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Author Topic: I'm thinking about creating a new sci-fi war game  (Read 5864 times)

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Red Pins

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I'm thinking about creating a new sci-fi war game
« on: July 12, 2017, 05:05:41 PM »
As I keep doing these fan projects, my wife absolutely refuses to even discuss any of them with a vehemence I reserve for telephone solicitors.  One of her particular phrases is, "Will you make any money at it?".

Since I'm on vacation and away from the normal attention sinks, the sheer amount of time spent at forums, etc., and on projects has become apparent.  So it occurs to me, why not do something new, taking the core elements of Battle tech (such as providing construction rules) and leaving the tired old Battle tech Universe behind, and try to make some money off it?

Note, I'm not talking about ripping off the BT rule set or anything, but creating a new sci-fi setting, units, physics,, and all.  Heck, aliens, too.

Is anybody already doing, or is interested in doing this for financial gain?  I don't know about you guys, but I might be.  Mind you, I know zero about this kind of thing.
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Dragon Cat

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Re: I'm thinking about creating a new sci-fi war game
« Reply #1 on: July 12, 2017, 08:22:44 PM »
Anything you did would need to be ground up new you couldn't use anything at all from any game universe even layout since it could be seen as infringement

I've always thought come up with a story a new story get the facts right a) is good and uses b) is bad and uses once you've figured out the universe and the story behind it then build the game around it

Then you've got to figure out is it an RPG or tabletop I say or because trying both at the same time would be hard

I remember I wrote a D20 based RPG from scratch about the Martian Police Force in college because it was character based and challenges based off D20 system to start with it was pretty simple the problem going ahead was as I progressed characters the source material needed to match it as the players wanted to see where they were going I kept it up for a few months but eventually little bits got to me and I had to go over it not starting again but a Lou of work and I along with the campaign burned out

How I'd go about it is:
Story
System
RPG or tabletop
2 or three classes at the most
Beta test it with a few others (more than once)
Review good bad what works what doesn't

TAKE A BREAK a week you don't touch

Look at your reviews
Make changes
Test same or similar game as before
Review what you've done

Same process two or three times refining that game experience and story into something that a) works b) story makes sense c) is fun
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Takiro

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Re: I'm thinking about creating a new sci-fi war game
« Reply #2 on: July 12, 2017, 09:47:35 PM »
Oh yeah, we've had a bunch of ideas on a sci-fi universe before. My friends and I that is. I think you really have to get a niche and go after it.
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worktroll

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Re: I'm thinking about creating a new sci-fi war game
« Reply #3 on: July 13, 2017, 10:19:07 PM »
Quote from: Red Pins on July 12, 2017, 05:05:41 PM
As I keep doing these fan projects, my wife absolutely refuses to even discuss any of them with a vehemence I reserve for telephone solicitors.  One of her particular phrases is, "Will you make any money at it?".

Short answer, "no". And I can talk from experience! :)

Slightly longer answer: you have two main choices.

1) Do it all yourself, go indie & e-publish. This is a great way to burn hours & sweat, but not financially rewarding in proportion.
2) Team with an established company. This is pretty hard (I was lucky, right place & right time), and your return is less, because they're the ones putting up the money.

Conclusion: no-one - not even Randall - is in this biz to make munificent amounts of moola. They're in it because they can't not be in it. People with business sense last 2-5 years before running screaming ;)

W.
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