The real barrier to entry, and some other thoughts.

[Commisar]

I love Malifaux. It’s a great game, and the models are in my opinion some of the best things coming out in miniatures at the moment and I play all the big systems. However, I have one or two concerns and I was interested to know what the community at large, as well as Wyrd thought about them.
I am new to Malifaux. My FLGS started to stock it, seemingly on a whim, and the wargames guy who works there was told to learn it. (The owners mostly know about TCG’s). I was the guy he could convince to start so he would have someone to play against. I then discovered how awesome the game was (I had been previously aware of the miniatures.) So, I then needed to get the usual guys I game with interested in it so I have more opponents. On the face of it, this is easy. Cheap mini rulebook. Cheap starter box of awesome miniatures and a demo game, right?
Except. One of my friends, bloke called Pete who loves RPG’s, turns around to me and says:
“I bought this mini rulebook , but I don’t know which crew to get”
“Just get whatever you think looks cool”
“I want to read the fluff first, were the fluff?”
Well. That’s the question, isn’t it? Where is the fluff? Then I had to explain how there are these Three big rulebooks. Two of them have out of date rules in, and the third one has some rules that aren’t in your little manual, but you don’t really need them unless you want to use an Avatar. Also. I haven’t seen a book one on sale in the UK for a long time. They have both the other books here, but I don’t know how much sense they will make without the first book, and I think Rising Powers might be getting reprinted soon…. Around this time his eyes started to glaze.

Wyrd: This is a massive problem. What is going on with books 1 + 2? Are they getting reprinted? When? Is the content changing? Am I ok to buy Book 2 since my FLGS has some? (I own Rules Manual + Book 4) Is the rules manual getting reprinted to include a page on manifesting Avatars? Or will I have to carry Book 4 around to games in perpetuity.

It’s not just the books that seem to be in a shambolic state. What’s going on with your cards? First of all, they change, but don’t get reprinted, so you have to be constantly checking online for errata. If they do eventually get reprinted, you have to order them from the USA L. Why isn’t there a Deck of Cards available?
Come to think of it, why are the cards the way they are? Anyone actually like the design? Trying to sleeve them flat involves buying obscure sleeves from a board game hobbyist website and then trimming them down slightly. Why aren’t they a standard size? And who thought the FOLD was a good idea? That would be cool if I didn’t have to mark my wounds on a sleeve in Dry erase markers. Privateer Press kind of already did the whole stat cards thing well. Why are you reinventing the wheel?
Talking of cards. The Fate cards. The puppet deck is an excellent product, but my opponents have trouble reading it across the table. You should entirely make a fate deck on the same material, but with a clearer font and the Weak Medium Severe showing.
So To conclude.

I think you have some of the best miniatures currently being produced.
I think you have a great rule set.
Why is this being let down by printed media issues?

I would also be interested in knowing if I am the only one who has these problems, or if others in the community agree.

[Nathan Caroland]

Book two has never been out of print. If you can't get it, holler at your distributor - if he says he doesn't have it, holler at me and I'll politely inform them otherwise.

Book one, keep an eye open in the future.

[SpiralngCadavr]

Book one, keep an eye open in the future.

!

[(TV)]

Book two has never been out of print. If you can't get it, holler at your distributor - if he says he doesn't have it, holler at me and I'll politely inform them otherwise.

Book one, keep an eye open in the future.

I have shared some of the issues the OP brought up. We just try to share what we have, like our only book 1, and photocopies of the fluff sections of it etc.

Nice quick and decisive reply thought Nathan, and though I can't say I'm surprised you guys are working on it, it's still good to hear. I think the supposed RPG could have a huge positive effect for circulating the fluff in particular, as well as re-releasing the old material in omnibus-ish forms. Though I'm sure you guys have thought of this much more heh.

Regards,
TV

[ThePandaDirector]

I think all your concerns are valid and felt by many, but one thing you don't often get is the above, quick and direct response from the top.

As many flaws are in Wyrd's marketing or product, at least they fix them properly and don't ignore people who challenge them.

And since I own Book 1 I shall simply plea for more great fluff =]

[tadaka]

For the cards if you dont like the puppet deck they sell the regular easy to read fate deck. Book fluff is an issue but they are working on them. I like the cards as one peice personaly. Yes cards are updated and we get to look online. The kick ass part of this is wyrd fixes things all the time. Count it as a blessing. Welcome to malifaux.

[Commisar]

Getting a reply from the Big Boss, which actually answers the main problem, 8 Whole minutes after posting a long rambling post is pretty awesome customer service there.

And as to the other things. Yes, you can sleeve the plain old ordinary fate deck, and that's fine. Then you have a deck twice the size, and it just seems a shame, since they have the technology. That was a minor nit pick.

And as to the Stat cards, I'm willing to chalk that down to taste. I'll keep on buying obscure sleeves and trimming down my cards with a hobby knife forever, because its not a deal breaker. But if lots of people find them unwheildy, then, that's something else that could change.

But my main quandary was about the books. So thanks for the prompt reply. :D

[Requirement]

Trying to sleeve them flat involves buying obscure sleeves from a board game hobbyist website and then trimming them down slightly. Why aren’t they a standard size? And who thought the FOLD was a good idea? That would be cool if I didn’t have to mark my wounds on a sleeve in Dry erase markers.

Simple fix? Take them to the local print shop and have them laminated. It costs like a dollar (or shilling? Euro? Piece of eight? A farthing? Pounds?)

[fritz the cat]

Simple fix? Take them to the local print shop and have them laminated. It costs like a dollar (or shilling? Euro? Piece of eight? A farthing? Pounds?)

1 standardized currency piece

[LordZombie]

If you wanted to be really cheap on fixing the cards, just put a piece of glossy tape over the wound tracker. That is really the only place you will be marking on. Use a dry easer marker and away you go. As for the rulebook, my friend had the same trouble. The website is really the only way to get any type of fluff as to the factions. I know lots of people that pick fluff over rules or models, so that is kind of a problem. Small things, but much better than what you deal with as far as other companies go. Also, welcome to Malifaux.