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 Manchu wrote:

 paulson games wrote:
You can do a pledge level multiple times, for instance you can pledge twice for 2 combat patrols. They'd stack so you'd get a total of 4 copies of each stretch goal.

This is where I am at currently (although I will surely add more for Blackfrost mecha as/when) so this is really good to read!

Hmm, yeah, I'll probably do 2 $120 pledges.

Paulson, any chance of us adding a 3rd $120 pledge, but getting 3 heavies with the stretches when they unlock?

Jbuckmaster wrote:
Any chance of people from Alberta getting a discount/gubbins if we order Blackfrost models?

in a more serious question: are there any Blackfrost light mecha in the KS?

As a fellow Cannuck, I asked about this. Apparently the BlackFrost focus on Medium/Heavy mechs, but there might be a light that pops up down the road.

Blackfrost Q's

They are going to be a regular production item, just like the NorAm and Neo-Bloc stuff. I decided to pass on doing any KS exclusive models. I realize that it's the bread and butter for some companies but it also creates hard feelings for people who missed it.

No light BF mecha currently, BF focuses on heavier big boy toys. I do have a design for a light in reserve that I may offer up later on depending on how funding goes. Storywise they highly favor mediums.


Cards
They will primarily be used for the game mechanics, similar to the data sheets in battletech or the stat card in warmachine. There's not much spare room on them so they won't feature art on the stat card. However I may end up adding art to the activation cards as that's an ideal place to have cool pictures.


Heavies
When those unlock I'll add on some addition pledge levels, also I'm working on doing some specific high end pledges which will be very limited. Involving named characters and pro-painted mechs

Have I mentioned my love of the 6mm stuff lately? Because I do. >.>

Of course, I'm aware there may be more micro scale tiers and options coming. Just sayin' that aloud.

And good call on the KS LE stuff. If you wanted to do *something* Limited edition, going with dice or something that is a neat little accessory but not something huge like a LE figure (especially since that's counterproductive to your campaigns goals of expanding your line) could be nice.

Backed a campaign just to snag a couple of custom dice in a low tier because I do love some dice.

Especially glow in the dark dice. :-D

Yet another thing I like about this game is the setting. Yes, there's not much info on it. But a game about a near-future Russian invasion of the Pacific Northwest ... can't say that's been done to death!

I think it would be extra fluffy for BlackFrost to just use a stripped down medium in the role others would use a light in. Or something.

Reminds me of how Khador uses their jacks.

 paulson games wrote:
I decided to pass on doing any KS exclusive models.

Thank you for thinking that one all the way through. The best KS exclusive is a price break anyway.

 paulson games wrote:
There's not much spare room on them so they won't feature art on the stat card. However I may end up adding art to the activation cards as that's an ideal place to have cool pictures.

That sounds like a great balance. As much as I'd love to see everything at super glossy production values, like FFG style, my personal priority is wringing mechs out of this KS and I guess my prejudice is against non-miniatures items that seem likely development tar pits.

I am eager to see these high end pledge levels, especially inasmuch as we're talking named characters ... I should be very glad to learn more about the setting.

One of the reasons I like Blackfrost...

I'm secretly a Steiner lover. I send Victors out to Recon.

^That's a Battletech reference, right?

Anyhoo, Jon, just make sure you can get your 3D prints in on time. I backed Rangers Project and everything is looking great, but they have been saying their printers are running late.

We broke $7000!

---

So, let's say I want a NorAm and NeoBloc force with the greatest number of possible variants:

I start at the Combat Patrol pledge level for $120 and double it for $240.

I'd pick A - C Raptor variants and two Lynxes (any variants) and ditto for the NeoBloc.

Keeping in mind my double Combat Patrol comes with 4 *FREE* L-Weapon packs, I only need to add 2 more (one for each faction) to have all options for all my lights. So that's $14. Similarly, I get 4 *FREE* M-Weapon packs to kit out my Lynxes and Ospreys (but see below).

Throw in cards and dice for $40. We're at $294 before moving on to Heavy mechs. Not bad, I think.

---

Now some questions:

- Mr. Paulson mentioned on TGN back in October that the Gamma Raptor has a different torso than its Alpha and Beta siblings ... is that still the case? Does that mean rail guns will only fit one version of the Raptor chassis and not the other? Will the autocannon and MG/Missile loadout fit on both chassis?

- There is currently no NeoBloc M-Weapon pack add-on. Will that be unlockable?

- Same regarding question but regarding a weapon pack for Cougars, assuming we unlock them.

I'm pretty sure that the rangers KS was using Shapeways and they can be incredibly slow at times. So far my printer has been pretty consistent in getting me stuff within about 2-3 weeks time. When I've run my pre-orders I've budgeted a full month for print delivery just in case and so far I've usually been able to get stuff out a week or two ahead of schedule. Screw ups can happen, I've been lucky enough not to have any major issues yet. If I did see any delays due to back up at the printer or problematic parts he usually can get stuff rushed so it wouldn't be more than a week or two late in most situations.


I'll need to add a banner for the neo-bloc weapon unlocks, same for when the cougar funds.

The Raptor beta and Gamma are getting changed a bit, the ones on the KS will have new weapons, the gamma previously had 1 railgun and 2 missile launchers and that will be changed to 2 rail guns for the new version. (The old verison will be reclassed as delta) Part of that change was so that I could use just one torso version for the KS mecha and also having a second railgun gives it more punch in game.



My base pricing plan was to have a fully playable force in the $150-$200 range. It's obviously higher then if I was doing a 28mm skirmish game but given the size of the models and cool factor I figured it was certainly within an acceptable range. Two players with DZC terrain falls within $400-$500, I don't think that's too bad considering most of the models dwarf a GW dreadnought, and 6 of those would set you back 3-4 times as much.

I'm very pleased with the pricing structure TBH. I think people coming from a CBT or HG background or with some knowledge of 15mm scifi prices will know a good deal when they see it.

Update #3 Apr 15 2014
Stretch Goals #3 & #4

I've put up two new stretch goals. At $8,000 I'll be including a set of unit stat cards with each 15mm model. You'll get the cards for it's primary configuration, so if you buy a Lynx Beta then you will get the Lynx chassis card and the weapon card for it's Beta configuration displaying the 4 autocannon load out.

The $11,000 stretch goal includes magnets for all the 15mm mecha. You'll get a set of 6 magnets which will allow you to magnetize the hips and arm joints on the model.


You only get this stretch goal once, so if you've pledged combat patrol or higher you still only get one set.

(normally you'll get two of all the other stretch goals like weapon upgrades)

Also, a little less than $500 to the 8k stretch goals unlocking.

No 6mm love in the stretch goals? Genuinely asking seems like weapon packs in 6mm might need to be a thing (or just different options of how to buy the mechs).

What might we be looking at for a goal to unlock the Blackfrost medium, and then the heavies? If goals are spaced by 3K, would the Blackfrost mech be at 14K?

I hope Mr. Paulson won't mind me mining Mr. Scroggins's DA page for delicious, delicious details:

... in the future each faction will have 4 standard mechs (light, medium, heavy, quad). After that, special variants will come along, currently NorAm and NeoBloc have "recon" refits of their lights and mediums, swapping armor for speed and firepower.

Yeah, definitely no plans for mechs with arms/hands/melee weapons in this game.

Blackfrost mechs tend to stray from the norms of their weight classes. They also feature no cockpit glass, using only cameras and sensors.

The Kodiak quad mech is NorAm's premier line anchoring unit. It is slow but heavily armed and armored. It carries 2 massive cannons, an array of missiles, and 4 autocannons for defense. Alternate configurations including swapping the missiles and autocannons for quad howitzers, or an extreme all missile load out.

[The Kodiak is] not built for mobility, rather it's for stability and holding a location, so it doesn't focus it's armor or firepower in any single direction (no rear guns, but a 360 degree turret).

The NorAm Lynx medium mech is a standard trooper, with all around armor, firepower, and mobility.

Just got done adding a bunch of stuff to the page including the 6mm pledge groups. 6mm will have something likely at 12k. I've been spacing the lighter mecha at 3k per unlock the heavies are probably going to need to fall in at 4k. So the wolverine would come in at 13k.

I asked about the Raptor chassis above. When you posted about the Lynx Beta and Gamma changes, did you mean Raptor?

Sorry meant Raptor, 12 hours in front of this screen is making brains leak from my nose.

No worries, I just wanted to confirm that before celebrating.

I cannot wait to sit down and sink my teeth into the rules, which I purchased earlier today. I have some Eastertide air travel time toward the end of the week so maybe that will prove a convenient time.

And while my April dollars will go to this KS, I need to also start looking for some cool non-MDF 15mm terrain. As much as I like the cardboard DZC buildings, these minis deserve even better.

If I had more money available for Kickstarters, I'd throw down for this. I really like the Goshawk and would love to have one, but I can't afford to back another project at the moment. I am curious though, are there any pics floating around comparing a 15mm mech to a Space Marine? I can't really get a good sense of size with the scale shot showing it standing next to a 15mm figure.

These three, when viewed together, may help:

Or how about next to some larger GW models?

Also, here's a mock-up (albeit with a heavy and a quad, the largest mechs):

With paint bottles ...


Oh and something from the past to make every fan's head asplode:


EDIT:

Here's something:

Thanks for gathering those pics, Manchu!

I upped to one of the higher 6mm pledge levels. I think both scales will end up needing a higher pledge level, since right now the highest is 5 mechs for both, and you may need/want more mechs at the smaller scale. Or people may want a pledge for two forces, etc.

Looking good so far!

So the ones with the paint bottles are the 15mm or 6mm ones?

Also, yay Yu Jing.

The ones with the paint bottles are 15mm versions.

Well, I just went in for 2 of the micro armor patrols. Looking forward to seeing those heavies become available at 6mm.

Yeah, I did the math, and said to myself, well, I can get a single 6mm light for $20, or I can get 3 Lights and 2 Mediums for $65. Probably add a fourth Light and be able to play combinations between two factions at least. Though if heavies get added and the BF lack lights, I'm not sure how I'll balance that out. Maybe just get two of their mediums, as the "2 to 1" ratio given above would at least let it be something resembling a fair fight between 2 mediums and 1 medium with a pair of lights in support.

Uh oh. I told myself I wouldn't go in for more than the starter tier and here I am setting up force organizations.

Guys, this could be a problem. I think I might need a sponsor to keep me on the wagon for the next two weeks.

Also, I should probably do the sensible thing and snag those $1 rules to get an idea if the game's mechanics and I see eye to eye at all.

 Forar wrote:
Guys, this could be a problem. I think I might need a sponsor to keep me on the wagon for the next two weeks.

I'd sponsor you but I'm right there with you...

Ohh.. I'm afraid there'll be no talk of sponsorships and self control here. :::dangles crack baggie full of resin mech dust:::

Such things can't be allowed to distract my customers



If you don't already have a copy here's links to the rules, keep in mind they still are WIP so there's a lot of formatting and re-organization that needs to be done, but it's a decent peek at the core of the system.

Rules:
www.mechafront.com//f/Rules_-_Mecha_Front_1.4_in_progress.docx

Activation Cards:
www.mechafront.com//f/Activation_Cards_1.4.docx

Unit Stat Cards:
www.mechafront.com//f/Stat_Cards_1.4.docx

Neo-Bloc Cardstock Mecha:
www.mechafront.com//f/neobloc_cardstock.doc

NorAm Cardstock Mecha:
www.mechafront.com//f/noram_cardstock.doc

Not that I've found anything (aside from typos) yet, but where would you like feedback about the rules? Or do you want feedback?

Normally the Yahoo group is central to everyone working on the rules receiving comments. But I haven't been there in a few months.

As for buildings, I highly recommend the "town in a box" from Woodland Scenics. It might seem antiquated with its Americana feel, but there are still a lot of those buildings around today, so it might very well be the case 100 years from now. I also like the Kato n scale buildings, they are gorgeous, very modular and will hide even the tallest proxies if need be.