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I think they really need to get the rules up asap, which is something I know they are working on, but as someone who would be new to the game I have no idea what factions there are (if any?), how many mechs I need, what size table it plays on, terrain density, win conditions and scenarios, etc.

Basically there's not much incentive yet beyond new shiny syndrome.

Yeah, this KS is pretty much completely underwhelming even for people like me that love the CAV mechs and the bones. 4 each of mechs that were done and being shown off 6 months ago? Without rules to go with them that is very odd to me as a jumping off point for the KS, especially as the stretch goals are for only a single mech. It's hard to know if having 4 of those mechs is something you'd actually want to play the game with or not.

I was really looking forward to this KS, I thought they'd be making a lot more of the mechs in Bones, or making them a bit faster. As it is there's a lot of my favorite ones that aren't on the map and won't be for a LONG time at the current rate, if at all and having a paint-only buy-in-only stretch as the 73K goal isn't helping. Who knows if we'll see any vehicles or infantry at all.

I understand it's a limited, niche market, but the design of the KS seems to be limiting it even more than it should

No Background, No Rules. No advertising that I have seen from them. (maybe a KSII update that mentions it....)

This just seems lackluster to me.

Justyn wrote:
No Background, No Rules. No advertising that I have seen from them. (maybe a KSII update that mentions it....)

This just seems lackluster to me.

Sounds like the 15mm sci-fi gaming scene in a nutshell, which is pretty much the core demographic for CAV minis (despite being technically 10mm)

I mean, it's honest - they're being quite upfront about: we have this many models already made in this quantity, we have a certain number in the entire line, and with every step in funding we can make 2 more available.

But nothing is remotely exciting about how things are presented - no real backer engagement, no background to dig into, no mega savings on big bundles.

I actually think that the early bird shipping is a mistake, because it creates a massive gap between people receiving product in a couple of months vs. nearly a year's time. Funding slowed massively once all of those slots were filled.

I really don't mind the models themselves though - although there's a massive disparity in quality with some of them, and I think that they picked some of the most boring options for the core set.

Things may well improve when the Reaper folk who know how to work KS get back from the various conventions they are at

they have been at PAX and are now at something else (salt lake city?)

certainly it's why there haven't been graphics in most of the updates as the folk putting them up are trying to figure out how to do things as they go along

(Possibly not the best time to launch the KS, but with 2 companies involved there may not have been a choice even if things were running a bit behind)

I jumped in on an EB slot just because there were a couple left at the time. Not finding anything particularly thrilling about this so far and waiting for them to put up the rules before deciding whether to stay in or not.

For a company that has run two extremely successful KS's, this one seems pretty disjointed and has the feel of a first time KS.

I know Reaper had shot it down in their forums before the campaign started, but I would have loved to have seen some sort of starter set filled with models, rules, some scenery, and whatever tokens are necessary to play the game with.

Looking at this as a game (rather than just a minis campaign), it's a bit of a tough pill to swallow at the moment. Like others have said, I have no clue what I would want or need to play the game with, other than just following the rule of cool.

At the very least I'm sure I'll pick up a few models at retail.

If you like the models but are wondering about the rules, why not get the models and play a generic mech-combat game?

R.

[Who has definitely not written a generic mech-combat game that certainly isn't available from his website in the signature link...]

I'm tottering also, I asked some quesitons about which mechs are big enough to really compare well with the Mechwarrior mechs I now use and I'm not sure whether to stay with my early bird, Drop the Early Bird and just buy a couple of mechs at the slightly-lower-than-retail price, or Drop out all together and just pick up a couple when they appear at my FLGS.

 precinctomega wrote:
If you like the models but are wondering about the rules, why not get the models and play a generic mech-combat game?
R.
[Who has definitely not written a generic mech-combat game that certainly isn't available from his website in the signature link...]

Definitely!
It's not like Reaper games have ever been that popular at most FLGS's anyway, so you're not going to have a ready made group to play with. If you don't like the rules use something else.

If you buy into this KS my recommendation would be to do so for the minis primarily. There are quite a number of good mech games out there from fast playing streamlined sets like the one in the link above, all the way through to super crunchy games like battletec. BT has always encouraged alternate models, officially has no WYSIWYG policy and includes an incredibly detailed vehicle design rules. Ironically, I don't like the game, but it's out there and it has alot of fans.

Here are the rules and stats for playing CAV. There may be some changes in the new book they're putting out but I doubt it will change that much. Haven't played CAV myself but Warlord, Reaper's fantasy skirmish game, runs on a variant of the same system and is a lot of fun.

http://www.reapermini.com/Games/CAV

 wana10 wrote:
Here are the rules and stats for playing CAV. There may be some changes in the new book they're putting out but I doubt it will change that much. Haven't played CAV myself but Warlord, Reaper's fantasy skirmish game, runs on a variant of the same system and is a lot of fun.

http://www.reapermini.com/Games/CAV

That's CAV2 and actually there will be ALOT of changes. There will reportedly still be a damage chart similar to CAV2, but according to most of what I've read they've completely reworked the game and it will be even further from the "RAGE" system as used in Warlord. They've also changed many of the mech affiliations, and much of the fluff. I had the Alpha Rules for CAV:SO a while back when they were released a year or so ago, but I can't find them now. They're probably floating around the interwebs somewherere if anyone cares to hunt them down.

All that to say that you can get a bit of a vague idea of what CAV SO might be like from CAV2, but your probably best googling what the playtesters have said about the system instead.

I would back to get some robots, but I'm not sure what I'd really do with them. I can barely find a game of 40k or even MtG within an hours drive let alone something so much more obscure as a mech combat game. At the cheap bonesium price I could see buying some robots to use their arms... probably at least one dude in there that's equipped suitably to pillage arms for a rifleman dreadnought, but other than that...

Not to mention the truck load of bones incoming

New pics posted at reaper forums. Close-ups and measurements of the first 8 designs. So now it's easy to see if and how they will mesh with your favorite mech models.

I think the pics show that Bones isn't perfect for this, but there's nothing wrong with these models that's going to be noticeable after my paint job. I do think though that folks with very high painting standards will find that these might not be quite good enough for them.

another scale shot



Big Update Today! 2nd and 3rd wave of Early Bird Specials announced and a video FAQ

First, we’re pleased to announce the addition of two more Early Bird Waves. The first one for 250 slots will go up today at 4pm CST and the next wave of 250 will go up next Friday the 12th at 4pm CST.
So you’re asking, “If you had 1000 early bird sets why didn’t you put them up at the time of the launch?” We did our very first Early Bird Special during our last KS and learned a lot about the entire concept. The biggest lesson learned was that a lot of people get upset when they rush in after hearing about the KS only to find they missed out. Our solution is to spread out the early bird specials a bit. Also, in case you’re wondering, there will be no more Early Bird Specials after these are gone!

There is no change in these new Early Bird Specials from the first one. They’re in white plastic and will ship as soon as we receive the data from KS and you’ve filled out your pledge manager.

Second is our video FAQ~ We’re getting a lot of questions and often it’s the same question over and over. To this end we are creating a video. Have a question? Send it to CAVKS@ReaperMini.com. We’ll gather and collate all inquiries and post answers during the video.

We’re feverishly working on posting the full rules, a game play video and always a surprise or two. Tell your friends that might be sitting on the fence about the upcoming Early Bird Special, and get those questions rolling in!

At various times I have used CAV miniatures for larger 6mm and smaller 1/72 manned robots (depending on the cockpit design). With some modifications - they also work well as 28mm and larger unmanned drones/robots (ED-309 type stuff)




New mech. 2 Added to the core pledge as freebies. Also the Voodoo (freebie) and Vanquisher (paid) added.

I plan to buy a few at retail to use as drones/ED 209-alikes.

I think my only issue is that I gave the $1, but unlike most other Kickstarters I have seen I am not eligible for the Add-Ons. Or at least I have not found a way to do it.

I've noticed others do not make concessions for the 1 dollar add-ons only crew. Some projects likely do not lend themselves to giving away little bits and pieces, it increases the difficulty with fulfillment by more than a little I would imagine. Sometimes they add it later on if it's requested enough. It gets them more money, but more headache.

I may also go the route of picking some up later on for guard-bots. I certainly don't need the main pledge's 30something worth with no options of which I get though.

 Anpu42 wrote:
I think my only issue is that I gave the $1, but unlike most other Kickstarters I have seen I am not eligible for the Add-Ons. Or at least I have not found a way to do it.

The level says

Pledge $1 or more Rookie Level – THANK YOU! This reward level will allow you to report for duty and begin your basic pilot training. It’s perfect if you just want to pick the options you want and not receive the Core Force Set

so you can get add ons

just increase the cash amount of your pledge buy the appropriate amount eg $5 (for a total of $6) if you want to add a Thunderbird Mech then go through the amazon payments bit again

you don't choose the add ons yet, there will be a pledge manager after the KS is over to do so


(if you want to add on some mechs that are part of the core set prices to allow you to do this are apparently going to be posted later on)

The official pledge calculator is now up and running

https://ks.reapermini.com/cav

register with the email address you use for KS

pick your stuff, click recalculate and you'll find out the shipping cost you'll end up paying

(eg Basic Set is $49.50 to the UK now)

Any rules yet?

I'm also rather underwhelmed by this one... I agree that a nice starter set would have been a great way to get into this game, rather than the DIY, buy what you want, scheme they're currently using. Not super user-friendly to a newbie like me.

I love the idea of the RAGE system with the damage tracking (looks like MechWarrior done right), but I've also not yet found an opponent...!

Right now I'm also in for $1 and hoping we get some vehicles. The two at the end of the stretch goals look nifty to me, but will we even get there? The gaps between goals are quite big!

I'm glad they opened up the core set models as add ons. It really makes going in with friends on a single pledge to save shipping better. I'm planning on getting some Imperators for 15mm power suits.

As for finding opponents, the key is to run things on a project basis like hosting a board game night. I've never had any problem getting games in when I provide both sides, the terrain and host a dinner party around it. I've even had people start collecting the same miniatures as me after trying it out. I know it's a more social approach, but it's totally the way to go if you're interested in a game that is not widely played.

I will hold off on this until I see a rule set. As a long time BT player, it's hard to want to invest the time into another sci-fi like this without seeing how the rules are.

I do really like the look of the emperor though. That is a good looking model.

There look like they will work very well for Battletech. That's what I plan on using the ones for that I'm not re-purposing for 15mm sci-fi.

prices for the core box as add ons as mentioned above

They are coming up on the tanks and other vehicles now. I think those will be fairly well received once they do unlock.

I know for me at least, while a lot of the mechs looked cool (some looked rather goofy to my eye though...) their vehicles were quite good.

Bit more difficult to shoe horn into 15mm sci-fi - but may prove attractive enough for people to look seriously at 10mm or use them as upsized versions for 6mm.

Pretty much only the Imperator looks 15mm powersuit/cyborg friendly so far. The large canopy being on top of the torso rather than sticking out front makes it look like there's room in there for a 15mm person. When you look at other ones with the same size canopy situated on the front, it looks far less plausible.

I have the Dingo tank in metal. I'm definitely going to fill out a platoon of them assuming that gets unlocked.

I actually used 1/72 model aircraft (helicopters and fighters...) to figure out which ones would work in that scale.

Ones like the Kahn, Assassin and Dictator are actually just a little smaller than the cockpit portion of things like Cobra or Apache gunships...so for me, they worked fine even to that point. Others were either too narrow or too squat to work for a 1/72 scale figure.

If you are using 1/100 scale vehicles (as many do) for 15mm - you might be surprised at how many of them would be sized about right. They might not look like they could hold a 15mm figure...but that is a different issue.