There’s been kind of a lull, or as some call it “a deafening silence” around Guild Ball over the last few weeks. We as a community do seem to need this kind of checking in once a month when other news are slow.
– One part right now is the fact that the Crossover models and general updates to the POD have been so much posponed, without an estimated timeline.
– Another part is the fact that POD orders still don’t continue without issues. It’s still way better than in the beginning, but the overall feeling is that it’s declined again somewhat during the last month.
– Yet another part is that people are hoping for more news on Lumberjacks or anything in the way of news around the game, and keeping the buzz up. Lots of games and events are being played, but it’s like the Hype Train is currently waiting in station for a while 🙂
Below are stuff from recent discussions in the SFG discord, including my own thoughts on the matter. I edit tiny bits for clarity and context when stealing words from discord like this, but hopefully none should be noticable in any negative way.
At the bottom we got a quick list from the inspiring mr Hat to set our minds at ease that stuff is still happening, just that there’s nothing to show for it just yet.
He also dropped a little hint about a certain something new and secret! No idea if it’s big or small, but it’s exciting nonetheless!
In order of posting, some relevant pieces of discord discussion content:
GlassWalker80
Just hang in there and accept it for what it is. GB is going to be a slow slog. It’s going to feel quiet.
Keep building your meta, keep holding SFG accountable to get orders right, and we’ll get what we get. Until they can find a way to make GB more profitable, it’ll always be a side gig at best.
My concern is that the entire group of people responsible for GB are the same people that are leading the Warmachine transition.
As a community, we’ve already had to keep kicking them to stay on the POD issues (with the help of a masked volunteer moderator who shows up to save the day and then disappear into the night.)
WaffleDebacle
I’m at 30 working days as of today (since june 8th) for an order of just about $100. There was a shipping label printed 10 days ago, but there has been no update to the tracking except that the label was created. For reference when I purchased before I had models in hand after those 10 days from when the shipping label was created for that purchase.
The ticket put in for assistance now hasn’t really done anything except say it should be ready within 25 business days, which is 10 more than the blog is reporting. 30 working days and no update on shipping and still in limbo.
This experience has made me decide to not purchase any more guilds for the foreseeable future unless second hand. There is no consistency or real transparency it seems. We aren’t even ordering directly through the manufacturer or working with them on support tickets. This game of tag from company to company is not it and I’m a very unsatisfied customer.
Advena, The Bench
One part of me wants to call that certain “masked volunteer moderator who shows up to save the day” and just stay positive, and one part of me just agree’s that that’s not very uplifting statistics.
I mean I do feel like it’s reasonable for them to still focus heavily on Warmachine at the moment. Nothing really changed about how the POD works and it’s been better than before, for quite some time. But also dips will happen.
It’s really not great, but also it’s kinda the same that it’s been all along, and I think the reason why it feels worse again now is (1) that it was a little better for a while, and (2) that it’s a bit slower and more silent around Guild Ball right now in general, so nothing fills the void of waiting without order status.
I’m fully assuming that the slow and silent part will change, just maybe not until after summer. Not what we’d like, but still kinda reasonable now with the whole Warmachie situation. Also, apart from organisational priorities, there are summer holidays and such things to to take into account as well. I dunno, I just still feel happy and hopeful most of the time 🙂
GlassWalker80
The game is still going, regardless of what happens. Worst case scenario, the GBCP just keeps doing what they were doing.
David/Caldyr (the hero, mr volunteer moderator)
Hi team. Been busier than expected for reasons that we won’t go into. A few things that I know which might help (… and might not). But I’ll give it a go.
As rightly noted, POD is still third party and I think that leads directly to difficulties with accountability. The moment it’s not “your project,” you become a situation manager rather than a product manager, and that feels not great. Waffle, I’m going to let Lox know what’s going on, because while this is insanely frustrating for you, it’s no less frustrating on the business side. Trust.
Caldyr went on to notify CEO Rich Loxam about the genereal situation.
David/Caldyr
Support is fully up to speed on this (waffledebacle’s situation) but it’s another example of a cascade reaction: order placed, timeline missed, we escalate to Support, Ben is top shelf as always, but he’s stuck adding it to the queue.
The main problems people are relaying are around time & transparency/communication, because the order is placed and then there’s this 1-3 month period of silence before poof, models arrive.
Good news: there’s been a marked decrease in flawed prints. So all efforts there are greatly appreciated!
David/Caldyr
I know that each Product Owner will run multiple projects concurrently— we know this because they’ve said so, so I am certain no one has forgotten Guild Ball.
Step one was getting the rules/errata aligned, and I believe they are. Step two will likely be raising awareness and presence going forward, before Step three: actual news.
Meanwhile, yeah, Warmachine is pulling a LOT of resources.
You’re not wrong, but it’s not forgotten.
Also, GenCon. All hands are committed to that at this very moment.
Demos, tables, Warmachine relaunch, Guild Ball games, book announcements, they’re going to need 5 freaking booths at this point. 🙂
The Inspiring Hat
What is done: Quick errata to bring GBCP and SFG in line.
What’s happening currently:
- Getting protocols in place to make collaboration between GBCP and SFG work as smoothly as possible.
- Working on Lumberjacks, almost from the ground up.
- Working on a new Game Plan Deck.
- Working on a certain certain (don’t ask me what)…
- Working on errata 4.7 (Bench note – estimated for march 2025)
- Working on possible next Minor Guild.
- Working on possible “what comes after?”
The thing is, we have nothing to show for now, which is why it’s been rather quiet.
The certain something something is in playtesting, the game plan deck is in playtesting.
More than that, I can’t say. 🙂
Also, Warmachine is where the GBCP was a few years ago – SFG are trying to reach a whole new player base and need to keep at it for now to get as much of them in and staying in.
We kinda know that when you’re asking for Guild Ball news, you’re most likely asking some of the GBCP fellas, since the SFG ones have a lot on their minds while ours are singularly focused.
Hope that helps? 🙂
Finishing note. I for one appreciate this kind of checking in, and I feel reassured. I still would like more news and hype, but I fully understand the situation and have full respect for the people involved to do the best they can with everything that’s going on.
Until next time, don’t hesitate to send me more pics of painting and ideas of other great stuff I can post about! 😀
//Daniel, The Bench
