Hackmaster Basic Boxed Set

[TheMetal1]

Don't know if this is in the works, but I would like to see a Hackmaster Basic boxed set - with dice, crayon, and Little Keep on the Borderlands. Any chance of this happening?

Also, while you all are intending to put out Advanced Hackmaster - which I understand will be fully compatible with Hackmaster Basic. But I was thinking that might all be considering...perhaps...putting out a Hackmaster Expert, along with subsequent releases say like...oh I don't know maybe...Hackmaster Companion, Hackmaster Masters, Hackmaster Immortal?

[Greylond]

Someone asked about a boxed set a year ago. The answer from Dave was something along the lines of too much overhead for too little profit. In Other Words, what they'd have to spend on it they'd have to put to high of a price point on it for it to be profitable enough.

[TheMetal1]

In Other Words, what they'd have to spend on it they'd have to put to high of a price point on it for it to be profitable enough.

Hmmm... well, maybe a "Collectors Edition, Limited Run" Boxed set priced at something they could make worth their while. I hazard to guess there'd be at least 100 or so folks here willing to bite. I just think about Troll Lord Games Castle Zagyg's Upper Works boxed set. IIRC they were priced at about $40 or so and now, you're looking at $100 to get one second hand cause their OOP.

[Galadrin]

It wasn't me, but man I jumped on that bandwagon right away. I'd love to see a box set, but I'm pretty realistic about those odds. The only people consistently putting out boxed sets anymore is Troll Lord, and I assume they must be getting a good deal on the boxes.

[FilippoLippi]

I want game stuff from a gaming company, I'm not bothered about collectibles

[Hierax]

Perhaps some intrepid fan (or the Kenzer Co. graphically inclined person) could put together a how to do-it-yourself kit and Kenzer Co. could put it up on the website?

Something like:

• high resolution pdf art and text that you can print at home or at a local print shop
• dimensions of cardboard that you need to buy (probably easily available locally
• type of adhesive that works best to stick paper to cardboard
• a pdf instruction booklet on how to cut/fold/assemble the box

Then you just put your HMB and B1 + B2 Modules inside and a not-quite-so-instant but still a boxed set!

P.S. Just did a quick Google on this:

• http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?t=459634
• http://alysta.com/stamping/giftbox.htm
• http://www.ehow.com/how_4500527_make...-game-box.html

[David_S_Kenzer]

It wasn't me, but man I jumped on that bandwagon right away. I'd love to see a box set, but I'm pretty realistic about those odds. The only people consistently putting out boxed sets anymore is Troll Lord, and I assume they must be getting a good deal on the boxes.

I think Troll Lord has a not-for-loss mentality (vs a for-profit one) I think because they have no full time employees (or have spouses that earn the main bread).


That said, we do have plans for a boxed set, but not until long after Advanced so not sure if it'll ever see light-of-day.


As to companion-expert, etc. no chance. the only reason TSR made those was because their Basic was a completely different, not-compatible game from AD&D. We plan to keep our games compatible.

[TheMetal1]

Yeah, IIRC, TLG has an in with a box maker, and they've been working with them for several years. The good news is you have somewhere in the works, so I can still hold out hope for it to see the light of day!

In regards to the Hackmaster Expert, Companion, Masters, Immortals:

I'm tracking with you, but here is an idea for you all to ponder. What if - I probably get thrown off a cliff and subsequently stoned for this - but what if you all skipped an issue of KODT to release a KODT Magazine sized "Hackmaster Expert" book sya in the Fall. It would only cover Fighter/Thief/Mage/Cleric and Human/Halfling/Elf/Dwarf Levels 6-14. Not everything mind you but enough to take it to that level and maybe a few rules etc a Expert book, but a preview of AHM as well.

Then down the line in the winter sometime you release "Hackmaster Companion" covering the same races and classes, along with some additional rules levels 15-25.

Then again in the spring with "Hackmaster Masters" covering 26-36. This gives you all a break from KODT. It gives the Hackmaster Basic folks some additional levels and that means playtest info back to you all from the general peanut gallery of gamers. Your KODT Subscribers - get the rules sent to them instead of an issue and I'm sure the KODT characters will make an appearence to deal with some rule example. And it continues to market the AHM. So come next summer you got folks chomping at the bit for the other classes, races, etc.

Who knows then maybe sometime down the line you release "Hackmaster Immortals" the same way. IIRC you all were going to release like several additional levels and another class like the ranger in KODT anyway, so why not do it this way?

Perhaps I am simply this - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1auRCameVY

...but you never know unless you ask!

But

[MikeBrendan]

Well, Dave made it pretty clear how AHM would proceed. There'd be material in KODT (throughout the year) to add material to "raise the bar" to level 10. Then AHM lands and that's the game. Some future supplements will allow for play past 20th level but not in the BECMI manner. AHM will be a complete game for levels 1-20.

[TheMetal1]

Well, Dave made it pretty clear how AHM would proceed. There'd be material in KODT (throughout the year) to add material to "raise the bar" to level 10. Then AHM lands and that's the game. Some future supplements will allow for play past 20th level but not in the BECMI manner. AHM will be a complete game for levels 1-20.

Yeah, I pretty much figured that. They've been planning all this for some time and already have a marketing strategy and all that. Like I said, just hanging out on with the Good Idea Fairy but hey you never know. If 20th is the level cap for AHM, then heck release just make release "Hackmaster Expert" instead of KODT and have it go to 10th level with the same races/classes in Basic.

Probably answered elsewhere, but will there be supplements that take it out past 20th?

[CEBrown]

Well, Dave made it pretty clear how AHM would proceed. There'd be material in KODT (throughout the year) to add material to "raise the bar" to level 10. Then AHM lands and that's the game. Some future supplements will allow for play past 20th level but not in the BECMI manner. AHM will be a complete game for levels 1-20.

You know, I'd almost rather see some of the races (Sil Karg, Pixie Faerie and Half-Ogre in particular) or new classes than further advancement for the PCs...

Though having higher level PCs DOES mean "higher level NPCs" too...