Next War at last
It appears that GMT Games has made a decision as to which printers to use for Next War: Taiwan 2nd Edition. PrinterS as in multiple printers. As Kai Jensen relates in the June 18 GMT Games update:
We found two U.S. printers who, between them, can handle the components for Next War: Taiwan, so that is finally, officially at the printer. While chagrined that it took so long to set up, I am delighted to be able to check that off my “pending items” list!
Jensen goes on to explain the two-printer solution is still not their ideal solution:
Because I am not satisfied with a multi-printer arrangement, I am continuing my search for other print options for us. Current candidates are in India and Brazil, but I am working the “printed in U.S.A.” angle still as well. Option #57 is now getting wobbly, but #58 just landed on my desk this morning so I am holding onto my optimism and reaching out yet again for details.
So…there is a chance I might get Next War: Taiwan 2nd Edition to the table before the closing of the original Davidson Window in 2027.
Tariff pain(-ful or -less?)
The GMT Games June update also listed the Tariff Surcharges for upcoming games:
Tariff Surcharge: I’ve also noted the amount of the Tariff Surcharge (at far right) for each game. These Tariff Surcharges are per game and apply to all US orders (P500, distributor, and retail) for these six games. For website orders, they are applied automatically when your credit cards are charged.
They range from $0.49 (By Swords and Bayonets) to $3.38 (Space Empires: All Good Things). GMT Games does not indicate the Tariff Rate they are using to factor these numbers but other boardgame publishers indicated the rate dropped to less than 50% in mid-May. The Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) shows 40% at the time of this post.
Frankly, I am surprised by the Tariff Surcharge amounts. Surprised as in how low they are. I am not a business major (nor did I stay at a Holiday Inn Express recently) but it seems to me that these surcharges reveal just how thin of a margin GMT Games uses when pricing their P500 Games. As a wargame consumer I appreciate the low prices but I also recognize that it is in a company’s interest to remain solvent. I will not be surprised if we see an across-the-board restructuring of prices of GMT Games in the near future.
Feature image courtesy WordPress Generate AI using prompt, “Create a highly detailed featured image for a blog post about showing Trump and Xi playing over a modern military strategy game about a fight for Taiwan showcasing colorful game components like maps and units on a table. Floating above is a rain cloud labeled “40%”. Use dramatic lighting effects that creates a focus on the game elements. Incorporate elements that suggest international trade and tariffs, such as subtle icons or symbols in the background. Use a sharp focus to ensure clarity, and aim for high resolution to capture fine details, making the image visually appealing and related to the content.”
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Rocky Mountain Navy Gamer 
its not thin margins. Where do you get that notion. If a game costs $5.00 to print 40% is $2.00, the eat some of the cost and pass the remainder on. That means Roughly Space Empires cost $8.50 cents to print if they passed the full 40% onto us. Their Gross margin before shipping, art & any develop fees & Royalties is 42-8.5 or $33.5 dollars. I think they are fine.
Its a staggering amount of drama all based upon the fact that they have been riding fat and happy for a decade and allowed mis management and bloat creep in. For sure 150% margins are a game changer but these 30-40-50% taxes are manageable as most of the other wargame companies have indicated. In fact when US made games are shipped to EU they are slapped with Tariffs. I dont see anyone whining about that.
Sin isn’t a news for GMT.
https://www.offenderradar.com/offender-details/eldon-gene-billingsley-jr-of-california-1697903
Quite the ad hominem non sequitur, Dingus (since you won’t supply your name).
But while we’re dishing the Latin, you should have a read of this guy “Negotium Ludorum” who goes into the numbers transparently and at length.
He has to, it’s his business. What’s yours?
https://substack.com/@ludorum