Do we need a card based game version of Sails of Glory?

[The Royal Hajj]

But they probably realize that other brands of miniatures would be used if you had cards for them, and possibly undercut their sales. After all they are it for the money, not for the convenience of the consumer.

And trust me, they do! It is also a viable concern and strategy for them.

I guess it depends on how the finished product "works". If the rules gain a good reputation and an established gamer can buy a starter set for £30-£40 and get everything they need to play with whatever models they have then it may be attractive to players of that ilk. If it fails on either then it won't. That said, I'm quite hopeful that both conditions will be satisfied :) (but still think a "cards only" version would be worth thinking about at some point in the future)

And if the rules are not strong enough to stand on their own, then the gamers with the per-existing ship collections will not really care!