Who is really the person who is actively controlling this game at FFG?

I am a writer for the newspaper in Anderson, IN and I would like to do a story about the game to help stir up interest and get me some more players in this area. So far I've not gotten a response to an email I sent to the publicity department. Anyone have any way to contact someone who might help me get this off the ground? I figured with the HBO news coming out this wouldn't be a bad time to try and attract some interest.

The lead developer (for this and the entire LCG line) is Nate French. I'm not sure you'd say he is "controlling" the game for FFG (i.e., he's not the guy for advertising, organized play, etc.), but he is the most important guiding force as far as the player community is concerned.

Didn't you try this like three years ago at teh time of your last return? I don't recall if you ever got the interview off - but I do recall some buzz about it.

Yes, I spoke with Eric at GenCon and wrote an article. It did a bit of good but it didn't last. Since that time the game has shifted to LCG and then there's the higher possible visibility of the HBO production so I thought the impact might be larger this time.

ktom said:

Just curious, does anyone know how the cards are actually made? Does Nate just sit down and write out some cards and then find someone to playtest with, or are there more people besides Nate that have an active role in coming up with the cards?

schrecklich said:

There are playtest teams both within and outside of FFG. At times I believe both Eric Lang (the original mechanics) and maybe even GRRM (just to approve the overall game) might have a say as well - but I might be wrong, both are very busy people.

RE: GRRM -- he might have some say at a very high level regarding the themes of new expansions and perhaps story elements shown on the cards (when they go beyond the timeline shown in the books), but I don't he gets into much detail because I've heard him say in an interview that he hasn't learned how to play the CCG/LCG because CCGs are too complicated for him (though he has played a lot of RPGs and said that he has played the FFG board game as well).

Apparently FFG feels the game doesn't need my help in getting the word out. That's a shame. I've posted in a few places looking for central Indiana players and have gotten just one response so it seems that there is some work to be done here. I will go ahead and do a story without FFG's assistance as the newspaper where I work has just yesterday agreed to give me a section on its website called Rick's Rec Room for posting gaming stories. It should be up and running by Monday or Tuesday.

I hope the rest of you in other parts of the country are having more success than I finding a play group. Good luck.

Who did you try to contact? Did they actually refuse your offer or did they just not return your email? I know I've emailed Nate a few times only to have him contact me weeks later never having seen my email. ~apparently being the lead designer on a few games makes him and his inbox a pretty popular. Who knew?

You may want to actually see about contacting the marketing department of FFG directly, or even calling their office in Roseville and talking to whoever answers the phone to be transfered to the right individual.

If it's a matter of them not responding to email, you might want to try calling them (number is on the contact page). They're hiring for some marketing position, so it might be the marketing dept, which I suspect would be responsible for responding to your request, is understaffed and falling behind on email.

I appreciate the suggestions. I don't have Nate's email. I tried the email twice that's listed for public relations requests.

I've sent an email to the marketing manager at FFG to alert him to this thread; hopefully you'll hear back.

rickert said:

i think you can send an e-mail directly to nate from here . If not then add that profile as a friend and in your friend message write your e-mail to hi.