What kind of articles do you want on the front page?

Suppose I misunderstood the point of this thread then.

I was attempting to throw out some ideas that I thought would generate some discussion and interest on the front page. If the only correct answer is 'incentives for writers', then the direction of this site should have changed a long time ago and whenever that mentioned administrative meeting happened perhaps a different choice should have been made. The site could still go that way if y'all wanted.

I was proposing things that I don't see anyone else doing. Community projects, 'looking back' releases, etc. If y'all want to do go out on a limb like that then this place will likely need to be seen as more of a 'hobby', 'hangout', or even practice (writing, ideas, etc) for the front page authors. If that's too much work for the pay, and front page authors are only in this game for the incentives, then this site has _a_lot_ of competition. We can go anywhere for reviews.

Again, though, I'm just a backseat driver.

EDIT: To clarify. I'm not saying _no_ reviews, that's nuts. I'm suggesting some other options to mix it up.

I'm not a huge fan of reviews - partly because it's what you get at all other board game sites (even if every single review on this site is better than even the best on BGG). But I would love to see more writing about games that doesn't necessarily comes down to whether they are good or not. "This came out 5/10/15 years ago" is a great idea, but maybe articles about board game evolution would also be interesting. Not as dry as it sounds, but it could be something about the differences and similiarities between Forbidden Stars and Starcraft and what it means for the experience.

I would also read articles about the board game experience rather than just the games. I know that's what a good review does, but what I mean is articles about memorable game sessions, about the experience different dungeon crawlers give, and so on.

The concept of thrashdome would also, I think, work as an article with two authors going back and forth about two games. I know I'd be happy to be part of that.

Also, retro reviews don't have to be long at all. Not every article needs to be a magnum opus.

Legomancer, does a neat series called 'I Played That!' on his blog. These are fairly short and include a few photos or video. Understandably, he doesn't do comments on his blog, but these sort of short articles would be great conversation starters.

www.daveexmachina.com/wordpress/?p=9357

After all, that's what the whole 'Let's Talk' threads were about. A little talk from the original poster, then let folks run with comments. Chances are with time on its side, several folks will have some experience with the title. Perhaps even more than the original poster/article author. That's ok.

I imagine the '5/10/15' articles would be the same. Hell, those called almost just be a list (though a brief bit of commentary would be nice).

EDIT: Also, I'm all for talk on movies, bands, pro-wrestling, etc, so it's not like I don't like that content in the Barnestorming type articles. It's that they could probably be broken out into their own. Like the brief movie reviews Black Barney and Repoman do.

Mr. White wrote: Suppose I misunderstood the point of this thread then.

I was attempting to throw out some ideas that I thought would generate some discussion and interest on the front page If the only correct answer is 'incentives for writers', then the direction of this site should have changed a long time ago and whenever that mentioned administrative meeting happened perhaps a different choice should have been made. The site could still go that way if y'all wanted.

I was proposing things that I don't see anyone else doing. Community projects, 'looking back' releases, etc. If y'all want to do go out on a limb like that then this place will likely need to be seen as more of a 'hobby', 'hangout', or even practice (writing, ideas, etc) for the front page authors. If that's too much work for the pay, and front page authors are only in this game for the incentives, then this site has _a_lot_ of competition. We can go anywhere for reviews.

Again, though, I'm just a backseat driver.

EDIT: To clarify. I'm not saying _no_ reviews, that's nuts. I'm suggesting some other options to mix it up.

Your original post was exactly what I was looking for when I created this thread, so no worries.

One of my favorite things I can think of off the top of my head is when someone challenged to play an old game in-depth and report on it (Jeff maybe last summer?). I hastily signed up to play a crazy game with way too much depth and barely survived reading the rules. I awaited others responses but I think maybe only one person followed though and posted. I should have at least posted about my failure of my attempt instead of bailing completely and doing nothing out of shame.

Something I have always wanted to do myself... not really sure how to best implement it here. Is a series of articles or in-depth look at different strategies for races or sides in asymmetric games - which is by far my favorite thing about board games. Its way too much to tackle a full game, but maybe just taking a play of one side from a recent session and breaking that down. Some discussion about why the Hacan are so good in TI, next week how I tried (and failed) to win with the Fremen, next week why the Niners are NOT overpowered in Sons of Anarchy. It would be pretty scatterbrained I think, but I would read those topics for days and would love to hear others experiences and thoughts.

Also... it has always amazed me how much this site lacks miniatures stuff as they seem so closely tied to AT gaming. Taking pictures of minis is extra work, maybe that is why there is not as much. Just pictures of games being played in general here or there I enjoy seeing. I don't have a camera on my phone so that is my excuse for never doing it... most ya'll got those newfangled smartphones though, what is your excuse?

Mr. White wrote: * Showcases on how folks have pimped out their games. I dig customizations.

What are your thoughts on my WWF Luchador retheme? I always wanted to hear what you thought since you are the biggest (maybe second biggest? Steve Vs. Jeff WrestlingDome?) wrestling fan on the site.

Generating discussion about one game in an article is more challenging now, due to the ongoing flood of new releases. And even if people take the plunge and buy a particular game, it might be difficult to get that game on the table more than once or twice because of all the other new hotness than awaits play. Reviews in general are a good thing because they help us sort through new releases before buying, and the reviews here at F:AT tend to be particularly informative. I wouldn't mind seeing reviews of older games, because those might lead to bigger discussions due to the larger base of players who have tried specific older games. I don't know if there is much value in discussing a Kickstarter game unless it gets secondary distribution as a normal board game.

And it's very, very difficult to get something going with someone that would be REALLY awesome to hear from, like Knizia, Kramer or someone of that stature.

I will email Knizia and see if he will appear on a special edition podcast with me...If he agrees Barnes will you appear also?

I would also like to see articles about people getting more out of their games with either variant rules, homebrew scenarios, painted minis, or other methods of enhancing a game. I like to make soundtracks for my favorite games, and I got valuable guidance here at F:AT when I was working on a 2-disc soundtrack for the Sons of Anarchy boardgame.

Da Bid Dabid wrote:

Mr. White wrote: * Showcases on how folks have pimped out their games. I dig customizations.

What are your thoughts on my WWF Luchador retheme? I always wanted to hear what you thought since you are the biggest (maybe second biggest? Steve Vs. Jeff WrestlingDome?) wrestling fan on the site.

I apologize, but was unaware of this retheme. I just searched the site and found your posts. There were a few months were I was out of pocket and it looks like I missed this. Man, I haven't even played Luchador yet and you'd think I would. To be honest, all of my pro-wrestling gaming fix is getting met with BloodBowl. I'm considering an article on BB at the moment as I've been involved back in the tournament scene and am running a league again, but I dunno.

Jeff, you need to get on the Luchador bandwagon! It's an amazingly fun little game. So much theme, it leaves puddles.

I come here to mainly talk about board games and am interested everything board game related: design, variants, mods, re-builds, strategy and rules discussion. I also like hearing about F:ATties personal creative pursuits like JJ's music, or user designs like Jason Lutes's Thrilling Tales of Adventure. Come to think of it, whatever happened to him? Or that game?

I could care less about video games and don't play them any more although Mass Effect 3 and Red Dead Redemption have tempted me out of retirement for replays. I don't own a PS4 or an IPad and could care less about games on IO. I've been tempted to buy an IPad but when I go to do it, can always think of a better use for my money ... like boardgames!

The other stuff is icing on the cake, but boardgame discussion is what brings me here ...and when there's not enough of it .... why I leave.

Mr. White wrote: I'm considering an article on BB at the moment as I've been involved back in the tournament scene and am running a league again, but I dunno.

Do it. Any BB talk is good talk.

disagree FTW

Michael Barnes wrote: On the retro reviews- well, I tried to do that last year and y'all bitched and whined...remember the ERP?

The problem might not have been so much the Retro as the ERP. I'd be delighted to hear a great, in-depth review of Key to the Kingdom. Tigris and Euphrates? Not even remotely interested.