Intro Paragraph for Converting Players from SC

[codepants]

Hi all,

First post, woohoo. Hope this is the right place for it, etc.

I'm starting a Supcom group at work and figured a good boost to our membership would be to send an e-mail to the Starcraft group (81 members) inviting them to try Supcom. I'm looking for suggestions about what to say.

I acknowledge that Starcraft is not Supcom and my intent is not to magic them over or to convince them Supcom is "better" (though obviously I think it is, and I hope they will too). I simply want an outline of the features of Supcom, something quick to read and something that will make them want to try it out or ask more questions.

Below is a quick draft; all edits and recommendations welcome.

Thanks!
cp

- - -

Hello Starcraft group,

I'm looking for people interesting in playing a somewhat similar game, Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance (AKA "Supcom"). If you're perfectly content playing Starcraft and not looking for anything else at this time, you can delete this e-mail. Otherwise, read on.

For the quick and dirty, watch a trailer here: (link to FAF trailer on youtube, which I can't put here because apparently it's too spammy for a new forum member to post).

Supcom is an RTS that is similar to SC in many ways, but also (in my opinion) better in many ways. The scale is larger, the strategy is deeper, and there is a much lower correlation between clicks per minute (CPM) and success rate. In other words, Supcom is much more about strategy and much less about building x building at y population. I acknowledge there is some variation to SC and don't want to downplay that, of course. They are not the same game -- but if you enjoy SC, it's likely you'd enjoy Supcom. I like Supcom many times better, and I think it's worth a shot if you are looking for something new.

Supcom has a fan-made multiplayer platform, donation-supported, called Forged Alliance Forever ("FAF") (link to FAF homepage). At any given time there are at least 300 players online and about two-thirds of those players are in-game. The Forged Alliance version of the game (the one you'd buy to play FAF) is $4 on Amazon (link to Amazon page) and that purchase is redeemable on Steam.

If anybody is interested, please join the group (link to group) and let me know. My friends and I currently play most Sundays at 6:30, and I'd be happy to start regular after-work meets at (workplace). I'm also happy to "show you the ropes;" I'm not a pro, but I've got the basics and some advanced tricks as well.

Thanks for your time, and happy gaming,
(me)

[sasin]

I think it looks good. I like the emphasis on strategy over micro. I'd put emphasis on the slower pace of play, many theaters of war intersecting (navy, land, air, all interacting on large scale. more emphasis on team games and teamwork), and possible flux economy and strategic zoom although those may be too detailed.

Most importantly, experimentals .

[Ze_PilOt]

Supcom is an RPG

It's not really a good idea to antagonize starcraft players by saying that FA is deeper and more interesting.

Stick to facts, to a honest presentation, and present FA as a potential alternative/companion to their favorite game : You will have more success.

[Krapougnak]

Supcom and Starcraft are RTS not RPG.

[zeroAPM]

Supcom is an RPG

Enemy Mantis x 5 appear
>Attack
>Defend
>Build/reinforcements
>Overcharge

>Overcharge
(Insert long and flashy attack animation)
Mantis 1 has been destroyed
Mantis 2 has been destroyed
Mantis 3 has been destroyed
Mantis 4 has been destroyed
Mantis 5 has been destroyed

All enemy destroyed! (play fanfare)
You gain 250 exp and 500 mass!
LEVEL UP! You are now level 5!
You are now a level 1 veteran!
HP+1200, regen +3 HP/turn!

[Swkoll]

Supcom is an RPG

Enemy Mantis x 5 appear
>Attack
>Defend
>Build/reinforcements
>Overcharge

>Overcharge
(Insert long and flashy attack animation)
Mantis 1 has been destroyed
Mantis 2 has been destroyed
Mantis 3 has been destroyed
Mantis 4 has been destroyed
Mantis 5 has been destroyed

All enemy destroyed! (play fanfare)
You gain 250 exp and 500 mass!
LEVEL UP! You are now level 5!
You are now a level 1 veteran!
HP+1200, regen +3 HP/turn!

I would play this.

[Aarhun]

It's not really a good idea to antagonize starcraft players by saying that FA is deeper and more interesting.

Stick to facts, to a honest presentation, and present FA as a potential alternative/companion to their favorite game : You will have more success.

I was going to say the same, be sneakier to lead them to just try some games (with help, the beginning in FA and the information to handle can be a bit overwhelming)
And let them see by themselves the differences between the two games.

You can then do a feedback and emphasize the differences you find to be more fun/attractive in FA.

[Stin]

Wait for it to go on a steam sale where they'll be able to pick up a copy for <£5.

But frankly the learning curve for Supcom is very steep and puts a lot of people off.

[ZLO_RD]

Sc and sup com are way to different, I just got sc2 and I can't win any game in silver league.... Max average APM is about 50. lol
f*** minimal and keyboard, I want to zoom out

[Aarhun]

When I went from SC2 to FA the thing if found the most annoying was the interface.
I find the FA one too small and that it give not enough information.
The SC2 one is polished you know exactly what a unit is doing, against what etc...
After some mod installation it is better but far from perfect.

I mean after some time playing and reading through the net, the lack of information given by the interface is not that important, but for a new player coming from SC2 it might be repulsive. You might want to be prepare for such criticize and to counter them with a pack of noob friendly mod.