Dangerous Post Ahead: Read With Caution

:rolleyes: Ok...not really...but if it ruffles some feathers, it is NOT my intent...I am just wondering in cyberspace...

I know there has been a lot of talk about what will it take to move EF/MF to the next level. And by that I think most people mean wider audiences...getting back to the heyday of the game, if you will. At least that's how I am thinking of it.

Personally, I am OK with the game/hobby the way it is...but in line with that first thought...

To me, the ONE thing that would make that happen (get wider audiences) would be a way to make bases, or the movement control mechanism, more predictable and easier to reliably adjust.

Now, I know there are a lot of players and base tweakers out there that may have just said "WHAT?!" and started typing their replies before they finished reading this entire sentence.

But from the standpoint of the every day person who might be interested in playing...wouldn't it be more fun if the bases/players, right out of the box, moved like you wanted them to?

I mentioned this because my 7 year old and his friend were messing around the other night with my board and the first thing they do once the board is turned on is redirect the players that stray from where they think they will go. (they were using un-tweaked bases).

It occured to at that moment, that the bases might be the single biggest obstacle.

People still think of the game as the "vibrating football where the guys go in circles".

We know it's more than that...and some will sit down and listen long enough to appreciate the finer points of the game...but for a large number of people in our world today, that's too much work.

They think..."Look...chess players go where I put them, rod hockey players are controllable and video game players go exactly like I want them to. These little guys have minds of their own!"

Now, I have only ever purchased Miggle/Tudor bases...and a few of the new vibrating football bases, so I don't know who all makes bases and how much more reliable they are. So maybe that is something I need to look into. :o

BUT...it made me think that an interesting goal might be to collectively develop (amongst those folks that know best) the NEXT LEVEL base or control mechanism. Something that works under the same principles...used on a vibrating field surface, but offers a means of control that we have not seen before.

OK...anybody got any thoughts on this? (he asks in fear for his life... )

I am sure there are base makers and tweakers out there that have been tinkering in this arena for years. Feel free to share what you feel you can. (If you have something in process and don't want to divulge the secrets, I understand).