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Message no. 1
From: Ereskanti@***.com Ereskanti@***.com
Subject: FASA Deadlines (Re: release date change on M&M?)
Date: Wed, 6 Oct 1999 17:10:09 EDT
In a message dated 10/6/1999 3:06:56 PM US Eastern Standard Time,
deckerl@******.com writes:

> I like the quality of the projects, and I understand the near miss date now.
> My grip is this. 3rd Ed came out last year.
> MITS was playtested and took forever to appear after that. (Although the
> quality is great).
> Over a year later, they finally release another core book! Bioware hasn't
> been updated since 1st ed, and alot of stuff
> it out of print and not available. You shouldn't wait a year to release a
> core, necessary book.

Folks, FASA misses deadlines, as a gaming company, until they are ready to
hire LOTS more people and NOT change their production levels (therefore
allowing them to catch up to themselves), this is going to continue to happen.

As for why things got pushed back this last summer? I was told that
Mechwarrior 3rd Edition played a big roll in pushing back Shadowrun (Man &
Machine) as well. The Mechwarrior People (such as Bryan Nystul) were really
helpful in getting SR3 played up. It became therefore "scratch someone
elses' back time", and Mike and the SR people therefore turned their focus to
Mechwarrior.

One company, big name (in the industry), small staff.

-K
Message no. 2
From: Lee Decker deckerl@******.com
Subject: FASA Deadlines (Re: release date change on M&M?)
Date: Wed, 6 Oct 1999 17:28:00 -0400
> Folks, FASA misses deadlines, as a gaming company, until they
> are ready to
> hire LOTS more people and NOT change their production levels
> (therefore
> allowing them to catch up to themselves), this is going to
> continue to happen.
>
> As for why things got pushed back this last summer? I was told that
> Mechwarrior 3rd Edition played a big roll in pushing back
> Shadowrun (Man &
> Machine) as well. The Mechwarrior People (such as Bryan
> Nystul) were really
> helpful in getting SR3 played up. It became therefore
> "scratch someone
> elses' back time", and Mike and the SR people therefore
> turned their focus to
> Mechwarrior.
>
> One company, big name (in the industry), small staff.
>

Understood (and I've even emailed MIke about this). But he pissed off alot
of us oldtimers, when he delayed M&M and
released things like the 3rd Ed companion. Too me (and many will disagree).
M&M is core, Companion is optional.
YMMV. BUt don't tease me for a year with M&M.
Message no. 3
From: Ereskanti@***.com Ereskanti@***.com
Subject: FASA Deadlines (Re: release date change on M&M?)
Date: Wed, 6 Oct 1999 18:41:39 EDT
In a message dated 10/6/1999 4:38:10 PM US Eastern Standard Time,
deckerl@******.com writes:

> Understood (and I've even emailed MIke about this). But he pissed off alot
> of us oldtimers, when he delayed M&M and
> released things like the 3rd Ed companion. Too me (and many will disagree).
> M&M is core, Companion is optional.
> YMMV. BUt don't tease me for a year with M&M.

I also concur that Companion could have probably waited. I *think* however I
can see an alternative reasoning to doing so. This way all the fundamental
"races" could be out there, and then all rules following could include
reference to any/all of them without fear.

Its' not a good excuse, I'll give it that. But it can work.

-K
Message no. 4
From: Lee Decker deckerl@******.com
Subject: FASA Deadlines (Re: release date change on M&M?)
Date: Wed, 6 Oct 1999 20:38:51 -0400
>I also concur that Companion could have probably waited. I >*think*
however I
>can see an alternative reasoning to doing so. This way all the
>fundamental
>"races" could be out there, and then all rules following could >include
>reference to any/all of them without fear.
>Its' not a good excuse, I'll give it that. But it can work.

I'll work with that. But once again...I consider these optional rules to add
color. Not core stuff. Mike mentioned he thought it wanted and needed by
folks new to shadowrun. I disagree, but such is life.
Message no. 5
From: dghost@****.com dghost@****.com
Subject: FASA Deadlines (Re: release date change on M&M?)
Date: Wed, 6 Oct 1999 21:52:48 -0700
On Wed, 6 Oct 1999 17:28:00 -0400 Lee Decker <deckerl@******.com> writes:
<SNIP>
> Understood (and I've even emailed MIke about this). But he pissed off
alot
> of us oldtimers, when he delayed M&M and
> released things like the 3rd Ed companion. Too me (and many will
disagree).
> M&M is core, Companion is optional.
> YMMV. BUt don't tease me for a year with M&M.

To adapt something from one of my classes, of the possible products, most
fall into three categories: Must have, should have, and nice to have. The
BBB3 is the only product that falls into the must have category. Things
like M&M, CC, and MitS fall into the should have. Finally, the GM Screen
(IMO), and SRC3 fall into the nice to have category. I'm not sure about
First Run and Shadowrun Light ... I would say that they're should have
for new players and nice to have for oldtimers.

The problem (IMO) with FASA's schedule is that their priorities are all
over the place. They should be releasing (producing) must have products
first, then should have products and finally, nice to have products. The
problem is FASA is intermixing the last two and it's agrivating to those
of us to see how the rules have been updated.

What I would guess is happening is that they are breaking up some of the
hardcore (time-consuming/work-intensive) books with cheese products
(relative easy to produce) so that there aren't immense gaps between
product releases as well as to prevent the writers from getting
burned-out.

Apologies if the wording was extra cheesed. :)

--
D. Ghost
Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend.
Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read.
-Groucho Marx

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Message no. 6
From: vocenoctum@****.com vocenoctum@****.com
Subject: FASA Deadlines (Re: release date change on M&M?)
Date: Thu, 7 Oct 1999 22:53:36 -0400
On Wed, 6 Oct 1999 17:28:00 -0400 Lee Decker <deckerl@******.com> writes:
>
>
> Understood (and I've even emailed MIke about this). But he pissed
> off alot
> of us oldtimers, when he delayed M&M and
> released things like the 3rd Ed companion. Too me (and many will
> disagree).
> M&M is core, Companion is optional.
> YMMV. BUt don't tease me for a year with M&M.
>

Actually, what Mike said one time was that the print run for Companion
came up sooner than expected, so they did a quick update, to avoid
reprinting a whole lot of old and useless books.

It was a lot less work than the current "reprints" which actually
require more work (like MitS and M&M)

Of course, that means Cannon Companion should have been sooner, but they
are supposedly doing more than just guns.
Vocenoctum
<http://members.aol.com/vocenoctum>;

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Message no. 7
From: Mike and Jill Johnson shadowrn@******.net
Subject: FASA Deadlines (Re: release date change on M&M?)
Date: Thu, 14 Oct 1999 19:26:59 -0600
At 08:38 PM 10/6/99 -0400, you wrote:
>I'll work with that. But once again...I consider these optional rules to add
>color. Not core stuff. Mike mentioned he thought it wanted and needed by
>folks new to shadowrun. I disagree, but such is life.
>
But what was easier to write and put out. 3 pages of new stuff for the
companion, or hopefully over 50% of a new book for Man and Machine?

Mike Johnson

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