When I look around at turn-based strategy games that use miniatures, I see ridiculous prices here, there, and everywhere. Games Workshop simply doesn't have that kind of costs, but we see little chunks of plastic costing $30.00 time and time again. I feel the solution is simple: produce a game that utilizes a small number of models with card-based customization, box the whole game all on its own, and grab the strategy market that laughs at the costs of Warhammer and Warmachine.
The idea is rather simple, then. Let's say it's, oh... spiderbots in one of those killer robot challenges, but amp up the technology to allow guns, missiles, lasers, flamers, all the good stuff. The box contains a set of 6-9 standard walkers with point costs and hardpoints listed on laminated cards with a corresponding basic model. Given this is a two player game, have 2 of each of these in the box, perhaps 3 if a certain chassis is more popular. Each chassis has a certain number of hardpoints into which weapons and defense systems listed on cards can be added. The main chassis card is laminated so that dry erase markers can be used to write down all of the Walker's final stats once the math is completed. Furthermore, a convenient grid allows you to just dot on the damage taken by the unit.
An expansion can be offered with another set of pieces for larger fights.
Does this seem like a viable way to break the current model business model?
I agree that IDing your unit will be a bit of an issue. Here is my solution to this:
1. Have a hole on the head of each of the walkers.
2. Have the game come with a number of colored plastic flags.
3. ...
4. Profit
Now, in response to your comment about keeping everything straight, I desire large, laminated cards (I have an index card with everything snugly scribbled on it that looks alright. Might need to go a tiny bit bigger.) for each Walker because this allows you to dry erase marker all pertinent stats (movement, armor, shields, shield regen, point cost) onto the card. Given the customization, this becomes utterly paramount for this game. All you would need in front of you next to the large, laminated card would be the weapons systems cards of the Walker and any other equipment that grants special abilities, such as drone launchers. This would mean that the standard Walker would have the index card and perhaps 4 smaller Magic-sized cards associated with it. I intend this game to be about 3-5 units per side, so having that kind of setup, while getting on the large side, is nothing an avid Epic player hasn't done in the past.
Infocorn, I'm new to the realities of publishing, but I've been developing ideas for years. I tend to have something utterly amazing once every couple of weeks and can throw a board game and two card games at you that are easily as good as this idea. If your offer of coauthoring is simply coming up with rules, I can find such assistance among my friends. If your offer is that and guidance through the logistics of publishing, advertising, and marketing in this day and age, I suggest we go over the political card game that I've got in a healthy early beta and find us an artist who can do political caricatures.