Hello everyone,
This is Ktoto from Apoka team speaking.
Things took a new unexpected turn this week and after months of hesitation I think it is time to speak publicly about everything.
I am afraid the recent announcements of the BCL are the beginning of new tensions. So far the two projects only raised tension and division. And I would like to make sure everyone has a clear picture of the story so far and to make a proposition.
About cooperation
First, let’s talk about cooperation, some facts.
I contacted Sam Man the first time around September 2016 to propose to work together.
We had another possible merge discussion early December.
A few weeks before their first release I proposed again to work with them to make a common Release plan as well as working the visuals with Kripper to get the best quality.
After the release, in February, I proposed again a merge of the projects.
It didn’t happen.
In the meantime, we proposed the same thing to a lot of other communities (who had or not, their own card design team) and they all accepted to join. Today the Apoka cards are influenced by the french community proposals, by the italian feedbacks, by NY or Boston gaming clubs, by players from all around the globe. We got the help of rules experts and we share the playtests files with any group willing to help.
Why do we share and make sure the project is as open as possible? Because we think this is the way to get a united community.
And we are sad to see that the BCL project is the only one that didn’t want to cooperate. And we mean it: sad. Not angry, or hateful, but sad for the community.
But we know what happened. Let’s speak frankly. The BCL members felt insulted / provoked / backstabbed by our project. Because Sam Man and I maybe did not communicate enough at that time, when we first released it may have been a surprise for most of them. An unpleasant surprise.
So, let me say this, on the behalf of Team Apoka: We apologize to the BCL members. We are sorry this miscommunication and absence of coordination led to bad feelings.
And I mean it. It’s not fake apologizes. There is a lot to say about what happened next, tensions or whatever. But about the spark that lightened all this, we apologize for our part of the responsibility on all this mess.
About what we think
As you all know, we tried our best to avoid problems between the teams. I had the chance to be in contact with Sam Mann since the beginning and I thought coexistence was possible.
- We delayed our pack 3 release to make sure they can release in good conditions.
- As many can attest (I don’t want to name them here), I was adamant that we will not launch any tournament as long as the Black Crusade League was running.
- We have a clear policy to never be rude or vitriolic.
And we don’t want competition either. We don’t want to compete against another design project. This is not our goal at all. Kripper and I, as head of the team, are really, really not the fighting type.
About people
Before going further, I would like to say a few words to the most involved BCL members or supporters.
Jacob / Mjob
I know you really don’t like us. I am not sure why, but if I only could convince you of one thing: I am not at the head of a secret organisation willing to buy Conquest from FFG or anything. You can ask Sam Man: I’m just a normal guy, enjoying Conquest. I’m sure it only takes to know each other to dissipate misunderstanding. You can find me on facebook, let’s chat a bit!
Joey “Smooth†Cook
Thank you. Without your comment on Sneaky Lootin’ on facebook we would have printed 80 packs with a wrong wording on a card. It may seem minor but to us it means a lot because we really want to provide the best quality possible. Just to make it clear: we hold no grudge against you today, and we really appreciated your help.
Stefan R / Behold Tmind!
Well… I’m Douniazad on OCTGN. We played a lot of very pleasant games together. When I found out that Tmind = StefanR I was afraid to tell you and lose a game partner (a generic word for “him stomping meâ€).
I know you are the founder of the #Nopoka movement and guardian of the purity of the Skype group. ^^ You have all rights to be angry against us, especially if you were, as I mentioned earlier, not aware of our project before we first release. But you are an excellent player and and jolly fellow when we don’t mention Apoka in front of you. I hope we can sort something out.
Sam Mann
I could have reached out on facebook as usual. But I thought this needed a public explanation. I hope you won’t mind. I’ve noticed, as everyone, that you have not yet precised what is the card legality for the World Championship you want to organize. I took this as an opening sign.
About now
Why am I writing all this?
I’m convinced coexistence won’t work. Division is really bad. It’s no one’s fault. It’s just that our community would be so happy and relieved to have one clear project, one online league.
So I want to publicly propose again the BCL dudes to join forces.
Our inability (as teams) to merge is not nice for the community. Let’s be honest about this, it’s not a very friendly atmosphere we created. No one really wants to take a side out of respect for the other side. And as a result the community is stuck in the middle.
Should we call this new entity Apoka, or BCL, or a new name? We don’t care. It can be whatever you want (I personally think a new name would mark a new start better). But for the sake of Conquest, we urge you to consider what the community will gain.
- A unique fanmade expansion
- No opposition or risk of being labelled a traitor
- Only one league with everyone
- No problem of “what are you playing?†on OCTGN
- No more tension on cardgamedb or facebook
What do I have in mind
Some BCL expansion cards feature nice ideas.
But I found a very few real game design issues.
Example:
-
Fiery Heart Immolator + Searchlight = Infinite damage combo.
You can wipe the planets of all enemy units each round.
You just go to an empty planet with your warlord. Then exhaust, move the Immolator, deal 2 damage, ready at end of round, exhaust again, etc.
(It also work with the salamander to create 10 tokens / round.)
I also know some members of the BCL team have doubts on the necron cards balancing.
So to say, my proposition is as follow:
-
We merge the teams and create a new entity
-
We work together on the BCL cards to make sure they will fit on a long term vision and use our templates to improve their visual design
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We check together the Release Plan we currently have and we do all that is necessary so all members really feel comfortable in the new entity.
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The new entity set a new Release Plan and the first pack to be released is a remastered version of BCL first pack that is compatible with the other cards done so far and the work planned so no work is left behind and nothing goes to the trash bin.
This is my proposition today.
I hope the best for our community.
With respect for everyone’s opinion and efforts,
Ktoto