but from a layman’s point of view (that’d be me), if you make your own sculpts, there should be no problem in making/selling your own pieces.
    –maybe you want to change the name slightly or don’t use AH’s logos and such…


  • I agree with Tin Snips.  The best way to start is to recreate every sculpt in A&A:50.  No extra fantasy units.  Lets just stick with the basics.

    The hardest part will be getting the sculpts made.  I can’t offer any advice on this.  I believe Table Tactics is the only person currently involved in sculpting new models.


  • Anybody can make pieces and everybody does.

    make piece sets with table tactics would be a good idea and split the costs and rewards.

    Start with pieces that work as all the various technology pieces for the AA games:

    Mech infantry, heavy bombers, jet fighters, super subs, rockets,etc…

    and also make the missing AA50 pieces for Italy ( Naval) plus other new sculpts that people complain about

    Allied Artillery
    Japanese Battleship ( kongo class)
    etc.

    Make new factory pieces in national colors and AA guns in national colors? perhaps less important

    package it with rules and a possible scenario as an add on to the game ( just don’t mention it by name) or optional rules.


  • Comment about legal issues:

    A good friend of mine is a lawyer that specilizes in business / corperate law.  When I presented our case (pun intended) he said look at what the company Mad Catz does with Nintendo Wii, Microsoft X-Box 360 and Sony Playstation.

    They simply make “tools” that work with those systems that the owning companies do not.  They don’t pretend to the official company they got there logo’s stamped all over their products.

    He also said the same goes for aftermarket parts for vehicles.  He reminded me of what my company did this year.  My company wanted to buy fog light upgrades for 6 new Toyota Tundra’s we bought this year.  Toyota doesn’t make any such kit.  You get it from the factory with or without them.

    We purchased aftermarket kits through a local Toyota dealer and they installed them.

    Long post short:  You / we just can’t come across like we are the official Avalon Hill / WOTC / Harris Game Design groups.  We have to clearly state that we are (or Field Marshal Games in this case) is who they are and are not pretending to be another legal entity.

    LT

  • '10

    @LT04:

    Comment about legal issues:

    A good friend of mine is a lawyer that specilizes in business / corperate law.  When I presented our case (pun intended) he said look at what the company Mad Catz does with Nintendo Wii, Microsoft X-Box 360 and Sony Playstation.

    They simply make “tools” that work with those systems that the owning companies do not.  They don’t pretend to the official company they got there logo’s stamped all over their products.

    He also said the same goes for aftermarket parts for vehicles.  He reminded me of what my company did this year.  My company wanted to buy fog light upgrades for 6 new Toyota Tundra’s we bought this year.  Toyota doesn’t make any such kit.  You get it from the factory with or without them.

    We purchased aftermarket kits through a local Toyota dealer and they installed them.

    Long post short:  You / we just can’t come across like we are the official Avalon Hill / WOTC / Harris Game Design groups.  We have to clearly state that we are (or Field Marshal Games in this case) is who they are and are not pretending to be another legal entity.

    LT

    Thanks for looking into this for us.  It was a big help.  Being “the little guy” I dont want to kill this company on one product.  I have also been advised that you can use the term “for (Enter product here)” and you are safe.

    Also you can’t use any copyright LOGOs, art work etc…

    My mind is being set at ease.  I am excited to get moving on this.


  • You have to state:

    “This is not an authorized Axis and Allies expansion.”

    And also don’t mention AA or any of its rules except very briefly.

    Many official company’s make AA products for many years.

  • Customizer

    As for me the pieces i am most interested in and will pay for are the following  (all in AA50 Colors of course)
      Italy Navy/Air force/ Artillery
    and these additional pieces for each country.
      Half tracks (mechanized infantry)
      Blockhouses (or some other shore defense unit)
      Troop Transport Plane (used for paratroopers, Bombers shouldn’t and didn’t carry paratroopers)

    Other Notable pieces I would love to buy, but are perhaps slightly less marketable so you would probably produce in a smaller quantity
    Soviet Navy
    Nation specific allied destroyers and artillery
    Technology Pieces like Jets, rockets, ect. (nation specific would be nice)
    Blue French Pieces may not be a bad idea either, but perhaps you should poll this one first.

    I would suggest that you sell the product in two sets.
    Set #1 - Includes Italy Pieces (and any other sculpts you make for existing countries like new allied destroyers & artillery)
    Set #2 - Expansion Pack for peoples own Creations which would include everything else you decide to make, presumibally the most commonly added pieces mentioned above as well as pieces for technology upgrades.

    Your product will have the most market appeal if you create nation specific pieces in AA50 colors.


  • i still think set one should be re-casting the original pieces in a better quality, and bolstering the number of a few (i.e. italian navy). the whole point of this was because many people were not happy with the quality of the current pieces that came with the game

    set two should consist of your pieces such as mechanised infantry, jet fighters, and so forth


  • I think there is a market for blue french pieces too, because there is some games out there, like The Struggle and The Wargame, and they dont come with french pieces. You have to purchase your pieces from other companies. So there are a market.

  • '10

    First I would like to thank the guys at Field Marshal for taking on this project.  Please count me in for one set.

    Well I posted a list of units I would like to have.  It’s something that I created a while back so there are no Italians.  It is a wish list of course and I don’t expect to ever get all of these pieces.  In all reality I’d be lucky to get one of each type.  So I listed my favorite choices for each category on the top of each list.

    Three units that I really would like to see are Mechanized Infantry (represented primarly by halftracks), Medium bombers and surface attack (Dive Bombers).  For easy of identification I would like medium bombers to be represented by 2 engine and heavy bombers be represented by 4 engines.  Last surface attack aircraft.  In other words, aircraft who’s primary role was to attack ground or naval units such as dive & torpedo bombers and attack aircraft.

    One idea about making sculpture is that if there is already a suitable piece out there, just make a copy then modify a little so you don’t have to worry about copy rights.  Just a thought.

    Once again, thanks for taking this on.

    TANKS
    Russians
    T-34/76
    T-34/85
    German
    Panzer 3J
    Panther A&D
    Tiger
    British
    Cromwell IV
    Valentine Mk III
    Churchill Mk VII
    U.S.A
    Sherman M4A1
    Stuart M5
    Japan
    Shinhoto Chi Ha
    Ha-Go Type 95

    MECHANIZED INFANTRY (Primarily represented by halftracks)
    Russians
    SU-57
    M-17
    Germany
    SdKfz 250/1 Alt
    SdKfz 251/D1
    British
    Universal Carrier Mk IV
    M5A1
    U.S.A
    M-3
    Japan
    Type 4 Ka-Tsu
    Type 1 Ho-Ha

    ARTILLERY
    Russians
    ZiS-2 57mm
    ZiS-3 67.2mm
    German
    PAK 40 75mm
    PAK 43 88 mm
    British
    6 Pounder 57 mm
    BL 5.5
    U.S.A
    M-1 57mm
    M-2 105 mm
    Japan
    Type 1 47 mm Anti-Tank Gun
    Type 94 75 mm Mountain Gun

    FIGHTERS
    Russians
    Yak-9T
    IL-2
    Germany
    ME-109
    FW-190
    British
    Spitfire
    Hurricane
    Fairey Firefly (Navy)
    U.S.A
    P-51D
    P-47
    P-40
    P-38
    F6F (Navy)
    Japan
    KI-44
    Zero(Navy)

    Dive/Torpedo/attack
    Russians
    Il-2 Shturmovik
    Germany
    Stuka
    British
    A-31 Vengeance
    Hawker Typhoon
    U.S.A
    SBD Dauntless
    Japan
    Aichi DA3 Val

    MEDIUM BOMBERS (represented by two engine bombers)
    Russians
    Petlyakov Pe-2
    Tupolev Tu-2
    Germany
    Heinkel He 111
    Dornier Do 217
    Junkers Ju 88
    Junkers Ju 87 Stuka
    British
    Vickers Wellington
    Bristol Beaufort
    U.S.A
    B-25
    A-26
    Japan
    GM4 Betty
    Nell

    HEAVY BOMBERS (represented by four engine bombers)
    Russians
    TB-3
    Tu-4 (B-29)
    Germany
    Junkers Ju 290
    Junkers Ju 390
    British
    Lancaster
    Manchester
    Halifax
    U.S.A
    B-17
    B-24
    B-29
    Japan
    Mitsubishi Ki-21 Sally
    Nakajima G10N

    BATTLESHIPS
    Russians
    Vanamoinen
    Arkhangelsk
    Germany
    Bismark class
    Sharnhorst
    Lutzow
    Graff Spee
    British
    Hood
    King George V
    Nelson
    Prince of Wales
    U.S.A
    Iowa
    South Dakota
    Arizona
    Japan
    Yamato
    Kongo
    Nagato
    Ise
    Huso

    CARRIERS
    Germany
    Graff Zeplin
    British
    Ark Royal
    Eagle
    Implacable
    Victorious
    U.S.A
    Yorktown
    Enterprise
    Essex
    Japan
    Kaga
    Akagi
    Shokaku
    Ryuzyo

    CRUISERS
    Russians
    Kirov
    Markarov
    Krasnikakaz
    Germany
    Prinz Eugen
    Nurnburg
    Lepzig
    Lutzow
    British
    Sussex
    Ajax
    Belfast
    Southhampton
    Cumberland
    Suffolk
    U.S.A
    Portland
    Atlanta
    Cleavland
    Baltimaore
    Japan
    Kako
    Atago
    Ahigara
    Isuzu
    Kuma

    DESTROYERS
    Russians
    Opitni
    Gromki
    Lennengrad
    Germany
    Beitzen
    Mowe
    Narvik
    Maass class
    British
    C-Class
    Cambelltown
    Cossack
    Hotspur
    Narvak
    Hunt
    U.S.A
    Fletcher
    Gearing
    Allen Summers
    Mahan
    Gridley
    Japan
    Kagero
    Asashio
    Hubuki
    Kuri

    SUBMARINES
    Russians
    K-Class
    P-Class
    V-Class
    Germany
    U-boat Type VII
    U-boat Type IX
    British
    S-Class
    T-Class
    U-Class
    V-Class
    U.S.A
    Gato
    Balao
    S-Class
    Pike
    Japan
    I-15
    I-1
    I-53

    CARGO
    Russians
    Isar
    Neva
    Smolensk
    Germany
    Altmark class
    Erwin Wassner
    Weichsel
    British
    Bacchus
    Reliant
    Abbydale
    U.S.A
    Liberty
    Victory
    Japan
    Kamikaw Maru

  • '10

    One other thought.  If it becomes too expensive to make all of these then I would concentrate on units that you can’t already get from the other A&A games.  Units such as mechanized infantry, cruisers and so on.  Also let’s say someone wants naval aircraft. (You only really need them for the US & Japan) Well you can simply add P-51 & KI-44 to represent land base aircraft.  But if you want to throw one in for the British you can give them a Fairey Firefly. Of if you want to add ground attack aircraft, you add one for every nation except Germany since they already have a Stuka.  Anyway, I’m sure you get the point.  I hope this helps.


  • @Black:

    One other thought.  If it becomes too expensive to make all of these then I would concentrate on units that you can’t already get from the other A&A games.

    i don’t agree. they need to be released in batches. first batch, standard units. focuse on the non-standard ones later. the only reason i state this again is because a large amount of people were dissatisfied with the quality of the pieces in AA50, and it isn’t possible to order replacements directly from the makers of the game to bolster the already low numbers for some nations

    the first batch should just consist of the same amount of units for each nation, the number of each unit type voted upon. so, for examples sake, 20 infantry, 15 tanks, 15 fighters, and so forth in country-specific molds also voted upon

    once this first batch is a success, and if there’s plenty sold so it’s worth FMG’s time and effort to make a second, then you can worry about your additional non-standard molds such as mechanised infantry. i think it’s fair to keep in mind that some people don’t own every game, or just don’t want to chop and change their other A&A’s to make up the unit count


  • @Black:

    Germany
    Lutzow
    Graf Spee

    It should be noted that these are sister ships. The Lutzow(originally Deutschland) was the first in the class of panzerschiff (armored ship). She was followed by the Scheer & the Graf Spee

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