Instant gratification mentality. If they can't have it all right now then **** hits the fan.

Some might be able to budget 6 packs over 6 months, not weeks. That's fine. You are paying the same amount. But because you can't afford it all right now you just want to take your ball and go home?

I can't afford these things on my off weeks from a paycheck. So I'll either just ask my FLGS if they mind holding one for a week and I get two a paycheck, or I just wait. Not like I'm in any hurry to big events or anything.

3 minutes ago, Koriume said:

... if they were to change it, they should have told.

They just did.

Seems to me they are just priming the pump for Kotei events. First expansion pack should be legal for the Pax Unplugged kotei if they release it right after Worlds. Also sets the stage for a wider release of cards before GenCon and Worlds next year. And it might help Unicorn players a great deal - perhaps FFG has realized that there is a big gap between Unicorn and everyone else in just the core set ?

Annnnnnd... Makes me wonder if indeed we are getting Mantis clan in a deluxe expansion sooner rather than later. Gives Mantis players a chance to catch up before GenCon and Worlds next year....

4 minutes ago, Shu2jack said:

Some might be able to budget 6 packs over 6 months, not weeks. That's fine. You are paying the same amount. But because you can't afford it all right now you just want to take your ball and go home?

Well, I can't imagine FFG is doing 6 pack in 6 weeks then leaving the release channel dry for 4-6 months until whatever the next cycle is was going to start normally. It's probably safe to assume other stuff will be pushed up to fill the gap.

Any way you slice it, it is a higher cost over time for some period of time. For some, that's negligible. For others, not so much. *shrug*

26 minutes ago, feydruatha said:

You trusted a policy that does not exist outside of your own head. I get that that could be frustrating, but give blame where blame is due.

and what has really changed between today and yesterday?

I don´t agree. LCG is now more than a simple nomination. Of course I am not talking about anything legally based, I am just saying that, as a customer, I expected ffg to do things different. The new schedule does not appeal me, but I don´t claim to change that. I just say: hey, you should have told. Not me... but all your customers.

It is not only in my head.

" While the LCG Core Sets provide a fantastic stand-alone game experience, those that wish to can expand even further! Monthly installments of expansion packs, each with a full playset of fixed cards, provide ongoing and regular additions to the available card pool. These expansion packs add customization, variety, and an ongoing sense of theme to your experiences with the game, while evolving the play environment in exciting new ways."

But even without that on ffg page, the experience and previous behaviour of the company creates expectations. Not obligations, indeed, but if you are going to change the expectations of your customers, you better inform them on time to avoid them to be upset, or at least avoid the risk of diminishing customer confidence.

28 minutes ago, Koriume said:

I dont think it is fair to say it this way. First, I would like to clarify that i dont claim that this is a dirty trick. I just say I dont like the way the are doing this.

But I have been playing LCGs for like ten years now, I have played four of them. LCG is now a trademark of a schedule and playset. I think its the other way around: if they were to change it, they should have told.

Since this is the first time I am speaking directly to you, let me say welcome to the game and thank you for trying to promote it. While I did say "anyone" I wasn't specifically targeting you as the culprit that called FFG a Scorpion.........er I mean underhanded.

While you might have had expectations about this game based on your previous experience with other LCG's, L5R is not like any other game. I don't say this to make anyone feel bad for playing something besides L5R or that the game is superior to all others, it's just that no other game has a 20+ year history and fanbase prior to release. This puts a certain amount of expectations out there for FFG to meet that they have never had to meet before. FFG couldn't put all the stuff that the old players loved into the core set.........there are no Shadowlands, Ratling, Kolat, Magistrates, Naga, Mantis, minor clans, Dragons (creature not clan) etc. That would have been overwhelming to a new player and cost upwards of $100+ out the gate. FFG has to make the attempt to recapture the old players, which will likely want to move past the initial core only format rather quickly.

The die hard fans and competitive players will pay their money to catch up. The new players pay $40 and get to see if they like this game, which is seems you do. So enjoy it at your own pace. Spread out those first 6 packs like you normally would. If your group is going to get competitive, and plan on attending any of the major events that occur shortly after these cards are released, then I'm sure you can all band together and figure it out

edit -

That being said, you do bring a really good point about prior LCG distribution trends. It's kind of hard to quantify how this different approach will impact the game. I suppose when they invent time travel, I'll come back in time, become the owner of FFG and force them to follow the normal release schedule they have with other games and see which way is better and count how many "same old LCG release schedule, this game is boring, how do you expect to grow a game that doesn't get interesting for 6 months" threads their are and compare. lol

16 minutes ago, Kakita Shiro said:

They just did.

Well, I mean before releasing the main product... obviously.

1 hour ago, StompingGrounds said:

"Shaking news?" Quite dramatic. *shrug* All of my customers are extremely hyped about this news. Not a single one finds it to be even remotely bad, and especially not "shaking."

Well that settles it, you like it and a few there so nothing to see, no issue.
In other news world hunger is solved as someone is not hungry.

15 minutes ago, Ishi Tonu said:

Since this is the first time I am speaking directly to you, let me say welcome to the game and thank you for trying to promote it. While I did say "anyone" I wasn't specifically targeting you as the culprit that called FFG a Scorpion.........er I mean underhanded.

While you might have had expectations about this game based on your previous experience with other LCG's, L5R is not like any other game. I don't say this to make anyone feel bad for playing something besides L5R or that the game is superior to all others, it's just that no other game has a 20+ year history and fanbase prior to release. This puts a certain amount of expectations out there for FFG to meet that they have never had to meet before. FFG couldn't put all the stuff that the old players loved into the core set.........there are no Shadowlands, Ratling, Kolat, Magistrates, Naga, Mantis, minor clans, Dragons (creature not clan) etc. That would have been overwhelming to a new player and cost upwards of $100+ out the gate. FFG has to make the attempt to recapture the old players, which will likely want to move past the initial core only format rather quickly.

The die hard fans and competitive players will pay their money to catch up. The new players pay $40 and get to see if they like this game, which is seems you do. So enjoy it at your own pace. Spread out those first 6 packs like you normally would. If you're group is going to get competitive, and plan on attending any of the major events that occur shortly after these cards are released, then I'm sure you can all band together and figure it out

First of all, thank you for your kind words.

I understand your point. I played L5r 20 years ago... All I am saying is: they should have notified this one month ago. That would have been a good policy that shows respect for the customers. If they had done that, I would have probably not bought the 3 cores I have (for many reasons). But my trust in ffg policy would have not diminished.

2 hours ago, Braxton said:

How often will competitive events be held? I understand the desire to get it all to be competitive but will there be events that will make buying these right away important? Time will tell.

I live in Madrid (Spain) and by the time i was playing the CCG we got one competitive event per week at least. Sometimes more.

I really hate this idea. The reason I got into L5R was because it was new and I would have time to learn and fully experience the game at the same time as everyone else.

Also it was going to be affordable, after initially buying three core sets I would easily be able to keep up with around £15 a month.

Now we’ll be flooded with new cards and combinations and asked to spend a lot of money on the game before I’ve even really experienced it.

I can see how this favours more competitive and more obsessive players but it’s a massive negative for me.

Actually thinking of selling out my three core sets now and giving up.

1 minute ago, ayedubbleyoo said:

I really hate this idea. The reason I got into L5R was because it was new and I would have time to learn and fully experience the game at the same time as everyone else.

Also it was going to be affordable, after initially buying three core sets I would easily be able to keep up with around £15 a month.

Now we’ll be flooded with new cards and combinations and asked to spend a lot of money on the game before I’ve even really experienced it.

I can see how this favours more competitive and more obsessive players but it’s a massive negative for me.

Actually thinking of selling out my three core sets now and giving up.

^This

We should know how long will take the next cycle. Rly. We need that to know is affordable, I ******* love the game, the mechanics, the clans, the lore, the comunnity. But I dont have time to learn at this rythm and eenjoy how the game growths up

9 minutes ago, Larac said:

Well that settles it, you like it and a few there so nothing to see, no issue.
In other news world hunger is solved as someone is not hungry.

Well that settles it, you don't like it and a few there so everything to see, major issue.

In other news, world hunger is at all times highs as someone is hungry.

1 minute ago, Koriume said:

I understand your point. I played L5r 20 years ago... All I am saying is: they should have notified this one month ago. That would have been a good policy that shows respect for the customers. If they had done that, I would have probably not bought the 3 cores I have (for many reasons). But my trust in ffg policy would have not diminished.

Hard to say. I try not to dabble in "shoulda, woulda, coulda" land............that much.

If FFG came out and announced that they were going to release the core set and a bunch of packs right after that, that might have signaled that they did not have faith in the IP and just wanted to recoup their losses on the purchase, but, were bailing out. Old players of the CCG might have got cold feet remembering all the factory direct sets that came along and helped run the game into the ground.

Who knows.

I'd like to think that the amount of time and continued support FFG is putting into this game, the tournaments, prizes, the RPG, the Board Game.......etc. would help assure people that L5R is in good hands with FFG. I trust they had a reason, and I'm very doubtful that reason was to trick unsuspecting customers into buying a great game and then punish them with a whole much more cards to play with.

10 minutes ago, Larac said:

Well that settles it, you like it and a few there so nothing to see, no issue.
In other news world hunger is solved as someone is not hungry.

Right, because the vocal minority isn't a real thing. You're going to hear more from the complainers and less from those that love this.

I really hope you said that with arms flailing widely. If not, my imagery is broken. I mean seriously... a "world hunger" parallel? We need more crowns to distribute, apparently.

17 minutes ago, StompingGrounds said:

Right, because the vocal minority isn't a real thing. You're going to hear more from the complainers and less from those that love this.

You're not wrong, so I'm going to buck the trend.

I absolutely LOVE this.

1 hour ago, dysartes said:

He trusted that FFG would release packs for an LCG block at the usual rate - feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe this is the first time FFG have done an accelerated release, so why would Koriume have any reason to expect otherwise?

The accelerated release schedule has changed - if Koriume has positioned the usual rate of release with his players, and they've budgeted around that, then an accelerated pace of release could put people off.

Well, expectations for LCG releases should also be that FFG misses their announced window by 1-3 months, do you want to hold up that as a standard they should stick to just because it is the norm? I did not think so.

It has been clear for a while that FFG has refined their strategy for LCG's, and I think a block out the gate is the new normal. it is better for the long-term health of the games.

As for why was it not announced before now...there are hundreds of reasons that a company would not announce an optional product until the main product has launched. None of those reasons are a conspiracy against players like you or Koriume .

FFG does a fair bit of market analysis, and this is the move they decided is best for the game's long-term health, they don't want to burn down the license they just spend a ton of money acquiring and developing.

I and many others agree with them.

Like theaficionado, I too love this decision. Especially leading up to christmas. I can wish for expansion packs in my (L5R) christmas stocking!

5 minutes ago, Togashi Ayame said:

Like theaficionado, I too love this decision. Especially leading up to christmas. I can wish for expansion packs in my (L5R) christmas stocking!

I personally don't want to wait that long. I will get them as they come out.

Just now, Mirith said:

I personally don't want to wait that long. I will get them as they come out.

The expansions that I think will be very good for my deck, I will get as they come out. The rest I will hoard eventually over time to complete my collection.

8 minutes ago, feydruatha said:

Well, expectations for LCG releases should also be that FFG misses their announced window by 1-3 months, do you want to hold up that as a standard they should stick to just because it is the norm? I did not think so.

It has been clear for a while that FFG has refined their strategy for LCG's, and I think a block out the gate is the new normal. it is better for the long-term health of the games.

As for why was it not announced before now...there are hundreds of reasons that a company would not announce an optional product until the main product has launched. None of those reasons are a conspiracy against players like you or Koriume .

FFG does a fair bit of market analysis, and this is the move they decided is best for the game's long-term health, they don't want to burn down the license they just spend a ton of money acquiring and developing.

I and many others agree with them.

I'm certainly not ruling out releases missing their release date, certainly on this side of the Atlantic - though given the song and dance being made, probably not for block 1.

One game does not a trend make; see what the next LCG does before claiming the "new normal".

Care to elaborate on some of those potential reasons? Equally, it is fair to say that there were hundreds of reasons to announce a shift from expected release patter before the first set was released. Also, please note that the post you were responding to was my interpretation of what Koriume was saying, not necessarily a reflection of my viewpoint.

While I agree FFG have probably done analysis as to the best way to launch this, that doesn't mean they found the right answer. And while you and others are saying this is a good thing, there are other voices saying the opposite. We'll have to see which were right in the long run.

Just now, dysartes said:

While I agree FFG have probably done analysis as to the best way to launch this, that doesn't mean they found the right answer. And while you and others are saying this is a good thing, there are other voices saying the opposite. We'll have to see which were right in the long run.

Even if we were to measure "good" based on player base, it would be an impossible task as we cannot possibly know how large the player base would have been had the typical slow release occurred.

So this decision is precisely one thing...a decision. Just like every decision made by anyone ever, there are going to be those who like the decision (like me) and those who don't (like others on this forum).

Everyone is entitled to their opinion.

15 minutes ago, dysartes said:

I'm certainly not ruling out releases missing their release date, certainly on this side of the Atlantic - though given the song and dance being made, probably not for block 1.

One game does not a trend make; see what the next LCG does before claiming the "new normal".

Care to elaborate on some of those potential reasons? Equally, it is fair to say that there were hundreds of reasons to announce a shift from expected release patter before the first set was released. Also, please note that the post you were responding to was my interpretation of what Koriume was saying, not necessarily a reflection of my viewpoint.

While I agree FFG have probably done analysis as to the best way to launch this, that doesn't mean they found the right answer. And while you and others are saying this is a good thing, there are other voices saying the opposite. We'll have to see which were right in the long run.

First of my thoughts and feelings are not subject to facts, neither are yours. So, When I think this is the new normal, I can think that and express that view on the internet. However, if that comes not to be the case, I am to blame for that expectation. just as Koriume holds the blame for his or her expectations.

The reasons why FFG would not announce this before

1) all marketing slots were full. Wednesdays for right now seem reserved for L5R. This has been the case for months, and those slots have been full for months. Follow this up with them not seeing this as bad for the game, and not anticipating the negative reaction from people. means this is heald for the first open window, so 6 days after launch.

2) These are optional products. buy at your leisure. or even only the parts you want. or don't buy at all.

3) This is the intended meta for the launch of the game but due to price, they cannot put it all in one product. Raising the price of the core would have been equally problematic. FFG offering more than the minimum products have never been a problem before, so they see no need to announce too early, and muddy the launch of the game.

want me to go on?

I'm personally really really happy with this. Half the fun of card games is deckbuilding, and core only doesn't exactly leave much room for janky, inventive brewing. I was honestly about to give up on L5R entirely until there'd be at least a full cycle out, and it looks like that's happening waaay sooner than I dared to hope.