Robotech Kickstarter Funded at $1.44 Million!

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**Spartan-Kun**

I've never done magnatizing except my Flames of War tank turrets.

**Albino Squirrel**

Manchu wrote:
Alpharius wrote:
The 'bad rules' thing is a legitimate risk, but I think we'll be OK here...
I'm not so sure. The more I brood on that vid, the more I think the rules out of the box will be crunchier than their tactical depth merits.

I don't know, I think it was just presented very poorly in that video. From what I can gather, one unit at a time moves, then shoots. When you shoot, you roll some number of dice based on the weapon or weapons. You add your accuracy stat to the roll (plus any modifiers) to get your score. The score has to equal the defense stat (plus modifiers) of the target to score a hit. Then you mark off the amount of damage based on the weapon.

Then there's using the command points to shoot more or to dodge. The dodge appears similar to the to hit, where you roll a die and add, in this case, your maneuverability stat, which has to equal the attack score in order to dodge. Though it appears you make one roll to dodge all hits from a single unit at a time, and beating the highest attack score dodges them all.

The way they described subtracting the stats made it much more difficult for me to follow in the video, but when I think of it the way I described it seems more clear to me, assuming I understood it correctly.

**Marrak**

Kalamadea wrote:
A few choice stats from the new edition of the RPG:

VF-1
Main Body - 350 MDC
GU-11 damage - 2D6x10
running speed - 121 mph

Battle Pod
Main Body - 125 MDC
Particle Cannons damage - 2D4x10 for dual-barreled shot
Running Speed - 176.2 mph

VR-052 Cyclone
Main Body - 225 MDC
4 forearm missiles - 1D4x10
EP-40 pistol - 4D6
EP-37 rifle - 1D6x10
speed - assisted pilot's running speed +25%, cycle mode is 175 mph

As you can see, armor-wise the cyclone is worth about 2 pods, but aside from the 1-shot mini missiles it can't dish out as much damage as a single battle pod. The cyclones remain mostly unchanged in the new RPG books, but iirc the VF-1 had like 250 MDC main body before and the Battle Pods originally only had 50 MDC!

man, I can't WAIT for New Generation minis to come! Macross is neat and all, but there's a bajillion models for it already floating out there. There's very little MOSPEADA and even less Southern Cross. Which is sad, because New Generation has been scientifically proven in readily repeatable lab and real-world testing to be the superior of the 3 Robotech parts. It's true, trust me. I'm a doctor or something.

Your stats on the originals would be correct sir! I played the Robotech RPG with my friends for years, alongside Rifts (don't judge me). The main Valkyries did indeed have 250, with the Battlepods having 50, and the Cyclones upwards of 200+. However, the speed and weapon systems of the Valkyrie, along with the attacks it added per round, put it far ahead of the Cyclone in damage output. I really can't tell you how utterly devastating long range missiles were, and the Valk could carry upwards of 4-6 on the stock, and if you added in the Armored versions... yeah let's just say a single Valk, by the rules, could take on most cap ships.

**IceRaptor**

Albino Squirrel wrote:

The way they described subtracting the stats made it much more difficult for me to follow in the video, but when I think of it the way I described it seems more clear to me, assuming I understood it correctly.

That's the idea that I got as well. It's basically target's Defense - attacker Attackers = threshold on a D6. From the Valkyire card on pg 5; if they were in Battloid mode their ATK is 3 and DEF is 5. To attack another Valk, they'd roll 5 - 3 = 2+. That doesn't seem horribly complicated to me.

I think the demo footage we saw was pretty rough, probably a first take they did at Adepticon. Someone could probably spend a few hours working on a script to present it better.

**Spartan-Kun**

And we now have backer stretch goals.

**Forar**

No idea what Weapon Templates are, or why we'd want them in plastic, but I guess it's a moot issue until we're up to 2200, which should hopefully happen in the next 2-3 days or so.

Support battlepods? Perhaps a reference to the Artillery pods? Perhaps not. Also moot for now.

Glad to see them listening to the backers and providing a few more upgrades that should/will naturally build up over time.

**Spartan-Kun**

We are getting less and less backers every day. Yesterday was the first day we had less than a hundred new backers.

Automatically Appended Next Post:
On another note, it seems as though the average pledge per backer is rising.

**Forar**

That's not surprising. Many campaigns, even successful ones, ebb and flow. Aside from absolutely bat____ crazy ones that just flat out get out of hand from the word go, it's totally expected to have a crazy opening day or two, then settle into a steady climb with spikes at particularly juicy stretch goals and bonuses.

There's still 25 days left to go, it simply isn't feasible to expect that to sustain the same rate of increase the whole way through.

And as noted, the last few goals have been.. a bit of a strain. Not the worst I've seen, but they could've been better or at least done better. I think having Artillery teased, hitting the Fighter bonus today and seeing that backer numbers will help boost us should put things back on track this weekend.

Edit: Here, look at the kicktraq info for Dwarven Forge's quite successful terrain KS (note: I am not saying that this is indicative in any way of how the Palladium one will go, just using it as an example of a highly successful campaign that had lulls of its own);

As you can see, despite being quite successful (1.1 million and climbing with 4 days left), after a week they had a drop off in backers and incoming funding, which bumped up again (presumably through incentives like stretch goals being hit and revealed), and it bobbed up and down for some time, before spiking way up again over the last few days, and will quite possibly shoot even higher by the end.

**warboss**

Forar wrote:
No idea what Weapon Templates are, or why we'd want them in plastic, but I guess it's a moot issue until we're up to 2200, which should hopefully happen in the next 2-3 days or so.

Support battlepods? Perhaps a reference to the Artillery pods? Perhaps not. Also moot for now.

Glad to see them listening to the backers and providing a few more upgrades that should/will naturally build up over time.

Calling them support battlepods might mean that light and heavy artillery ones are part of the same upgrade sprue or kit. *fingers crossed* As for weapon templates, they're likely range rulers for weapons (like in x-wing) as well as shapes like concentric circles that show you who is attacked with area attack weapons (similar to blast templates in 40k if you've played that). The gameplay video mentioned missile attacks being area effect weapons so you'd just place the "pie plate" over the central figure and look to see who is covered by the attack. Lots of minis games use them.

Automatically Appended Next Post:
It likely won't let me add a new post and will attach this to the previous one but here it goes... The kickstarter sent out an update giving us some idea as to how big the units in the game might be.

Just a little less than $4,000 to go and the Gnerl Fighters get a bump in size! After that are the Regult Artillery Support Battlepods, a new unit that will be available as an optional Purchase Add-on for $20. We're pretty sure most of you have it figured out by now, be we always like extra teasers--just in case.

Squad Sizes
We have had many, many questions about squad sizes, so that people can plan their units and purchases. To help out, we've compiled a little squad size breakdown for you. Points and non-game piece options have not been included since we're still in development.

IMPORTANT NOTE: All squad sizes are simplified to include only previewed squadrons and options. They are still in development and may be subject to modification!

You will see that you can create a great deal of variation in your squadrons. To reflect this all of our add-ons are small and modular allowing you maximum flexibility when building your squadrons.

UEDF
Valkyrie Squadron: 1x VF-1J and 3 VF-1As
Valkyrie Squadron Options:
+1 - 4 VF-1As
+1 VF-1S

Destroid Squadron: 4x Destroids
Destroid Squadron Options:
+2 - 4 Destroids
+1 Mk.II Monster

ZENTRAEDI

Regult Attack Squadron: 1x Glaug and 9x Regults
Regult Attrition Squadron: 12x Regults
Regult Recon Squadron: 1x Glaug, 1x Reconnaissance Battlepod, 6x Regults
Regult Artillery Squadron: 4x Light Artillery Regult and 2x Heavy Artillery Regult

Regult Squadron Options:
+6 Regult Battlepods
+2 Light Artillery Regults
+2 Heavy Artillery Regults
+1 Reconnaissance Battlepod
+1 Glaug Battlepod (only available to squadrons without a Glaug)

Gnerl Attack Squadron: 6x Gnerl Fighters
Gnerl Squadron Options:
+3 Gnerl Fighters
+1 Glaug

MALCONTENTS
Aerial Attack Squadron: 3x Gnerl Fighters, 1x VF-1J, and 1x VF-1A
Aerial Squadron Options:
+2 VF-1As
+3 Gnerl Fighters

Ground Squadrons
Air Defense Squadron: 4x Light Artillery Regults and 2x Defenders
Artillery Support Squadron: 2x Heavy Artillery Regults and 2x Phalanxes
Heavy Destroid Squadron: 1x Glaug, 2x Spartans, and 2x Tomahawks
Light Raider Squadron: 6x Regults and 2x Spartans

Ground Squadron Options:
+1 Tomahawk and +1 Spartan
+1 Defender and +1 Phalanx
+6 Regults
+2 Light Artillery Regults and +2 Heavy Artillery Regults
+1 Glaug
+1 Reconnaissance Battlepod

IMPORTANT NOTE: All squad sizes are simplified to include only previewed squadrons and options. They are still in development and may be subject to

**Alpharius**

I admit, I don't get much of this:

Squad Sizes
Update #25 · Apr 26, 2013 · 28 comments

Just a little less than $4,000 to go and the Gnerl Fighters get a bump in size! After that are the Regult Artillery Support Battlepods, a new unit that will be available as an optional Purchase Add-on for $20. We're pretty sure most of you have it figured out by now, be we always like extra teasers--just in case.

SQUAD SIZES

We have had many, many questions about squad sizes, so that people can plan their units and purchases. To help out, we've compiled a little squad size breakdown for you. Points and non-game piece options have not been included since we're still in development.

IMPORTANT NOTE: All squad sizes are simplified to include only previewed squadrons and options. They are still in development and may be subject to modification!

You will see that you can create a great deal of variation in your squadrons. To reflect this all of our add-ons are small and modular allowing you maximum flexibility when building your squadrons.
UEDF

Valkyrie Squadron: 1x VF-1J and 3 VF-1As
Valkyrie Squadron Options:
+1 - 4 VF-1As
+1 VF-1S

Destroid Squadron: 4x Destroids
Destroid Squadron Options:
+2 - 4 Destroids
+1 Mk.II Monster
ZENTRAEDI

Regult Attack Squadron: 1x Glaug and 9x Regults
Regult Attrition Squadron: 12x Regults
Regult Recon Squadron: 1x Glaug, 1x Reconnaissance Battlepod, 6x Regults
Regult Artillery Squadron: 4x Light Artillery Regult and 2x Heavy Artillery Regult

Regult Squadron Options:
+6 Regult Battlepods
+2 Light Artillery Regults
+2 Heavy Artillery Regults
+1 Reconnaissance Battlepod
+1 Glaug Battlepod (only available to squadrons without a Glaug)

Gnerl Attack Squadron: 6x Gnerl Fighters
Gnerl Squadron Options:
+3 Gnerl Fighters
+1 Glaug
MALCONTENTS

Aerial Attack Squadron: 3x Gnerl Fighters, 1x VF-1J, and 1x VF-1A
Aerial Squadron Options:
+2 VF-1As
+3 Gnerl Fighters

Ground Squadrons
Air Defense Squadron: 4x Light Artillery Regults and 2x Defenders
Artillery Support Squadron: 2x Heavy Artillery Regults and 2x Phalanxes
Heavy Destroid Squadron: 1x Glaug, 2x Spartans, and 2x Tomahawks
Light Raider Squadron: 6x Regults and 2x Spartans

Ground Squadron Options:
+1 Tomahawk and +1 Spartan
+1 Defender and +1 Phalanx
+6 Regults
+2 Light Artillery Regults and +2 Heavy Artillery Regults
+1 Glaug
+1 Reconnaissance Battlepod

IMPORTANT NOTE: All squad sizes are simplified to include only previewed squadrons and options. They are still in development and may be subject to modification!

...so any help in figuring out what to purchase will be greatly appreciated!

**UN Test Pilot**

It sounds like the first numbers are the base squad size, then you can add the additional options to make largers squads.

example Destroids Squad
You have to have 4 Destroids of any model and can add 2 to 4 additional Destroids and up to 1 Monster

**warboss**

I don't know how much help I can be (but I did post the same info one post above you). The unit sizes seem to be quite preliminary and are missing a lot of things (like the mechs that still haven't been officially revealed but we all know are coming).

The destroids in the core set don't form a legal squadron but they're supposed to be used in special scenarios that come with the core set (sort of how the 40k armies in the starters don't always make legal armies). If you're in at the $130+ level, the newly added pledger total goals with get you to a legal squadron when they get to 2200 total pledgers.

The veritechs in the core set as well as the battlepods make a legal unit so no problem there. The issue comes up again regarding add ons. Buying a gnerl fighter add on only ends up giving you half a legal minimum squadron which I think is a big mistake. Add ons should contain the minimum legal number of units for a squadron (similar to how you get 5 terminators in a box and not three of them in 40k). I guess people could compare it to buying a blister that doesn't get you a whole squad but I was frankly very surprised about it.

The UEDF is the "good guy" human force for the first 2/3 of the Macross series whereas the Zentraedi are the "bad guys" in the same period. For the last part of the show, humans and zentraedis work together which is why they have the "Malcontents" section named after an uprising using squadrons containing both models.

Hope that helps.

**UN Test Pilot**

Anyone else find it interesting that there appears to be 3 different factions which is a good thing in my opinion.

**Alpharius**

warboss wrote:
I don't know how much help I can be (but I did post the same info one post above you). The unit sizes seem to be quite preliminary and are missing a lot of things (like the mechs that still haven't been officially revealed but we all know are coming).

The destroids in the core set don't form a legal squadron but they're supposed to be used in special scenarios that come with the core set (sort of how the 40k armies in the starters don't always make legal armies). If you're in at the $130+ level, the newly added pledger total goals with get you to a legal squadron when they get to 2200 total pledgers.

The veritechs in the core set as well as the battlepods make a legal unit so no problem there. The issue comes up again regarding add ons. Buying a gnerl fighter add on only ends up giving you half a legal minimum squadron which I think is a big mistake. Add ons should contain the minimum legal number of units for a squadron (similar to how you get 5 terminators in a box and not three of them in 40k). I guess people could compare it to buying a blister that doesn't get you a whole squad but I was frankly very surprised about it.

The UEDF is the "good guy" human force for the first 2/3 of the Macross series whereas the Zentraedi are the "bad guys" in the same period. For the last part of the show, humans and zentraedis work together which is why they have the "Malcontents" section named after an uprising using squadrons containing both models.

Hope that helps.

It does - thanks you!

And I agree - that Gnerl add-on pack NOT giving you a legal squadron is... not nice!

**warboss**

Looks like the extra effort on the part of the KS is helping if the kicktraq record for today is any indication. We're already just a little bit away from beating yesterday's relatively anemic pledge total and that's just before the weekend evening starts.

We've got a artillery pod stretch goal now that people have been asking for that will likely get bumped up later on to 3x per add on (if the gnerls are any indication) as well as extra artillery pods and destroids as the number of total pledgers increase.

If you're on the fence about the project, pledge a dollar so that we get the extra pledger and then you can decide the day or two before it ends whether the extras are worth it. In the meantime, you're increasing those same freebies. I don't doubt we'll exceeed the 2600 in the next two weeks regardless but the sooner the better.

**deleted20250424**

The Backer goals make the over all deals much better now.

Good to see they added those on.

**recruittons**

Yup, the spartan and phalax along with the 2 support pods being added to Battlecry is a big deal. I might be upping my pledge soon

**Albino Squirrel**

Assuming they reach all their backer stretch goals, and given the current minimum unit sizes they supplied, there is getting to be little reason to stick with First Contact instead of upping to Battle Cry.

**warboss**

Once we reach 2600 individual pledges, the battlecry/blitzkrieg level will indeed be a better deal in sheer value (as well as variety) than getting two core sets.

I'll likely end up putting my two current version robotech RPG books up in my swap shop thread for sale as I'd rather use the money on the KS (let me know if someone is interested). I've got no real hope for starting a robotech rpg campaign locally and I'm not a fan of the palladium RPG rules anyways. I'd rather sell the core book and the macross supplement and get another add on instead for the minis game.

edit: autocorrect keeps changing robotech to robot tech and macross to macros. argh!

**dienekes96**

Yeah, agree with the last few posts. The backer upgrades make me think seriously about shifting from Battle Cry plus some extra change for add-ons to Showdown (2x Battle Cry).

That is based on the add-ons I already knew I wanted:
Rick Hunter
Roy Fokker
Spartan/Phalanx
Support Pods
Glaug + Recon

Those add up to $90 already. Are the remaining contents of the BC set worth $30? Easily.

And I presume that the BC box will fill up a bit more over the next three weeks, making a double dip worth more. But, assuming those backer goals are met, it looks like a yes to me.

**deleted20250424**

Sneak peak at the $430k stretch is at least one (looks like 2) destroid to every boxed game. Just have to wait on actual wording; 1 Destroid frame that can make either, or 2 Destroids total.

Another solid add-on when compiled with the backer add-ons.

I'm getting much happier now that they are loading up those boxed sets.

**Alpharius**

The whole update!

Boxed Game Upgrade!
Update #27 · Apr 27, 2013 · 4 comments

We're racing towards the $400,000 mark to unlock the Regult Artillery Support Battlepods, so naturally everyone is wondering, "what's next?"

How about some extra game pieces added to the EVERY boxed game?

Sounds good to us!

**Spartan-Kun**

I'm kinda sad that after artillery pods the only unit I'm left waiting for are the hovertanks in the next Robotech War...

**warboss**

@Ninja: Sounds good to me! A legal destroid squad in the core set is always a good idea. And thus continues the tug of war in my mind over the relative value of 2x core sets vs Blitzkrieg/Battlecry. The extra pledger # goals (assuming they were met and I do assume they will be this week) swung the balance a bit towards Battlecry but the bonus to every core set now pulls it a bit in the other direction. Either way, I'm not complaining as I benefit from core set upgrades regardless!

@Spartan-Kun: You're not a fan of either flavor of power armor?

**Spartan-Kun**

Not a huge one no, the female ones looked strange to me. Not sure why. And the Male's, they're kinda cool but I'm just not big on them. I think I really like the VT's and Pods cause they are what I first saw blasting each other when I was little so they are just my favorites and everything else pales in comparison. Except the hovertanks, which I saw when I got back into watching Robotech on Netflix last year.

**Alpharius**

Battlecry vs. Showdown will be an interesting comparison in the days to come!

**warboss**

It's definitely understandable as I feel that way about other units. I'm not a fan of destroids but it's not that I actually dislike them or would turn away freebies of them.. I simply have no urge to pay extra for any other than a MACII.

In a way, I feel the same way about male power armor and gnerls. I try to always have a reason for having a unit in my army and I frankly have trouble finding a role for them in my zentraedi force. I plan on desegregating the sexes and painting up my zentraedi in a single scheme which means I'll always be fielding Female power armor (FPA) with my pods. It seems (as best as I can tell from my very limited experience of watching the demo rules and having no rules for FPA) that the FPA will fill both roles that I'd expect in a pure male army with MPA and gnerls. Need a fast objective taking unit that flies? gnerl or FPA. Need a tough (by zentraedi standards) units to defend an area? MPA or FPA. Need a mech to put a male zentraedi HQ into? Got two glaugs in my pledge levels. YMMV and the above makes alot of (reasonable IMO) assumptions but I simply can't find much of a use for the two male units above. Add to that the fact that they were never sentimental favs of mine either in the show or the RPG and I have currently no reason to use either.

**deleted20250424**

I've been actually tossing around getting Showdown now instead of Battle Cry + some add-ons.

I think Showdown +Daedalus Attack is what I'm set on and then depending how they respond with other add-ons I might be in for a couple Gnerl, Arty pod, and Spartan packs.

This is just based off their squad chart the other day though. I want legal squads and the ability to field anything, anytime, for any game.

**Spartan-Kun**

@Alpharius: I have Showdown, as of right now it's a good deal and only getting better IMO

@Warboss: I'm not a big fan of the destroids, but my dad LOVES the tomohawks, so I plan on only using them and no defenders. I don't ever look at minis games in terms of what will do better at what. The reason I got into the games I collect are solely on what I like. If there was a god mode unit that I didn't like, I'd never use it. I'm just that picky. I might want a few MPA just cause the cannon on the shoulder IS kinda cool looking. But other than special VT's (Super/Amored) I'm just waiting for hovertanks.

**warboss**

LOL, I feel like the cheap ass odd man out with my lowly Blitzkrieg + Add-ons pledge.

I'm ok with it... you guys spend all you can to get me free stuff!