FFGs boardgames are above awesome, it's handling of CoC is not. Up until now I have bought every expansion of CoC and up until it's lcg phase I have had no real complaints. The ccg did what it needed to do and when it didn't, it got through on it's flavor and great atmosphere. In comparison, the lcg is a sloppy mess with no real engaging gameplay, dull cards ( with one or two execptions if used with the ccg), and seemingly no concept of the atmosphere of Lovecraft's writings. I bought the Julia series, but unless the current designers actually read a Lovecraft story or two and learn how to proofread, that will be the end of it for me. If they don't care, why should we?

FFG will still get some of my money though, the BSG boardgame is one of the best I've ever played, and I've never not enjoyed a game of Arkham Horror.

What is "BSG" please ?

Chick

Most like BattleStar Galactica - an excellent cooperative (mostly) board game.

So, now we're saying we have to wait for six more releases of knelt phases and trait mechanics before we see James' influence? I guess Dreamlands would have to be far beyond the point of being a complete departure from Summons. Hopefully we do witness a learning curve, even still.

When is the first Dreamlands AP coming out? I forget the timing of the cycle?

More important, now we know beyond the shadow of a doubt that there will be a set after Dreamlands. Or we inferred in a stretch from an off-hand reference. What's the difference.

AP Cycle III - Newt Aeon

FFGHata said:

Hello to you too.

It might be dumb question, but, since I am dumb I might as well ask it: supposing Dreamlands set will feature the same amount of troubles Summons did (and this is not such a far fetched hypothesis, given that Dreamlands has already been sent to printing without having gone through the improved quality control, and a few spoilered cards shown what could be some problems too -Night / Day being a subtype no more, attach to nothing attachments-), is there any plan to "sweeten the pill" while we wait for the new, improved quality control to come online?

What I mean is: will us fan have to grin and bear it with just patience or is FFG planning to provide some incentives to get through another 6 Asylum Packs at lower quality?

Thank you for your time and your answer.

First, FFGHata, thank you for your post I appreciate you taking the time to keep us in the loop.

In regards to the Dreamlands set not having the quality control we're looking forward to in the future:

Perhaps we can see some of it in this FAQ we're all waiting for at the edge of our seats. Maybe they can look at the cards coming out in Dreamlands and pre-errata them? That way when we start playing with them, there's no questions about odd things like Day cards lacking the Day Subtype?

can't we get official word if we can use the black bordered ccg cards that are the same as the ones in the core set for gencon?

-SmashSplitter (long time player)

Probably not. I'd guess everyone is either at GenCon already or on the way and only a skeleton crew is in the office. Unless someone checks in with their laptop, I don't think anyone can respond.

Probably safest to assume only white bordered cards. Then you are good for either situation.

FFGHata said:

Man... do I reget deciding to look at these boards again. First off. Congrats James. With any luck you'll be able to fix the problems with this game and it can return to its former glory.

Ok, now that me being not completely fustrated part is over... Let me try to understand this. Eric Lang creates awesome game. Brings in other designers who, for a while, did a fine job. Things start to go a little south when some of the Rituals and Champion cards start coming out. Somewhere in there they bring Nate in to completely take over CoC. Even though hes wasn't a CoC player. The game takes a nose dive as far as balance is concerned and issuse a re-boot to the game. Before last year's championship in which I sadly took second in I threw myself at the FFG staff pleading with them to take me in and let me (a CoC player) help with the rebuilding process. Of course, other than the discussion regarding the 'event' was never contacted again.

Then not much happens until now as the James says hes now on the team (which is aparenlty like... 2 people now as opposed to a team of 1). Only to my suprise that Mr. Hata is also not a CoC player (at least not a noted one, but I'm sure he is a CoC player now). While I'm sure James that you are an awesome UFC player, and maybe even a great card designer (have to admit... this would be the first I've personally heard of you so I"m mostly just going off of what has been posted) so please don't take my little rant here as anything negative towards you.

Now, I might be crazy here... but...normally wouldn't it be a good idea to assign/hire people who are already very familiar with the game?

I don't know. Things haven't gone so well for me since last year's gencon(both gaming and non-gaming aspects of my life) and seeing all this seems to have put me in worse mood than I was before. So I apologize if I came off a bit rash, however it would've bugged me the entire convention if I didn't at least get that off my chest.

Take care,

Tom Capor

Magnus Arcanis said:

Hey, good to see you again, and I hope your situation (both gaming and non) improves. I remember some of your "forum articles" in the old boards and, even though sometimes I didn't agree 100% with them, I found them interesting, informative and generally speaking very good, much better then the official codexes or articles for instance.

Anyway, enjoy the convention and have fun.

Carioz said:

Good to see old friends as always. Thanks for the hopes (in some desperate need of those lately) and glad you liked the articles, and you can bet that I'll have fun one way... or another

Wish things didn't turn out the way they did. I had planned on doing a lot more of those articles, but hey we can't always get what we want.

Maybe this is because I'm what you'd call a casual gamer, or maybe it's because I enjoy the decision-making involved in playing the game a lot more than I do strategic deckbuilding, but I've been largely fine with the new asylum packs and the move to white border. I mean, not all of the cards have been winners, but not all of the cards in the CCG were winners; largely the problem is the relatively small card pool, and given time (hopefully not too much), I think the card selection will get to the point where the game is much better than the CCG was, assuming FFG can keep the "broken" combos in check.

I think all of the Summons of the Deep asylum packs have had a variety of interesting cards to offer thus far (some good, some not). As long as none of the future packs are as bad as Mountains of Madness / Ancient Horrors, I think the game will be fine over time, providing the card pool keeps expanding and quality control is stepped up.