WHERE ARE THE MERCHANT SHIPS? [Archive] - Sails of Glory Anchorage

7eat51

03-12-2013, 22:48

I am in favor a many different types of auxiliary ships such as merchants, gunboats, etc. I imagine, though, that these will be pretty low on the release list, at least not before the Americans and other ships of the War of 1812.

Berthier

03-13-2013, 00:31

My frigates will need something to protect. I hope Ares has one planed for the near future.
I think most commanders will want some in their navy.

Good point, though sales might not be as high. Bit like scouts vs bombers in WOG, I think the fighting planes/ships will get more sales.

Gunner

03-13-2013, 00:42

Good point, though sales might not be as high. Bit like scouts vs bombers in WOG, I think the fighting planes/ships will get more sales.

I feel that it potentially could be one of the largest selling single ships in the fleet, providing that Ares comes up with some good scenarios. Trying to sink large enemy convoys without heavy losses was some of the most fun I had playing age of sail wargames.

Jack Aubrey

03-13-2013, 00:54

I feel that it potentially could be one of the largest selling single ships in the fleet, providing that Ares comes up with some good scenarios. Trying to sink large enemy convoys without heavy losses was some of the most fun I had playing age of sail wargames.

Yes, that`s right !!:cool:

Jack Aubrey

03-13-2013, 01:00

My frigates will need something to protect. I hope Ares has one planed for the near future.
I think most commanders will want some in their navy.

As long as there is no merchant ship from Ares, take one of the "Pirates of the Spanish Main" Series, make your own paper ruler for the firing and sailing angle....and play. Have fun!:cool:

Gunner

03-13-2013, 01:22

As long as there is no merchant ship from Ares, take one of the "Pirates of the Spanish Main" Series, make your own paper ruler for the firing and sailing angle....and play. Have fun!:cool:

Thanks, I will. But I would prefer to have all Ships of Glory navies.

Diamondback

03-13-2013, 02:17

Indeed, us of a more freebootin' inclination be needin' prizes to pillage, me hearties... Yarrrr!

lol

The Royal Hajj

03-13-2013, 07:03

Jack Aubrey

03-13-2013, 07:43

I think Merch ships would also be great to have. Perhaps I could talk to them about running another KS (perhaps 3rd or 4th quarter of this year) just to fund a dual pack of them? But would you guys be willing to drop $35-$40 on them?

Yes, of course, but not the kickstarter way; just produce two or tree different dualpacks (one after other) of those ships and sale it in the normal way...

RichardPF

03-13-2013, 10:56

I think Merch ships would also be great to have. Perhaps I could talk to them about running another KS (perhaps 3rd or 4th quarter of this year) just to fund a dual pack of them? But would you guys be willing to drop $35-$40 on them?

I think that one of the best things about Kickstarter is that it lets the marketplace answer this question for you with actual consumer dollars.

Rather than Ares having to front all of the costs for the creation of a new product that they hope or have anecdotal evidence might work, they can do a Kickstarter project and see if the market is there.

Gunner

03-13-2013, 11:48

Gunner

03-13-2013, 12:35

I think Merch ships would also be great to have. Perhaps I could talk to them about running another KS (perhaps 3rd or 4th quarter of this year) just to fund a dual pack of them? But would you guys be willing to drop $35-$40 on them?

I would prefer lightly armed merchantmen, not the more heavily armed East Indiamen(might as well fight a frigate).

Sea Gull

03-13-2013, 14:09

I think that one of the best things about Kickstarter is that it lets the marketplace answer this question for you with actual consumer dollars.

Rather than Ares having to front all of the costs for the creation of a new product that they hope or have anecdotal evidence might work, they can do a Kickstarter project and see if the market is there.

Yep. So long as the KS isn't too long. Or, so long as they start the production process once they have enough money pledged. A small KS for a couple of new ships wouldn't have much in the way of stretch goals. If it's another 40 day campaign, we could be waiting for 39 days again with the project alreaady fully funded. I'd become very impatient at that point. :o

RichardPF

03-13-2013, 14:32

Yep. So long as the KS isn't too long. Or, so long as they start the production process once they have enough money pledged. A small KS for a couple of new ships wouldn't have much in the way of stretch goals. If it's another 40 day campaign, we could be waiting for 39 days again with the project alreaady fully funded. I'd become very impatient at that point. :o

It will be very interesting to see how the next 5 weeks play out on this site and the KS project.

I would bet that not knowing what response to expect from the Kickstarter project, Ares decided to play it a bit on the safe side.
It will be interesting to see what the timespan of their Galaxy Defenders project looks like.

Of course, I do not believe that there is an active site like this for that game so the personality of how the two projects play out may be quite different.

7eat51

03-13-2013, 18:39

I think Merch ships would also be great to have. Perhaps I could talk to them about running another KS (perhaps 3rd or 4th quarter of this year) just to fund a dual pack of them? But would you guys be willing to drop $35-$40 on them?

If the price of warships is $20 apiece, $40 for two merchants might not go over too well. I think I would need to see some sculpts to determine how much I would pay for them. I am interested in them though.

Hype up a KS and let it last for a week. As Bruce stated, Ares would have some hard data, but market the KS first.

I agree with Gunner - lightly armed.

Blackrose

03-14-2013, 07:11

Well, a couple of EIMs would be nice for senerio building, but yes, run of the mill merchies. And maybe a packet or two.
Karl

The Royal Hajj

03-14-2013, 15:15

I think one pack of 2 merchies and one pack of 2 EIM would be sweet. And I'd be willing to pay the same price as a warship... as the value would be the same to me.... and I know that they would be made in lower quantities.

Gunner

03-14-2013, 15:52

Capt P

03-22-2013, 15:49

Sounds like a great idea to have them.Two dual packs would be good but the more the merrier.

Beowulf03809

03-26-2013, 08:32

I really believe that scenario play (goal oriented) is more enjoyable than just setting up on opposite sides of a table and trying to blow each other up (which can be very fun but gets repetitive fast). If a pack of two small merchant ships was available for about the same price as a single warship I'd probably get a couple packs for each primary fleet I collect.

Wargamer

03-26-2013, 09:18

Why not a triple set, one EIm, 1 lightly armed merchie, and 1 or 2 smaller type merchies. Use this as a support base pack with the various map set add on packs they are offering on ks. That might be worth $40US

Alternately, you could run your frigates as unarmed troop transports and try to ship a few battalions to your enemies back yard. En flute.
http://books.google.com/books?id=BqeidJifvckC&pg=PA106&lpg=PA106&dq=horatio+hornblower,++en+flute&source=bl&ots=SPk_VJAF5Y&sig=yWhg3Ottlq5-fm6ZbWwRh6X_chs&hl=en&sa=X&ei=2LtRUc6yMoPS9AT_74HwDQ&ved=0CEUQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=horatio%20hornblower%2C%20%20en%20flute&f=false

Got to love scenarios!

7eat51

03-26-2013, 12:28

I really believe that scenario play (goal oriented) is more enjoyable than just setting up on opposite sides of a table and trying to blow each other up (which can be very fun but gets repetitive fast).

I'm in full agreement. This has changed the way we play WGF. Even if a given game ends up being primarily dogfights, the narrative background and goals adds a significant amount to the game, especially when tied into victory conditions. A recent game from a fellow pilot resulted in a completed mission without any aerial combat:
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/showthread.php?14243-TFM-Mission1-Where-are-we-The-wasps-start-buzzing-around-(Nightbomber)

Beowulf03809

03-26-2013, 12:45

7eat51

03-26-2013, 12:57

NO! Must NOT look...at another...interesting...forum....
I was investigating WGF when I discovered the SoG kickstarter. I can't look directly at that game until I'm fully committed in SoG for my own sanity (and sake of standing with the Admiral).

Don't worry about not playing WGF. By ignoring it you're only leaving behind one of the best games many of us have ever played, great minis, wonderful opportunities to engage other friends and family members, and another fantastic online and in-person community. Other than that, you aren't missing anything. Really. :wink:

I am trying to stay away from WGS, by-the-way.

Coog

03-26-2013, 13:12

I am trying to stay away from WGS, by-the-way.

Give in to the Dark Side young Jedi.:sly:

David Manley

03-26-2013, 13:34

I've been playing AoS for, what, nearly 30 years now. Warship actions are fun but the era really comes alive when you have "ice cream vans" to protect or ravage. Our best campaign games have involved assaults on convoys, cutting out operations rescue missions, etc.

RichardPF

03-26-2013, 13:36

Give in to the Dark Side young Jedi.:sly:

SHMBO may have shoes, but...

2739

2740

Beowulf03809

03-26-2013, 13:45

Yikes...do you store them in the packaging or have you honestly never opened them????

7eat51

03-26-2013, 13:54

SHMBO may have shoes, but...

Hey Bruce, just in case you were unaware, but SoG has a sister game called Wings of Glory. It used to be Wings of War. It is a WWI game with lots of different minis of planes and balloons.

David Manley

03-26-2013, 14:12

Yikes...do you store them in the packaging or have you honestly never opened them????

I store mine in the packaging. Its perfectly good for that :)

BonhommeRichard

03-26-2013, 15:03

i think merchant vessels would make a great scenerio

RichardPF

03-26-2013, 17:13

Hey Bruce, just in case you were unaware, but SoG has a sister game called Wings of Glory. It used to be Wings of War. It is a WWI game with lots of different minis of planes and balloons.

Thanks, I'll check it out!:wink:

RichardPF

03-26-2013, 17:34

Yikes...do you store them in the packaging or have you honestly never opened them????

Most of these have been opened and have been used at least once.
The stacks of boxes near the back of the top shelf are mostly for the planes on their bases on the mantle.
I have just not reboxed them. I tend to leave about 10 or so out of the boxes and ready to use at any time.
I have been meaning to buy some storage/transport cases but just never have.

The Balloons in the picture are not open.
I pulled them out of "the closet" (where I store all of my "don't open this" ones) for the pictures this morning.

The Duel Packs (middle shelf) are unopened. I have been buying them recently to give to friends the first time I have them over to introduce them to the game.

7eat51

03-26-2013, 20:16

The Duel Packs (middle shelf) are unopened. I have been buying them recently to give to friends the first time I have them over to introduce them to the game.

Great idea, and nice collection. I wish I had gotten into WoG much earlier - many of the older planes are quite nice. Too expensive now. It is pretty nice to be here in the beginning of SoG. I usually show up when everyone is leaving.

Ship's Cat

03-26-2013, 21:12

Merchant ships would be awesome. In the ideal world, as a stretch goal in the current Kickstarter!

RichardPF

03-26-2013, 22:16

Great idea, and nice collection. I wish I had gotten into WoG much earlier - many of the older planes are quite nice. Too expensive now. It is pretty nice to be here in the beginning of SoG. I usually show up when everyone is leaving.

I guess we would be hard pressed to estimate what the demand curve elasticity for SoG will look like, but a $35 or so street price playable two ship set analagous to the WoG duel pack that would provide a lower customer entry point might make some sense.

It appears from the last announced stretch goal parameters that Ares is mindful of the whole "Breadth of Market" concept too.

:embarass:
>>>OK, now I will snap out of it and realize that I am a software engineer not an MBA<<<

Sea Gull

03-27-2013, 04:59

:embarass:
>>>OK, now I will snap out of it and realize that I am a software engineer not an MBA<<<

:smack: :happy:

Andy Blozinski

03-29-2013, 21:25

I usually run my mash-up rules at conventions with the players just squaring off to sink each other as two teams. I'm thinking the merchant raider vs escort scenario might be more interesting. I have some 1/900th scale minis I'm currently using. I'm thinking on just using them for the merchant ships unless Ares releases some merchant ships.

OK guys...start giving me scenario ideas. I prefer the players run frigates or minimal SsOL. At the Lt level I get (4) frigates and (4) 74 gun SsOL. Until I get a better look at everything, I'm thinking that's the limit for a convention game with everyone running one ship.

7eat51

03-29-2013, 21:50

OK guys...start giving me scenario ideas. I prefer the players run frigates or minimal SsOL. At the Lt level I get (4) frigates and (4) 74 gun SsOL. Until I get a better look at everything, I'm thinking that's the limit for a convention game with everyone running one ship.

Here's an interesting one in which East Indiaman Merchants actively engaged:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Pulo_Aura

Check out the fourth voyage for an escort and merchant engagement:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exeter_(1792)