Will The GWF Live and Die with Tom?

[offspring515]

I, like so many others here, am consistently amazed by the creativity and longevity Tom has shown with the GWF. While the COTG universe has spread to include CPC, Legends and ACE, it's still obvious that the GWF is the main focus.

That makes me wonder, what happens when Tom decides to "hang up the boots"? Obviously, Tom is still a young man, so his retirement from the GWF is likely many years away. But what happens then?

We know his children are interested in the game, and guys like Mark and Kris have plenty of experience as creative forces in the COTG universe. Would someone else take over? Or would Tom prefer that the fed be his, and only his, letting it end when he decides to step away?

Most creative enterprises have a shelf life, but so long as the GWF continues being both a good business opportunity and artistically appreciated, will it continue on after its creator has stepped away?

I post this here as both a question to Tom, and to fellow promoters. Tom, what do you see happening when you decide to retire from GWF madness? And promoters, what would you like to see happen?

[soug]

this is a tough one.
It's like "your" favorite band. Band members change but you still tend to listen to their stuff.
COTG wouldn't be the same without Tom, but I think I would continue playing and buying game edition even if Tom " hung up the boots".( which I really can see happening for a long, long time)
But who ever "took over"....would have massive shoes to fill!!

[BrianU]

Tom will never die, he is Immortal. Seriously, I have thought about this too. It appears he is having too much fun for that to happen for a long time. Furthermore, with the help of other Promoters in making the "spin-off" sets, I think it makes everything a little easier or at least manageable. And even if the game were to slow down, there is no shortage of available bootlegs to keep this great game going.

[JimSteel]

This almost happened a few years ago around The End Series was happening but lucky for us Tom decided to stay with COTG

If and when Tom hangs it up I would like to see his son Alex take over for him and continue the madness

[gwffantrav]

With talented guys heading up the CPC, aCe, Promoter and just people posting on the board, I'm sure Tom will leave the game in safe hands.

Hopefully, that will be a few years down the road,,,maybe 20 something.

But with Legends, GWF, CPC, aCe, Early Classics and mine own bootleg creations, I have enough material to last probably 20 years.

Can you imagine a edition where Swarm wrote it?!?!?!? Gasp! (Just kidding Rob)

[offspring515]

Well we sure as hell wouldnt see any guys who look like they're melting

I personally feel thta I'd like the GWF to end when Tom steps away. There are tons of talented folks involved in the GWF, and I have no doubt they could continue to put out a quality product. But no matter how well they did, it would never be the same.

[nelson]

well i hope its not for a while.hey tom thanks for being a great guy.

neil

[Tournament Master]

This question came up at G-con last year and Tom said he had no idea, because he doesn't tend to think of things that far in advance. (Of course I don't want to be putting words in Tom's mouth, if he actually has thought about it. But knowing what I know about Tom, I would think its safe to assume his answer is probably the same).

I hope that Tom is writing the fed for quite a while, past his retirement from teaching. I'm a little torn as to what I would prefer should Tom decide to hang up the boots, although in the end I would probably prefer to have the fed end when Tom decides to stop writing. That doesn't mean that the universe couldn't continue with other writers penning different feds in the COTG universe. I certainly hope it does continue for a while.

[GalactiKing]

I dunno but I can still see Tom doing this at 70. I think we'll have a long time before we have to worry about his retirement.

[Tom]

That's a tough question...I'd like to say it's a long way off, but as someone said it almost happened during THE END 2109.

I really think the game is bigger than me and I'd like to see it continue forever. Since I won't be around forever (much as I'd like to be) then I think it should continue beyond my writing it. I could still work closely with one of our talented COTG writers and create new game editions perhaps as a team, leaving say the card writing or handbook writing to someone else with me overseeing and editing the game editions.

In the end, it comes down to YOU! The COTG universe has become incredibly deep and rich and it should never end as long as there are people who care and will support it.

Thanks for the kinds words that have been mentioned. I am flattered and deeply appreciative of your support.

[gwffantrav]

Pretty big of Tom to say this. Shows how much faith he has in many of promoters out there.

Unless I die early, I can see me sitting in a nursing home, in a wheelchair at 90 teaching the other old farts around how to roll the dice.

Heck, by that time, the real Galactic Wars should be starting up!