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Hey Baron, I saw that you have to raise your prices. That is to be expected and I would be happy to purchase at whatever price you have to charge as long as I does not become $100 each. :: sad chuckle:: I will reasonably pay what I have to to get your maps. They are way better than my AAM maps (still not as good as my 3D table though). The sad part of all of this is I haven't played in months and my prospects do not seem to be improving. Still, with the pieces I can play when I do find players again. Maybe next gaming convention. And what are the chances you could go back to rolling them?
Hey, my Maresel is stuck in my storage boxes on the shelf. Had to put it away as it was getting dusty and made me upset. But it still is the pride of my Romanian army. Been planning on getting some IAR 80's and painting them up (would like some Buffaloes and Hurricanes for my Finns too). Would like to do some terrain as well, both on three inch hexes and otherwise, but I am on floor two of a three floor castle and it still needs to be finished. So much work and so little time. _________________ It is enough that the people know there was an election. The people who cast the votes decide nothing. The people who count the votes decide everything.
Joseph Stalin |
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Thu Nov 05, 2009 9:14 pm |
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Afrika Korps

Posts: 1390

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| MrKen wrote: | | Hey Baron, I saw that you have to raise your prices. That is to be expected and I would be happy to purchase at whatever price you have to charge as long as I does not become $100 each. :: sad chuckle:: |
Well, it won't come to that, because there is a limit to a map price. I did not want to raise the prices, but paper, ink, packing materials, all have gone up. Producing 4 sqm of map, that is a lot of ink, imagine! Paper also! And in one map you have 2 maps in a way since you must not deploy the whole... thing.
To promote my maps, first I have sent copies for free to Gen. Hoth, M.von Richthofen and Westen/thi. That was the promotion, though these people sent minis in return so that was great for me.
Secondly I have started to trade/sell the maps without any profit, since 4 sqm of inked paper (= one map) has its costs I could not continue the previous promotion. And I can say that I have sold over 30 maps and traded some 20 also, not all on this forum, but nonetheless.
I have now reached a situation in which trades do not help me that much (I have more or less lots of pieces) and sales imply that I must offer a good product. To have this "product" there is a cost, so this is my actual stand with these maps.
| MrKen wrote: | | I will reasonably pay what I have to to get your maps. They are way better than my AAM maps (still not as good as my 3D table though). |
Well, I will still make you a small discount if it comes to that. I can tell you that these maps can beat your 3D ones also, if you put 3D trees and buildings on them. And that is because the 2D background/support will make the difference.
| MrKen wrote: | The sad part of all of this is I haven't played in months and my prospects do not seem to be improving. Still, with the pieces I can play when I do find players again. Maybe next gaming convention. And what are the chances you could go back to rolling them? |
To be honest, I also had a "break" from playing for a month now, but that is due to other problems. I would gladly play a game against you, if not for this huge distance between USA and ... Eastern Europe.
I do not understand the question - could you be more specific pls.
| MrKen wrote: | | Hey, my Maresel is stuck in my storage boxes on the shelf. Had to put it away as it was getting dusty and made me upset. But it still is the pride of my Romanian army. Been planning on getting some IAR 80's and painting them up (would like some Buffaloes and Hurricanes for my Finns too). Would like to do some terrain as well, both on three inch hexes and otherwise, but I am on floor two of a three floor castle and it still needs to be finished. So much work and so little time. | I see you are more of a Minor Axis Powers player
Little time you say, well time is relative... as someone said. _________________ Custom AAM Maps & Counters here
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Thu Nov 05, 2009 10:21 pm |
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Posts: 1355

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| MrKen wrote: | | And what are the chances you could go back to rolling them? |
By rolling them I meant to roll the maps into cylinders for shipping. One of the things that really bother me with all 2D maps is the folding makes bumps that do not lie flat. Utilizing these areas of the maps sometimes make the maps move and then the pieces move unintentionally. Sometimes a cause for contention. My 3D map is clamped to the table and does not move until I disassemble it. Bumps are caused by me and do not give when used.
You state your maps are 1x1 meters? That is 2 meters by two meters? Whoa!!! That is huge!!! Can see why the manufacturing costs must be raised. That would mean I need to add two feet to one side of my current table. lol It is only 4 foot by six and a half feet. That's ok, been thinking about it for some time. My old Air Force blanket is a bit wider than the four foot.
As for the Maresel, I been thinking of making a small display for it. The pieces PanzerPainter did for you have set a dream for me to acquire a couple from him, but I think I would like to display them so I could look at them all the time rather than just when I play with them. Sort of the way I feel about the piece you did. _________________ It is enough that the people know there was an election. The people who cast the votes decide nothing. The people who count the votes decide everything.
Joseph Stalin |
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Fri Nov 06, 2009 1:55 am |
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Afrika Korps

Posts: 1390

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| MrKen wrote: | | By rolling them I meant to roll the maps into cylinders for shipping. One of the things that really bother me with all 2D maps is the folding makes bumps that do not lie flat. Utilizing these areas of the maps sometimes make the maps move and then the pieces move unintentionally. Sometimes a cause for contention. My 3D map is clamped to the table and does not move until I disassemble it. Bumps are caused by me and do not give when used. |
Well I do not roll the maps. There are several reasons why I do not do that: having them rolled, it learns the "cylinder" form and they will always tend (once unrolled) to roll again; it's easier to ship the maps in a folded form, having a tube costs more; once you unfold the maps then you should cover them with transparent plastic sheets (like you see in the pics from the scenarios) and let the static electricity do the job
The maps should be stored (for later use) in a loose cylinder form - do not roll them very tight, but roll them giving them "space".
| MrKen wrote: | | You state your maps are 1x1 meters? That is 2 meters by two meters? Whoa!!! That is huge!!! Can see why the manufacturing costs must be raised. That would mean I need to add two feet to one side of my current table. lol It is only 4 foot by six and a half feet. That's ok, been thinking about it for some time. My old Air Force blanket is a bit wider than the four foot. |
Well a map is composed from 4 sheets. Each sheet has 0.9 m x 0.9 m. Each two sheets can function as a single smaller map, if you do not need to deploy the whole thing.
| MrKen wrote: | | As for the Maresel, I been thinking of making a small display for it. The pieces PanzerPainter did for you have set a dream for me to acquire a couple from him, but I think I would like to display them so I could look at them all the time rather than just when I play with them. Sort of the way I feel about the piece you did. |
Well I keep my pieces in display sort of... Every time someone comes to visit me, notices the plastic war makers and wonders. Then I get questions like: where do you buy this stuff, is it expensive, why do you buy them, etc. My answer states like this: I do not smoke, I do not drink, so let my "plastic crack" to be my only... problem
For whoever also reads these messages, the trading/selling part you find in the first message of this topic. _________________ Custom AAM Maps & Counters here
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Fri Nov 06, 2009 9:44 am |
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 AHF Silver-Rated Trader
Posts: 861

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I would like to request two maps.
I do not know if anybody would be interested, but I do!
Carpiquet (France)
and
Pennemund (Germany)
 _________________ Remember-OWS-
AAM Scenario Creator, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, |
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Sat Nov 14, 2009 8:15 pm |
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Afrika Korps

Posts: 1390

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Well, let me tell you how things work with these maps.
I will give you the example of the Tobruk (Op. Sunflower) Scenario map.
To create that map I was looking for something that would have sand, water and a port, while extracting enough picture quality to create the map. After looking for a day or two I have found that "area". BUT the area is not actually Tobruk, because nowadays Tobruk is a big big port, and... could not simulate what I was looking for.
So, actually when requesting a map, you should describe a battle or a landscape and I will try to find something appropriate. It is quite difficult to generate enough picture quality for these maps and lots of landscape sites I have to abandon because of this fact.
My last scenario Map, Op. Silverfox has the plot placed in the Kola peninsula - USSR, but the landscape is not from that part of Russia. It is actually from Alaska if I recall well.
Also the Leningrad map has the landscape from Alaska. Of course it fits the scenario and that is what matters.
So, if you want to suggest a scenario map, you should "follow" the guidelines of Westen... lthi (our Austrian Forum Member) that requested "large open fields with little cover, maybe 1-2 small villages" hence the Kursk map was born. Of course, the landscape is not taken from Ukraine but... well that is a secret.
AS a sidefact, the French Maps have French landscape, and the semi-fictional FRA1940 Op. Adjacent that deploys near the town of Bethemont is the only map that has the "real" terrain, that is actually nowadays Bethemont.
regards, _________________ Custom AAM Maps & Counters here
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Sat Nov 14, 2009 8:37 pm |
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Posts: 1355

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Hey Baron, your secret is out now, but we promise to keep it a secret just between us forum members so you can continue to make these maps.
Btw, I use Google maps for my RPG's. But I hand draw them out to get rid of all the evidence of the modern map. Plus, hand drawn gives the maps a certain "feel".  _________________ It is enough that the people know there was an election. The people who cast the votes decide nothing. The people who count the votes decide everything.
Joseph Stalin |
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Sat Nov 14, 2009 9:26 pm |
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Afrika Korps

Posts: 1390

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no secret... no secret in there... I have been asked many times what ingredients I use for my maps so those are public
the real trick is to make the maps look good and be affordable. that is the one thing that is very hard to achieve. then you have to build a reputation so people will trust your product and so on...
if I only had the budget of the Wizards, I could create some stunning maps, better than these, also probably at the same price. I know some plotting devices that... well cost more than a Chevy Truck. I figured out that in a week I could create about 7 different maps... more or less 30 maps a month so imagine the choice players would have...
oh well, maybe the Wizards will pick up on this and they will start making better maps or... at least provide new maps of any sort for that matter.
did you know that joke - who wins in a duel? A Baron or a Wizard?
regards, _________________ Custom AAM Maps & Counters here
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Sat Nov 14, 2009 9:48 pm |
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Posts: 1355

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The thought of 30 maps a month is making my head hurt. The choices I would have to make. Would not be able to buy as many minis.
And have never heard the joke. Would like to but have never. _________________ It is enough that the people know there was an election. The people who cast the votes decide nothing. The people who count the votes decide everything.
Joseph Stalin |
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Sat Nov 14, 2009 11:36 pm |
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Afrika Korps

Posts: 1390

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Update of the first post. Hit refresh. Updated the Wants section with terrain (trees mostly).
There is a Special Offer for one of my maps right now - the SilverFox one. As you know by now, each map is composed from 4 sheets (that come together).
For this particular map piece, one of these 4 sheets is divided in two (I ran out of paper) so this means that this particular map piece has 5 sheets. Because of this, the map costs only $24, not $27 as the "4 sheet maps" do.
There is no negative implication, when you deploy the whole map you need to put 5 sheets together, not 4 as usual. Minimal extra work. A positive would be that you can deploy smaller parts of the map because of this, for skirmishes.
Also I would consider trading the custom modified pieces with other pieces I need, including WAS or terrain (see my WANTS list in the first post). Your delivery would be to the USA in case of a trade.
PM me for further details.
regards, _________________ Custom AAM Maps & Counters here
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Thu Nov 19, 2009 9:51 pm |
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"Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak, Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen." - Churchill
Posts: 1961

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PM'd about the silver fox map. I hope a trade is okay. MOney is tight right now. _________________ "Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak, Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen." - Churchill
+45 on GTL
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Sat Nov 21, 2009 4:09 am |
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Afrika Korps

Posts: 1390

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Sat Nov 21, 2009 9:01 am |
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Afrika Korps

Posts: 1390

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I have added on top of my first post a STATUS information (in blue), this because people make a confusion between the maps at Special Offer and the normal ones.
So, if a map is at Special Offer, it means it gets a discount or comes with something extra, but it does NOT mean that the other maps are not available.
A map doesn't have to be on Special Offer to be available.
Also, I want to thank all the people who sent TRADE REQUESTS regarding maps. As specified before, right now I do not trade maps, but only sell them. Still, in the future, at some point I may find it again worth to trade maps (maybe after Early War comes out). The thing is that is not cheap to produce almost 2 square meters of inked paper and send it, most likely, to North America, so to trade is not very helpful to me anymore. Also my Armies are now large enough and I do not seek anymore a lot of pieces (my WANTS list is not updated).
So, thanks again for the offers, I appreciate it.
regards, _________________ Custom AAM Maps & Counters here
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Sat Nov 21, 2009 9:11 pm |
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"Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak, Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen." - Churchill
Posts: 1961

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I'll have my mom email you! She's got the christmas money. _________________ "Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak, Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen." - Churchill
+45 on GTL
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Sun Nov 22, 2009 10:07 pm |
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