21 April 2010

I guess this is impressive enough for Post #100

It's big news, really big and to be honest, it couldn't happen to better people:

Dear AAG Customers,

I am pleased to announce that Ambush Alley Games has entered into a publishing agreement with Osprey Publishing to release an updated, omnibus edition of our core modern rule books in 2011. The combined edition will be entitled Ambush Alley: Force on Force and will contain all the rules necessary to play Ambush Alley and Force on Force style games!

In addition to the Ambush Alley: Force on Force core rule-book, Ambush Alley Games and Osprey will be releasing new companion books containing scenarios, special rules, and organizations for several specific modern military operations.

I’m very excited about this collaboration, because I believe it will bring you the best that both companies have to offer. You’ll be receiving the same exciting content that we’ve been providing since 2007 and, thanks to Osprey, it will be presented in an even higher quality and more affordable format!

SOG members should be excited to hear that Osprey will continue to honor their 15% discount on all AAG rule-books and companion books they publish. It gets better, though! Osprey will extend that same 15% discount to all their publications and the discount will be applied in addition to any sales or discounts offered by Osprey!

This is a big step in our development as a company and we hope you’re all as excited about it as we are. Rest assured that you’ll continue to see the same level of customer service and responsiveness you’ve received from us in the past – in fact, we’re working on some projects that will actually make us even more accessible and allow us to provide more effective customer support, including enhanced convention and SOG support.

We’ll keep you updated on new developments. Osprey will be making an official announcement later this week, but we thought you should get the word first!

If you have any questions, please send them to info@ambushalleygames.com.

Thanks again for all your support!

Shawn, Robby & Peggy.


What can I say? I approve this wholeheartedly. Osprey and AAG have had consistently high production values in their products. To me, AAG has really set the bar on a small press game company and what it SHOULD be. It's why I wrote the free rules supplements I did, and it's why I am active on their forums, and just doing all I can to help the game grow (including helping to playtest some upcoming stuff). Shawn's commented on this blog a few times, and he's a class guy, and he's got some great folks working for him like Robby and Peggy. It's a far cry from what you see happening with some larger companies I won't name these days. It's why they get my support, because they listen to the fans. Osprey is a larger company, but somehow, their writers are accessible as well. I occasionally email with Gordon Rottmann and Leigh Neville, (Leigh is very occasional). I just can't see how this is anything but full of win for both parties.

Well done all around!

Now, as you may have noticed, it's post #100 here. I've been a busy blogger these past two years, and as much as I am still feeling like I am finding my niche, it's nice to see I've got fans. I hope you continue to like what I write, and that you continue to read, and hey, send your friends! And if you're interested in something? Lemme know, and I'll see what I can do to write about it. I really do run the table here and I like that. I don't want to be about JUST ONE THING. Gets boring I think.

Also, I wanted to do some quick: "What am I reading" on the wargaming side.

First off, SOTCW 69 arrived last week, and I sat down to read it. I liked much of the content, and I especially enjoyed the article on Soviet Cav in WWII. The choice of scenario was a bit interesting, and one wonders if adapting a certain scenario from Cross of Iron (the SL supplement) might not have worked better? But, it was a solid issue with a lot of neat reviews that had me wondering if plastics really are improving these days.

I also picked up digital versions of Battlegames 1 and 18. I liked them overall, and was impressed by the production values for the money. The articles by the resident wargaming widow are my favorite. Now if I could just get my art major Mrs. to recognize she has talents I can more than USE! I was a bit let down by the seeming focus on the 18th Century. Hey, I know people like it and play it, but I only saw a few issues with something more oriented towards me could use. That said, perhaps it's just a case of getting more submissions? Time to fire up the word processor!

Work continues apace on my new freebie for Force on Force. "Blood Upon the Risers". It's slow going because I am an absolute klutz at map making for scenarios. So, if there's anyone out there who wants to offer tips? I'm all for it. Thank god real places are involved, as it's hard enough making maps from whole cloth!!!

Well, enough for now. And thanks to everyone for reading! Here's to another 100 posts!

4 comments:

  1. Wow! Great news. I hope this benefits both parties and that this doesn't impede upon fan provided material. Congrats on 100 posts. Unfortunately for myself I have apparently fractured some small bone in my elbow so this has led to a halt in painting, basing, etc. I hope that I can still be at the game this weekend. Again, congrats on 100 posts.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hey, #1 thing is your health. If you can, great, if not...they'll be other games. I won't ask how you fractured it. I can only imagine you're thinking god bless pain killers right about now...it wasn't your righty by chance was it? I can imagine being one handed? But my one hand being my left? (Shudder)...

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'll help with the terrain. And I am glad that AA got picked up by Osprey

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks for the kind words and sharing the news on your blog!

    Don't worry about fan based material, either. Not only is this arrangement not going to impede fan contributions, it's giving us the opportunity to update our website in a way that will make it easier for you go share material with your fellow AAG gamers.

    Honestly, I think this deal is going to be great not just for us, but also for the fans of the game - and frankly, if I didn't believe that, we would have taken a pass!

    ReplyDelete