Change of plans

[Consadine]

The Mag is getting some changes.

1. No longer 40k exclusive.

• I am greedy and want more articles. The expanded content range gives us a wider range of readers and gives existing readers insight into other games. Recent shenanigans from GW are just going to hurt GW-exclusive anything: podcasts, emags, forums, etc, so opening up lets us negate negative side-effects of whatever it is GW is doing.

2. Writing an article? Use this subforum.

• This one, linky. Start a WIP with general progress pictures and descriptions. This should help keep you motivated and it'll be lots easier to check on your progress.

3. Contest ideas. Let's hear 'em.

• Bulletpoint for consistency's sake.

4. I need one or two new article editors.

• PM/email/MSN if you're interested.

That's about all I can think of for now.

[Hephesto]

Well if you want:

• You can use my TubeTool product review (link).
• Should be able to pump out another review or two (still need to deal with InstantMold and Secret Weapon's weatering pigments...though I need a new vehicle for that one).
• I can put together another set of small, useful hobby tips, like in the last issue.
• Been given my Relictors quite a bit of though, writing down ideas for some custom, opponent-permission needed rules (gear, units, characters, slightly adjusted armylist etc). Could try and get those worked out for the next issue.
• Posted a link to this thread on the Facebook pages as well, the more ideas and content the better right!

Rather like the idea of another simple contest, though for that to work we'd need both fixed deadlines (and ideally also a releasedate for the issue with the winners). will give this some more thought on the way back home! Other random ideas and suggestions:

• Army showcases, we have plenty of wargamers out there with great armies, why not put them in front of the camera with a short little interview thrown into the mix.
• General product reviews, different paints, finding good brushes, how to airbrush etc.
• I think it would also be fun and would help to give the Mag more character by having a few recurring articles and/or columns.
• Ye Olde characters and rules, I think quite a few older characters and rulesets could be brought back for friendly games by simply updating their rules. Perhaps a bit too ambitious and GW might not like it, but worth looking into me thinks

[Inquisitor023]

4. I need one or two new article editors.

• PM/email/MSN if you're interested.

I thought Nomad did the Editing?

[Consadine]

I thought Nomad did the Editing?

I'd still rather spread the work out, so if someone has real life come up, progress won't be impeded.

[Nomad]

I'd still rather spread the work out, so if someone has real life come up, progress won't be impeded.

Seems to me, the greatest impedence comes when you drop off the radar for months, then you send me a batch of all the articles at once and want them back immediately. It has been me pushing you for the last few issues. We might still be waiting for issue 6 if I hadn't pushed so hard.

Yes, the current batch of articles has been sitting in my in-box for about 5 weeks. All 3 of them. I have even edited the excellent one by Honsou. During that period I have had the kids for 2 weeks whilst they were on school holidays, helped my sister move house to a town about 150km away, my parents move house to about 250 km away, have had no internet connection AND started a new job.

You never even bothered to ask, just sent me a message saying "I'm looking for one or two others to take over editing articles."

If we had started looking for a new "editor in chief" whenever you weren't heard from for a couple of months, we would have replaced you along time ago. I have already taken this issue up with you and got the "if you don't like the way I do things, quit" response. I didn't like the way you ran things then, I don't like the way you run things now. However, I am not going to quit. I realise you have the power to just cut me out by not sending me the articles but that will just reflect on what type of character you are, not upon me.

[Honsou]

As you know I advocated this sort of a change of course some time ago, arguing that a broader range of topics would not only make the AstroMag more accessible (and thereby expand our potential readership) but would also encourage the contributions of our community as we would potentially be dealing with the game systems that matched their interest. While you rejected this course of action out of hand at the time, I am nonetheless hopeful for this change of direction.

While it is all well and good to declare a change of direction, I feel I must point out that we consistently struggle to put together a single topic magazine, and I fear that simply declaring a change of direction will do little to improve that situation. Indeed, I suspect we may end up simply adding to our worries.

It is hard not to notice that there are some continuing issues about the people involved in producing the mag- conflicts, inconsistencies, absences and so on. Regardless as to whether it is a good plan to spread the editorial process out even further, it seems a touch inappropriate to suggest that Andrew isn't fully able to perform his assigned task- especially with circumstances being as they are. Even in his absence, to my knowledge no progress was made- and the unexplained, unannounced and unexpected absences of others (Nomad mentions Consadine for example) are of equal issue.

I do not wish to turn this into a mud slinging match, but I think there are a few glaring issues that need to be examined. Obviously Nomad has been absent, yes- but I know that he has done work for the mag (I myself discussed with him at length the editorial process of my recurring article), and we've had some problems with people dropping out unexpectedly. That said, Consadine: you should consider whether you're necessarily in the best position to guide the astro-mag; there have after all been some questions as to your actual involvement, and behind-the-scenes interactions with other people who are trying to do their part for the Mag.

This might just be my personal interpretation, but sometimes it does seem that you come across as somewhat of a teflon man: committed to everything, but nothing ever seems to stick. Perhaps, as a community and as individuals, we need to consider what is best for the Mag- whether that be in terms of adding more editors or indeed replacing the editor in chief.

[Inquisitor023]

Hons most certainly has a point. There does seem to be a number of issues where we don't get things out on time. I can't actually remember a Mag that has been. Branching out doesn't seem like it would help, but that's just me.

[Consadine]

Branching out doesn't seem like it would help, but that's just me.

The Mag has been delayed waiting for people to send in articles, and we have to wait on these articles because we don't get many. The number of articles in each Mag has declined rather rapidly. Expanding the subject matter should help tons. The podcast What Would Patton Do has said they'll do at least one article, and Wyrd Games has expressed interest in us reviewing stuff in the Mag:

Thanks for your email! We would love to see our work reviewed for your e-zine, and you have permission to do so. As far as review materials, we have already sent out our allotment for our current products. However, this is something we will consider for some future book releases and the like.

Thanks again!

Kinda cool. Just a waiting game to hear back from Spartan Games, Privateer Press, Battlefront, Forged In Battle and Black Scorpion. Still have stuff to get from Mr Chambers. But I'm sure having more articles to work with is going to be rubbish for getting the Mag out on time.

Perhaps, as a community and as individuals, we need to consider what is best for the Mag

Where's the feedback that isn't just "Aw cool, it looks great"? Where's the input and response from this forum? Is it best that the Mag is limited to this community, or even has Astro as a forum the primary community?


Nomad, you're still on if you still want on, but I do want a few more editors as fall-backs.

[Hephesto]

Well, what can I say...I for one am definitely also guilty of lagging article results. Things crop up and sadly enough, for me, it often means that my free time disappears rapidly. In general it is pretty clear that organizing a project like this is a challenge, particularly when working with deadlines and digital interaction with contributors. Effective leadership is certainly an effective thing to have around, but the nature of the digital realm means that is can be tough to stay on top of things (people drop off the radar, mailadresses go dead etc.).

So I think that a combo of more directive deadlines (a wee kick at our backends) and a more focused approach (certain number of articles deadlines, themes, recurring columns etc) will help out a lot. Definitely not saying I could do a better job, but I'm more than happy to help out where needed....just remember to kick my ass every now and then

[LutherMax]

Seems to me, the greatest impedence comes when you drop off the radar for months, then you send me a batch of all the articles at once and want them back immediately.

Yes, the current batch of articles has been sitting in my in-box for about 5 weeks. All 3 of them.

So which is it?

I have even edited the excellent one by Honsou

Mate, send it over. All edited articles I have so far are laid out in the mag, so I'm waiting for more. My understanding of the situation at the moment is that we don't have as much content as we'd like for Issue 9. I would still like to put in what we do have but I'm waiting on you guys. However, I understand (and so should we all) that we do have lives, we're doing this for free and for fun, and other things sometimes take precedence.