State of the NAFtion

[sann0638]

You can read NAF threads without being a member, FYI.

[Shteve0]

I can't, Sann. I don't know why.

@plasmoid
That's a really nice idea. I actually wonder whether D6, D8, D16 would be workable with the 1 replaced by a BB skull. It would feel thematic and not be terribly difficult to pull off, though I'd push for the same font to be used on all the dice to keep things consistent.

[Geggster]

@Virral - apologies for being snippy in earlier discussions. I misread your tone.

[antipixi]

Holy Flying Pig Mother of a Deity Which not insult any religious members of this forum!

Sann, what have you unleashed with this thread!?!

I know it will mean little to many of you (if any at all), but I really don't understand the aggression in this thread and will be steering clear (as long as my nosey nature doesn't get the better of me).

IMO:
- The NAF is run by volunteers and voted in persons (also volunteering their time). I for one cannot spare the time and do not have the inclination to do the jobs they do. As such I will take the opportunity to say thank you to all those who keep the community that I enjoy being a part of running.

- It is not run perfectly. Nor will it ever be run in a way which will please everyone. This is simply not possible.

- Things I am happy with:

• +Lots of tournaments which are easy to find and advertise
  +The opportunity to meet up with people that I consider friends, who I would not know without the NAF
  +Being able to watch my ranking suffer at the hands of my inability to play this game!
  +QUILT and STARS although these could be improved, they are very useful

- Things that I would like to change:

• =Website revamp/update
  =The ability to set parameters in STARS (or a similar tool) to design tournament rosters
  =The ability to submit rosters to tournaments through the tool (automatically checked)
  =A more flexible league tool (perhaps with the functionality of OBBLM)

- As for dice, I'm not that bothered. I like well sculpted and cast limited minis. I also like the NAFC Leader ReRoll and Turn Counters. However, I would be happy for the 'dice money' to go towards subsidising tournaments or offering prise support. We know GW are no longer the gamer friendly company that I started collecting from and playing back in the 80s. The NAF cannot change this, but if they play by the rules then IF GW return to supporting specialist games they may be in a position to guide GW in what the community would benefit from their attention.

I am aware that this community cares deeply about the game and that I may be called 'patronising', 'a suck up' or 'an idiot' for this post. I would also hope that the passion shared by many here is used to make positive suggestions for improvement or to identify the problems without the need for passing blame.

Sorry for the rant, but this thread reads very much as an attack on people giving up there time for our benefit and not the constructive request for suggestions to improve that it began as in the original post.

[Digger Goreman]

Actually the only fair election in any system includes a vote of "no confidence"... but do carry on....

[Olaf the Stout]

@Virral - apologies for being snippy in earlier discussions. I misread your tone.

Yeah, I didn't see anything accusatory in his tone, although that can be hard to miss without any verbal or visual clues.

Regardless of what has gone on in the past (and has been debated here in this thread), I think the major thing I would like the NAF to do is put more effort into getting people playing Blood Bowl.

I feel like at the moment the NAF is focused on member retention, whereas I think the way forward is to grow the game of Blood Bowl and get more people playing.

Doing this benefits everyone. More people playing means more NAF members, which can be used to show GW just how many 'regular BB players' there are. It is also more money in the NAF coffers to direct to various things.

More people playing means that current players have an easier time finding opponents, so they are more likely to keep playing the game themselves. More players also means that more minis are bought, which will see more minis sculpted (companies will only produce more BB minis if they sell).

So I think the NAF should focus on getting more people playing Blood Bowl. They can do this by putting 'How to play' guides on the NAF website (and other places, like various gaming forums), creating YouTube videos explaining how various game mechanics work, putting together demo teams to go out to gaming stores and clubs to show people how to play the game.

That's what I'd like to see from the NAF.

Olaf the Stout

[Steam Ball]

(maybe) Lycos' negotiations kept individual Blood Bowl figures on the GW site

They also kept Necromunda, Mordheim, BFG and others. Was Lycos the catalyzer too?

Serious, did all games had people claiming to keep the miniatures going and GW paid attention? Or was there an employee holding the fort against the W40K/WHFB/LotR hordes so it looks like customer request were being heard? Or GW just kept the stock and moulds, and now that metal is being removed, all Specialist Games get the boot?

One thing we know, it's a fact, GW actively stopped marketing them (all Specialist, not just BB), in shops and magazine. My opinion is that the web shop/order on demand avaliability was just a matter of inertia.

[Shteve0]

I think the major thing I would like the NAF to do is put more effort into getting people playing Blood Bowl.

I feel like at the moment the NAF is focused on member retention, whereas I think the way forward is to grow the game of Blood Bowl and get more people playing.

Doing this benefits everyone. More people playing means more NAF members, which can be used to show GW just how many 'regular BB players' there are. It is also more money in the NAF coffers to direct to various things.

More people playing means that current players have an easier time finding opponents, so they are more likely to keep playing the game themselves. More players also means that more minis are bought, which will see more minis sculpted (companies will only produce more BB minis if they sell).

So I think the NAF should focus on getting more people playing Blood Bowl. They can do this by putting 'How to play' guides on the NAF website (and other places, like various gaming forums), creating YouTube videos explaining how various game mechanics work, putting together demo teams to go out to gaming stores and clubs to show people how to play the game.

That's what I'd like to see from the NAF.

Olaf the Stout

Spot on. I said the same thing more or less word for word earlier in the thread. viewtopic.php?f=20&t=38327&start=52

It seems to be a common theme cropping up here. I'm sure there's a case to be made that appearances can be deceiving, but from the outside there's no apparent NAF strategy for drawing in new blood, but instead simply servicing those already involved. This may be a conscious choice, but I do fear for the NAF's future at the heart of the hobby, to be honest (if it can be said to enjoy that recognition currently). I feel very strongly that the community as a whole would be considerably weaker without the NAF, but I also feel that it could be far more of a presence than it currently is. With the most recent [dice] developments, right now I suspect it's a case of adapt or die (if you'll excuse the pun).

Hopefully the committee will see this as an opportunity to refocus energies and take from it a new lease of life for the organisation. It gives me no pleasure to say it, but I suspect the alternative is that the organisation will dwindle into insignificance, and we'll all - members and non-members both - be poorer as a result.

[Olaf the Stout]

Yeah, I think I read that post of yours Shteve0 and it made me really think, 'Just what is the NAF doing to get new players into the game?'

Based on what I've been able to find out, it doesn't seem like they do much to try and get new players. I'd like to see that change going forward.

Olaf the Stout

[Darkson]

You can read NAF threads without being a member, FYI.

Not if it's in the "Comments" or "Announcements" sub-forums, those are unviewable if not a member (or even if you are a member, but not signed up on the forum).

[Darkson]

Based on what I've been able to find out, it doesn't seem like they do much to try and get new players. I'd like to see that change going forward.

Whilst I've been harsh on the Prez's term in terms of his election promises, he is a great "people person", and is very encouraging to non-NAF players, both newbies and old-timers, at least at the tournaments I've been to. Problem with that of course is that there's only so many tournaments he can attend (even for him), so I agree that worldwide the NAF needs to be more pro-active in getting new players.

[sann0638]

You can read NAF threads without being a member, FYI.

Not if it's in the "Comments" or "Announcements" sub-forums, those are unviewable if not a member (or even if you are a member, but not signed up on the forum).

Good point. Hadn't done thorough research!

adapt or die (if you'll excuse the pun).

Forgive? Welcome! Did you see my video attempt Olaf? Thoughts welcome (on the other thread http://talkfantasyfootball.org/viewtopi ... 20&t=38345).

[Pipey]

Hi again all

Just trying to catch up on both threads (TFF and NAF). BTW another 'here here' to those calling for sensible debate

To pick up on the variant BB discussion i.e. ranking of Dungeonbowl, Street Bowl, Death Bowl etc. ... This is a problem I inherited as TD back in 2010 when historically many tourneys with very non-standard rules were already in the results database.

I pledged in my 2012 TD election campaign that I would find an agreed solution for the problem, and implement it. I also need to explore whether leagues can have a ranking structure similar to tournaments. This is top of my NAF agenda over the next 6 months.

This might be a good place to gather some opinions! Some of the options to solve the BB variant issue are as follows:

A) allow the existing variant matches to stay in the database and allow them in future
B) allow the existing variant matches to stay in the database but don't allow any variants in future
C) retrospectively remove all variant games from the database (and not rank them in future)


B and C would most likely involve a separate 'variant rankings' page on the site, with each coach's variant matches being separated from their regular BB matches.

All thoughts welcome here.

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@Sann - you emailed me about a guide to uploading NAF results. We could gather some NAF knowledge on this and develop a new document. Like the idea. All input and suggestions on that most welcome.

@The gentleman who suggested tourney packs for all tournaments (edit: Kikurasis!) - to be discussed with the wider team as to whether this is logistically possible. The current system of distribution to NTOs and RTOs works pretty well.

----

May I also say a big thanks to all the NAF staff for all their hard work. I do think improvements have been made recently, particularly around communication e.g. with the newsletter. Still much more we can do though. All points about the website and future direction of the NAF noted and welcomed.

[Olaf the Stout]

You can read NAF threads without being a member, FYI.

Not if it's in the "Comments" or "Announcements" sub-forums, those are unviewable if not a member (or even if you are a member, but not signed up on the forum).

Good point. Hadn't done thorough research!

adapt or die (if you'll excuse the pun).

Forgive? Welcome! Did you see my video attempt Olaf? Thoughts welcome (on the other thread http://talkfantasyfootball.org/viewtopi ... 20&t=38345).

I did see that you'd made a video, but I haven't had a chance to view it as yet. From reading the comments in that thread, that's the sort of thing that should be on the NAF website.

Olaf the Stout

[Olaf the Stout]

Pippy, I'd go with option C. Happy for them to be ranked separately though, rather than just deleted. I'm fine with the games being recorded, but they should not impact on the general 'regular' BB game rankings.

I have noticed the improved frequency of the NAF Newsletters and it's something I've been pleased to see more of.

Olaf the Stout