Re: GURPS Orcslayer - Entry level GURPS
 

Plus there's the slight insanity that in some countries the distinction between "book" and "game" is "does it have dice" which can mean a considerable amount of VAT that gets added to the price.

Re: GURPS Orcslayer - Entry level GURPS
 

No, you don't need plastic bases, but to have heavy stock cardboard heroes with the bases does look more appealing, without going to the expense of prepainted plastic minis. Also, granted a few d6's may not be necessary, but adding them makes it a more complete product. Plus the SJG d6's with the all seeing eye do look pretty cool.

Something else that might also work is an added DVD with a filmed example of a short encounter. That should help the completely uninitiated get into the game.

I also don't think the market for a product such as this is in your average gaming bookstore, while it would certainly sell there, you want to have this on the shelves of large chain toy & hobby stores, Target and Walmart. In these cases the ability to flip through the book is not important, it's fancy artwork on the box that will sell it.

Re: GURPS Orcslayer - Entry level GURPS
 

I'm not sure the entry price would be too high. The plastic miniatures can be offered separately. They don't have to be masterpieces, just solid toy soldiers. Call me weird but I've always wanted GURPS to have a proper range of toy soldiers. I'm a scale fanatic. Crappy dollar store toy soldiers really annoy me.

Anyhow, for a cheap product, I'd suggest a single booklet. I'm guessing having an uncut insert fold-out as a poster map is a logistical nightmare so we won't do that. What we will do is an overleaf of cardboard heroes like they did on GURPS Autoduel first edition. I've always thought that was a brilliant solution. We'll drop the scale of the maps to 1/72 to make them a little tighter. Actually I'd be good with 1/72 toy soldiers too but they wouldn't be in this set.*

Oh well, so we've got a saddle stitched book with a fold out of figures and a pull out of maps with half inch hexes. Pulling the maps out of a perfect bound book would destroy it so we're using staples. We cram in GURPS Lite as is, a magic section that's cut down a bit from what's in the basic set a races and monsters section, and Orcslayer. Price it at maybe $17.50.

*There are a couple companies already doing generic fantasy in 1/72 and I'll bet you they could be bought cheap in bulk as long as the price point of the final product didn't out compete their own products. But they would work good in an 11 x 5.5 booklet scale box and it could have folded poster maps in it. I'd call the box GURPS ORC SLAYER and use the original cover art with a modern logo but that's just me.

Re: GURPS Orcslayer - Entry level GURPS
 

I agree with this. The cardboard minis PDFs could be also an optional purchase related to the product.

Re: GURPS Orcslayer - Entry level GURPS
 

Well, of course a box would have to come at a higher price, but a box is a much more appealing product for many customers, thus hopefully you can sell more.
Moreover IMHO the most important point is that a box is more attractive for new customers who didn't play GURPS, yet. So if these persons like the box, chances are good that at least some of them will buy other GURPS books, too, in the future... And that makes it really worthy for the manufacturer!

Re: GURPS Orcslayer - Entry level GURPS
 

This would be a nice kickstater project. Anyway, its a lot easier to make molds these days with the ton of 3d printers vendors who drive the price down. Although, id rather it be like many of those new dnd board games with great minis.

Re: GURPS Orcslayer - Entry level GURPS
 

If the project was going to be kickstarted, then I would definitely be aiming higher and go for the plastic miniatures over the cardboard heroes, colour softcovers for both the books, and well detailed colour battlemaps.

Re: GURPS Orcslayer - Entry level GURPS
 

As I see it there's essentially two types of entry product. The cheap first hit and the big fat toy box. Zombies has done okay with the middle of the road but my own guess is that you want either a single booklet at around $18 (round numbers are a bad thing) or a single box around $ 72. I think the current Games Workshop starters speak to the wisdom of being over fifty and under eighty.

Still, I've always thought a nice set of toy soldier grade figures is a thing of its own. It's cheaper to do and has its own appeal. I only went with separate weapons since PCs want the figure to be appropriately armed and separate heads because orc heads almost never look right in one piece.

Really a 9 x 12 box with 100 1/72 plastic figures including gargoyles and dragons would be a fantastic starter.

But then I can't figure out why nobody's done generic fantasy adventurers in 28mm plastic either.

Re: GURPS Orcslayer - Entry level GURPS
 

What makes you think the box is more appealing for most, and that you can sell more of them?

Re: GURPS Orcslayer - Entry level GURPS
 

I wish I could give an eloquent defense of the box for a beginner's set (vs. the bag or plastic wrap idea). I'm a supporter of using a box for such things. It just feels more professional to me and makes a statement of seriousness on the part of the publisher that a bag or plastic wrap doesn't.

Overall, I think this is a potentially great idea. Why not publish something that is effectively an updated version of the old 1st and 2nd ed. box set (except with some basic rules for magic). Focus attention on 1-3 genres (fantasy and maybe modern action or space?) to demonstrate the strength of a generic rules set. Then an updated Orcslayer adventure (or whatever) and maybe a short, intro adventure for the other genre. Nothing too fancy, but with decent production value. Maybe throw in the dice and some cardboard heroes and maps as well. One thing I'd definitely include is a detailed catalog of the most important current GURPS publications. Part of this would include a basic flow chart or whatnot making suggestions for products to look at depending on genre interest, style of game play (gritty realistic or cinematic), etc. Maybe even include some sort of electronic coupon that could be redeemed for a discounted copy of the full basic set or other products.

Some key benefits of some sort of beginner's box:
1) it could incorporate the years of advice given by fans and critics on how to make GURPS more accessible to the non-veteran gamer (w/o making the already published basic set redundant).
2) it could be actively promoted to gaming stores and bookstores (and maybe even toy stores?) keeping GURPS in the gaming community and public's eye. SJG wouldn't even have to worry at all about actively marketing other GURPS publications - the beginner's set could act as advertising and marketing by itself bringing more customers to e23/warehouse23, expanding the overall player base and in so doing creating more incentive for everyone's local gaming store to continue stocking GURPS material.
3) room for fun stuff: dice, miniatures, etc. (like everyone's already mentioned).