Beyond The Gates of Antares - Official Kickstarter Thread

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**agustin**

I love the Isorian faction badge. I've saved the image in my pictures folder. So at least I've gotten something out of this kickstarter, even if it doesn't get fully funded.

The content of the Kickstarter is getting better, but it's still not at the point where you want it for when you *start* the kickstarter. So I'm still waiting and not pledging, hoping Rick & company finally clue in and get busy delivering real content worth supporting to completion as a real product.

**zedmeister**

Alpharius wrote:
I don't think "Space Hobos" really did it for many...

Now trending towards 69% of goal.

I can't believe that the people behind this project aren't 'getting it'.

Maybe at the start, but not now!

I keep expecting them to unleash something spectacular... any day now?

The longer this goes on, the less I'm convinced they have something to show. Maybe they're still wrangling on the forums over what to do next and the crucial poll is indecisive? I keep checking back, but nope, just the same clutch of concepts.

For now, personally, I'll keep checking but any money that I have left to support this is increasingly being used to support or buy other things. I suspect that others are thinking the same which is another big issue for this. Backers who are backing this and have budgeted may be beginning to think that this won't succeed and are planning to use their money for something else.

**Agamemnon2**

It's far too little, too late. I'd be very surprised if they break 50%, with the new pledges flatlining like that. The only question remains is whether or not they'll try again in a few months with maybe something concrete to show and one tenth of the initial limit.

**Zweischneid**

Well, I still think they should try going from small to large (not the other way around).

1) Do an Antares knock-off/version of Necromunda/Space Hulk(or sci-fi Blood Bowl!!) to give people a low-mini-count entry into the world. Create basic skirmish rules. Develop factions with a handfull of sculpts each side.

2) Than do an Antares version of something like Gorkamorka; e.g. develop vehicle rules and integrate them into the game. Add one or two vehicle-kits per faction and expand other miniatures.

3) Than, perhaps, do a pen-and-paper RPG to really flesh out the background and universe.

4) And only than, do the not-40K.

And almost as a byproduct, you'll be building yourself a committed community to provides feedback and opinions along the way, without having to drum it up as some sort of unique KS-privilege.

**Mr. Burning**

I want to be proven wrong as I like Rick Priestly but this KS really smells of idea on a napkin.

Surely getting feedback from the community and then working towards concepts and something of more substance should have been the prelude to this KS not part of it?

**Baragash**

Zweischneid wrote:
Well, I still think they should try going from small to large (not the other way around).

This, the system is meant to be highly scalable anyway so the core mechanics should work in the smaller games and in theory it would have been a case of adding more detail that you associate with small/skirmish games. Get a small range of models out for 4 of the factions and start to build from there. The online scoring system should work fine at any level.

**Rick_1138**

As I've said earlier I will wait and see what this week brings, I.e Friday, as they have stated what they want to do this week, so have to give the benefit of the doubt, if by sat we are not seeing much of anything, I may start to think its not going to happen.

Ah we'll there is £190 earmarked for toy soldiers, there is always warriors of chaos to start fantasy again :-)

**Compel**

Yeah, that £190 might get you 2 whole units!

**judgedoug**

Good lord, no furries. Anthropomorphic felines are the stupidest trope ever. And I hate their glowsticks at the club.

**Bromsy**

I'd be interested in animal people so long as they aren't done in a cutesy way, but frankly that vibe will probably be satisfied by the ape folks.

**Duncan_Idaho**

Q&A Volume 5 - Custom Army, Females and more

Hey everyone, hope your weekend is going well so far!

Double update today as Ed so kindly asked

First up, more Q&A from the forums:

http://vimeo.com/58291413

**Rick_1138**

Compel wrote:
Yeah, that £190 might get you 2 whole units!

YAY!

**Duncan_Idaho**

125 gets you already two full armies, add some more credits and you get quite some forces with enough options in it.

**Compel**

You missed a bit, Duncan...

Rick was saying that he might start fantasy up again with Warriors of Chaos. £190 will get you 2 half decent sized units of Forsaken...

In other words, stick with Antares!

*Checks to see if the video buffer is done yet.*

**Melcavuk**

We've also got an update on what kind of force build ups there will be:

EXAMPLE FORCES

The following examples are selected to a total value of 240 credits and illustrate a possible combination of forces for the Concord, Isorian Shard, Algoryn Prosperate, Boromites, and Freeborn. To each of these we would add 20 WarDrones, and Hansa Nairoba as the forces overall leader.

CONCORD

The Concord Combined Command – or CoCom – has at its disposal a highly trained force of elite troops. As elite troops 240 credits stretches to a complete squad of ten CoCom troopers– although this could be divided for tactical purposes into smaller squads for deployment.

CoCom Squad

1 CoCom Commander = 30
6 CoCom Troopers with Plasma Carbines = 120
2 CoCom Trooper with Plasma Cannon = 60
1 CoCom Trooper with X-Launcher = 30
= 240
Alternatively, a CoCom force could consist entirely of Mercenaries hired from the Freeborn, or a mixture of CoCom troopers, Mercenaries, and some physically distinctive pans of the Corcord such as the Boromites. Here is an example of such a force. It comprises three separate squads of CoCom, Boromite and Freeborn Mercenaries led by a NuHu Contact team Leader.

1 NuHu Contact Team Leader = 30
2 CoCom Troopers with Plasma Carbines = 40
1 CoCom Trooper with Plasma Cannon = 30
1 Boro Engineer = 20
2 Boromite Miners with Mass Compactors = 20
1 Boromite Miner with Frag Borer = 10
3 Freeborn Troopers with Plug Carbines = 60
1 Freeborn Trooper with Fractal Cannon = 30
= 240
ISORIAN SHARD

The military of the Isorian Shard operates in the same way as the Concord, with a core of elite troops and the option of mixing in other pans or mercenary Freeborn. They are elite fighters and this squad could easily be deployed as two very effective units.

Isorian Squad

1 Isorian Battle Leader = 30
6 Isorian Troopers with Plasma Carbines = 120
2 Isorian Troopers with Fractal Cannon = 60
1 Isorian Trooper with X-Launcher = 30
= 240
An Isorian force could consist entirely of Mercenaries hired from the Freeborn, or a mixture of CoCom troopers, Mercenaries, and some physically distinctive pans of the Concord such as the Boromites. Here is an example of such a force. It comprises three separate squads of CoCom, Boromite and Freeborn Mercenaries led by a NuHu Ambassador.

1 NuHu Ambassador = 30
2 Isorian Troopers with Plasma Carbines = 40
1 Isorian Trooper with Fractal Cannon = 30
1 Boro Overseer with Chain Lash = 20
2 Boromite Miners with Mass Compactors = 20
1 Boromite Miner with Core Charge = 10
3 Freeborn Troopers with Plug Carbines = 60
1 Freeborn Trooper with Fractal Cannon = 30
= 240
ALGORYN PROSPERATE

The Algoryn are just one distinctive species of pans – they have established colonies and control a number of worlds forming the Algoryn Prosperate. Their forces are well trained and equipped. Here is a typical Algoryn squad:

Algoryn Squad

1 Prosperate Captain = 30
6 Algoryn Troopers with Plug Carbines = 120
1 Algoryn Troopers with Plasma Cannon = 30
3 Algoryn Troopers with Plasma Pistols + Grenades = 60
= 240
Alternately, an Algoryn force could include a mix of Freeborn mercenaries and Algoryn, and it could also include Boromites from the Asteroid colonies on some of the Prosperate’s outlying worlds. Here’s what that might look like.

1 Prosperate Captain = 30
2 Algoryn Troopers with Plug Carbines = 40
1 Algoryn Trooper with Fractal Cannon = 30
1 Boro Overseer with Compression Carbine = 20
2 Boromite Miners with Mass Compactors = 20
1 Boromite Miners with Core Charges = 10
3 Freeborn Troopers with Plug Carbines = 60
1 Freeborn Trooper with Fractal Cannon = 30
= 240
FREEBORN

Freeborn forces belonging to one of the great houses – or Vardo – form a fighting army in their own right, able to go into battle on behalf of their Vardo. But the Freeborn also hire their troops out to anyone willing to pay for them. Indeed – one of the chief commodities traded by the Freeborn is its own military. Here is what a typical Freeborn mercenary squad might look like.

Freeborn Mercenary Squad

1 Freeborn Captain = 30
6 Freeborn Troopers with Plug Carbines = 120
1 Freeborn Trooper with Fractal Cannon = 30
3 Freeborn Troopers with Plasma Pistols + Grenades= 60
= 240
Alternatively, here is a 120 credit force that could be added to the Boromite WarGang – there are many Boromites amongst the Freeborn, some operating mining and construction projects on behalf of their Vardo.

1 Freeborn Captain = 30
3 Freeborn Troopers with Plug Carbines = 60
1 Freeborn Trooper with Fractal Cannon = 30
= 120
CONCORD, ISORIAN, FREEBORN OR DETERMINATE BOROMITE WARGANG

The Boromites spread throughout the Spill long before the Seventh Age, and can be found mining the asteroids of systems throughout space. As such there are Boromites in different armed forces – even amongst the Freeborn – and here is one possible make up for a Boromite Wargang. This comes to 120 credits, and could be doubled if you are really fond of Boromites, or mixed with another 120 credits of another faction to make a mixed force.

Boromite Wargang

1 Boro Overseer with plasma pistol and chain lash = 20
6 Boromite Miners with Mass Compactors = 60
3 Boromite Miners with Core Charges = 30
1 Boromite Miner with Frag Borer = 10
= 120

**Sidstyler**

Wait, did Rick basically say they weren't going to make (any/many?) female models because they wouldn't sell as well as the male models? Yeah, that'll win people over I'm sure.

**Melcavuk**

Rick said they wouldnt be the primary focus because commercially they dont sell as well, he didnt rule out female miniatures nor say there would be none in the initial figure list. He then went on to say that when they are looked at they will be in proportion and realistic without having to go into overly erotic.

**Kilkrazy**

Bromsy wrote:
I'd be interested in animal people so long as they aren't done in a cutesy way, but frankly that vibe will probably be satisfied by the ape folks.

Ape/monkey-based primate factions are the stupidest trope ever. Hugely over-used in SF.

**Duncan_Idaho**

Don´t know...

These apes are quite cool:

https://www.google.de/search?q=karman+at-43&hl=de&client=firefox-a&hs=ZJb&tbo=d&rls=org.mozilla:de

fficial&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=kZ4FUfz9M5HEtAalooC4Dw&ved=0CAoQ_AUoAA&biw=1920&bih=936

**Rick_1138**

Duncan_Idaho wrote:
Don´t know...

These apes are quite cool:

https://www.google.de/search?q=karman+at-43&hl=de&client=firefox-a&hs=ZJb&tbo=d&rls=org.mozilla:defficial&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=kZ4FUfz9M5HEtAalooC4Dw&ved=0CAoQ_AUoAA&biw=1920&bih=936

That's really cool, I like that imagery.

Pans aligned with the high end tech factions could have stuff like that.

**Kilkrazy**

Duncan_Idaho wrote:
Don´t know...

These apes are quite cool:

https://www.google.de/search?q=karman+at-43&hl=de&client=firefox-a&hs=ZJb&tbo=d&rls=org.mozilla:defficial&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=kZ4FUfz9M5HEtAalooC4Dw&ved=0CAoQ_AUoAA&biw=1920&bih=936

I meant these fethers.

They are all over everything in SF and I for one am sick of it.

**cincydooley**

Melcavuk wrote:
Rick said they wouldnt be the primary focus because commercially they dont sell as well, he didnt rule out female miniatures nor say there would be none in the initial figure list. He then went on to say that when they are looked at they will be in proportion and realistic without having to go into overly erotic.

They don't sell we'll because they're seldom DONE well. People love the female sedition wars models because they look like actual females in armor and they don't all look like Briene of Tarth.

**cerealkiller195**

they said they didn't want to make female models that were over the top. They didn't want a pin up style or scantily clad female in the game. How many people would put money into a regular looking female soldier? Maybe a few but not many..

**chris_valera**

scipio.au wrote:
Chris sure likes his zombies. He's telling the former Rackham sculptor in the Simon Miniatures thread (where the sculptor is sculpting brilliant, Rackham-esque things) that "he should just make like a line of zombies or pirates or ninjas; core stuff that sells to fans" instead...

@Chris - here you go mate. Check these out for starters...

It's a valid point of view. The figures he sculpts are great from a technical perspective, but I would never buy any. If Confrontation was so great, why didn't it succeed. I respect the fact that he's sticking to his own style and sculpting things that interest him, but you can never have too many "bread and butter" figures that pay the bills while you sculpt the more esoteric stuff. In movie terms, summer blockbusters pay for all the art-house films.

All the zombie figures are wrong for various reasons, either they are 25mm or small 28mm, or the Mantic zombies are fantasy zombies and not modern zombies, the Reaper ones are metal (but I hope they re-release them in Bones plastic) the zombies from Zombies!!! are solft plastic which I can't stand and the Zombie Vixens are great, but I need male zombies to go with them.

AlexHolker wrote:
And personally, I think it's rather ridiculous to pretend that people who would have themselves and all their descendants turned into the creations of Doctor Moreau are so common that they could support multiple subspecies.

*shrug* I buy it, furry or not. Batman Beyond had supervillains that used animal gene-tech to alter themselves and d20 Modern / d20 Future had the Moreau species. It stands to figure they could breed.

Really I think we're getting into the worst parts of sci-fi, one person's view doesn't fit with another (Ireally love zombies, for instance) and it becomes a big argumentative mess.

Alpharius wrote:
I don't think "Space Hobos" really did it for many...

Now trending towards 69% of goal.

I can't believe that the people behind this project aren't 'getting it'.

Maybe at the start, but not now!

I keep expecting them to unleash something spectacular... any day now?

That Wardrone had really better be the best thing ever, it's really the half-million dollar sculpt now.

Agamemnon2 wrote:
It's far too little, too late. I'd be very surprised if they break 50%, with the new pledges flatlining like that. The only question remains is whether or not they'll try again in a few months with maybe something concrete to show and one tenth of the initial limit.

The really should have just done a 100K kickstarter, and sunk all the money into plastic core infantry kits. Release the rulebook for free like Void did, and go from there.

--Chris
www.chrisvalera.com

**Dysartes**

Kilkrazy wrote:
I meant these fethers.

They are all over everything in SF and I for one am sick of it.

Well played, sir, well played

OK, why isn't there an applauding Orkmoticon?

**judgedoug**

chris_valera wrote:
If Confrontation was so great, why didn't it succeed

Confrontation did succeed. It's success helped secure a several million euro investment into AT-43, and it's demise helped secure the fate of Rackham and Rackham Entertainment. Confrontation's success is why Confrontation 3/3.5 is coming back.

**cerealkiller195**

agreed confrontation was a success but it seems french companies make the worst gaming investments.. cant wait for that cool mini kickstarter to come up ill admit.

**cincydooley**

chris_valera wrote:

It's a valid point of view. The figures he sculpts are great from a technical perspective, but I would never buy any. If Confrontation was so great, why didn't it succeed. I respect the fact that he's sticking to his own style and sculpting things that interest him, but you can never have too many "bread and butter" figures that pay the bills while you sculpt the more esoteric stuff. In movie terms, summer blockbusters pay for all the art-house films.

You really should educate yourself about the failings of Rackham if you're going to comment. It had very little to do with the metal confrontation sculpts.

**Orkitron5000**

Cerealkiller195 said
they said they didn't want to make female models that were over the top. They didn't want a pin up style or scantily clad female in the game. How many people would put money into a regular looking female soldier? Maybe a few but not many..

There is an entire thread started by a female poster (the thread is about sexism) who also wants realistic female mini's. The point being that female gamers would want those mini's not only to supplement their 40k armies (or others), but also to feel like they can relate to a character or unit. Saying that not many people would be interested is doing a disservice to all those who want a more integrated army or game, not your generic "This is a Man's Mans' Man Thing, and icky girls aren't wanted!!"

That being said a whole unit of lady warriors might not be very popular, but it would fill a niche, and it might invite more people into our hobby. Even if they are "icky girl people".

**Azazelx**

cerealkiller195 wrote:
they said they didn't want to make female models that were over the top. They didn't want a pin up style or scantily clad female in the game. How many people would put money into a regular looking female soldier? Maybe a few but not many..

Back in the day, with the original Rogue Trader Imperial Army (pre-guard) metal models, there were several female Imp Army figures. They were just mixed in with the males. No fuss or trumpeting. No need to call them the Foxxxy Division or the Xenas or any of that BS. Just some female soldiers mixed in with the rest of the range. Sedition Wars seems to be the closest thing since then in this genre, excepting several dark/eldar torsos and the Wyches. When was that? 1987?

Automatically Appended Next Post:

Orkitron5000 wrote:
Cerealkiller195 said
they said they didn't want to make female models that were over the top. They didn't want a pin up style or scantily clad female in the game. How many people would put money into a regular looking female soldier? Maybe a few but not many..

There is an entire thread started by a female poster (the thread is about sexism) who also wants realistic female mini's. The point being that female gamers would want those mini's not only to supplement their 40k armies (or others), but also to feel like they can relate to a character or unit. Saying that not many people would be interested is doing a disservice to all those who want a more integrated army or game, not your generic "This is a Man's Mans' Man Thing, and icky girls aren't wanted!!"

Just one thing. If they're made, they will have huge tits. Same reason almost all 28mm figures also have disproportionate hands, heads, feet, guns and in figures like Hansa's case, male musculature. They don't need to be hanging out, though.

Chris - from your reply, I'm sure his Zombies wouldn't be good enough for your exacting tastes. They'd be too big, for one thing (based on the Rackham metal scale). I don't know what you're thinking to suggest that Pirates and Ninjas are the "bread and butter" for this industry though.