Topic: RMU - when, and where is the marketing campaign?

[Thot]

I get from the monthly briefings that it is now, finally, only a few months until the first RMU book comes out. I am not sure when, but I guess nobody is.

Still, wouldn't it make sense t roar the marketing drums by now, to make people realize there's a new version of the legendary game coming?

[Poil]

Hasn't it been "close" for years now? Every briefing has claimed that it's not much longer for a long time.

Of course these things take time and unexpected slowdowns always happen, that's not the issue. But realistically speaking I still don't think there is much point besides checking at most twice a year if it has been released yet.

[Hurin]

If one reads the director's briefings, one will realize that release is indeed imminent. Never before has the design team used this word before, nor has it shown preview pages, talked about finishing art commissioning, discussed how Nicholas and others are making the final pass on layout, etc.

As for marketing budgets: how big a company do you think ICE is? It is small, which means there is a small marketing budget. What we can do is spread the word that the design team has now passed all the major hurdles and release is indeed imminent. This is not a drill.

[tbigness]

I have been waiting on imminent for quite some time now. With all the long stretch of no progress it is not a real thing yet. A Zero date will be needed to get my attention. This project has been going on forever now, and I have other things I am getting into due to this. So imminent means the same as some time in the future but don't hold your breath. A target month would be more appropriate at this point.

[pastaav]

I have been waiting on imminent for quite some time now. With all the long stretch of no progress it is not a real thing yet. A Zero date will be needed to get my attention. This project has been going on forever now, and I have other things I am getting into due to this. So imminent means the same as some time in the future but don't hold your breath. A target month would be more appropriate at this point.

Does not the beginning of December 2022 for the digital release of the first book count as a pretty specific target month?

[tbigness]

Some what, as you know we have been anticipating this for a while with plenty of teasers especially around Con season. So again not much faith in this teaser posting until I see a confirmation on the briefings. BTW where is the November one or did I miss it.

[Thot]

[...]
As for marketing budgets: how big a company do you think ICE is? It is small, which means there is a small marketing budget. What we can do is spread the word that the design team has now passed all the major hurdles and release is indeed imminent. This is not a drill.

But announcements of the upcoming game in forums and facebook groups and the like wouldn't cost anything. I mean, I am not expecting TV spots, just some good old internet viral marketing.

[Thot]

[...]
Does not the beginning of December 2022 for the digital release of the first book count as a pretty specific target month?

Yes, but… then why is this "two to three weeks now" not talked about EVERYWHERE?

[Hurin]

[...]
As for marketing budgets: how big a company do you think ICE is? It is small, which means there is a small marketing budget. What we can do is spread the word that the design team has now passed all the major hurdles and release is indeed imminent. This is not a drill.

But announcements of the upcoming game in forums and facebook groups and the like wouldn't cost anything. I mean, I am not expecting TV spots, just some good old internet viral marketing.

We're constantly discussing it on Discord, if that helps.

[sunwolf]

We're constantly discussing it on Discord, if that helps.

Didn't know there was a Rolemaster/Iron Crown Discord - what's it listed under, couldn't find it on a preliminary look

[pastaav]

Some what, as you know we have been anticipating this for a while with plenty of teasers especially around Con season. So again not much faith in this teaser posting until I see a confirmation on the briefings. BTW where is the November one or did I miss it.

Fair enough, I am not holding my breath. On another note, the previous teasers have always been for prerelease-versions. This is the first time ever that Iron Crown has set a target month for the digital release.

As for the topic of the discussion. A good reason to wait with the marketing campaign is that new people coming to the game will need RMU versions of all the core books. Us RM veterans can adapt old material and use material from the beta to start playing, but new players will not have access to such. Asking new players to buy the new RMU rules but have to purchase material from the old editions to be able to play would be a marketing disaster.

[Hurin]

We're constantly discussing it on Discord, if that helps.

Didn't know there was a Rolemaster/Iron Crown Discord - what's it listed under, couldn't find it on a preliminary look

There is an 'Iron Crown Enterprises' Discord server, with subsections for different editions, settings, etc. However, when I did a search for 'Iron Crown Enterprises' in the community search, nothing turned up. If you can't find it, send me a PM on these boards with your Discord name and I can send you an invite I think.

Anyone know a better way to hook Sunwolf up on the server?

[jdale]

https://discord.com/invite/7fYkMHZ

[sunwolf]

Thanks the invite link worked

[jdale]

I just copied it from the ICE website.

[Hurin]

Wizardry!

[Thot]

[...]
We're constantly discussing it on Discord, if that helps.

I don't believe it helps with boosting sales. Aren't there websites and social media that are most suited for such marketing? Like… rpg.net and such?

[Colin-ICE]

I am doing my best to get the word out. As NO-ONE wanted to delay the release any further, the fact that it is actually coming out in ten days has given me very little time to get much done before the launch. I am hoping to do a lot between pdf and print though and then more post-print.

[Amano]

10 days!

[Hurin]

Marc's head is going to explode.