(Message edb:503)
Date:    Fri, 07 Jul 2000 14:13:26 PDT
To:      L5RINFO@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM
From:    Edward Bolme <edwardb@FRPG.COM>
Subject: Re: [L5RINFO] Panic (was: Needless panic)

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> But so far, the naysayers have been right about *EVERYTHING*.

I respectfully disagree. Let's address the various points in your rant.
Re-reading this, some of this may sound sarcastic, please trust me that it
isn't. I'm trying to fight fear with fact, so read this assuming I'm a nice
guy. ;)

> When FRPG was first sold to WotC, some people
> screamed about how it would kill the game.   Dave and Ryan assured us that
> nothing would change, that the cards were the same, and the
> design team was the same... except Ryan soon left.

Yes, he left. Did this harm the game? Luke took over, and I'd say he did a
good job. Then I took over. Now it's Steve's turn. What was the down-side of
Ryan leaving (other than I didn't get to work with him on a daily basis)? It
didn't destroy the game. I'd dare say there were even no bad effects. Not to
say Ryan was worthless, but that he chose his successor well.

> The DCI took over tournaments, and people screamed about
> how their points would never be right (see the recent
> thread, "DCI points STILL not right"), but the high-ups told us it would
> open up opportunities for more and better tournaments.

There are errors in the points, yes. That's why the DCI has appeals. But at
the same time, we've been running more and more L5R tournaments. The GSTs
get bigger almost every time. So I'd say we we -- the naysayers and WotC --
were both right, although points are easier and quicker to fix than a lack
of tournaments. And the DCI has gotten better tournament reporting, on-line
point searches, etc. If the few errors in points are the cost of more and
bigger and better tournaments, then I think we chose well.

> Then, in the name
> of marketing to new players, the card design changed to the visually
> much-less-interesting Pearl format.   Some people yelled about how WotC
was
> killing the game, but the powers-that-be assured us that the move was
> beneficial.

And both sales and the player base have grown since that time. Rather
startlingly, I might add, especially when contrasted against the declining
sales during Rolling Thunder. We keep selling out our print runs, which sure
makes me happy. Also, on a personal note, I infinitely prefer the new frames
and will trade anyone old cards for new, 1-for-1. And I was one of the ones
against the frame change when it was being done.

> then out goes the remnants of japanese terminology...

KILL THIS RUMOR.

So on your rant, you had three points:
        Ryan left
        DCI arrived
        Frames changed

The first I see as a non-effect. For the other two I think I have addressed
the costs and effects realistically. The remainder of your rant is rumor and
speculation, about which the nay-sayers cannot be right (at least not at
this time).

> Andy, you're the bext thing to ever happen to L5R Customer Service. I love
> the way the Herald has changed *entirely* for the better since you've come
> on board.

In part, you can also thank the DCI for that.

> Ed, nobody rallies the fans like you do, and we all love you for it.   We
> love the way you take an active role as Brand Manager and interact so much
> with us.

Thank you.

> From what it sounds like, you're all making a huge mistake.

Mistake with what? Taking the design in-house? It was a tough choice, to be
sure. But there is a lot of overhead trying to develop an integrated
property with an out-of-house team, and the removal of that overhead will be
nothing but good. As for the rest, wait for Steve to post some particulars.

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