Everyone,

I think that we, as a community, need to come up with a list of questions to bring up to the WizKids representatives and make them ANSWER them with CLEAR, DEFINITIVE answers.

1) Sir, you state that WizKids received many complaints that changes needed to be made to the various games: Mage Knight, Mechwarrior, HeroClix...where exactly were these complaints coming from? (For elaboration) No indication was given by WizKids that any such consideration was being made for the games. Why didn't WK indicate there were concerns and allow the Mechwarrior (MK, HC) community the chance to hear this and respond?

2) In 2002, when Jordan Weisman premiered Mechwarrior at DragonCon, he headed a panel where he stated, in no uncertain terms, that Mechwarrior would NOT have any pieces retired / banned / or in any other way restricted from normal gameplay, why is WizKids now going back on that statement, and how can we, as a community, trust that WizKids is not going to make other changes that goes against their promises to the Mechwarrior community in the future?

3) You have indicated that "retired" pieces would still be available to use for "Unrestricted" events. However, Wizkids does not currently sponsor any "Unrestricted" events and the next few months do not indicate any are expected to be held, nor have they supported many since the new changes were put into effect back in August of 2003. With that in mind, why should we believe that "Unrestricted" events will be a continual factor in the future WizKids-supported format? After all, the last six months show a disdain on WizKids' part for Unrestricted events as a whole.

4) Mechwarrior, and other WK gaming lines, are held up to be "collectible miniature games - CMGs" and yet, with the "retiring" of certain pieces, won't this adversely affect the "collectibility" of those sets that you retire? Why would someone continue to value a piece highly, even one as desireable as say...Mason Dunne, if the piece is only available for a minority of events?

5) Certain sets focus on certain pieces that have particular effects in the overall Mechwarrior game: Fire For Effect - Artillery / Transports, DFA - VTOLS / Repair vehicles, etc. By "retiring" particular sets, you are effectively reorganizing the mode of gameplay significantly. How can players establish a firm grasp of the game's intricasies and develop their abilities if they are constantly being forced to abandon pieces that work effectively on the playing field?

6) Certain sets also focus on certain Factions: FFE introduced the Republic, DFA introduced Stormhammers, LI introduced Liao...by "retiring" these sets, you are effectively penalizing players who have developed a preference for particular factions. How do you intend to avoid doing this?

7) It was mentioned that the standard would be the most current "base set" and the three most recent expansions. Are you saying that WizKids will, on a cyclical basis RECREATE the base set using previous sets' pieces?

8) (Follow-up for #7) If so, aren't you effectively forcing players to buy the same pieces they already had from the older "retired" sets, and thus using the "base set" concept as a way of padding WizKids' sales due to a bogus requirement of continually "updating the base set"?

9) WizKids stated that one of the reasons for this move was because there were new players who felt they could not truly get into the game due to the older, more experienced players having all the "good pieces". What research has WizKids conducted that gives the impression that there is a large, untapped group of new players, waiting to enter into the game...if only the "playing field" is leveled?

10) (Follow-up for #9) Isn't it true that those who are interested in Mechwarrior are already playing the game and, by alienating these loyal players who have invested THOUSANDS of dollars into the Mechwarrior game, WizKids risks losing a substantial portion of their player-base?

11) Why is WizKids focusing on "retiring" old sets they believe are either outdated or overpowered when they should be focusing on how to make each new set balanced, avoiding the uber-pieces of the past expansions? (Examples: SS Arrow IV, SS DI Towed AA Artillery, etc)

12) Based on the poor game-testing of the game's piecesup to this point, why has WizKids not focused on ways to improve their game-design and game-testing stages in order to better create pieces that don't immediately dominate the board and gain the title of "Uber-piece" from the moment it is released?

13) There are many of us who were originally CBT players and now find this "retirement" of pieces to be nothing more than a ploy by WizKids to increase sales by artificially cycling older pieces out and thus creating an artificial need to "keep up with the Joneses" in order to stay competitive in the tournament scene. What can you say or do in order to convince us that this is not WizKids' intention?

14) Since the overhaul of the Tournament Program back in August of 2003, we as a community have seen a marked reduction in the number of tournaments & the QUALITY of thought put into the design of these tournaments (i.e. the special rules and conditions). WizKids now runs one game-story scenario and one sealed booster event, with an occasional HTH event tossed in. The last two months has seen 2 or 3 events (not including Demos) at best, and those events with rules are poorly designed and implimented. What is WizKids doing to try to change this trend?

These are but a few of the questions we could pose to them. I invite anyone who will be attending the chat (I'll be there) to use these questions if you wish.

Regards,

Troy Light

Troy, I really like your list of questions, you've covered almost everything I would have (sole exception being whether the rumors about one or more existing MW factions being permanently dropped are true or not). Unfortunately, my schedule will probably prevent me from joining in the discussion, as much as I'd like to. Any chance you (or someone else) could "capture" the dialogue and post it here after the fact for those of us who won't be able to participate? Thanks.

I got to say, this is a very well presented list of questions. Good luck with those.

Very well thought out and I think this could turn things around. and if it does Troy thank you, I think we all would thank you

I think these questions address nearly all our concerns.

So when and with whom shall we discuss these?

Anyone know a WizKids or Topps representative?

One important thing I think needs saying... before asking ANY of those questions, we need to ask this:

1> What is the purpose of this interview? Is it intended to measure support (or lack thereof) for the proposed changes before making the decision, or is this interview simply a PR song and dance intended as an attempt at damage control?

Whoever asks it needs to make sure to clarify/reask/elaborate until they get a VERY solid answer. PR types and politicians love giving soft dodgy answers and one of those simply will not do on this question.

and i will ask warflail's question

It is too bad that the store level people we can easily talk to are not involved in the decision making process because I go to an actual WK storefront for one of my venues. Otherwise I would simply ask them (and actually expect a response.). It might be worthwhile to get a mass mailing flood going. Say print out those questions and mail them to the front office and see if being buried under tons of player concerns can make an impreesion on WK.

Very good set of questions.

According to the faq they released, the chat will comment on the whys of the changes, and apparently hear the comments. still, even the faq admits this will not change easily as they have "taken a lot of thought into it".

good luck to whoever Asks and answers them (I cant come because of work), and rest assured, this chat could ver well hold the future of WK on the line. (this is not a threat BTW, its very real, and i just thought everyone should keep this in mind)

The chat will be at 4pm PST / 7pm EST. I intend to be there in the "front row" with my hand raised continually until they either get sick of hearing my questions, or decide to shut me down.

All, I'm definitely going to be there and I intend to get answers, you can rest assured there. I am an old CBT'er and I've gone through this kind of nonsense before. You get assurances that your game is not going to change, and they lie to you and you find that they completely revamped it.

NOT MECHWARRIOR!

Troy Light

"You can retire my Bart Bradshaw only when you take it from my cold, dead hand!!"

Well put marauder727. And thanks Troy...that in my opinion is a good set of questions. In my mind I can pretty much understand that this is a sales move but Id like to hear their side as well..wizkids that is. Its good you took the initiative to come up with as much organized response as you can. Posting in the threads was my only way to let my displeasure known but in a more controlled and decent way. Your action will carry the message definitely.

Other important questions that should be asked...

Does Wizkids realize that gamers (for good reason, given the history of the industry as a whole) are extremely unforgiving of perceived lies by gaming companies?

Does Wizkids realize that for the last 20 years, gamers have ultimately associated the health of the games they play with the health of the standard format of that game (in MWDA the standard format being 450pt constructed head to head)?

Does Wizkids realize that many players view Wizkids assertation that they are not actually banning units because these units will still be playable in Unrestricted format to be both an insult to their intelligences and a lie?

Does Wizkids honestly believe that the reason the game is not newbie friendly or dynamic is because of the unavailability of older units?

I'm sure there are more, but these will do for now. The following is important enough that I think it warrants repeating about 10,000 times, writing in a big font, and tattooing onto eyeballs:

It is absolutely critical that the questions asked not be dodged. If the answer provided is not clear, is dodging the intent of the question, is not answered adequately, etc, then ask the question again. With clarification making the question harder to dodge. Until such time as a hard answer is provided. This topic is too important for the questions to be dodged, for fuzzy answers to be given, etc.

The only thing I'd add would be to ask:

What's being done to improve the generally poor communication between Wizkids and its players/customers?

What's the point of keeping the contents of a new release secret? We know you think it builds anticipation, but since we already anticipate a new release isn't that kinda redundant?

Great set of questions marauder, and good luck with getting answers. My prior commitments prevent me from being able to watch but I hope you get strait answers, and if they try not to answer the questions I think that is not the way a company should treat the people that put food on there tables. Just my 2 cents.

I don't agree with your cause, but I will provide some advice to help you anyway. I read you questions carefully. Some of them are fine. Some of them are very aggressive questions. When asking questions, you should avoid saying outright, or obviously implying, that WK is corrupt or lying (for example, the word "bogus" in question 8). This is a good way to get the WK liason to ignore you and your future questions in favor of another. Also, don't forget that this man works for WK. There are limits to what he allowed to say. There are also limits to the knowledge he may actually have (if they haven't set a plan in stone, he can't tell exact details). Pestering him precise details when he can't give them (either due to lack of knowledge or company policy) will have the same affect as aggressive questions.

I'll see you there in the front seat next to you. But, while your questions will be aimed at proving this is a bad idea, mine will be aimed at showing why it is a good idea.

SYB