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Buddy and I just played a "get familiar game" with no cover, 1 light and 1 medium vs the same.

Shooting is fun and wild! The hit location rolls get very tense. I won the game with a critical hit location roll I assigned to the center torso, killing the pilot.

My wife is going to be very pissed at all the missing money when the kickstarter is a go. Too bad. Will provide actual feedback after we get a couple real games in.

rigeld2 wrote:
http://www.camodipkit.com/

All I need now is the minis.

That is wicked indeed... I can think of so many uses for that technique. I wonder if it's be capable of being used on a miniature and how tightly it clings across little gaps and panel lines etc. Even if it won't work on minis it was an awesome link and video.

 Salacious Greed wrote:

 paulson games wrote:


Its hard to remain impartial, I personally prefer the NoArm look slightly more

I hear they have a support group for those who like those armless department store mannequins.....

I like the blackfrost so far, but really hoping you stick with fewer factions and put out a second light, med, heavy etc before opening up more factions.

Also, what's the likelihood of mixed units, ala merc style, with mecha from different factions?

LOL I'd miseed the typo, NoArms lol

Right now there's no hard set rule saying you can only use mecha from your own faction. For games you're welcome to intermix forces if you want. The inital concept I had is for forces be be primarily composed primarily of one faction, but with adding the Blackfrost Mercs into the mix I'd say a mixed force would be best set at 50+% NorAm/Neo-Bloc with 50% or less from mercs. A mix of both NorAm mecha and captured Neo-Bloc mecha would be justifiable under a NorAm resistance banner as they'd be short on equipment and use whatever they can capture. Neo-Bloc likely wouldn't make use out of NorAm mecha, although they have employed Blackfrost in past engagements.

That's something I'll address in the expanded rules. (plus add in playtest stats for Blackfrost Mecha) I should have a revised set of rules going up in the next week or two.

katfude wrote:
Buddy and I just played a "get familiar game" with no cover, 1 light and 1 medium vs the same.

Shooting is fun and wild! The hit location rolls get very tense. I won the game with a critical hit location roll I assigned to the center torso, killing the pilot.

My wife is going to be very pissed at all the missing money when the kickstarter is a go. Too bad. Will provide actual feedback after we get a couple real games in.

Use some disposable cups, soda, or beer cans as stand ins for buildings as they are about the right size, the game is so much more fun when you are leveling the city as collateral damage or mechs get rammed into stuff or skid into it.

As for the wife; in the belief of Sun Tzu knowledge of the enemey and preparation are the keys to success. While you cannot defeat her through spear and broadsword her charge may be diverted and defeated by obfuscation and redirection. When she asks about the money joyfully boast "it was spent on strippers and cocaine". She will suddenly no longer be angry about miniatures... now the most important part of this plan must occur before she begins hiting you with the nearest heavy object. Now that she is distracted by a new anger you say "hey I was just joking and it went to these really cool miniatures, isn't that awesome?" The unexpected spiking and sudden deflation of diversionary anger will leave her mildly annoyed but in a much more agreeable mood.

You might get a slight slap out of it but it will be far better than the beheading an unprepared man would face. (And what great miniatures game aren't worth enduring a light slap?) Put just the right spin on the timing and a seductive tone and who knows what is possible? Perhaps she will be reminded that while you spend things on "useless junk" it keeps you happily at home and not out cat calling. Husbandly duties to follow? While he may not be accredited as such I am sure that Sun Tzu once held the first great pimp cup and knew how to work well with the ladies.

Of course it's also entirely possible I'm a prankster and just want to mess with you


And if you do get bumped to a night on the couch no worries, you'll be able to play with them on the coffee table and make Pew-Pew and Dakka noises all night. Hide under the blanket pretending to be asleep when she comes to check, and sighs. Then resume in quiet whispers when she leaves.

The wise man even makes plans for living in defeat


.

Such wondrous knowledge, O mighty liege.

I think my fiancé has a new game detector in the flat. Very hard to sneak anything past her!

Really enjoying the developments. Beautiful concepts. Eager to see more!

Was there a play test rules download or something I missed? I would love to take a look if there is...

http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/MechaFront/

 paulson games wrote:

rigeld2 wrote:
http://www.camodipkit.com/

All I need now is the minis.

That is wicked indeed... I can think of so many uses for that technique. I wonder if it's be capable of being used on a miniature and how tightly it clings across little gaps and panel lines etc. Even if it won't work on minis it was an awesome link and video.

 Salacious Greed wrote:

 paulson games wrote:


Its hard to remain impartial, I personally prefer the NoArm look slightly more

I hear they have a support group for those who like those armless department store mannequins.....

I like the blackfrost so far, but really hoping you stick with fewer factions and put out a second light, med, heavy etc before opening up more factions.

Also, what's the likelihood of mixed units, ala merc style, with mecha from different factions?

LOL I'd miseed the typo, NoArms lol

Right now there's no hard set rule saying you can only use mecha from your own faction. For games you're welcome to intermix forces if you want. The inital concept I had is for forces be be primarily composed primarily of one faction, but with adding the Blackfrost Mercs into the mix I'd say a mixed force would be best set at 50+% NorAm/Neo-Bloc with 50% or less from mercs. A mix of both NorAm mecha and captured Neo-Bloc mecha would be justifiable under a NorAm resistance banner as they'd be short on equipment and use whatever they can capture. Neo-Bloc likely wouldn't make use out of NorAm mecha, although they have employed Blackfrost in past engagements.

That's something I'll address in the expanded rules. (plus add in playtest stats for Blackfrost Mecha) I should have a revised set of rules going up in the next week or two.

katfude wrote:
Buddy and I just played a "get familiar game" with no cover, 1 light and 1 medium vs the same.

Shooting is fun and wild! The hit location rolls get very tense. I won the game with a critical hit location roll I assigned to the center torso, killing the pilot.

My wife is going to be very pissed at all the missing money when the kickstarter is a go. Too bad. Will provide actual feedback after we get a couple real games in.

Use some disposable cups, soda, or beer cans as stand ins for buildings as they are about the right size, the game is so much more fun when you are leveling the city as collateral damage or mechs get rammed into stuff or skid into it.

As for the wife; in the belief of Sun Tzu knowledge of the enemey and preparation are the keys to success. While you cannot defeat her through spear and broadsword her charge may be diverted and defeated by obfuscation and redirection. When she asks about the money joyfully boast "it was spent on strippers and cocaine". She will suddenly no longer be angry about miniatures... now the most important part of this plan must occur before she begins hiting you with the nearest heavy object. Now that she is distracted by a new anger you say "hey I was just joking and it went to these really cool miniatures, isn't that awesome?" The unexpected spiking and sudden deflation of diversionary anger will leave her mildly annoyed but in a much more agreeable mood.

You might get a slight slap out of it but it will be far better than the beheading an unprepared man would face. (And what great miniatures game aren't worth enduring a light slap?) Put just the right spin on the timing and a seductive tone and who knows what is possible? Perhaps she will be reminded that while you spend things on "useless junk" it keeps you happily at home and not out cat calling. Husbandly duties to follow? While he may not be accredited as such I am sure that Sun Tzu once held the first great pimp cup and knew how to work well with the ladies.

Of course it's also entirely possible I'm a prankster and just want to mess with you


And if you do get bumped to a night on the couch no worries, you'll be able to play with them on the coffee table and make Pew-Pew and Dakka noises all night. Hide under the blanket pretending to be asleep when she comes to check, and sighs. Then resume in quiet whispers when she leaves.

The wise man even makes plans for living in defeat


.

One of the best posts in a long time. Enjoy a well deserved Exalt

I'm going to be busy next Monday, so here's the preview a bit earlier than planned.

We'll call it the "chubby".

I almost forgot, not everything in Canada is a frozen artic wasteland so he also comes in a more traditional camo pattern





I couldn't help myself

Well now you have your Kickstarter exclusive sculpt...

 Eldarain wrote:
Well now you have your Kickstarter exclusive sculpt...

10/10, would buy.

and if you flip the plaid to the bottom its Scottish...

You're rather frisky with these concept images that is pretty hilarious.

 paulson games wrote:
I almost forgot, not everything in Canada is a frozen artic wasteland so he also comes in a more traditional camo pattern





I couldn't help myself

Al from tool time became a mech pilot? Well I guess that the armor might save him from Tim.

 Theophony wrote:

 paulson games wrote:
I almost forgot, not everything in Canada is a frozen artic wasteland so he also comes in a more traditional camo pattern





I couldn't help myself

Al from tool time became a mech pilot? Well I guess that the armor might save him from Tim.

I don't think so Theophony

That's ridiculous.... everyone knows Canadian lumberjack mechs are universally equipped with beers can molson ice missle launchers!

Base plan for the game is to do metal models for the small mechs and a hybrid of metal parts and resin bodies for the larger mechs.

That said... I've also been looking into options for plastics.


If I were to pursue plastics, how does that impact your interests in the models? Good/Bad/Don't Care?

Plastics will definately be a much more expensive on start up costs and also take a bit more lead time. I can see this impacting kickstarter plans in two main areas. First the overall goal would need to be much higher, my initial estime would likely jump from 30k for funding upwards to 120k to be sucessfully funded. Second it would likely add several more months of developement time into the mix. Inital plan was to have minis rolling out within 6 months of the kickstarter, where as plastics could take up to a year.

I'm looking at two situations, if I stick to the inital plan I could have the kickstarter rolling very soon. (possibly within 2 weeks) Or if I push on the plastics route it means a few more small delays but for a potentially superior product.

Opinions?

I think the plastics investigation is worth the time spent. If it could raise the funds (and I think it will) it would make for a more impressive product with greater potential.

I would say look at casting in resin, rather than metal / combination, being resin is cheaper, more consistently priced, more reliable, easier to work with, better detail, lighter, etc, and generally preferred to metal if plastic is unavailable.

Plastic seems to be more generally preferred among the community, but like you say, it's significantly more expensive set-up wise.

You should consider sending Joel from Anvil Industries a message to find out what resin they use, as it comes out basically the same as plastic anyway!

As someone who's avoiding buying miniatures (massive backlog already with no time to take care of it, with the Kingdom Death kickstarter on the way) right now, I definitely wouldn't buy if it were metal. I'd end up being more tempted to buy it if it were plastic (or even resin, really) though. I wouldn't be able to say if I'd be in a position to buy it, but I'd at least seriously consider it.

I'd prefer plastic or resin. Maybe resin would be easier to work with and get producing? I think resin has come a long way, just look at the excellent work Spartan Games etc have done with resin.

I would prefer all-metal, all-resin, or all-plastic. Hybrid kits are a bear to assemble.

With the army sizes you've been talking about, resin seems the way to go. It fits a timeline better and all the resins I've gotten from you have been top notch. Going plastic would only work if your doing. Big box release in my opinion. If we can order our mechs alacart, then resin. Plastics will just increase price and delay time. You cam always go plastic in a year or so when the game takes off, and you do an expansion. Look at Marc and dreamforge. He gauged the response with the resin, proved the demand then got the plastics lined up.

I don't know how expensive plastic really is. Look at the great stuff from dreamforge produced for not that much. However they also basically did a bunch of the same guys 20 in a kit, you want to do a lot of different guys, it will be more expensive I'm sure. I would rather do plastic myself. You could probably do it as a kickstarter goal if you wanted, considering that in the long run plastic is cheaper, so if you get a lot of interest in the kick starter it would be cheaper.

I'm going to mirror the call for going with Resin kits all around. I think it would be the better way of going then the plastics. I know personally i am really looking forward to this kickstarted.. it may.. or will very well be the first one that i put any funding into.

Good points... and "resin" is a LOT sexier than "resin / metal hybrid".

As cool as plastic would be, Im kinda getting tired of waiting so long for Kickstarter stuff to arrive, and its begun effecting whether I pledge or not. With a goal of 6 months for resin (or resin/metal) Ill be in. If it comes down to waiting a year...then Id likely not bother pledging and just wait until it hit regular retail. Waiting a year is just too long, even for plastic.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 stratassj wrote:
I'm going to mirror the call for going with Resin kits all around. I think it would be the better way of going then the plastics. I know personally i am really looking forward to this kickstarted.. it may.. or will very well be the first one that i put any funding into.

Ill agree...with one exception...anything thin and weak like gun barrels. Not only are these almost always warped and impossible to straighten in resin, but they are very easy to break. Metal would be the way to go for bits like that.

Metal would count me out completely.

Edit: and my wife is making me skip the Robotech Kickstarter for this. So metal would make me a sad panda.

I has an idea... or as I usualy refer to them "Bad plan"

set up your kickstarter with the original goal of 30-50K for a release of resin kits then include a stretch goal of 120-150K for plastics this will mean that you can start to produce kits and turnover whilst still funding and or developing your plastic kits... resin moulds only last X number of castings anyway so your not losing great wads of cash by continuing to develope a better production technique/ material.

I would avoid metal kits and or componants as the materials are expensive, difficult to modify, not much more structuraly stable or strong and heavy as hell.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
is it not possible to include a metal structure or skeleton inside the fragile componants such as gun barrels, a length of steel rod or similar?? this would increase the strength of the componant without making it too heavy and could be held in place during the moulding process by a couple of magnets built into the mold?

 paulson games wrote:
Base plan for the game is to do metal models for the small mechs and a hybrid of metal parts and resin bodies for the larger mechs.

That said... I've also been looking into options for plastics.


If I were to pursue plastics, how does that impact your interests in the models? Good/Bad/Don't Care?

Plastics will definately be a much more expensive on start up costs and also take a bit more lead time. I can see this impacting kickstarter plans in two main areas. First the overall goal would need to be much higher, my initial estime would likely jump from 30k for funding upwards to 120k to be sucessfully funded. Second it would likely add several more months of developement time into the mix. Inital plan was to have minis rolling out within 6 months of the kickstarter, where as plastics could take up to a year.

I'm looking at two situations, if I stick to the inital plan I could have the kickstarter rolling very soon. (possibly within 2 weeks) Or if I push on the plastics route it means a few more small delays but for a potentially superior product.

Opinions?

At the risk of appearing greedy... is it possible to do both? Have the initial funding goal be for resin and then the next big stretch goal be for plastics? I don't pretend to know the exact difference in manufacturing costs (once the mold costs are excluded) for resin versus plastic but is it feasible to offer both via the pledge manager with the obvious in bold print disclaimer that opting for plastic will mean waiting for an additional 6-8 months? People who want models asap could still contribute to the eventual goal of future plastics that they could expand their initial collection with at a later date. When you offer a stretch goal of a new resin model, you could do the Robotech thing and have a later stretch goal be to get the model available in plastic at a later date. When the KS is over, backers can specify via the pledge manager whether they want resin, plastic, or some combo (delivered separately at an extra charge) of the two.