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JugglerVR
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04/05/2008 11:24 PM  
Sorry to dredge up this old-ish topic but I've been out of the game and have just come across the chatter about reprinted DDM minis and I need to say something...

The DDM department at Wizards is out of its effing gourd. There are so many problems with the way this transition to 2.0 is being handled that I don't know where to start.

So I'll start, not at the beginning, but with the worst problem: Duplicate names on new figs.
Apparently, it's still up for debate as to how this will be handled? Seriously? This needs to have had a solid answer as soon as the set list was published. No, sooner. It should have been handled and locked in in the first development meeting when it was determined that duplicate-named figures would be included in DDr. I've seen people (identified in some way or another as WotC reps) stating things like they don't know what the official policy will be, etc. Holy freeking moly! what a monkeyshow!
Now I know people are fond of comparing DDM to magic, and other people are fond of refuting those comparisons because "ddm isn't magic..." bollocks. It shares enough similarities that we can use one as a loose analogue for the other. What happens in Magic when a card is reprinted? It's the SAME CARD. Why? disambiguation. Anyone can use any card from any printing of magic and it will function as the latest official text. This allows the designers (who work for the same company as DDM!) to fix problems with cards as well as bring back older cards that fit with the new set. Can you imagine what would happen if I played Phage the Untouchable from Scourge (or whatever set she's from) with Phage the Untouchable from 10th edition and they had DIFFERENT ABILITIES? utter pandemonium.
Let's also not forget that WotC has done the reprint thing in the past. There are (as of my casual findings) 6 figures that have been reprinted from older sets with the same stats. They are as follows:
Drow Fighter: Ha -> GoL
Gnoll: Ha -> Ab
Man-at-Arms: Ha -> Ab
Minotaur: Ha -> GoL
Werewolf: Ha -> GoL
Zombie: Ha -> GoL

These figures are great! I can mix my men-at-arms for the cache' of older figures, but still use the pretty Ab stat cards for all of them. Totally fine.

There have also been a number of "near-reprints", where the old figure has some disambiguation tacked on to it to make it a "new" figure. I don't know the reasoning for this but I suspect it's partly to re-make a figure that has problems, the most frequent of which seem to be: difficult to put under command (Hill Giant, Umber Hulk, Carrion Crawler, etc)

Then there's: Large Fire Elemental: Ha -> DDs
(I must confess to not know the specifics of why this received new stats instead of just a new name, and Umber Hulk received the disambiguation tagline "Delver" in the same set. Perhaps it was a hint of the horrid darkness to come.)

*@*@*@ For those of you skipping ahead (and I seriously hope any WotC people actually read the whole thing) this is how duplicate fig names should be handled:
It's the same figure. This will have the following benefits:
Disambiguation (if it says Death Knight, then it's a freeking Death Knight!)
A gesture of friendliness toward the old guard ("why not move over to 2.0, you grumpy geezer? you already own 1/4 of the new set!")
WotC looks like grown-ups. (seriously. this procrastination is completely unacceptable. if I was the Brand manager over there, heads would be rolling)
Fewer figures to re-stat in the future (you *are* still planning to restat all the minis like you promised, aren't you?)

Here's what else needs to happen: We need to be able to use any printed card for our figures. In the past, a figure wasn't legal if it didn't have an official stat card. Guess what? now my Lich Necromancer is gathering dust (and is untradeable) because I misplaced his card.
Now that we're able to use DDs and NB cards that we print at home, that excuse has to be thrown out the window. utterly. Release the DDr stats in a PDF, too, so I can use my Death Knight in a warband. Do it now. Don't think about it. Do it. It's not an issue that needs to be thought over. It's what needs to happen. If home-printed cards are legal, they need to be legal, and provided, across the board, for all sets. Nobody's going to steal WotC intellectual property if the DDr stat PDFs are made available. We'll still need the figures to play. We'll still spend our money on your product. We might even spend MORE if we know that there's sufficient SUPPORT.


This brings me to my next point. The stat cards for ALL of the last sets since Wardrums need to have been released ON THE DAY THAT DDr was released. You're moving to a split-format game, with Classic and Vintage (who wants to say, now, that DDM isn't like Magic?). I'm relatively okay with that; I'm not going to whine because I know what's healthy for a collectible game like this. Make a format where one full cycle, from starter set (just after Wardrums) to starter set (Dungeons of Dread) is legal, BUT make it all legal on the same day! don't make a format in which we have no idea what's going to be legal when! Think about these decisions. That's one way that DDM is definitely NOT like magic; M:TG releases well-thought-out decisions. Sure they waver back and forth, sometimes on a month-to-month basis, but they don't come out with half-baked (*edit: "stuff"*) like "there will be two formats, but the first format will only have a few sets, as often as we can get around to adding the stat cards, but our tournaments are still worth money, so bring your game face." WHAAAT? if you're running sanctioned tournament play, you NEED to release decisions like grown-ups, guys. You just released your *15th* set! Let's treat this game like it's a real game.


And so we come to my final thoughts. I always said that DDM felt like a "tacked-on" game. As in, "we've got these figures that are primarily for (or at least primarily inspired by) another game. I guess we've got to make up a game for it." Part of this feeling was inspired by the semi-random feeling to creature abilities (partly due to a small sample size, but you've got a big space to play with now), and part of it was the sort of clunky-feeling rules (similarly, Games Workshop seems to be surly about their paints and brushes. as in, "we've got this minis game that everyone's addicted to, so i *guess* we've got to provide some way to paint the damn things, but let's make shitty paint and call it "official" because we don't really care about that product line")
Well, with 2.0, you've got a chance to treat the game like it should be treated. It's vetted itself and proved that it can be a game that people will play. Offer the support that a game like that deserves.


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04/06/2008 8:16 AM  
Where is my rolleyes emoticon?

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04/06/2008 8:43 AM  
You're a few months late, but that's okay.

I don't really think that the WotC reps are going to pay much attention to this, it's a little heavy on the "I hate you, you're a bunch of morons" side.

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¯\(°_o)/¯

04/06/2008 10:58 AM  
*agrees with vreck*

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04/06/2008 11:54 AM  

I wasn't there when the set list for 15 was put together, but I suspect at the time the list was made with so many duplicates so allow people to use prior figures, as Wizards was originally not going to redo the stats for all figures. I'm sure the intention at that time was to allow people to play with older figures that had the same name.


Now we'll be redoing stat cards for all the figures, we don't need just have the old figs be usable with new cards. Now it opens up the option to have the same figure at a higher (or lower) level and abilities to match. Except for the exact numbers, the powers and abilities would be pretty much the same, allowing you to choose to play a type of figure at different points. I guess it's a bit like an epic/non epic cards.


That solution also adds a bit of complexity. I think it's more fun, but I haven't decided if I like that complexity over the simple solution of allowing people to play the same stats with different figures. It's the solution that I'm leaning towards, but I really don't need to handle that until the restats for the sets containing those figures are designed.


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04/06/2008 2:09 PM  
Thanks Peter!

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04/06/2008 2:29 PM  
Chainmail Updates what?

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¯\(°_o)/¯

04/06/2008 5:05 PM  
really stephen i havent seen you make a post without mentioning the chainmail equivalencies... lay off a bit.
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04/06/2008 5:24 PM  
Posted By Temperance on 04/06/2008 11:54 AM

Now we'll be redoing stat cards for all the figures, we don't need just have the old figs be usable with new cards. Now it opens up the option to have the same figure at a higher (or lower) level and abilities to match.


I'd say go for it, just make sure the new cards are obviously different colours, like the epic cards were.


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04/06/2008 6:36 PM  

Juggler's tone is a bit harsher than it should be for this board but he makes some very good points:

1. Duplicate names on new figs.

The designers already had done reprints with the same stats and then variant reprints with different names.  There is no reason beyond sloppiness to have figures with the same names.   Peter's solution does seem like a good fix though.  It's more complex for sure but no worse than reprinting stats from a website and making your own cards.  The player base is mature enough to handle it.

2. Here's what else needs to happen: We need to be able to use any printed card for our figures.

It's got to be assumed that they create a PDF of the stats before sending to the printer.  It's almost no effort to post it once the set is released.  If you only show off the skirmish stats there's nothing being given away for free.  This would be a win for the community and should be done.


3.  Offer the support that a game like that deserves.

We all want to see this, and I think a lot of things could be done for free/cheap.   A few more articles online,  some organized events,   error checking on the cards,  a bit more playtesting on figs, and a bit of polishing and the game would really be something amazing.


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04/06/2008 7:26 PM  
Posted By Temperance on 04/06/2008 11:54 AM

I wasn't there when the set list for 15 was put together, but I suspect at the time the list was made with so many duplicates so allow people to use prior figures, as Wizards was originally not going to redo the stats for all figures. I'm sure the intention at that time was to allow people to play with older figures that had the same name.



Thats an interesting insight into the process - Thanks.

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04/06/2008 7:28 PM  

A few thoughts.

 

One, I do agree on the duplicate bit. However, given the changes since the original design (i.e. complete restatting) it makes teir problem different. Kudos to Peter for letting us know what happened there. I certainly appreciate it.

 

Two, I highly doubt you actually understand exactly what goes on at WotCas far as actual design and workloads. furthrmore, your tone was extremely disrespectful, and I consider it lucky any WotC staff bothered to reply. Vrecknidj nailed it on the head, as far as I'm concerned, regarding this.


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04/06/2008 7:30 PM  
*agrees with vreck*


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04/07/2008 4:50 AM  
So, will it be like: You may take any Death Knight released and play it with any stat card, or you need to have the apropriate release of the mini to play that one card?


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04/07/2008 9:05 AM  
If I have different stats for the same named creature, you'd need to have the correct miniature to play it. You couldn't use the same figure to play both versions. This is to keep the actual miniature as a reminder for if it's the high powered or low powered version.

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04/07/2008 9:23 AM  
That's a good idea, so I don't have to keep checking the stat card, or get warband registration shenanigans.

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04/07/2008 9:55 AM  
Using similar figs to represent different stat lines is just not a problem in the vast majority of war games. The reason why collectible games don't allow you to do this is because they want you to buy additional product, nothing more.

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04/07/2008 11:11 AM  
I completely disagree.

You're saying I could have 2 of the exact same fig, and have two different sets of stats for each in my warband.

How would you designate which is which? It could easily get confusing, and lead to accusations of cheating. Heck, even with multiple figures of the same stats, you need to differentiate them. Now, you want to have different stats? the easiest way to differentiate them is to have one set of stats for each figure.

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04/07/2008 11:33 AM  
"I completely disagree."

You disagree with what exactly? That using similar figs to represent different stat lines is not a problem in the vast majority of war games? :shrug: I don't know what to tell you other than you need to play different games. Lots of games allow players a "counts as" rule that lets you differentiate between similar figures with different stat lines or different figs with similar stat lines. Mordheim and Combat Zone are two examples of such games that spring immediately to mind. In Descent, there are frequent circumstances where you use alternate figures to represent different stat lines. There is typically some marker for differentiating figures, but is that really a problem considering the explosion of markers that are already used in war games?

Do you disagree that the principle decision making method for CMG is profit motive? Do you mean to assert that while rarity, collectibility, and tier are all methods used to sell more product, declaring proxies and cardless figures illegal are not methods to do so?

"the easiest way to..."

If I wanted to always do things the easiest way, I would probably not play war games or role playing games as my leisure activity of choice.

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04/07/2008 11:37 AM  
Posted By Temperance on 04/06/2008 11:54 AM

Now we'll be redoing stat cards for all the figures, we don't need just have the old figs be usable with new cards. Now it opens up the option to have the same figure at a higher (or lower) level and abilities to match. Except for the exact numbers, the powers and abilities would be pretty much the same, allowing you to choose to play a type of figure at different points. I guess it's a bit like an epic/non epic cards.

I think that there's some flexibility here.  While I'm sure there will be quite a few calls for "consistency first" and the like, we've already gone beyond this (there will be, I'm sure, more than one piece that has a different point cost on the stamp than on the card, for example--though not many).

But, to the point at hand, there are some pieces, like the Elf Ranger, that, I think, would be really great if left the same.  In other words, I'd be quite happy if the Harbinger piece had the same stats as the Dungeons of Dread piece.  The stats are quite good, the piece is eminently playable, and this would give owners of the original piece an opportunity to both get some use out of the pieces and mix up the pieces played at a game (as this is a piece where running more than one is quite reasonable).  The problem I see with this is that by the time Harbinger gets re-statted, Dungeons of Dread might be on its way out of Standard play, and that would be a shame for the players who intend to stick with Standard.

I think the same can be said for pieces that might not get as much play, but are also Commons, and still might receive some play: the Orc Raider, for instance.

Other pieces, such as the Death Knight, might be better with variable stats.  It's a rare, and, as such, people might want to be able to have the two rares work together.  It might be interesting to see a non-Champion Death Knight, or a Death Knight that's an evil Undead that's not part of the Borderlands faction (but, then, of course, could be brought in by the other one).

The more I think about it, the more I like the idea of a case-by-case approach.  If two Wyverns turn out to have the same stats, but two Griffons do not (for example), so be it.

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04/07/2008 11:53 AM  
Posted By Temperance on 04/07/2008 9:05 AM
If I have different stats for the same named creature, you'd need to have the correct miniature to play it. You couldn't use the same figure to play both versions. This is to keep the actual miniature as a reminder for if it's the high powered or low powered version.
ehm, this could get ugly.  If a really old and hard to get figure becomes tier 1...


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04/07/2008 11:55 AM  
I diagree with both points. The whole post, pretty much.

So now, you have markers on the table, which pertain to specific markers on specific cards? Also, I don't play most of Miniature wargames anymore, because of issues like this. "I know this guy is a soldier piece, but he's actaully using sergeant stats, so I have this green poker chip underneath him to designate that. No, the red poker ship designates the mini I'm using as a lieutenant now." Actual conversation. I'd liek to look over, see a Deathknell Death Knight, and know what it's stats are, not having to ask which set of stats you're using. Considering it's also a timed game, adding additional complication and questions seems to be counter to the point of finishing fairly in time.


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04/07/2008 11:59 AM  
Posted By greyhaze on 04/07/2008 11:53 AM
Posted By Temperance on 04/07/2008 9:05 AM
If I have different stats for the same named creature, you'd need to have the correct miniature to play it. You couldn't use the same figure to play both versions. This is to keep the actual miniature as a reminder for if it's the high powered or low powered version.
ehm, this could get ugly.  If a really old and hard to get figure becomes tier 1...


Not any different than current rules. That's why they have multiple formats. If, for instance, Drider Sorcerer becomes awesome in 2.0, and you don't want to get one, play Standard. It's no different than Black Lotus in M:tG. Or, perhaps they'll ban it (or restat it, if capable)

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04/07/2008 1:43 PM  
Yeh, I guess that's fine. Just don't like locking out the new kids.


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04/07/2008 2:18 PM  
Well, if necessary, you could just reprint a piece. That's what i thought should havebeen done, if it has the EXACT same name, they should have the EXACT same stats.

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04/07/2008 2:46 PM  
A better plan is to redo the piece with a slight "color change".  Instead of "Orc Champion", make a "Gnoll Champion" that has very similar powers.

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04/07/2008 6:15 PM  
Posted By Teflon Jeff on 04/07/2008 11:55 AM
I diagree with both points. The whole post, pretty much.

So now, you have markers on the table, which pertain to specific markers on specific cards? Also, I don't play most of Miniature wargames anymore, because of issues like this. "I know this guy is a soldier piece, but he's actaully using sergeant stats, so I have this green poker chip underneath him to designate that. No, the red poker ship designates the mini I'm using as a lieutenant now." Actual conversation. I'd liek to look over, see a Deathknell Death Knight, and know what it's stats are, not having to ask which set of stats you're using. Considering it's also a timed game, adding additional complication and questions seems to be counter to the point of finishing fairly in time.

I guess I just don't see how that is any more difficult than using two of the same figure and using markers to differentiate who has used what one use ability or taken what damage.  We regularly use little chits or sets of 10 sided dice to show damage, rubber bands to identify identitcal figs, etc.-- all of those are devices we add to the game to make it less confusing.  The only game I've seen where this wasn't a problem were the clix-games.  Nevertheless, you still have to mark actions.   As far as I can tell it's pretty much par for the course unless you play computer games and
I've never run into a problem with a timed game not being finished because of questions about markers once both players are competent with the rules.

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04/07/2008 9:38 PM  
Posted By Temperance on 04/07/2008 2:46 PM
A better plan is to redo the piece with a slight "color change".  Instead of "Orc Champion", make a "Gnoll Champion" that has very similar powers.

I like it.  Better yet, how about a Uc "Hobgoblin Champion?"

(and some noncombatants!!!)

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04/07/2008 9:51 PM  

Peter - I'm confused.

Have you not begun to restat Unhallowed yet?  The first instance of two figures with the same name and different stats occurs in Unhallowed / Basic 08 - Tiefling Warlock. In UH, it is a 25 point piece. In the starter it is 11 points. Given the scheduyle of release, I'd have thought you'd be well on the way to restating this guy by now... 


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04/08/2008 1:22 AM  
Wow, lots of replies. I wasn't getting pinged on reply so i was startled to find a big discussion on my return.

@ All, I know my post was a bit vitriolic. However, I also have experience with game reps being good at taking the meat out of an angry post and measuring the vitriol as the level of urgency or insistence that the matter is presented with. Temperance confirmed my suspicion, as his replies have been constructive, most likely because he saw the constructive aspects of my post (and is probably used to dealing with more abuse and less meat from other posters elsewhere).

@ Temperence, you said "I really don't need to handle that until the restats for the sets containing those figures are designed." but my whole point is that by not handling it now, you're alienating players who have those figures but don't know if they want to commit to the new ruleset. unless I misinterpreted you. Also, it doesn't say in your sig; what capacity do you serve at WotC (people seem to treat you as though you're a rep)?

Regarding differing powered cards for different figures, I agree that this could be interesting, but remember, we're the upper echelon of complexity-loving players. We saw nothing wrong with the diagonal-movement rules, but they got axed for (i can only assume) accessibility to the masses. It's not us that this duplicate-figure thing hoses the most. It's the casual player. WotC learned with Magic that they need to build in the complexity for the "Spikes" and the streamlined and intuitive rules and policies for the casual player (the "Timmies").
I know the base-printed point cost would be different between Death Knights of different sets, but come on, the faction will be different anyway. Nobody squints at the bases when they tally up their warband cost; they use cards or a generator.
Imagine the problems that will present themselves, additionally, when a casual player buys some death knights on eBay only to find that they're not the ones that are legal in the standard format. How many players do DDM and Magic share? How confusing is it going to be for this new player, who may be familiar with saner policies, to realize that the figures he bought aren't legal in the format hosted by the local shop?

@ jgsugden, are there more than one distro for the basic set? the one i bought doesn't have a tiefling...


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04/08/2008 5:09 AM  
Have you not begun to restat Unhallowed yet? The first instance of two figures with the same name and different stats occurs in Unhallowed / Basic 08 - Tiefling Warlock. In UH, it is a 25 point piece. In the starter it is 11 points. Given the scheduyle of release, I'd have thought you'd be well on the way to restating this guy by now...


I think the Elf Warlock is in the starter for 11 points, but the Tiefling Warlock is in DoD2 for 27 points.

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04/08/2008 6:16 AM  
Posted By JugglerVR on 04/08/2008 1:22 AM
Also, it doesn't say in your sig; what capacity do you serve at WotC (people seem to treat you as though you're a rep)?
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04/08/2008 7:47 AM  
I really, really don't see what the big deal is. Of all the minis with the same name, I'm betting the new minis are more playable. Why would you want to play the old one if the new one is better?

Also, from what I understand, DCI floor rules say that the base of the mini has to match the info on the card being used (mini name, set, rarity, etc).

Originally posted by Schooly_D
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04/08/2008 8:58 AM  
Posted By Temperance on 04/07/2008 2:46 PM
A better plan is to redo the piece with a slight "color change".  Instead of "Orc Champion", make a "Gnoll Champion" that has very similar powers.


The more I think about it, the more I like it. In fact, an excellent idea! newer players can compete with older players who do have all the allstars*, and can after gathering a sizable collection also compete in vintage. Maybe not at the exact same level, but if they're good players they have a chance, which means the format will have a better chance (i.e. also newer players).

I'm assuming here that the allstars will be good, they might also be slightly below competitive level to allow newer players without any allstars to compete.

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04/08/2008 9:53 AM  
Posted By Username on 04/08/2008 5:09 AM
Have you not begun to restat Unhallowed yet? The first instance of two figures with the same name and different stats occurs in Unhallowed / Basic 08 - Tiefling Warlock. In UH, it is a 25 point piece. In the starter it is 11 points. Given the scheduyle of release, I'd have thought you'd be well on the way to restating this guy by now...


I think the Elf Warlock is in the starter for 11 points, but the Tiefling Warlock is in DoD2 for 27 points.

I did begin my post by saying I was confused...

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04/08/2008 10:38 AM  
Posted By Username on 04/08/2008 7:47 AM
I really, really don't see what the big deal is. Of all the minis with the same name, I'm betting the new minis are more playable. Why would you want to play the old one if the new one is better?

Also, from what I understand, DCI floor rules say that the base of the mini has to match the info on the card being used (mini name, set, rarity, etc).


I knew there was a rule for that. Of course, the rule could be changed, but frankly, I find this way far easier and more fair to existing collectors.

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04/08/2008 12:48 PM  
Posted By Username on 04/08/2008 7:47 AM
I really, really don't see what the big deal is. Of all the minis with the same name, I'm betting the new minis are more playable. Why would you want to play the old one if the new one is better?

Um. I don't want to play with the older STATS. I want the older figures with the same name to act like the newer figures with the same name, as they have in the past, as Magic does, because it's the only way that makes sense.
I want to use my 2 hook horrors and death knight now without having to re-buy them or buy lots of DuD to start playing again.


Posted By Username on 04/08/2008 7:47 AM
Also, from what I understand, DCI floor rules say that the base of the mini has to match the info on the card being used (mini name, set, rarity, etc).

Well, that's going to be fscked soon on the "etc" side when the faction won't match, so why not solve the problem (and other problems) now with one stroke of a pen instead of waiting for when it becomes a problem?


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04/08/2008 1:45 PM  
Posted By JugglerVR on 04/08/2008 12:48 PM
"fscked"
?

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04/08/2008 3:06 PM  
Posted By Vrecknidj on 04/08/2008 1:45 PM
Posted By JugglerVR on 04/08/2008 12:48 PM
"fscked"?

Dave



deliberately misspelled profanity
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04/08/2008 11:20 PM  

Deliberately misspelled profanity is still profanity, and it's not acceptable here.

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