SPM_Deke wrote:***** 12/4/2013 *****

Question:
At what point value do you think Relic Knights is best at? Most games can be run at many point values, but is there an ideal for competitive play?

Answer:
Probably due to my own love for Warhammer Fantasy (We play other games too!) I am a total sucker for huge armies. So I like high point values. However, I think most people will find 35 and 50 point battles their favorite. They are super fast to play and allow a lot of rounds to be played in an event. Which we are fans of.

Question:
In the Rulebook we have currently, there are multiple Traits that don't currently have models. What are your plans for making models for those traits? Are these going to be in the main rulebook, or future expansions? I especially like the sound of Castellan, a mecha for the Paladins.

Answer:
When the full book comes out all the traits should have a model with them. Some are future proofing for things we want down the road. Since traits largely have no game effect other than classifying a unit, they are a great way for us to give you a glimpse of the inner organization of the factions.

Question:
Are both Austrican the Ogre and Kisa really the same race?

Answer:
They are indeed! Tonnerian’s were one of the founding races of the United Planetary Alliance and The Six Peers.

Question:
Will there be any special promotions for retailers to take advantage of early on in the product release? If so, is there any information on them, currently?

Answer:
We are currently working on that with CMON. As our publishers they will handle distribution into retail and we will help support them with things such as organized play and marketing materials.

Question:
Since you have no "no store employees allowed" policy for your "civilian" game reps. What is a store supposed to do if the only person that wants to be one also works at that, or another, store in the area?

Answer:
I’m assuming you’re referring to CMON’s Legion program. They handle all aspects of that. We will be rolling out our own Volunteer program next year and will provide details when that happens. As to your specific concern I will kick it to Ross our Community Manager to make sure we have that situation accounted for in our plan.

Question:
Do you foresee any balance concerns with the Void/Prismatic armies? Access to multiple faction's uniques allows for a lot of strange combos.

Answer:
They do indeed create some interesting armies, and will always fulfill a niche role designed for thematic play. We try hard to keep things fun to play and balanced on the field, but since this is a first edition are under no illusions and know that all of you will find situations that we and our playtesters never even dreamed of. We will do our best to keep an up-to-date errata and FAQ, as well as tournament formats to cater to players of all styles.

Question:
When Myth wanted to ship their kickstarter early their accountant told them any stock they had on hand in December that they hadn't gotten shipped out by January would get a ridiculous tax added to it; since you have nothing on hand I don't think you would get hit with this, but does CMoN run the risk of incurring these tax charges and passing them along to SPM?

Answer:
I’m not familiar with Myth’s tax situation. Such things are handled by our financial officers internally.

Question:
How often does SPM communicate with CMoN, and how?

Answer:
Since they are our publishers we are in constant communication with them, primarily through e-mail and Skype. Depending on what is going on that can be weekly to constantly throughout the day. In general though they have their duties and we have ours and we rely on each other to do our jobs.

Question:
Will SPM continue the relationship with CMoN into the retail release and beyond as your publisher?

Answer:
Yes. CMON will be the publisher for Relic Knights.

Question:
Do you anticipate there being any changes in communication upon the successful Kickstarter distribution and retail release?

Answer:
Once Kickstarter has been distributed and Relic Knights is in retail communication will change. Right now we are focused on just getting the game out and most communication revolves around that (as this massive Q&A attests). When Relic Knights is out communication will be about the Hobby, Events, Organized Play, etc. All the fun stuff we can do with our toys!

Question:
How large is your full-time staff at SPM? Part-time, and in what respect? Do you see that changing in the near future?

Answer:
Soda Pop is owned by John, Chris, and myself. As of the middle of this year we were finally able to all go full time and are extremely fortunate to have the opportunity for that. Behind us we have a small army of talented and dedicated freelance and contract artists, designers, etc without whom we could not do what we do. As far as expanding, we are always looking to push beyond our boundaries and grow as the opportunity presents itself.

Question:
What has been the most important lesson you've learned from Kickstarting Relic Knights so far?

Answer:
Don’t get swept up in the excitement and grow the project too big and too fast. Make sure the project is as close to done as you financially can make it before even going to Kickstarter. We are not the only game studio who has learned that post kickstarter can have many hurdles to cross. You want to be prepared as possible before even beginning.

Question:
What exactly was the issue that nobody caught on the tokens and base inserts until right at shipping time? Misshapen in some way? Is the current mold just being repaired or is another one having to be done from scratch?

Answer:
CMON overseas the manufacturing, so we are limited on specifics. When China went to production they discovered an issue that required a new mold to be finished this month.

Question:
My first question is, would you guys be willing to put of the pdfs of the full rules book? I'm speaking for myself here but I think it would a long way to regenerating hype for the game.

Answer:
The full rules for the game and cards for the Kickstarter models are already available for download on our Media Page

Question:
In that same line of thought, would you guy be willing to run another sample game for the community? The game has come a long way since the last time you guys made game play videos.

Answer:
As soon as we have our models we will absolutely do battle reports. We’re also looking forward to seeing yours.

Question:
What exactly is the relationship between SPM and CMoN in regards to Relic Knight? At times, it has seemed neither is willing to provide a full explanation, and blamed the other (forgive me, but even some of your answers reference CMoN as the 'keepers of the key). Why is this?

Answer:
We understand that the relationship has been a bit confusing. The publisher/design studio relationship, while common in video games and books publishing, is pretty new in tabletop games and as one of the first studios CMON signed we’ve both grown and learned as we’ve progressed. Let me see if I can shed a bit of clarity.

Soda Pop Miniatures is the design studio. It is our responsibility to make a game, including all of the art, sculpts, print files, etc and deliver it to CMON. It is also our responsibility to foster a community and make sure our customer base is excited to buy the product. CMON is the publisher. Once they have a finished product from us it is their responsibility implement and manage manufacturing, warehouse the product, then promote and sell it to distributors, retailers, and their community.

Question:
With all the troubles, why has SPM pulled away from the comments section of KS, and to a small extent, the entire Relic Knight KS? Is it the animosity some of us (yes, I am a backer, and a vocal one) have shown?

Answer:
CMON had their people looking after the Kickstarter. Nonetheless we should have used our own channels such as facebook and our website to keep in better contact with you. Something we are working hard to rectify. We have also requested access and will be engaging personally through the Kickstarter from now on. This however will remain my (Deke’s) definitive Q&A thread. Ross will be our main man on the Kickstarter front from here out.

Question:
As it has, in the past, been a matter of debate in the comments section of the KS, if some of the non-KS miniatures had been omitted during the process (mamaro-to and the Noh Dragon come to mind), would the KS be fulfilled at this time? Were these models planned from the start or part of the 'after-party' as it were?

Answer:
These models were planned from the start and did not affect the development time in any significant way. Their sculpts were simply done earlier and thus it was actually more efficient to have them become absorbed into the process. The time of the Kickstarter has taken has entirely been a matter of scope of the project. Your overwhelming support almost doubled our line up of models. Which absolutely blew up the previous time projections we had. We have almost 80 SKUs and are doing an absolutely massive print run. Even a company the size of GW doesn’t release 80 brand new SKUs all at once. In hindsight, if we did the Kickstarter again it would be a smaller one that we could deliver faster, and then open up the ability do another one to get you the additional content.

Question:
When the six-month delay was announced, there was mention of a .pdf art book being emailed to backers. Is there a timeframe for its release? I'm a sucker for artbooks.

Answer:
I am too! In fact I’ve been going through the art book today. It’s just about done and will be sent out to you all this month.

Question:
Can you give us some more detailed pictures of the final production models, the 360 video was way too blurry and spinned too fast to see the details. Maybe a group shot of each faction.

Answer:
Soda Pop doesn't have final models in hand yet either, and China still has our masters. We're waiting just like you! We'll contact CMON and see if they can provide more pictures of the complete models. Once they're in our hands though we will have pictures up as fast as we can take them.

Question:
Chinese new year is coming up and can shift production up to 2 months back; is this also affecting the RK models or are they produced before the new year?

Answer:
Our understanding is that everything will wrapped up before Chinese New Year even becomes a consideration.

Question:
Is there any possibility of you guys having a presence at any shows in the UK?

Answer:
We are working on logistics to try to get to Salute next year. Hopefully we can make that happen.

Question:
Will there be a set release schedule for the future models after the KS has been shipped (ie 1 model a month or 1 model for each faction every 2 months) - I must have the Dagon for Noh.

Answer:
Yes there will be a set release schedule. We'll provide more details regarding it once we hit retail.

Question:
My question is if the story will have a progression to it. For example, will questing knights eventually become relic knights?

Answer:
The plan is for the story to move forward as your Knights battle for the fate of the Last Galaxy. Those Questing Knights who prove themselves worthy of a Relic to their cyphers may indeed become Relic Knights.

Question:
I pledged for an Anime Battle Board on the Games & Gears Kickstarter. Can you describe how the base inserts look like? Do they fit with the board?

Answer:
Glad to hear it! We enjoyed the opportunity to design a board for them. We think it turned out really sharp. We can't wait to paint some of our own. While we did not design the base inserts and Anime Battle Board to be identical, they do both share a strong sci-fi/tech element that we felt worked well for any model from the Relic Knights line. With matching colors the two will blend well, if not match identically.

Shameless Plug: We designed the Anime Wars Board (Sci-fi tech decking) for Gears & Gears Kickstarter.

Question:
The 6 month delay popped up in the last 3 weeks before shipping was supposed to start?

Answer:
This was a case of us finding out there was a chance of a delay and working towards trying prevent it until the bitter end (as explained in my answer below). In that case an argument can be made (and has been by many on the internet) that if we knew a delay was even remotely possible we should have notified the backers immediately. At the time we did not know how long the delay would be and felt that people would prefer an update with a more concrete timeframe. So we waited until we had notification of a timeframe from China. This made it so the update came closer to the estimated ship month than some people would have liked. We could probably debate endlessly if that was the right call. At this point the decision has been made and those who felt we should have announced earlier, even without a timeframe, have made themselves well heard. Our job is to move forward and make sure Relic Knights gets in your hands.

Question:
I was wondering if CMON has been considering adding someone in the "community manager" role?

Answer:
That's really a question for CMON. On our end Soda Pop has hired Ross Thompson as our community manager. (Waves at SPM_Ross.) He has been diligently answering your facebook questions and e-mails to info@sodapopminiatures.com. He's also who pointed me towards this thread. He has lots of great community events he's planning for us as Relic Knights progresses. Give Ross your love and he'll make sure you're taken care of.

***** 12/3/2013 *****
Question:
Can we see a picture of how the minis are packaged?

Answer:
I will check with CMON to see if we can get some pictures of that.

Question:
About how many models are built for the general release and not the Kickstarter. We know of a couple (Mamaro-To, Sophia Drake, Asger Faust, Jeanne Romme, a couple extras)? Will Black Diamond get their uniques that way?

Answer:
Every faction has a handful of nonKickstarter models. Off the top of my head its about 2-3 per faction.

Question:
What non-kickstarter model was the most exciting for you to design? Was it conceptual or mechanical?

Answer:
Mamaro-To. I love Mamaro-To. Writing his fiction and rules was a pure joy. He's not a Knight but is the Grand Warlord of Dragon Fleet To, so he wields considerable power. He also has no small amount of animosity towards Kasaro-To for his exalted position in the Dragon Fleets. In the fiction Mamaro-To is just brutal. To top it off our Creative Director, John Cadice, brought him to life in the art and sculpt in an exceptional manner. He had our artists and sculptors create a Noh unique that is just breathtaking.

Question:
For the main book, about how much of it is "crunch" and how much is "fluff"?

Answer:
It is a 272 page book. Approximately 50 pages of it is pure game rules. The main storyline is approx 50 pages. There is a 16 page universe primer. Then each faction has about 10-12 pages of faction history, plus 10-12 pages of unit rules and unit fiction. I'm sure my math is messed up in there with all the approximates. Lets just say there is a lot of stuff.

Question:
What is the pricing structure for the starter sets post-kickstarter? Is it still going to be about $50, or will it be more?

Answer:
I will need to check on this one in the morning.

Question:
If you were to play only one faction for a long time, what it would be and why?

Answer:
Noh and Shattered Sword. I will never be able to decide between them. I have always had a love for monsters. The Noh was our opportunity to design an entire monstrous race that was truly savage without being dumb brutes. With their own harsh warrior code dictated by their god, Nozuki, they are fierce, brutal, and cunning. I love Shattered Sword because in many ways they are the mirror opposites of the Noh. Shattered Sword avoids the self-righteous, goody-two-shoes, paladin cliche. Truly honorable and given to self sacrifice in the pursuit of the defense of others. They have kept the universe safe for millennia and even in the face of the Darkspace Calamity they struggle for the preservation of life above all things. (I know, I cheated with two!)

Question:
What do you think Relic Knights fans have to look forward to in the future? More Questing Knights, Relic Knights, Uniques, Squads, or something a lot crazier? Warmachine Style Epic Models (especially with a Questing Knights getting Relics)? Or is this far too early to think about?

Answer:
Too early to tip our hand just yet. We have some dreams though....

Question:
Is there a difference (fluff-wise) between the power of different factions? I'd imagine Cerci is weaker being basically a racing team whereas Noh is an entire empire.

Answer:
Short answer is yes. Cerci Prime, even though it is an entire planet, would stand no chance against the combined might of the Noh Empire (or even the Star Nebula Corsairs if you could actually manage to point them all in the same direction). However, what is important are the Knights. They are the champions chosen by Esper, and ultimately it will be they who decide the fate of the Last Galaxy.

Question:
Will there be short stories showing the different characters in the books? I know many games do this, and I love seeing my favorite characters in action.

Answer:
One of the big challenges (and goals) for me was trying to get as many characters represented in the fiction as I could. There are a lot of characters! Many see at least some action. For those who don't or those who see only brief "screen time" rest assured they are taking part in events and we'll provide you with glimpse of their stories as the universe unfolds.

Question:
Why does SPM/CMON always wait until the last possible second to announce the delay even though it should have been clear weeks/months beforehand?

Answer:
Sadly, it's never so cut and dried as that. Sometimes, things that cause a delay will literally come up when they do a test just before production. In those cases we have pretty much no knowledge or warning. Other times, there may be a worry that this or that item may not work right, but it appears it can be corrected without affecting timelines only to find out later that wasn't the case and BAM! delay. In those cases we're working as hard as we can to try to keep any issues from becoming a delay right until the bitter end. When we have something definite we let you know. Unfortunately, that can lead to notices that appear near deadlines.

Question:
Who do I have to kill or what horrid act must I perform in order to get a Sophia figure? Want me to dress up as Harker and shill at local cons...I will. Heck I'd build a dang Diamondback suit if it would help.

Answer:
She's pretty early in the planned release cycle. You won't need to wait long to have her leading your Black Dragons into combat. Not surprisingly we are pro cosplay. A Harker outfit would be stellar. Diamondback....whoa....

Question:
Do you think that all of these delays have severely negatively impacted RK? Or do you think that the game will bounce back?

Answer:
We are not blind to the criticisms. Sometimes the internet can feel like an endless tunnel of dooooom, yet the excitement and enthusiasm we hear from fans remains overwhelmingly positive. People are ready for Relic Knights. Your passion in wanting it to "be here now" is a testament to your desire for it. It's easy to become discouraged by the delays, we understand. No one wants this more than us. We are all vested in it. Ultimately, everyone who backed the project wants it to succeed. (If they don't we have to wonder why they backed it at all!) Soda Pop will continue to keep our heads down and work through every obstruction that may come our way to make sure all of you have a game that alive and vibrant. We are committed to that. We have many plans in the works such as organized play, conventions, hobby events, and retailer support to make sure Relic Knights leaps off the starting line faster than a Hell's Belles racer. We have put a lot of heart into Relic Knights. We are confident that will shine through in every piece of art, word of fiction, and painted model.

Question:
Are you planning on having Organized play at Adepticon? If not there then what Con will debut Organized play for RK?

Answer:
We have contacted Adepticon and are hoping to run events there. We are still solidifying our con schedule for next year, but we plan on being at as many events as we can. We are also working to make sure we can provide assistance for volunteers who want to run events at cons that we can't attend ourselves. We will begin releasing specifics as events approach.

Question:
While Calico Kate doesn't always drink soda, what does she drink when she does?

Answer:
Well, she's a pirate so Grog and her favorite—Iron Chef's own special recipe for Bumbo. (It's said it can be used as an explosive that will blast through a corvette class hull with a single barrel.)

Question:
Are you in any position to make an educated guess at when shipping will start?

Answer:
Not really since we're not in control of that aspect. There was an issue with the token and base topper molds. Obviously the base topper molds are important for Kickstarter fulfillment, but the tokens are a key component of the Starter Boxes which are both Kickstarter and Retail items. Starters are a significant chunk of what people purchased. Which makes the tokens a small but surprisingly critical element and something we can't just slide on. China is working on the issue. Our understanding is that it will be a fairly fast turn around. Once we are given a specific date that CMON okays we will relay it to you.

Question:
How much sugar is needed to turn a knight into a soda pop?

Answer:
Really it depends on the type of sugar and who it is from.

Question:
How long after KS release are you expecting general release?

Answer:
Hopefully only about a month. However, shipping is going to be a huge undertaking for CMON and we need to make sure all the backers get their product first. Afterwards, we will work with CMON on establishing an official retail launch window.

Question:
Will the KS stuff be officially released across a single wave or multiple waves?

Answer:
Backers will get their rewards in a single wave. Retail release will be in multiple waves so we don't overwhelm retailers with a massive product launch. Backers really are getting an entire, fully formed, miniature game all in one fell swoop!

Question:
How long until the first wave with non-KS product?

Answer:
Most of the initial retail waves will feature Kickstarter product. However, we're working on mixing in nonKickstarter models into the mix to give you backers new things to be looking forward to as well.

Question:
Are the figures show in the video posted in the 96th update the finalized versions of the miniatures?

Answer:
That video was commissioned and produced by CMON. However, at this point in the process I'm pretty certain that, yes, they are the final models.

*****

Hello Everyone,

SPM_Ross has found me in my little development dungeon (Oh, the dungeons!) and using promises of shiny objects guided me to this thread.

Just on a base level I understand your frustration. Believe me, we share them as well. We have put an incredible amount of time, love, and coin into Relic Knights and every setback stings us every bit as badly as it does you.

I just spent a good chunk of time reading through the entire thread. You all have brought up a LOT of points. So many that I think it would be almost impossible for me to try to dig through all of them after the fact and give them the air they deserve. Instead I'm going to take the conversation forward in the form of a Question and Answer forum. Basically, shoot me your questions in this forum. I will continue to visit it every work day (M-F) until the launch of Relic Knights.

Know going in that sometime we (SPM) just don't have the answers, as we do not control all the moving pieces. However, I will answer every question I can with whatever details I can. I also won't engage with rants or accusations, even if they contain valid points. If you can't present your question politely and productively then the discussion devolves and is helpful to noone.

If I miss your question I'm not ignoring you. First check and see if your question has been answered somewhere else or if your tone was combative. If it has not or was not just restate the question. I'll be hitting these daily but I'm not spending all day on the boards. There's just too much stuff that must be done.

This Kickstarter has been immense for us. While there are things out of our hands, there are other things that were certainly within our control that we could have done better with. We're constantly learning, experimenting, and improving. In the end, we're all here because we share a love for toy soldiers, awesome anime, and a little thing called Relic Knights.