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Made in nl
Zealous Knight







 IdentifyZero wrote:
I think this looks pretty cool but I have to echo prior sentiments, man do these look like MWO mechs. If I look hard enough I can even identify which Battlemechs from BT you based these off of.

That isn't to say they don't look cool and the miniatures won't blow IWM out of the water (IWM is so terrible it's sad), I just wonder if going for such a similar aesthetic is a good thing.


"Functional-looking western style mecha" inherently doesn't have that much variation to it, way I see it at least...
   
Made in au
Nimble Dark Rider




 Vertrucio wrote:
Eh, I honestly think it's time for classic battletech to be replaced. As much nostalgia I have for the game and setting in all its iterations, it's dated and the mech designs exist purely based on nostalgia rather than good looks.

MWO does a nice job of updating them, but their designs are tied up with that game, we will not see those designs trickle back to the tabletop.

Paul here has a great opportunity to start something that will fill a niche that's been needed filling for a long time.

I know I'll be getting into the game when it comes out.


Its less that battletech is dated, and more that they refuse to market to anything but nostalgia.
   
Made in us
Longtime Dakkanaut





IL

Davor wrote:
I am really interested in this. I do have a few questions.

What is 15mm scale? I only know of Battletech and 40K, LotR. How comparable is it to that?

My biggest concern is the lack of customability in games lately. One thing I loved about Battletech is you can make your own stuff. Everything almost. So will this game be more like Battletech where you can make your own stuff, but in friendly pick up games you use stock mechs or like more like 40K where you can't make your own stuff and units?


15mm scale means infantry models are typically around 15mm tall, so about half the height of 40k models. (depending on the company they can be around 17-18mm sometimes)

One of the large draws for that scale is that it keeps the costs of miniatures down and also lets people use more vehicles than they can with 28mm stuff. Think about how much table space it takes up to run 4-5 landraiders in a list for example and they are about 30% undersized for the size they should be. If you go even smaller Micro Armor stuff (6mm) can pack whole tank divisions onto a small table. 15mm N scale IMO offers the best mix for infantry and armor and on stuff like large mechs it offers a good amount of detail for the price.

In 15mm you can get squads of infantry for about $4-$5 and tanks typically run around $12 so it's insanely cheap compared to 28mm. For what you spend on a single landraider you can have a large 15mm army.


There will be be mech customization, it's not as extensive as battletech but it will be enough that people can swap out weapons and options for each game if they wish and it won't take massive amounts of math.



 Pacific wrote:
Absolutely love some of the ideas here - the more realistic, gritty approach to mechs is something that hasn't been that common, especially at this scale.

I also have to ask, in-between this and the Infinity terrain you have been making, how on earth do you have time for all of this stuff?

Definitely looking forward to the KS being announced!



There may be a few concessions to game play vs realism, but the visual theme I at least want to make as realistic as possible. Minding the fact that giant robot games can never truly be realistic

An unhealthy obsession with robots, a touch of insanity, and apparently never sleeping all help power my days.


.

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2013/02/24 20:38:57


Paulson Games parts are now at:
www.RedDogMinis.com 
   
Made in us
Winged Kroot Vulture






Like the sketches and can't wait to see more.

This might be the sci-fi I have been looking for!

I'm back! 
   
Made in us
Fixture of Dakka





West Michigan, deep in Whitebread, USA

One of the large draws for that scale is that it keeps the costs of miniatures down and also lets people use more vehicles than they can with 28mm stuff. Think about how much table space it takes up to run 4-5 landraiders in a list for example and they are about 30% undersized for the size they should be. If you go even smaller Micro Armor stuff (6mm) can pack whole tank divisions onto a small table. 15mm N scale IMO offers the best mix for infantry and armor and on stuff like large mechs it offers a good amount of detail for the price.


Heck yeah. Right now I saw a couple of deals on the Rebel Minis' site where you can buy about 28 infantry figures including command, a trio of squad support weapons for around 15 dollars.

15mm is also a fun genre that doesn't seem to care about mixing companies' models. Heck, I've even pondered about using a couple of Firestorm Armada ships on shorter flying stems for hovertanks, and Post Human Republic walkers from Dropzone commander for mechs, but I would love to see a place where I could get a solid stable of gritty near-future mech models to go with what else (infantry, tanks, flyers) is available in 15mm right now. I like your mech concepts I've seen so far, Paulson.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2013/02/24 21:05:15




"By this point I'm convinced 100% that every single race in the 40k universe have somehow tapped into the ork ability to just have their tech work because they think it should."  
   
Made in us
Terminator with Assault Cannon





Florida

Seriously, who cares about infantry really?

I just want to field battalions of tanks and mecha!

SickSix's Silver Skull WIP thread
My Youtube Channel
JSF wrote:... this is really quite an audacious move by GW, throwing out any pretext that this is a game and that its customers exist to do anything other than buy their overpriced products for the sake of it. The naked arrogance, greed and contempt for their audience is shocking.
= Epic First Post.
 
   
Made in us
Been Around the Block




Pahrump, NV

Jeff Racel has put together some very extensive photos of comparison shots of different "15mm" figs.

https://skydrive.live.com/?cid=c81057216b240d0c&id=C81057216B240D0C!435#cid=C81057216B240D0C&id=C81057216B240D0C!434

Note that the old "15mm" designation is a measurement to the eye, just like 28mm is to the eye, to compensate for headgear.

15mm has scale-creeped up to 1:100th scale (where I hope it locks in), which makes a 6 foot guy about 18mm to the top of the head, about 17mm to the eye.

Racel has also done a lot of comps of 1:100th scale mechs, walkers, and vehicles.

https://skydrive.live.com/?cid=c81057216b240d0c&id=C81057216B240D0C!435#cid=C81057216B240D0C&id=C81057216B240D0C!1559

Hope this helps.

Best,
JBR

http://www.johnbearross.com
http://johnbearross.blogspot.com 
   
Made in ca
Fixture of Dakka





Bathing in elitist French expats fumes

GZG 15mm are chibi to the max. I quite like the Rebel Games infantry.

But, mechs above all!

You might want infantry to hold objectives, for instance. To be protected as per scenario rules...

 GamesWorkshop wrote:
And I would have gotten away with it too, if it weren't for you meddling kids!

 
   
Made in us
Longtime Dakkanaut





IL

Originally I had planned for 12 mechs in the inital release, currently I have artwork done for 8.

I had been thinking that I'd do 6 mechs for each side, however I'm currently debating if I want to keep to that plan or introduce a third faction which would also have 4 mech designs as that'd also keep it at the original 12 mech target.

2 factions with 6 mecha each

or

3 factions with 4 mecha each


Any thoughts?


Paulson Games parts are now at:
www.RedDogMinis.com 
   
Made in us
Terminator with Assault Cannon





Florida

3 Factions!

SickSix's Silver Skull WIP thread
My Youtube Channel
JSF wrote:... this is really quite an audacious move by GW, throwing out any pretext that this is a game and that its customers exist to do anything other than buy their overpriced products for the sake of it. The naked arrogance, greed and contempt for their audience is shocking.
= Epic First Post.
 
   
Made in us
Longtime Dakkanaut






3 factions then when the game matures you might add another faction.

Adam's Motto: Paint, Create, Play, but above all, have fun. -and for something silly below-

"We are the Ultramodrines, And We Shall Fear No Trolls. bear this USR with pride".

Also, how does one apply to be a member of the Ultramodrines? Are harsh trials involved, ones that would test my faith as a wargamer and resolve as a geek?

You must recite every rule of Dakka Dakka. BACKWARDS.
 
   
Made in jp
[DCM]
Incorporating Wet-Blending





Japan

Two factions, please.

Now showing Martian Grunts from Mantic's Mars Attacks!

Painting total as of 23rd September 2025: 118 plus a Deva King statue

Painting total as of 12/31/2024: 107 plus a set of modular spaceship terrain and two walkers and a quad mech and five giants



 
   
Made in us
Brutal Black Orc




The Empire State

In regards to scale

http://theminiaturespage.com/ref/scales.html

fantastic mechs.

 
   
Made in us
Last Remaining Whole C'Tan






Pleasant Valley, Iowa

So, how does this work, do I just mail you my wallet, or what...?

Also, 3 factions, or two, whatever. I have to think it's easier to balance 2 and it allows for more choice of mechs per player.

 lord_blackfang wrote:
Respect to the guy who subscribed just to post a massive ASCII dong in the chat and immediately get banned.

 Flinty wrote:
The benefit of slate is that its.actually a.rock with rock like properties. The downside is that it's a rock
 
   
Made in us
Krazed Killa Kan





SoCal

3 factions.

Heck, 4 factions with 2 mechs each with a lot of options would be better. There's a reason why so many games release with 4 factions, it's a good round number so that people of different tastes can find the army they like, and any groups of players will have little overlap.

   
Made in us
Longtime Dakkanaut





Beaumont, CA USA

I agree, you really need 4 factions to have enough diversity to make a game interesting enough to stick around. If a game has 2 factions, even if they both have an immense amount of options feels very limiting. Even a small gaming group will have to do same faction-on-faction battles which always feel crappy no matter what game it is. Go with 3 factions bare minimum, but I would suggest bumping it to 4.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2013/02/25 07:48:05


~Kalamadea (aka ember)
My image gallery 
   
Made in au
Nimble Dark Rider




Don't add any factions past 2 if they don't add anything to the game AND the setting. That's my opinion at least. You can always add more later.
   
Made in gb
Battle-tested Knight Castellan Pilot




Poole, Dorset

If your going the kickstarter route maybe start with two factions and if you make enough cash have the third faction available when the game goes on general release.

   
Made in gb
Longtime Dakkanaut






Cheltenham, UK

And now I know what you wanted to discuss with me, Jon.

I got to see Jon's artist working on these designs. Cheeky beggar didn't tell me they were for him!

I have various thoughts. Feel free to reach me at the usual place!

R.

   
Made in gb
Decrepit Dakkanaut





UK

2x6 for me is better than 3x4

 
   
Made in gb
Pewling Menial




Essex, Ol' Blighty

I'd prefer two initial factions, then expanding later on provided subsequent factions were visually distinctive from the others.

I'm in for this. There's always more room in the 15mm market.

"Holy HP Lovecraft spinning through the thirteen abyssal planes on a propane grill!" 
   
Made in us
[DCM]
Dankhold Troggoth






Shadeglass Maze

2 initial, stretch goals for 3rd faction . But if I truly have to choose, 2x6.
   
Made in us
Fixture of Dakka






Akron, OH

Real Games have eight factions in the rulebook :p

-Emily Whitehouse| On The Lamb Games
 
   
Made in ca
Trustworthy Shas'vre




My vote is three distinct characterful factions plus toss around a few extra names for factions in the rulebook without illuminating them so you have stuff to expand on later.

By having only 4ish mechs a faction to start that gives you expansion options within the faction in addition to adding other factions. So, for example, the next wave could give each of the existing factions a new mech and launch a whole new faction with a handful of mechs for an 8 mech release.

Tau and Space Wolves since 5th Edition. 
   
Made in us
Shas'o Commanding the Hunter Kadre





Richmond, VA

I hate to say this but I see someone from battletech and/or mechwarrior coming to claim copyright and put a stop to this.

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Lt. Coldfire wrote:Seems to me that you should be refereeing and handing out red cards--like a boss.

 Peregrine wrote:
SCREEE I'M A SEAGULL SCREE SCREEEE!!!!!
 
   
Made in us
Ruthless Rafkin






Glen Burnie, MD

 juraigamer wrote:
I hate to say this but I see someone from battletech and/or mechwarrior coming to claim copyright and put a stop to this.


No, giant robot combat is generic enough that such a suit would be meaningless.



-Loki- wrote:
40k is about slamming two slegdehammers together and hoping the other breaks first. Malifaux is about fighting with scalpels trying to hit select areas and hoping you connect more. 
   
Made in ca
Trustworthy Shas'vre




 Valhallan42nd wrote:
 juraigamer wrote:
I hate to say this but I see someone from battletech and/or mechwarrior coming to claim copyright and put a stop to this.


No, giant robot combat is generic enough that such a suit would be meaningless.


Like space marines?

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2013/02/25 16:13:04


Tau and Space Wolves since 5th Edition. 
   
Made in us
Banelord Titan Princeps of Khorne






Will there be any close combat?

Veriamp wrote:I have emerged from my lurking to say one thing. When Mat taught the Necrons to feel, he taught me to love.

Whitedragon Paints! http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/613745.page 
   
Made in us
Longtime Dakkanaut






 Bolognesus wrote:
 IdentifyZero wrote:
I think this looks pretty cool but I have to echo prior sentiments, man do these look like MWO mechs. If I look hard enough I can even identify which Battlemechs from BT you based these off of.

That isn't to say they don't look cool and the miniatures won't blow IWM out of the water (IWM is so terrible it's sad), I just wonder if going for such a similar aesthetic is a good thing.


"Functional-looking western style mecha" inherently doesn't have that much variation to it, way I see it at least...


Not nescessarily - Reaper's CAV do a pretty good job of looking like something that would work and providing a fair amount of variation between different models. They also avoid most the common anime features in the process.

15mm has scale-creeped up to 1:100th scale (where I hope it locks in), which makes a 6 foot guy about 18mm to the top of the head, about 17mm to the eye.


I wish companies would abandon sizes entirely and simply use a proper scale. Makes things much easier for everyone involved. A few of the companies have started referring to their figures as heroic 15 mm too - which adds yet another problem to the whole.

15mm N scale IMO offers the best mix for infantry and armor and on stuff like large mechs it offers a good amount of detail for the price.


I agree that it is a good value for the money...but careful with saying "N Scale" with 15 mm. They are not the same, and it could lead to anger and confusion down the road. N Scale is 1:144 to around 1:160 depending on whether or not you are in the US or Europe/Japan. The US predominantly uses 1:144 due to Imperial measurements, while 1:150 is popular in metric countries due to the ease of the math involved for scaling. It ends up translating to 10-12 mm sized figures, which are dwarfed by modern 15 mm figures. While a lot of the mechs won't necessarily have a specific point of reference for these sorts of scale differences...it is probably best to avoid the term to avoid the confusion it will lead to.

2 factions with 6 mecha each

or

3 factions with 4 mecha each


It is a tough one when considering the how to release things for a new game system. As others have mentioned, in order to get a group of people going - you want to have a variety of different forces and play styles in order to have something for everyone. However, that can lead to none of the armies having their full set of options in order for those armies to be used to their full capacity. You might consider doing something like 3 factions of 4 and then include one or two additional sculpts that might represent either independent forces that can be added to any army (as mercenaries) or civilian vehicles/mechs that are pressed into military service - though exactly how you work it will depend on the back story you decide to go with.

If possible though, more is better - even if you end up not providing figures for them on day one, putting the other factions in place in the rules will let people proxy while they get a handle on the rules and then as long as you follow up in relatively short order with the actual figures for those...there should be minimal consternation.
   
Made in gb
Battle-tested Knight Castellan Pilot




Poole, Dorset

Hopefully these models are being designed with inbuilt modularity. It would be good to be able to make multiple variants for a class from one box. Creating parts pre socketed for magnets with corresponding attachment points would enable you to swap between weapons easily and if done right a modular carapace would allow later variants to be created using only a new carapace and weapon set. This would hopefully cut down on the different types of packaging needed and reduce number of parts for new variants a bit like with the PP add on packs.

   
 
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