UMF-II: was New Life for Millennium's End

["Eric Benson" <ebenson@xxxxxxxx>]

Mike Fortey wrote:
> MF A sure-fire seller would be a 'UMF-II'. I'm sure
> MF we'd all rush out and buy it, and there are
> MF certainly enough guns and gear out there to fill
> MF another book. a 10-page essay on how firearms are
> MF actually operationally used and handled would be a
> MF great resource for 90% of gamers ('It takes a turn to
> MF cock? Wassat mean?'). Bung in new weapon handling rules
> MF too... off hand firing, reload times etc.

I agree.  While you're at it, take advantage of the fact that you're
publishing electronically.  Page count is no longer the issue.  You could
make some things available (say in a second, download intensive file)... an
Mpeg (or series of images) of a tactical reloading sequence.  Clearing a
jam, things like that.

Mike Fortey wrote:
> MF I don't think many ME players would neglect such a
> MF book, and you've even got the possibility of
> MF selling to non-ME players.

Correct.  ME is a niche market, especially *right now*.  The game hasn't
been supported for a while and was not particularly well known *out of the
genre* before it disappeared.

If we look at what takes the most time when you go to add weapons or to
write a weapons guide, what is it that takes the most time?  It's doing the
research and writing the description/background.  The stats actually don't
take a huge amount of time to compile if you have the information available.

Add the stats - or conversion charts - for other games.  The existing UMF is
a great resource for other games, but if someone isn't aware of the ME, they
probably won't look at the book.  In order for the rebirth of ME to succeed,
the products have to sell.  The larger the audience, the more they can sell.

As far as which systems to include, I'd suggest Fuzion/Hero (given that
cybergames is already going to be supporting the systems) and White Wolf
(not as fond of the system, but hey, it's a BIG market).  A Fuzion
conversion, for example, is pretty simple (IA maps to WA, just come up with
a chart), damage is caliber based, ROF charts are available to convert from
cyclic rates, etc.).

-Eric