Mindless Interview Questions [Archive]

Wyldstaar

02/24/2003, 01:59

Am I the only one who is sick to death of seeing valuable time wasted in the ever so rare interviews with Wizkids on totally pointless questions? There are usually two or three pertinent questions asked, while the rest are insipid nonsense like, "Who's your favorite character?" or "What's your favorite comic book?" Does anyone care about the answers to these questions? NO! The objective of a question is to obtain information pertinent to US.

Here are some questions I want the answers to, and I'm sure I'm not alone.

1- Are there any plans to create additional Powers and Abilities?

2- Will any character ever have more than one Power per stat, as is done in MageKnight?

3- Will there ever be any mounted figures such as Ghost Rider and his Cycle, or Silver Surfer and his Board?

4- Will there be any new Teams added to Marvel or DC Heroclix?

5- How receptive is Wizkids to input from players on popular message boards such as HCRealms.com?:D

Please feel free to add your own 'Most Wanted' list of questions to be answered, or to simply agree with one already stated above. Please refrain from overly specific questions such as, "Will there ever be a clix of _____?" Inquiries like that should be brought to one of the polls in the Poll Forum.

Earnan

02/24/2003, 02:11

OK, just to clear up one thing from one of your questions:

There is a common misconception that there are MK figures that have multiple powers on one stat of their dial. This is not true.

How MK shows starting position is they have a Green square on damage. If the figure has a damage ability, then the boxi is split half Green and half the power.

The Green box merely represents starting position, and is not a power of its own. No figures have two powers on a stat. They did not at the time (and may still not) have the ability to do splits up and down the dial, they could (can?) only do it on that one particular slot.

Now, with them getting away from splits entirely, I don't see the making figures with multiples powers in a slot.

WarlordEarnan

JonL

02/24/2003, 02:31

Hey Wylde:

To answer your questions:

1- Are there any plans to create additional Powers and Abilities?

[JON] No.

2- Will any character ever have more than one Power per stat, as is done in MageKnight?

[JON] No.

3- Will there ever be any mounted figures such as Ghost Rider and his Cycle, or Silver Surfer and his Board?

[JON] No plans to do that, but we've talked about it.

4- Will there be any new Teams added to Marvel or DC Heroclix?

[JON] No plans. Although Indy HeroClix includes some new team abilities -- as in, some of them are the same as in Marvel and DC, and some are brand new.

5- How receptive is Wizkids to input from players on popular message boards such as HCRealms.com?

[JON] I'm always willing to listen to polite fans. I tend to ignore rude fans who just like to be petulant because they can. The first paragraph of you post bordered on rude. Keep that in mind.

Oh, here's another thing. GroovyBoy asked to interview me. Draddog asked to interview me. I've given them both interviews and answered the questions they gave me. Apparently they wanted to know different things than you, that doesn't mean their questions sucked. After all, these interviews have provided a lot of information that wouldn't get out there otherwise. Forgive the interviewers for not taking them seriously enough. These things are supposed to be kind of fun for me too, otherwise I wouldn't do them. I certainly have enough other things to do.

Best,

Jon Leitheusser
HeroClix Game Designer
WizKids

GroovyBoy

02/24/2003, 02:32

No, Wyld, I'm sure you're not the only person here sick to death of some of the questions asked in interviews. And since the only recent interview of note was the "friendly chat with Jon L," I'm sure that's what you're referring to. So let's break some things down...

"Valuable" time <chortle>? I'm trying to keep a straight face on this one. Seriously, this is a hobby. Oh, did you mean valuable time outta Jon's day at WizKids? In that case, I wrote and sent those questions to Jon in my spare time, and he answered and returned those questions in his spare time. It was not, repeat, not an official press release.
[As an aside, it was originally posted in the 'General Discussions' section of Marvel. I never asked for it to be placed on the front page of the site or in the 'Press Release' site.]

Is asking the game designer who his favorite characters in the game are and what his favorite comic titles are a waste of time? I don't think so for a couple of reasons. First, Jon listing his favorite figs (I'll admit, I was bummed out by his answer) may give further insight into the way he plays the game. Asking about his favorite titles may give clues about which figures will pop up in later expansions, and may influence HeroClix players who don't read many comics to check out a few books. Okay, Wyld, so maybe you didn't consider the ramifications of those questions or maybe you just don't care. But guess what, you're not Loius XIV. It's not like I would've replaced those two questions with two others, so skip over them and let the interested people read them.

"Does anyone care about the answers to these questions? NO!" Hyperbole is not the way to go to legitimize an argument.

Wyldstaar

02/24/2003, 02:40

Wow! Of all the responses I expected to recieve, I must say that that was without a doubt the last thing I was expecting! Thank you very much JonL! My already high opinion of Wizkids was just raised even higher!

BTW, I know this may be pushing it, but it can't hurt to ask one more question now that I've thought of it.

Why are the paint jobs on the DC figure so much better than those on the Marvel figures?

Dexceus

02/24/2003, 02:56

JonL.

You really are going to spoil us, you know that? :) Thanks for taking the time to answer qeustions. It really is appreciated, even if not by everyone. Your doing a great job and it should be commended. Hopefully, those who misbehave will shape up and not drive you off. :) (Though I have noticed I lot less bile since you have started posting)

Wyldstar,

I personaly enjoyed all the qeustions that have been asked (including yours). Sometimes it is nice to know the human beings behind the design and just not the qeustions I personaly am interested in. It aslo goes a long way to show how they might be looking at things in general. What there fav characters and comics are has a lot to do with how they look at things.

PMMJ

02/24/2003, 10:42

Call me a doubting Thomas, but do any of the moderators know for sure that is JonL, or did an imposter just sign up for a screen name?

TheFallenOne

02/24/2003, 10:55

if that JonL is the real deal (I dont think it is) then i have serious doubts in the future of heroclix. I cant believe that they would decide to NEVER ADD NEW POWERS! this game would get stale pretty quickly. the reason magic has been around for so long is because they are always adding new abilities that put a new twist to the game or bring new life to older abilities. I find it very unlikely that they would never add new powers/teams. there are only so many ways to make figures with the current powers. im already getting tired of all the "hand to hand fighters" in this game being basically the same. for speed they all have leap/climb or charge. for attack they all have superstrength. for defense they all have invulnerability or toughness. they have already made a bunch of guys who are pretty much the same. juggernaut/she hulk/thing/hercules/hulk/soon to be collossus. I realy doubt any one from wizkids would have the authority to answer questions like that so simply as NO we are never doing new powers, or new teams or mounted figures. ridiculous. OH and by the way does anyone else here think that the real jon L's answers in the front page interview were a little agressive towards certain types of players?

Random

02/24/2003, 10:55

I'm Kinda in the same boat, wouldn't JonL have a special kinda Icon? I mean, I have never seen him post anywhere before this, so why now? and If I am Mistaken, SORRY!

Spidersense

02/24/2003, 10:58

Do a search of his posts and judge for yourself. He has posted more than in this thread. I am willing to give the benefit of the doubt and thank him for taking time to directly answer some people. Thanks!

Drashia

02/24/2003, 11:05

I'm in the boat where, if he says he's JonL... I'll take his word for it. Wouldn't impostering someone of his stature be counter productive to this site, and hc in general, and wouldn't have Draddog or Typon have posted something on this? I think they would have. Be merry and enjoy the day.

webhead817

02/24/2003, 14:29

Impersonating WizKids or Realms staff is a big no no. If it were determined that a user were doing so, they would be banned, immediately.

Or, in other words, JonL is the real deal.

Jon, thanks for stopping in!

shin-goji

02/24/2003, 14:43

Jon L, quick comment, thanks for taking time to atlk with the Realms, despite the trolls :)

TheSpirit

02/24/2003, 14:47

Originally posted by TheFallenOne
I cant believe that they would decide to NEVER ADD NEW POWERS!
...And I can't believe some people can't READ!

"1- Are there any plans to create additional Powers and Abilities?

[JON] No."

Any plans? No. No plans. Would they consider it again sometime in the future? I'll speak for Jon and say "Yeah, if there's a need for it." C'mon, what do you people want? The actual game designer answered some pretty direct questions with some pretty direct answers, and he did it pretty durned quickly, too. That, to me, is class.

Heck, I'm just amazed he reads these boards, let alone responds to them. There are questions I'd love to ask about the design of the rules (such as: Why won't you change them to suit me?), but I'm only one person (albeit obsessed with consistency and balance in the rules). To be hammered with these kinds of questions all the time, I can imagine the temptation on Jon's part to simply wash his hands of the whole thing.

(and really, Jon, why won't you consider my rules changes? They're all based in logic, and maintain the spirit of the game. If you're ever looking for a serious discussion, I'm open to a private communication. PM me - let's talk.)

Tsannik

02/24/2003, 14:49

I'd have a warm fuzzy if JonL had that fancy WizKids avatar.

But, I'm cool like that.

Wyldstaar

02/24/2003, 15:06

I seriously doubt he's a fake. If he is a fake, he's a very talented one. I'm as suspicious as they come, and I immediately felt he was being truthful. My instincts tell me he's the real thing, and I always trust my gut.

Greebo

02/24/2003, 15:10

Just a quick thanks to Jon for posting here, it's appreciated!

mrtomsmith

02/24/2003, 15:41

First, thanks very much for directly posting these answers. Contact between designers and fans is a great thing. I thought I'd try a few followup questions, if you get time to answer them.

Originally posted by JonL
4- Will there be any new Teams added to Marvel or DC Heroclix?

[JON] No plans. Although Indy HeroClix includes some new team abilities -- as in, some of them are the same as in Marvel and DC, and some are brand new.

Given this, how do you plan to incorporate characters from teams that are not represented, such as Alpha Flight, Thunderbolts, or Doom Patrol? Merge them in with other teams, no team ability, or something else?

Most of the judge's rulings seem very strongly committed to not changing the exact words that got printed, even if they don't really work in an 'intuitive' way. Impervious/EE being my prime example. Are you guys ever willing to errata the wording of rules to fix unintended effects? Under what conditions?

Has WizKids considered official "Advanced" rules? How about a "revised" or "2nd edition" set with various rules tweaks and new versions of existing figs? How about a cleaned up rulebook with exactly the same information, but incorporating FAQ rulings?

Let's be frank: What is your opinion of the writing and editing job that was done on the current HeroClix rules?

Why do the previews on the website get the rules wrong so often? Was RCE really 1d6 damage when the point values were made up?

bullseye100

02/24/2003, 16:18

I can't believe he posted here. He has to be a humble person to do such a cool thing. Thanks for answering the questions they sent you. Heroclix is a great game, Thanks John L.

Keep up the good work!!!

A_Higher_Level

02/24/2003, 16:34

:-(

You'd think they'd at least made Jon a Judge... *sniff*

It's kinda funny cause many friends of mine got into the game cause of it's simplicity, and now they are trying to clear their heads with the whole Stealth/Outwit, and EBT debate.

Thankfully we aren't big into tournaments, and no one plays too cheesy here cause it's all in fun. In fact, we're looking into starting a campaign so we can play what will potentially be the fastest RPG scenarios ever created (100pt scenarios should finish within 20 mintues for us).

Questions...? I have no questions. I have no complaints. House rules allow us to 'tweak' things to what we feel is more appropriate. All EBTs and IBTs have become Hindering Terrain. Most of the time Medics are outlawed during play to keep the game at a fast pace. With no medics, Taxis are targeted first, and they have no one to run back to for healing. And the few people that have stealth and ranged combat are usually out of stealth, or dead by the 4th round. Overall I'd much prefer HeroClix over Pokemon. Gotta click em all, gotta click em all!

Earnan

02/24/2003, 16:44

As already stated, there are no PLANS for new stuff.

What that means to me is that, in the sets that are currently being worked on, there won't be anyting new. Now, since the only sets we know they are working on are IndyClix and the DC expansion, there is no need for new stuff, except for the mentioned new team abilities for Indy.

I bet that, in time, there will be new stuff, at least team abilities. But, they haven't worked on them. Yet. :)

WarlordEarnan

Funky Jett

02/24/2003, 16:48

If you want Mindless Interview Questions, watch a couple hours of Larry King. He throws such easy softball questions, they don't even reach the plate! ;)

JonL

02/24/2003, 19:43

It's nice to know you're all so cynical and critical. I mean that in a good way.

Yes, I'm me. No impersonation. Draddog even gave me a fancy WizKids icon.

FallenOne, I answered the question as it was asked; there are no plans to add new powers. Might we in the future? Maybe, but since we don't have plans right now I can't say for sure. I'd like to see some more, but I don't wanna go crazy with it.

TheSpirit, you had the right idea.

And for everyone who wants to ask me all sorts of questions -- I'm sorry, I just don't have the time to answer everyone. I'm going to chime in every now and again on the forums, but it'll be pretty random.

I'll answer what I can, when I have time. That's all I can say.

Best,

Jon Leitheusser
HeroClix Game Designer
WizKids

SpiderClone

02/24/2003, 20:26

I don't think you're the real deal. If you were the real Jon Leitheusser then you could make an REV Scarlet Spider with a Unique Ben Reilly Spider-man. Come on, just try and prove me wrong by making that figure. ;) Hope you're reading this JonL, I know you have a lot of pressure put on you, and you've handled it very well. I'd like to say thanks for being grounded enough to even talk to us fans. All I ask is that you consider making the Scarlet Spider, he has a lot of closet fans (20 votes isn't too bad for a character "everyone" hates), and would be a great alternative to another Spider-man. Keep up the great work, I can't wait for Xplosion to come out.

TheFallenOne

02/24/2003, 21:04

[QUOTE]Originally posted by TheSpirit
[B]
...And I can't believe some people can't READ!

I cant believe that some people dont have better manners!

Wyldstaar

02/24/2003, 22:54

Thanx JonL for gracing my thread with your presence once again. It's good to know that you care enough to look in on us from time to time when you have the opportunity.

On another note, the original intent of this thread seems to have been led astray. Maybe we can get it back on track, especially sense we now know that it really can make a difference. JonL may not have the time to answer it, but if there is enough interest perhaps our questions will make it into future interviews from the mods here at HCRealms. Hope springs eternal. Now lets hear some more questions!

Psylockeslover

02/24/2003, 23:11

My only question (for now) is:

What are your feelings on the 'spoiler lists' that have been floating around?

And thanks again for 'chiming in every now and again'! It makes this really great site even better!

dolemite199

02/24/2003, 23:54

Jon L. wrote,

And for everyone who wants to ask me all sorts of questions -- I'm sorry, I just don't have the time to answer everyone. I'm going to chime in every now and again on the forums, but it'll be pretty random.

Not a problem. You are working for a multi-million dollar firm. That is as good an excuse as gets. Thanks for stopping by. I do have a question for you when you get the time to answer it. If you don't, than no sweat!

How would one become a Wizkids play tester? I am just curious to know. Any assistance that could be provided would be very appreciated.

Thanks,

GroovyBoy

02/25/2003, 00:08

Originally posted by TheFallenOne

I cant believe that some people dont have better manners! [/B]

This is coming from the guy who doubts Jon is who he says he is, and then goes on to say that if Jon is legit, he fears for the future of HeroClix based solely on his [meaning FallenOne's] misinterpretation of an answer? Oh yeah, FO, you're all sugar and honey yourself!

WarHULK

02/25/2003, 00:09

Well, some of us appreciate your coming here and letting us keep up to speed with the Heroclix world, JonL. I, for one, appreciate it very much. Now, I don't expect you to get to this anytime soon but I'm just going to throw out this question if you do end up reading it sometime and wish to comment..

The one thing that's been nagging in the back of my mind is this; are we indeed going to see some more abilities making their way into Xplosion? Not new abilities but things like Close Combat Expert and Force Blast. I'm not asking for any specifics either, just a yes or no to more abilities making their way over from the DC PAC.

Thanks for your time.

TheFallenOne

02/25/2003, 14:53

Originally posted by GroovyBoy

This is coming from the guy who doubts Jon is who he says he is, and then goes on to say that if Jon is legit, he fears for the future of HeroClix based solely on his [meaning FallenOne's] misinterpretation of an answer? Oh yeah, FO, you're all sugar and honey yourself!

jesus people. i read it and thats how I interpret it. excuse me for being human. why wouldn't i doubt who he is. its not exactly hard to get your name on this website now is it, and yes if their are no new powers then I still feel that heroclix will get dull real fast. I personally was hoping to see some in clobberin time.

Doomtoy

02/25/2003, 15:13

Once upon a time, I read an interview with a popular celebrity. I don't remember exactly who he was -- this was a long time ago -- but I remember that he had a really popular TV show at the time, some kind of variety show.

In the interview, he was asked what the worst thing was about being famous.

He said that when he was in the movies, people might ask for his autograph once in a while... but they still treated him with some respect and common courtesy. They understood that they were total strangers, and they acted the way strangers should act in public, y'know?

...but television... TV is in everyone's home.

And if you're in someone's home every week, you're not a stranger. You're a PAL, practically part of the family.

...and this TV actor, or comedian, or whoever he was, did NOT like complete strangers walking up to him and acting like they were old chums. He'd had complete strangers suddenly approach him in restaurants and ask to have pictures taken with him. He'd actually had people ask him for money!

...and what was worse... if he tried to act like he did not KNOW the person in question, the person might well get offended. He'd been cursed out in public a time or two, simply because he'd made a point of not being chummy right back with some complete stranger. One had even taken a swing at him, for being "unfriendly."

This celebrity didn't like people rushing up to him in airports, or on the street, and demanding that he tell them a joke, do some routine from his show, or otherwise interrupt his day to entertain them, right then and there, on demand.

Of course, not ALL his fans were like that. But enough were like that that he felt kind of sad, to be copping an attitude like that about his fans. After all, kindnesses are often quickly forgotten... but a true jerk lives in the memory for ages.

...and when he put it that way... it made sense to ME. I think I might well get riled if some complete stranger suddenly walked up to me and demanded something. And if it happened regularly, I'd likely cop quite an attitude about it.

Gee, and here I am, in my own home, having a conversation by proxy with JonL, one of the guys who works on one of my fave games! And since he's in my house, he must be my FRIEND!

Right?

Wrong.

So rather than get in Mr. Leitheusser's face (he's a complete stranger, after all) about what I want, and about what I think is great, and about what I think sucks...

... I'm just gonna spout off on the boards the same way I usually do. If he's interested, he'll see it all. Perhaps he'll take it into account.... the way he might any stranger's opinion. Hell, I figure I'm ahead of the game, just to know for sure that WizKids is paying attention here!

...and mouthing off to complete strangers lacks class, y'know? Leitheusser has NO idea who I am, except by way of what I say here in a string of text... and it seems a shame to let his initial opinion of me be formed by a statement like:

'YOU SUCK BECAUSE THERE ISNT NO OMAGA RED IN CLOBERAN TIME YOU ########## ###### #########""

...y'know?

TheSpirit

02/25/2003, 15:19

Originally posted by TheFallenOne
I cant believe that some people dont have better manners!
Sorry, TFO. I think it's poor manners to castigate a company and its employees who have performed the incredible disservice of creating a thoroughly enjoyable game *and* responded to customer questions about said game. JonL answered a question reasonably, and you shot him down for it. That's uncalled for, and I (mildly in comparison) pointed out your mistake. You obviously didn't read his comments, or at least read into them what you wanted to see. The mistake was yours.

TheLion

02/25/2003, 15:28

Originally posted by Doomtoy

...and mouthing off to complete strangers lacks class, y'know? Leitheusser has NO idea who I am, except by way of what I say here in a string of text... and it seems a shame to let his initial opinion of me be formed by a statement like:

Just to keep things in perspective, you moderate a board that is about a game with little plastic superheroes.

JonL creates toys, I really don't think he is a celebrity. It's nice that he responds on the boards, but he should realize that this is a message board. This one is actually tame compared to others. Take a look at a movie message board debating whether Chicago or The Pianist was a better movie, now that's brutal.

Wyldstaar

02/25/2003, 15:37

The thread has veered off track again. We now know that JonL is the real deal. It's not an issue. We know that some people are rude. That's human. Let's move on and get back to compiling a list of serious questions we would like the answer to. I plan on keeping track of them and making a Top 10 list out of them so that the mods can see what we really want to know. I think this would be beneficial to us all. I'll try and update it once a week or so.

So please, submit your Most Wanted Questions-

JonL

02/25/2003, 18:23

Wylde:

When you compile the list of questions forward them onto Draddog and explain what you're doing. He can forward them to me. No rush. And feel free to come up with 15 or so. Some of the questions may not get answered for whatever reason.

F'rinstance: Are there new powers in Xplosion?

I'm not gonna tell you. Been told not to, actually. You'll have to do your own investigating or wait for the set to come out.

I look forward to the questions.

Best,

Jon Leitheusser
HeroClix Game Designer
WizKids

TheFallenOne

02/25/2003, 22:24

Originally posted by TheSpirit

Sorry, TFO. I think it's poor manners to castigate a company and its employees who have performed the incredible disservice of creating a thoroughly enjoyable game *and* responded to customer questions about said game. JonL answered a question reasonably, and you shot him down for it. That's uncalled for, and I (mildly in comparison) pointed out your mistake. You obviously didn't read his comments, or at least read into them what you wanted to see. The mistake was yours.

some people. i didnt shoot down. i didnt believe it was him due to the finality of his answers. i know i made a mistake, just dont be so aggresive about it. chill my pet

TheFallenOne

02/25/2003, 22:27

Originally posted by JonL
Wylde:

When you compile the list of questions forward them onto Draddog and explain what you're doing. He can forward them to me. No rush. And feel free to come up with 15 or so. Some of the questions may not get answered for whatever reason.

F'rinstance: Are there new powers in Xplosion?

I'm not gonna tell you. Been told not to, actually. You'll have to do your own investigating or wait for the set to come out.

I look forward to the questions.

Best,

Jon Leitheusser
HeroClix Game Designer
WizKids

didnt you just get down saying their were no plans for new powers? now this is the kind of vaque answer that i expected from wizkids. im sold, he must be the real deal. ahaha

as far as your top fifteen list of questions go heres mine

will the rules ever be changed or are they set in stone for better or worse. IE. the abuse of taxi's and what not

bullseye100

02/25/2003, 23:42

When will the next dc expansion set be coming out?

Who will be the next big figure?

is it true that there are only five sets of marvel figures and three sets of dc?

Will there be a new list of rules with the updated FAQs in the new expansion sets coming out?

That's it for me

Joe L, aka bullseye100

WarHULK

02/25/2003, 23:52

Fallen one, he was referencing my question about if any of the powers from the DC world will be coming over to marvel in explosion. "New Powers" to Marvel, not new powers as in those which we have not seen in any set. I'm glad that he told me what he could (even if that was that he could tell us nothing, heh).

TheSpirit

02/26/2003, 15:12

Originally posted by TheFallenOne
will the rules ever be changed or are they set in stone for better or worse. IE. the abuse of taxi's and what not
From the current (#11) edition of Wizkids Underground, there's a note about MageKnight that suggests there's hope:
"The FAQ will also include several new changes to Mage Knight that we feel will balance the game and address many concerns that have been posted to forums and communicated through the Warlords. "
If they're planning "changes" to MK, perhaps there will one day be real changes instead of just clarifications in HC. I'm willing to bet WK is looking at revising some rules, but they need to be very careful that their revisions don't create more problems than they solve. It will likely be minor changes instead of dramatic alterations, in other words.

So sharpen up those rule-writing skills and post 'em for the folks at WK to see (and everyone at HCRealms to disparage). Check out my 2nd Level Elevation rules in the Marvel: Rules of Battle forum, for example.

Here's my question for JonL: Would you consider releasing an Advanced or optional set of rules for the serious gamers here who want more realism (eg, soarers not blocking LoF, better LoF rules to/from elevated, and any EBT rules that don't make Tsannik's head explode)? Thanks.

daredevil11

02/27/2003, 11:15

OK wyldstaar, first thanks for putting this together.

I've got a hundred questions, but the nature of 99% means that probably won't be answered . . . sort of sneak peek questions. ;)
Anyway, I understand the need to keep things under raps, particularly things final decisions havn't been reached on.

I do have a few questions I would like asked, and I think they're answerable. Its sort of in several parts, but it has a central issue. I'd like to know how many DC sets does WK have the right to make under their current contract, do that have to renegotiate each time they make a set - is the contract time, or set based? In other words, will there be an equivalent number of releases for DC as there have been for Marvel?

Next, the DC animated likenesses, I'm guessing there are separate rights for their production that probably belong to Kenner/Hasbro. Could WK, not will . . . but could . . . , could DC produce a set of DC Animated Heroclix under their current agreement, or am I right about the separate rights thing?

Lastly, any possibility that somewhere down the road, some of the uniques and LE's will be produced in a second edition set . . . maybe less valuable collectably but giving a second chance to get some of the older ones (I can't even get LE's in my area, no tourneys yet, unless I buy them off ebay)

Anyway, no expectations, just things I'm interested in having answers to if I can.

Lastly, some comments for JonL, personal opinion stuff.

I am now and have been concerned about the male/female ratio of clicks produced. I understand the argument that this is "the way things have been" in the comic universe, but I feel times are changing and comics are reflecting this, I'd like WK to reflect it too. There's no sense in perpetuating the past. Although I could get a barn burner debated started on this, I can say in all honesty that I've never heard anyone complain there are "too many" female clicks, nor have I heard anyone claim they wouldn't play them. Obviously the bulk of popular heroes are male, but when we get into the B list of characters, there are a lot of possibilities. And although I was more pleased with Clobberin Time, WK made several of the females uniques - ouch, and I see that trend might continue with Xplosion - please make more REV female characters, a request from a father of two girls and an educator.

I agree with the suggestion from the Spirit about an alternate set of rules or advanced rules for play, at the same time, I'd like to suggest a simplified alternate set of rules as well. I'm sorry but I think the game contains too many either/or possibilities for younger players that crave concreteness (age 8 or so is a little of a stretch based on what I know of the rules as they are and kids).

Finally, I want to voice my support for the current system of rule changes/clarrifications, or atleast how I take it is being done based on what I've read. Keep it slow and well thought out and leave the FAQ and Update page as the final word from WK, leaving any and all else to players and local judges. I know there are people who want something faster and internet based, but I think that would just be confusing, frustrating and would undermind confidence in the rules due to too much fluctuation too fast.

GEezzz I'm windy . . . . sorry gang, I really didn't think I had that much to say
:eek:

JonL

02/28/2003, 02:18

Hey Daredevil11:

Ever since I started working on HeroClix the Marvel and DC lines have both had a 50/50 split of heroes and villains and a 60/40 split of male and female characters. These numbers are in terms of the number of individual sculpts and doesn't take their commonality (R/E/V vs. Unique) into account.

We're very conscious of how many women are in the sets and want to provide a good mix of heroes from across the spectrum. The first two main sets (Infinity Challenge and Hypertime) didn't use the same breakdown and I really wish they had. The number of female characters in those sets is really abysmal.

I'm glad our efforts are noticed and I hope they're appreciated.

Best,

Jon Leitheusser
HeroClix Game Designer
WizKids

P.S. -- Can you believe the things I spend my time thinking about?

Thorgrin

02/28/2003, 12:15

Hey, I still think about She-Hulk and White Queen. ;)

I just want to say I think it's awesome that the company tries to gather input, whether it's positive or negative and, from time to time, comment or answer questions. While I may not agree with all the rules or figures, I can say that I still really like the game and think it could go on for the years to come if done correctly. Great job overall so far and hoping for better things in the future.

ChicagoAvenger

02/28/2003, 12:34

Your posts have been informative, thoughtful, and appreciated.

Now, what I want to know is how much longer will I have to wait for the new Captain America you mentioned in an interview not too long ago. Hey, we all have wants. If the "pineapple" is to be believed, not for Xplosion. Any chance for the one after?

CarlosMucha

02/28/2003, 14:03

Thanks JonL.

I Have only 1 thing:
i'M a collector, and i'm a player. But alwais 1er a collector of my favorite charracter.
I dont know how many expantions will be. But if only will be 4 o 5 sets of Marvel and DC Why put 2 Times THE SAME Character, "The same,the same".
I undestem if Marvel and DC wanna see Superman,Hulk,Wolverine,Batman in every set but Spider-man for ej, you can Make in 1 set Bean Really, in another, Scarlet Spider, In another, another uniform but not alwais the same character whith the same "uniform".
Hulk (please please i want see Bruce Banner the smart of "Marvel Vs DC") why the same Hulk?, you can put the Maestro o the grey.
I hope in the Future set of DC Superman will be Kingdom Come (Unique) and no the same Superman with another powers.

I think you got my idea.
Thnaks Again JonL.

Carlos (from Argentina but live in Usa)

AZS

02/28/2003, 14:18

Dear JonL,

Thanks for taking the time to respond to this board. A lot of us waste time at work talking about this game online, but your work *is* this game, so I think we're all a little envious. :)

Anyway, thanks for the replies to various questions, and I for one don't have any complaints or suggestions. Just keep on keeping. on.

Regards,
Aaron

daredevil11

03/01/2003, 12:30

:eek: Doe!!! Just came back to the thread, and geez I got an answer. Thanks for taking the time JonL, didn't expect that . . .

Originally posted by JonL
Hey Daredevil11:
Ever since I started working on HeroClix the Marvel and DC lines have both had a 50/50 split of heroes and villains and a 60/40 split of male and female characters. These numbers are in terms of the number of individual sculpts and doesn't take their commonality (R/E/V vs. Unique) into account.
...........
I'm glad our efforts are noticed and I hope they're appreciated.

Noted and appreciated. The first two sets before you took over were the real disappointments. If it stays like it is now, I'll be a happy camper. I'd give you two thumbs up on the ratio change, but it will only allow me to post one thumb. :(

Originally posted by JonL
P.S. -- Can you believe the things I spend my time thinking about?

Well you work for the company, . . . what's my excuse LOL :D

Wyldstaar

03/02/2003, 23:26

Okay ladies and gentlemen, it's the end of the week. As promised, I intend to compile a list of questions that we the die hard Clixers want answered each week. JonL has been amazingly receptive to our inquires as of late, so bring on the questions! In case you missed ealier posts, please don't submit questions regarding the future creation of a specific character. If you want to do that, please feel free to visit one of the 'You Decide' threads which are also in the Dear Wizkids Forum. Now let's hear some more questions!:D

Manchine

03/02/2003, 23:35

Well since I think Jon is doing a good job on the set and such. I figured I would ask one little question thats bothering me about Xplosion.

19 Xmen related figures. Why so many? Why ignore so many other groups just to fill out one group?

WarHULK

03/02/2003, 23:40

I just want to know why they went with Ultimate Green Goblin instead of normal Marvel U Green Goblin and if this Ultimate version thing will be an ongoing trend? I figure they'll all have to be Uniques for awhile since they don't exactly have enough history to make a REV as of yet.

Wyldstaar

03/03/2003, 01:28

Your most wanted questions, in no particular order are-

1- Is Wizkids interested in creating clone/knockoff characters such as Scarlet Spider, USAgent, or Professor Zoom? If so, would they be repaints of existing sculpts, or all new figures?

2- Why is it that the paint quality on the DC figures is so much higher than the Marvel ones?

3- Given that there are no plans to add new teams to Marvel or DC, how do you intend to incorporate characters from teams such as Alpha Flight or Young Justice? Will they have no team at all, or simply not be made until your plans change in regard to new teams?

4- Has Wizkids considered releasing a new rulebook, complete with all errata?

5- What is the likelihood of there being an Unlimited version of Heroclix, as was done for MageKnight, with boosters and a Starter?

6- How does one become a play tester for Wizkids?

7- Will all of the Powers and Abilities that have been created so far for Marvel and DC make their way into both sets, or will some powers such as Impervious and Stealth remain only in DC and Marvel respectively?

8- When will we get the first DC expansion, and why has Marvel gotten more releases? Is there a set amount for each that Wizkids has been contracted to make?

9- What is the likelihood that we will get alternate versions of the more popular characters from sources other than the comics, such as an animated style Batman from the Justice League cartoon, or an Anna Paquin style Rogue in black leather uniform from the X-Men movies?

10- Can we expect to see more Ultimate versions of characters such as the Unique Green Goblin from X-Plosion? If so, what is the reasoning behind the decision to go with the ‘Ultimate’ version rather than the ‘classic’?

Not all of the questions listed here were posted on this thread. Some were PM’ed to me, as were many repeat questions. If you have a question you want to ask, or yours didn’t get picked, feel free to ask it. I plan to continue to update this thread, or others like it, for as long as it is warranted.

raging_madboy

03/03/2003, 01:46

i have a few for you. Why are you torturing me? With this florida release i now know exactly what i'm missing out on for 3 freakin weeks. It's killing me man. Its like getting to third base with a girl on the first night, then she decides in the morning that we shouldn't get physical again till we're committed.

Ignoring my bad analogy why did wizkids decide on this limited release? Were y'all really concerned with the pineapple? And if you guys have some xplosion clix, (and i know you do i've seen them on ebay-last unique went for a kidney, three gold bars and a map to el dorado.) then why must we wait for three weeks. Ship now please, ship now. By the way if anyone has a sauron a have 3 kidneys(don't ask how and i wont kill you), 4 gold bars and Britney Spears phone number.

Silver Lantern

03/03/2003, 03:13

JonL: This is great PR & customer service. Keep up the great work! You are clearly very loyal to the fan base.

Here are some questions I have (feel free to answer only those you want). [I understand you’re not a contracts attorney, and may not be privy to or want to share some of this information, so any general answer you can provide at all, if any, is very welcome.]:

1) Since each set has a theme, can you tell us anything about the themes (or names) for the upcoming post Xplosion sets (i.e. Green Lantern Corps, Avengers, etc)?

2) Other Wizkids games have ranking systems, and introduce new rules with each set. Why is there a seemingly lack of interest in "pushing" Heroclix, as opposed to Mageknight and MechWarrior, in this manner? [I suspect its because either you guys want to keep the game simple as part of its appeal, or the lack of rules/ranking push is contractually related, as you do not own the intellectual property to the comics and are limited by what you can and can't do.]

3) Does Marvel/DC [i.e. the company that owns the intellectual property rights] have the contractual right to "approve" what character you make, and/or how characters are done (powers/teams, etc.)?

4) I know there are a few Defender team members in Xplosion, can you confirm if there are plans for DC Mystics, Justice Society, and/or Legion of Super Heroes to be included in the next DC expansion?

5) How long ahead of time is a set "finished" before it is released? [The motive for this question is not to complain that you should release sooner, but rather to know how late before release "changes" may be made.]

6) Are there any plans to officially make DC and Marvel mixable in tournament play?

7) Does Wizkids have any plans to do any fan-based contests such as design a character or make the best team, etc? I think this is a great resource for ideas for you folks. Not that you cannot get the same ideas on your own or from reading these posts.

8) Why is pulse wave such an awful power :)?

9) I'd also like to second the question about whether there is a contractual limits on the number of expansions per set or is it a perpetual ongoing contract with no set limits?

10) If there is a contractual limit on sets, is there an option clause for additional sets at the option of either party in either contract?

11) What are the company's feelings about the secondary Heroclix market (for example via online auctions by private individuals)?

Finally, what is your quest (in my best old man in front of the rope bridge in Monty Python and the Holy Grail imitation)? :)

Sorry about the lawyer-like contracts questions, and thanks for your time.